Husband: Nesting, Contractions and AJ Burnett

It’s been almost a month since I last blogged. A lot has happened. There was the Great Fall of 2012, the three-hour stay in the hospital, our first “HOLY CRAP BABY IS COMING NOW” scare, a couple baby showers and lots of baby gadgets that are now assembled. The curtains in the nursery have been hung, her swing is built and we finally got a lamp in the nursery, meaning that Susan’s room is now officially finished and ready for her to move in.

Mary is now nine months pregnant. She’s having contractions like crazy (“Like Crazy” is medically defined as “a shitload”). The doctors, several of them since we’ve been to about 72 unscheduled appointments in the past two weeks, all say that they aren’t real contractions, only practice contractions. Her entire belly gets as hard as a rock for about 20-30 seconds, sometimes accompanied by a shooting pain that Mary describes sometimes as “pressure” and other times as “MAN this hurts.”

The doctors, of which we’ve seen at least four recently, told us those contractions are Mary’s body’s way of preparing itself to give birth. Her uterus has to warm up before real labor like Mariano Rivera has to warm up before he cleans up the mess that A.J. Burnett left behind in the ninth inning. The only problem is that Mariano has been bailing out the Yankees for over a decade, and my wife’s uterus is just now getting started. It’s obviously new at this because the contractions are all over the place in timing and intensity, and not much is getting done. “Inefficient” is the word they’ve been using. Maybe it’s more like Burnett than Rivera after all.

If Mary's uterus had a face right now.

We have another appointment on Thursday, and Mary has sworn that if she’s not dilated yet and these contractions have been for nothing, she’s going to go Pregzilla on anything in her path. I feel her pain (figuratively, not literally) because the waiting has been brutal. We both want Susan to hurry up and get here, but we’re now at the mercy of our unborn daughter as to when she wants to make her debut. She’s not even here yet and is already treating us like her pawns.

Your move, baby.

Mary has recently started passing the time by cleaning the house and organizing Susan’s room over and over again. I woke up one morning to find her folding sheets in the upstairs linen closet…at 6 AM...on a Tuesday. I thought that was strange, but was still waking up so I didn’t inquire. Thirty minutes later when she didn’t come downstairs, I went up there to find her folding Susan’s clothes…clothes that were already folded. She had a huge smile on her face and was moving around like Speedy Gonzales on speed. The ensuing conversation went something like this:

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“Folding her clothes!” she said.

“It's 6:30 morning?” I said.

“Yeah, come look! Ok so I was thinking this would be her coming-home outfit…and this one she can wear in the hospital…and this one would be so cute at the beach…and THIS one, awwww SO cute. So I have her little onesies here in this drawer organized by color and material. And then HERE are her socks…these are like newborn socks, and she probably won’t fit into these, so I put them on this side…but THESE will be great! I don’t want her little feet to get cold. And then the hats are up here – which one do you like the best? I think this one’s my favorite. Oh and I organized her closet. Come look – her summer outfits are on the left…”

…and so on. In my first 30 minutes that morning, I drank half a cup of coffee and read three paragraphs of the sports page. My wife, who apparently launched herself out of bed at 4 a.m. like Usain Bolt out of the starting block, had already organized and re-organized the entire nursery running on nothing but pregnancy hormones.

Pregnancy: The ultimate PED.

Come to find out, there’s something called the “nesting instinct” that most pregnant women experience at various stages of pregnancy. I consulted the internet, and it had this to say:

At the end of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world. Females of the animal kingdom are all equipped with this same need. It is a primal instinct. Just as you see birds making their nests, mothers-to-be do exactly the same thing.

The cause of the nesting instinct is both physical and emotional. A woman’s hormones during pregnancy are responsible for the most of the nesting instinct, and residual survival instinct is responsible for the rest. The nesting instinct can be observed in all pregnant mammals as they prepare for birth.

Source: The Internet

After watching my wife labor up stairs for eight months and fall asleep before 9 p.m. every night, I thought nesting had bypassed her this time around. Not the case. Since the first morning of nesting a week ago, she’s spent more time in the nursery than any other room in the house. She washed every single piece of clothing that Susan has and has sterilized all of her bottles twice. I’ve helped out a bit, but she hasn’t asked me to do any of this because I think she enjoys it that much. I feel like I should be doing something, but I usually end up just standing there while she folds and irons tiny dresses.

