Talk about a bunch of windbags!

We attended our first childbirth class at the hospital this past Wednesday and have another 5 to look forward to over the same number of weeks.  The "syllabus" (yes, that's really what they called it) had us covering "anatomy of labor" and "breathing techniques".

Although a tad embarrassing to admit, I learned more about my "plumbing" and the whole L&D process during those 2 hours than I ever remember learning in science class!  Dilation, effacement, progression, staging ... oh my!  My favorite class visual so far has to be the random food comparisons representing the different centimeters of dilation.  Unfortunately, I'll never think of a bagel quite the same again. (10 centimeters or "complete" dilation)  Yowzer!

At one point during the class, the instructor asked for a show of hands - who was planning on having an unmedicated birth?  Interestingly, out of the entire class (there must have been about 8 or 10 couples), only 2 of us raised our hands.  Do they all know something I don't?? (lol)  I hope and pray that Baby L cooperates when it's time to come out ... not only because it's something I am committing us to do but also because the only thing we've learned so far for pain management is how to breathe.  No, I'm not joking.  Breathing.  That's it.  I was hoping for some super high-tech prenatal hypnosis or yoga-like handstanding or something at least a little more ...  I don't know ... silver-bullet-sounding?  *sigh*  As of Wednesday night, however, our arsenal contains a mere 3 different types of breathing: cleansing breaths, deep chest breathing and shallow chest breathing.  Guess we'd better get practicing!

One general observation:  I noticed a fair bit of waddling and foot swelling among my classmates.  Thank you Baby L for taking it easy on mom's hands and feet so far!

1 more week until our DC shower and really looking forward to it.  Thanks, Syl! :-)

Did You Say Flying Colors??

Here is an update on Baby L's room. You remember the one that used to be for distinguished visitors to Casa Lanzetti?

This update also serves as bragging rights for Dad beating his painting deadline. You're probably wondering what deadline when the baby is not due until November 3rd..... Well, this deadline was based on a time sensitivity condition that is 3 generations strong on Baby L's Mom's side. (Sorry Grandma Sandy and Great Grandma Betty) ;-p )

Actually, before Dad pats himself on the back too hard.... he still has to install the ceiling fan and crown molding. This just seemed like a good point to show you the color swatches on the floor (from 8/24/09 Post) actually led to paint on the walls and ceiling!

Passed with Flying Colors!

Ringo and I met with another doctor in the practice today for our 30-week check-up, and I'm pleased to report that all went well.

Vitals:

Blood Pressure - 116/68

Weight - 14 lbs (total gain since week 1)

Baby L's Heartbeat - 150s

Sugar Test - "excellent" (Dr. Bannon's exact words)

Baby L's Position - head down and very low in the pelvis, but with the cervix still long and completely closed, there'll be no "jail breaks" in Baby L's immediate future. (thankfully!)

We tried to get a new picture of Baby L so that we could post it to the blog, but with his/her little head so far down and facing away, it wasn't possible this time. That's ok, though -- there will be plenty of time for pictures when Baby L decides to join us "outside"! :-)

Baby L Already Calling the Shots

With 71 days until Baby L's anticipated arrival, our expected bundle of joy is already displacing house guests! What used to be a perfectly comfortable and tastefully decorated guest room...now looks like this ------->>>>>>

You can barely see it in this photo, but there are paint swatches on the floor for the wall color. Baby L will not stand for those ugly sea foam green window shades either!

With only a few months to go, Dad will have to get going with the paint job and replacement of window treatments. Of course.... he has to wait for Mom to help with the color selections before he can actually get to work. Knowing he will ultimately be blamed for an untimely delivery of a finished nursery, Dad sure is hoping Baby L will help Mom with those decisions before the arrival of Baby L's furniture. ;-)

Channeled the Wicked Witch of the West Today....

Remember that moment in The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy throws a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch of the West and she starts melting on the spot?? Well, I had my own melting moment this afternoon at my office picnic - in lovely mid-90 degree temps and soupy humidity. The one good side effect, though, was that all the cookies submitted in the cookie bake-off tasted like they'd just come out of the oven ... gooey chips, warm buttery flavors ... yes, I confess, I did sample my fair share, but all in the spirit of competition. Although I submitted a very yummy (if I do say so myself) white chocolate cherry macadamia nut cookie from epicurious.com, the winner was an equally yummy lemon tea cookie.

On a completely different note, Baby L and I have to give a shout out to the very chivalrous men at Fort McNair for their sweetness and understanding. Notwithstanding the expired tags on the Escape (for which Ringo received an appropriate tongue lashing when I got home!), the two guards at the gate "bent" base policy and let me in so that I wouldn't have to walk to the picnic site in my current "condition." Now up until this time I've been reluctant to even park in the "expectant mommy" parking spots at the grocery store because I haven't quite reached the waddle stage of pregnancy which is what I assume those spots are for, but I certainly didn't complain today when the guards let me drive on through. And one of the guards was even so kind as to opine that I didn't even look *that* pregnant for 7+ months. (lol) Hooray for our nation's men in uniform. :-D

Looking forward to this weekend and spending my last birthday "sans bebe" with my honey in NYC. Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and Little Italy are on the agenda, as is a Broadway show (Wicked). Next post - progress made on Baby L's nursery...

Hooray 3rd Trimester!

The doctor was surprised to see Dad-to-Be sign in for today's appointment instead of Gina! Let's just say if our child is destined to be a race car driver, they will want to take after their good old Dad. In all fairness, I beat Gina to the doctor's office by about 10 minutes, because she was drinking and driving! Today was the big gestational diabetes test day, which consists of guzzling a cough syrup sized bottle of sugar water and getting blood drawn precisely one hour later.

We were treated to a couple of quick peeks of the baby's head (which is already positioned near the exit) and the sound of a very strong heartbeat after our short road race and Gina's sugar rush. The doctor was happy with both Mom and Dad's body weight at this stage of the pregnancy!

Next visit is scheduled two weeks from today. We will meet a different doctor for that visit. This is to prevent us from thinking we are in the wrong hospital on the big day if our doctor is unavailable for the delivery. We hope this doctor is as nice as ours.... and of course, that she has done this kind of thing at least one or two times! ;-)

Pregnancy Reflections - 6th Month

Buying maternity clothes was:
Has been a very disappointing affair! Really, who do those rip-off artists actually think that they're making these clothes for?? Apparently, if the clothes were any indicator this summer, pregnant women only hang out at the beach all day sporting tank tops, capris and maxi dresses! Professional dress? Forget it! Finding a suitable dress for the shower that (gasp) actually fit my body was a major feat. Ok, enough ranting. Promise. o:-)
The biggest change in my body has been:
My growing belly, which just starting showing 2 weeks ago, strangely enough, but has been making up for lost time!
My favorite change in my body has been:
The thicker hair and absence of wads of it in the bottom of the shower every morning are an added bonus. (wink)
What I never thought would change was:
Never thought I would mind sharing my body with someone else who seems to have the upper hand in the situation, but I really don't mind. It feels good being "good"... although I do miss dark chocolate dearly!
At this month's prenatal visit I learned that:
1) my belly wasn't measuring quite up to speed but the baby's leg bones were 1 week longer than they should've been (apparently Baby L is already taking after mommy! ha!)
2) I have to take that dreaded sugar test at our next appointment August 11th (more on that later)
My hopes:
I hope Baby L will have a good moral compass and an abundance of sensibility to guide him/her through the morass of "live for today"/"live for me" that seems to plague so many young people today.
My fears:
Hm, so many at this point... better save this for later posts...