Yes, He DID Just Say That

After working out for a while today, I come back to our place to make myself a sandwich for lunch.  The following is the conversation between Andy and I.

Dodi:  “Ouch!  Oh my gosh… I think I’m having a contraction.  It feels like bad cramps.”  (I go sit on a barstool).

Andy: “Oh really?  Is it one of those ‘Myers Briggs’ contractions?”

Dodi: “Yeah, I think it was a ‘ENFP’.”

Silly Andy.

35 Weeks- Honeydew Melon

Our baby is about 5 and 1/4 pounds and is approximately the size of a honeydew melon.  Now that all the bean’s basic physical development is complete, we’re just adding weight to this lil’ melon frame.  Appropriate timing, because around here it’s all “Honeydew this and honeydew that!”  Yes, it goes both ways.  We have done so much but there is still so much to be done!  I don’t think we’ll be buying diapers for the first year because our sweet Telluride friends hooked us up this weekend at another Celebrate Baby K party. The party turned into birth stories and questions, as these things usually do. The scars from hearing what I heard are minimal.  However, I don’t think I’ll get over my poor sweet friend’s experience where her daughter had some kind of super-strong sucking mechanism (so much that she had blood blisters (like hickeys) covering her arms at birth from where she sucked them in the womb so much!)  Anyway, this child sucked her sweet mama’s nipple right off.  Yes, I sh*t you not, mama had her nipples sewn back on.  Both of em.  Pause.  Take that in.  Prayer for her… Now let’s throw one up that I don’t go through anything like that!  Yikes!

My honeydew (aka Andy) has been great about helping me get stuff in order.  We have gotten some of the sweetest hand-me-downs from our nephews (THANK YOU MAGGIE AND ANNE!!!), now they are sorted and washed and ready to wear!  We have also been given some junk.  HELLO FREEBOX!  It’s hard to believe this little being will be in our house in somewhere around one month.  And NO, if you have read Andy’s blog, we still do NOT know this child’s name.  Don’t believe the malt liquor, animal, or BMX biker stories.  We, especially mama, are hoping to meet this little one and then get a sense for what the actual name for our bean should be.  And we will still take suggestions!

Gotta run, bean’s dancing on my bladder again.  Enjoy the 35 weeks pics.

34 Weeks! Are we ready?

Ready?  Not really… but is any ever truly ready?  I think readiness in my mind is coming from having all the supplies we need.  But being mentally ready is a big part of it too.  I don’t think I’ll be there until I’m about 38 weeks and so uncomfortable that I’d do anything to get this lil rascal out of me.

Here’s what’s going on with the bean:  At 34 weeks, bean’s about the size of a cantaloupe, weighs about 4 3/4 pounds, is about 18 inches long, and really filling out.  Sometimes I feel bad for the kiddo, because it sure feels like that’s a tight spot in there!  But I guess not knowing the difference helps.  Good news is, babies born between 34 and 37 weeks (still considered pre-term) generally do fine.  We are just praying for healthy!

Telluride had it’s homecoming games last night (basketball, not football in this snowy winter wonderland) and it was the first time that I think all the outside noise excited the bean.  All the screaming (me), jumping up and down (the girls had a one-point heartbreaker), and the horns and drums of the band got the bean punching and kicking.  The bleachers felt like I was sitting on a rock for an extended period.

I’m more confused on gender than ever.  I had another friend say she was pretty sure it’s a boy, then I read the “Chinese Birth Calendar” online, hey, it’s 93% accurate people!  And it lined us up with a girl.  Who knows?!  Who CARES!?  Healthy, healthy, healthy is the hope and prayer.

As for mama, it’s getting more tiring to be standing a while.  Yes, standing.  How lame?  I was blow drying my hair and all that jazz and I was like, “Crap, I need a seat?!”  Even while cooking I’ll have to take breaks.  Then my butt hurts from sitting because it’s not used to all this extra pressure.  Oh well.  OH!!!  I have a NEWS ALERT!!!  There were 2 other people in my prenatal class this week!!!  Yup.  I didn’t really get to talk to them much, but I’ll be back, and I’ll be prepared with questions… maybe even some cookies!!!    Other than these two, I had lunch with 2 friends this week, and Andy and I had dinner with a couple as well.  That’s right, FRIENDS!!!  One of them told me they were pregnant!!! YESSSSSSS!!!!  I think I’m more excited than she was!  And Andy told me the couple has removed their goalie, so things are really falling into place.  It’s like I want everyone around me to be pregnant now.  Kind of like those 18 high school girls who made the pact to get pregnant at the same time.  I can’t wait to watch that Lifetime movie!  Lol!

Enough rambling.  Enjoy the enormity of 34 weeks.  And yes, to answer what you’re asking yourself regarding my gynormous belly, it’s not me, we are having a really big baby.  Moms just know these things.

Sumo stance? Lord only knows what I'm thinking.

Yes, the bear is in awe. And happy.

Are you so tired of looking at this angle?

It’s 2010? My Oh My!

