Baby Watch 2010

SOOOO, with much anticipation I went back to my doctor's office yesterday. The verdict? After all the activity and tons of cramping (fun!) I am only 1 centimeter dialated. 1. FREAKIN'. CENTIMETER! Can you believe this? Well I can't!

I tried to be a good sport as they scheduled me for induction AFTER CHRISTMAS- oh no! I always imagined myself under the Christmas tree, bleary but happy, holding my sleeping infant on Christmas morning. Do you KNOW how many Santa outfits and Baby's First Christmas onesies we have in newborn size? Seven hundred. Exactly.

At any rate, if Snookums decides to be stubborn, we will be admitted next Tuesday night for induction (you're going to put a WHAT in my WHERE??) and she'll probably make her appearance the next day.

But I'm not taking this lying down. After my appointment, I did what any self respecting woman would do- I headed to the nail salon. Then, freshly maicured, I found the nearest Mexican place and started plowing down the salsa. We also tried (medicinally) red wine, pineapple and jalapenos. I did NOT have a baby last night. I DID have heartburn that allowed me to breathe actual fire.

Today I am newly resolved to coax my little daughter out of her nice snug nest. We're having raspberry leaf tea and fresh pineapple for breakfast. Then...we're going off roading. May your days be merry and bright! Happy (almost) Holidays to all.

Due date!

Izzy says "Hmmmm, should I come out...or just take another nap?"

Well gang, today's the long awaited day, the one that's been on the calendar for SO long - my due date! However, I don't think my daughter, Susan Isabelle, AKA Izzy, got the memo! As anxious as we are to hold her in our arms, Snookums is snug as a bug in a rug and doesn't seem inclined to do much of anything, except kick me stupid every night at around 10pm. And actually, that's fine. She'll come in her own good time. I'm waiting and knitting and napping. There are bluejays swooping in the tree outside my window and bright red cardinals playing tag. There's snow on the ground and Christmas lights on all the trees. Inside the house I have three affectionate kitties and a pile of sentimental holiday movies to watch. We'll wait. And dream. And after she comes, life will never be the same!

My Two Dollar Halloween costume.

Worth every penny!

Walk much?

This entry goes out to all my fellow belly buddies. The other morning I had a SPECTACULAR fall in the shower. It was just like the cartoons, where you see your feet fly up in front of you and everything. On the way down I scrabbled frantically for a hand hold, but as I was in a wet shower stall I was pretty much out of luck. FORTUNATELY, I landed on my now (admittedly) amply padded rear. And my right calve, right arm and (ouch) head. Izzy, snug and well cushioned in the front of me, probably only felt a jolt like a drop on the roller coaster. She is merrily kicking me in the ribs as we speak. (That's my girl.)

Gang, this is the second dramatic fall I've had in this pregnacy and both involved slipping in water. I must confess that when I read the bit in my baby book about falls being a danger to pregnant women, particularly in their last trimester, I sneered. Yeah, right. Who ARE these clumsy oafs and why can't they stay upright? Well, apparently, the clumsy oaf is ME!

I thought, that being young and flexible AND a veteran of numerous dance, movement and combat classes, I would surely be immune from this particular hazard. I can ride a unicycle, for God's sake! I juggle knives! Balance, I got. Coordination, check. Looks like it doesn't matter after all - when you strap an extra 20 pounds (oh all right, 25 and counting) to your midsection, balance goes out the window, maybe never to return??

At 7 months, I'm just starting to feel ungainly, awkward and well, large. I must say that I don't much like the feeling of heaving myself up out of chairs, puffing up the stairs or flailing on my back like a beached turtle when I try to get out of bed in the morning. Never before in my life has bending over and putting on my sneakers caused me to grunt and strain. Never before in my life have I been so grateful NOT to be a momma cat- can you imagine if we had to carry LITTERS? All those kicking feet... (Then again, they don't have to worry about sneakers, so maybe it evens out.)

But I digress. I just wanted to give a shout out to my many pregnant friends - the baby book is RIGHT! Please do not follow my example and be extra cautious when getting in and out of the bath tub, shower, going up and down stairs, etc. I know it makes you feel like you're 80, but we gots to protect our precious cargo! In the meantime, be well, sleep lots and happy eating. Love you!