Yup, that's right. Four under 5 next summer. How's that for a new adventure?
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
This holiday season has gotten a little sweeter ...
... because we found out some big news right before Thanksgiving!
Yup, that's right. Four under 5 next summer. How's that for a new adventure?
Yup, that's right. Four under 5 next summer. How's that for a new adventure?
Monday, September 19, 2011
Confessions of a full-term mama
I.am.tired. Not the "take a nap" or "go to bed early" kind of tired. The "once I sit down I don't want to stand back up" kind of tired. The "I just want to lay on the couch, prop my feet up on a stack of pillows, and watch Jane Austen movies" kind of tired. And since this is a no-holds-barred confessional post, I might as well add that while lying at that comfy couch I would also be sipping a Coke. An icy cold, extra-fizzy, fountain Coke. But hey, let's not stop there. Let's throw in a big bowl of some unhealthy, super salty, flourescently orange Cheez-Its perched perfectly atop my belly. And then we'll top it all off with a pack (an entire pack) of Twizzlers, brought to you by Red 40. And now you know. THAT is how I feel this week.
Perhaps in an effort to offset these terrible, unhealthy thoughts, I took the boys on a walk. Or I attempted to take the boys on a walk. They were both excellent companions for once. Start 'em off with a little treat, bottle of water and super-cool hat on their heads, and they were more than willing to comply.
About halfway through our walk we came across a stray golf ball off the back 9, and that thoroughly made Jack's day. You never saw such a proud owner of a random golf ball. But fate was not on my side that morning. I'm still trying to learn the ins and outs of our neighborhood. I've found one or two good, flat routes, with sidewalks and in the opposite direction of the old men speeding in their Sebrings to the Country Club. But I'm bored of them already. So on this day we tried a different turn, a new street ... and promptly ran into three different hills. Three different occasions to put myself into labor. And three different times where I had to stop, pull out my phone so it appeared to anyone watching that I had a reason to pause, and just catch my breath for a little while. New confession: I'm terribly out of shape.
The good news is: I'm in the clear. I hit the 37 week mark tomorrow (a week later than I had been planning for a while now) and baby is in the clear for a birthing center arrival, as long as we don't go past 42 weeks. But I don't think that will happen. Baby's also in a great position - head down, back slightly on my left ... and her feet are completely jutting off to my right. Even the midwife was getting a kick out of her situation. Really sweetie, just make yourself right at home, you can just push that kidney out of the way and stretch yourself out ...
The Little Miss kept kicking and rolling around for the midwife, who happily responded with "Oh hey honey, hi there!" ... "Oh hello honey!" The two of them were just off in their own little world for a few minutes while she did a "round ligament release". Don't ask me exactly what that means, all I know is that I feel much, much better after that appointment! The other cool thing at that visit was hearing Baby's heart accelerate in the doppler whenever she started moving a lot, and then it would slow down a bit when she was resting. She's healthy, active and, according to the midwife, will likely take after our middle child and be in the 7 pound range.
The midwife also said my belly looks perfect. Can you tell I was totally loving this lady by the end of our 30 minutes together? I just kept replaying her comments in my head this weekend after a half of a dozen people told me, yet again, how small I'm carrying. I think I'm going to start eating a candy bar for every "small" comment I get, that should help offset things.
And I have a new theory about those of us who "carry small." Since Baby is on track to be a healthy, average size. And my weight gain is also healthy and average. One can only assume that I'm just carrying more on the inside than on the outside. For every woman whose belly is sticking way, way out. There's one of us whose womb reaches our spine. Makes sense right? It also explains why I feel so compacted in there right now. I'm able to bend over approximately two inches at this point, if I'm lucky. I would be so curious to see what things look like under my ribcage, it feels like a Tetris game for sure. But hey, as long as Baby is able to bounce about and stretch her legs - I'm happy. My organs can handle the temporary living situation for a few weeks longer.
And that's where we're at now - a few weeks longer. Give or take a few weeks. It feels like only yesterday I was crying at the dining room table trying to figure out how to break the news to Jon. But no matter how much you want to slow it down, those 9 months always go fast!
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| This is officially my favorite outfit of this pregnancy. I would say I'll be sorry to see the Heidi Klum skinny leg jeans go in a few weeks, but I have a feeling we'll be spending a long winter together ... |
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| Do you have any idea how much this thing + my two boys weighs? Me neither, but I'd sure like to find out. |
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| Putting up my feet, but certainly not relaxing. |
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| I put these on before leaving for Jack's physical appointment and he got all upset and said, "No Mom, those aren't doctor shoes!" |
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| No, they're not doctor shoes. They are pregnancy-calf slimming, kankle defying, most comfortable heels in the world shoes. I may just wear these to the birthing center... and then change into slippers when I get there. |
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| This might be my other favortie pregnancy outfit. Nothing like being able to fit into your hubby's old football t-shirts. |
And that's where we're at now - a few weeks longer. Give or take a few weeks. It feels like only yesterday I was crying at the dining room table trying to figure out how to break the news to Jon. But no matter how much you want to slow it down, those 9 months always go fast!
Friday, September 9, 2011
35 weeks on repeat
Well apparently I enjoyed my 35th week of pregnancy so much, we decided to repeat it. At my last appointment I had a lengthy discussion with the midwife about my dates and, after an even longer time trying to decipher my military clinic ultrasound records, it was finally determined that Baby is due October 11, not October 5. With the new date I'm now measuring right on (instead of the two weeks behind I was at my previous appointment). And so, while I'm confident the new date is more accurate (which is important if you want to deliver at the birthing center), I'm not so thrilled that we're now encroaching on Jack's birthday territory. In fact, I'm willing to carry this baby an additional week, if it means giving the kiddos a few extra days between celebrations. Ugh, two babies born within the same week is so not my modus operandi.
And neither is this whole changing dates thing when you're down to the last month. I've got myself utterly confused now. I have to think extra hard when someone asks when the baby is due. And I can't do that reverse psychology tell-yourself-you'll-have-the-baby-late-so-you're-not-disappointed deal because there's a very good chance this time around that labor could start "on time." To make matters worse, there's a family wedding on October 9 in LBI and the entire clan is renting a beach house for the weekend. Since that's the "baby could come any minute" time zone, chances are we're going to be missing out. And the whole idea makes me a bit grumpy.
But the Little Miss remains unphased. She's happy and healthy and pushing her way around in there just the same. And other than a little swelling in my left ankle and the occasional sharp, shooting pain on my left pelvis, I don't feel too bad either. I'm just really running out of space in my middle. Helping Jack in and out of his underwear 20 times a day has lost its luster. And I about drowned Jude in the bath whilst trying to rinse his hair out. I just can't get a good angle over the edge of the tub anymore. My husband gives me a hard time about the ice cubes that fall on the floor and never get picked up. What can I say? It's ten times easier to wait until they melt, throw a towel on the floor, and swish it around with my foot than it is to actually bend over and pick them up. Maybe we really do need a dog ...
But despite all the weird pokes and little inconveniences, I truly love this stage of pregnancy. I'm obviously with child, no one has to guess any more. I feel her little life within me every hour of the day. And I am consantly reminded of the miracle - the gift - of life. It's an honor to carry a child, so why not throw in an extra week while we're at it?
*********************************************************
Just a little note about 35 weeks for those of you who are interested. This is when I start my little herbal regimen - 5-W. This was recommended to me by our first midwife in Virginia Beach and even though my current midwives haven't heard of it before, all the herbs it includes - Black cohosh root, squaw vine herb, dong quai root, butcher's broom root and red rasberry leaves - are recommended by them during the last weeks of your pregnancy. And they gave me the go-ahead to use it again this time. 5-W stands for 5 weeks, because you take it the last 5 weeks of your pregnancy. It supposedly supports the reproductive system, tones your uterus and helps prep your body for labor. This article explains some of the benefits of 5-W. Some people claim to have shorter, timely labors because of this supplement but both my previous labors were 23 hours and 12 hours long, and I had one baby a week early and one a week late, so I can't attest to this myself. Also, I've never gone through a pregnancy without 5-W, so I honestly can't say it if makes a big difference or not. I do know that I've had two great deliveries, two great pushing experiences and two great recoveries. I've also had several friends who have taken it with similar results. Maybe it was the 5-W ... maybe not. But it might be worth a shot if you're at the end of your pregnancy! The product is manufactured by Nature's Sunshine, but like most items, I've found it to be cheaper through Amazon. And that is my 35 weeks two cents!
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| 35 weeks, the first time |
And neither is this whole changing dates thing when you're down to the last month. I've got myself utterly confused now. I have to think extra hard when someone asks when the baby is due. And I can't do that reverse psychology tell-yourself-you'll-have-the-baby-late-so-you're-not-disappointed deal because there's a very good chance this time around that labor could start "on time." To make matters worse, there's a family wedding on October 9 in LBI and the entire clan is renting a beach house for the weekend. Since that's the "baby could come any minute" time zone, chances are we're going to be missing out. And the whole idea makes me a bit grumpy.
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| 35 weeks, the second time. |
But the Little Miss remains unphased. She's happy and healthy and pushing her way around in there just the same. And other than a little swelling in my left ankle and the occasional sharp, shooting pain on my left pelvis, I don't feel too bad either. I'm just really running out of space in my middle. Helping Jack in and out of his underwear 20 times a day has lost its luster. And I about drowned Jude in the bath whilst trying to rinse his hair out. I just can't get a good angle over the edge of the tub anymore. My husband gives me a hard time about the ice cubes that fall on the floor and never get picked up. What can I say? It's ten times easier to wait until they melt, throw a towel on the floor, and swish it around with my foot than it is to actually bend over and pick them up. Maybe we really do need a dog ...
