Baby Friends

Congratulations to Megan and Christine on their new baby boys!!! Megan was due four days before me, and Christine a week after me. Andersen and Silas beat Miss 001 in making their debut this weekend, here's hoping she'll join them soon!

So happy for these ladies and their wee lads!!!

Happy Birthday Adam

Happy 26th birthday Adam!!!

In honor of my husband's 26th birthday I've decided to write 26 reasons I'm thankful for him.

1. He makes me laugh harder than anyone I know.

2. He is always gentle and kind.

3. He loves children, and is wonderful with them.

4. He always takes the time to talk me through my over-thinking dramas.

5. He is amazingly sensitive to my needs and sometimes difficult-to-decipher emotions.

6. He is so excited about our daughter.

7. He spoils me on my birthday and Christmas.

8. He takes incredible care of me without my ever needing to ask for some nurturing.

9. He encourages me to dream.

10. He respects and honors women.

11. He never yells when he's angry.

12. He likes to learn new things.

13. He never sees any goal as out of reach.

14. He is confident, but not arrogant.

15. He loves his pipe and fedora.

16. He's teaching himself to play the violin.

17. He can build and fix anything.

18. He has unshakable faith.

19. He sings and dances with me around the house like a fool.

20. He loves me enough to sweetly tell me when I'm out of line.

21. He's not afraid to speak his mind, but always treads lightly when doing so.

22. He enjoys eating healthy.

23. He has a real passion for cooking and is so good at it.

24. He loves the arts.

25. His desire to have adventures together.

26. He is incredibly handsome!

Just the first 26 of many, many reasons I am so thankful for and in love with Adam. He truly is everything I dreamed of having in a husband, plus all the things I didn't know to dream of!

*FREE* Museum Day

A friend passed this to me, and I thought I'd pass it on to you! This Saturday, the 24th, is Museum Day and museums across the country in partnership with the Smithsonian are offering two free admission tickets. All you have to do is sign up to receive the tickets by email and select the museum in your area you'd like to attend.

Provided I'm not having a baby, that's what we'll be doing!

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/

Party Hardy

Last night, at 38wks pregnant, I was a very good sport to my dear husband and "partied" until 3am! Friends of ours host a yearly September Birthdays Party which includes Adam, and we were there for hours and hours last night getting our fun in while we still can! While I didn't get to enjoy the famous Varnell cosmos and margaritas, which looked so tasty, there was plenty of sinfully delicious food and belly-aching laughter.

See 001, your Mommy is a lot of fun, and a pretty good sport. We've had our fun, our lists are checked off. You can come now!

37wk Appointments

This week between the perinatalogist and midwives we know:

001 is DEFINATELY an O'Connell babe, she's measuring 7lbs 4oz which is a full pound more than most babies at this point, and a pound more than Adam at 40wks.

She is projected at 40wks to be between 9 and 10 pounds and about 23in! While it may come as a surprise to others, no one in my family is even blinking. My brother and I were well over 9lbs, my Dad was a 10lb baby, and my frousin's girls were 9 and 10lbs. We grow 'em big an Irish over here!

My perinatalogist this week jokingly asked "Is this your first baby? Are you trying to set some kind of record?!" He also mentioned, "I mean, if you've ever considered taking up smoking now might be the time...." :)

001 has continued to drop, and her heart rate has settled on a low 130. Other than that there are no signs of any impending labor.

I am at a 1, but I was last week too and there has otherwise been no progress. Today the midwives stripped my membranes "a little" with no expectation of my body being ready for labor, but with the hopes that "since this baby would clearly be just fine if she was born now" that maybe I'd have some great progress over the week. That was at 8:45am, and I have had some contractions today but they've been too inconsistent and short to get excited about. In fact, typing this I realize the last one was hours ago. No signs of baby :(

This was the first week in my entire pregnancy that I have gained no weight! Sounds silly? At 85lbs weight gain (gee, thanks thyroid) I will take what I can get!

I know being at almost 38wks (Saturday) doesn't mean much, and it could still be several weeks, but gosh I would like to be done and on the other side of this! Adam's birthday is Monday and he keeps asking 001 to come then, the ultimate birthday present! If she does in fact come closer to her due date, October 2nd, she'll be an early gift to us for our third anniversary, which would be pretty neat.

Rules for Dads of Daughters

A friend had posted this on facebook and while it could very well be the hormones, I was moved by it and thinking of both my Dad and Adam's future as a Daddy.

Rules for Dads of Daughters

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

7. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

8. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

9. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

10. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

11. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

12. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

13. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

14. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

15. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

16. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

17. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

18. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

19. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

20. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

21. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

22. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

23. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

24. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

25. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

The Carseat Is In!

For my 25th birthday my parents bought me our jogging travel system, and I have to say that it may be my favorite gift yet. There was something so exciting about finally having her stroller and car-seat here waiting and it was so much fun to have Adam assemble it all today. Now 001's car-seat is buckled in the car, waiting for her to make her appearance. My jogging stroller sits waiting for a run, oh how I can't wait to go for a run again!

