Cody said I should be more reserved about telling people that I have hemorrhoids, but hey, it's part of pregnancy and if I have to suffer through the agonizing pain, you can deal with reading about it. This blog is intended to document all the ups and downs of my pregnancy, and this is definitely the lowest I've been. The pain is honestly unbearable. I have tried everything: bathing in baking soda, preparation H, preparation H with cortisone, ice packs, tylenol, witch hazel... I've done it all. In the beginning the baths with baking soda helped, but now they don't. Last night I sat in the bathtub crying and begging God to stop the pain. I can't even describe to you how bad it hurts.
I went to my doctor and she examined them and she said they were very "inflamed" and she referred me to a specialist. However, that specialist is so busy that he can't fit me in until September 6th- what's the point?! I have tried all her suggested treatments and nothing is working at all. I need some serious help. The pain is exhausting. Everytime I sneeze, cough, laugh, sit, stand, shower, drive, walk... it shoots excrutiating pain through my body and it takes my breath away. I can't work like this- I don't know how I could possibly complete a full shift on my feet with this awful pain.
My family has been here trying to get ready for the baby shower and I had a breakdown when my mom asked me to start helping. I laid in bed and cried and cried to Cody about how awful the pain was and just the idea of bending over to pick things up off the floor was terrifying to me. I limp around the house pitifully and I try to laugh it off. I am so appreciative of all the help that my sister, my mom, and Lydia have been as they get the house ready for this baby shower. It has been a lot of work cleaning the house and I'm sure they've been slightly irritated with my lack of help. I don't blame them. If you've never had one of these then it's difficult for you to sympathize. For some reason people think that these things are funny. Nobody here is laughing at my expense or anything, but I still feel like some people don't take it seriously. They don't want to hear about it because it's awkward.
I have been taking sleeping pills the last couple of nights because the pain is so bad that it keeps me awake if I don't take something. I take a bath in baking soda, take two tylenol, try a cream or witch hazel, drink water, take a sleeping pill and try to suck it up. This is the longest lasting one that I've ever had. The doctor said she would call me on monday to see if it's cleared up. I'm sure it will only have gotten worse by that time. I guess that isn't a lot of faith. I really have been praying very hard for God to at least get me through the pain. I'm so tired of hurting. Pain is exhausting.
I probably just annoyed you with all this whinning, but if you only knew... I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Despite all of this, I know that Cambria is worth every ache and pain and that it won't last forever. After all the pain is gone I will still have a beautiful little girl to spend the rest of my life with. I'm trying to stay optimistic, but it's difficult. At least today at my baby shower I get lots of yummy food and nice gifts! I'm excited and very grateful for all the work everyone's done as I sit and suffer.
Sidenote: Elisha, thanks for the sweet comment on the last post- I appreciate your prayers and support and I hope you enjoy this blog :-)
-Alicia
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Movements
I can't even begin to tell you how fascinating everything is. She has become extremely active and it doesn't seem to matter if I'm laying down, standing up, or taking a shower. She is still most active while we are settling in for bed, but her movements are limited to the evening anymore. Some times she makes such a strong movement that my eyes go big and I look down at my stomach almost expecting to see a footprint or a handprint pressed against my stomach. Yesterday while Cody and I were sitting and waiting for our pizza to finish cooking, she kicked me in the ribs. I've never felt her kick in the ribs and I pray to God that I never feel that again. It was so forceful and sharp, it took my breath away.
In the beginning, when she first started moving, I had to push into my stomach with my fingers to feel any kind of movement. Now, however, I can just rest my hand on it and I can feel everything. Also, recently, I've felt her in two different places at once, which I never had before. The only explanation is that she is stretching and I am feeling her head on my left side and her feet on my right side. I can feel two little nubs on the right side and one little nub on the left, so I can usually guess how she's laying. I can't put into words the feeling I get when I feel her moving around. My mind is finally starting to grasp the fact that she is real and she is already the person God intended for her to be. Every once in awhile I don't enjoy the kicking because it feels so awkward, but for the most part, it makes me smile and I want to let other people feel it, too.