So much has happened this past year, here are just a few of the highlights…

1.  We got engaged.  (Technically it was still Dec 2008, but hey, who’s keeping track?!)

2.  I graduated from Fuller!  Yes, I am finally a “Master” of something.  My degree says “Master of Theology,” but let’s be honest, can anyone actually “Master” THEOLOGY?

3.  I moved to Telluride.  Bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and completely optimistic about having new lifelong friends within 2 weeks, well, let’s just say I’m still (somewhat) optimistic!

4.  Learned to snowboard.  I wish I could say that I only cried once.

5.  We got married.  GREAT TIME!  Nuff said.

6.  Because we couldn’t go to Mexico (height of swine flu), we honeymooned in beautiful Emerald Isle, NC and bustling Atlanta, GA.  Although not being pampered on a tropical island stank, we did get some freebies and we had a nice time together.

7.  We took middle school kids to Young Life camp.  This was the muddiest I have ever been in my entire life.  It was pretty awesome.

8.  We found out we are pregnant.  I’ve never been quite as shocked/confused in my life as the day those two pink lines were staring back at me.

9.  We had visitors!  My Dad, Andy’s Dad, my Mom, Emily C., JK, Ipp, JD, and there are more coming!  We love visitors!

10.  We did weddings… Aranda’s in Santa Barbara (me), Sturgeons in Camarillo (me), Julians in Malibu, Peels in Orlando, and Duffs in Spokane.  SHEW!  But it was FUN!

11.  We got new jobs- me with Young Life as Area Director and Andy at the Sheridan as Bartender, bar back, waiter, and bus boy.

12.  I had a brief run-in with Viggo Mortensen.  YESSSSS!  Andy waited on Kid Rock.  And yes, his reservation was listed under, “Kid Rock.”

13.  We moved 4 times between us.  Moving is awesome.  We’ll be moving again in 2010 around Easter.  Let us borrow your truck.

14.  We rung in the New Year with Mama in bed and Daddy busy at work in the Sheridan.  Hey, at least no one was throwing up this year.

Bring on the good times, enlarged family, and prosperity in 2010!!!  We are ready to see all of you at the table!

33 Weeks and a BIG Delicious Pineapple!

It’s likely our once little bean is now about 4 pounds and as big as a delicious pineapple!  YUM!  The bean’s about 17 inches long, give or take, and growing strong, strong, STRONG- as judged by these hard kicks, punches and continual movement. Do frequent hiccups mean anything? Shim’s less wrinkly now and has much stronger bones.  Those skull bones aren’t yet fused together, so bean can squeeze out the birth canal.  After bean squeezes out, it’s pretty likely to have a cone head!  In fact, the bones don’t totally fuse for quite some time so that the brain has room to grow.  We need this baby to be as smart as possible.  Mom and Dad want to retire early.

We had dinner with a couple last night that have a baby that’s about 8 or 9 months old.  They are loaning us a bassinet and probably some cloth diapers.  We got on the topic of their birth and the husband offered his description.  He said to us (mostly to Andy) “Well, there’s really not much you can do in there…” Andy is saying “Ugh.  Ugh.  I will pass out.”  I pipe in, “You better not pass out, and there is plenty you can do.”  The hostess offers her two cents, “I’m really wishing I had a doula.”  Andy, “Yes, Dodi.  We need to get my mom to come early, pray JK is here, or find someone in town- maybe our friend Traci?”  And now I am getting fired up.  “I’ve puked, stretched, puffed up like the marshmallow man, had fiery-hot heartburn, and become partially immobile over the last 8 months, and you’re saying you can’t encourage me to push, tell me I’m doing great, rub my back occasionally, and be a supporter in the birthing room with me?”  Him, “You know I don’t do well with the sight of blood.” *SIGH*  I may not be having twins, but I’m pretty sure in March I’ll be the mother of two.

Wondering why I let myself go like this.

Massive beans make for massive moms.

Good Morning Baby Jicama! 32 Weeks

Good morning, evening, and night from our lil jicama.  At 32 weeks, the bean is about 3.75 pounds and around 16.75 inches long.  Bean will gain a third to half of it’s birth weight over the next 7 weeks and fatten up for survival outside the womb in the frozen tundra.  Judging from the activity lately, this bean is going to be s super-active kiddo!  Just yesterday, morning, afternoon, and evening, there was continual kicking, movement, and even hiccups!  I’m beginning to wonder if this child is going to sleep much!?

We had a really wonderful “Yay For This New Baby Party” this week.  It was full of precious moments, remembering times together, and silliness of course.

Here’s some 32 weeks pics.  Sorry for the delay in posting!

Sorry for the blurry pic- in Cali I had to do a self portrait in the mirror!

YAY! A Baby’s Comin! Let’s PARTY!!!

I made a trip over to Cali, and my sweet girlfriends had a little party to celebrate this Bean being on it’s way out of the womb and into the world!  I didn’t want presents, but what they gave me was so much more special than any diaper bag or wipe warmer that I could have taken.  My incredibly artistic and talented friend Virginia came up with some fantastic ideas that completely blessed my socks off!  Here’s a sampling of just a few..

