38 Weeks

At the end of every pregnancy, there's that appointment with your doctor that leaves you feeling incredibly discouraged and hopeless.  There's nothing wrong, nothing to worry about.  There's just nothing happening.  For some reason, at that 38 week appointment, when you hurt all over and are generally OVER being pregnant, you convince yourself that your doctor might suddenly exclaim, "Oh look, there's the head!!  It's time to have this baby NOW!".  But, of course, that doesn't happen.  Instead, at this week's appointment, as I sat in anticipation of some kind of news of progress, my doctor simply smiled and said, "You're still 2 cm dilated and about 50% effaced.  Everything looks great!  See you next Monday!".  How anti-climatic.  Of course, I knew that's how this appointment would go but there was just something in me that hoped for more.

So, there you have it: baby and I are healthy, I am having contractions off and on throughout the day, my body is preparing itself for the work of labor, but we are not in the homestretch yet.  I've never gone into labor early before so I don't really expect this time to be any different.  I'm not trying any crazy home remedies: no castor oil or pineapple for me.  They don't work, trust me, I've tried them before.  When this baby's ready, he'll be here, it's just that simple.  For now, we are just going about our normal routine and enjoying these last few weeks together.  Work is busy, our home life is even busier.  We are packed and ready, all of the last minute details are in place.  See you soon, little buddy.  We're ready when you are.

 

Making a House Our Home

My dad stopped by for a visit on his way home from work yesterday.  It was a typical evening at our house: everyone gathered around the dining room table, Brees coloring a picture, Belle doing her homework, supper simmering on the stove, a newspaper spread out and talk of local politics floating through the air.  

"Can you believe that it's been 4 years ago today since we moved y'all into this house?" my dad asked us.

Truthfully, neither Shawn nor I remembered our move in anniversary.  We've been so consumed with the baby's impending arrival that we haven't thought about much else.  But, my dad's revelation got us thinking and before long we were looking at old photos and reminiscing about that summer 4 years ago: the summer we spent making our dream house into a home.

I've wanted this house, the house we now own and have made our own, since I was a little girl.  There was just something about it that I loved: it reminded me of a little dollhouse.  I loved how big and open the yard was, I loved that it was two stories (two story homes are not common in this area due to the climate, it isn't considered wise to attempt to cool off a second story in Louisiana summers).  I never in a million years would have thought that someday it would actually be mine.  Moving back to the sleepy little town where I grew up wasn't even part of my plan much less owning a home here.

But. the stars aligned and fate takes over and through a series of events, we found ourselves buying my dream home, now OUR dream home, on a warm summer day in June 2009.  Sometimes, the timing of certain events in your life is just so perfect that you are left with no other choice than to take a leap of faith and accept it as reality.  Buying our house was one of those times.

The home was previously owned by an older couple who kept it in pristine condition.  Though Shawn was initially turned off by the wall to wall 80's decor (pink shag carpet, wallpaper in every room, stained glass chandeliers and popcorn textured ceilings), I convinced him that these elements were all cosmetic and could easily be fixed.  And so, the day after we signed that gigantic stack of legal papers binding us to our house, we set to work making it our own.  My mother and I had watched enough HGTV to kid ourselves into thinking that we were home renovation experts.  Truthfully, we had NO idea what we were doing and spent a great deal of time laughing at ourselves and our ability to underestimate every single project we took on.  But, we did it.  Room by room, project by project, with the help of family and friends, we transformed our house into a home.

We ripped out carpet, tore down wallpaper, changed out light fixtures and appliances.  We replaced windows and doors, light switch plates and window dressings.  For three long months that summer, we worked every chance we had.  It was a labor of love, all of us coming together, creating a space that we would all soon enjoy as a family.  I didn't know it at the time, but it was the last summer in which my parents would call each other husband and wife.  They separated and then divorced that fall, finally admitting to all of us that they had been unhappy for a very long time.  The work they did on this house, the projects they helped us with: it was like their final joint effort for us, their last gift as a united front.  They waited until were all moved in to break the news, closing a chapter as we began a new one.  It was a bittersweet moment for all of us, a time I will never forget.  But, as we sat around the table last night, recounting stories about broken pipes and leaky faucets, my heart felt full in knowing that at least we had that time together before we all said goodbye to what our family once was.  We had that summer, that journey, to help us remember what is most important: family.  Divorce or not, we all came together and created something amazing.  No one can ever take that away from us.

