growing days

Today is the last day of 2006.

Tomorrow starts 2007, the year we become parents.

quite humbling really
We are both very excited.

I have begun to realize how different the days become. Last week about December 22, 23, on through Christmas the baby decided to settle in my hip, not a bad thing, until he/she used a nerve for a pillow. He/she would lay on this nerve, make my leg go numb and send shooting pains through my right leg. My left leg felt nothing. ( I think it was jealous)

But then around the 26th or so, no more pain since then.

Yesterday was an exercise day. Kicking, flipping, moving, rolling, punching. It was pretty much like a UFC fight inside me. Baby VS Uterus. Baby won.

Today is a growing day. Not alot of kicking, punching, just moving and trying to come out "Alien" style. (remember the movie "Alien" when the thing came out the stomach)

But I feel so good. A lot more Braxton Hicks. My uterus is going to be the most fit uterus ever. Between the Pride Fights with the baby and the workouts the Braxton Hicks give it......

Anyway,
time to go party - It's New Years Eve!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Can't wait to meet you baby!

Back from the Amazon

So it looks like the wife and I have been a bit neglectful of our Blog.
Rest assured everything "baby wise" is going smoothly. We've been continuing our Bradley classes and I'm beginning to make a list of things I'll need for the hospital.
In one of our classes the husband instructor gave a talk about his experiences with his first time and what he would have done different, lots of stuff to think about. So as strange as it sounds (and my future sister in-law found it HILARIOUS) I'm going through my hiking gear to find just the things I'll need. No I won't be packing a Swiss Army knife "just in case" but much of the clothing I have is made for comfort while wearing it for long periods, that combined with some trail type snacks and I should be good to go. Besides if this takes too long I know of some nice hiking trails near the hospital I can sneak off to.

The baby is really developing fast now. His/her kicks are getting much harder and it's pretty easy for me to feel it when he/she kicks.
We found out that whenever the baby is kicking/moving, if I start to talk the baby will stop moving. It was frustrating at first because Mom-2-be would call me over to feel the baby, but as soon as I did, nothing. Now we know why. Little stinker.

Ok, that's my quick update. Hopefully more will follow soon,

HikerDad

relax and read

Well,
I was supposed to come to bed to relax and read. Yeah, um.. no

I have definately been feeling some contractions tonight and it's not so bad. Kinda freakin me out though. I thought coming upstairs and relaxing would help me with this, but nope, things just kept rackin my brain. So here I am.

Like I said before the contractions are definately just Braxton-Hicks practice contractions. Last Wednesday at our midwife appointment she said it's perfectly normal to have your uterus contract and release for "practice". "It's a good thing," she says.

So to update these past weeks. (And for my sanity) what has been happening you ask?
Middle of October: started feeling "baby/fart" (where you don't know the difference if it's the baby moving or a gas bubble)
Week 20-21 was October 18th to October 25th: I started feeling the baby at about the same time that super-dad-2-b could feel baby too. There wasn't much of a time difference. It was pretty cool it happened at about the same time.
End of October and Beginning of November: KNEW the difference between baby/fart
Middle of November: "my husbands child" kicking the heck out of my intestines
End of November: "my husbands child" playing "lets see how far I can bend OUT mommy's ribs with my head"
December 1st or so I laid in bed and put my belly against super-dad-2-b's back, and he could feel the baby. IT WAS SO COOL!

Every Thursday is our baby class. It's WONDERFUL!!! That's what I was coming upstairs to read was our required reading for class. "The Bradley Method of Childbirth-Husband Coached Childbirth" It's great. I feel so much better because it explains everything. Specifically, the why's and how's (insert appropriate joke here) that I'm incessantly asking super-dad-2-b.

Thanksgiving was torture. I ate way too much of course.

My rocking chair is in. Now where in the hell do I put it! :)

Dug out some of my neice's baby clothes, washed them. Now where in the hell do I put them?! :)

Have to go register for more baby stuff THAT I WON'T KNOW WHERE IN THE HELL TO PUT EITHER!!!!!!

sorry,
momentary lapse of sanity.

