Evelyn Marie, you are a karate kid for sure. You spend most of your waking hours kicking, punching and what feels like grabbing at my insides. I can no longer comfortably lay on my tummy on the floor or bed to study or play with my pets. But thats okay, because I love your little reminders that you're developing inside my body. Its still a crazy feeling and I dont think I'll ever really get used to that. You are pretty active these days and yet, when the matriarchs of our families try to get a feel in, you shy away. I hope you always make such confident decisions over who gets to touch you!
Last night I had a dream that you were born. Luckily maybe, the dream started after the birth and once you were home. I got to wrap you in the mei tai that I have been dying to use. It was blissfully easy and you were nice and calm and didnt cry at all.
I did get to change a diaper in the dream, but the funny part is, it wasnt wet until I started to take it off of you. Then I noticed you were about to go pee so I pushed the diaper back over you and laughed at my luck of not getting peed on.
It was a short dream, but I woke up feeling so excited for the December day when I can hold you in my arms. Daddy and I are both looking forward to your arrival.
I once lamented that you would have a December birthday because I was afraid that being pregnant during the summer would be miserable. But so far, you have managed to stay pretty well tucked in and so I dont think the heat is affecting me as much as I thought it would. Plus, you'll make a pretty cute pumpkin belly if I decide to go the cheesiest route ever for Halloween.
So you just stay where you are and get your grow on and we'll see you when you're ready. :)
Monday, September 1, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Appointments, moving and the doldrums
Last week was a regular checkup appointment for us. Gavin and I both took the day off work and drove all the way to Durham for an appointment that was....at Brier Creek. Okay, not too bad, we arrived early enough that we had a good 20 minutes to make a 25 minute drive. And they thankfully have a grace period for mamas.
The visit was very basic stuff. We sat in the waiting room for a few minutes, we got moved to a private room after my blood pressure and weight were recorded and then we saw the doc for a few minutes to hear the heartbeat and measure the bump. So far so good. They requested a urine sample, but I didn't have to go when I got there. I asked a nurse for some water but we were through with the visit before she came back with it so I left without leaving a sample. (That night I had a dream they forced me to come back and leave one!) We didn't hear anything new and doc said we were still on track for a healthy Evelyn.
The day after the visit, Gavin's parents came to stay with us for the weekend to help us move. We moved about 7 miles away from our 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment in town into a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house with lots of land and nature. We didn't tell Gavin's parents that we had already done the heavy lifting so they were pleasantly surprised to learn they weren't going to have to be workers the whole time. They rewarded us with groceries and new mattresses for us and the guest room. (We have a guest room!).
We spent the weekend getting minor things done, like unpacking and shopping for new door knobs and such. We ate out almost every meal and by the time they left, I was feeling a salad like nobody's business.
We spent our first nights in the new house this past weekend and since it is my grandma's old house, I wasn't quite comfortable with us sleeping in her old (the master) bedroom. So guests get the bedroom with the attached bathroom, and Gavin and I sleep in the room beside the nursery. It's so wonderful to sleep out in the country where you can hear the bugs from the porch and the train pass from your pillow. I had a couple good nights worth of sleep and a couple lousy ones (mostly due to our plethora of animals, including a cat that loves to knead my now-doughy breasts!).
Last night was a huge storm and Gavin and I sat on the living room floor, a box in front of each of us, and assembled Evelyn's stroller, bassinet and swing. Sam and Lou, our trusty cats, helped themselves to the empty boxes and the dogs cowered under the bed as our weather alert radio sounded off about flooding, high winds and the possibility of downed trees. I recalled memories from my childhood, sitting on the step to the back hall in my house, listening to the weather alert radio and being just as scared as my dogs were last night. Thunderstorms used to be my biggest fear; now I can lay back with closed eyes and listen to the wind and rain beat down and all I get is peace. The lights flickered a few times, but the power never went out. Thank goodness for that, because this mama has no experience with old houses and almost all of our flashlights are still packed up!