Wife: Epic Fall (Fail)

I should have known yesterday morning when I gave myself a huge paper cut opening my new box of contacts what the day was going to be like.  Instead of going about my regular day, I should have just gotten back in bed, closed my eyes, and waited for the day to be over.  But no, I missed the signs and instead, continued about my business.

All that was missing was one of these.

Chris was not feeling well.  He woke up feeling nauseous and sick.  But we had a doctor's appointment with a doctor he hadn't met yet, so he was bound and determined to go with me.  When we got to the doctor's office, he turned completely white and made a beeline for the bathroom.  I headed back to deposit my sample.  For those of you who don't know, when you are pregnant, you begin every doctor's appointment by peeing in a cup.  Anyway, after I finished, I saw Chris.  He said he didn't get sick but really wanted to.  He looked like death. 

The nurse came and called us back.  We went to weigh and then to see the doctor.  I was still measuring about a week ahead and Susan's heartrate sounded great.  She was head down (I knew that because when she hiccups, my butt vibrates) and was doing great.  Dr. Andrews remembered seeing us on Tuesday night touring the Birth Place at Durham Regional.  He asked us if we enjoyed the tour and we told him we did.  For me, it still did not feel "real."  For Chris, I think seeing the labor and delivery rooms and the mother/baby rooms made it feel a lot more real for him.  We did enjoy the tour and it was good to see where everything was and how it would go.

After the appointment, Chris went home, where he promptly threw up and then laid down to try to recover.  My plan was to work until three and then come home to nurse him.  I would have taken the whole day to do that, but alas, my office book club was meeting that day.  So I went to work.  The morning was fairly normal without any big issues.

At 12:30, the members of OADLOER (Office of the Appellate Defender League of Extraordinary Readers) gathered to walk from our office to Mellow Mushroom.  I was wearing one of my standard maternity outfits with shoes that are cute but admittedly not really "made for walking."  The walk began fairly normal.  The pavement of this part of the American Tobacco Campus is very uneven.  Also, I cannot see my feet or where I am walking anymore.  To top it off, pregnant women are clutzy and have completely lost their sense of equillibrium at this point in pregnancy.  All of this is true for me.  I wobble a little bit now and drop things all the time.  However, none of my previous clutzy experiences prepared me for what happened next. 

I may as well have been walking on this.

As we were walking on the concrete sidewalk, I tripped.  I thought I could catch myself but because my weight is so unevenly distributed, I couldn't. So as I began my elegant, graceful swan dive toward the concrete, I instinctively turned  toward my right side to protect Susan.  It was like somehow I knew to try not to fall directly on her.  As I hit the ground, I landed on my right side.  So my shoulder and right arm took most of the fall.  Then, I sort of rolled onto my back and my left shoe came flying off.  As I said, it was very graceful.  So after I landed, I slowly sat up and my friends were trying very hard to keep me calm.  I didn't get up right away but just sort of sat there dazed on the sidewalk thinking, "I cannot believe I just fell."  Actually, there were expletives running through my head, but this is a family friendly blog.

I didn't think I landed on Susan but I wasn't sure.  So my friends sat there with me while we waited to see if I wanted to get up.  Right away my shoulder hurt and my arm was kind of tingly.  Jon, who used to be a fireman before turning attorney, came up from the restaurant to assist and assess.  My injuries were not life threatening, but we decided to walk to the restaurant and call my doctor just to be safe. 

While on the phone with the doctors, I was doing a pretty good job of staying calm.  My friends were reminding me to breathe deep and drink water and trying to reassure me that things were okay and that Susan was okay.  But I hadn't felt her move since the fall, and she is super active so that made me really nervous.  Finally, the nurse picked up and I explained what happened.  At first, she told me to eat and drink something and see what happens.  But the she said she wanted to double check with the doctor.  When she came back, she said that the doctor wanted me to go to labor and delivery at Durham Regional to get hooked up to the monitors to make sure everything was okay.  As she was saying that, I sort of began to lose it...nothing like a pregant weeping woman at Mellow Mushroom.  So I told my friends what the doctor wanted and Jon, who also used to drive the ambulance when the paramedics were occupied, went to get his car. 