Cute story:
Every night we have been playing classical music to the baby. And he/she/it/whatever moves quite a bit when the music is on, then settles down after I turn it off. So then, one night I turn off the music and super-dad-2-be does my favorite thing and puts his hand on my belly (which ALWAYS makes the baby move around) and gets the baby all riled up. I looked at him and said "okay, now look what you've done"
So, he then started talking to the baby, and the kid STOPS moving. I couldn't believe it. One second, flipping around like crazy, the next, he's actually listening to his father! :)

enough ramblings...

gotta go eat dinner

what's next on the list?

This past weekend was a good one.

Super dad-2-b was in the basement making sure his workshop is ready to make the cradle.
I on the other hand was really busy doing organizing stuff. The bathroom shelves are maximized for space, and ready to hold baby stuff.
So many more project to do.
For our wedding we set up a white board to organize the tasks at hand, and it worked really well. The dreaded white board has made a comeback and is FULL of things to do.

My mom called this weekend to say that she found a changing table. I hated telling her that we didn't want it, cause if we were in a different house we would want it. It just won't fit here. I am kinda sad that my mom and I are so far away. I really want to just hop over to her house and go shopping for baby stuff. Instead we have to PLAN time and make time to go instead of just popping over.
*sigh*
I would love to have her here to help me organize too.
*sigh*
I could put her to work for days!!!!

We had our first baby class this past Thursday, it was very good. We are taking classes on the Bradley method. Natural Husband-coached childbirth.
I LOVED the idea of just laying in the hospital bed not thinking of anything or worrying about anything except the PAIN! It's going to be great!

That's it for now. time for bed. a snack first, grapes, with cottage cheese! YUM!!!

good night!

WHAT????? 21 WEEKS?????

Today was my first official panic day.

I rechecked how many weeks I was along, now that we know a better due date. I assumed I was around 18 weeks. Oh no... redo the math, I am 21 weeks along. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I had just begun to mentally prepare myself for the halfway mark, and within minutes I not only reached the halfway point, I passed it! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!

It was amazing, the baby grew from 5 to 7 inches in moments!

So I panicked! I looked at super dad-2-B and said "WE ARE NOT READY!!" I haven't picked out anything!! the car seat, the co-sleeper, the diapers, the breast pump (a very important item!), the stroller, which sling I want, the diaper bag!!!!

Super dad-2-B calmly said, "we have plenty of time" then sat me down, let me fret and search through some books, some reports, and decided on the car seat after some talk with super dad-2-B.

I also talked to a good friend and she suggested which sling I should use, and I told her, that's PERFECT!! She even said she would buy it as a gift for me, WHAT A GREAT FRIEND!!

so.. there is still some panic, but I think we are doing better. I say "we" but I mean, "me"! Super dad-2-B spent today cooking stuff for baby, and things easy to cook when baby gets here, as well as getting his shop ready to make the best bassinet ever.

I feel good, except McPickle decided to set up camp in my right hip, and I think he's playing jump rope with one of my nerves. So I step, then stop, step then stop. Super dad-2-B thinks it's hilarious. *sigh*

Time for bed

A womb with a view.

So as I sit watching the Wizard of Oz for the umpteenth time I think now would be a good chance for me to reflect back on the events of yesterday.
As we headed out for our appointment we really couldn't think about what to expect. I mean we both had seen ultrasound pictures before, but this one was understandably different. It was OUR ultrasound, and we were about to get a view of OUR future. Would everything be alright? Would we get a view of its arms, legs, hands?

Well now that it's over I can officiously say we did see all of this and more. And also, I think it's safe to say we aren't looking at a potential alien here. Though he/she did have a small body and large head... hmmm.

For those of you who haven't been through an ultrasound I can say for the most part the Dad just sits there and tries to guess what he is looking at. Personally I did pretty well at this game.
The wife, on the other hand, has a bit more important task to perform. She has to hold in about a gallon of pee while the ultrasound tech presses on her bladder. Apparently this isn't as easy as it may sound.
Oh, and that reminds me of the other task the Dad needs to do. You must refrain from making any comments about water or any jokes that will get your wife giggling. They don't like that.
This too isn't as easy as it sounds.