After the storm passed, Gavin made us some dinner and we sat on the couch and watched a show about people finding their first homes. One of the episodes was set in Charlotte where Gavin grew up! The dogs came out to cuddle and we stayed up almost to midnight!
Today I have been experiencing the doldrums. It was back to work for me and the day has been dragging on. All the excitement of the weekend is over and all I can look forward to is my first day of school tomorrow, which to be honest, I'm panicking about because I haven't been in 7 years!
So wish me luck!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Anatomy Exam Visit-GENDER REVEAL
Yesterday was the anatomy scan visit at Duke. Gavin and I both woke up an hour before our alarms because of how excited we were. We stopped at Biscuitville on the way to the doctor and found a perfect parking spot in the shade right in front of the building. Everything was going so well!
We arrived a bit early so we sat for a few minutes in the lobby and before I knew it we were in the exam room with my skirt pulled down and my shirt pulled up.
The technician was super-friendly and had the gel pre-warmed to go on my tummy. Seeing my little one show up on the screen was the most magical thing. First the technician checked the organs, which all looked good, the limbs which were present and did some measurements of bones and the head. She checked to see if Baby Maxfield had any signs of inheriting the hole in the heart my uncle had or the lung issues my grandfather dealt with. Everything looked clean and good. She ran the camera over my stomach a few times to show me the body and I got to see and feel the baby kick at the same time. Doesn't sound like much but to me it was incredible. I cannot even describe how awesome that was. Gavin was pretty impressed too.
I asked if she already knew the sex from looking at the baby so far and the technician said she did, and did I have a guess?
I squeaked out, "is it a boy?" because let's be honest, Gavin and I both were rooting for a girl, but I figured with my luck we were going to have a boy. We haven't been able to agree on any boys names and then my brother would get to be right, haha.
"Actually, it's a girl," the technician replied and my eyes popped and I turned to Gavin with a big squeal and just screeched, "we dont have to come up with a boy's name! Yay!!!" Silly, I know. But I think I kind of already knew it was a girl so I didn't feel too bad about being relieved that I was right.
So that's the news. We're having a girl. A beautiful, sweet, incredibly wiggly girl. And I can't stop smiling. I thought it would feel more real now that I've seen her move and feel her move at the same time, but to be honest I still have a sort of disconnect with my stomach unless I'm currently feeling the movement. I don't know when I'll feel the reality of it but I hope it happens soon. I'm just so in love already.
Gavin spent most of the ride home talking to friends and family and letting them know. I sort of took my time letting my family know since I had to drive and also I'm really not a big center of attention lover. (Not that Gavin is either, but his family will not let up if he doesn't call them right away, haha).
We are in the process of moving a few miles up the road so we did some more moving after the appointment and then went out to dinner with my dad and his family. We had a wonderful time and trying to sleep last night was next to impossible. Too many little happy thoughts running through my head. But I'm okay with that.
We arrived a bit early so we sat for a few minutes in the lobby and before I knew it we were in the exam room with my skirt pulled down and my shirt pulled up.
The technician was super-friendly and had the gel pre-warmed to go on my tummy. Seeing my little one show up on the screen was the most magical thing. First the technician checked the organs, which all looked good, the limbs which were present and did some measurements of bones and the head. She checked to see if Baby Maxfield had any signs of inheriting the hole in the heart my uncle had or the lung issues my grandfather dealt with. Everything looked clean and good. She ran the camera over my stomach a few times to show me the body and I got to see and feel the baby kick at the same time. Doesn't sound like much but to me it was incredible. I cannot even describe how awesome that was. Gavin was pretty impressed too.
I asked if she already knew the sex from looking at the baby so far and the technician said she did, and did I have a guess?
I squeaked out, "is it a boy?" because let's be honest, Gavin and I both were rooting for a girl, but I figured with my luck we were going to have a boy. We haven't been able to agree on any boys names and then my brother would get to be right, haha.
"Actually, it's a girl," the technician replied and my eyes popped and I turned to Gavin with a big squeal and just screeched, "we dont have to come up with a boy's name! Yay!!!" Silly, I know. But I think I kind of already knew it was a girl so I didn't feel too bad about being relieved that I was right.