The Hospital Bag: Third Time Around

My hospital bag the third time around is quite different than it was with baby #1.  You live and you learn and you realize that there really is no sense in overpacking: just keep it simple, mamas.  Both you and your baby will require very little those first few days as most hospitals and birthing centers will provide you with the essentials.  Not sure whether they do or not? Ask beforehand and give yourself some peace of mind!  Here's a list of my must have items that are packed in my much-smaller-this-time-around suitcase:

1.  Pajamas: I packed two pairs of soft, breathable, loose fitting pajamas.  I usually stay in my hospital gown for the first day after delivery (birthing is messy business) but by day 2 it's nice to put on something comfortable from home.

2.  Robe: Again, lightweight and comfortable.  I like having a robe on hand so that, regardless of what I am wearing, I can cover up when guests come by.

3.  Nursing bra: I actually packed two different nursing bras for the hospital: a sleep nursing bra and a regular and more supportive nursing bra.  Truthfully, you may not even want to put on a bra at all but every woman is different regarding the business of milking and it's nice to have options.

4.  Nursing pads: See my post on prepping for breast feeding.  I pack quite a few disposable nursing pads in my suitcase to have on hand when the milk literally comes pouring in.  Have a good supply waiting for you at home as well.

5.  Socks: Because hospitals are cold and you will want to keep your feet warm.  Again, pack a pair that you won't mind parting with: birthing is messy business.

6.  Slippers: I bought a very inexpensive yet comfy pair of slippers that I will throw away upon leaving the hospital: I'm a nurse and fully admit to being OCD about bringing home hospital germs.  Get the kind of slippers that just slip onto your feet, easy to take on and off.

7.  Going home outfit:  Be practical, you are not going to be in your prebaby clothes upon leaving the hospital.  I am packing a tunic and a pair of maternity leggings.  I am also throwing in a pair of yoga pants and a tshirt just in case.

8.  Toiletries: I like having my own soaps and lotions and face wash, they make me feel good and more like myself.  I also bring my make-up.  I didn't bother with any of that when we had Isabelle because I thought I wouldn't care or need those things but then I saw the photos everyone snapped of me in the hospital and gasped in horror.  Is that vain?  Yes.  Do I care?  No.  I'm just being honest.  Skipping your shower, not washing your hair, not putting on your makeup: these things don't earn you a merit badge.  Don't feel guilty about spending 5-10 minutes a day taking care of yourself, especially as a new mom.  You owe yourself those few minutes, those little luxuries.  Feed your baby, burp them, change them, swaddle them, place them in the arms of a loved one, and then get your butt into the bathroom.  You will feel so much better.

(Not pictured):

Nipple cream: The hospital will typically provide this but I like to bring my own as I prefer different brands.  If you choose to use the hospital issued cream, make sure to have extra on hand at home.

Hair ties and chapstick: Two things I can't live without.  Ever.

Nursing pillow: I like having my Boppy with me to keep both myself and the baby comfortable during those first few feedings, it helps to establish good positioning for both mama and baby.

Phone charger, camera, camera charger, insurance cards, phone numbers Shawn will need.

Infant car seat: You can't leave the hospital without it.  If this is your first baby, practice putting the seat in and taking it out beforehand.

If you are a first time mom, bring your breast pump with you for a lesson with the lactation consultant.  Helpful hints here.

I bring a packed diaper bag.  Why?  Because it will be my purse for the next year realistically.  Also, we live about 40 minutes from the hospital so I like to have a diaper bag with us JUST IN CASE.  I recently purchased the Sugarsnap system and am in love!!!  This little organizer keeps everything in its place and easy to find in your bag.  Best of all, if I switch purses or bags, I just take the Sugarsnap out and I have everything I need.

Shawn has his own bag packed and ready and it includes extra clothes, his own personal toiletries, a pillow and a blanket, a few snacks.

