Well, here it is folks. My last day as a pregnant woman. Our last day as a childless couple. I'm trying real hard to not freak out but it's kinda hard. Of course, I'm insanely excited for our baby to FINALLY be here but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm also a little nervous about how the whole thing will go down.
We got our extra week and David and I are very thankful for that. We knew that the baby would probably not come on its own (stubborn little thing that it is) but unlike last week, when the thought of induction had us miserable and anxious, we feel at peace with being induced tomorrow. I don't know what changed--I'm still not thrilled about being induced--but somehow that extra week was what both the baby and I needed. I feel like my body is ready to give birth, it just needs a little kick-start. I'm hoping that either just breaking my waters or a low dosage of Pictocin will be just the trick. So, we're going in at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning (6 a.m.) to get checked in and prepped. My doctor comes on shift at 7:30 a.m. so sometime soon after that, they'll start the induction. I hope we'll have some good news to report soon after that. David is convinced I'll have a fast labor, but I'm not getting my hopes up.....too much. I don't know how, but we'll try to keep everyone updated via Facebook and the blog.
So on my last day before motherhood, I plan to do a little cleaning so the house isn't a disaster when I come home from the hospital, re-pack my hospital bag, tidy up the nursery, finish a load or two of laundry, pet Suyom for a good while, and spend some quality time with David. And tomorrow, fingers crossed, I'll be holding my baby in my arms. Good thing too. My belly can't take it anymore.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Did the cow moo at your feelings?
I realize this blog has become a tad baby obsessed as of late so here's something that's slightly not related to the baby. Well, at least not my human baby. It has to do with my feline baby.
One of David and my favorite sayings comes from my friend Kara's son, Andrew. Apparently, Drew has a bit of a phobia related to cows (or at least he did a year ago) so his parents bought him a stuffed cow to help him overcome his fears. When Kara discovered her son hitting his cow and she inquired why he was doing it, Andrew replied, "Because the cow mooed at my feelings! And it made me feel sad."
David and I laughed and laughed and laughed over that story and it's become something of a catch-phrase for us. Whenever one of is feeling dejected or sad, the other will ask, "Did the cow moo at your feelings?" It never fails to make us laugh. And it's become even more hilarious now that we have our own cow situation.
My mother sent us this purple cow stuffed animal/pillow for our baby. Apparently, this purple cow mooed at Suyom's feelings because she's had it out for the cow since it took up residence in the baby's crib. When the side railing of the crib was down, I used to walk into the nursery to find the cow had been pushed out of the crib and one morning, I woke up to find that Suyom had dragged the thing (which is nearly as big as her) into our room. We put the side railing of the crib back up to prevent Suyom from easily knocking down the cow but I'll still find the cow lying on its side in the crib with some obvious traces of man-handling from our dear cat.
I believe that animals are very intuitive and have a great awareness to changes in their environment. I often wonder how much Suyom understands about my growing belly and the baby that will soon join our family. The night Baby was conceived, for instance, Suyom was uncharacteristically affectionate and curled up on my stomach to fall asleep as I petted her. She has never done that before or since. She obviously knows something is up since the spare room now has a lot of new furniture which she delights in sleeping on so now everything in the nursery has a fine sheen of black cat hair covering it. Maybe she's nervous or scared or sad about what's going on. She'll no longer be the only baby in the family to be pet and loved whenever she wants. I think she's taking it out on the poor cow.
Who knew cows were so contentious?
One of David and my favorite sayings comes from my friend Kara's son, Andrew. Apparently, Drew has a bit of a phobia related to cows (or at least he did a year ago) so his parents bought him a stuffed cow to help him overcome his fears. When Kara discovered her son hitting his cow and she inquired why he was doing it, Andrew replied, "Because the cow mooed at my feelings! And it made me feel sad."
David and I laughed and laughed and laughed over that story and it's become something of a catch-phrase for us. Whenever one of is feeling dejected or sad, the other will ask, "Did the cow moo at your feelings?" It never fails to make us laugh. And it's become even more hilarious now that we have our own cow situation.
