Okay, Lay it On Me

Okay people. With my due date falling sometime this week, I think I can handle it. If not, well, too late, right?! I want the good, the bad, and the ugly of adding a second child to our family. Don't be afraid to scare me. Go crazy. 'Cause really, even if it does scare me, maybe it'll just scare this baby out of me!

P.S. For any local Marylanders wondering if there's anything you can do to help at this time, really the only thing I'll need is visitors after about two weeks. I am the sort that doesn't like to take new babies out much, which means I end up staying in. Understandably, I get bored. And if you live far away, just call. If I'm feeding the baby or sleeping, I won't answer the phone, but I'll know you called and that will make me feel better.

Latest Projects

Even though it kills my wrists to do anything dexterous, it helps (1) keep my mind off my pregnancy and (2) move the rest of my body. So I work through the pain. Although, I can happily report that my attitude is improving. I think weeks 34-35 were so hard because I felt huge, but also like I still had so much time left. But now that I'm closing in on 38 weeks, it feels like I'm huge for a reason. So don't worry about me; I'm surviving. That is, until this week when Maryland kills me with heat.

Here's what's been happening in our house. First, the curtains for the boys' room (oh how fun that sounds!). After some dreadfully wrong calculations and subsequent design changes, I was able to pull off these curtains. I love the fabrics (Kate Spain's "Central Park"), and I think they'll look great next to grey walls. I backed them with blackout fabric and am amazed at how well they darken a room: just what I need for little boys to sleep. Then there is the book sling out of some coordinating fabric.  I found the tutorial at Megan's blog, "Penny Carnival." I know it doesn't look like much now (fabric rectangle anyone?), but just imagine how cute it will be hung next to Rhett's bed. I'm so very excited.




Then this. This is mostly Chuck's project since all I did was measure stuff and sand a bit. He cut, primed, painted, drilled, screwed...everything. It's totally his project. But we both love it. I saw it on Jenny's blog "Anything Pretty" and knew it should be ours. I mean, come on. Have you ever met a bigger couple of math nerds geeks? Rhett loves playing with the extra beads, although to him, they make a better microphone ("Ladies and gentlemen...") and ice cream cone. (oh and you can't really tell, but this is about 2' x 3'. It's pretty big.)




Remember this table runner I saw at that adorable Utah quilting shop? Well, here's mine. I thought about adding something to the middle but Chuck said, "Oh no, that's where all the flowers I buy you will go." Isn't that the funniest thing you've ever heard?! That Chuck, always making me laugh.


And finally, because it's summer in Maryland it's humid (have I mentioned that Maryland is humid? I can't recall). Humidity means sweating glasses. Sweating glasses means stains on wood if there are no coasters. So coasters we must have. I found a couple of tutorials and think these will be great for our house! We haven't finished them yet because I want to use some sort of varnish that could harm the baby. So it's on Chuck's list.

Pregnancy, Oh, Pregnancy

I'm at the stage now where I just don't want to leave the house: not for work, not for church, not for fun. I know I'm big. I know. Yes, I'm worried the doctor missed a gestational diabetes diagnosis. Yes, I'm worried something is wrong with my fluid levels. Yes, I'm worried that I really have twins in there. (Well, that's more Chuck's worry, but still.) Even if none of that's true, I'm worried I just have a big baby in there. (Okay, but let's get real: I'm not going to have a baby this big, am I? Seriously, check out the link. NOW.) Fortunately I'm having another ultrasound on Friday. Unfortunately it won't make me smaller.

I repeat: I know I'm big. But it's still upsetting to have to hear it over and over and over again. Said the woman walking by me on the way to the metro, "[DANG]*! When's that baby due?" Said I as I kept walking, "Oh still four weeks away." Said the walking woman, "Seriously? You're HUGE!" Thank you. Thank you woman I've never met nor do I want to meet, for telling me this heretofore unknown fact. *Edited for language.

Also, everyone seems to love to say any version of "Any day now!" or "Looks like you're ready to pop!" Both of which are not helpful when I still have three weeks. Instead, these comments make me embarrassed and self-conscious when I have to explain that I still have three weeks to go. My sister said I should make a t-shirt that says, "I know I'm huge. SHUT IT." I might have to do that.

Even my feet are wide. I usually have pretty wide feet (thanks to a father with quintuple-E width shoes, or something thereabouts). But now? Dang. They're like full rectangles. I'm down to one pair of flip flops. It's pretty professional at work, believe me.

One last thing: I just checked when the next full moon is, and sadly it's this Friday, the 15th. I'm afraid that's just too early to push my body into an early labor. Sigh.