Cody still reads to her every night. We got a library card and we got some more Dr. Seuss and some Shel Silverstein. She seems to move the most when Cody's reading to her. He can hold the book in one hand and put his other hand on my stomach and it really feels like she's dancing around in joy at the sound of her daddy's voice. She either really loves being read to or she's fighting us to shut up. But we've decided that she must be dancing and she loves it.
Today at work I had to take a lot of breaks because I've been getting some really bad back pains. I don't want to take tylenol unless I really need to, so I just put up with the pain. I get this sharp pain that seems to shoot through my front into my back, it starts in my rib cage on the right side and sticks through to my back. Unfortunately, it isn't a sharp shot, it's a sharp pain that lasts for awhile and I try to rub it out with my thumb. Also, I get out of breath very easily. I could be standing behind the counter at work doing nothing or I could be lying down to relax and I feel so out of breath that I think I just ran a mile. I read in one of my books that this is a normal symptom of pregnancy along with a pounding heart that I also get. Some times I don't know how I'm going to make it through until September.
So Saturday is my baby shower. My last baby shower in Canton was so much fun and I really appreciate all the awesome gifts I got. I was surprised how many people stuck to my registry. I'm hoping that people have stuck to my registry this time and I can get a few things I need. I know people love buying baby clothes, but I'm afraid that's all I will get. I don't know if I should check my registry or just let myself be surprised. I have a lot of house cleaning to do before saturday, so tomorrow should be spent doing that. Friday morning I have a doctor's appointment.
If you didn't check out the video in my last entry, I really urge you to do it! A lot of people have watched it over and over and I just think it is so awesome! I've been trying to get another video like it, but Cambria isn't cooperating :-p She's a little camera- shy.
Well, I just wanted to keep you all updated and let you know that our little girl is doing wonderfully. Thank you all for your unending support and keep us in your prayers as we set out on the last ten weeks of pregnancy!
-Alicia
In the beginning, when she first started moving, I had to push into my stomach with my fingers to feel any kind of movement. Now, however, I can just rest my hand on it and I can feel everything. Also, recently, I've felt her in two different places at once, which I never had before. The only explanation is that she is stretching and I am feeling her head on my left side and her feet on my right side. I can feel two little nubs on the right side and one little nub on the left, so I can usually guess how she's laying. I can't put into words the feeling I get when I feel her moving around. My mind is finally starting to grasp the fact that she is real and she is already the person God intended for her to be. Every once in awhile I don't enjoy the kicking because it feels so awkward, but for the most part, it makes me smile and I want to let other people feel it, too.
Cody still reads to her every night. We got a library card and we got some more Dr. Seuss and some Shel Silverstein. She seems to move the most when Cody's reading to her. He can hold the book in one hand and put his other hand on my stomach and it really feels like she's dancing around in joy at the sound of her daddy's voice. She either really loves being read to or she's fighting us to shut up. But we've decided that she must be dancing and she loves it.
Today at work I had to take a lot of breaks because I've been getting some really bad back pains. I don't want to take tylenol unless I really need to, so I just put up with the pain. I get this sharp pain that seems to shoot through my front into my back, it starts in my rib cage on the right side and sticks through to my back. Unfortunately, it isn't a sharp shot, it's a sharp pain that lasts for awhile and I try to rub it out with my thumb. Also, I get out of breath very easily. I could be standing behind the counter at work doing nothing or I could be lying down to relax and I feel so out of breath that I think I just ran a mile. I read in one of my books that this is a normal symptom of pregnancy along with a pounding heart that I also get. Some times I don't know how I'm going to make it through until September.
So Saturday is my baby shower. My last baby shower in Canton was so much fun and I really appreciate all the awesome gifts I got. I was surprised how many people stuck to my registry. I'm hoping that people have stuck to my registry this time and I can get a few things I need. I know people love buying baby clothes, but I'm afraid that's all I will get. I don't know if I should check my registry or just let myself be surprised. I have a lot of house cleaning to do before saturday, so tomorrow should be spent doing that. Friday morning I have a doctor's appointment.