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| This little guy is reallly going to miss his "seat" in a few weeks. |
But despite all the weird pokes and little inconveniences, I truly love this stage of pregnancy. I'm obviously with child, no one has to guess any more. I feel her little life within me every hour of the day. And I am consantly reminded of the miracle - the gift - of life. It's an honor to carry a child, so why not throw in an extra week while we're at it?
*********************************************************
Just a little note about 35 weeks for those of you who are interested. This is when I start my little herbal regimen - 5-W. This was recommended to me by our first midwife in Virginia Beach and even though my current midwives haven't heard of it before, all the herbs it includes - Black cohosh root, squaw vine herb, dong quai root, butcher's broom root and red rasberry leaves - are recommended by them during the last weeks of your pregnancy. And they gave me the go-ahead to use it again this time. 5-W stands for 5 weeks, because you take it the last 5 weeks of your pregnancy. It supposedly supports the reproductive system, tones your uterus and helps prep your body for labor. This article explains some of the benefits of 5-W. Some people claim to have shorter, timely labors because of this supplement but both my previous labors were 23 hours and 12 hours long, and I had one baby a week early and one a week late, so I can't attest to this myself. Also, I've never gone through a pregnancy without 5-W, so I honestly can't say it if makes a big difference or not. I do know that I've had two great deliveries, two great pushing experiences and two great recoveries. I've also had several friends who have taken it with similar results. Maybe it was the 5-W ... maybe not. But it might be worth a shot if you're at the end of your pregnancy! The product is manufactured by Nature's Sunshine, but like most items, I've found it to be cheaper through Amazon. And that is my 35 weeks two cents!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
More belly, less hair
I'm 33.5 weeks pregnant today and baby is about the size of a pineapple. Just as I guessed, at my 32 week check-up I was told I was measuring two weeks behind, and that was after a lot of pushing and jiggling by the midwife to get the baby into a better position. She is head-down now, but on a diagonal. Which makes "measuring" a challenge, and also makes for some weird in-utero sensations - like a lot of activity in my right love-handle. :) Despite barely measuring 30 weeks, my midwife said I was right on track for weight gain. But she also said my glucose test results actually came back on the low side and encouraged me to eat me small meals throughout the day to keep my sugar levels up. Ugh, it sounds so easy, this whole "eating more" thing but I tell you it's not! And I'm also finding I'm not as hungry anymore as I used to be. I attribute that to Baby Girl deflating my poor little stomach.
Anyway, despite the dreary check-up, my belly is still getting bigger. Thirty-nine and one half inches around to be exact. In fact, it's officially big enough that Jude can hide under it. Which would explain why I've been tripping over him so much lately. He's my "mama's boy", and he loves to shadow me all around the house. But I just don't see him down there anymore!
Other than the occasional leg cramp, sore back and intermittent heartburn, oh and swollen ankles when I stand in heels at graduations or weddings all day, this pregnancy is going really, really well. I don't want to say easy, but compared to what I hear from others, I guess that's how I have it. Even if it does make me feel a bit guilty. Like today, I met another mama of two boys at our church's picnic. She's due with a third boy about a month after me and is having her most difficult pregnancy yet. So when she asks me how I'm feeling, well it just doesn't feel right to say "Oh fantastic, I hardly know I'm carrying a baby!" Instead, I try to throw in something like "Good, but tired, especially from chasing two little boys," or "So much better now that the morning sickness is over!" or "Well I'd be sleeping great if Jude wasn't teething right now!" But the truth is, I don't take it for granted, because having an easy pregnancy really is a HUGE blessing when you have two other toddlers. It is certainly something I regularly thank God for!
But now, for the real point of this post. While I may have more of a belly these days, I now have less hair. We were in Pennsylvania the other weekend and I made a last minute phone call to my hairdresser to see if she could squeeze me in for a quick cut. With the new baby on the way, I explained to her that I didn't know when I'd be getting out of the house again, so "let's go pretty short." But still long enough to pull back, I added. She must have been feeling especially sympathetic to my upcoming position because with a few snips of her shears she ensured that I would be able to go without at trim for quite some time. Presenting, the shortest haircut I've ever had:
I just wanted to explain that so ya'll wouldn't think I went out and got the hormonal mom-cut. I didn't intend to lose that much hair. But what's been done is done. And it's not too, too bad. I cannot pull it back though. At least, not without a two extra clips holding it all up, but thanks to my pre-natal vitamins, it hopefully won't be long before we reach that point.
And that's where we are, 4-9 weeks to go! And that realization has kicked me into gear with the whole "get ready for baby" thing. Jack was away at "Grandy Camp" last week (more on that in the next post!) and Jon was traveling for work. So I was able to get a little start on Project Nursery. It's coming along nicely, and thanks to my recent introduction to Pinterest, I've got plenty of ideas to carry me through the home stretch! Stay tuned for more on that as well!
Anyway, despite the dreary check-up, my belly is still getting bigger. Thirty-nine and one half inches around to be exact. In fact, it's officially big enough that Jude can hide under it. Which would explain why I've been tripping over him so much lately. He's my "mama's boy", and he loves to shadow me all around the house. But I just don't see him down there anymore!
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| Peek-a-boo, there he is! |
Other than the occasional leg cramp, sore back and intermittent heartburn, oh and swollen ankles when I stand in heels at graduations or weddings all day, this pregnancy is going really, really well. I don't want to say easy, but compared to what I hear from others, I guess that's how I have it. Even if it does make me feel a bit guilty. Like today, I met another mama of two boys at our church's picnic. She's due with a third boy about a month after me and is having her most difficult pregnancy yet. So when she asks me how I'm feeling, well it just doesn't feel right to say "Oh fantastic, I hardly know I'm carrying a baby!" Instead, I try to throw in something like "Good, but tired, especially from chasing two little boys," or "So much better now that the morning sickness is over!" or "Well I'd be sleeping great if Jude wasn't teething right now!" But the truth is, I don't take it for granted, because having an easy pregnancy really is a HUGE blessing when you have two other toddlers. It is certainly something I regularly thank God for!
But now, for the real point of this post. While I may have more of a belly these days, I now have less hair. We were in Pennsylvania the other weekend and I made a last minute phone call to my hairdresser to see if she could squeeze me in for a quick cut. With the new baby on the way, I explained to her that I didn't know when I'd be getting out of the house again, so "let's go pretty short." But still long enough to pull back, I added. She must have been feeling especially sympathetic to my upcoming position because with a few snips of her shears she ensured that I would be able to go without at trim for quite some time. Presenting, the shortest haircut I've ever had:
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| 33 weeks, and yes I still have two legs, it just doesn't look like it in this picture! |
I just wanted to explain that so ya'll wouldn't think I went out and got the hormonal mom-cut. I didn't intend to lose that much hair. But what's been done is done. And it's not too, too bad. I cannot pull it back though. At least, not without a two extra clips holding it all up, but thanks to my pre-natal vitamins, it hopefully won't be long before we reach that point.
And that's where we are, 4-9 weeks to go! And that realization has kicked me into gear with the whole "get ready for baby" thing. Jack was away at "Grandy Camp" last week (more on that in the next post!) and Jon was traveling for work. So I was able to get a little start on Project Nursery. It's coming along nicely, and thanks to my recent introduction to Pinterest, I've got plenty of ideas to carry me through the home stretch! Stay tuned for more on that as well!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Pomp and Circumstance (2011)
As many of your know, my Handsome Coastie finished his second Master's degree this summer. Although we've been celebrating the end of this era for a few weeks now, he just recently had his graduation ceremony.
Jon's parents joined us for the festivities. It was a lovely, hot summer day, in a beautiful church about an hour away. In typical military fashion, the ceremony started at 10am, and we were told to be there by 9am. And in typical Coastie Family fashion, we were there at 8:45am. The good news: we had great seats. The bad news: we had over three hours in pews with our two little tikes. I thought ahead and packed snacks, drinks, "quiet" toys, puzzle and books. My kids were tired of the toys, ate all the snacks and spilled their drinks before the first note of the National Anthem sounded.
Once Jack got over the wonder and awe of servicemembers marching in uniforms and flags and music, and we all sat down to speeches, the real work began. It was also about this time that Jude kept trying to touch the tattoo on the lady in front of us while exclaiming, in his cutest yet loudest baby voice, "Uh-oh, uh-oh!" So I took the boys to the back foyer where the rest of the parents with kiddos were hanging out. This was all well and good until Jack started running over the babies and not minding his mama. Thankfully, Nonnie stepped in at this point to take Jude off my hands and I got to experience dragging a toddler out of church - kicking and screaming.
We quickly discovered a "reflection garden" with peaceful fountain and breezy-set bench. I read through the public journal tucked under the bench seat while Jack splashed in the fountain. Okay, while Jack got thoroughly drenched in the fountain. When he started re-arranging the actual structure and pumping mechanism, I figured it was best to move one. So we walked the gardens in an attempt to dry off Jack's clothes. We were just starting to approach that point when he found yet another fountain to dunk in. The child knows no moderation.