Did I mention the jogging stroller has ipod speakers? Neat!

Today marks the full moon that the labor and delivery nurse spoke of last week, and aside from some on and off Braxton Hicks, there is no sign of baby.

*Sigh*

I didn't really think it would happen since there had been no indication we were tracking to meet baby today, but I have to say I had hoped! :)

Mosaic Baby Surprise

When we got to church tonight, the table in the back of the room was COVERED in a sweet pink table cloth and all things baby and Kaitlin. Diapers, items from our registry, groceries, diet coke, my favorite snacks and desserts, and goodies for the evening. Adam was apparently in on the surprise, but my sweet friend and mentor Holly (she married us) had organized this surprise baby-party for after church. I was completely blown away. Mosaic provided some of the goodies, but our friends did so much for us too. Other friends, including a couple we're just getting to know, gave us TONS of hand me downs. One new friend said they were her favorites of her daughters clothes that she couldn't bear to part with, but wanted us to have. We also received many hand me down diapers, diaper pins and covers! (For cloth diapering)

I love our church, and felt so loved and so happy. Everyone brought pieces of parenting advice for my scarpbooks, and we stayed and talked and ate and partied. Someone even brought creme brulee and cheesecake for me.

Adam counted, 52 diet coke cans, 12 bottles. HA! Do these people know me or what?

Tour of the Nursery

Here's a tour of our little lady's nursery! I'm not sure why the colors are a bit dull in these, I opened the curtains hoping that would help. Trust me, it's a cheery place. :)

Please ignore my voice (why do we all sound so funny on video?) and enjoy the very, very short tour.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYSFtsLm4F8

the sweet little crib

changing table and dresser

nursing and reading corner

3D Ultrasound 36.5wks

Today I was surprised by a few minutes of 3D ultrasound, and the tech secretly gave me two pictures before Dr.Howard came in!

My family has joked about it from the flat, regular ultrasounds, but I really think 001 may have my nose! She still has her hand up by her face, and I lost some quality scanning it in, but still!!!

Oh Body

My poor, twisted body. I don't think I have ever felt so many sensations at once.

I've got this weird, painless pressure that kind of ebbs and flows. Has she dropped? I see the perinatologist today and the midwives tomorrow, maybe someone can tell me since I have no idea what's going on. I'm hoping that's the case, it's exciting to think it might be.

The itchiness that consumed my body last week is slowly retreating. Thankfully Adam called the midwives Saturday morning when I lost another night of sleep and they called in some blissful drugs to take away the itch and let me get some rest. We re-washed all known 'poisened' fabrics, and have been washing anything we use/wear once just to be safe. So far, so good.

I made my way to the chiropractor yesterday for my pubic bone. Eight weeks of hoping didn't send the pain away, so at friends and midwives urging I gave it a shot. The woman I saw happened to have the same problem in her pregnancy and explained there were two ways to try and fix it. A 'gentle' way, that usually worked and a 'rough' way that always worked but was probably going to make me cry. I opted for gentle, and if we don't see results, coming back next week. Keep your fingers crossed! Maybe soon I can put on underwear without wincing!

Last night, in hopes of tackling more on the list, we headed out to the car to get it baby ready. There I took a lovely fall over a manhole that scared both of us more then it did anything. Thankfully I managed to twist and fall on my leg and arms instead of my stomach or head, but I now have a nice softball size bruise and cuts on my left calf to show for it. :) Nothing like being clumsy and pregnant, right? Ah well. As Adam said while he doctored me, "All of this gives me a great chance to get used to taking care of someone else." Glad I can help.

The Amended List

Since my initial list post, Adam and I have been trying to knock it out one by one with more determination! Thank goodness there's someone else here to help me stay on top of everything, especially considering every time I look at the list I feel overwhelmed. (Even though some of it is a little silly.) Today we tried to get as much done as possible, including touring the Labor & Delivery section of the hospital and talking to the nurses, which was actually really exciting and made everything seem that much more real. Thanks to ever reliable youtube, we watched a video on cloth diapering and plan to practice on one of 001's teddy bears this week. (I realize how sad and silly that seems) And last but not least we made a trip to Central Market for L&D goodies and yummy gelato to enjoy while formulating the rest of the weeks plan.

Now...to start coaxing this little girl to show up a little early. As soon as I'm done with this list. ;)

The L&D nurse we spoke with did say there's a full moon on the 12th and "we always seem to fill up alongside the moon..." Hmmm...

1.Washing all Baby Clothes and Linens---why does this seem overwhelming?

2. Having Adam replace her light with a ceiling fan

3.Finding a screen for her room

4. We have NO BABY TOWELS! Worse, I can't commit myself to any because they all seem thin or itchy. I nearly lost it in Target the other night...