My mother sent us this purple cow stuffed animal/pillow for our baby. Apparently, this purple cow mooed at Suyom's feelings because she's had it out for the cow since it took up residence in the baby's crib. When the side railing of the crib was down, I used to walk into the nursery to find the cow had been pushed out of the crib and one morning, I woke up to find that Suyom had dragged the thing (which is nearly as big as her) into our room. We put the side railing of the crib back up to prevent Suyom from easily knocking down the cow but I'll still find the cow lying on its side in the crib with some obvious traces of man-handling from our dear cat.I believe that animals are very intuitive and have a great awareness to changes in their environment. I often wonder how much Suyom understands about my growing belly and the baby that will soon join our family. The night Baby was conceived, for instance, Suyom was uncharacteristically affectionate and curled up on my stomach to fall asleep as I petted her. She has never done that before or since. She obviously knows something is up since the spare room now has a lot of new furniture which she delights in sleeping on so now everything in the nursery has a fine sheen of black cat hair covering it. Maybe she's nervous or scared or sad about what's going on. She'll no longer be the only baby in the family to be pet and loved whenever she wants. I think she's taking it out on the poor cow.
Who knew cows were so contentious?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Another Week (and that's a good thing...)
Good news on the pregnancy front. Like I mentioned before, my original due date was September 1st but after my first ultrasound, the doctor bumped the date up to August 25th. I never felt comfortable with this new date because 1) I know exactly when this baby was conceived and 2) my family has a history of carrying babies past the due date. Sure, I liked thinking that maybe my baby could come earlier but in reality, I always assumed Baby wouldn't be showing up until September. So when the doctors started talking about inducing me on my due date (something I've wanted to avoid at all costs), I saw August 25th as a big blaring stop sign to my pregnancy. I needed to get this baby out any way I could before then even though I knew the baby wasn't ready. And Baby most certainly does not want to budge. Because Baby is plenty comfortable in there and Baby knows--like I do--that it's still got some growing to do.
At my check-up last week, I was supposed to be 39 weeks along, but I only measured at 38 weeks. (The size of your uterus is supposed to match to the number of weeks you are.) Despite that fact, August 25th was still my deadline and I was desperate for something to happen last week...that by some miracle I'd go into labor early. But as the week and then the weekend came and went, I resigned myself to the sad reality that I'd have to be induced this week. I've been a bit of a wreck about it. (Love those pregnancy hormones/third trimester depression. It's super fun!)
Anyway.....today, David and I went to another appointment (I swear, I feel like I live at the hospital these days) and the doctor on call said that based on all my information, it looked like August 25th was simply the wrong date and that the baby's due date should never have been changed in the first place. The Baby is just not done cooking. She sounded apologetic, like she thought we'd be disappointed to have our due date (and thus the impending inducement) moved back a week but David and I were elated and profusely thanked the doctor for not forcing an inducement this week.
So now we have one more week to convince this baby that it should come on its own. Otherwise, we're scheduled for an inducement on Tuesday, August 31st. (It should have been September 1st, but I really don't like the doctor scheduled for that day, so we moved it up a day. I mean, if I have to be induced, I should at least get to choose the doctor who'll deliver my baby.)
I'm glad to have another week to help my baby grow and another week for the obstinate little thing to prepare itself for birth. While I think some inducements are medically necessary, I never felt that my case constituted a medical necessity and I've absolutely hated the idea of forcing this child to be born before it is ready. I'm still hoping I can go into labor on my own (I have been having some contractions on and off for a few days now and I am dilated to a 3) but if I do have to be induced, at least I'll know that my baby had enough time to fully grow and develop.
So yay for good news. I really needed it.
At my check-up last week, I was supposed to be 39 weeks along, but I only measured at 38 weeks. (The size of your uterus is supposed to match to the number of weeks you are.) Despite that fact, August 25th was still my deadline and I was desperate for something to happen last week...that by some miracle I'd go into labor early. But as the week and then the weekend came and went, I resigned myself to the sad reality that I'd have to be induced this week. I've been a bit of a wreck about it. (Love those pregnancy hormones/third trimester depression. It's super fun!)
Anyway.....today, David and I went to another appointment (I swear, I feel like I live at the hospital these days) and the doctor on call said that based on all my information, it looked like August 25th was simply the wrong date and that the baby's due date should never have been changed in the first place. The Baby is just not done cooking. She sounded apologetic, like she thought we'd be disappointed to have our due date (and thus the impending inducement) moved back a week but David and I were elated and profusely thanked the doctor for not forcing an inducement this week.