Soon the speeches were over and it was time for the actual awarding. Poppie came to relieve me of my charge so I could watch Hubby receive his degree and rest my poor, pregnant ankles a little. He brought our small brood back into the sanctuary while they were handing out awards. Jack ran up to our pew, said "Hi Mama, I back!" and then crawled up next to me. In a split second, conveniently timed just when the presenters had taken a break from speaking, he stood up next to me, slipped forward, and banged his head on the pew in front of us. There was silence, a slight gasp from the people sitting around us, a sucking in of air by Jack himself, followed by the wail. Thankfully, Poppie had scooped Jack up and whisked him back down the aisle by the time the wail was in full force. But it was still loud enough that Jon, sitting on the other side of the church, turned to his classmates and whispered, "That's my kid."
It was the kind of event where one probably should not have brought small children. But we did anyway, along with lots of other people. And it was the kind of event after which one vows to never again attempt bringing small children to anything involving non-Sunday church ceremonies, quiet speeches, long waits, and dressing up... And then we drove up to New Jersey the next day with our boys to attend Jon's cousin Jackie's wedding.
The boys were adorable in their ties and vests. And although I know you shouldn't brag about how little you spend on clothing, I just have to add that I found Jack's entire ensemble on clearance for $6. Awesome! Despite the results of the previous day, I yet again assumed that a few toys and snacks would keep my kids quiet during a short wedding ceremony. Notsomuch. A few moments before the wedding party was about to walk down the aisle, Jack started racing down the pews and, because kids are so good at being loud during all the quiet moments, Jude began pointing at the candle above our heads and exclaiming yet again, in his cutest yet loudest baby voice, "Uh-oh, uh-oh!" Things had gone far enough. I whisked the boys off to the nursery and we watched the rest of the ceremony on closed-circuit TV.
After some Rita's (right outside the church, best idea ever!) and family pictures we decided a slow, quiet drive to the reception was in order.
Just as hoped, both boys zonked out by the time we pulled into the parking lot. Jon and I gave each other silent cheers, leaned the seats back, cranked up the AC, pulled out our books and settled in for a nice little pre-reception quiet time. Ah, how much life has changed these past 5 years. Eventually Jon decided he should scope out the hors d'ouvres while I held down the fort.
After naptime ended, the boys had a nice little romp in the grass and fresh air with their cousins. And then I realized, you can dress 'em up but you can't take 'em out.
Within seconds Jack had found the biggest, baddest stick he could carry and was attempting to go "fishing" or take out a few cousins, or dig in a few mud puddles. And I'll confess, at this point, I didn't really care.
While we thought we were being proactive in arriving at the reception early and giving our kids naps and playtime, what we didn't realize that hors d'ourves were scheduled to last 2 hours, that we wouldn't be able to sit at our table until 8pm, or that dinner wouldn't be served until 10pm. Eek!
Let's just say, we had a LOT of playtime. We attempted some time in the reception hall, but after chasing kids in and out of the the crowd and watching Jack nearly trip more than one poor lady in heels, we decided to spend the rest of the evening basking by the waterfall.
The littlest cousins had fun wrestling in the grass, throwing rocks and making their way into the background of other people's nice photos. And then Jon caught Jack taking a swig of cousin Connie's "adult beverage." It was cold and clear, the poor child just thought it was water. Fortunately, he remained unphased.
By the time we were seated, my preggo ankles had long been protesting an entire day in heels. And the boys were beyond tired. So while the rest of the crowd was letting loose out on the dance floor, Jon and I were along the back wall attempting the "sleep sway" with each of our boys. By the time dinner was served our little guys could barely keep their eyes open. We shoved a few bites into them, scooped them back up for a quick goodbye to the family, and were out the door before we could catch a glimpse of the cake we were missing out on.
And I'll admit, sometimes it stinks. Being out on the fringes. Feeling like your whole life is centered around naps, snacks and whatever toy you can scrape out of the bottom of the diaper bag. But I'm really okay with it. This is just a phase of our life. Our kids won't be this much work forever ... and they won't be adorable, sweet little boys forever either. Lately I've been noticing Mama's that are a decade or two ahead of me. I see them in church, at graduation ceremonies or weddings, perfectly put together, able to actuallly spend more than a hot second on their hair and make-up, enjoying the moment, kids off doing their own thing. Honestly, for the first time ever, "mid-life" has its appeal. I think I'm looking forward to being in my 30s and 40s, but not enough to race there. Because this age is pretty good too. And right now my kids don't ask me for money, or video games, or roll their eyes when I tell them to do something. Instead they put their head on my shoulder when they're tired, they run up to me with their hands in the air when they need a snuggle, and they bop to the music. So I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts ... and while they still let me capture it on camera.
Jon's parents joined us for the festivities. It was a lovely, hot summer day, in a beautiful church about an hour away. In typical military fashion, the ceremony started at 10am, and we were told to be there by 9am. And in typical Coastie Family fashion, we were there at 8:45am. The good news: we had great seats. The bad news: we had over three hours in pews with our two little tikes. I thought ahead and packed snacks, drinks, "quiet" toys, puzzle and books. My kids were tired of the toys, ate all the snacks and spilled their drinks before the first note of the National Anthem sounded.
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| Pre-ceremony lip smacking! |
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| Pre-ceremony pew slapping. |
Once Jack got over the wonder and awe of servicemembers marching in uniforms and flags and music, and we all sat down to speeches, the real work began. It was also about this time that Jude kept trying to touch the tattoo on the lady in front of us while exclaiming, in his cutest yet loudest baby voice, "Uh-oh, uh-oh!" So I took the boys to the back foyer where the rest of the parents with kiddos were hanging out. This was all well and good until Jack started running over the babies and not minding his mama. Thankfully, Nonnie stepped in at this point to take Jude off my hands and I got to experience dragging a toddler out of church - kicking and screaming.
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| Now we all know where Jack gets his "seriously excited" face from! |
We quickly discovered a "reflection garden" with peaceful fountain and breezy-set bench. I read through the public journal tucked under the bench seat while Jack splashed in the fountain. Okay, while Jack got thoroughly drenched in the fountain. When he started re-arranging the actual structure and pumping mechanism, I figured it was best to move one. So we walked the gardens in an attempt to dry off Jack's clothes. We were just starting to approach that point when he found yet another fountain to dunk in. The child knows no moderation.
Soon the speeches were over and it was time for the actual awarding. Poppie came to relieve me of my charge so I could watch Hubby receive his degree and rest my poor, pregnant ankles a little. He brought our small brood back into the sanctuary while they were handing out awards. Jack ran up to our pew, said "Hi Mama, I back!" and then crawled up next to me. In a split second, conveniently timed just when the presenters had taken a break from speaking, he stood up next to me, slipped forward, and banged his head on the pew in front of us. There was silence, a slight gasp from the people sitting around us, a sucking in of air by Jack himself, followed by the wail. Thankfully, Poppie had scooped Jack up and whisked him back down the aisle by the time the wail was in full force. But it was still loud enough that Jon, sitting on the other side of the church, turned to his classmates and whispered, "That's my kid."
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| Family Portrait Fail. But this perfectly describes how my boys were feeling at this point. |
It was the kind of event where one probably should not have brought small children. But we did anyway, along with lots of other people. And it was the kind of event after which one vows to never again attempt bringing small children to anything involving non-Sunday church ceremonies, quiet speeches, long waits, and dressing up... And then we drove up to New Jersey the next day with our boys to attend Jon's cousin Jackie's wedding.
 |
| Photo Credit: Nonnie |
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| Photo Credit: Man holding Nonnie's camera. |
The boys were adorable in their ties and vests. And although I know you shouldn't brag about how little you spend on clothing, I just have to add that I found Jack's entire ensemble on clearance for $6. Awesome! Despite the results of the previous day, I yet again assumed that a few toys and snacks would keep my kids quiet during a short wedding ceremony. Notsomuch. A few moments before the wedding party was about to walk down the aisle, Jack started racing down the pews and, because kids are so good at being loud during all the quiet moments, Jude began pointing at the candle above our heads and exclaiming yet again, in his cutest yet loudest baby voice, "Uh-oh, uh-oh!" Things had gone far enough. I whisked the boys off to the nursery and we watched the rest of the ceremony on closed-circuit TV.
After some Rita's (right outside the church, best idea ever!) and family pictures we decided a slow, quiet drive to the reception was in order.
 |
| Somehow "Monkey" managed to fanangle his way into the big Bride's family portrait. |
Just as hoped, both boys zonked out by the time we pulled into the parking lot. Jon and I gave each other silent cheers, leaned the seats back, cranked up the AC, pulled out our books and settled in for a nice little pre-reception quiet time. Ah, how much life has changed these past 5 years. Eventually Jon decided he should scope out the hors d'ouvres while I held down the fort.
After naptime ended, the boys had a nice little romp in the grass and fresh air with their cousins. And then I realized, you can dress 'em up but you can't take 'em out.
Within seconds Jack had found the biggest, baddest stick he could carry and was attempting to go "fishing" or take out a few cousins, or dig in a few mud puddles. And I'll confess, at this point, I didn't really care.
While we thought we were being proactive in arriving at the reception early and giving our kids naps and playtime, what we didn't realize that hors d'ourves were scheduled to last 2 hours, that we wouldn't be able to sit at our table until 8pm, or that dinner wouldn't be served until 10pm. Eek!
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| Barefoot and pregnant, attempting to take photos that involve as little bending and crouching as possible. |
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| All I wanted was one picture of the handsome cousins all dressed up. Apparently that was asking a little much of my wee one. This is the best I got. |
Let's just say, we had a LOT of playtime. We attempted some time in the reception hall, but after chasing kids in and out of the the crowd and watching Jack nearly trip more than one poor lady in heels, we decided to spend the rest of the evening basking by the waterfall.