If you didn't check out the video in my last entry, I really urge you to do it! A lot of people have watched it over and over and I just think it is so awesome! I've been trying to get another video like it, but Cambria isn't cooperating :-p She's a little camera- shy.
Well, I just wanted to keep you all updated and let you know that our little girl is doing wonderfully. Thank you all for your unending support and keep us in your prayers as we set out on the last ten weeks of pregnancy!
-Alicia
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Terrifying!
Two nights ago, I struggled through some panic and went between sleeping and waking, hopeful that I would feel Cambria kick. I hadn't felt her kick all day and I was waiting patiently to feel anything. I didn't feel her on the inside or the outside and I was trying every thing I knew to do to make her move. I danced around singing and then laid very still. I ate food, drank water, sang to her, read to her, and I didn't feel anything. I was so nervous. Cody put his hands on my tummy and tried to feel her kicking and he couldn't feel anything either. He offered to take me to the ER, but I didn't want to be paranoid. So I tried to fall asleep and I was just hoping to feel something through the night. I woke up the next morning defeated. I hadn't felt anything and she hadn't woken me up like usual to go to the bathroom. So I called my doctor. Of course, my doctor wasn't in that day, so I talked to a nurse. She set up an appointment right away and told me to drink a glass of orange juice on the way to the hospital. My mom, Cody, and I piled into the car and I guzzled down some OJ.
They hooked me up to a "tracing" machine. As soon as they put the doppler on my stomach and I heard that little heartbeat, I was flooded with relief. The nurse explained that as long as Cambria's heartrate was going up as she was moving (just as mine would if I were moving), she was getting enough nutrients and oxygen. After tracking it for awhile, they said everything was reassuring and sent me home.
They told me to keep a count of her kicks within one hour after I eat. The first hour, I felt her kick 12 times and I was surprised. However, they weren't very strong. That night (last night) Cody and I laid down for the hour together and sure enough, she kicked 45 times!!! She kicked so hard that we could see my stomach jumping. If you want to see it, go here: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=12449693
Now I'm so tired and hungry I've got to run. I will update with more later.
-Alicia
PS- let me know if anyone needs a shower invitation!
They hooked me up to a "tracing" machine. As soon as they put the doppler on my stomach and I heard that little heartbeat, I was flooded with relief. The nurse explained that as long as Cambria's heartrate was going up as she was moving (just as mine would if I were moving), she was getting enough nutrients and oxygen. After tracking it for awhile, they said everything was reassuring and sent me home.
They told me to keep a count of her kicks within one hour after I eat. The first hour, I felt her kick 12 times and I was surprised. However, they weren't very strong. That night (last night) Cody and I laid down for the hour together and sure enough, she kicked 45 times!!! She kicked so hard that we could see my stomach jumping. If you want to see it, go here: http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=12449693
Now I'm so tired and hungry I've got to run. I will update with more later.
-Alicia
PS- let me know if anyone needs a shower invitation!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Medicaid, weight- gain, and Runny Babbit!
Thank God- I was approved for medicaid! This is such a huge relief. I didn't have any medical insurance and I was worried about being denied at my doctor's office because my bills were piling up too high. Now I have coverage! Now I need to contact my hospital and ask them if they can send some of my bills to Medicaid.
Otherwise, nothing too new is happening. The third trimester hasn't treated me too badly so far. I've been really tired again, but it's still not as bad as it was in the first trimester. I'm also growing more quickly than I knew was possible. Cody will be back from Texas on Tuesday and he's going to be shocked at how big I've become! All the sweet customers at work are always telling me I'm the cutest pregnant girl they've ever seen. I must have had 10 women tell me I was "adorable" yesterday. Other ladies just look at me and instantly smile big. It's nice to know I can bring some joy to people just by looking at me. One woman said "I know you probably don't feel like it, but you look so cute!" I told her I didn't feel too bad, I've had an easy pregnancy and I have nothing to complain about.