I started crying and tried to call Chris.  My friends were doing their very best to reassure me that this was just routine and everything was fine.  Of course, because my poor sick husband was at home, he was sleeping and trying to recover so he didn't answer his phone after the first couple of tries.  So then he called me back but I wasn't really able to get words out.  So I gave the phone to my friend Jonathan who told Chris what happened and that Jon was taking me to the hospital and to meet us there. 

We got to the ER (where we are supposed to go if we are in labor) and they called for a transport right away.  Chris walked in a few minutes after I got there looking kind of like a ghost and very out of breath.  I thought he was going to pass out.  Apparently he had run from his car to the ER.  Once we got up to L&D, they immediately took me to a room, and gave me a gown.  After I got changed, my very friendly and kind nurse Jennifer came in to hook me up to the monitors.  She strapped on the fetal heartrate monitor and after two tries, she found Susan's heartbeat.  It was beating super strong at 140 bpm, which is what she was beating that morning at the doctor's office.  Then she hooked up the contraction monitor because I had been having some very strong Braxton Hicks contractions.  The doctor came in next to check out my arm to see how it was doing.  The heartrate was still good, but I was still having frequent contractions. They were never painful, just a lot of pressure.  The doctor then did a quick exam and determined that I wasn't going into labor.  So they decided to give me some IV fluids to hydrate me and see if we could get them under control.  All the while, Susan's little heartbeat was just beating along.  And she was moving and wiggling again like normal.  That is what made me feel a lot better, just knowing that she was okay. 

So they monitored me for about two and half hours and my contractions lessened by the time they gave me the second IV bag.  But then my right forearm really started hurting.  Since Susan was okay and the contractions were much better, they decided to send me to the ER to be checked out.  So I was wheeled down to the ER (in my hospital gown) and put in a very not-as-nice cubicle to wait on someone to come look at my arm.  We waited for about 30 minutes and then the PA came to check me out.  He determined that my arm was likely not broken, just very bruised and swollen.  He told me what to do (ice and rest) and said if it did not improve, then to come back and get x-rays.  So we were discharged around 7 and after stopping for some much deserved Cook Out (I never got to eat my BLT from Mellow Mushroom), we went home. 

This almost made the entire trip worth it. Almost.

Today, my arm feels better.  Last night, I really couldn't use it at all but today I have been able to use it.  It is still sore and I have been icing it, but its definitely better.  If it isn't better by Monday, then I am going to go see my doctor and discuss some X-rays.  And Susan is great.  I was so worried that the fall might cause less fetal movement or some kind of change from how she acted pre-fall.  Well apparently, it did not upset her at all.  She has been the same active kiddo she was before all of this.  She has been moving all day long just like normal and hiccuping too.  I took the day off so that I could rest and recover.  Since Chris was still feeling pretty crappy, he stayed home too.  So my mom came to nurse us and take care of us.

It has definitely been an exciting 24 hours.  I was telling Chris this afternoon that at least now we know exactly what to do and where to go when the real thing happens.  But I am just so relieved the real thing wasn't yesterday.  I know she would have been fine if she had come that early but I really don't want her to come until she is 37 weeks.  That is when she is full term.  So in 2.5 weeks, she can make her debut but until then, she needs to cook a little longer.  Plus, we still have a few things to finish up.  Like watching our baby care videos and putting together a few last minute items. Then we will be all ready for her big day!

Wife: An Open Letter to My Husband

Dear Chris,

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and to share with everyone how truly amazing you are.

Thank you for making me feel sexy even though I can no longer see my feet. When I feel puffy, fat, gassy and can't get up on my own, you still look at me like you are seeing me for the first time. You have no idea how wonderful that makes me feel.

Thank you for telling me I am not lazy, even though I feel like it. When I cannot bend down to pick up my shoes, or my pajama pants in the morning, you hand them to me. You have never sighed or looked at me like I am a sorry excuse for a person.

When I huff and puff up the stairs to the nursery, you always walk behind me to make sure you can catch me should I start to fall. Thank you.

Thank you for being my source of emotional support. I am sure that you feel anxiety about how our lives are about to change, but so far you have stayed cool, calm and collected. Meanwhile, I have had a couple of anxiety attacks and middle of the night breakdowns. Both times, you have calmed me down, hugged me, and told me that we are going to be just fine. And because I am doing this with you, I believe you. You really are my best partner.