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| A serene moment by the water. |
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| Poppie and his grandkids! (minus Ryley and Gabe) |
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| Nana and Papa and the great-grandkids. Note our Chicken Little in the middle. |
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| Getting tossed in the air by Poppie will offset any "shorter than usual" nap day. |
By the time we were seated, my preggo ankles had long been protesting an entire day in heels. And the boys were beyond tired. So while the rest of the crowd was letting loose out on the dance floor, Jon and I were along the back wall attempting the "sleep sway" with each of our boys. By the time dinner was served our little guys could barely keep their eyes open. We shoved a few bites into them, scooped them back up for a quick goodbye to the family, and were out the door before we could catch a glimpse of the cake we were missing out on.
And I'll admit, sometimes it stinks. Being out on the fringes. Feeling like your whole life is centered around naps, snacks and whatever toy you can scrape out of the bottom of the diaper bag. But I'm really okay with it. This is just a phase of our life. Our kids won't be this much work forever ... and they won't be adorable, sweet little boys forever either. Lately I've been noticing Mama's that are a decade or two ahead of me. I see them in church, at graduation ceremonies or weddings, perfectly put together, able to actuallly spend more than a hot second on their hair and make-up, enjoying the moment, kids off doing their own thing. Honestly, for the first time ever, "mid-life" has its appeal. I think I'm looking forward to being in my 30s and 40s, but not enough to race there. Because this age is pretty good too. And right now my kids don't ask me for money, or video games, or roll their eyes when I tell them to do something. Instead they put their head on my shoulder when they're tired, they run up to me with their hands in the air when they need a snuggle, and they bop to the music. So I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts ... and while they still let me capture it on camera.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Someone get this girl a mood ring
let's get emotional girls to all wear mood rings
so we'll be tipped off to when they're ticked off
cause we'll know just what they're thinking
-Relient K, "Mood Rings"
Love the teenage punk band reference?
After three pregnancies, you start to catch on to things. You no longer worry about that weird jabbing feeling in your uterus that makes you gasp when you stand up, because you know it's totally normal. And you rarely mention the leg cramps, heartburn, back pain, difficulty breathing, etc. because you've been expecting it. And the 30-something week emotional breakdown? Well it wouldn't be a Janine-pregnancy without it. As proven by my dutiful blogging these past 3 years (here and here) I'm prone to hormonal surges right around this time of pregnancy.
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| He likes to point out the acorns ... all 5,000,000 of them. |
And so this week, while I was sitting on the toilet seat in our bathroom (the farthest, quietest corner of the house at the time) crying my eyes out. It suddenly dawned on me - I'm 32 weeks, this is totally, completely, part of the process. It's not me, it's the hormones.
And the hormones aren't helped much by current circumstances. Jon's back to work now. And he really likes his job. So much so that he tends to spend 12 hour days there. We also have a contractor (who Jack has affectionately dubbed "the man") working on the guest room that likes to show up at 7am sharp. Which means my day starts with the rising of the sun, and I'm flying solo until Jon walks in the door during dinnertime. And that sounds so quaint - dinnertime. What it really means is I'm up to my elbows in dishes. Jude, who finished all three helpings of his dinner within 10 minutes, is emptying out the drawers, shoving things in the broiler, or crawling in the dishwasher. And Jack, who has been sitting at the table for about an hour now, has still only taken 3 bites, yet managed to go "pee pee" on the potty twice in 10 minutes, is being told to "sit in his seat" for about the 50th time that meal. Ah sweet family mealtime.
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| Jack keeps a close eye on "the man" and gives us the play by play on all the "the man's" doings. |
The good thing about being on my own all day is that we have a good routine. This mama runs a tight ship. The boys are up at 7. Lunch is at 11. Both are taking a nap by 12:30. Jude's down for the night promptly at 7. Jack's picking out his 3 books and changing into his jammies by 7:15. And Mama is about to crash by 7:30. I mean, raising two toddlers is exhausting. They just don't stop. Unless they're taking a nap. But those are the only hours I have to cook, clean, and oh yeah, do my other job. Sooo, in case you haven't noticed yet, the energetic phase of pregnancy has officially passed. I concede, I am tired.
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| My two little loves. |
But it's not just the "can't deal with it and crying on the toilet" moments. I'm all over the spectrum here. My sentimental sensors are on high-alert. And when it comes to my kids I'm hearing, seeing, feeling more deeply than ever. Like when I'm sitting in the middle of church, listening to the pastor preach about shipwrecks, and all I can think about is how much I stinkin' love my little family. Or I'm listening to Jack begging "Jude-buddy" to come play with him and realizing how grateful I am for my two boys, the little buddies and those rare moments when they get along. Or when it's time for Jude to go to bed, he's practically jumping out of my arms while reaching for his crib and I'm just not ready to put him down yet because I want one last snuggle before the day comes to a close. Or that sparkle in Jack's eye, the smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth when he gives me that look, the one that says, "Man, I have a cool mom." Nevermind that he'd never think to say it. I know what he's thinking. And even the Little Miss, when she does her happy dance after I've laid down for the night and she knows she has my full attention. The way she kicks and rolls and grooves. She's won my heart completely.
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| When he smiles, the birds burst into song... okay not really, but it seems like it. |
Yes, there have been some bitter moments this week. But it's not been without it's savory bits either. And in these final weeks of pregnancy I'd so much rather dwell on those... at least until things start to really get crazy.
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| Always looking for a new vantage point. |
We have a promising weekend on the books, and a "lighter load" for me over this next week. Which means, also judging from previous pregnancies, full-on nesting mode is right around the corner! Woo hoo! Nesting is ten times better than sobbing in bathrooms! Happy Friday!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Baby .78
Our little girl. It still hasn't quite hit me yet. And maybe that's a good thing because there is definitely a chance that our Miss could be a Mister. I love this stage of pregnancy. I'm so aware of her and her little life fluttering around in my belly. I think about her more and more and imagine what it will be like to meet her. But we're also in home stretch territory now. This is the third trimester and I'm fully aware of that too. Both my boys were due in the middle of the month, so I was fairly certain I knew what month they'd be arriving. But this one, this one is due October 5. Which means she might be born in September. Which just so happens to be next month. And we're not ready, not even close. I'm still trying to find places to store my jeans, the dish towels, photo albums, etc. Where are we going to put a baby?! But don't take it personally Little One.
So when I last wrote a baby bump update, we were celebrating the "showing" milestone... and the fact that a stranger actually noticed I was pregnant. Well the past two weeks have been a bit of a reversal. We went to a church membership meeting last weekend and all I heard was "you're so tiny," "Seven months? I would have guessed you were just a few weeks!" "You're pregnant?" *insert pouty/pursed lips and slanted eyes* All I want is to look really, genuinely with-child these days. Pregnant like I mean it. Instead I am realizing just how quickly I am losing time to prove to the world that I am indeed carrying a baby. Here, put your hand on my stomach for a second and you'll know what I mean! Or, let's exchange bladders for a few minutes and I'll prove to you there is a healthy-sized elbow pressing on that organ. Or, can you not see my belly button entering the room a half second before the rest of me?
But the truth is, I am carrying small again. And obviously it does bother me a bit. All three of my pregnancies started out the same, and then around 26 weeks things leveled off with Jude or they escalated at epic proportions with Jack... This pregnancy is reminding me very much of Jude's, so I have a feeling we can expect another 7 pounder. At 31 weeks my weight is the same as it was at this point in my last pregnancy. In fact, I haven't gained more than a pound in two weeks, but it's not for lack of trying!! On the other hand, this baby's older brothers keep me more than active, I just hope she gets a chance to grab some calories before I spend them chasing down the other two.
Back to baby. I haven't had a midwife appointment in a few weeks, but when I did she was sitting breech, totally normal at this stage. But I think things have changed since then. Now that I'm on my third kid I'm getting a little better at interpreting humps, bumps, kicks and punches. I'm guessing she's more head down now, maybe slightly diagonal, but I could be wrong. There is definitely something substantial under my right ribcage, which makes me sit a little crooked, and a lot of activity in my upper right side and lower left side. Sister likes to make her presence known. And her brothers are starting to catch on. Jack says things like "Sister in mommy's belly" and tries to give my belly a drink of his water. Jude likes to push and pull on my belly button. And both boys have found that my bump makes an excellent hill for toy cars. Hmm, I'm afraid they won't find a newborn nearly as much fun.
And I'm enjoying the bump as well ... except when it keeps me up at night. I did finally cave and pull out The Nest a few weeks ago. Ah life is good again, sleep is sweet. It's just a little hard to get out of bed in the morning, at least gracefully, but the full-night's sleep and fewer leg cramps are well worth the additional effort. And despite what hubby says, I know he enjoys The Nest too. I've found him cuddling up to the side more than once when I wake up for a potty break. :)
But The Nest is not to be confused with nesting because that I haven't done. I did mention I started on Baby's bedding, but I haven't done a thing in over a week. I also haven't got out any clothes or baby things yet ... I mean, I just got that stuff put away after the move! We have plenty of time ... and more if she ends up being late like I imagine she will. But it's not that I'm not excited and anticipating her arrival. Oh, I am. I'm just willing to draw things out as long as possible. Pregnancy truly brings out my patient side!