Yesterday at work, I was standing and talking to one of my co- workers and I pointed out a dress that I like. I said I was thinking about buying it for my baby shower if it would fit. She said, "Yeah, but that's Missy size." I said "So?" She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, "Don't you wear plus?" Shocked and kind of hurt, I muttered, "No." I explained that I could wear an extra- large right now in Juniors sizes if I really wanted to. With her jaw dropping she looked me over and said, "Really?!" I said, "Yeah. I used to be pretty small before I got pregnant." Again, with shock written all over her face, she said "Really?!" The conversation ended there. Later I tried the dress on in Missy size in a size 8 and it fit rather nicely. I don't know why she thought I would wear plus sizes. I couldn't even fit into a 14/16 if I wanted to. I was shocked that she was so blunt... and so wrong. Being pregnant just makes people think that they have the right to comment on your weight anytime they want. Mostly I get good comments, but that one was pretty bad. Whenever someone says "You're getting so big!" I always say, "No, I'm not, Cambria is. And that's good... she needs to grow." I'm trying to approach this weight- gain positively despite what anyone may say.
Two nights ago, I attempted to read "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein to Cambria. However, the book was so amusing to me that I had to apologize halfway through the book and put it down- I was laughing too hard! I don't know why I thought it was so funny, but it's just hysterical! I love that little Runny! It's a book full of spoonerisms and it's just so entertaining to read. So I read a "goodnight" book to her, sang her a song, and we drifted off to sleep together. I suppose I don't know if she was asleep, but I was, so that's all that matters right now :-p
On that same night that I read "Runny Babbit", I was talking to Cambria and I said, "OK, Kemah... crap! I knew I was going to do that! You're name is CAMBRIA. The dog's name is Kemah! Sorry, Cambria!" It's already starting.
Well, my dinner's ready... so I'll update again later.
And YES, the shower is officially on July 14th now.
-Alicia
Otherwise, nothing too new is happening. The third trimester hasn't treated me too badly so far. I've been really tired again, but it's still not as bad as it was in the first trimester. I'm also growing more quickly than I knew was possible. Cody will be back from Texas on Tuesday and he's going to be shocked at how big I've become! All the sweet customers at work are always telling me I'm the cutest pregnant girl they've ever seen. I must have had 10 women tell me I was "adorable" yesterday. Other ladies just look at me and instantly smile big. It's nice to know I can bring some joy to people just by looking at me. One woman said "I know you probably don't feel like it, but you look so cute!" I told her I didn't feel too bad, I've had an easy pregnancy and I have nothing to complain about.
Yesterday at work, I was standing and talking to one of my co- workers and I pointed out a dress that I like. I said I was thinking about buying it for my baby shower if it would fit. She said, "Yeah, but that's Missy size." I said "So?" She looked at me with her eyebrows raised, "Don't you wear plus?" Shocked and kind of hurt, I muttered, "No." I explained that I could wear an extra- large right now in Juniors sizes if I really wanted to. With her jaw dropping she looked me over and said, "Really?!" I said, "Yeah. I used to be pretty small before I got pregnant." Again, with shock written all over her face, she said "Really?!" The conversation ended there. Later I tried the dress on in Missy size in a size 8 and it fit rather nicely. I don't know why she thought I would wear plus sizes. I couldn't even fit into a 14/16 if I wanted to. I was shocked that she was so blunt... and so wrong. Being pregnant just makes people think that they have the right to comment on your weight anytime they want. Mostly I get good comments, but that one was pretty bad. Whenever someone says "You're getting so big!" I always say, "No, I'm not, Cambria is. And that's good... she needs to grow." I'm trying to approach this weight- gain positively despite what anyone may say.
