38 Weeks
There really wasn't much to report from this visit, so I spared us all an update. Everything still measured on track and I promised the doctor I would call with any questions.
39 Weeks
The visit this morning had the potential to be really exciting. For the first time they did a little more thorough exam. It was exciting in that everything still seems to be progressing nicely. It was a little anticlimactic in that I am not dilated at all- the doctor said he might give it 1 cm. The baby is also "floating" in the pelvis, so, while head down, has not yet descended.
I like this doctor's take on this part of pregnancy. He is thorough and thoughtful without just following "the book" for "the book's" sake. He reminded us that while at that very moment there wasn't any progress toward labor, it is still very realistic that labor could begin any moment. At this point he wasn't worried about size and doesn't put too much stock in estimating or worrying over the little guy's size, since, as he noted, you also don't know how my body would handle a certain size without giving labor a chance. Looks like they will only check on baby and his environment if we have a concern or make it to our 41 week appointment....which would be 2 weeks from today. Yikes!
Dave's parents arrived yesterday just as church was ending, so Dave got to go to this appointment with me and meet the doctor. He also got to ask if he could "quarterback" this time around. The doctor readily said yes without any qualifications. We'll have to pack Dave's winning jersey!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Emily's Big Surprise
My heart was racing as I drove down some undisclosed road somewhere on Cape Cod. Would she figure it out? Would we really pull this off? My blindfolded wife sat next to me, somehow content to cooperate in this charade I was exercising.
Two and a half hours earlier, we were saying goodbye to our little girl and our neighbor Lee. It was date night. Emily knew it was a surprise, and was willing to even be blindfolded on the way. A few rounds through the airport rotary later, and we were arriving at what she thought was our only destination. I then explained to her that we were not having dinner at one restaurant, but several. The first course was an appetizer course at the one place that truly demonstrates my sacrificial love for her: Taco Bell.
One Nachos Bel Grande later, and we were making more loops around the airport rotary. It's easy to get a blindfolded person lost in a rotary, I found. But our second stop was 50 feet outside of it, so all the riding around was really more of a show. We pulled into Wendy's. Once she took the blindfold off, the pattern became a little more clear. We were going to have a majority of the things she had been craving during her pregnancy (except for fried shrimp and tartar sauce, which she'd satisfied a week or two ago.)
The first two courses were things Emily missed from the days when we lived in Fast Food Nation (or, the rest of America,) but the dessert course was something she was introduced to here on the Cape. The blindfold went back on, and the Volvo went back in the rotary. When it came out, it headed for Sam Diego's, a Tex-Mex restaurant where we ordered a delicious fried ice cream to-go. We didn't bother with the blindfold as we drove across the street to the Starbucks in the Barnes & Noble to eat it.
As the evening wound down, I let her know there was one last stop. One last trip around the rotary, and the longer drove began.
I don't remember Emily ever being so relaxed when I was behind the wheel. She tilted her seat back and talked away about everything. Everything except the crazy drivers and perilous intersections. I, on the other hand, had a heart-rate high enough for the both of us. It reminded me of the moments before we got engaged, when I thought, "I just might be able to pull this off." I had a shot- it really looked possible.
We pulled into the Lakefield Farms Clubhouse and I parked right in the entryway. But this time she had to keep the blindfold on. The whole purpose of the blindfold, you see, was that she wouldn't see all the cars in the parking lot. And it would feel weird if I'd just asked her to put a blindfold on for this one thing, so I had to make her do it all throughout the night. It had to feel like just another weird, quirky thing I was doing.
I helped her out of the car and up the entrance steps, while everyone inside tried to keep quiet. (You can't just keep 60 gathered ladies quiet.) We walked through the door and I asked if she was ready. She was, so we pulled the blindfold off to the sight of a room full of her friends and the sound of "Surprise!" The pile of gifts was sky-high, and Emily finally realized that the whole plan revolved around this surprise baby shower. Just in time for Sarah, who Lee had taken there, to walk up to greet us. Surprise!