I did read and finish Birth Matters this week. It's very good. I was underlining like crazy in my Kindle. But I should say that although I agree with a lot of what Ina May Gaskin says, and I love a lot of her natural birth philosophy, we approach that philosophy from very different perspectives. And no, I have no plans of ditching my present life to go live on The Farm for a few weeks and birth a baby in a cottage. There are a number of different ways to approach natural childbirth. I just don't want anyone to read the book and think Is this how Janine really feels?! No, I didn't need to go back in my psyche and clear out any emotional blockages preventing my labor from progressing. And no, I didn't need to "let my monkey do it" in order to have a great delivery. And no, I don't repeat mantras to myself during contractions. Those things are all fine and work for many people. I just don't want others to think I'm something I'm not. My births were exactly like I say in my Birth Stories. But if I do find myself tapping into my "inner monkey" this time around, I will certainly let you know!
And speaking of inner monkeys, there's a little monkey inside my belly begging for some ice cream, and I dare not refuse!
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| 30 weeks, 5 days ... to be exact |
So when I last wrote a baby bump update, we were celebrating the "showing" milestone... and the fact that a stranger actually noticed I was pregnant. Well the past two weeks have been a bit of a reversal. We went to a church membership meeting last weekend and all I heard was "you're so tiny," "Seven months? I would have guessed you were just a few weeks!" "You're pregnant?" *insert pouty/pursed lips and slanted eyes* All I want is to look really, genuinely with-child these days. Pregnant like I mean it. Instead I am realizing just how quickly I am losing time to prove to the world that I am indeed carrying a baby. Here, put your hand on my stomach for a second and you'll know what I mean! Or, let's exchange bladders for a few minutes and I'll prove to you there is a healthy-sized elbow pressing on that organ. Or, can you not see my belly button entering the room a half second before the rest of me?
But the truth is, I am carrying small again. And obviously it does bother me a bit. All three of my pregnancies started out the same, and then around 26 weeks things leveled off with Jude or they escalated at epic proportions with Jack... This pregnancy is reminding me very much of Jude's, so I have a feeling we can expect another 7 pounder. At 31 weeks my weight is the same as it was at this point in my last pregnancy. In fact, I haven't gained more than a pound in two weeks, but it's not for lack of trying!! On the other hand, this baby's older brothers keep me more than active, I just hope she gets a chance to grab some calories before I spend them chasing down the other two.
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| Driving cars over Mommy's belly. |
Back to baby. I haven't had a midwife appointment in a few weeks, but when I did she was sitting breech, totally normal at this stage. But I think things have changed since then. Now that I'm on my third kid I'm getting a little better at interpreting humps, bumps, kicks and punches. I'm guessing she's more head down now, maybe slightly diagonal, but I could be wrong. There is definitely something substantial under my right ribcage, which makes me sit a little crooked, and a lot of activity in my upper right side and lower left side. Sister likes to make her presence known. And her brothers are starting to catch on. Jack says things like "Sister in mommy's belly" and tries to give my belly a drink of his water. Jude likes to push and pull on my belly button. And both boys have found that my bump makes an excellent hill for toy cars. Hmm, I'm afraid they won't find a newborn nearly as much fun.
But The Nest is not to be confused with nesting because that I haven't done. I did mention I started on Baby's bedding, but I haven't done a thing in over a week. I also haven't got out any clothes or baby things yet ... I mean, I just got that stuff put away after the move! We have plenty of time ... and more if she ends up being late like I imagine she will. But it's not that I'm not excited and anticipating her arrival. Oh, I am. I'm just willing to draw things out as long as possible. Pregnancy truly brings out my patient side!
I did read and finish Birth Matters this week. It's very good. I was underlining like crazy in my Kindle. But I should say that although I agree with a lot of what Ina May Gaskin says, and I love a lot of her natural birth philosophy, we approach that philosophy from very different perspectives. And no, I have no plans of ditching my present life to go live on The Farm for a few weeks and birth a baby in a cottage. There are a number of different ways to approach natural childbirth. I just don't want anyone to read the book and think Is this how Janine really feels?! No, I didn't need to go back in my psyche and clear out any emotional blockages preventing my labor from progressing. And no, I didn't need to "let my monkey do it" in order to have a great delivery. And no, I don't repeat mantras to myself during contractions. Those things are all fine and work for many people. I just don't want others to think I'm something I'm not. My births were exactly like I say in my Birth Stories. But if I do find myself tapping into my "inner monkey" this time around, I will certainly let you know!
And speaking of inner monkeys, there's a little monkey inside my belly begging for some ice cream, and I dare not refuse!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Now Showing
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| 26 weeks |
Actually, I've gained the same amount with this pregnancy as I did with Jude at this point. And surprisingly it's slightly more than I did with Jack at 26 weeks, but we all know how that pregnancy ended. And, maybe not so ironically, the post I started writing out in my head earlier today about being 26 weeks pregnant sounded an awful lot like the post I wrote at 26 weeks pregnant with Jude. And that's why I'm glad I blog. Because if I hadn't just read over that post right now, I'd probably be wondering (for the third time in three years) why I'm feeling so small at 6 months pregnant! And also realize, yet again, that I only feel small until I see a picture of myself. Look at that belly ... oh snap!
Other than the heightened awareness of being with child, I'm starting to get a little psyched for this upcoming birth (not that we need to rush it along or anything). Jon and I took a tour of the birthing center I've been visiting these past few months. He wasn't too impressed, but I am very excited about delivering there. For those of you who don't know, it's a place where "healthy mom deliver healthy babies." Well, at least according to the midwife last night, or midhusband. What do you call a male midwife? Anyway, it's very low tech and high touch. In fact, for my upcoming glucose test I don't even have to drink that nasty, sugary, flat 7-up stuff. Instead I drink a glass of orange juice and eat a banana an hour before going in for my appointment. Convenient and tasty!
There are 4 midwives there, and they make sure you meet all of them before you deliver. There are three rooms to choose from, all look like normal bedrooms with regular beds, showers, jacuzzi tubs, birthing balls and a big birthing pool if you want it. There's also a kitchen and living room. You just show up when you're well into labor, have a baby any way you want to, and then leave 4-12 hours later. No epidurals, no IVs, no pitocin, no being strapped down to the bed with cuffs and monitors, no being woken up every 2 hours for check-ups after the baby is born. Um, heaven?
The way I see it, I've had two fairly swell deliveries in a hospital, a military hospital at that. If this next one is anything like the first two, it should be a piece a cake when I can have my own way. But I better not get too haughty now. Time will tell.
Now that we're thinking about giving birth and on the downhill slope to d-day, I picked up this joker - Birth Matters: A Midwife's Manifesta
- for my Kindle when we go to beach this summer. Yup, Ina May has a new book out, and I'm always up for a fresh perspective on natural childbirth. It still feels strange to think we'll be having another baby in a few months, 3 months actually. In some ways it just hasn't hit me yet. But I'm sure it will all become very real once the first contractions hit. Until then, we're just going to enjoy the summer, our boys, a new house and a big belly.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
They say she'll steal my beauty
Wednesday marks 24 weeks, and that's viability week baby! And let me tell you, this baby reminds me of her viability and LIFE every day! I thought boys would be more active in the womb, but I was oh so wrong. Our Little Miss here likes to kick me all day and night. I go to sleep with her pattering and am woken up extra early by her thumps on my bladder. I'm convinced she wants me to start thinking about ballet classes now!
Baby girl also has an appetite! I gained 2 pounds in one week. For those of you who don't know, that is not normal nor recommended. What's that little one? You want Chipotle again this week? Not-a-problem. I've also been told, by some well-meaning people I suppose, that my hips are much bigger this time around. Thanks for that, well-meaning people. The picture above is actually from 22.5 weeks. As you know, we're in the midst of moving and this was the last shot I got. Poor #3. Her mama is just not keeping up with the weekly belly shots.
It was so much easier the first time around, when I didn't have to worry about babies knocking over the camera or toddlers trying to get in on the photo shoot. When I actually had my hair and make-up done everyday and could look decent for a picture instead of waiting weeks on end for a "good day" when I'm okay with having my image captured for all eternity. When I felt young and full of life and not old and tired and creaky. Yes, it was so much easier then...
Since baby girl had herself a bit of a growth spurt last week I finally fit into most of my maternity clothes. And I got a little excited when I pulled out the summer wardrobe. I had forgotten how much I love summer baby bumps. How much less frumpy you feel when you can show off your skinny parts - neck, arms, ankles (well, for now!). How just a bit of sun can help out with that motherly glow. And yes, in case you're wondering, I did color my hair. It's gotten so dark since having my boys, and I knew there wasn't enough free hours in the day for the sun to lighten it, so I took matters into my own hands. At first I didn't like it, but either it's fading or beginning to grow on me, because now I don't mind it so much. And someone remarked yesterday that the "sun has really lightened my hair!" So I figure - mission accomplished. And I need all the help I can get, because if you haven't heard, baby girls steal their mother's beauty. Google it, it's true.
That's really all I know. I've been hearing it for years now and have lived in dread of carrying a baby girl for that very reason. But what I really want to find out, is do they give it back? Please baby girl. Yes, mama is tired, and busy taking care of your brothers, and doesn't always have time to fix hair and primp eyelashes and take cute pictures so that you'll remember for all time. But I am trying. And we all know it's what's on the inside that counts. And what's on the inside is a growing baby with a healthy appetitie. So I promise to keep you well-fed. More tacos? Not-a-problem.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Measure Up
Well I wasn't going to do another pregnancy post so soon, but while reminiscing through my blog earlier this week I rememebered that I compared belly shots at 16 weeks with both boys, and figured I couldn't leave my third offspring out. I even donned the same faithful sweatpants that have stuck out multpile semesters and finals weeks, three months abroad, several years of lazy Saturdays and now a third pregnancy. Let's just say, they don't fit like they used to. So here it is, a 16 week comparison shot (from left to right - Jack, Jude, #3):
Can I just say that Jon and I have really been missing Viginia Beach this week, and the fact that my latest belly shot wasn't taken in our old master bedroom, right between the door and closet, makes me even more sad? Shake it off Janine.