So now we have one more week to convince this baby that it should come on its own. Otherwise, we're scheduled for an inducement on Tuesday, August 31st. (It should have been September 1st, but I really don't like the doctor scheduled for that day, so we moved it up a day. I mean, if I have to be induced, I should at least get to choose the doctor who'll deliver my baby.)
I'm glad to have another week to help my baby grow and another week for the obstinate little thing to prepare itself for birth. While I think some inducements are medically necessary, I never felt that my case constituted a medical necessity and I've absolutely hated the idea of forcing this child to be born before it is ready. I'm still hoping I can go into labor on my own (I have been having some contractions on and off for a few days now and I am dilated to a 3) but if I do have to be induced, at least I'll know that my baby had enough time to fully grow and develop.
So yay for good news. I really needed it.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Pregnancy Ups and Downs
Since I'm STILL pregnant, I thought I'd take a moment to write down the things I've both liked and disliked about pregnancy. When most people talk about the horrors of being pregnant, they're mostly talking about the last month or two. Of course, that's what you remember most about being pregnant since it was at the end of the pregnancy and the most uncomfortable part of it. For the first seven months of my pregnancy, I just couldn't understand why so many people seemed to think pregnancy sucked. I get it now (and I know I've had a relatively easy pregnancy) but I still think people tend to blow it way out of porportion. Still, my experiences are not other people's experiences but I do have a newfound respect for any woman who willingly chooses to have more than one child. :-)
What I Have Enjoyed
1.) I've loved feeling my baby move and squirm and hiccup inside of me. Sure, it can sometimes be rather uncomfortable, especially when Baby puts some force behind it, but it's also pretty incredible to watch your belly move or to see the barest outline of a foot press against your skin.
2.) Of all the images we've been given after an ultrasound, there's nothing I like to look at better than the picture of my baby's open hand, with its five perfectly formed fingers. To think that those perfect hands and feet are growing inside of me is simply astounding. And slightly creepy.
3.) Climbing the Great Wall of China six months pregnant. It makes for a great story and reminds me that there used to be a time when standing upright for more than 10 minutes wasn't one of life's great challenges.
4.) It may sound cliche and uber-cheesey, but there really is this indescribable feeling of awe and wonderment that comes from creating life. Not only do I feel an unbreakable bond forming between me and my child, but I have also felt a greater connection to all the women throughout history who have experienced pregnancy and birth.
5.) I'm extremely grateful that I avoided some of the common complications of pregnancy (though certainly not all). I had no morning sickness (just slight nausea) and have not thrown up once my entire pregnancy. My ankles, hands, and face have not swollen or become unrecognizable. (My wedding ring still falls off my finger from time to time.) I've had no heartburn or found foods that I could not eat. I didn't gain 50 pounds. (Though I think this has more to do with the fact that I live in Korea and couldn't eat In & Out or Chipotle twice a day like I wished I could. I think if I had been pregnant in the States, I would have been able to indulge my cravings far more often and would definitely have gained a LOT more weight.)
6.) Sometimes, when I'm driving around or cleaning the house or just watching TV, Baby would kick me as if to let me know that I wasn't alone. I've carried on many one-sided conversations with the baby, telling it about my day, or how I'm feeling, or confessing just how truly scared I am about bringing them into the world and about being a good mother. And sometimes, just sometimes, the baby will move in just such a way that I know that they understand. And think I'll do just fine.
What I Have Not Liked
1.) The waiting. I am severely lacking in patience and nine months of gestation just seems like cruel and unusual punishment. At least I can be grateful that I'm not an elephant, who can have gestation periods of up to 22 months.
2.) The unknown. There's always that little voice in the back of my mind that whispers that something may be wrong. Maybe my baby will have eleven toes instead of ten. Maybe they'll have a learning disability or have some rare genetic disease. Maybe I'll have to have an emergency C-section or I didn't eat enough vegetables and the baby will never eat carrots and forever have bad eyesight. But then there's the voice that tells me that even if my baby isn't perfect, I'll still think that they are.
3.) The stretch marks. Oh, the stretch marks. I joyously thought I'd dodged another bullet and managed to not get stretch marks, but it turns out that I just couldn't see them because my belly was too big. When I finally noticed that they were there, I was depressed for a week. It's not like I ever paraded my bare stomach around for all the world to see before I got pregnant, but my belly will not most assuredly never see the light of day now.