We had done it- she really had no idea. She cried, gave me a hug, and tried her best to take it all in. She confessed to me later that the only thing she could think of that we could possibly be doing was going to see "The Hunger Games" in a theater the opposite direction. A baby shower wasn't even on her radar.
After a little greeting time, I promptly left for a BBQ at Nick's house. We grilled meat until we dropped, and I eventually went back to pick up Emily and the mass of gifts. It really was a shower, one we could have swam in if we'd wanted to.
She'll tell the rest of the story soon enough, but that's the lead-up. It was a great night, and I still can't believe we pulled it off.
Two and a half hours earlier, we were saying goodbye to our little girl and our neighbor Lee. It was date night. Emily knew it was a surprise, and was willing to even be blindfolded on the way. A few rounds through the airport rotary later, and we were arriving at what she thought was our only destination. I then explained to her that we were not having dinner at one restaurant, but several. The first course was an appetizer course at the one place that truly demonstrates my sacrificial love for her: Taco Bell.
One Nachos Bel Grande later, and we were making more loops around the airport rotary. It's easy to get a blindfolded person lost in a rotary, I found. But our second stop was 50 feet outside of it, so all the riding around was really more of a show. We pulled into Wendy's. Once she took the blindfold off, the pattern became a little more clear. We were going to have a majority of the things she had been craving during her pregnancy (except for fried shrimp and tartar sauce, which she'd satisfied a week or two ago.)
The first two courses were things Emily missed from the days when we lived in Fast Food Nation (or, the rest of America,) but the dessert course was something she was introduced to here on the Cape. The blindfold went back on, and the Volvo went back in the rotary. When it came out, it headed for Sam Diego's, a Tex-Mex restaurant where we ordered a delicious fried ice cream to-go. We didn't bother with the blindfold as we drove across the street to the Starbucks in the Barnes & Noble to eat it.
As the evening wound down, I let her know there was one last stop. One last trip around the rotary, and the longer drove began.
I don't remember Emily ever being so relaxed when I was behind the wheel. She tilted her seat back and talked away about everything. Everything except the crazy drivers and perilous intersections. I, on the other hand, had a heart-rate high enough for the both of us. It reminded me of the moments before we got engaged, when I thought, "I just might be able to pull this off." I had a shot- it really looked possible.
We pulled into the Lakefield Farms Clubhouse and I parked right in the entryway. But this time she had to keep the blindfold on. The whole purpose of the blindfold, you see, was that she wouldn't see all the cars in the parking lot. And it would feel weird if I'd just asked her to put a blindfold on for this one thing, so I had to make her do it all throughout the night. It had to feel like just another weird, quirky thing I was doing.
I helped her out of the car and up the entrance steps, while everyone inside tried to keep quiet. (You can't just keep 60 gathered ladies quiet.) We walked through the door and I asked if she was ready. She was, so we pulled the blindfold off to the sight of a room full of her friends and the sound of "Surprise!" The pile of gifts was sky-high, and Emily finally realized that the whole plan revolved around this surprise baby shower. Just in time for Sarah, who Lee had taken there, to walk up to greet us. Surprise!
We had done it- she really had no idea. She cried, gave me a hug, and tried her best to take it all in. She confessed to me later that the only thing she could think of that we could possibly be doing was going to see "The Hunger Games" in a theater the opposite direction. A baby shower wasn't even on her radar.
After a little greeting time, I promptly left for a BBQ at Nick's house. We grilled meat until we dropped, and I eventually went back to pick up Emily and the mass of gifts. It really was a shower, one we could have swam in if we'd wanted to.
She'll tell the rest of the story soon enough, but that's the lead-up. It was a great night, and I still can't believe we pulled it off.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
37 Week Appointment
Sarah and I made the weekly trek to see the doctor Tuesday morning. She was still unsure about being in a doctor's office, but only cried as they were taking my blood pressure. Whew! With her fear of doctors, it had the potential to be a really challenging morning! They did their normal routine and said everything continues to look normal. I saw the nurse practitioner this time. As she felt Baby Brother she asked how big Sarah was, just like the doctor did last week. I guess the consensus is that this little guy doesn't feel too small! She also asked how long my labor was (around 14 hours) and said that we could expect things to move a little faster this time around. Can't wait to see what happens!