Anyway, hopefully the background don't throw off the scaling. I keep going back and forth, but overall think I look slightly bigger, or maybe "more pronounced" would be a better description. Two days ago I thought I wasn't showing at all, then I look at this picture and think I'm "huge", and then I leave my house and a lady today said she would have never guesssed I was pregnant because I'm so small. I just don't know anymore!!
Anyway, if you want real data. I'm measuring bigger around at this point than I was with Jude (I didn't start measuring with Jack 'til 21 weeks). In fact, I'm measuring the same size that I did with Jude at 19 weeks. But on the flipside, I've gained less weight. But who knows, I could've just eaten a lot of Chipotle right before I measured. I can't even remember. So all this to say ... nothing. Absolutely nothing. But it sure is fun wonder!
Anyway, no more baby news. I don't get to meet my new OB for another two weeks. So still haven't got to hear the heartbeat, not feeling any movement yet, and I'm practically forgetting I'm pregnant until I try to tie Jack's shoes and it feels like I'm bending over a football. Okay, maybe not that bad, but close. We've got a full weekend ahead of us celebrating with our little birthday boy, who is cutting another tooth and pretty much displaying all symptoms of teething known to man - clingy, not sleeping well, drooling, gnawing on my sholder, snotty, nasty diapers, even nastier rash, etc, - at one time.
Happy Easter to you and yours!
Can I just say that Jon and I have really been missing Viginia Beach this week, and the fact that my latest belly shot wasn't taken in our old master bedroom, right between the door and closet, makes me even more sad? Shake it off Janine.
Anyway, hopefully the background don't throw off the scaling. I keep going back and forth, but overall think I look slightly bigger, or maybe "more pronounced" would be a better description. Two days ago I thought I wasn't showing at all, then I look at this picture and think I'm "huge", and then I leave my house and a lady today said she would have never guesssed I was pregnant because I'm so small. I just don't know anymore!!
Anyway, if you want real data. I'm measuring bigger around at this point than I was with Jude (I didn't start measuring with Jack 'til 21 weeks). In fact, I'm measuring the same size that I did with Jude at 19 weeks. But on the flipside, I've gained less weight. But who knows, I could've just eaten a lot of Chipotle right before I measured. I can't even remember. So all this to say ... nothing. Absolutely nothing. But it sure is fun wonder!
Anyway, no more baby news. I don't get to meet my new OB for another two weeks. So still haven't got to hear the heartbeat, not feeling any movement yet, and I'm practically forgetting I'm pregnant until I try to tie Jack's shoes and it feels like I'm bending over a football. Okay, maybe not that bad, but close. We've got a full weekend ahead of us celebrating with our little birthday boy, who is cutting another tooth and pretty much displaying all symptoms of teething known to man - clingy, not sleeping well, drooling, gnawing on my sholder, snotty, nasty diapers, even nastier rash, etc, - at one time.
Happy Easter to you and yours!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The best laid plans of mice and men
Subtitled: And God Laughed
Sub-subtitled: Looks like we're not getting a dog anytime soon
Sub-sub-subtitled: Ahhhhh!!
So exactly one week after writing this lovely little post about being content with our two boys for now and taking a baby-break and enjoying a long summer of having my body all to myself ... I took a pregnancy test.
See Jon had mentioned something the night before about "what if" and we both agreed it was simply not possible. That there was just no way. And that was that. But I couldn't get it off my mind. All the next morning I just kept thinking and thinking, comparing this month to previous months, looking at the calendar, counting days, doing math. I still didn't think it was possible but by lunchtime I could hardly think of anything else. So I told myself that since I had 3 pregnancy tests upstairs that I'd stocked up on a long time ago during a sale, I could just take one to ease my mind after the boys went down for a nap. I figured it was worth it alone to be able to concentrate on all the phone calls I had to make that afternoon.
This test wasn't my usual one. Well, by usual I mean the brand I used with my other two babies - the one line or two lines. This was the "plus" or "minus" sign brand (hey it was on sale!). So I took the test, immediately saw a "minus" sign and breathed a huge sigh of relief! I walked back into the bedroom to put away some clothes and wait out the 2 minutes the back of the box suggested, just to confirm my doubts.
Two minutes later that "minus" had changed into a "plus." Two minutes later I sat on the floor and bawled my eyes out.
It's amazing the number of things that can flash through your mind in an instant. No more solo-summer. No more fall trip to the Cayman's. No more only-one-kid-in-diapers. THREE UNDER THREE! No wonder Jude has been annoyed while nursing. How are we gonna put three kids in college at the same time?! I'm gonna be huge at the beach! THREE UNDER THREE!! What about the wedding the boys are supposed to be in? We don't even know where we'll be living in 4 months. What are people gonna say? It still can't be true. Won't know for sure until the doctor confirms. THREE UNDER THREE!! I'll never be able to leave the house! How will we ever survive next winter?! What about all those cute clothes I just bought? THREE UNDER THREE!! How did this happen? How am I going to tell Jon!?!?
I decided the best way to start would be by putting on same make-up. I'm sure the last thing he needed to see coming in the door from work was his messy-haired wife, in sweatpants, with a tear-stained face, waving a pee-stick in his face saying "YOU DID THIS TO ME!!"
On the other hand, I love being creative. I mean, I'm quite proud of those "Dad" pancakes I made nearly 3 years ago this month. And the "bun in the oven" scheme was pretty cute too. But this time. Well I had nothing. And I wasn't quite sure how he'd take the news anyway.
Jon always calls me when he's on his way home. It gives him something to do during his long commute, it gives me an idea of when to expect him home, and if I'm smart it gives me about 30 minutes to clean up the house quick! I was on the phone with a student when he called this day though, and he was on the phone with someone else when I called him back. Phew, potential cover-blow averted.
So I was sitting at my computer when he came in the door, pretending to work on emails but really checking out due date calculators. He was still on the phone, then he was in the office, then he came into the kitchen to raid the refrigerator. He started talking about his day and I couldn't take. I pulled the pregnancy test out from under a sheet of paper, "Soooo ... we're pregnant."
"No way... How can that be? ... Are you serious?" And then he laughed. My always the realist, never miss a moment to plan, "hey check out this 10 page spreadsheet I just made to keep track of our DVDs", color-code his calendar, cross the dates off with a straight-edge, husband laughed, and said, "Well I guess God wanted us to have another baby. I mean, we always knew we wanted another one."
But in October? Jack might not even be 3 yet!
"That's perfect. I'll be done with school and we'll be all moved in to our new house."
"We're going to have 3 kids under the age of 3."
"Do you realize we could possibly watch 3 of our sons play football for the Coast Guard Academy at the same time!"
"I guess we won't be going to the Cayman's anymore."
"We'll get our baby years out of the way and do fun things when the kids are grown up."
"Who wants to wear a cute swimsuit when they're 50? I want to wear one now! I'm gonna be a whale at the beach."
"Just think, we'll be young grandparents!"
"But I'm going to feel very old by the time I'm 30."
"You're being really selfish right now."
Oh I love my husband. I love how he sets me right. I love how he tells me he loves me even when I'm not so sure I love myself. I love how he takes our shattered plans and uses them to build even better dreams. I love that the day we found out he was already picking out baby names and scheming ways to tell everyone. I love that he rubbed my belly, the belly that I've been thoroughly enjoying all winter and that's already starting to make room for the new one, and said hi to the baby - our little 3 week old, the size of a sesame seed. And I love that he laughed. Really, at this point, what else can ya do?
Sub-subtitled: Looks like we're not getting a dog anytime soon
Sub-sub-subtitled: Ahhhhh!!
So exactly one week after writing this lovely little post about being content with our two boys for now and taking a baby-break and enjoying a long summer of having my body all to myself ... I took a pregnancy test.
See Jon had mentioned something the night before about "what if" and we both agreed it was simply not possible. That there was just no way. And that was that. But I couldn't get it off my mind. All the next morning I just kept thinking and thinking, comparing this month to previous months, looking at the calendar, counting days, doing math. I still didn't think it was possible but by lunchtime I could hardly think of anything else. So I told myself that since I had 3 pregnancy tests upstairs that I'd stocked up on a long time ago during a sale, I could just take one to ease my mind after the boys went down for a nap. I figured it was worth it alone to be able to concentrate on all the phone calls I had to make that afternoon.
This test wasn't my usual one. Well, by usual I mean the brand I used with my other two babies - the one line or two lines. This was the "plus" or "minus" sign brand (hey it was on sale!). So I took the test, immediately saw a "minus" sign and breathed a huge sigh of relief! I walked back into the bedroom to put away some clothes and wait out the 2 minutes the back of the box suggested, just to confirm my doubts.
Two minutes later that "minus" had changed into a "plus." Two minutes later I sat on the floor and bawled my eyes out.