Thank you for not looking at me like I am a fatty when I order both a side of hush puppies and french fries with my Cook Out order. And for not ordering a side salad with yours!

Thank you for getting up with me when I can't sleep at night. Insomnia is terrible, but it is even worse alone. Watching the Smurfs and Snorks with you at 3 a.m. when I can't sleep means a lot.

Thank you for rubbing my back every night. All day long, my back feels awful and I cannot get any relief. And every night, you rub and massage out all the pain so that I can feel better and get comfortable.

Thank you for making me laugh. Even before the pregnancy, you were always the person who could make me laugh like no one else. And now, with everything going on, you make me laugh harder than before. All of our jokes and special moments mean so much to me.

Thank you for actually reading the Expectant Father books and the Baby Prep books. Thank you for reminding me to take my prenatal vitamins and fish oil every day. Thank you for reminding me of all the things we can do to help make labor easier. I am so glad you are going to be in the room with me--by my head at all times, eyes on me! Hopefully, knowing the two us, we might even find time to make a lighthearted moment.

When I put my number in your phone 8 years ago at Beth's deb ball, and you asked me to dance, I could never have foreseen where we would be now. Not even two years later, when we finally started dating. You are my very best friend and I have loved every moment of our life together so far. And I know we are about to start a new adventure. And together, I know we can do it!

Thank you for being so wonderful and supportive these last eight months. Only six weeks to go!

Love, Honey 2

Husband: Labor Up

As Mary Jane mentioned in her last awesome post, we took an eight-hour “Prepared Childbirth” class last weekend. Thanks to our heavily accented instructor, Ho-Yu, we both feel a lot more confident heading into the big day which is now less than two months away. I was able to pick up on about 75% of what Ho-Yu taught us, which is pretty good considering Chinese-infused English is not my first language.

The class was geared pretty evenly toward moms and dads, which was great because I went in there thinking it would be mostly female sex ed. part 2 (I missed part one anyway). That was not the case. We all learned what would happen to the woman’s body, and Ho-Yu taught all the men some stress relief techniques to alleviate the rigors your wife will go through (breathing, massage, positioning, etc.). It was a relatively young group attending, and even though she repeatedly used words like “perineum,” “uterus” and “rectum,” none of the men giggled. Everyone was pretty mature, except for this one guy who kept joking, “Man, this labor thing is gonna be a breeze!” I fully expected Ho-Yu to deliver a swift crane kick to his genitals after the fourth or fifth time, but she instead displayed her Miyagi-like calm and just shot him a dirty look. He quieted down immediately.

What I took away from the class was that as the husband and “labor coach,” I am extremely useful in comforting my wife physically and emotionally. Once labor begins, I’m basically a glorified piece of furniture for half of the labor and a very amateur massage therapist for the other half. MJ can lean on me in a variety of different positions to relieve her back pain, or I can massage her to relieve some of the stress. I’m like something out of Brookstone that gets you pregnant.

MJ couldn't afford the $6,000 price tag on this bad boy, so she had to settle for me.

Most of the class went off without a hitch. We learned about contractions and what they do, drugs and what they do, and husbands and what they shouldn’t do. I’ve obviously never been through labor, nor have I ever had the desire to ask my mother to describe it to me, so hearing about the different stages and what to expect during each one was very helpful for both of us. All of that was extremely helpful, and it alleviated a lot of our (now seen as irrational) fears regarding labor and childbirth.

And then, there was the video. You know how some couples bring a video camera into the delivery room to capture that magical moment when their son or daughter is born? While we certainly won’t be starting off our baby scrapbook that way, I can understand why a new mother and father would want to get the first seconds of their new baby’s life on camera. But I can’t for the life of me figure out why a woman, in her most vulnerable state, would allow THREE CAMERAS to follow her around during the entire labor process, capture the birth of her first child from EVERY ANGLE and then package that footage and distribute it across the entire country so that 25 years later, expectant parents can watch said woman deliver and immediately say, “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

Now streaming on ESPN3: Your womanhood.

There are just some things you can’t unsee. Not that the “miracle of childbirth” isn’t as beautiful as people say it is, but, well…it’s not. At least not when it’s some random woman you’ve never met, who is naked and screaming and looks like she’s about to die. This lady was also kind enough to go back later and record a cheery play-by-play of the entire event, which provided a descriptive soundtrack to the 10-minute long labor montage. I thank the good Lord that the footage was a VHS on a 20-inch TV and not on a Blu-Ray HD flat-screen TV with mega ultra Dolby Surround Sound 3.0.