I went to a class at the hospital Saturday morning that was very encouraging. The combination of having the house painted (that is worthy of its own blog post!) and becoming familiar with the hospital was enough to settle my heart...I think we are pretty much prepared for this little guy's arrival! The class started with the local procedures. This included who to call when labor begins, where to go at different times of the day, and what to expect in terms of personnel and equipment on the maternity floor. It is a much smaller operation than our experience in Louisville. One couple at the class lives on Nantucket- it was really neat to hear their plan! We then went upstairs for a tour and got to see a prepped room. Two big things I took away from this part of the morning: Dave should bring something to sleep on and we need to take food with us or have some menus from nearby restaurants. The cafeteria is only opened 7am-7pm! In the last section we watched videos on car seat safety, birth (the guys all squirmed), and pain relief options, medical and non-medical, that the hospital and nurses can offer. It was a great refresher and is really nice to be thinking through these things. My mind has been so full of paint colors, Sarah, Dave's birthday, and church things that I had not given birth much thought until this point. Getting excited and prepared to meet our little man!
I went to a class at the hospital Saturday morning that was very encouraging. The combination of having the house painted (that is worthy of its own blog post!) and becoming familiar with the hospital was enough to settle my heart...I think we are pretty much prepared for this little guy's arrival! The class started with the local procedures. This included who to call when labor begins, where to go at different times of the day, and what to expect in terms of personnel and equipment on the maternity floor. It is a much smaller operation than our experience in Louisville. One couple at the class lives on Nantucket- it was really neat to hear their plan! We then went upstairs for a tour and got to see a prepped room. Two big things I took away from this part of the morning: Dave should bring something to sleep on and we need to take food with us or have some menus from nearby restaurants. The cafeteria is only opened 7am-7pm! In the last section we watched videos on car seat safety, birth (the guys all squirmed), and pain relief options, medical and non-medical, that the hospital and nurses can offer. It was a great refresher and is really nice to be thinking through these things. My mind has been so full of paint colors, Sarah, Dave's birthday, and church things that I had not given birth much thought until this point. Getting excited and prepared to meet our little man!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Happy 21 months!
It is hard to believe, but here we are! In three short months Sarah will be two years old and, Lord willing, have a baby brother. She seems to be such a sponge at this stage. We see her understanding and communicating in new ways all the time. I love watching her play by herself. She sings and babbles and her imagination is really starting to shine through. I look forward to the months to come!
(Weight, height, and head size will have to wait until the next visit to the doctor- I have no idea!)
Diaper: size 4/cloth
Clothes: 24 month is the best fit, but 2T is going to be what works through the warm months; shoe is still size 4 (I had her measured recently...she was not a fan), but definitely on her way to size 5 in closed toe shoes
Likes: books, walking with someone's finger (particularly choosing the path), taking bites of mom or dad's food (this is a rare treat), beep beep (her push cart), block towers, turning anything into a cell phone, playing "night night" or bouncing on the couch, walking laps around the outside of the house, picking up handfuls of things (rocks, dirt, sand, etc), lights on/lights off, making her hair bounce, making us laugh
Dislikes: shoe shopping, not getting her way (who would have guessed :)), when she says please but we don't know what she wants, went through a short lived diaper-changes-are-the-worst phase, a certain small alien toy (I can't blame her!), having her hair rinsed
Schedule: These days we are pretty flexible. Sarah has settled into one afternoon nap, but when it starts or ends is all based what happens in the morning. If she is really active, she gives me a really long nap. If we need to stay out late, it usually doesn't phase her too much. When we miss an entire nap, she usually sleeps better the next afternoon. She consistently wakes us around 7:30am, the nap happens around 1:00 and lasts 2-3 hours, and she goes back down around 7:00pm.