4.) Physically, pregnancy has been relatively easy on me. But I was simply unprepared for how mentally and emotionally difficult it has been on me. I'd like to put all the blame on the crazy pregnancy hormones, but that wouldn't really be accurate. While I was quite happy through my first two trimesters, I've been having a rough time of it these last three months. I did feel much better when my mom told me that she was often depressed in her third trimester and that it's quite normal for expectant mothers to fall into these funks. I just hope that since depression has hit me now, I can maybe avoid having post-partum depression as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
5.) Recognizing that my body has limitations. I keep forgetting that I can't run or walk as fast as I used to, that I can't sleep on my stomach, or even sit up without some assistance. I can't wait to have my body back and to not feel like I need a nap after running a 15-minute errand. I like to think about what a beautiful and selfless sacrifice I've made to carry this child and bring it into the world, but some days, I really do feel like nothing more than a walking incubator and I'm ready for that to be over. All I can say is that I'm truly grateful we have a nice air conditioned car.
6.) I did not have a single conversation at church today that did not involve a discussion of my baby, my due date, my excitement level, or how I'm feeling about being large with child. And while I completely understand that my massive belly is my most distinguishing characteristic right now, I can't wait to feel like an individual with my own identity again that is separate from my maternal state. I just hope the conversations I have post-partum will not revolve exclusively around poopy diapers or breastfeeding.
I just have to keep remembering that the end is in sight. And soon I'll have my own baby in my own two arms. Please just tell me that it's all been worth it. And even if it's not, just lie and tell me that it is, okay? 'Cause there's just no turning back now.
What I Have Enjoyed
1.) I've loved feeling my baby move and squirm and hiccup inside of me. Sure, it can sometimes be rather uncomfortable, especially when Baby puts some force behind it, but it's also pretty incredible to watch your belly move or to see the barest outline of a foot press against your skin.
2.) Of all the images we've been given after an ultrasound, there's nothing I like to look at better than the picture of my baby's open hand, with its five perfectly formed fingers. To think that those perfect hands and feet are growing inside of me is simply astounding. And slightly creepy.
3.) Climbing the Great Wall of China six months pregnant. It makes for a great story and reminds me that there used to be a time when standing upright for more than 10 minutes wasn't one of life's great challenges.
4.) It may sound cliche and uber-cheesey, but there really is this indescribable feeling of awe and wonderment that comes from creating life. Not only do I feel an unbreakable bond forming between me and my child, but I have also felt a greater connection to all the women throughout history who have experienced pregnancy and birth.
5.) I'm extremely grateful that I avoided some of the common complications of pregnancy (though certainly not all). I had no morning sickness (just slight nausea) and have not thrown up once my entire pregnancy. My ankles, hands, and face have not swollen or become unrecognizable. (My wedding ring still falls off my finger from time to time.) I've had no heartburn or found foods that I could not eat. I didn't gain 50 pounds. (Though I think this has more to do with the fact that I live in Korea and couldn't eat In & Out or Chipotle twice a day like I wished I could. I think if I had been pregnant in the States, I would have been able to indulge my cravings far more often and would definitely have gained a LOT more weight.)
6.) Sometimes, when I'm driving around or cleaning the house or just watching TV, Baby would kick me as if to let me know that I wasn't alone. I've carried on many one-sided conversations with the baby, telling it about my day, or how I'm feeling, or confessing just how truly scared I am about bringing them into the world and about being a good mother. And sometimes, just sometimes, the baby will move in just such a way that I know that they understand. And think I'll do just fine.
What I Have Not Liked
1.) The waiting. I am severely lacking in patience and nine months of gestation just seems like cruel and unusual punishment. At least I can be grateful that I'm not an elephant, who can have gestation periods of up to 22 months.
2.) The unknown. There's always that little voice in the back of my mind that whispers that something may be wrong. Maybe my baby will have eleven toes instead of ten. Maybe they'll have a learning disability or have some rare genetic disease. Maybe I'll have to have an emergency C-section or I didn't eat enough vegetables and the baby will never eat carrots and forever have bad eyesight. But then there's the voice that tells me that even if my baby isn't perfect, I'll still think that they are.
3.) The stretch marks. Oh, the stretch marks. I joyously thought I'd dodged another bullet and managed to not get stretch marks, but it turns out that I just couldn't see them because my belly was too big. When I finally noticed that they were there, I was depressed for a week. It's not like I ever paraded my bare stomach around for all the world to see before I got pregnant, but my belly will not most assuredly never see the light of day now.
