38 weeks today, seeing the midwife weekly now. Last week I was 1cm dilated, 60-70% effaced. I'm also losing weight (I'm down 3.3lb since last week) which I think is another sign that we're near the end. I am, however, still pregnant for the time being.
On a very positive note, Keith and I have finally decided on both a boy name and a girl name! So we are prepared one way or another, FINALLY! My hospital bag is packed. The nursery is ready. I have diapers, nursing bras, etc. I even got a sample container of formula in the mail the other day, though I am hoping I don't have to deal with bottles and formula at all with this baby.
I also finished Mind Over Labor, which is about using mental imagery and relaxation exercises to better cope with the pain of contractions. I'm optimistic. My intention is to do this without an epidural this time because I've never had an uncomplicated one.
Well I have lots of laundry to do today so I'm going to hop to it.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Keith is Home!
I survived his first two week trip to China! And so did he, though he's still struggling with some serious jet lag. He brought back the neatest things for us, best of which is the pearls! Mine are the prettiest-a pearl necklace with a pendant and long pearl earrings. He also got pearl jewelry for our moms, my niece, and his sister. My second favorite is the loose-leaf jasmine tea and the chinese teapot. It's so quaint, and the tea is really good! For the boys Keith brought adorable matching Chinese-style pajamas, and rubber stamps too. There were some other things too that I can't remember now, but those were the best!
It was so interesting hearing Keith talk about what it was like there. I was especially intrigued by the food customs, being a dietitian and a bit of a foodie. For instance, when they would dine, everything would be served family style, but there were no serving spoons. Everyone would help themselves using their own chopsticks-something that would be so taboo here!
Anyway, he's home. I'm 37 weeks pregnant. My hospital bag is packed. I'm reading two books that I wished I would've read in my second trimester. The first is Baby Catcher, which is just a collection, or a journal, of one midwife's experiences. The second is Mind Over Labor, which is about using relaxation and mental imagery to better cope with labor. I only wish I would've started them sooner because I worry that I could go into labor any day now without having time to practice any mental imagery or relaxation techniques. Of course, there's no telling how soon I may go into labor. Isaac was born at 37 weeks though. Josiah came at 39 weeks & 2 days. My point is, it's going to happen at some point in the next 3 weeks, 4 at worst.
Well the boys are both melting down behind me as I try to blog. So I'd better wrap this up. Josiah is saying new words everyday. He says "button" like bellybutton, only he points to his diaper instead of his button. So cute. Isaac is such a big boy. He loves this Wee Sing cd we have. There are 73 very short (like 15-30 second) songs and rhymes, and he has just about all of them memorized. In addition, he can do the fingers for some of them like the Eensy Weensy Spider and Where is Thumbkin.
All right, gotta go. It's bedtime for the boys anyway.
It was so interesting hearing Keith talk about what it was like there. I was especially intrigued by the food customs, being a dietitian and a bit of a foodie. For instance, when they would dine, everything would be served family style, but there were no serving spoons. Everyone would help themselves using their own chopsticks-something that would be so taboo here!
Anyway, he's home. I'm 37 weeks pregnant. My hospital bag is packed. I'm reading two books that I wished I would've read in my second trimester. The first is Baby Catcher, which is just a collection, or a journal, of one midwife's experiences. The second is Mind Over Labor, which is about using relaxation and mental imagery to better cope with labor. I only wish I would've started them sooner because I worry that I could go into labor any day now without having time to practice any mental imagery or relaxation techniques. Of course, there's no telling how soon I may go into labor. Isaac was born at 37 weeks though. Josiah came at 39 weeks & 2 days. My point is, it's going to happen at some point in the next 3 weeks, 4 at worst.
Well the boys are both melting down behind me as I try to blog. So I'd better wrap this up. Josiah is saying new words everyday. He says "button" like bellybutton, only he points to his diaper instead of his button. So cute. Isaac is such a big boy. He loves this Wee Sing cd we have. There are 73 very short (like 15-30 second) songs and rhymes, and he has just about all of them memorized. In addition, he can do the fingers for some of them like the Eensy Weensy Spider and Where is Thumbkin.
All right, gotta go. It's bedtime for the boys anyway.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Book #17
I finished Shepherding a Child's Heart this afternoon. This book was recommended to me by so many people that I had to read it eventually. It was very good, and gave me a clearer understanding of what to discipline for, as well as how and why to discipline. I have to admit though, I'm pretty overwhelmed, and always have been, by the task of teaching my kids about Jesus, the Gospel, etc. I'm probably not much different from any other Christian mother. My guess is many parents are intimidated by this task. My excuse is that my parents are great people, but they are not the ones who led me to Christ. Other than my mother taking me to church and Sunday school, they didn't provide any example of or direction for living a life of faith. I didn't even really learn what it meant to give my life to Christ until I was an adult. Of course, I greatly desire to instruct and nurture my children early on in the ways of God because I hope they can avoid most of the poor decisions and resulting misery I experienced, especially in adolescence. I just hope they don't have to walk the same road I did.
Actually, even though the chapters regarding the toddler years were most relevant to me, for obvious reasons, I enjoyed the chapters on the teenage years as well. This was partly because of my miserable teenage years, and because of my niece Mackenzie, who is turning 15 next month.
I've already begun reading Baby Catcher, which is a wonderful journal-type book of a midwife. Now that I'm about to give birth to my third baby, I want to become a midwife-definitely a career I NEVER thought of when entering college. Will I ever become one? Not anytime soon that's for sure! I've just grown a sincere and enormous amount of respect for this profession, coupled with a sincere and enormous amount of love for the whole miracle of childbearing, and having some personal experience under my belt too! After Baby Catcher, or maybe even simultaneously, will be Mind Over Labor, as I am 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow and running out of time to read such things!
Actually, even though the chapters regarding the toddler years were most relevant to me, for obvious reasons, I enjoyed the chapters on the teenage years as well. This was partly because of my miserable teenage years, and because of my niece Mackenzie, who is turning 15 next month.
I've already begun reading Baby Catcher, which is a wonderful journal-type book of a midwife. Now that I'm about to give birth to my third baby, I want to become a midwife-definitely a career I NEVER thought of when entering college. Will I ever become one? Not anytime soon that's for sure! I've just grown a sincere and enormous amount of respect for this profession, coupled with a sincere and enormous amount of love for the whole miracle of childbearing, and having some personal experience under my belt too! After Baby Catcher, or maybe even simultaneously, will be Mind Over Labor, as I am 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow and running out of time to read such things!
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