Sleeping: This girl loves to sleep! And we love that she loves to sleep. On April 1st we moved her crib downstairs and gave the toddler bed a try. Sarah didn't even seem to notice a difference. She is still sleeping really well and, for the most part, doesn't even sit up until we are in the room. So far, she hasn't tried to get out of bed. We know this won't last forever, but we love it for now. She did have one tumble out just before the two week mark, but no harm was done. She was ready to play as soon as Dave helped her off her back!
Next appointment: Her 2 year-old well baby visit is scheduled for Monday, July 23 at 10:45am.
For your viewing pleasure (from most recent to approximately three months ago):
(Weight, height, and head size will have to wait until the next visit to the doctor- I have no idea!)
Diaper: size 4/cloth
Clothes: 24 month is the best fit, but 2T is going to be what works through the warm months; shoe is still size 4 (I had her measured recently...she was not a fan), but definitely on her way to size 5 in closed toe shoes
Likes: books, walking with someone's finger (particularly choosing the path), taking bites of mom or dad's food (this is a rare treat), beep beep (her push cart), block towers, turning anything into a cell phone, playing "night night" or bouncing on the couch, walking laps around the outside of the house, picking up handfuls of things (rocks, dirt, sand, etc), lights on/lights off, making her hair bounce, making us laugh
Dislikes: shoe shopping, not getting her way (who would have guessed :)), when she says please but we don't know what she wants, went through a short lived diaper-changes-are-the-worst phase, a certain small alien toy (I can't blame her!), having her hair rinsed
Schedule: These days we are pretty flexible. Sarah has settled into one afternoon nap, but when it starts or ends is all based what happens in the morning. If she is really active, she gives me a really long nap. If we need to stay out late, it usually doesn't phase her too much. When we miss an entire nap, she usually sleeps better the next afternoon. She consistently wakes us around 7:30am, the nap happens around 1:00 and lasts 2-3 hours, and she goes back down around 7:00pm.
Sleeping: This girl loves to sleep! And we love that she loves to sleep. On April 1st we moved her crib downstairs and gave the toddler bed a try. Sarah didn't even seem to notice a difference. She is still sleeping really well and, for the most part, doesn't even sit up until we are in the room. So far, she hasn't tried to get out of bed. We know this won't last forever, but we love it for now. She did have one tumble out just before the two week mark, but no harm was done. She was ready to play as soon as Dave helped her off her back!
Eating
time: She still loves a good meal, but lately has been teething a bit and eating a little less predictably. While we continue to use basic toddler food caution, Sarah can eat pretty much anything. She has 11 teeth right now and is working on one more. This gives her a pretty full set and makes chewing all the more productive. Some current favorites are blueberries, peanut butter sandwiches, banana bread, and asparagus. We shoot for three meals a day, but sometimes she eats her dinner mid-afternoon, then sits with us again while we have dinner. Of course, our social eatter then eats again, because who watches other people eat without eating along?! She comes by it honestly :)
Talking: I love being able to talk with Sarah. She understands almost everything we say. Her vocabulary is slowly, but surely, expanding. Her latest trick is practicing two word sentences. We hear lots of "bye bye, Daddy" and "night night, Mommy." She tries to say words along with some of her signs, as well. One of the most frequent is "meeeee" which she says most insistently while signing please. We aren't sure how she got "me" from "please," but are thankful that she is trying to ask nicely. She is really good at answering our "ready . . . freddy . . ." with a very emphatic "GO!" With the same vigor she also says "no." We are working on "no, thank you" or "no, ma'am" in an effort to sweeten up that particular word.
Talking: I love being able to talk with Sarah. She understands almost everything we say. Her vocabulary is slowly, but surely, expanding. Her latest trick is practicing two word sentences. We hear lots of "bye bye, Daddy" and "night night, Mommy." She tries to say words along with some of her signs, as well. One of the most frequent is "meeeee" which she says most insistently while signing please. We aren't sure how she got "me" from "please," but are thankful that she is trying to ask nicely. She is really good at answering our "ready . . . freddy . . ." with a very emphatic "GO!" With the same vigor she also says "no." We are working on "no, thank you" or "no, ma'am" in an effort to sweeten up that particular word.