4.) Physically, pregnancy has been relatively easy on me. But I was simply unprepared for how mentally and emotionally difficult it has been on me. I'd like to put all the blame on the crazy pregnancy hormones, but that wouldn't really be accurate. While I was quite happy through my first two trimesters, I've been having a rough time of it these last three months. I did feel much better when my mom told me that she was often depressed in her third trimester and that it's quite normal for expectant mothers to fall into these funks. I just hope that since depression has hit me now, I can maybe avoid having post-partum depression as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
5.) Recognizing that my body has limitations. I keep forgetting that I can't run or walk as fast as I used to, that I can't sleep on my stomach, or even sit up without some assistance. I can't wait to have my body back and to not feel like I need a nap after running a 15-minute errand. I like to think about what a beautiful and selfless sacrifice I've made to carry this child and bring it into the world, but some days, I really do feel like nothing more than a walking incubator and I'm ready for that to be over. All I can say is that I'm truly grateful we have a nice air conditioned car.
6.) I did not have a single conversation at church today that did not involve a discussion of my baby, my due date, my excitement level, or how I'm feeling about being large with child. And while I completely understand that my massive belly is my most distinguishing characteristic right now, I can't wait to feel like an individual with my own identity again that is separate from my maternal state. I just hope the conversations I have post-partum will not revolve exclusively around poopy diapers or breastfeeding.
I just have to keep remembering that the end is in sight. And soon I'll have my own baby in my own two arms. Please just tell me that it's all been worth it. And even if it's not, just lie and tell me that it is, okay? 'Cause there's just no turning back now.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Countdown Begins
Today is 39 weeks and I'm still pregnant. Since my original due date was September 1st and since my family has a history of having overdue babies, I assumed my baby wouldn't be showing up until September. And I was okay with that. That is, until my doctors decided that they didn't want me to continue my pregnancy past my new due date of August 25th. So now I've got about 6 days to do everything I possibly can to get this baby out of me before I have to be medically induced. I really had hoped that I could avoid any medical intervention but Baby doesn't seem to want to leave its nice, comfy home, despite the quarters becoming more and more cramped. We're tried a lot of the standard natural induction practices: squatting, walking, and....other stuff ;-). I ate an entire plate of kimchi at dinner tonight because some people say that eating spicy foods can help bring on labor. All I know is that I'm ready for this baby to come, but I want it to come on its own so that I can labor without medication. There are a few other options available before they'd administer Pictocin (like stripping my membranes or breaking my water) which I'm considering in the meantime.
The good news is that I have continued to dilate and am now at a 3, almost a 4, according to the doctor and the baby's head is in position and not bobbing around. So maybe, just maybe, this baby will show up soon. I'm getting very impatient. I didn't realize how difficult these last two weeks would be with the expectations and the waiting and the anxiety.
Still, it's somewhat nice to know that I'll have a baby in my arms by August 26th, at the latest.
The good news is that I have continued to dilate and am now at a 3, almost a 4, according to the doctor and the baby's head is in position and not bobbing around. So maybe, just maybe, this baby will show up soon. I'm getting very impatient. I didn't realize how difficult these last two weeks would be with the expectations and the waiting and the anxiety.
Still, it's somewhat nice to know that I'll have a baby in my arms by August 26th, at the latest.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Baby Shower
My friends Jenn and Amber threw me a baby shower yesterday and it was fantastic. Now, lest you start freaking out that David and I didn't mention we had our baby, don't worry. I'm still very much pregnant (my arm is covering up much of my belly bump in this photo) and the baby David is holding belongs to our friend Amanda who gave birth to her adorable son last week.
Several people walked into the room, saw David holding a baby and gave us funny looks like "Did we miss something?"
The party was decorated in purples and yellows, two of my favorite colors. Jenn's daughter Miriya thinks that everything purple belongs to Miss Liz and whenever she draws me a picture, it's always in purple.
I made some mini-lime cheesecake cups and they were delicious. I've still got a few sitting in my refrigerator. Maybe I should go eat another one.
We ate a delicious meal of homemade breads, chicken salad, and Caesar salad and then played several games. For the first game, Amber gave David a list of questions and the women had to guess how David answered them. I loved his responses and I wanted to always remember them, so I typed them out here.
What does David think?
