Here we go again
Which is to say – we’re having a baby! Again. (In case you didn’t already know…)
I’m writing this first bit at almost 10 pregnant, mostly so that when we start sharing the news you can all laugh at me even though I will have totally forgotten about this story.
After a miserable night of what felt like food poisoning but, knowing my body, was probably just my GI tract saying ‘hey, you haven’t had GI issues since Nathan was born – let’s make this pregnancy extra fun’ I called the midwives’ office because conventional wisdom says Pregnant Lady + Severe Abdominal Pain = Call the Doc, and was told that there’s a stomach bug going around so if I wasn’t starting to feel better, it could be a virus. And my first thought? A Stomach Bug can reduce the efficacy of the Pill! Because of course I need to be worried about compromised contraception. Sigh. Now you can all laugh.
So yes, back to real time, we’re 18 weeks into waiting around for baby #2. And once again seeing the nurse midwives who deliver at Mount Auburn Hospital. That was actually our biggest question once we found out this kiddo was on the way – are we going to have to go with the Big Hospital M.D. experience this time? Not that we have anything against hospitals or M.D.s – we’re Nathan’s parents after all – we’re BIG fans of modern medicine and the opportunity to give birth in a high tech hospital. And with this kid we’re even more interested in being connect with Mt. Auburn so that should we need a higher level of care we’re also connected to our friend at BIDMC.
But Nathan’s rocky start has made us (me at least) much more low key than I ever thought I’d be as a parent – don’t stress me out unless there’s a real reason to stress. And I was afraid being labeled “high risk” we’d end up with stressed out docs who thought we should be stressed out too and lots of extra stuff. Instead we’re seeing the wonderful midwife Margi who bundle us off to BI three years ago. Before my first appointment she’d already started conversations with her fellow midwives, partnering OBs and even Fetal/Maternal specialists at Mt. Auburn to make sure we could have the midwife experience while still taking advantage of any high tech options to further reduce preterm labor this time around. She is great. She’s also really excited about this pregnancy:
“It’s going to be so interesting and exciting to watch this pregnancy. You’re going to feel like it’s SO LONG. Once we get to 30 weeks it’s going to be all uncharted territory for you – even though you’ll have a three year old underfoot! (mischievous grin)”
AND THEN she asked if I wanted to try and hear a heartbeat – at nine weeks! It was like when I was discharged from the hospital and before we left Nurse Cathy asked if I wanted to hold two day old Nathan, when I’d thought I’d have to wait a few more weeks. Okay, so maybe not quite as extreme, but that’s what I immediately thought of. She warned me that we probably wouldn’t get an external heartbeat, but that she had a newfangled gizmo that could often get an internal one at 9 weeks – and that in either case, not to worry if we didn’t hear anything yet. The look of surprise, amazement and JOY on her face when she got a strong external heartbeat confirmed that we are in the right hands. Of course, then she said we had a little prodigy and I told her to hush because I do not want this kid getting any ideas like its big brother. I guess nobody’s perfect.
So that’s our big news.
Nathan was very helpful during the first trimmest 24 hour queasies / related GI issues and fatigue (How you feeling Mama? You need medicines?) but we were all happy to see most of it come to an end (where’s that second trimester nesting energy??). Now it’s just heartburn and high hopes for a super-duper productive next few months before that unknown third trimester arrives – then all bets are off!
Pray for 40 weeks - we’ll keep you posted.
Flush an ice cube down the pot - gee I hope it snows a lot
Remember all that snow? Which snow? The first snow - the January snow. That white stuff that took over the first days of the new year that everyone was either complaining or rejoicing over (as opposed to all the subsequent storms that as far as I can tell have lead only to complaining) and had most of us homebound. We were homebound too, but for a completely different reason – toilet training! And now that we’re safely on this side of March, and 3 years old, I think it’s safe to report back that we would do it exactly the same way next time - although maybe without the snow storm.
Once upon a time, like 15 + months ago, we thought we were training.
