Two for Two

In two weeks we've taken two trips to Costco, been approached by two random strangers, each professing the gender of our baby (male), and each equally crushed, baffled, and flabbergasted when we've informed them otherwise.

Tentative B-day for Baby Grover

So, I'm really not on board with this whole induction thing, but I'm playing by the rules and scheduled a date - the farthest away that I can get away with- in hopes that my many other efforts and pep talks will encourage Baby Grover to come on her own terms before then. Her momma's uber punctual, so I'm hoping she will be too.

The date I've scheduled is July 25th. It's a Friday, which means Lane and I can be at the hospital and his few days off from work can be spent with us at home, instead of at the uncomfortable and unfamiliar hospital. I am supposed to go in the night before for Cervadil gel and then the following morning have my water broken and get pitocin. oh joy.

My mom changed her flight to stay an additional week, leaving August 5th. I'm glad she'll be here. It's such a pain in the butt though to make all these arrangements based on a date that may or may not be "the one". After all this careful thought about which day to pick, making alternate arrangements, and what not the baby could (and hopefully will) come much sooner than that, making all this fretting and planning unnecessary.

I haven't actually received confirmation yet about the date, so put it on your calendars - but only in pencil - my fingers are crossed that this little girl will grace us with her presence before then.

The Final Countdown!

WOW! Only nine days (or so) left! I can't believe we are in the single digits. I remember when being half way there, or having fewer than 100 days to go sounded so close, but this is the real deal.

Last night we went for a long walk and Lane gave me a foot massage and I drank some raspberry leaf tea, which may or may not help kick the uterus into gear.

I woke up this morning feeling some minimal but frequent tightening of the tummy, feel a little crampy, and noticed that my weight hasn't gone up in the past week and that I'm less swollen in the night. Usually I wake up every few hours and my hands are so swollen, I can hardly make a fist. Today it was hardly any.

I'm starting to look at every little change and thinking it might be the very beginnings of labor. Only time will tell.

We'll definitely keep you updated on the blog.

Alphabet Tag

Crystal "tagged" me ages ago. I'm finally getting around to responding. check it out, yo.

A. ATTACHED OR SINGLE? Very attached to my husband of 8 years – we’ve been together for 12, and friends since about age 12.
B. BEST FRIEND? Lane Russell.
C. CAKE OR PIE? I love me some homemade farm fresh summer fruit pie – you know, blackberry, strawberry rhubarb, fresh cherry…a treat I don’t often eat.
D. DAY OF CHOICE? Saturdays – sleeping in, eating delicious homemade breakfasts. Mmm.
E. ESSENTIAL ITEMS? These days, a big water bottle, sunglasses, and a cell phone!
F. FAVORITE COLORS? Shades of Green and Blue
G. GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS? Not so into the gummies, but if pressed, I think I’d go for some worms. Sour gummy worms, now that I think about it.
H. HOMETOWN? Gilroy, CA Garlic Capital of the World, baby.
I. INDULGENCE? Coffee ice cream with chocolate covered almonds
J. JANUARY OR JULY? July!! My b-day, our wedding anniversary, and b-day of our soon-to-be-born baby girl. And I love the summer heat.
K. KIDS? One coming any day now.
L. LIFE ISN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT? Laughter, family, friends, and good food!! M. MARRIAGE DATE? July 23, 2000
N. NUMBER OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS? 3 bros, 2 sisters (and 6 sisters in law, 3 brothers in law!!)
O. ORANGES OR APPLES? Apples. The tart crispy and delicious kind.
P. PHOBIAS OR FEARS? I’m pretty easy going. No phobias for me. But I do get really scared and nervous when we have to drive by a semi truck on the highway. Yikes.
Q. QUOTE? no quotes for me.
R. REASON TO SMILE? Lane, feeling a baby move around in my tummy
S. SUPERMAN OR WONDER WOMAN? No superheroes for me, thanks.
T. TAG 5 PEOPLE: Katie, Scotty, and anyone else who feels the burning desire to complete this.
U. UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME: I can memorize nearly anything.
V. VEGETABLES? Mmmm. Love ‘em. Spinach, cucumbers and sugar snap peas are my faves!W. WORST HABIT? Buying way too many things online.
X. X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND? Ultrasounds – seeing little babies squirm around is fascinating
Y. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? My mom’s feta cheese veggie pasta, which thankfully Lane has mastered, tamales, homemade pizza, and Thai food.
Z. ZODIAC SIGN? Cancer

Snug as a Bug in a Rug

That's what Baby Grover is. I keep going to the doctor thinking she'll announce what wonderful progress I've made and that labor is just around the corner. But every week I get the same report - nothing. I guess Baby Grover likes her own little space in there. Pretty soon there isn't going to be much more room.