It's amazing the number of things that can flash through your mind in an instant. No more solo-summer. No more fall trip to the Cayman's. No more only-one-kid-in-diapers. THREE UNDER THREE! No wonder Jude has been annoyed while nursing. How are we gonna put three kids in college at the same time?! I'm gonna be huge at the beach! THREE UNDER THREE!! What about the wedding the boys are supposed to be in? We don't even know where we'll be living in 4 months. What are people gonna say? It still can't be true. Won't know for sure until the doctor confirms. THREE UNDER THREE!! I'll never be able to leave the house! How will we ever survive next winter?! What about all those cute clothes I just bought? THREE UNDER THREE!! How did this happen? How am I going to tell Jon!?!?
I decided the best way to start would be by putting on same make-up. I'm sure the last thing he needed to see coming in the door from work was his messy-haired wife, in sweatpants, with a tear-stained face, waving a pee-stick in his face saying "YOU DID THIS TO ME!!"
On the other hand, I love being creative. I mean, I'm quite proud of those "Dad" pancakes I made nearly 3 years ago this month. And the "bun in the oven" scheme was pretty cute too. But this time. Well I had nothing. And I wasn't quite sure how he'd take the news anyway.
Jon always calls me when he's on his way home. It gives him something to do during his long commute, it gives me an idea of when to expect him home, and if I'm smart it gives me about 30 minutes to clean up the house quick! I was on the phone with a student when he called this day though, and he was on the phone with someone else when I called him back. Phew, potential cover-blow averted.
So I was sitting at my computer when he came in the door, pretending to work on emails but really checking out due date calculators. He was still on the phone, then he was in the office, then he came into the kitchen to raid the refrigerator. He started talking about his day and I couldn't take. I pulled the pregnancy test out from under a sheet of paper, "Soooo ... we're pregnant."
"No way... How can that be? ... Are you serious?" And then he laughed. My always the realist, never miss a moment to plan, "hey check out this 10 page spreadsheet I just made to keep track of our DVDs", color-code his calendar, cross the dates off with a straight-edge, husband laughed, and said, "Well I guess God wanted us to have another baby. I mean, we always knew we wanted another one."
But in October? Jack might not even be 3 yet!
"That's perfect. I'll be done with school and we'll be all moved in to our new house."
"We're going to have 3 kids under the age of 3."
"Do you realize we could possibly watch 3 of our sons play football for the Coast Guard Academy at the same time!"
"I guess we won't be going to the Cayman's anymore."
"We'll get our baby years out of the way and do fun things when the kids are grown up."
"Who wants to wear a cute swimsuit when they're 50? I want to wear one now! I'm gonna be a whale at the beach."
"Just think, we'll be young grandparents!"
"But I'm going to feel very old by the time I'm 30."
"You're being really selfish right now."
Oh I love my husband. I love how he sets me right. I love how he tells me he loves me even when I'm not so sure I love myself. I love how he takes our shattered plans and uses them to build even better dreams. I love that the day we found out he was already picking out baby names and scheming ways to tell everyone. I love that he rubbed my belly, the belly that I've been thoroughly enjoying all winter and that's already starting to make room for the new one, and said hi to the baby - our little 3 week old, the size of a sesame seed. And I love that he laughed. Really, at this point, what else can ya do?
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The day we found out about #2
We had just gotten back from our vacation and had a small hunch that change was in the air. Jon had just been invited to apply for a temporary position overseas which involved 3 months of training (starting in Sept.) and 6 months of work (time which we would be apart). Although not ideal, we both knew it was a great opportunity for his career. Since we're planning on being married another 70-80 years, 6 months didn't seem like too much of a sacrifice. So although not crazy about being a single mom for 6 months, I was supportive of his decision. ...And then I saw the second little line on the pregnancy test.
Now you may be wondering what cute little way I had cooked up to tell Jon. Especially after my awesome Dad pancakes last year. Unfortunately, it didn't play out as well as I had envisioned. It was August 12 and Jon had just gotten home from work (hours later than usual I might add). He immediately started talking about his application for the new job. We started to sit down to dinner and I asked him to get a "special treat" out of the oven. He opened it up and there was one lonely bun. He didn't get. "It's just a bun ... and the oven's not even warm." Then I said, "Yes, I know ... there's a BUN in the OVEN." Then it hit him. That made our decision about the overseas job much easier and I'm happy to report that my husband will be by my side throughout this whole prenancy and delivery.
I went to the clinic for a blood test that night. I was disappointed to find that I would be seeing the weird doctor that I did not like, the one that had offered me a perscription for birth control less than 2 monthes before. A perscription that I had obviously never filled. :) He walked into the room and the first thing he said was, "I take it the pills didn't work." Blah to awkward doctors!
So I'm sure some people think we're crazy for having children only 18 months apart. But we're very excited about Baby #2 and can't wait to go through the whole pregnancy, childbirth and (my not-so-favorite part) the newborn months all over again! We hated keeping it a secret but, for several reasons, originally decided to wait until the second trimester to make the big announcement. We also thought it would be more fun to tell everyone in person when we came home in October.
Well, it didn't work out that way. As many of you may know, my husband is not known for his secret-keeping-skills. The fact that he had kept this news under wraps for over 3 weeks was pretty impressive! So I wasn't too upset when he caved this weekend and alerted my in-laws to their 8th grandchild's existence over a lovely outdoor seafood dinner. We didn't want to leave my parents and the rest of our family out so we dashed over to Michael's for some iron-on letters that spelled out B-I-G B-R-O and made Jack a t-shirt to wear. The next night we sent a text message with the picture to my parents, then our siblings, and then to a few of our friends. Within a few hours the news had leaked onto good ole' Facebook and when we decided to make an "official" announcement. And that brings us to the present. Me sitting on the couch, exhausted before the day even starts, chugging water and munching on saltines. Other than some blood tests and paperwork, I haven't been to the doctor yet. I think I'm somewhere between 8-9 weeks. As of right now, my due date is April 14 but I think that will change once we have our first ultrasound in two weeks. I'm pretty sure these next 2 weeks can't go by fast enough. I hate first-trimester anxiety!! In the meantime, I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the details of second-time mommyhood!
Now you may be wondering what cute little way I had cooked up to tell Jon. Especially after my awesome Dad pancakes last year. Unfortunately, it didn't play out as well as I had envisioned. It was August 12 and Jon had just gotten home from work (hours later than usual I might add). He immediately started talking about his application for the new job. We started to sit down to dinner and I asked him to get a "special treat" out of the oven. He opened it up and there was one lonely bun. He didn't get. "It's just a bun ... and the oven's not even warm." Then I said, "Yes, I know ... there's a BUN in the OVEN." Then it hit him. That made our decision about the overseas job much easier and I'm happy to report that my husband will be by my side throughout this whole prenancy and delivery.
I went to the clinic for a blood test that night. I was disappointed to find that I would be seeing the weird doctor that I did not like, the one that had offered me a perscription for birth control less than 2 monthes before. A perscription that I had obviously never filled. :) He walked into the room and the first thing he said was, "I take it the pills didn't work." Blah to awkward doctors!
So I'm sure some people think we're crazy for having children only 18 months apart. But we're very excited about Baby #2 and can't wait to go through the whole pregnancy, childbirth and (my not-so-favorite part) the newborn months all over again! We hated keeping it a secret but, for several reasons, originally decided to wait until the second trimester to make the big announcement. We also thought it would be more fun to tell everyone in person when we came home in October.
Well, it didn't work out that way. As many of you may know, my husband is not known for his secret-keeping-skills. The fact that he had kept this news under wraps for over 3 weeks was pretty impressive! So I wasn't too upset when he caved this weekend and alerted my in-laws to their 8th grandchild's existence over a lovely outdoor seafood dinner. We didn't want to leave my parents and the rest of our family out so we dashed over to Michael's for some iron-on letters that spelled out B-I-G B-R-O and made Jack a t-shirt to wear. The next night we sent a text message with the picture to my parents, then our siblings, and then to a few of our friends. Within a few hours the news had leaked onto good ole' Facebook and when we decided to make an "official" announcement. And that brings us to the present. Me sitting on the couch, exhausted before the day even starts, chugging water and munching on saltines. Other than some blood tests and paperwork, I haven't been to the doctor yet. I think I'm somewhere between 8-9 weeks. As of right now, my due date is April 14 but I think that will change once we have our first ultrasound in two weeks. I'm pretty sure these next 2 weeks can't go by fast enough. I hate first-trimester anxiety!! In the meantime, I'll be sure to keep you updated on all the details of second-time mommyhood!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Au revoir ankles
It’s happening. After 35 weeks of a nearly-ideal pregnancy, my vena cava has finally given in. I have swollen ankles.
A few weeks ago some kind-hearted lady at church told me that if I hadn’t started swelling yet, then I probably wouldn’t. Although I really didn’t believe her, deep inside I wanted to think she was right. And aside from my feet and ankles, I’m still doing pretty good. I thought for sure I’d be wearing my 3-carat faux diamond ring from Wal-Mart by now, but my fingers are still rocking the hardware Handsome Coastie purchased for me three years ago, a little tighter but not yet cutting off my circulation. And while swollen feet and ankles are somewhat uncomfortable, and completely unattractive (my husband just stares at them and laughs) my real dilemma is shoes! My footwear collection mainly consists of heels and flip-flops. And since I’m not supposed to wear flip-flops to work … I think I need to go shoe shopping this weekend.