HA! I was right then about one thing - Nathan knew what he was doing. He also knew that playing was a lot more fun than stopping, so once the novelty wore off, the potty became a before bed or when I feel like it thing. Now I was the ‘play till you puke kid’ (rather than admit I had a migraine) so I totally understand where he’s coming from. But since we switched to paper diapers in December 2012 (there was no way Tim could work full time, do the single dad thing while I was singing in Revels that winter AND manage the diaper laundry - and once you stop the diaper laundry routine, it’s really hard to get back into) it’s been a year of really expensive toddler waste management. So looking at our Christmas / New Years vacation schedule, and our budget, I put my foot down and said no more diapers. On Saturday December 28th Nathan got ready for bed and then he and Daddy packed up all the remaining diapers and on Sunday morning it was time for underwear. I don’t know why we didn’t go cold turkey no more diapers sooner. Except that having four days home together was a huge help, even if we did get cabin fever. Which brings us back to the snow. Thanks to the snow emergency in BOston we got two extra week days together and then the following weekend to really solidify the whole potty thing. Of course, the idea of a toilet training toddler in snow gear was not at all exciting, so we got more cabin fever, but I still say it was worth it. As a big 3 year old Nathan is now pushing his body to the limits, so we’re back to an occasional little accident when he tries to hold it too long, but just like ‘play till you puke’ didn’t last forever (you can verify this with Tim) I’m sure this too shall pass.
A Word from Nathan
Jan 2nd: Christmas continues - "Oh! More books! (while unwrapping) Come here, come here! Come to me! I need a scissors. OH. BOOKS."
[b]
Nathan on Football:[/b] I like red. The red guys can win. I don't want anyone to get hurt.
Nathan on jam session:
“I like playing music with Steppen Wolf. I play my guitar with him like this.” (air guitar demonstration)
For those not in the know – Steppen is the name of the Big Bad Wolf, but he’s really not a bad guy, and he’ll even bring his own drums if you invite him over for a jam session. According to Nathan that is.
"Sweet dreams and shoes are the colors I choose..."
Nathan singing himself to sleep. He usually gets the words right, but what would be the fun in sharing that?
A Dinner Invitation, at 6:30am:
Mama, you remember that Grandma and Grandpa come over sometimes?
Yah.
I want them to come over again.
Okay.
On Friday.
Okay.
For Dinner.
For Dinner?
And eat beans and rice.
Dinner Conversation with Becca:
Becca, you havin’ a baby?
I am.
Mama’s having a baby too.
She is.
I’m going to be a Big Brother!
You are.
Contemplating the School Day:
And Bill’s picking me up from school?
He is. Is it fun when Bill picks you up?
Yah. But I like when Aiden’s mama Kristina picks me up. Why can’t she pick me up?
She has a lot of work to do before their baby comes.
She’s having a baby like you Mama?
Yup. Aiden’s going to be a big brother.
And I’m going to be a big brother! Kristina’s baby is bigger.
That’s right - your baby is still little little, which is why we have to keep waiting.
(Internal dialogue - You hear that baby? You are TOO LITTLE. We are happy to WAIT. NO early arrival.)
On babies and timing
Nathan, this morning:
Is my baby coming?
Not today.
Why not?
It's too early.
But I want my baby here.
I know, but we have to be patient and wait until summer.
It's too early now?
Yes.
You sure?
Absolutely.
On hearing our baby news, one of the top follow up questions is "when are you due?" In our world, a specific due date doesn't really matter, except to help calculate full term - it's all about not spending time in the NICU. So if you want to keep track, full term is the last week in July - that's the goal.
Ummm, Thanks?
Today one of my coworkers told me that I “don’t even look pregnant.” I think she meant this as a compliment, but I’d like to think that I look as though I’ve put on these 15 extra pounds (that I wouldn’t otherwise need) for a good reason. And considering that my mom coworkers are commenting this week that I’ve “popped” and I got complimented last weekend by a stranger in the mall elevator on my “maternity clothes that don’t even look like maternity clothes” I’m pretty sure she’s wrong. Or maybe I just need better clothes for work while I’m growing a baby - that I could believe.
Nathan's grocery list
Applesauce
Carrots
Apples
Raspberries
Pineapple
Beans
Pasta with Cheese (mac&cheese)
Teddygrams
Goldfish
Of that list, it turned out we had beans hidden in the pantry, and he never actually eats macaroni and cheese. But other than that, he was spot on.