Before I’m pegged as the “insensitive husband” who doesn’t see the beauty in bringing a new life into the world, I want it to be known that there was a collective groan from the ENTIRE class during that portion, my wife included. I’d also like it to be known that Ho-Yu conveniently left during that segment, probably waiting 10 more seconds after she heard us all say "OHHHHHH" as her cue to return and resume the lesson. And she is a DELIVERY NURSE.

Now on the flipside of that, I have to give the 1985 video woman props for not only pushing out that baby, but for doing it under such circumstances. The first thing that popped into my head when writing this was to use the phrase, “she manned up,” but after seeing the video, that phrase doesn’t seem to apply anymore. There is no way that any man – not even Die-Hard era Bruce Willis – could deliver a full-term infant. From now on, I think we should all adopt the phrase “labor up” wherever “man up” formerly applied.

Yippee KI-YAY MotherFu—OW OW OW GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL!!!

I’ve known all along that it takes one hell of a tough person to give birth to a child, but actually seeing it gave me newfound respect for my mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, and every other woman I’ve ever met. I will freely admit that it's not something I could ever do. For any guys reading this who think it's not that bad, try to make it through the video first.

Wife: A Few Thoughts

So I will begin this post with a few updates. First, last weekend, we attended Infant CPR and saw Susan in 3D. Infant CPR was very informative and helped us feel a lot more confident. We spent the first hour reviewing how to baby-proof your home. For my friends who don't know, the crib is a giant death trap. We have already learned that over the last few months. The only thing that should be in the crib with the baby is a crib sheet. Also, babies sleep on their backs now. This has led to a significant reduction in SIDS. There should be no blankets, stuffed animals or bumpers in the crib because all are capable of harming the baby, and we knew all this before our class. Well, it turns out that the house is also basically one big giant death trap. This is not so much a concern when she isn't crawling, but as soon as she becomes mobile, we will be baby-proofing the house. Of course this means electrical outlets but it also includes lamp cords, blind cords, sharp edges on the counter and tables, the stairs, and a whole list of items that seem safe now but all have the potential to harm our baby.

So after they scared us for an hour, we went over what to do if you find your child unconscious. We learned how to perform CPR and what to do if Susan starts choking, which is a bigger fear of mine. I definitely felt a lot more confident, and I would highly recommend the class to others. It just helped me feel a little more prepared.

Then we went to Prenatal Peek to see our little girl in 3D. It was amazing (as the pictures below reveal). She already has adorable little chubby cheeks. She did try to cover her face with her arm for most of the time, but we were still able to get a few good shots.

This one is sweet, but doesn't really look like her.  It is a little stretched out.

Button nose plus umbilical cord.

So sweet!

She just wouldn't let us get a full view of her face.  She is such a diva!

Our sweet girl.

My favorite!  You can really see her here.  And that is both her arm and foot.  She is definitely an acrobat!

Now, this past weekend we spent almost two full days at Prepared Childbirth Class. I am actually going to wait until next week to share my feelings on the class and what I thought. I will say the class was as much about teaching Chris how to be the best coach possible as it was about preparing me for labor and delivery. I am so glad we took it, and I'll tell you why next time.

But what I really want to write about is a topic that is actually very private and really is no one's business but the pregnant woman and her husband. What could this be? I am talking about the decision to breastfeed. I had never given it much thought before pregnancy, and neither had Chris. And I am only going to share our choice with the world wide web because I am hoping that by telling you our decision, you will be supportive of others who make a similar choice.

When Chris and I found out I was pregnant, we began to talk with each other about breastfeeding, pumping and bottles. For a lot of our generation,we were formula fed babies. This has drastically changed. Now, it is highly recommended by pediatricians and everyone that the mother exclusively breastfeed for a year. There are many benefits to breast milk that formula cannot duplicate. So we began our discussion, and I said right away that if we did, I wanted to mostly pump, if possible, because I wanted Chris to share in the joy and magic of feeding her. And from the very beginning, Chris always said that if I didn't want to breastfeed or for some reason couldn't, he would support me. And right away, some of you maybe thinking, "If she doesn't want to? What kind of mother doesn't want to breastfeed?" Or, "Doesn't she love her baby or doesn't she know the special bond it creates?" Well I will tell you why I chose not to and why we aren't going to.