Obviously, swelling of the limbs is a very common symptom of pregnancy. But just knowing that is not enough. I, of course, want to know why. Naturally I turn to my trusted resource, Baby Center. First I realized that searching for “swelling” turns up a whole host of calamities. What we’re really dealing with here is “edema” - when excess fluid collects in your tissue as a result of retaining water, changes in blood chemistry and pressure on your pelvic veins and vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from your lower limbs back to the heart). The retaining water thing is no joke, while my belly doesn’t appear to be any larger (39 inches if you’re interested) I’ve somehow managed to gain 5 pounds in the past 10 days!!! In just a matter of days I blew through both my low- and high- weight gain goals. While it’s easiest to blame it on the water, I must admit that with the start of football season, I may have indulged in too many mini-hot dogs, nachos and brownies this past weekend during the Penn State game. Mama needs to get out for more beach walks!!
This past week I’ve also been SLAMMED with free time. (Is that possible?). So much so, that I was able to spend the weekend writing up a birth plan, typing and re-organizing all of our notes from childbirth class, laying out Jack’s coming home outfit, and counting diapers, wipes, Diaper Genie refills, sleepers and onesies. (Yes, I am a record keeper.) So I thought I’d be able to continue the trend this week by cooking dinner every night, freezing meals for post-baby dinners, getting some exercise and finishing my final project. Surprisingly, this “edema” has literally knocked me off my feet. Now I get home from work, put my feet up on a stack of 5 pillows, turn on the news and read books. I’ve decided to take a break from my pregnancy/labor/birth/parenting library and turn to something lighter. On Monday I started “Out of Africa” but just couldn’t get into it, on Tuesday I finished “Animal Farm” but it wasn’t really the kind of story I was looking for, so last night I started re-reading “Little Women.” I’m hoping this will be the book to keep me occupied over the next few weeks.
Throughout this whole pregnancy, and especially since the arrival of “The Nest” I’ve been able to enjoy full nights of restful sleep, without even having to get up to use the restroom (my in-laws say I have a hollow leg). But this morning I’m slightly more sluggish than usual. Between the excessively loud thunderstorm, horrible case of heartburn, and Jack practicing Kung-Fu at 3am, last night was not a good night. This is probably good preparation for the future. Needless to say, for the first time these 9 months, I’m actually anxious to reach the end. I think the hubs and I are both looking forward to meeting the little guy and getting to feel his little kicks from the outside. And I’m definitely looking forward to doing so with smaller ankles and no heartburn!!
A few weeks ago some kind-hearted lady at church told me that if I hadn’t started swelling yet, then I probably wouldn’t. Although I really didn’t believe her, deep inside I wanted to think she was right. And aside from my feet and ankles, I’m still doing pretty good. I thought for sure I’d be wearing my 3-carat faux diamond ring from Wal-Mart by now, but my fingers are still rocking the hardware Handsome Coastie purchased for me three years ago, a little tighter but not yet cutting off my circulation. And while swollen feet and ankles are somewhat uncomfortable, and completely unattractive (my husband just stares at them and laughs) my real dilemma is shoes! My footwear collection mainly consists of heels and flip-flops. And since I’m not supposed to wear flip-flops to work … I think I need to go shoe shopping this weekend.
Obviously, swelling of the limbs is a very common symptom of pregnancy. But just knowing that is not enough. I, of course, want to know why. Naturally I turn to my trusted resource, Baby Center. First I realized that searching for “swelling” turns up a whole host of calamities. What we’re really dealing with here is “edema” - when excess fluid collects in your tissue as a result of retaining water, changes in blood chemistry and pressure on your pelvic veins and vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from your lower limbs back to the heart). The retaining water thing is no joke, while my belly doesn’t appear to be any larger (39 inches if you’re interested) I’ve somehow managed to gain 5 pounds in the past 10 days!!! In just a matter of days I blew through both my low- and high- weight gain goals. While it’s easiest to blame it on the water, I must admit that with the start of football season, I may have indulged in too many mini-hot dogs, nachos and brownies this past weekend during the Penn State game. Mama needs to get out for more beach walks!!
This past week I’ve also been SLAMMED with free time. (Is that possible?). So much so, that I was able to spend the weekend writing up a birth plan, typing and re-organizing all of our notes from childbirth class, laying out Jack’s coming home outfit, and counting diapers, wipes, Diaper Genie refills, sleepers and onesies. (Yes, I am a record keeper.) So I thought I’d be able to continue the trend this week by cooking dinner every night, freezing meals for post-baby dinners, getting some exercise and finishing my final project. Surprisingly, this “edema” has literally knocked me off my feet. Now I get home from work, put my feet up on a stack of 5 pillows, turn on the news and read books. I’ve decided to take a break from my pregnancy/labor/birth/parenting library and turn to something lighter. On Monday I started “Out of Africa” but just couldn’t get into it, on Tuesday I finished “Animal Farm” but it wasn’t really the kind of story I was looking for, so last night I started re-reading “Little Women.” I’m hoping this will be the book to keep me occupied over the next few weeks.
Throughout this whole pregnancy, and especially since the arrival of “The Nest” I’ve been able to enjoy full nights of restful sleep, without even having to get up to use the restroom (my in-laws say I have a hollow leg). But this morning I’m slightly more sluggish than usual. Between the excessively loud thunderstorm, horrible case of heartburn, and Jack practicing Kung-Fu at 3am, last night was not a good night. This is probably good preparation for the future. Needless to say, for the first time these 9 months, I’m actually anxious to reach the end. I think the hubs and I are both looking forward to meeting the little guy and getting to feel his little kicks from the outside. And I’m definitely looking forward to doing so with smaller ankles and no heartburn!!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Take My Breath Away
Long, long ago, in my prior life, before there were husbands, college coursework, Graco Quattro strollers in Catalina print and Labor and Delivery tours... I attended my high school prom. The theme, chosen by my Junior classmates, was “Take My Breath Away” (based on the song released when most of the class was barely two years old). The only reason I remember this, of course, is because of the lovely champagne glass I received with “Take My Breath Away – Milton High School Prom 2001” etched on the side (would someone please tell me why we give teenagers adult beverage containers at their high school proms???). I have never once used that glass, I’m pretty sure it’s packed away in a box in my parents’ attic, otherwise I would include a picture of it here for you all to see. But I am reminded of it this week when, thinking back to the lavender balloons, silver confetti, and gym-turned-ballroom that left us all “breathless” over 7 years ago, I realize what really takes my breath way – being 8 months pregnant.
And so now we embrace a new phenomenon of baby-growing – pressure on the diaphragm. At first I just noticed it whenever I would lay down at night, but now it’s becoming increasingly more obvious that I can no longer climb both flights of stairs, trek to the top of the lighthouse, carry a load of laundry or even lounge on the couch solving Sudoku puzzles without taking twice as many breaths as I used to. Fortunately, this is not a painful or uncomfortable result of pregnancy – simply an unexpected one. I have to wonder, if I’m feeling this squished how does Lil’ J feel??
Amidst these moments that take my breath away, we just wrapped up a very unlaborous Labor Day weekend with Handsome Coastie’s parents here in Virginia Beach. The only thing better than eating dinner out, sitting on the beach, visiting lighthouses, watching movies, and hunting for buried treasure is being able to do them all without thinking about issues at work or my final project that I need to get crackin’ on. It was a refreshing weekend, and sadly, the last of which we’ll spend with our long line of summer visitors. Looks like the guest suite will be sitting empty for the next 6 weeks until the baby arrives.
Nursery update: The bed skirt arrived this week and now Jack’s room is done, EXCEPT for the rocking chair. Here's a picture of me at 33 1/2 weeks and a "sneak peak" at the nursery. For the benefit of my readers, I have asked my husband several times for an estimated time of completion on this project, but I think we’ve reached the “nagging wife” point and my pleas have become ineffective. I would go ahead and do this myself if he’d let me, but I think he hid the stain and varnish. My only suggestion is that you contact him personally, compelling him to finish the rocking chair so his sweet wife can FINALLY post pictures of the baby’s room for all those who have been patiently waiting. :)
And so now we embrace a new phenomenon of baby-growing – pressure on the diaphragm. At first I just noticed it whenever I would lay down at night, but now it’s becoming increasingly more obvious that I can no longer climb both flights of stairs, trek to the top of the lighthouse, carry a load of laundry or even lounge on the couch solving Sudoku puzzles without taking twice as many breaths as I used to. Fortunately, this is not a painful or uncomfortable result of pregnancy – simply an unexpected one. I have to wonder, if I’m feeling this squished how does Lil’ J feel??
Amidst these moments that take my breath away, we just wrapped up a very unlaborous Labor Day weekend with Handsome Coastie’s parents here in Virginia Beach. The only thing better than eating dinner out, sitting on the beach, visiting lighthouses, watching movies, and hunting for buried treasure is being able to do them all without thinking about issues at work or my final project that I need to get crackin’ on. It was a refreshing weekend, and sadly, the last of which we’ll spend with our long line of summer visitors. Looks like the guest suite will be sitting empty for the next 6 weeks until the baby arrives.
Nursery update: The bed skirt arrived this week and now Jack’s room is done, EXCEPT for the rocking chair. Here's a picture of me at 33 1/2 weeks and a "sneak peak" at the nursery. For the benefit of my readers, I have asked my husband several times for an estimated time of completion on this project, but I think we’ve reached the “nagging wife” point and my pleas have become ineffective. I would go ahead and do this myself if he’d let me, but I think he hid the stain and varnish. My only suggestion is that you contact him personally, compelling him to finish the rocking chair so his sweet wife can FINALLY post pictures of the baby’s room for all those who have been patiently waiting. :)
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