Two nights ago, I attempted to read "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein to Cambria. However, the book was so amusing to me that I had to apologize halfway through the book and put it down- I was laughing too hard! I don't know why I thought it was so funny, but it's just hysterical! I love that little Runny! It's a book full of spoonerisms and it's just so entertaining to read. So I read a "goodnight" book to her, sang her a song, and we drifted off to sleep together. I suppose I don't know if she was asleep, but I was, so that's all that matters right now :-p
On that same night that I read "Runny Babbit", I was talking to Cambria and I said, "OK, Kemah... crap! I knew I was going to do that! You're name is CAMBRIA. The dog's name is Kemah! Sorry, Cambria!" It's already starting.
Well, my dinner's ready... so I'll update again later.
And YES, the shower is officially on July 14th now.
-Alicia
Monday, June 25, 2007
Third Trimester
Well, here goes nothing! We're in the third trimester now and it's all uphill from here. I've been nervous about the third trimester, but I am getting so eager to meet Cambria! She's so active and I love her so much I can't wait to see those little legs pumping right in front of my eyes. She is definitely worth it all.
Recently I've been dealing with Sciatica which means my uterus is putting pressure on a nerve in my back that is located directly above my right leg/right butt cheek. Sometimes it becomes such a sharp pinch that I can't walk and it takes my breath away. I've found that taking two tylenol and sitting in a hot bath for 30 minutes usually un- pinches for the better part of the day. However, by the time evening falls, it's pinched again. Somedays it can be really bad and it brings tears to my eyes. In the morning when I roll over from my left side to my right side my eyes shoot open in shock as the nerve pinches abruptly. Lying on my right side is nearly impossible now. It can really put me in a bad mood some mornings.
Cambria seems to have developed a sleep schedule for now. She's usually pretty still all day and then in the evening (around 8- 9 pm) she starts moving around. Cody and I will lie down between 10 and midnight and we will read Dr. Seuss to her and I will hum a hymn to her and by the time I drift off to sleep, she's still. My dad wakes up around 5- 5:30 AM and walks the dogs. For the last week, she's been waking me up right around that time as my dad is walking out the door with the dogs. It's either a coincidence or something she's learned, but she wakes me up by kicking me in the bladder and I absolutely have to get up and rush to the bathroom. I've become so good at walking up the stairs in my sleep that I basically don't even open my eyes and sometimes I can't remember it when I wake up later. I told my dad that she must really want to spend time with him because she wakes up with him. After I lay down, she kicks around for awhile, but I feel so relieved from emptying my bladder that I barely notice it as I fall back asleep. The only frustrating thing is if that nerve is pinched at that hour, I can't really do much but limp to the bathroom. I should just sleep on the toilet.
I'm sure many of you don't care to know this, but the constipation has eased up a lot. I've been taking vitamins with a built- in stool softener and it has helped so very much. I will never buy prenatal vitamins at Wal*Mart again! I still don't go as often as I used to, but when I do get the excitement of going (yes, it's exciting) it doesn't hurt. Thank God!
Heartburn is worse and so are my emotions. I read that you're supposed to be less emotional in the third trimester, but I feel more emotional than ever. On the way to work today I was listening to a song on the radio and I teared up. Sometimes when I look at the crib I get tears in my eyes. But I don't really feel sad, just... so much emotion that it comes out in tears. I was talking about raising her properly at dinner and I felt like I was going to cry. Nothing emotional was even being said. I haven't really been weepy during this pregnancy, so it's weird to me now. Maybe it's just the heat and the exhaustion getting to me. I am tired again. The first trimester was exhausting and I'm starting to feel that again now.
Anyway... tomorrow is another day of parenting classes. I think I'm the furthest along in my class. I'm tired! I'm going to eat something salty. Mmmmmm.
-Alicia
PS- I don't know when the baby shower is anymore because dates for things have changed. Nothing is for sure anymore.