Yes, I wish I could be more positive for the sakes of all around me. Yes, I wish I could have a more eternal perspective about the pain I'm in. Yes, I wish I could just lie about it and tell everyone I'm doing great. Yes, I understand that so many women can't get pregnant so I should be grateful. Yes, I understand that so many have/had/will have it so much harder than I. But I can't think of that now.


Before you stop reading and never come back, the next three posts (and maybe more!) have nothing to do with me complaining. Lucky you!

Keepin' Busy (oh no, not me, my parents)

When Rhett was born, I knew I was going to be a mess...and I was. I really didn't see having my parents there right away to witness this, so instead they showed up six weeks later. By that time, I was feeling better and they got to enjoy a more-alert baby and attend his blessing. It was the right decision for us.

Things are different now. Before, I didn't have another child running around; now I do. Because of this, I see the immediacy of extra helping hands. Fortunately, I have a husband who will be home for the first couple of weeks after Betamax joins us before he even has to go to work. But you better believe that as soon as Chuck returns to the classroom, my parents are coming to help with the new baby.

What should I have them do? I mean, sure, they can hold the baby and look at the baby, but really, they're not baby people...hmm...I wonder where I get this?! (Note: This just means I can't pass off the baby all day, not that they don't love their grandchildren as babies, because they do.) Here are my ideas for ways to use my parents:
1. Play with Rhett.
2. Grocery shop and make meals (both regular and ones to be frozen for later).
3. Take off the wallpaper from the goon room walls and then repaint.
4. Chores.

My dad will be content to sit and take in all the scenery. But my mom is a woman who likes to stay busy so I'm not sure this is enough. What tasks am I missing? What did you find most helpful from extra hands right after you gave birth?

An Interview with Me

Me: Thanks, erin, for joining us today.
Erin: No problem! Thanks for inviting me. I'm excited to be here.

Me: So, how are you feeling these days?
Erin: Well, I always say that it's about as good as it gets. Because I don't experience morning sickness, nor have I yet to be sentenced to bed rest, I feel pretty lucky. But that's quickly changing. As I did with Rhett, I'm starting to develop some severe pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel. It shows up when typing, driving, holding books, cooking, sewing, and the worst...sleeping. My hands go numb and wake me up about five times a night. Then I have to try to figure out how to get it to go away. It's extremely frustrating. However, at Wednesday's OB appointment, my doctor recommended visiting an orthopaedist who can get me a splint. Hooray! And hooray for not being in an HMO, because when I was pregnant with Rhett, the OB said there was nothing I could do for it. Man, I really really dislike HMOs.

Me: Is there anything positive about being pregnant during summer?
Erin: One thing. This week excepting, our weather has been pretty miserable: hot and humid. If I weren't pregnant, I'd still be running. Last week it's not likely I would have tried to run and I would have felt very guilty (and very fat). However, being seven months pregnant gives me an excuse to not run now, and I'm okay with that, and okay with feeling fat. We still try to get out often and walk Bruno, so I'm getting my pregnant-lady exercise.

Me: Are you feeling ready for this baby?
Erin: Nope. We've certainly talked about all the things we need (which isn't much, thankfully). We still need bottles, crib sheets, and a crib mattress, but that's about it. We're getting closer on the name front, so that's good. As for the reality of going from one child to two? No way do I feel ready. I'm scared to death. Scared to lose time with my little man, scared of taking care of two kids, scared of having a newborn in the house again. And no one's even tried to convince me I shouldn't be, which just scares me more.

Me: So this was Chuck's last week in school. How are you and Chuck feeling about your summer plans?
Erin: Pretty good. Given how exhausted am I now as a mom and pregnant lady (you women who do this multiple times, especially with multiple kids outside of the uterus, absolutely amaze me), work will be a welcomed environment. Blasted air conditioning and no running around chasing a toddler sounds dreamy right about now. I am sad that these are the last times we have as a family of three, though. I sure like that little man. Chuck is excited to start potty training on Monday. Wish them luck!

Me: Is there anything fun going on this summer?
Erin: Does sitting around waiting for the humidity to go and the baby to come count? No? Oh. Well we still have fun plans: we will be brushing up on our Algebra II. Chuck's teaching it for the first time this school year and neither of us has "used" it since we took it...21 years ago for me, probably 20 for Chuck! When you take as much math as I have, you can't remember what specific parts fit into which specific courses, so it'll be fun to find that out.