1. How many diapers will you change in 24 hours?
16 - babies poo a lot
2. How much will your baby weigh?
7 lbs 3 oz. [As long as the baby is under 8 lbs, I'll be happy.]
3. What will be your baby's first word?
Either mama and baba (mom and dad in Chinese)
4. What has Liz craved the most during her pregnancy?
In & Out and Chipotle [He got this one right. I dream about In & Out on a regular basis.]
5. How old will your baby be when it crawls?
5 months
6. At what age will your baby be when it takes its first steps?
8 months
7. Will your baby be born with or without hair and if so what color will it be?
with blonde hair
8. What color do you think your baby's eyes will be?
blue
9. What will be the first toy you buy your baby?
Legos/Duplo (the big Legos)
10. Where do you think your baby will serve his or her mission?
China
11. How old will your baby be when it sleeps through the night?
4 months and 5 days
12. What will be your baby's favorite solid food?
Sugar. Anything sugar owing to Liz's high sugar intake during pregnancy. [Man, I hope that isn't true.]
13. How old will your baby be when it gets its first tooth?
9 months. Hopefully it will be old enough not to bite Liz's breasts. I want them back unscathed. [Now this made me blush.]
14. How often will your newborn baby eat?
Every 53 minutes. Babies are hungry little critters.
15. What will your baby study at school?
That depends. It will either take after Liz and study history/art/literature, or like me and study math/science/business.
16. How old will your child be when it gets married?
25-27. None of that under 21 trash that so many Mormons do. (No offense!)
17. How old will your child be when it makes you a grandpa?
50. They are allowed to marry at 25, but they can't have sex till they are older.
18. What phrase do you think Liz will say during labor?
All the cliches. "You did this to me!" "I'm gonna cut off your....." etc. [I'll have to report back on what I really say. But I have been looking forward to putting David on a guilt trip during labor.]
19. How long do you think Liz will be in labor?
5 hours and 23 minutes [I wish. I'm guessing my first time will take a little longer but given my family history of relatively quick labors, I'm hoping for 8 hours.]
20. What would Liz say her favorite part of being pregnant is?
No headaches. It's easy. She gets out of car inspections. [My favorite part is feeling the baby move. But about the car inspections: when we drive onto the base, the security guards will sometimes do "random" car inspections to make sure you're not bringing anything illegal or dangerous onto the base. They've recently ramped up the number of inspections they perform and we've been pulled over a ridiculous number of times for them to look under our car, check inside our trunks and look under our hood. (It happened twice in one day, even.) But the last few times they've tried to inspect my car, I've very sternly said, "I'm nine months pregnant. I am not climbing out of my car so you can inspect it." And the flustered Korean men just wave me on by because they don't speak English well enough to argue with me. It's been nice.]
21. What piece of advice would you give someone having their first baby?
Seeing as how I had no idea how to answer these questions, I recommend that they learn more about baby development. But besides that, I'd tell the fathers to do everything they can to make the mother comfortable, and I'd tell the mothers to try not to worry about the things they can't control and to enjoy the experience of growing a baby as much as possible because guys will never know what that is like. [I think this is great advice.]
Several people walked into the room, saw David holding a baby and gave us funny looks like "Did we miss something?"
The party was decorated in purples and yellows, two of my favorite colors. Jenn's daughter Miriya thinks that everything purple belongs to Miss Liz and whenever she draws me a picture, it's always in purple.
I made some mini-lime cheesecake cups and they were delicious. I've still got a few sitting in my refrigerator. Maybe I should go eat another one.We ate a delicious meal of homemade breads, chicken salad, and Caesar salad and then played several games. For the first game, Amber gave David a list of questions and the women had to guess how David answered them. I loved his responses and I wanted to always remember them, so I typed them out here.
What does David think?
1. How many diapers will you change in 24 hours?
16 - babies poo a lot
2. How much will your baby weigh?
7 lbs 3 oz. [As long as the baby is under 8 lbs, I'll be happy.]
3. What will be your baby's first word?
Either mama and baba (mom and dad in Chinese)
4. What has Liz craved the most during her pregnancy?
In & Out and Chipotle [He got this one right. I dream about In & Out on a regular basis.]