So that's the news. We're having a girl. A beautiful, sweet, incredibly wiggly girl. And I can't stop smiling. I thought it would feel more real now that I've seen her move and feel her move at the same time, but to be honest I still have a sort of disconnect with my stomach unless I'm currently feeling the movement. I don't know when I'll feel the reality of it but I hope it happens soon. I'm just so in love already.
Gavin spent most of the ride home talking to friends and family and letting them know. I sort of took my time letting my family know since I had to drive and also I'm really not a big center of attention lover. (Not that Gavin is either, but his family will not let up if he doesn't call them right away, haha).
We are in the process of moving a few miles up the road so we did some more moving after the appointment and then went out to dinner with my dad and his family. We had a wonderful time and trying to sleep last night was next to impossible. Too many little happy thoughts running through my head. But I'm okay with that.
Monday, July 21, 2014
Weekend Adventures
This past weekend, I was lucky enough to get to spend time with family again, starting with my mom. We had made plans to go yard sailing and then visit her antique mall booth, but when I woke up on Saturday it was already 10am. I called to let her know I was running late and she gave me the upsetting news that she'd either lost her wallet or it was stolen. She had been yard sailing all morning and spent all the cash in it so if someone took it they wouldn't get far, but the important documents that were in there (her EMT certification, DL and SS card, etc) would be a pain to replace. She was pretty sure she'd just left it on the top of her car and driven away, but she'd also given a ride to a hitch-hiker and offered him breakfast, only to discover she had no wallet to pay with.
Well, I was fortunate enough to be in the green zone, so I drove up to meet her at the antique mall anyway and we got lunch and I gave her some cash to last the weekend until she could get to the bank today. We cleaned up her booth and ate at this crazy diner that felt like we were back in the 70s. Mom said she'd been there 20 years ago and I thought about how it might be 20 years until I return! It was a lovely place though. While she dusted and sorted the booth I called the sheriff's department to check if anyone had turned in her wallet and gave them some info to get it back in case anyone did return it.
When I got home, Gavin and I got packed up to go to Charlotte and visit his parents, kissed the pups and cats goodbye and hit the road. My friend Allison would be by to feed, water and take the dogs out later on.
The drive to Charlotte was a smooth one. Other than my butt falling asleep, we had no problems. It only took us two and a half hours and on the way down, I got prodded from the inside by little baby Maxfield!
We spent Saturday night out in the backyard around the fire pit, conversing about fireworks, wedding photos, baby things and the new house. I didn't get to sleep until close to 2am but I have to say, sleeping in a feathery-soft bed thats high up off the floor and has a ceiling fan above, no dogs crowding me and the A/C set at a comfortable 65f was like sleeping in heaven. I woke up feeling very refreshed and got an uninterrupted nine hours of sleep. Not even a full bladder could get this lil mama out of bed!
Sunday was spent checking out the Goodwills of Charlotte (which, by the way, are like going to the mall because it's still really nice stuff that people just decided to get nicer versions of), and then we went to...
drum roll
IKEA! :D :D :D
I had never been to IKEA so I didn't really know what to expect, but it was amazing! I was hangry (hungry + angry because of said hunger) so I demanded we eat at the Ikea restaurant first. I got swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and the best tomato and feta soup ever. I felt like a balloon when I got up to put my dishes in the bins. But it was so worth it.
We followed the map provided and made our way through all of Ikea, stopping at the beds and mattresses to pick out a frame for the guest room and a new mattress for our bed. They had some $70 mattresses that were less comfortable than concrete and some $700 ones that felt equally terrible, but we found a ~$300 mattress that felt perfect. I can't remember which bed frame we settled on, but since I wont be using it, I don't think it matters, haha.
The best part of Ikea, I think, is pretending that each of the "rooms" they have set up, are apartments. Everything on display, basically, is for sale and they have some prop electronics to make things look homey. They're all empty inside. The toilets on display have paper glued over the openings so no one decides to be funny and pee or god forbid POO in the toilets.