Recently I've been dealing with Sciatica which means my uterus is putting pressure on a nerve in my back that is located directly above my right leg/right butt cheek. Sometimes it becomes such a sharp pinch that I can't walk and it takes my breath away. I've found that taking two tylenol and sitting in a hot bath for 30 minutes usually un- pinches for the better part of the day. However, by the time evening falls, it's pinched again. Somedays it can be really bad and it brings tears to my eyes. In the morning when I roll over from my left side to my right side my eyes shoot open in shock as the nerve pinches abruptly. Lying on my right side is nearly impossible now. It can really put me in a bad mood some mornings.
Cambria seems to have developed a sleep schedule for now. She's usually pretty still all day and then in the evening (around 8- 9 pm) she starts moving around. Cody and I will lie down between 10 and midnight and we will read Dr. Seuss to her and I will hum a hymn to her and by the time I drift off to sleep, she's still. My dad wakes up around 5- 5:30 AM and walks the dogs. For the last week, she's been waking me up right around that time as my dad is walking out the door with the dogs. It's either a coincidence or something she's learned, but she wakes me up by kicking me in the bladder and I absolutely have to get up and rush to the bathroom. I've become so good at walking up the stairs in my sleep that I basically don't even open my eyes and sometimes I can't remember it when I wake up later. I told my dad that she must really want to spend time with him because she wakes up with him. After I lay down, she kicks around for awhile, but I feel so relieved from emptying my bladder that I barely notice it as I fall back asleep. The only frustrating thing is if that nerve is pinched at that hour, I can't really do much but limp to the bathroom. I should just sleep on the toilet.
I'm sure many of you don't care to know this, but the constipation has eased up a lot. I've been taking vitamins with a built- in stool softener and it has helped so very much. I will never buy prenatal vitamins at Wal*Mart again! I still don't go as often as I used to, but when I do get the excitement of going (yes, it's exciting) it doesn't hurt. Thank God!
Heartburn is worse and so are my emotions. I read that you're supposed to be less emotional in the third trimester, but I feel more emotional than ever. On the way to work today I was listening to a song on the radio and I teared up. Sometimes when I look at the crib I get tears in my eyes. But I don't really feel sad, just... so much emotion that it comes out in tears. I was talking about raising her properly at dinner and I felt like I was going to cry. Nothing emotional was even being said. I haven't really been weepy during this pregnancy, so it's weird to me now. Maybe it's just the heat and the exhaustion getting to me. I am tired again. The first trimester was exhausting and I'm starting to feel that again now.
Anyway... tomorrow is another day of parenting classes. I think I'm the furthest along in my class. I'm tired! I'm going to eat something salty. Mmmmmm.
-Alicia
PS- I don't know when the baby shower is anymore because dates for things have changed. Nothing is for sure anymore.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Big kicker! Maternity clothes and buying stuff!
Tonight Cambria kicked so hard that I saw my stomach jump! I've felt her a lot and I've felt her kick against my hand, but I've never seen anything like that in my life! A specific spot on the right side of my stomach popped out really quick. Almost like she threw an elbow or pushed her foot out. She's been really active this evening. Actually, she's been so active lately that if she's still for more than 20- 30 minutes at a time, I start to worry!
Cody noticed that my maternity pants were ripping today. I've been wearing Old Navy low rise maternity jeans because I find them the most comfortable, but because they're low rise, I have to keep tugging on them to keep them up. So in the process of obliviously yanking on them all day I managed to rip a hole in the cotton band. So I sewed the little hole and had my mom pick me up one of those bella band things to keep my pants up! I seriously wear those pants everyday, they're my favorites.
Today we got a used carseat for $25! We bought it from a lady here in Rittman who'd had triplets and was ready to get rid of two of the carseats. They were black Eddie Bauer carseats and they were in almost perfect condition because her babies were "homebound" for 7 months. So Ryan and Lydia bought one and Cody and I bought the other one. Everyone says I need to stop buying stuff, but I don't care, it makes me feel better.