5. How old will your baby be when it crawls?
5 months
6. At what age will your baby be when it takes its first steps?
8 months
7. Will your baby be born with or without hair and if so what color will it be?
with blonde hair
8. What color do you think your baby's eyes will be?
blue
9. What will be the first toy you buy your baby?
Legos/Duplo (the big Legos)
10. Where do you think your baby will serve his or her mission?
China
11. How old will your baby be when it sleeps through the night?
4 months and 5 days
12. What will be your baby's favorite solid food?
Sugar. Anything sugar owing to Liz's high sugar intake during pregnancy. [Man, I hope that isn't true.]
13. How old will your baby be when it gets its first tooth?
9 months. Hopefully it will be old enough not to bite Liz's breasts. I want them back unscathed. [Now this made me blush.]
14. How often will your newborn baby eat?
Every 53 minutes. Babies are hungry little critters.
15. What will your baby study at school?
That depends. It will either take after Liz and study history/art/literature, or like me and study math/science/business.
16. How old will your child be when it gets married?
25-27. None of that under 21 trash that so many Mormons do. (No offense!)
17. How old will your child be when it makes you a grandpa?
50. They are allowed to marry at 25, but they can't have sex till they are older.
18. What phrase do you think Liz will say during labor?
All the cliches. "You did this to me!" "I'm gonna cut off your....." etc. [I'll have to report back on what I really say. But I have been looking forward to putting David on a guilt trip during labor.]
19. How long do you think Liz will be in labor?
5 hours and 23 minutes [I wish. I'm guessing my first time will take a little longer but given my family history of relatively quick labors, I'm hoping for 8 hours.]
20. What would Liz say her favorite part of being pregnant is?
No headaches. It's easy. She gets out of car inspections. [My favorite part is feeling the baby move. But about the car inspections: when we drive onto the base, the security guards will sometimes do "random" car inspections to make sure you're not bringing anything illegal or dangerous onto the base. They've recently ramped up the number of inspections they perform and we've been pulled over a ridiculous number of times for them to look under our car, check inside our trunks and look under our hood. (It happened twice in one day, even.) But the last few times they've tried to inspect my car, I've very sternly said, "I'm nine months pregnant. I am not climbing out of my car so you can inspect it." And the flustered Korean men just wave me on by because they don't speak English well enough to argue with me. It's been nice.]
21. What piece of advice would you give someone having their first baby?
Seeing as how I had no idea how to answer these questions, I recommend that they learn more about baby development. But besides that, I'd tell the fathers to do everything they can to make the mother comfortable, and I'd tell the mothers to try not to worry about the things they can't control and to enjoy the experience of growing a baby as much as possible because guys will never know what that is like. [I think this is great advice.]
David is so excited for our baby to arrive. Of course, that's easy for him to say since he's not the one that actually has to push a baby out of him, but I'm getting pretty excited myself. I really hope the baby will come soon (mostly so we can avoid being induced) and every day brings us that much closer to having our own baby in our arms.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
A Watched Pot Won't Ever Boil
I feel like I can really relate to this song right now. I'm definitely feeling like a watched pot that doesn't want to boil. Just gotta give it time....
Arcade Fire, Neighboorhood #4 (7 Kettles)
I am waitin’ ’til I don’t know when,
cause I’m sure it’s gonna happen then.
Time keeps creepin’ through the neighborhood,
killing old folks, wakin’ up babies just like we knew it would.
All the neighbors are startin’ up a fire,
burning all the old folks the witches and the liars.
My eyes are covered by the hands of my unborn kids,
but my heart keeps watchin’ through the skin of my eyelids.
They say a watched pot won’t ever boil,
well I closed my eyes and nothin’ changed,
just some water getting hotter in the flames.
It’s not a lover I want no more,
and it’s not heaven I’m pining for,
but there’s some spirit I used to know,
that’s been drowned out by the radio!
They say a watched pot won’t ever boil,
you can’t raise a baby on motor oil,
just like a seed down in the soil you gotta give it time.
I really love Arcade Fire. I need to get their new album. Maybe it'll be my gift to myself for pushing this baby out of me.
Arcade Fire, Neighboorhood #4 (7 Kettles)
I am waitin’ ’til I don’t know when,
cause I’m sure it’s gonna happen then.
Time keeps creepin’ through the neighborhood,
killing old folks, wakin’ up babies just like we knew it would.
All the neighbors are startin’ up a fire,
burning all the old folks the witches and the liars.
My eyes are covered by the hands of my unborn kids,
but my heart keeps watchin’ through the skin of my eyelids.
They say a watched pot won’t ever boil,
well I closed my eyes and nothin’ changed,
just some water getting hotter in the flames.
