Monday, July 25, 2011

I'll Take My Baby Well Done Please

Yep Mr. Man is now "well done" or in other words over due. I must admit I was a little disappointed this morning when I realized that I had past my due date but it wasn't until I opened the What to Expect app on my iPhone that it really sunk in. How could it not with it being so bluntly put in the countdown...see picture below. Oh also pay attention to the baby tracker which has now gone from watermelon to pumpkin. Damn app!
Ok I was mildy irritated but wasn't fully pissed off until I read the daily digest which normally provides a decent amount of information and insight into the pregnancy. The daily digest today was about making sure the dad is fed before and during labor. Seriously!  I have the responsibility of pushing a 6-9 lb "pumpkin" out of my body and I am supposed to be concerned about the stomach of the person that is half responsible for putting me in this "delicate condition".  Needless to say I think I may now have one less app taking up space on my iPhone...one more offense WTE and you are out of here!
**Disclaimer:  I realize it is not totally sane to devote an entire blog to ranting about an app on your phone but when you are carrying a well done pumpkin you tend to loose a little bit of sanity with each day that passes.**

Sunday, July 24, 2011

"D Day" has arrived

Well the day has arrived.  July 24, 2011 my official due date and according from the What to Expect App on my iPhone "Today is the Day".  But as you can probably guess I am not blogging from labor and delivery.  Nope, I'm sitting in my house still baking a baby.  I can't blame Mr. Man for stalling his entrance into the "real world".  If you stop to think about it right now he's got it pretty good, probably the easiest he will ever have it in his life. 
So I thought maybe if he knew some of the things we were looking forward to it might help him decide to make his entrance.
So baby boy here are some things I am looking forward to:

1) Seeing you the first time. 
I really have no idea what you will look like.  I think you will have dark hair like your Daddy.  I do want to see the feet that have been stretching out and crushing my ribs for the past month. 

2) Hearing you cry. 
Now I know once he arrives I will dread ever making this statement.  But I wonder what you will sound like.  If you're anything like me you will have quite the set of lungs to wail out fairly loudly.

3)  Introducing you to your new family and friends. 
I know I am not alone in the anticipation of your arrival.  We have been so lucky during this pregnancy to have a wonderful support system and there are so many people eagerly waiting to hold you.

4)  Holidays 
Your Daddy is already planning his annual Fall Fest.  Don't worry I have nixed the hay ride idea until you are a bit older and bigger.  From Halloween to Christmas, I can't wait for us to start some great traditions with you.

5)  Seeing Bill as your father. 
Parenthood is a scary thing but one thing I know for sure is that you are going to have the best Daddy.  He is planning to read to you every night before bed.  You two will have some fun outdoor excursions together.  When you are older I am sure he will even introduce you to his love of chocolate and hot wings. 

These of course are just a few things that I am looking forward to with your arrival.  So get in the launch position, follow the light and shoot on out!!! 

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Would you like some cheese with this "Whine"?


Since I am on the downhill stretch of the pregnancy I’ve started to reach my limit on things that have annoyed me throughout the pregnancy.

Just thought I would list a few of them here...

When I would tell people my due date (July 24) they look at me and say wow that’s really going to be hot. Geez thanks like I wasn’t already aware of this. Guess I shouldn’t have purchased all of those maternity winter jackets.

Parenthood “know-it-alls” and the statements they make that begin with “you have no idea”…Usually something negative like: You have no idea how much sleep you are going to lose. You have no idea how messy your house will be...etc. Most of the people that say things like this have multiple children and I want to say if parenthood was so awful the first time around why the heck did you have more than one? This brings me to my next irritant which is all of the parental “advice” you get once people find out your pregnant. Now don’t get me wrong I completely welcome helpful tips but I am referring to the people that take their “advice” to the extreme and get angry at the thought of you not following through with their suggestions.

The judgment on the size of my belly. Some people say I am either really big or I am really small. Or the need to compare my belly to an object…My What to Expect app on my iPhone is guilty of this. It now tells me I am carrying a 6-9 pound watermelon. Thanks, I need to be reminded of that.

Feeling like a zoo animal. I now have so much empathy for the pandas at the zoo. What I mean is when you are far along in your pregnancy people tend to “observe” you and watch you like they would an animal at the zoo. If you happen to flinch or make a face they scare into thinking the baby is about to slip out and fall on the floor. If labor would only be that easy! :)  There was one morning I had to be at work early for a meeting and did not eat breakfast before I left home. The meeting had donuts, I was hungry so I went to get a donut. As I was walking back to my chair a man was staring and laughing at me. He even said “enjoy being able to eat like that for the next few days”. WTH! I hate to inform him I actually did get hungry before I was pregnant. For those of you that know me well, No I did not take my donut and throw it at his head. I simply smiled, ate my donut and then proceeded to go get another one!

Strangers approaching you and asking you personal questions. When are you due? What are you having? What are you naming the baby? I suppose it just baffles me that someone I will more than likely never see again even cares to know any details about my life.

The last one is going to sound mean but I can’t help it. It is really annoying the last few weeks of pregnancy when people ask you over and over in the same day how you are feeling. I am nearly 40 weeks pregnant the later part of July, and remember according to What to Expect I am carrying a watermelon. How the heck do you think I feel? I feel like the Easter marshmallow peep after you put it in the microwave. Don't misunderstand, I am glad people have concern and I don't mind them asking once or even twice a day but when it gets to be 4-5 times within one day it can be a bit excessive. :)

Ok I suppose that is enough complaining for one day.

Monday, July 18, 2011

What a difference a year makes...

It's always interesting to take a look back and reflect on your life and how it has changed in the past year.  Wow my life has really changed!  First, last July I started my job with the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce.  It was scary making the decision to leave my current job but I knew I was ready and up for the challenge!  I believe a person will never achieve great things without taking some risks.  I'm so glad I took the risk of starting my new career; it has definitely been a good decision!

Next, my physical appearance has changed since last year...can you see the difference?  :)

This was July 2010

July 2011 (39 weeks + 1 day preggo)

This of course brings me to a very big change in my life.  Bill and I are expecting our first child Brody any day now!  I discovered over the past 40 weeks that I am not one of the women that was "meant" to be pregnant but that's a whole different post entirely. 

The last major difference in my life over the past year is I lost my sweet step-dad Don in May.  This is something that is still really hard but I smile at the thought of him looking down on his "baby" about to have one of her own.  

I think it's good to reflect on the good and bad things that happen in our lives.  It helps us to evaluate where we are and where we want to be.  Even though I think reflection is important, I fully believe in the following quote "Never regret anything, because at one time it was exactly what you wanted".