We ended up actually purchasing a nursing chair with cushion, a rug with polka dots, a bamboo salad bowl and can opener and a box of band-aids and a little stuffed white rat. The total was only $112 but they have a deal where if you spend over $100 in store they take off your meal purchase from the total, so since Gavin, his brother and I all ate, we ended up spending only $86! Well worth it.
My hunger was sated and I was no longer grumpy, but walking around that HUGE store left my feet swollen and sore so we decided to get on the road after Ikea. We said our goodbyes and headed back to Apex.
The ride home was much more turbulent. There was rain from outside of Charlotte all the way to Apex and for some reason, a lot of people didn't have their lights on. My wipers decided to cut out every few minutes and I realized I haven't driven in night rain in forever. I guess I don't really go out at night? And we haven't had a lot of rain until recently.
We finally made it back home and all the animals were super excited to see us. It felt good to be home even though a little mini-vacation was much-needed.
Oh yeah! And my mom texted me when we got back to say someone HAD turned in her wallet and nothing was missing! She'd already cancelled her debit card and ordered a new ID but at least she didn't have to get a new social security card. :)
Well, I was fortunate enough to be in the green zone, so I drove up to meet her at the antique mall anyway and we got lunch and I gave her some cash to last the weekend until she could get to the bank today. We cleaned up her booth and ate at this crazy diner that felt like we were back in the 70s. Mom said she'd been there 20 years ago and I thought about how it might be 20 years until I return! It was a lovely place though. While she dusted and sorted the booth I called the sheriff's department to check if anyone had turned in her wallet and gave them some info to get it back in case anyone did return it.
When I got home, Gavin and I got packed up to go to Charlotte and visit his parents, kissed the pups and cats goodbye and hit the road. My friend Allison would be by to feed, water and take the dogs out later on.
The drive to Charlotte was a smooth one. Other than my butt falling asleep, we had no problems. It only took us two and a half hours and on the way down, I got prodded from the inside by little baby Maxfield!
We spent Saturday night out in the backyard around the fire pit, conversing about fireworks, wedding photos, baby things and the new house. I didn't get to sleep until close to 2am but I have to say, sleeping in a feathery-soft bed thats high up off the floor and has a ceiling fan above, no dogs crowding me and the A/C set at a comfortable 65f was like sleeping in heaven. I woke up feeling very refreshed and got an uninterrupted nine hours of sleep. Not even a full bladder could get this lil mama out of bed!
Sunday was spent checking out the Goodwills of Charlotte (which, by the way, are like going to the mall because it's still really nice stuff that people just decided to get nicer versions of), and then we went to...
drum roll
IKEA! :D :D :D
I had never been to IKEA so I didn't really know what to expect, but it was amazing! I was hangry (hungry + angry because of said hunger) so I demanded we eat at the Ikea restaurant first. I got swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and the best tomato and feta soup ever. I felt like a balloon when I got up to put my dishes in the bins. But it was so worth it.
We followed the map provided and made our way through all of Ikea, stopping at the beds and mattresses to pick out a frame for the guest room and a new mattress for our bed. They had some $70 mattresses that were less comfortable than concrete and some $700 ones that felt equally terrible, but we found a ~$300 mattress that felt perfect. I can't remember which bed frame we settled on, but since I wont be using it, I don't think it matters, haha.
The best part of Ikea, I think, is pretending that each of the "rooms" they have set up, are apartments. Everything on display, basically, is for sale and they have some prop electronics to make things look homey. They're all empty inside. The toilets on display have paper glued over the openings so no one decides to be funny and pee or god forbid POO in the toilets.
We ended up actually purchasing a nursing chair with cushion, a rug with polka dots, a bamboo salad bowl and can opener and a box of band-aids and a little stuffed white rat. The total was only $112 but they have a deal where if you spend over $100 in store they take off your meal purchase from the total, so since Gavin, his brother and I all ate, we ended up spending only $86! Well worth it.