When I was four, I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist with ADD, and I truly have never outgrown it. I was originally treated with Ritalin, and then later Concerta. When I discussed trying to get pregnant with my doctor, she informed me that I would need to get off the medication because of the huge risks it posed to the fetus. So of course, I got off it the moment the pee stick said positive, and I wish I could say that I discovered that I had outgrown my ADD, but I have not. Without the medicine, I lose focus and attention all the time. I get distracted and move from task to task without finishing anything. I struggle with impulse control. And this is more than just the absentmindedness that is caused by pregnancy hormones. Realizing this, we began to wonder if I could breastfeed and be on the medicine. I had a feeling that the answer was no, and I was right. If I wanted to breastfeed, I would have to stay off the medicine.

Chris and I then discussed everything. We weighed the benefits of breastfeeding with the cons of me being a stressed out brand new mom, and the decision was easy. Formula will not harm Susan, but me being off my medicine and trying to mother a newborn would be harmful to me and probably Susan too. So we decided to formula feed our baby.

The initial decision was easy, but I have wavered so much. Am I being selfish? If I did it for nine months, couldn't I do it for a another year? Or at least try? I had these doubts because of course I want to be the best mom I can. And also, because a lot of people have looked at me like I have five heads when I said we were formula feeding. First, it is no one's business. But second of all, why can't people be supportive? Being a new mom is hard enough. Now, no one in my family or Chris' family has acted like that, not that it was any of their business either, but everyone has been very supportive. And thankfully, my doctor was also very supportive. She, a new mom herself said, "You need to do whatever you can to feel like you because having a newborn will be stressful enough." Rather, the lack of support has come from other new first-time moms and other expectant moms, which is mind-boggling to me. We are all going through something really new and scary. A mom who chooses not to breastfeed is NOT a bad mother. There are a ton of reasons why a mom doesn't breastfeed. So I wrote this soapbox to tell my friends who haven't done this yet, I will support you. If you breastfeed or formula feed, I will support you. But I will not ask you what you are doing because it's none of my business. But if you want support or someone to talk to besides your husband, I'll support you.

In the end, its about making the right choice for your family. I know that our decision is the right one for me, for Chris and for Susan. And that is all that matters.

Husband: Some Assembly Required

I feel like I’ve already had my initiation into dad-hood. I’ve yet to change a diaper, complete a successful burping or suction any nostrils, but what I HAVE done is fulfill one of the most important “dad jobs” there is: assemble large objects out of many, MANY smaller objects following nothing more than a vague set of directions written by a man in Pakistan.

So far, I – along with the assistance, cheering and photography of my wife – have constructed a crib, changing table, dresser, two bookshelves, stroller and a bouncer. We even did our own project with her monogram, which MJ detailed in her last post. All of this was done with minimal swearing and grumbling, which, as my wife will tell you, is huge growth for me. 

I've refrained from Toolman grunting...so far.

She and I have built this kind of stuff before…dressers, cabinets, TV stands, etc. Some are easy, everything fits like it’s supposed to, and you’re left with a wonderful sense of accomplishment and handiness when the job is done. Others test every inch of your patience, eventually cause you to “just make it fit” and then mock you endlessly from the corner of the living room after you discover that the “Left Panel A” you used was actually “Right Panel AA” and it’s on backwards. 

Step 6: Insert 'Support Arm C' into 'Side Panel D' and turn 'Easy Connect Locking Screw'
one quarter turn to the left, making sure not to overtighten. Roll over on the carpet, clap three times
and bark. Continue to tighten 'Easy Connect Locking Screw' another quarter inch while
also patting the top of your head and saying your ABCs backwards.
Repeat Step 6 for twelve remaining panels.

Luckily, Susan’s furniture went together smoothly, more so than any other “furniture in a box” I’ve ever purchased. For those of you soon-to-be parents, I HIGHLY recommend buying anything Carter’s brand. It’s a shame that they only make baby stuff. In my mind, building all of these things is preparing me for one thing, perhaps the biggest challenge to all fathers of little girls…the Barbie Dream House…to be delivered on Christmas morning…completely assembled…with a smile on my face. 