The entire visit was about an hour. The tech said that this was a bit more difficult of a procedure as our baby wouldn't cooperate and kept flipping over just as the tech was about to take a picture. The tech said, "This is a very active baby.". I'm guessing that's a good thing.
Then as we were looking at a cross section of the babies chest the wife spoke up and said, "Was that a hiccup?"
The tech wasn't sure so we looked again and sure enough our baby had the hiccups.

So that's it for now.. and without further ado here is the first image of the little one.

-HikerDad

flutter... um.. that was no flutter

I am so sick of that word.

I am pretty sure I have asked every woman I have come in contact with who has had a child what it is supposed to feel like when you first feel the baby. Many people have used the word "flutter".

Well, bullshit!

I haven't felt a flutter yet.

What I have felt is: "Ow, that's my rib", or "Get your foot off of that" " I don't know what you are standing on, but it hurts, GET OFF!!"

Most of the time it's just a pressure thing and doesn't really hurt, but tonight apparently when the baby decided to "explore" my ribs (meaning, treating my ribs as a xylophone) super dad-2-B thought it was side-splitting hilarious. no wait, he said, amongst his wheezing laughter, you have GOT to blog this.

The other day at the store I felt something hard in the front of my belly. I put super dad-2-B's hand on it, and he quickly labels the hard spot, "that's the head."
I said, "how do you know?"
He replies, "it's round, and bigger than his butt"

I have held my hand on my belly for several minutes before trying to figure out what the bumps are, and so far, I have found.... bumps.... and other bumps..... and baby bumps....

I have read in many places that women who were heavier, as I am, feel the baby later than thin women do, I have come to accept this, and realize I probibly won't feel the famed "flutter". But, I sure am enjoying what I do feel. As super dad-2-B said before, this is one of the best feelings of my life.

I think I saw this in a movie once.

So all of the guys I've talked to have agreed, we couldn't ever be pregnant. No I don't mean giving birth, I won't get into the argument about whether guys could take the pain or not. But rather the being pregnant part. You see as I understand it there is a LIVING BEING INSIDE OF HER. I mean think about it, this little creature is feeding off of her, breathing what she breathes, it's even peeing inside of her. Kind of like a tapeworm really.
Maybe I've seen too many SciFi shows but the thought of someone crawling around inside of me just gives me the willies.
Anyway, this week we've officially felt the baby move and I have to say it was one of the most exciting moments I've ever experienced. No, it wasn't a jump around and scream moment. I was simply holding my hand on my wife's stomach and I felt the baby slowly turn away. More of an "Oh, wow!" that's what life is moment.
So yes, even though I've just compared my future child to an alien and a tapeworm I'm more in awe of what's going on now than I have ever been about anything before.

Next week we will be having our first Sonogram and we'll finally see if it's really a baby or that alien thing I'm worried about.

-HikerDad

Little things

So it's my turn to Blog something.
The wife has been hoping I'd blog for a while now so here it goes.
Now where to start.

I haven't read many of the wife's blogs. I did that on purposes so I wouldn't feel like I needed to answer hers or worry about making sure I wrote something different, so if I cover something she's already talked about I apologize.

When we got married we talked about starting our family in two years so we are a year off, but I think that's pretty good.
Truthfully I had hoped to feel like we were in a more stable situation financially. It's not like I wanted to have a six figure salary, but I would have liked to be out of this rental home. Then again if I did we might have never had children.

So here we are, expecting our first child, baby, kid, little one, etc.
For me things are a lot different then they are for her. I know she is pregnant, I can see it, I hear her make comments about it. But for me my realization of her pregnancy comes in waves. First there was the pee stick, the first Dr. appointment, then the heartbeat. I don't feel it like she does. For her every moments she pregnant, every time she turns around something reminds her of it..
So strange.

Anyway.. that's my start. I know it's not very good, but I'm tired and I just figured I'd get something down so I'd be more apt to write more later.

-HikerDad

Cheez-its

Super-great dad-2-b is officially involved in this pregnancy.

Last night he had his first craving.