Speaking of buying stuff, my mom and I are going to community yard sales in Sterling tomorrow and my only real goal is to maybe find some more Dr. Seuss books. A stroller would be nice, but I'm not really worried about it with the shower coming up next month. Since we read to Cambria every night now, we're needing to expand our library. We will continue to definitely read the same books over and over, though, so that she becomes familiar with it and it will be comforting to her in this cold, cold world.
I just got on here to say that she kicked hard today and it turned into a few paragraphs! I just really don't want to forget anything in this blog so that Cambria can read it someday and know what an awesome experience it's been becoming her mommy! Not to mention I love sharing all of this with all of you!
-Alicia
Cody noticed that my maternity pants were ripping today. I've been wearing Old Navy low rise maternity jeans because I find them the most comfortable, but because they're low rise, I have to keep tugging on them to keep them up. So in the process of obliviously yanking on them all day I managed to rip a hole in the cotton band. So I sewed the little hole and had my mom pick me up one of those bella band things to keep my pants up! I seriously wear those pants everyday, they're my favorites.
Today we got a used carseat for $25! We bought it from a lady here in Rittman who'd had triplets and was ready to get rid of two of the carseats. They were black Eddie Bauer carseats and they were in almost perfect condition because her babies were "homebound" for 7 months. So Ryan and Lydia bought one and Cody and I bought the other one. Everyone says I need to stop buying stuff, but I don't care, it makes me feel better.
Speaking of buying stuff, my mom and I are going to community yard sales in Sterling tomorrow and my only real goal is to maybe find some more Dr. Seuss books. A stroller would be nice, but I'm not really worried about it with the shower coming up next month. Since we read to Cambria every night now, we're needing to expand our library. We will continue to definitely read the same books over and over, though, so that she becomes familiar with it and it will be comforting to her in this cold, cold world.
I just got on here to say that she kicked hard today and it turned into a few paragraphs! I just really don't want to forget anything in this blog so that Cambria can read it someday and know what an awesome experience it's been becoming her mommy! Not to mention I love sharing all of this with all of you!
-Alicia
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Nighttime ritual, Otis Alexander, and a few neccessities
Hmm, nobody comments anymore, so I hope the site is working and everything. Also, a side note: The RSS link does work. Let me know if you have problems with it.
There's nothing new going on really. I've gained about 13 pounds total so far. I'm coming to terms with my pregnant body and I can tolerate my reflection now.
Oh, the baby shower date has been changed (without my consent) and I think it's the 20th now and it's in Delaware, OH. I don't know... it's not my baby shower anymore, it's everyone else's. But that's another issue.
Work is fine. I want to quit, but that's not an option. Cody's on the job hunt and we're hoping he can find something soon. I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom or anything, but I would like to comfortably take my six weeks of maternity leave.
Last night Cody read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss to Cambria. He claims that she asked him to read it again after the first time, so he read through it again. After that, he read Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss and she seemed to like the beginning of that one because she was kicking around. Then, to put her to sleep, I sang my favorite hymn, "Farther Along" and I read the first chapter of Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons. In class we learned that it's good to go ahead and start a nighttime ritual with a song and other soothing things so that when she arrives, it will be familiar and comforting to her. Cody's been downloading some classical music that we'll be playing for her and we talk to her all the time. As soon as she comes out of the womb, she will know mine and Cody's voice better than anyone else's, so I want her to have fond memories of those voices. I do a lot of baby talking to our dog, Kemah, so maybe Cambria will get excited to hear that haha.
Last night, Veronica and I were laying in my bed talking and she gave me all the knowledge she had about babies. She also offered to give me some of her baby doll clothes for Cambria. She also mentioned that she wishes she could pull on her hair and it would grow then if she would push on it, she wishes it would go back in. I laughed and agreed that it would be nice to control the length of your hair that way. She asked if she was allowed to hold Cambria when she gets here and I said she could. Veronica is very excited to meet this little girl.