 

This contains 55 pieces. FIFTY-FIVE PIECES. Do we REALLY need the mini toilet?

Despite the tedious process involved in constructing all these things, the best part is that when you’re finished, you have something tangible to show that in less than two months, Susan will be here and we’ll be parents. None of this stuff we’re building is for us. It’s all Susan’s.  Over the past month, the nursery has gone from guest bedroom to empty bedroom to Susan’s bedroom. There are books on her bookshelf. Her clothes are hanging in the closet. The bed is made. It’s like the calm before the storm, and now all we need is a baby.  At least she comes fully assembled.

Wife: 12 weeks and Counting!

I am officially in the the third trimester!  28 weeks!  Unfortunately, hitting the third trimester is not quite like hitting the second trimester.  Hitting the second trimester is like coming up for air and apparently the third trimester is like being crushed by a boulder.  But I am okay with that because being 28 weeks means little Susan will likely make her debut in 12 weeks, give or take.  My doctor said they wouldn't let me go more than a week past my due date, which is April 3.  But I am really hoping that I am not still pregnant in April.  Apparently, I only have about two more weeks of feeling kind of good and then I am going to feel really, really uncomfortable.

Check yes to: backache, constipation, heartburn, and achy feet! Thankfully no stretch marks or varicose veins.  My belly button is still an "innie" but it is super stretched out!

 Well I am already starting to feel uncomfortable.  It takes me forever to get into a comfortable position.  This is not limited to getting into the car, when my maternity jeans slide down and I have to pull them back up.  Then when I sit in in really cushy furniture, its difficult to stand back up without some kind of momentum push.  I guess it will only get worse as she gets bigger.

At my appointment last month, Susan was measuring two weeks ahead.  At my appointment today, she was still measuring two weeks ahead.  According to the doctor, this means that we have an above average size baby.  Well we kind of figured we would, seeing as how we are tall and the babies in our family on both sides tend to come out around 8+ pounds.  I asked the doctor if that meant she would come early (fingers crossed) and the doctor smiled and said no.  Not that I want her to come super early.  But babies are considered full term at 37 weeks.  So she will be fully cooked on March 6.  So I am totally fine if she wants to make her debut then.  But I have a feeling she is good and comfortable and is planning on riding this gravy train as long as she can.

She has definitely become stronger.  I feel her moving all day long.  She is very active.  It's even weirder to watch my stomach move.  I still can't distinguish between a foot or a hand or elbow, but watching my belly flicker or in some cases, waves of motion, is weird!  It's kind of like when the alien first explodes out of that guy in Alien. 

Actually, I think I might be a little creeped out if I see her foot like this.  But maybe its less creepy when you see it on your own belly and not a stranger's from Google.

 While I am still feeling good, we are trying to work on the nursery and have it done by the end of January.  We have put together all the furniture and found the place for the glider.  Now we are just organizing and decorating.  Our theme, so to speak, is kind of a garden theme.  The colors are pink, green and chocolate brown.  We finished our first nursery project on Monday.  I knew I wanted to do her monogram above the crib, but I couldn't decide how.  I was torn between frames with a fabric background with the initial inside or just a fabric board with the initial hung by ribbon.  We decided to go for option two because we liked it better.  It took us a few hours, but it was worth it!  It looks amazing!  We used 1/2 inch thick plywood to give the letters more depth.  We decided not to paint the letters to make them stand out and to tie into her white bookshelf.

I am really so proud of our craftiness.  It turned out even better than I pictured in my head!

We are planning to add a second lamp to the left end of the bookcase.  The other lamp is next to the glider on the other side.

Susan Louise Cook!

 Now we just have two more nursery projects to complete, plus organizing all of her stuff.  I am hoping we can get the next one done over the weekend.  The next one is really neat and it involves some of our favorite books from when we were kids.  We will continue to add pictures of the nursery as it progresses! 

We are actually pretty busy in January with baby classes.  Next week, we are taking Infant CPR.  Our parents are also coming to take the class too.  That afternoon, we go to prenatal peek to see her in 3D.  I am really excited because from what I have heard, what we see will really almost resemble what she looks like at birth.  We also have our prepared childbirth classes coming up and our baby care class.  In February we are planning to tour the hospital.  I really hope that by staying busy, it will help time go by faster.  Otherwise, its going to feel like a really long 12 weeks!