Jen's Blog

hurray for hybrids

I will soon be able to drive my Honda Civic Hybrid in the HOV lanes! No, not just because I'll be chauffeuring a small child around, but because of the new federal highway bill that President Bush is about to sign.

fashionably late

So he's late, but not late enough to worry about yet.

Another week, another doctor's visit. There's still not much progress; I'm about 1-2 cm dilated and 70-80% effaced. I'm scheduled to go in next Tuesday for an ultrasound to check on the amniotic fluid level and the kid's size, and Wednesday for a non-stress test. I was offered the chance to schedule an induction for later in the week, but decided that I'll wait to make that decision after the tests.

Gary and I are going out for a big spicy Thai meal tonight. I've been told by several people not to go out for a big Chinese meal, so Thai ought to be safe. :)

nuts

I meant to post this a long time ago, but forgot until today while cleaning the baby's office. I have a box of Boston Baked Beans, which, according to the front of the package, are candy coated peanuts. If you've never had one, don't bother; they're pretty disgusting. I am throwing the box out in about 5 minutes, but I had saved it because of the fine print underneath the ingredients:

"May Contain Peanuts"

Well, good thing they said something!

Tony and the Chocolate Factory

Gary and I went to see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" this weekend. Although different from the original Willy Wonka movie, I thought it was pretty good.

One thing I found weird about the movie is that Charlie Bucket looked a lot like Tony Blair to me. Gary didn't think so until I showed him these two photos:

(Hey, I can't think about babies all the time, ok? And no, he's not here yet!)

photos

I uploaded some pregnancy pictures this evening. Not a complete set by any means, but I figure it's better than nothing. Enjoy!

names with attitude

Gary and I were brainstorming names a few days ago. The goal was to think about the characteristics we want the kid to have, then find names that fit. After coming up with some duds like Codebreaker, the winner (at least in amusement) was H4x0r (meaning 'hacker'). I put it on our short list.

We had a bunch of friends over last night for pizza. Inevitably the conversation turned to names (as we still haven't come up with a final combination yet). Gary mentioned the name H4x0r, and the reaction was positive. Who would mess with a kid named H4x0r? Better yet, he then thought of the perfect first name to go with it: L33t ('elite'), another crowd pleaser. Although everyone agreed that a name like that might cause problems later in life (e.g. securing employment), it was still the most popular name of the evening.

So if you get an email announcing the birth of L33t H4x0r Snethen, you might question what pain killers I was on during labor.

not much progress

There wasn't much progress this week, unfortunately. I am still 1cm dilated and 50% effaced (same as last week), although the doctor said that the baby had dropped lower. Needless to say I was very disappointed, since I've been walking a lot this week, and I've certainly been feeling like I've made progress. But, as the doctor said, I still have a week before the official due date (7/29), so I shouldn't worry about it.

So, I went and got my haircut, had lunch with Gary, and went to Ikea to exchange the changing pad I bought earlier this week. There is a good chance that we'll go see the movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" this weekend, and maybe get to check out the house our friends are thinking about buying.

sleep sleep sleep

Now I'm just waiting for the delivery day. All of the major stuff is done, so Gary says my task now is to get lots of rest. As nice as it is to lounge around all day, though, I'm actually having a hard time with it. It's difficult watching Gary do stuff (install the car seat, finish assembling the changing table, etc) without getting up and doing something myself. I feel very lazy. :)

Being at home does have its advantages, though. We had a plumber here last week to replace the pipe that carries hot water into the house. The section of pipe he replaced was about 95% clogged with mineral deposits; our hot water pressure is amazingly high now (we were amazed we got hot water at all!) And we are planning on ordering wooden blinds for the upstairs bedrooms, although they won't get here before the baby does. So, someone is coming out this week to measure the windows, and eventually they'll return to install the blinds.

I need to make one more trip to Ikea this week. The changing pad I bought at BRU is too long; my friend recommended the inflatable one from Ikea (makes sense, since it's an Ikea changing table). And I need to go shopping for nursing bras, although I think I will order most of them online after I'm nursing.

10%

I went to the doctor this morning and found out that my cervix is 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced! Woohoo! The goal is 10 cm and 100% effaced, but anything after 5 cm is considered active labor, so I'll be at the hospital by then. The doctor did say that this doesn't indicate that I am close to delivering, but the more I dilate now the better.

My hospital bag is pretty much packed (I need to throw in some more clothes and snacks) and the baby's office room is at least somewhat ready to go (I've got clean sheets on the crib, Gary moved the glider chair upstairs, and we have clean clothes and diapers galore.) Gary's big job is to get the car seat installed (I'd do it myself, but I'm a little unwieldy right now). My big job is to walk a lot, which will help with dilation.

3 weeks

Less than 3 weeks, actually, to the Official Due Date. Which I hear most (first-time) babies ignore, anyway. They're such procrastinators!

This week's trip to the doctor went well. The baby is still head down and pushing me in the ribs hourly (I didn't really need to see a doctor to confirm this, though). And we confirmed with a quick ultrasound that he does not have 6 eyes, although he does have a lot of ribs and a good heartbeat.

My first week of maternity leave was not as productive as I had hoped, but I have been getting a lot of rest, which is more important. I even took a nap one afternoon!

So what have I done? I turned in my disability paperwork to the doctor so I can get paid for the next few months. I bought newborn diapers, baby wipes, and a crib set (sheets, bumper, etc). I agonized over baby ointment (there are about a dozen different brands), but didn't buy any. I washed half of our 0-3 month sized clothing collection, which should be enough to get him through high school. And Gary helped me rearrange my office the baby's office the baby's room last night. The glider (chair, not airplane) is still downstairs, but I am hoping we can move it upstairs this weekend.

And what haven't I done? Well....I still haven't really packed a hospital bag. I did make a list of what should go in it, and I put my toiletry kit and robe in the suitcase. But I have so few maternity clothes that I can't bear to part with any of them for a few weeks. From what I've heard about labor, though, it seems that I'll have time to go through my list and pack the day I go to the hospital. And if the baby can procrastinate, so can I. :)

Maternity Leave

Friday was my last day of work! Yay!

Gary and I are heading to Lodi this morning, to meet up with some of his family for the long weekend. When we get back I have about a million things on my list of things-to-do. These include important things like packing my hospital bag, washing baby clothes, and preparing the baby's room, and less important things like taking my car for a checkup, buying a fridge, and having someone clean the gutters.

I can already tell the next 4 weeks are going to fly by.