Whilst walking through the store for more kleenex, orange juice, etc., (I am sick with a sinus infection) he grabs a box of cheez-its and tosses it into the cart. I said, did we need these?
He replies, "I don't know why but today at work I saw someone eating some, and I decided I must have them."

I giggled, and said, "Yay! It's your first craving!"

He denies it wholeheartedly, but I know this man has never craved anything in his life.

Before we could put any other groceries away, including the refrigerator items, he had the box open and was eating them by the fistfulls!!!!

now, if only I had a craving......

who else

so, we told my grandma, I am expecting phone calls any minute. I knew once we told her, the proverbial "ball" was rolling. I found out that a cousin is pregnant too, with her second. so I should call and say congrats.

We told my Aunt, my mom's sister, she seemed happy.

My brother-in-law got engaged. SO that's exciting.

How am I? Very good. Cold. I know, believe it or not, I am cold all the time. My hands and feet, freezing. If you knew me, you would know that I am NEVER cold. Normally, I would wear sandals in the snow. It's so weird. My husband just smiles, then comes and hugs me to try to warm me up.

*sigh*

Damn kid.

I have to be careful saying that all the time now. People will think I'm some hateful person who doesn't appreciate being pregnant. I am.... really.

OH yeah, that's another thing. I am SO goofy.

Last night driving around town, the windows were down, so I just started whistling at the hot chicks on the corner cause hubby was driving. He was mortified.
It rocked.

another day

well, another day of being pregnant.

So far we have told quite a few more people that we thought we would have this early.

I told some more coworkers, as did my husband.

We had our first baby visit, we are not going to go to that obgyn. She was too clinical, not friendly at all. We want someone who will be hands off, and let things go as time flows. She talked about using the vacuum to suck the baby out who was taking too long. I don't want someone who even thinks about something like that. When we say we want a natural birth, we mean a NATURAL birth. No constant monitoring, no epidural, no episiotomy, nothing but my husband, me, family, and a midwife who will check me with a stethoscope, her ears, and her eyes.

well, we will just have to pick the place before we pick the doctor to make sure it's hospital policy to do what we want.

there is one place near us, a freestanding birth center that I would LOVE to go to, but it is over an hour away. I don't know, maybe it's worth it. It encompases everything we value, want, need. But husband is worried that it is not near enough to a hospital for emergencies. I understand his need, and worry as well. I just wish we could figure all this out.

friends

We called the friend who introduced my husband and I way back 10 years ago. We told her that we were pregnant, and her cell signal cut out! we called back and forth trying to get ahold of each other. Finally she called when we were upstairs watching tV and missed her call, finally called her back at 10:00! it sure was great to talk to a friend who means so much to me! I wish we could be closer.

home

I knew I wanted to write something in my blog today, but I can't remember what it was.
Oh well, I am sure I can fill it with random musings anyway.

After we told hubby's sister on Monday she wrote us the greatest poem.
First you have to know the precursor: My maiden name: Dierkens His last name: McLeod



What do you get when you mix a Dierkens with a McLeod? A BABY McPICKLE!

Baby McPickle Recipe



Start with Egg of Dierkens

(Rhymes with Gerkins)

Mix with seed of McLeod

Add a jigger of piss and vinegar

Followed by equal parts honey and bees

Then Stir, but don't shake (for goodness sake)

Wait Nine Months for the yolk to break.

Then do a Galiec dance without your pants,

and pass the little McPickle, please.



Oh, pass little McPickle, please!

(copyright Maria McLeod 2006)

so.. Little McPickle is doing well. 4 and a half cm. alot of fuss for a such a tiny thing.

do tell part 2

I forgot a few things..

felt weird today.. in a good way, not fat, but weird, like something was on my belly, making me feel heavier.

and talked to mom, she is way more excited than she let on. very cool.. well, she was acting cool I guess..

i guess that's it for now.

oh remind me later to get into the depression part of being away from family and friends, it's going to be fun..

g'night

do tell..

well we told his sister tonight, she cried.. ... *sigh*

we told his parents Friday, another *sigh*, same boring reaction as my mom.

we told our friends.. (the homebirth friends) and they of course said.. YAY!!! and made much more of a gratifying noise.