For the baby:

1.  Swaddling blankets: These are our favorite.

2.  Burp clothes: Cloth diapers are my favorite to be used as burp clothes.

3.  Socks, hat, mittens.  Emory board: For those razor sharp little infant nails.

4.  Going home outfit: Keep it simple and comfy, easy on and off.  Don't bring anything with a million snaps, nothing too stuffy.

5.   Sugarsnap organizer and diaper bag

Things you won't need at the hospital but need to have ready at home:

Underwear: Just bite the bullet and wear the hospital issued mesh panties.  They do the job and keep your underwear from getting ruined.

Pads: The hospital will provide these.

Diapers and wipes: The hospital will provide these.


It's hard to believe that the time is finally here: our bags are packed and on the ready! They are much smaller this time around but we are just as excited as if this were our first all over again. What a joyful event to pack for!

The First

Isabelle started the fourth grade this week.  We spent the last few weeks getting her uniforms ready, buying new school shoes, packing her book sack, and purchasing her long list of school supplies.  I felt so excited for her: the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the stack of composition books, the art box filled with crayons.  There's just something so promising about the start of a new school year and, after a long summer off, Isabelle has been ready all week to dive in head first.

On Sunday afternoon, she laid her uniform, shoes, and a bow for her hair out.  She packed her bag for the 20th time and set it next to the back door.  She said, "OK, Mommy.  So, tomorrow morning please wake me up a little early so that I can get my hair just right.  Please make your special cinnamon rolls for breakfast like you do every year on the first day of school.  I'll set my alarm JUST IN CASE something happens to yours and you don't wake up in time.  Then, we'll stop by Sarah's house to take pictures like we do every year.  You can bring me to school since it's the first day but I don't want you to walk inside with me.  Just walk me to the door this year, okay?  I think that just about covers everything".  

It was one of those moments as a parent that make you realize that maybe, just maybe, you've done SOMETHING right.  For all the guilt trips I've embarked on as a mother, for all the times I've wondered, "Am I getting this right?", moments like this happen and you realize, YES.  We're doing something right.  We're raising a happy, healthy, well rounded individual who is beginning to make decisions for herself.  Good decisions.  For all the temper tantrums and crying and yelling, for all the time outs and tough love sessions, this little girl is starting to show us that she did actually learn something.  And now she's putting it all into practice.  She's becoming an organized, practical, responsible young lady. I just watched her complete one task after the other in awe, so proud of the progress she has made and the effort she puts into her work.  

Isabelle is our first born, the child we learned from, the girl who turned us from Shawn and Liv to Daddy and Mommy.  When we had her, we were completely clueless as to what being parents actually entails.  We still feel pretty clueless, actually.  But she taught us that it's okay to learn along the way.  She taught us that the one and only true thing children need is the love, time, and attention of their parents.  She taught us to be forgiving of our own personal shortcomings by loving us despite them.

The first born is a bit of a guinea pig, an experiment in parenting.  We made a lot of fumbles along the way and I am forever grateful for her patience and forgiving nature.  Through her, I've learned important lessons about the ins and outs of carpools, what jobs to volunteer for at the school fair, and where to find the best school uniforms that will last all year.  I've met a network of other mothers whom I rely on for survival.  I've become a master at creating the perfect ballet bun and can bake a pretty decent batch of brownies when necessary.  I've learned how to call out spelling words while simultaneously cooking dinner and can sew a hem on a torn skirt while running to the bus stop.  All of this as well as making her late, forgetting to pack essential items, and not knowing my head from my mama ass quite a few times.  But, we're learning, day by day, how this whole parenting thing works and I know that, for as many times as we fail her, it's the few times that we get it right that she will remember.  She will know that we tried our best, she will feel the love we have for her and allow that love to guide her.  That's the plan, anyway.

Here's to a happy, healthy, and productive school year, Isabelle Grace.  Remember: no pressure, no stress.  Just do your best, give it your all, and enjoy the process.  We love you to the moon and back.