Walking: Sarah has taken steps- praise the Lord! The very first time was in the middle of a room full of people the afternoon of Easter Sunday. She really wanted a drink of someone's water, so she just walked right over, taking 3 or 4 good steps in the process. We all cheered- she isn't walking for lack of encouragement! The whole next week she didn't give us a thing. Then late in the day on Saturday, in similar fashion she suddenly took 3 steps to get to a friend who was helping paint the house. Since then we have seen her letting go and taking a step here or there to get from one place to another. Dave also saw her stand on her own, which was huge (and super cute, as she did it bottom up style). This shows her growing confidence and initiative. We have our visit with the physical therapist on April 25, so maybe she is waiting to take off in the next week and half.
Random, but fun:
* When I ask her who we see at church, she says "Bubby" (a little boy in nursery) and "Daddy," often in that order
* She "swims" on command in her ball tent and in the bath tub
* We started giving her baths in the big tub, she loves the toys and splashing
* We acquired a small backyard slide- big fun!
* When we ask her where Baby Brother is, she gently rubs my tummy. When she is in the shopping cart at the grocery store, she sometimes puts her head on my tummy.
* She tried to give a "bite" to one of her baby pictures yesterday with a play spoon
* She loves handing me the diapers and inserts after they have dried on the drying rack
* She is getting really good on the magnadoddle and pretty good with crayons. She even left her mark in crayon on a wall at a church member's house on Easter :)
* Loves the lights on the sound board in the sanctuary. Sometimes they rival seeing Dave in her excitement level, which says a lot!
Next appointment: Her 2 year-old well baby visit is scheduled for Monday, July 23 at 10:45am.
For your viewing pleasure (from most recent to approximately three months ago):
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| Giving the baby a "bite" after breakfast. |
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| There are so many ways to play with blocks. |
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| Dave's shoes were under his night stand...she stepped right in. |
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| Imitating Dave's "I'm so full" slouch :) |
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| A neck full of beads and beep beep, what more does a girl need?! |
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| There is more than one way to appreciate a pair of sunglasses, obviously. |
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| Pig tails! |
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| Kind of hard to see with the light, but she is resting her head on Dave's guitar while he plays. Super sweet! |
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| Love these wild, long locks. |
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| Hat, check. Beads, check. Bracelets, check. And she is ready to roll. |
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| Loves helping! |
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| Our one good snow day this year. While she looks impartial, she thought the snow was very tasty. |
Monday, April 9, 2012
36 Week Appointment
I'm telling you, these visits feel like they are on top of one another. I can't believe how the weeks are flying by! Five days and we will be full term. That is exciting business!
The visit today was without incident, praise the Lord. Baby Brother's heart beat was between 120 and 130bpm and my blood pressure was normal. The doctor didn't measure my tummy, but did give the little guy a good feel. He said that his head is still down, then felt some more, then asked how big our first child was. I told him 8lbs 5ozs and he nodded. He went on to predict that we will have another nice size baby. I would be fine with that! They seem less breakable at that size :)
On Saturday morning I am going to a refresher course at the hospital. There I will learn all about their procedures and get an official tour of the labor and delivery unit. I look forward to being full prepared (or as prepared as possible) for this little guy's big arrival!
The visit today was without incident, praise the Lord. Baby Brother's heart beat was between 120 and 130bpm and my blood pressure was normal. The doctor didn't measure my tummy, but did give the little guy a good feel. He said that his head is still down, then felt some more, then asked how big our first child was. I told him 8lbs 5ozs and he nodded. He went on to predict that we will have another nice size baby. I would be fine with that! They seem less breakable at that size :)
On Saturday morning I am going to a refresher course at the hospital. There I will learn all about their procedures and get an official tour of the labor and delivery unit. I look forward to being full prepared (or as prepared as possible) for this little guy's big arrival!