Oh, yeah. Lydia's having a boy! So every one's excited to have a little girl and a little boy. My dad is especially happy to be getting a grandson. His name will be Otis Alexander and he will be called "Xander". My dad's mom is really happy that they're naming him after my grandpa who recently passed away. This will be my parent's first grandson! Now Lydia can go nuts buying little boy clothes.
Since we've gotten a lot of great items lately, there are only a few big things left that we need. I tried to clean up our baby registry and took off everything that we didn't absolutely NEED. The major things that we still need are: a car seat, a stroller, a breast pump, crib bedding (bumpers especially), a crib nightlight, a snowsuit in 3-6 or 6- 9 months, a baby bathtub, and a few other odds and ends. I'm trying not to get these things before my baby shower so that other people will have things to buy for us, but I start to feel a little anxiety over not having them RIGHT NOW, so I end up buying them. Yesterday we got a play mat and a bottle warmer. Slowly but surely, it's all coming together. Now if only I could afford to pay my doctor's bills!
Now I have to go to work for 4 hours and try to make a little more money. I will let everyone know more about the shower date when I get more details (since I don't make the decisions). Stay cool and I'll keep you posted!
-Alicia
There's nothing new going on really. I've gained about 13 pounds total so far. I'm coming to terms with my pregnant body and I can tolerate my reflection now.
Oh, the baby shower date has been changed (without my consent) and I think it's the 20th now and it's in Delaware, OH. I don't know... it's not my baby shower anymore, it's everyone else's. But that's another issue.
Work is fine. I want to quit, but that's not an option. Cody's on the job hunt and we're hoping he can find something soon. I don't want to be a stay-at-home mom or anything, but I would like to comfortably take my six weeks of maternity leave.
Last night Cody read Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss to Cambria. He claims that she asked him to read it again after the first time, so he read through it again. After that, he read Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss and she seemed to like the beginning of that one because she was kicking around. Then, to put her to sleep, I sang my favorite hymn, "Farther Along" and I read the first chapter of Before You Leap: A Frog's Eye View of Life's Greatest Lessons. In class we learned that it's good to go ahead and start a nighttime ritual with a song and other soothing things so that when she arrives, it will be familiar and comforting to her. Cody's been downloading some classical music that we'll be playing for her and we talk to her all the time. As soon as she comes out of the womb, she will know mine and Cody's voice better than anyone else's, so I want her to have fond memories of those voices. I do a lot of baby talking to our dog, Kemah, so maybe Cambria will get excited to hear that haha.
Last night, Veronica and I were laying in my bed talking and she gave me all the knowledge she had about babies. She also offered to give me some of her baby doll clothes for Cambria. She also mentioned that she wishes she could pull on her hair and it would grow then if she would push on it, she wishes it would go back in. I laughed and agreed that it would be nice to control the length of your hair that way. She asked if she was allowed to hold Cambria when she gets here and I said she could. Veronica is very excited to meet this little girl.
Oh, yeah. Lydia's having a boy! So every one's excited to have a little girl and a little boy. My dad is especially happy to be getting a grandson. His name will be Otis Alexander and he will be called "Xander". My dad's mom is really happy that they're naming him after my grandpa who recently passed away. This will be my parent's first grandson! Now Lydia can go nuts buying little boy clothes.
Since we've gotten a lot of great items lately, there are only a few big things left that we need. I tried to clean up our baby registry and took off everything that we didn't absolutely NEED. The major things that we still need are: a car seat, a stroller, a breast pump, crib bedding (bumpers especially), a crib nightlight, a snowsuit in 3-6 or 6- 9 months, a baby bathtub, and a few other odds and ends. I'm trying not to get these things before my baby shower so that other people will have things to buy for us, but I start to feel a little anxiety over not having them RIGHT NOW, so I end up buying them. Yesterday we got a play mat and a bottle warmer. Slowly but surely, it's all coming together. Now if only I could afford to pay my doctor's bills!
Now I have to go to work for 4 hours and try to make a little more money. I will let everyone know more about the shower date when I get more details (since I don't make the decisions). Stay cool and I'll keep you posted!
-Alicia
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