It’s not a lover I want no more,
and it’s not heaven I’m pining for,
but there’s some spirit I used to know,
that’s been drowned out by the radio!
They say a watched pot won’t ever boil,
you can’t raise a baby on motor oil,
just like a seed down in the soil you gotta give it time.
I really love Arcade Fire. I need to get their new album. Maybe it'll be my gift to myself for pushing this baby out of me.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Baby Progress
Photos taken today to mark 38 weeks! As my doula says, I'm all baby!
Black cats are just not very photogenic. And yet, we keep trying. I don't know what she's looking at.I went in for my 38 week check-up today and the prognosis was good. I met with the new head of OB (who just moved to Korea) and while she seems like the no-nonsense, take charge type of doctor, she was also supportive of my decisions and I liked her quite a bit. I just hope one of the doctors I like is on call the day I give birth. There are two doctors on base who are on my bad list, but I've really liked the other ones I've met. (Since this is a big turn-around period in the military, there are 3 new OB-GYNs at the hospital. I've met two of the three news ones. Sadly, my favorite doctor is leaving next month.)
Anyway, they checked my cervix (and boy was that uncomfortable....just a preview of what's to come, I suspect) and I'm already 2 centimeters dilated and 75% effaced and the doctor could feel the baby's head.
The doctors are still a little concerned about my blood pressure (since I'm an over-anxious person and my blood pressure tends to read a little high at first) and they've talked about inducing me on my due date, if not before. But my doula thinks that with her natural labor induction practices/exercises and the state of my cervix, I'll be giving birth next week. The thought is both exhilarating and daunting. I'm excited it may happen so soon, but also [naturally] a little terrified of what's to come. I just hope I make it past my baby shower on Saturday! (I still really need a few items before the baby arrives and I'm hoping I'll receive some of them at the shower. Is that awful?)
So Baby, feel free to drop on down and exit my uterus anytime after 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 14th.
Maybe I should go pack my hospital bag.....just in case.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Pregnancy Rollercoaster
Nearing the end, 37 weeks, taken August 4, 2010My sister likens pregnancy to a rollercoaster ride and I think it's a very appropriate metaphor. I love rollercoasters. The bigger, the faster, the twisty, the better. I love the kind of rollercoaster that makes your stomach drop out of its place and doesn't return until the ride is over. But pregnancy is the scariest rollercoaster out there and I'm all strapped in and I'm nearing the crest and I can just barely see what's coming up and I desperately want off. But I'm all strapped in and there's no way off so I just have to ride the ride and I hope I live through it.
I can't believe the time has come for my pregnancy to end.....only two more weeks to go (supposedly). And while I can't wait to have Baby in my arms finally, I've been a bundle of nerves over the delivery and the rotation of army doctors on base who aren't as supportive of natural childbirth as I would have hoped. A woman in my ward--with nine children--offered to be my doula and talking to her and knowing that she will be there to help guide me through labor has eased so many of my doubts, fears, and anxieties. I'm preparing myself for the unexpected and I know that things will probably not go as we planned, but I've also been reassured that at the end of it all, I'll have a healthy baby and that's all that matters right now. Now if only we could decide on a name....
Unfortunately, I haven't been doing anything exciting lately since my doctor all but ordered me to stay at home and do nothing. (She even told me I had to stop swimming and doing yoga which made me very sad.) Heat and humidity and nine months of pregnancy do tire me out tremendously and I'm often surprised by how tired I really am and how limited my body has become in what it can handle. A trip to the grocery store all but wipes me out and standing for any lengthy period of time puts me in agony. (Stupid gravity.) Luckily, I do have the luxury now of being able to rest as often and as long as I need and David has been very kind to ignore the pile of dirty dishes and laundry growing exponentially bigger each day.
Last Tuesday was also my last day of work. Granted, I only worked about 10 hours a week teaching English to Korean children, but it was still a little sad to say good-bye to my students who have a new teacher now.
The mother of one of my students brought me this adorable cake. The cake itself was pretty good, although it was banana-flavored so we only ate one piece. I suppose I'll have to throw the rest of it out. Fake banana is not very tasty to me. Good thing I just made homemade cream cheese ice cream with Oreo cookies. Now that is tasty.
I hope David and I will be able to keep everyone updated on the baby's progress and arrival. We'll keep you posted.
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