Me: How is Rhett doing?
Erin: Just fine. He really is a funny little dude. I am getting very tired of reading Berenstain Bears books, though. And telling stories about ceiling fans. But I do love him and am excited to see what type of big brother he'll be. He's so excited about his baby brother and is constantly telling us about all the things he'll do once the baby comes. For example, he's going to make him smile, feed him all by himself, hold him, play with him. He really is adorable about the whole thing--I hope it lasts!

Me: Anything else you'd like to add?
Erin: You know, I've got a pretty great life and am excited to meet this little one taking up residence in my uterus. And really, any time he sees fit to come join us (after about 37 weeks, of course), I'm all for it.

Thanks for indulging me as I do a bit of journaling.

Name Search Continues

First, uh yeah, all of those dreams were real. So were the tears. My dreams have always been pretty strange (inherited from my mom) but pregnancy makes them worse.

Second, we're still on the name hunt for Baby Betamax. It's so bad we went through the alphabet just spouting names that began with each letter, but still, nothing. Because "Zeus" was last, it was the winner. But I look everywhere for names: books, obituaries, movies, other peoples' kids...everywhere. So far, nothing has really hit us the way Rhett did. I think it's because 2% of "illogical me" thinks it's a girl.

Mostly we just spout random names to each other. Sometimes we'll ask Rhett what he thinks. And if it's a name he's never before heard, he'll say, "That's not a name, Mom." Or, "I like it because it's a new name. I don't like old names." What the...?

The worst name I came up with so far? Rex. (Yes, I was serious.) Chuck replied, "Uh, you know we have a son named Rhett?" So then it became a joke with another suggestion of Brett.

Oh and it turns out that many of you aren't familiar with the name Betamax. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you. I'll let you in on the secret anyway. Years and years ago, VHS tapes had a rival: Sony's Betamax (or sometimes just Beta). The quality of the machine and the tapes was superior to the VHS format. But you paid for that in Beta's price, of course. My dad, who was serving in the Marines in Japan at the time Beta came out, saw that Beta was a better product and bought a machine and recorded loads of movies to bring home when he was done (and for a cheaper price since he was already in Japan). Unfortunately, not enough people bought Beta and they soon died out. But I'll tell you, that Beta machine our family had? It lasted until my sister went to college and possibly beyond. What electronic product do you have that has lasted 15-20 years these days? None, I tell you, none.

Multiple Choice Dream Quiz

Which of the following has NOT shown up recently in my dreams:

a) Huge projectile briquettes shaped like white and red blood cells flying through the air that scared me enough to not go running with Rhett for fear that we'd be hit by said flaming briquettes.

b) Horrible gift of jewelry from Chuck to me (bought from a man in a van who met us at a local residential street corner) that was a thick gold chain with weird charms on it. So hideous was this gift that I woke from dream crying (yes, real tears) at the disappointment.

c) Me doing a sculling race around the country, a race that would take months. And I was in my 20-week pregnant state. I was hoping to get out of it, but since I committed and we'd already gone so far (tip of southern Africa maybe?), that I was in 'til the end. But since others were doubting my ability to stay in shape for it, I was hoping that might be my exit.

d) I'm hanging out with Eminem (don't ask) at his house. Eminem leaves, but I remain. The room is disgusting. Not just cluttered, but filthy. My Uncle Bruce (shout out to cousins Natalie, Nicole and Emily and cousin-in-law Becky!) comes in, furious, and tells us all (not even sure if his kids, my cousins, were in the room) to get out and this is disgusting and we shouldn't be in here...blah blah blah. I leave but am kinda mad, because, hey, Eminem's my friend and I can be friends with whomever I want! [Doesn't that just sound like 16-year-old me? Except for the "whomever" part.]

e) All of the above have shown up in recent dreams because I'm crazy.

And the Fifth Ultrasound Said...

Boy! If I wasn't too lazy or if I didn't think all the pictures made the baby look like Skeletor, then I'd scan an ultrasound pic for you. But sorry, Skeletor he was. We weren't too surprised at the outcome because the 12-week ultrasound said the same thing, but it's still nice to get the double confirmation. Now we can get serious about his name. I have to start working on his Christmas stocking before the pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel stops me from everything requiring dexterity (and to finish the stocking I'll need a name).

Given this will be Boy #2, let's assume that he'll be able to wear Rhett's clothes. What else will we need? Right now our list is: crib mattress (Rhett is on his toddler bed) and double jogging stroller. What am I forgetting?

For now, no running (too wet, too cold). But tomorrow I get to try out my new pregnancy workout video. I'm pumped. Thanks for the recommendation Cousin Nicole! And to those of you who recommended yoga videos, thanks. I have one of those already; I just wanted something that would get my heartbeat up just a bit more than yoga does.

And just in case you forgot, I give you Skeletor...