My hunger was sated and I was no longer grumpy, but walking around that HUGE store left my feet swollen and sore so we decided to get on the road after Ikea. We said our goodbyes and headed back to Apex.
The ride home was much more turbulent. There was rain from outside of Charlotte all the way to Apex and for some reason, a lot of people didn't have their lights on. My wipers decided to cut out every few minutes and I realized I haven't driven in night rain in forever. I guess I don't really go out at night? And we haven't had a lot of rain until recently.
We finally made it back home and all the animals were super excited to see us. It felt good to be home even though a little mini-vacation was much-needed.
Oh yeah! And my mom texted me when we got back to say someone HAD turned in her wallet and nothing was missing! She'd already cancelled her debit card and ordered a new ID but at least she didn't have to get a new social security card. :)
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Baby shower and doctor visit #3
First things first, the baby shower:
Gavin and I drove up to my mom's house on Sunday afternoon. It's about an hour's drive, but its a beautiful hour and passes quickly with the scenery changing from country to city and back to country again with sprawling hills and farms and a sparkling view of the lake.
We got there a little early so I could help my mom set up anything she hadn't gotten to yet. A couple of our friends also came early so we got to catch up before the excitement began.
When the shower began, we were each given a clothespin to wear on our shirts. If we said 'baby' or any variation of the word we had it confiscated. Whoever had the last clothespin was the winner. I think I was third to lose mine.
We decorated onesies, made up baby names and guessed for a due date and the weight/sex of the baby. I got a huge calendar with everyone's guesses written on it to take home.
We ate cupcakes and my mom had made baby quiches and ham & cheese fingerprints for us to snack on. When the mingling settled I moved over to a picnic table to open the gifts. We got a bunch of stuff! My top favorites so far:
-raccoon pjs with a raccoon on the butt (so cute, I squealed as I opened it)
-baby carrying sling (I have already tried it on my cats and it's so perfect, I can't wait to use it!)
-Little tiny socks in different characters like Batman (so tiny)
-gift card to target which has been stowed away for after the baby is born so we can pick up any last-minute forgotten items
Loading it all into the car was craziness. Luckily we didn't have to give my friend a ride back so it all fit fine.
I spent most of the evening post-shower going through everything and marveling at how much STUFF there is. And we haven't even gotten a real crib or nursery furniture yet!
Doctor Visit #3
Honestly, there's not a lot to say here. Gavin had to work an overnight shift after the shower from midnight to 10:30am and he was exhausted. He laid down for about an hour and a half before the appointment but claims not to have gotten any sleep. So I know he was a sleepy mess when we got to the appointment.
They asked us if we were going to do the blood tests to check for downs syndrome and spinal defects, things like that. I wasn't really feeling it because I know that a false positive would throw me into a tailspin of worry and anxiety and that is just not what I need right now. We decided to talk it over while waiting for the doctor and we decided that it was not going to make a difference since we wouldn't be ending the pregnancy either way. So we declined the tests.
Since no bloodwork was to be done, the only thing we did at this visit other than a discussion with the doctor was listen to the heartbeat. It was still in the 140s range and sounded completely healthy.
I was a little disappointed that we weren't able to find out the sex this visit, but I am all the more excited to know that August 4th will be the FOR SURE discovery date. And I can't wait to see what my little baby looks like.
I've been googling ultrasounds at 17 weeks to see what others' babies look like and I'm just so excited to see ours.
Friday, June 20, 2014
Dr Visit #2
Yesterday was our second appointment and was supposed to be the busiest appointment until the last month or so. I expected many tests and questions, but honestly, I don't feel like we did that much.
I was given an exam, a cell sample was taken and I had a breast exam. We listened to the heartbeat and discussed medicines I was taking and genetic disorders. Then before I knew it, I was peeing in a cup and it was over!
The exam part for me was kind of scary because I had actually never had a gynecological exam before. I guess I missed that part of young adulthood somehow. It didn't hurt and it wasn't really uncomfortable--my doctor had a pre-warmed speculum--but I still went home feeling a little...violated. I am trying to reconcile this feeling with the fact that it was a necessary procedure and part of the pregnancy, but I still feel a little off.
