Month: September 2013 (Page 2 of 2)

Here is Samwise Storm Mason!

Born Friday the thirteenth of September at 7:02 pm.

9 pounds 8 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long

I might as well post again to erase the optimism I inspired with my last post.  Just got back from my midwife with almost no change from last week.  I’m becoming convinced that my body doesn’t know how to go into labor.  The bigger bummer is that the hospital is maxed out with scheduled inductions.  I got the next available, which is Thursday evening.  And I’ll be first up to get bumped if they get too busy.

So that blows.

At least they’ve got me on the books I guess.  I wanted my membranes stripped but I’m GBS+ again, so that’s not an option.  In the meantime I’ll tell Ben we need to do this list of natural induction methods. 

• Consciously surrender and give consent to yourself the universe … to allow the journey to begin.
• Try ‘slow-dancing’ and belly-dancing type movements.
• Visualise the swirling of a galaxy, and the funnelling of a hurricane.

I’ll tell him to pick up some aromatherapy candles and then we’ll REALLY be in business. Oh, and apparently we need to spend more time cuddling in the nude.  I hope Jack doesn’t mind.

Today this kiddo is officially fully cooked.

Obviously I’m still pregnant.  Despite many encouraging twinges and pains and feelings in my nethers I’d better leave undescribed, no labor has started.  My mom points out that I wasn’t even to my due date yet, so of course nothing has happened.  But I’ve always seen the due date as a “Sell By” date, rather than a “Do Not Open Until” date.  I know it’s wrong, but that’s how my brain interprets it.   I can’t help but be hopeful starting at 37 weeks.

Tonight I see my midwife and we’ll make a plan.  I’d still love to go into labor naturally.  It’s safer, and darn it, what was the use of studying all those labor signs and warnings, memorizing instructions, baby-sitting arranging, and hospital bag pre-packing for if I don’t put it to use?  It’s like a big test I studied for was changed to open book by the professor that morning.  You feel relief, but a little put out that you did all that prep for nothing.

I LOVE having Ben home with me.  He has declared himself my intern, and to give him things to do.  I was vacuuming this morning and feeling worn out.  But mopping needed to be done.  I hesitantly asked him to do it and he jumped on board.  He also did the dishes for me without asking, and took care of Jack while I showered.  It’s so nice to shower without “mommymommymommy” coming in through the door, trying to judge whether he wants to show me a toy or whether he pooped his pants and actually needs attention.  Quiet, hot showers.  I love them.

Ben joined us at our usual Monday Story Time at the library.  I plan on him taking over this duty for the next few weeks, so Jack can have his usual routine despite the new brother sucking up all of mom’s time and energy.

Then I had Ben drop me at home while they go grocery shopping without me.  Ahh.  So nice to put my feet up and blog, instead of limping through the aisles. 

You can be sure once we have baby action to share, I will let you all know.  Hopefully my next post includes adorable newborn squishy baby pictures.

He sort of gets it.

Staying home most of the day, every day, was getting boring for us.  I proposed a quick visit to the zoo and Jack jumped on board.  It was going to be another 90 degree day, but the morning was clouded over so I hoped it wouldn’t be too bad.

I’m 39 1/2 weeks pregnant, with a due date on Monday (they kept switching between Tuesday and Monday, now they are sticking with the earlier one).  My last visit has me optimistic I might actually go into labor on my own, because I was dilated to 3 cm!  If you will recall, I never dilated beyond a 1 with Jack, even up to the night I was induced.

Walking is supposed to help start labor, and I certainly gave it my best attempt today.  We spent 1 1/2 hours walking the zoo, enjoying the small crowds now that school has started up.  Jack wanted to see pelicans, monkeys, and gorillas.  We did all that and he said he wasn’t done, so we went to see Billy, the new 5 year old elephant.  Jack laughed that his name was billy, like belly button.  We saw another elephant and he said they were friends and his name must be tummy 🙂

(He’s mad at me in this photo because I crouched down to shoot it, but I wouldn’t let him sit on my knee) (There’s a mountain ram behind us)

“Belly”

“Tummy”

I’m feeling surprisingly well for being nearly 39 weeks pregnant.  I credit it completely to being home and able to rest pretty much whenever I need, and spending a large part of the day with my feet up.  The baby is much lower than Jack was, so I actually have room to breathe and eat.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m anxious to get this part over with.  It’s not pleasant, by any means.  But it could be a lot worse. 

I have a lot more pre-labor symptoms than the last time around.  Maybe this kid will find his way out on his own.  It’s strange, but I feel like this is my first time because I still don’t know what it’s like to naturally go into labor. 

We had another nice quiet weekend.  While Ben took Jack to Dinosaur Ridge, Amanda and I got pedicures.  Later that night we went to see Austenland (hilarious!!) while Ben took Jack to see his first movie in a theater: Planes.  You’ll have to ask him or Ben about it.  It sounds like Jack had a riotously good time.

Today I barely made it through Sacrament meeting (those pews are torture at this point!).  I went home to rest while Jack had nursery and Ben taught Primary.  He and I were called to team teach the 6-7 year olds.  They have subs lined up for the next few weeks for us, but Ben started it today.  It will be nice being able to share the duties and the calling together.  Jack adores nursery.  Today he told me they took a nature walk “with that rope thing.  You have to hold onto the rope!”  I always loved seeing the little kids walk around while holding onto a rope.  I’ll bet Jack tattled on anyone who dared loosen their grip.  He’s a lover of rules and order. 

I’ve knit two sweaters, two hats, and a pair of socks for the baby.  I’m working on a third hat now just to pass the time.  I also made some large scale cross stitch art for the house.  Maybe I’ll get it hung and post pictures soon. 

Sorry for the rambling, picture-less post.  But I just felt like saying something about the week.