I am starting to get a little nervous about her not coming in time. I want her to arrive - not because I'm SOOOOOO done being pregnant, because I still don't feel that way. I just am dreading the possibility of going in for an induction appointment. The earlier labor gets started, the less likely I will have to keep that appointment I need to make for an induction. I'm procrastinating making it because I feel like making the appointment is resigning to the "fact" that I'm going to have a birth with all the interventions I've been hoping to avoid (pitocin, constant fetal monitoring, limited mobility, and possibly more interventions because of these). And of course, I'm getting excited and anxious to meet her and hold her already.

Think good thoughts to help me coax this baby outta here.

Report on Last Weekend

We just chilled out on Friday and watched some Netflix. Saturday we got up early to attend an Infant and Child CPR class, and on the way back, stopped at FOUR different grocery stores. That's right. It was a little out of control. We kept forgetting items, or a store was out of something we needed. When we got home, we installed the car seat, lugged all the groceries upstairs, put them away, and promptly collapsed and napped for several hours. After we were well rested, we hung up baby stuff on the walls, and I finally made a decent dinner.

I've just been pooped this last stretch of the pregnancy and I'm not really into the whole cooking thing. What's funny is Lane's co-workers are even noticing. He (almost) always brings his delicious smelling leftovers, and they are very surprised if they see him actually buy his lunch. So yeah, I look back on those days of fabulous weeknight dinners fondly. They probably won't be returning any time soon.

Anyway, Saturday night Lane bbq'd some chicken and I sautéed some fresh spinach greens with balsamic vinegar, I also cooked this delicious whole grain mix from Trader Joes - brown rice, black barley and some other lovely grains in a garlic chile sauce and chicken stock. We had a scrumptious salad that was almost like dessert - spinach, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, pecans, bleu cheese, and a citrus berry vinaigrette, courtesy of Lane. It was impeccable.

We sat down for dinner, and through the blinds, it suddenly looked like a strobe light was flashing outside. It was immediately followed by an enveloping, ridiculously loud and very long monstrous clap of thunder. It wasn't even raining outside. Moments later, the pouring rain began. The sky constantly lit up throughout the rest of the evening. We put the blinds up all the way, lit some candles and enjoyed our dinner along with the amazing thunder and lightning storm.

Sunday morning brought us outside a little earlier than we had anticipated - 5:30 to be exact. Yes, that's when the fire alarm went off in our building and I walked down 12 flights of stairs. After a little more rest we prepared for our afternoon of gaming fun. Some friends came over for games and lunch. We all had a great time. I figured it was probably our last chance to entertain for a while.

Week 38

Well, I made it through one more week. I still don't have that "Get this baby out of me, I'm SO done being pregnant" feeling. Although, I am starting to get a little antsy. When my mom made her arrangements to come out, I thought a week past my due date was plenty of time. Now that it's getting closer, I'm starting to think of how I can encourage Baby Grover to come in time.

My brother David and his wife Tatiana will be in DC the week of July 12th - 19th. He has advised me that I must have the baby during this time, so he can be the first to meet Baby Grover. I'll see what I can manage. :-D

We had an interesting experience last night, as we tried leaving for the last of our child birth classes. I started getting annoyed that Lane wasn't unlocking the door for me to get in the car. But the reason he didn't was that he couldn't - the battery was dead!! This is because we forgot to turn the light off in the car when we installed the car seat on Saturday. Luckily, our neighbors Sean & Jessica came to the rescue by letting us borrow their car. They were so sweet and told us they were going to keep their phones on all night and to call if we went into labor and needed them again. Even more luckily, this happened when we were getting ready to leave for a class, and not the hospital.

I can't help but wonder if every little weird feeling I have is a hint of labor to start soon. So antsy.

For your viewing pleasure, here I am 30 weeks ago. I can't believe how different I look!! Baby Grover has grown tons!! She is still managing to move around a lot inside. Although it's more of a shifting around instead of kicks and rolls and somersaults.