Luckily, Gavin is very sweet and has been so supportive. He has been with me at almost every doctor appointment so far and has plans to keep coming. :)
My next appointment is in about 4 weeks and it'll be right after the baby shower. We PROBABLY won't be able to tell if it's a male or female yet, but I'm not worried about it. I'm excited to see how much our baby has grown.
I was given an exam, a cell sample was taken and I had a breast exam. We listened to the heartbeat and discussed medicines I was taking and genetic disorders. Then before I knew it, I was peeing in a cup and it was over!
The exam part for me was kind of scary because I had actually never had a gynecological exam before. I guess I missed that part of young adulthood somehow. It didn't hurt and it wasn't really uncomfortable--my doctor had a pre-warmed speculum--but I still went home feeling a little...violated. I am trying to reconcile this feeling with the fact that it was a necessary procedure and part of the pregnancy, but I still feel a little off.
Luckily, Gavin is very sweet and has been so supportive. He has been with me at almost every doctor appointment so far and has plans to keep coming. :)
My next appointment is in about 4 weeks and it'll be right after the baby shower. We PROBABLY won't be able to tell if it's a male or female yet, but I'm not worried about it. I'm excited to see how much our baby has grown.
Friday, June 6, 2014
What to buy when you're expecting
This is the question that I have been pondering lately.
I'm sure the almighty Google could answer it for me, but I have a hard time trusting random sites on the internet, even the ones that are teeming with experienced moms. Often the older mothers will have an "it worked for me" attitude about outdated practices and products that are now considered dangerous to infants. I have been toeing the water of registries but I really have no idea what to put on them.
My mom has seemed to put it in the best way: "Babies don't need as much as we like to buy."
Well, I never planned on going all-out and buying every gadget intended to make my baby an infinitesimal amount more intelligent. I plan on buying the necessities (diapers, wipes, stroller, car seat, crib, etc.) and maybe a few extras--I don't want my kid to think I'm holding out on him or her--but it's completely overwhelming to think about what all of the basics entail. Are these expensive diapers really that much better than the store brand? Am I wasting money by not using cloth? Are these wipes going to cause a rash? Can I even lift this stroller? Which car seat is going to be the safest but also the easiest to use? IS THIS CRIB LEGAL!?!
Technology and safety regulations are constantly updating and recalls are being put out on all kinds of products meant for infant/child use. How does anyone know what is even safe to buy?
I keep hoping that the further along I am, the more instincts will kick in. But the fact of the matter is, there's no instinct that tells you which car seat is the best. You can do research and look up specs and ask your friends which worked best for them, but every family is different and until you know what your needs are going to be, you kind of have to wing it.
This morning my MIL offered to buy us a travel system. Her hairdresser had told her that it was a godsend to be able to take the seat out of the car and snap it into the stroller. I recall my step-mom and dad having a similar system for my younger siblings. However, I have a friend on Facebook who is constantly posting about car seats and when I asked her advice, she suggested it would save money to buy a car seat that "grows" with your child and adjusts with each stage to fit up to 100 lbs. I didn't even know these existed! She also suggested ditching the idea of a stroller in general for a more hands-on approach: baby carrying.
That has been an idea that I've been pretty adamant about since my best friend had her baby. It seems comforting for my baby to be able to feel me at all times while we are out. But I'm aware that it won't always be me carrying my baby and not everyone who will be taking care of him or her throughout infancy will be so willing to strap a baby on their back (or front). So now it's pretty clear I'm going to be buying a stroller, but not one that comes with a car seat.
At least, that's the tentative plan. This has only been a couple hours of thinking on the subject and there's so much more I can learn about it.
Knowing that all of that is just about the stroller and car seat and that I have about a dozen other essentials I will need to get is causing some major anxiety in this mama. Advice is appreciated but I can't guarantee it will be ultimately followed.
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