5. Clean out, deep clean and wash the car.

6. Clean car needs to be rid of the two spots of bumper sticker residue. (Yes, I know this doesn't affect baby...I can't help it, it's driving me mad)

7. Send out shower thank yous which are now almost two weeks old. Where did I put all my friends addresses?!?

8.Write our birth plan. By Saturday. We are supposed to take this to Bradley class Saturday morning, and to our appointment with the midwives Tuesday. I'm glad to envision and put together an idea of what we'd like, but embarrassed to actually do it and have other people read it. Sad?

9. Finish my scrapbook of our life before baby. I've been stuck completing Christmas for the past 3 months.

10. Catch up her scrapbook and create some pages for once she's here.

11. Make a drop off at Goodwill.

12. Before she's here I NEED the house decorated for the fall/Halloween, or it won't happen and I love holiday decorations! (I know this shouldn't matter...)

13. Why can't I keep our room clean?!

14. I really need to make and execute a shopping list for my "obscure" labor & delivery goods. Things we've had recommended like; honey straws, lolly pops, pads or depends (HA), etc.

15. Pack.our.go.bag.

16. Make some kind of plan for our dogs. What do we do with them when we go into the hospital? Must make a plan.

17. Buy replacement tubing for pump.

18. Sanitize the pump.

19. Order our pre-fold diapers, snappis and wetbag.

20. Call the property manager about that broken closet light...

21. Put the cling sunshades up in the car for the baby.

22. Pre-register for the hospital.

23. Put away all the random things piling up around our house.

24. Exchange Kitri's muzzle for one that fits for night time, or I will kill her when she wakes up the baby.

25. Measure space for blowup mattress and replace our broken one for Mom and Dad.

26. Chiropractor

27. Are we officially set with the pediatrician?

28.Tour the hospital.

29. Buy celebration champagne and cigars

30.Organize her clothes better by size so I can see at a glance what is what

31. Find her at least one more heavy blanket since she only has the one.

32.How the heck do you swaddle a baby? Must learn.

33. Never mind swaddling, how are we supposed to use cloth diapers?! Oh God. Must learn that too....

Frousins Big and Small

This Labor Day weekend Adam and I were gifted a brief visit from my dear frousin Shannon and her sweetest chunk 'o monk addition Alice Virginia. Although it was a brief visit we were able to enjoy conversations about 001's eventual arrival, admire and enjoy sweet Alice, practice swaddling on that patient girl, and talk and talk and talk. You won't find the following pictures on facebook as I am shocked by seeing on film just how big I really am, but I wanted to share with my readers and friends who I trust won't give me too hard a time. :) It's hard to believe the next time we see the VanHeests we'll have a little girl in our arms to show off!!

For Megan :) Here we are at a gloriously huge 36wks. Come on 001, I'm ready to be done!!

Dutchess says "Who isss this?"

Adam keeping Alice Virginia company at lunch.

A refresher, here's the last belly picture of the two of us in April. Kaitlin and 001 at 14wks, Shannon and Alice Virginia at 30wks.

Here we are, Kaitlin 36wks and Shannon with Miss Alice Virginia, 2.5mo old!

Listen to Mom

You know those pieces of advice you hear so often growing up from your mother's lips that they become almost cliche, something you know but forget? For me, the piece of advice I probably heard the most often was "Don't experiment with things like laundry detergent and dryer sheets. You never know what you'll be allergic to."

By golly, my mother was right.

To wash 001's clothes and blankets I purchased a large container of All Free and Clear. Nevermind never having used All...nevermind having grown up on Tide....nevermind having a history of allergies and sensitive skin....nevermind that my mother had told me not to do this very thing my whole life. I didn't remember her advice that day in the laundry aisle, I just saw the sale sign, and could compare the price of All (read:cheap) to Tide (read: not so cheap).

Monday I did our towels and all my maternity wears.

Tuesday I developed a strange bumpy rash.

Wednesday it was on my arms as well.

Thursday it was much more pronounced and more itchy then the chicken pox.

Friday I am a zombie because I woke every hour through the night scratching and re-applying lotion.

At my appointment today I asked the doctor, could this be PUPP? (pregnancy rash) He seemed to think it looked a lot more like an allergic reaction and to re-examine any new substances I had introduced in the last week. I, ofcourse, could think of none but Adam quickly reminded me of the foreign detergent that had washed all I had worn in the last week.

OH.

That would explain the intense rash all over my stomach, chest, forearms, thighs, upper back and bottom.

YAY.

Pretty Little Things

Last night Adam and I started tackling our list (ok, my list) piece by piece and decided the biggest thing to take on was laundry. Yikes! We hadn't cut any tags in the whole shopping process, and we have clothes for quite a few months in since babes in my family tend to grow very, very quickly. I couldn't resist snapping a few pictures before everything made its way downstairs to be washed. I'm sure you're sick of pictures of my baby clothes pictures, but I just had to share a few with the world!

While it's not the best picture, here is 001's coming home outfit. Adam and I picked it out together last weekend and both LOVE it!

I know Christmas is quite a ways off, but we couldn't resist this sweet little dress and matching bloomers!

My sweet friend Jenny bought 001 her first ballerina outfit!