I am pretty sure I am 5 weeks along.. so. here is the link to what is happening to me.... http://www.babycenter.com/mybabycenter/105.html?scid=mbtw_preg06:20060710:0:0:0

btw: OUCH!!!! my breasts hurt SO MUCH!!!

oh and the itching.. still freakin me out!

time for bed

doctor,doctor, give me the news

yesterday I peed in a cup at the doctors office, pretty much the same as peeing on a stick, but there is alot more paper towel involved.
But, the test came back positive... I AM PREGNANT!!!

( I already knew that)

did I tell you we went out for dinner on Sunday (the night we found out?)
yep, went to Lonestar. I was really in the mood for barbeque. I got ribs and chicken.. the ribs.. great.. chicken.. not so great.

So then monday the hubby had to work. I was home by myself and had a lot of time to think about stuff.

sleeping has been hard. well, really the fact that my back is killing me. OH MY GOSH!! and I am itching nonstop!!! i can't stand it! the hubby is going out of his mind with my itching at night. He keeps yelling at me to STOP!! STOP!!!

So, anyway, yesterday I stopped at the doc's office on the way home from work. (rode my bike)(it's 4 miles total, there and back) SO.. I stopped asked them if i could pee in a cup.. they said yep!

then I made an appt. for today to talk to the doc about meds and stuff. and she said i should stop everythting, well, little did she know I stopped taking them when i found out i was pregnant!

so to recap.. just because I am confused...

Monday June 26, 2006

• took a pee test, it was negative

Sunday July 2, 2006

• took a pee test, it was POSITIVE, slept HORRIBLE
• went out to eat at Lonestar to celebrate
• had bbq ribs (only ate half)
  

Monday july 3, 2006

• hubby went to work, i was home alone thinkin, slept HORRIBLE

Tuesday, July 4 2006

• told mom, mom's husband, sister and neice I was pregnant
• had to lie and tell them I had some neice stuff to give them to get them to stop by
• slept okay

Wednesday July 5 2006

• stopped at the doctors and peed in a cup, IT WAS POSITIVE
• went out to eat with some friends (a local steakhouse)
• had bbq ribs again (me thinks I see a pattern)
  

Thursday july 6, 2006

• went to doctor, talked about taking no meds
• went for a bike ride
• baby had his first live concert in the park
  

yeah, tonight on our bike ride we were out and heard some music, followed it.. and there in the park was a live concert.. so we sat and listened... and realized.. this is the baby's first live concert! hubby asked if the baby liked it.. then thought.. wait, it doesn't have ears yet. I said, it's YOUR kid, it'll definately like this weird stuff.

well, time for bed

Whoa Baby

Wow,

So um, peed on a stick, two lines. yep, I'm pregnant. We have been trying for 6 months. I got so impatient as to call the doctor and set up an appointment for infertility testing. I also called the insurance company to make sure that they paid for that type of thing. (which they didn't) bastards.

I tried all day yesterday and today to find a "pregnancy online journal template," but nothin. So my wonderful husband set this up today. We officially have known for over a day now, and it still isn't real.

I actually peed on the stick yesterday, Sunday. Another wonderful idea by the husband. He said that we should test on Sunday when we are both home so we can absob it and enjoy it if it was positive. I said I could wait till Monday, but then he would be going to work and then leaving me to pass out all alone.

Well, I really wanted this blog to write down what i was feeling and the things that were going on because I know I WILL not remember.

My Hubby voice recorded the moment when we looked and found out. All he said was OH MY GOD, I said, absolutely nothing. As predicted. I always clam up under big moments like that.

I am feeling a little unsure about my weight. I am actually VERY dissapointed that I am not thinner so I can see the cute baby pooch that you get around 4, 5, 6 months or so. but, oh well. My weight hopefully will not be a bigger issue down the line. I did weigh myself 6-3-06. 219 pounds. We really need to measure my waist too, see if the inches make a difference.

One of these blogs I'll have to figure out what day we actually conceived. *sigh*

was awake from 330 until 530 last night, I think my mind was really wandering.

well, I'm hungry.