Friday, April 6, 2012
How Does it Feel To Be Turning Thirty?
When some loved ones today asked how it felt to be turning thirty, the richness in my heart overflowed. I see men all the time turn thirty without having been given the things I have: a wife, two children, a house, a job I love, a great church, and a few guitars. But when I look at those men, I can't really say that I'm any wiser than they are. Most of them are wiser than me. Yet, on top of an inheritance bigger than the stars and a salvation more valuable than life, God has given me rich blessing in this life. Every day there is unmerited grace upon unmerited grace. Why?
It's already pouring in. Not yet my birthday, and so far three cakes have found their way into our home. Gifts pour in from people who shouldn't love me but do. Cards and calls are coming in from people I've hurt, but they don't seem to remember that. My sister, herself the victim of much torment by my devious hands, even decided I should have a nephew as a birthday present!
You can't turn 30, or any significant age, without looking back a little. And when I do, I have to admit that it doesn't make sense. I hope as you see our lives, either from next door or through the window of this blog, that it doesn't make sense to you either. How did such a young fool, with all the character flaws you know I have, fall into such a rich, full life? How did I get Emily for a wife? Or a job like mine at a church that could have hired anybody in the middle of a recession? How did I make such adorable offspring? There's really only one rational explanation: God is exceedingly good to many who don't deserve it. And he wants you to know it.
What can I say, but that He just likes to do that.
Many of you have treated me the same way, imaging through your own lives the same grace. Your love is a treasure to me, but not as much as the lessons you have taught me about God's grace.
So I go to bed to night with a small glimpse of how rich I really am, and God-willing I will wake up tomorrow a thirty year old. Life itself it a vapor, and God may take it all away with the morning mist, but He has still given me Himself, and He will still be good. Any way you stack it, I'm a rich man. So, to answer the question, it feels rich enough to make me cry.
Praise God for his unending goodness.
It's already pouring in. Not yet my birthday, and so far three cakes have found their way into our home. Gifts pour in from people who shouldn't love me but do. Cards and calls are coming in from people I've hurt, but they don't seem to remember that. My sister, herself the victim of much torment by my devious hands, even decided I should have a nephew as a birthday present!
You can't turn 30, or any significant age, without looking back a little. And when I do, I have to admit that it doesn't make sense. I hope as you see our lives, either from next door or through the window of this blog, that it doesn't make sense to you either. How did such a young fool, with all the character flaws you know I have, fall into such a rich, full life? How did I get Emily for a wife? Or a job like mine at a church that could have hired anybody in the middle of a recession? How did I make such adorable offspring? There's really only one rational explanation: God is exceedingly good to many who don't deserve it. And he wants you to know it.
What can I say, but that He just likes to do that.
Many of you have treated me the same way, imaging through your own lives the same grace. Your love is a treasure to me, but not as much as the lessons you have taught me about God's grace.
So I go to bed to night with a small glimpse of how rich I really am, and God-willing I will wake up tomorrow a thirty year old. Life itself it a vapor, and God may take it all away with the morning mist, but He has still given me Himself, and He will still be good. Any way you stack it, I'm a rich man. So, to answer the question, it feels rich enough to make me cry.
Praise God for his unending goodness.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Ball Tent!
We were unsure how Sarah would react, but as soon as it was set up she jumped out of my arms, head first, into the tent. She loves it! Even better, she is fearless in the tent. Hopefully that will help her be fearless out of the tent! Her favorite thing to do is "swim" through the balls. Dave snapped these adorable pictures when he got home from work that first day.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Early Morning Girl
We've gotten back into the habit of keeping my camera out at all times instead of having a place to put it "away." This way, when Sarah is turning the cute on, one of us just might remember to grab the camera and photograph it. The other morning was one of those mornings. She had taken a bath just before bed the night before, so her hair was to be remembered. Here's what we got:
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| I think she looks like certain pictures of her mother in this one |
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