park day

We took advantage of the insane spring-like weather and went to the park for the afternoon.  It was a "new" park, meaning we stretched our legs a bit to get there.  Well, you can see that Kate didn't.  

Kate's become an insane little person.  She's just amazing.  I used to hate those moms that would say that all the time about their kid, but damn, she's really cool.  She lately enjoys reversing roles.  So, when we're reading she'll ask "What's that?" not because she doesn't know but because we do that to her as we read.  If you say "I don't know" she'll promptly tell you.  Daddy P realized this game the other night when he answered "I don't know" to some strange looking animal in her big book about every conceivable animal in existence.  In response she said, "Mommy and I see those all the time."

Today at the park she did this when Daddy P and I spent a good ten minutes trying to help her to see the small turtle heads poking out of the water.  We thought she was seeing them, but then she took us around to the other side of the pond telling us "turtles are over there."  She then stops, points at the blank water, and says, "See the turtle?  Turtles are way over there."  

On the mini-baby front, I'm 20 weeks.  And huge.  Stand me next to a 20 weeker first time mom and I look like I'm a month away.  My body is definitely ready for this kid.  I'm sure you all are dying to know about names.

Well, here's the story.  I dreamt before I was pregnant that we were having a boy.  And voila!  Boy.  Okay, and now I have had this recurring feeling/dream that the baby's name is James.  I don't particularly love the name, but I don't dislike it.  It's a decent name.  But I honest to goodness *Feel* like it's the baby's name.  Like, it already is his whether we choose another or not.  Okay, so Daddy P dislikes the name -- not his fav -- and is not buying into this whole intuition thing.  

So, what is a wife to do?  I sit down at the Social Security website and say, "Fine.  We're picking a name.  Pick a year."  He says 1631. Well, the SS website didn't start tracking popular names until the late 1800s.  So, I pick Daddy P's favorite number (those of you who are truly loyalists will recall that baby Kate's number in utero was 51) and pair it was 1900.  

Guess what the #1 boy name is 1951 was?  I shit you not.

James.

Now, you tell me this isn't the baby's name.

art

My daughter is a minimalist.

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It's a Boy!

We saw proof that baby is a boy.  He was very cooperative and there was no doubt.  Kate musta had a sense since she picked blue for the baby room.  Although, I knew all along...

Baby is healthy and doing well.  All signs are we have a healthy little guy waiting to come out.  We went to the new OB and really liked the practice.  I love them actually.  And now I am going to tell everyone I know to go there.  Or maybe I will if they have a due date way after mine.  I don't want them clogging up the works.

Guitar entertainment

Kate is fascinated by Paul's guitar, which has prompted him to pull it out and start to figure out how to play it. Evenings are often spent lately with Kate and Paul plucking at the guitar. It's been very fun to watch!

New doctor visit tomorrow. And we find out the baby's sex! Woo hoo! Will keep you posted!

"Want to go Camping!"

We keep hearing this.  Over and over.  Again and again.

And Kate has been saying it a lot, too.

For some strange reason, though, we can't seem to get Daddy P on board.  What in the world does he not find sounding fun about camping with a pregnant woman and a toddler??  Yeah, well.  This is why I keep suggesting how it would be so fun to rent a camper trailer! 

Okay, and now about the new baby...

I remember LOVING the second trimester first time around.  No pain, just glowy, just enjoying feeling the baby and feeling good again.  Where IS that feeling??  Instead, the leg jumpiness that plagued me all third trimester, has already started... I'm not sleeping between the leg, needing to pee, and allergies.  And, I have more discomfort in my abs then I ever had first time around.

(I guess that was less about the new baby and more about me.  I haven't really had anyone to talk to or complain to.  Sorry.)

Maybe I need to go shopping.  Or paint the baby room.  Or something.  Cuz right now the reality of the pain of third trimester, and the awfulness of the lack of sleep that will follow is just looming a little too large.  Daddy P keeps reminding me what a bundle of joy we're getting, but his legs don't make him get up and walk around every five minutes at work.

Alright.  Positivity:  my husband is promising back rubs once his back heals.  I hope his PT works really really well.

10 years ago today

Ten years ago today, Daddy P decided he'd date me.  After years of following him around, bad-mouthing his girlfriend, and batting my eyelashes, on January 6th oh so long ago he invited me out to dinner at Pasta House and sealed our dating relationship with an action movie.  (Any lack of creativity for date #1 was made up when date #2 was spent on a spontaneous trip to Paris.)

It's hard to believe that ten years has passed!  Our relationship has inevitably changed (a lot fewer spontaneous massages that last an hour, and a lot more of the "it's your turn to get up with her").  While I knew I was in love with the man about a week after we started dating, I didn't understand how that love would evolve and how truly lucky I was.  As the bubbly butterflies of a relationship wear off years down the road you are left with an amazing, frightening, and reassuring love that I never could have possibly guessed was possible.

A Series of Poor Decisions

We decided to switch doctors to better our chances at a successful VBAC.  (If you don't know what it is, you probably don't want to know.)

That, I believe, was a good decision.  Our new doc has a c-section rate of 20% compared to the Austin average of 50%. 

But, I cancelled the appointment with my old doctor because I had an appointment with the new doctor scheduled for later in the week.

But, the new doctor wouldn't see me without the records.

Which, I had not yet gotten because I'd been a lazy slacker in getting the release to the doctor.

So now... at 16 weeks I will have to wait until late in week 18 to see a doctor... They said that they would "just make it" my 20 week visit (if they can fast forward time successfully then let's go all the way and just get this done).

We also decided on our doula (www.getbabied.com):  the company owned by a friend and co-run by our former doula. 

In the meantime, Kate is getting used to the idea of the baby.  Today she assigned a toy to each of us (Kate, Daddy P and I) and included the baby!  Thought that was a good sign.  She has also picked out "blue" for the baby room color and wants orange in it, too.  Daddy P should be happy with the Broncos colors...

And, because no one likes blogs without pictures...

 Kate took it upon herself to open everyones' gifts...

 Egg-free cinnamon rolls!

Helping Auntie open her present

Christmas-time

Christmastime ends tomorrow.  We've decided.  Kate is protesting strongly.  Making it clear that we should continue singing "Jingle Bells" and that the tree should "not go in box"... I bought her one more day, but tomorrow it's going away.

She must get her love of Christmas-time from me.  I might have an ally next year in trying to get the tree up before -- or at least the day after -- Thanksgiving.  I am vey sad to see it all go (and wish I could box up some of these toys to go, too!!). 

We had a very fun Christmas.  Kate and I both got to make our very first snowman.  Because of some creative room-sharing (Kate slept in my parents' room -- with them!), Daddy P and I got to sleep in every day of the trip and didn't have to get out of bed once in the middle of the night.  Of course, we are paying for that a bit now, but hopefully she will remember how to sleep alone soon...

Since coming home we've been preparing for the baby.  Kate decided she was ready to get a big girl chair so we moved the rocking chair into the baby's room (triumph!) and now she sits in her mini-Ikea chair and we sit on the floor to read her books.  A little more uncomfortable, but I'd rather nurse the new kid in the rocking chair than the mini-IKEA chair. 

Then, today, she gave up the changing table!  Woo hoo!  Now, we just have to clear out the ten boxes of crap that we've been keeping in the baby's room and we might be able to paint it.  One step at a time...

Pictures to come...