oh crap

I just dropped a pencil down the dryer lint trap.

Don't ask, it's been a rough day.

bird brain

A kamikaze robin lives in my front yard.

All day long he tries to fly into my living room and den windows. Repeatedly. At Mach 3. I should take a picture of the bird poop that is all over the windows.

I tried making big "x's" out of masking tape - he still flies into the windows. Perhaps he is suicidal, or this could be natural selection in action. I'm just not looking forward to the day he kills himself, dead birds are no fun.

top ten

Top Ten Reasons Why Easter Was Awesome:

10. The Easter Bunny came!
9. Cadburry Creme Eggs.
8. Used the good china.
7. Champagne (the good stuff!), and I got to drink it!
6. Wine - yep, got to drink that, too!
5. Easter call from my Auntie Dee.
4. Mom, Dad and John came down to celebrate.
3. They brought dinner with them :)
2. Gerald sat in his swing the whole time we were eating.
1. J had Friday off of work and put Gerald to sleep after I fed him, so I got a five hour chunk of sleep.

trauma

Sometime mom makes you have tummy time.

Then she flips you over, and life is good again :)

In other news - tomorrow is Easter! And my family is coming with Easter dinner (oh, ham, how I love you!) - we're really excited :)

getting out

In the past few days we have managed to get out of the house, and it has made a world of difference in my mood. I was feeling really cooped up, and had a serious case of cabin fever. So on Tues and Wed we hung out at the hospital with my friend Holly, whose father is recovering from a heart attack (he's got a long way to go, prayers are welcome). Although circumstances weren't the best (who really wants to hang in the ICU lobby?), I had fun. I got to see people, show off my baby, and practice nursing in public. Gerald was happy because he was constantly rocked and snuggled.

And last night we went out to dinner! Gerald slept the whole time, we timed it just right, so we were able to enjoy dinner and even get some work done around the house before he woke up. It was so nice.

I feel like a human again :)

Here's the boy wonder in his super-huge sweatsuit. He's really trying to emulate Flavor Flav here, but it's hard when your clothes come from The Children's Place, and you have no teeth, and therefore no grill.

stinky

At first I though he was just a farty little boy. Then I realized it wasn't him - it was his cord (blechhh...). But last night it fell off!

So now my little boy is relatively odor-free (he is still his father's son), and he can wear pants :)

Question: Do I still wash his little belly button with alcohol? It's still healing, and I just don't know what to do and feel silly calling the doctor (especially on the weekend) just for this.

sometimes...

I like to dress my child up as a Glow-Worm.

he eats!

Little Gerald has finally become addicted to breast milk - wheww! I was getting worried, because he would either cry uncontrollably or just fall asleep every time I tried to feed him. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we were trying in a chair that wasn't really right for us, but my in-laws were here and I didn't feel super comfortable breast feeding in front of them (at least not right now, I figure as we get better I'll also become more discreet). Plus my mom was here on Sat and she gave me a lot of much needed encouragement and help.

So life is good, different, wonderful and slightly exhausting.

Here is Gerald's hopsital page and pictures. I'm planning on finally uploading my pictures sometime today, just as long as someone enters a milk-induced coma :)

it's a boy!

Gerald Eugene IV arrived this morning at 12:40 AM.
He weighs 8lbs 5 oz and is 20.5 inches long.
He has blonde eyebrows and eyelashes and his head is 13.5 inches around.

The doctor said I was a champion pusher.

Everyone loves him, especially me and J :)

I'll write more after we get home, and post lots of pictures!

going to the ob's

I am going in at 12:45 to have my membranes stripped (possibly TMI).

Maybe this is the push Peanut needs to get moving!

busy cleaning

I have been cleaning and cleaning - hoping to bring on labor. But so far, it hasn't worked. I've also been playing phone tag with my OB's office, trying to set an induction date - I'm hoping for March 12 - I figure that'll give Peanut an extra week to get here. I don't really want to be induced because synthetic hormones sort of scare me, but I also don't want to go too far, the placenta ages quickly after 40 weeks.

a note from peanut

I am one stubborn baby.

My mom and dad keep telling me that it's so great out in the world, but I'm just not sure. So I'm staying put.

fingers crossed

I had my appt this morning at 7:30, that was kind of early so I decided that McD's breakfast was in order after that :)

Peanut weighs approx. 8 lbs. 9 oz. and I had no change from last week :( so I've decided it's time to at least schedule an induction. The nurse will call me this afternoon and we'll get it all set up. I would still like to go into labor by myself, but it'll be nice to have a definite end date.

My head is not working properly - I can't focus long enough to create whole thoughts. It's probably a good thing I have nothing more to do than make the bed (if that) and watch Dr. Phil. And hope that I don't have a leap freak - although my mom has convinced me that if I go into labor on my own and have the baby today that it would be sort of cool, but planning a baby for today is a little sketchy.

nope, still no baby

blahhhhhh.

exciting news

The nursing bras I ordered are ready for pick up at Penny's.

That was the news you were waiting to hear, right?

I have an OB appt on Fri - and I'm praying that she'll check me and say "Whoa - 6cm! Let's get you to the hospital!"

peanut, get out!

I am issuing 8 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 8 days in which s/he can either gather his/her belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, s/he will be physically removed from the property.

Tennant is being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!

Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 8 days from this day that s/he doesn’t comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

update

Peanut is still baking.

But somewhere between the taco chips and rice and beans at lunch, it dropped a bit. I waddled out of the restaurant :)

sunday fun

Today I slept in, guilted J into getting me donuts and hot chocolate for lunch and went to the mall. Our mall is pretty disappointing, but they have a bookstore, and I needed a baby book. I bought a Babar baby book, because I love that French elephant so much :) I've been busily filling out pages and scanning photos/ ordering reprints. I also finally put some pictures in a frame that my SIL gave me for Christmas. Yes, the picture I took is somewhat lacking, but I'm not feeling really motivated right now.



Today is also my little sister's 21st birthday :)She partied it up last night, along with my brothers (so sad all four of us weren't together), and my mom and dad went out to Kalamazoo to take her out for a birthday meal. I'm sure my parents are just wiping their brows, and heaving huge sighs of relief that another one of their kids has made it to 21 without an MIP ;)

baby pool, etc.

Here's the pool:

Feb 26: Allison, girl; Cat, girl
Feb 27: Stephie, boy
Feb 28:
Feb 29: Becky, girl; Skrubby, boy
Mar 1: Diana, girl; Heather S, girl; Sonya, boy
Mar 2: AJ, girl; Lambrina, boy
Mar 3: Kara, girl
Mar 4: Kathy, girl
Mar 5: Jericho, girl
Mar 6: Erika, girl; Yeimy, girl
Mar 7: Head, boy; Melissa, boy
Mar 8: Laura Lynn, girl

And Danielle gave no date, but thinks Peanut is a girl.
My own guess is Feb 28 (because no one else picked it) and girl. We'll see how it all plays out :)

I really want to clean the house, from top to bottom, but I have suddenly become exhausted and uncomfortable. I made the bed and felt like I'd run a marathon. So I made my list and it's one-thing-at-a-time, and then a little rest (and some raspberry tea!). The only thing I can't clean is the baseboards, and they are haunting me!

J is currently in the crawl space putting in the last bit of insulation. And I am off to dust every room and then do all of the floors.

still baking

OB appt - 3cm and 70%

The Dr. seemed pretty confident that we will have a baby by the end of next week :) Although, I'm not going to hold my breath becuase I know a lot of people who have been at 3 cm for weeks.

But progress is good- right?