We found out about nipple ointment and I was disturbed about why I might need it!

We wrote prayers for Bean's life on pretty paper and glued them into a book to keep.

We numbered the fruit with the week that it was posted on the blog.

Group Photo! Virg decided we would print this on a transfer and iron it on baby’s onesie! HOW CUTE IS THAT!?

We guessed my belly's girth... some were quite inaccurate!

We made my dreams come true as I have newly pregnant friends!!!

31 Weeks- Can You Handle It?

What’s the bean’s size?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  It’s 16 inches and about 3.3 pounds.  Compare this to 4 naval oranges.  (They REALLY must be searching for over sized fruits these days!)  Beanie’s headed for a growth spurt- as mama can tell by all the kicking and flipping going on inside.  I guess there’s plenty of room to play right now, but the movement does keep me up at night.  I feel like this kid is awake all day too!

What else is going on?  I feel pretty good other than being so much bigger than I’m used to.  I have to maneuver myself to get flipped over, and sometimes when I flip in the bed, I feel like I’m laying right on the bean- which is a little scary AND uncomfortable.  I’ve been pretty diligent about practicing my squats (they should help with labor) and a little less diligent about doing kegels (men are SO LUCKY!)  In other news… I can expect the Braxton Hicks (false/practice) contractions begin any day now.  As you can imagine, I am NOT excited about this.  Let’s just hope they’re bearable because they’re not “supposed to hurt” says the website.

A few people lately, especially one utterly confident man at a New Year’s party, and boy do I mean confident, have told me we’re having a boy.  They say it’s about the way I’m “carrying” this bean.  This is causing me to rethink some things, because quite honestly, we both thought it’s a girl (which is still may be!?)  But now conversations about names, clothing and colors, and the big one: CIRCUMCISION are resurfacing.  We’ll let you know what we decide on that one.  Or maybe we won’t.

If your curiosity is piqued, here’s the latest look at the belly bump.  Sorry it’s been a couple of weeks, but we’ve been busy!  Caution: make sure your breakfast is completely settled BEFORE viewing!

Ok… so… I couldn’t get Andy to take a picture.  Hopefully we’ll get one up next week!

Be Nice to Me

Andy and I have gotten a lot of free stuff since we got hitched, everything from free chick-fil-a sandwiches to free hotel rooms and even free flights.  The list is long.  But lately, this free stuff is because of the Bean!  Just last week, I got free toppings for my oatmeal (“for the baby” she said) and a free dessert of delicious cheesecake after our dinner out (“as congratulations on the baby” said the waiter.)  I’ve also noticed that more people (strangers) smile at me these days.  And then they look at my mid-section, I guess to let me know they aren’t creepers.  Sometimes this stranger kindness catches me off guard.  I realize it’s me they’re smiling at, and maybe I should smile back!

So how do we keep this trend going?  It’s fun to get a little royal treatment.  I guess you just have to stay pregnant, and hide your crying baby if you have one!  Why?  Because when I see a woman with a crying child, or heaven forbid, TWO crying children, the people around her are usually scowling at her.  As if she’s the one who made her baby cry or can totally control their crying.  Not every one can be a baby whisperer like Margaret and Claire Bear.  I must confess, I’ve even rolled my eyes at the cries of a child~ but in my own defense, it’s usually when the child is somewhere that I think they shouldn’t be like in the movies or in mom’s arms headed out to the parking lot wearing short sleeves, barefoot and it’s about 6 degrees outside.  YES, we saw this in Telluride yesterday!  Or at the local bar when I’m trying to get my drink on~ TOTALLY inappropriate, but a baby in a bar is good way to promote birth control!

It seems that the only thing you can do to continue preferential treatment is keep that baby inside you for as long as you possibly can, only then will you keep getting the freebies and avoid the scowls when you have a fussy baby.  Good luck with that.  The jolting arms and legs on our little jumping bean are telling me he or she will be right on time!

Don't take baby to the bar, take the bar to baby!

30 Weeks!!! We’re on the Home Stretch!

Cabbage Head!!!  Baby has been in utero 30 weeks now, and is about the size of a head of cabbage.  Interestingly, Wean’s eyesight is developing and the eyes stay shut a lot of the time.  Even after Wean joins us on the outside, the eyes stay closed a great deal and will only be about 20/400 vision- seeing light and objects that are VERY CLOSE UP!  I guess baby recognizes us by voice and smell.

We’re in NC for Christmas (luckily Andy got to make this trip!) and our friend Mary Martin got together a bunch of the old Young Life girls over at the Speros’ home for Hayden and I to reconnect with.  (If you don’t know, Hayden and I did ministry together for about 4 years and got married within about 7 months of each other and found out we were pregnant on the EXACT SAME DAY! * Neither of us were even TRYING~ can you believe that?!)

We're SO excited!

It was a fantastic time with wonderful food, beautiful high school and college girls and graduates, our moms, and some old friends.  I felt truly blessed and loved.

Yay for the gang!

Complete with baby bottles