 

Preparing for Baby v.4

I've been scouring Pinterest for ways to store away good meals as we prepare to welcome baby number three in the next few weeks.  We do not eat out very often and pride ourselves on cooking healthy, fresh food on a budget.  Meal planning is essential to the running of our household and I don't want to loose all of that because we are so busy with three little ones.  I pinned several different crockpot meal ideas that enable you to prepare the entire meal and then freeze it for later use.  This is the perfect solution to prepare for a new baby: I could prepare a healthy meal, still within my budget, and have it ready to drop in the crockpot whenever we needed it.  I made out a shopping list this weekend, mindfully picking recipes using ingredients we already have on hand (meal planning 101).  I then spent about an hour chopping veggies, measuring out spices, and putting everything into large freezer Ziploc bags.  I labeled each bag with the name of the meal inside and then stored them in my freezer one on top of the other.  When we decide to eat one of the meals, we simply pull the bag out of the freezer, defrost in the fridge overnight, drop it in the crockpot in the morning, and serve a healthy and delicious dinner!  

I chose the following 4 meals because they all use fresh ingredients and are big enough servings to provide for 2 separate meals.  Again, will all the chopping and mixing of ingredients, it only took me about an hour to prepare all 4 bags.  Because I stored them in the freezer flat and one on top of the other, they take up very little room.  Best of all, all four meals were made for less than $50.  

Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore:

Ingredients:
2 lb. chopped chicken breast
6 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 chopped red onion
2 chopped green bellpeppers
8 fresh tomatoes chopped
1 package sliced mushrooms
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cloves garlic minced

Directions:
Add all ingredients to freezer bag and freeze. When ready to cook, thaw slightly and add to crockpot. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve with hot pasta and top with Parmesan cheese.

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas:

Ingredients:

2 lb. Chicken Breast
1 red onion sliced
1 medium green pepper sliced
2 cans of Rotel
2 cans of green chiles
2 packages of fajita seasoning
4 Tbsp. olive oil

Directions:

Place all items in freezer bag. Toss and freeze flat. When ready to cook place all ingredients in crockpot and cook for 6 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Remove chicken from mix, shred and then add back into the mix. Serve with warm tortillas.

Beef and veggie soup:

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
5 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
6 medium red potatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 medium red onion chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 bay leaves
1 green bellpepper chopped
1 red bellpepper chopped
4 fresh tomatoes chopped
1 pack frozen peas
1 pack frozen corn 
2 cups low sodium beef broth
2 cups of water

Directions:

Brown chuck roast pieces, allow to cool.  Chop all other ingredients.  Place all ingredients together in Ziplock bag and freeze.  When ready to cook place all ingredients in crockpot.  Cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours. Serve with a side of corn bread.

Zuchinni and black bean skillet:

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cups quartered lengthwise, sliced zucchini
1 diced green bell pepper
1 can whole Black Beans, drained, rinsed
4 fresh tomatoes, diced
1 cup water

Directions:

This meal will actually be cooked on the stove in a skillet.  After defrosting in the fridge, place all ingredients from bag into skillet, bring to a boil, simmer for 10-15 minutes.  Serve over a bed of rice, sprinkle with shredded cheese.

There are hundreds of links on Pinterest for these types of meal ideas.  I liked these four in particular because they use mainly fresh ingredients.  These meals would make great gifts to give to new moms or friends and family members who are ill or as house warming gifts.  Here's to happy, healthy, stress free cooking!!

Dog Days of Summer

Here in the deep South, the month of August is a time for hibernation. The heat and humidity are so overwhelming that spending time outdoors becomes nearly impossible, completely unenjoyable for sure. Even with our swimming pool right outside our back door, the sweltering heat is enough to keep us indoors. Heat advisories have been all over the news for the last week as temperatures reached 100 degrees with 60% humidity. We say extra prayers at Mass each week for the farmers and their crops, so desperate for rain and an end to this dry season. We remain grateful, however, that the climate here in the Delta allows us to be outside for much of the rest of the year. Just as those who live up North spend time indoors in the bitter winter months, we hide out during summer's climax. This is our time to build blanket forts, play dress up, and use every square inch of our wild imaginations to keep us from going stir crazy. We take full advantage of our air conditioning and stock up on popsicles and big stacks of books. Our time outdoors is limited to the very early morning and a few hours in the evening after dinner, IF we're brave enough to fight off the fleet of mosquitoes who selfishly inhabit our backyard this time of year. But, we know it won't last forever. Soon, it will be time for pumpkins and cardigans and the promise of a cool, crisp October day. Soon, we'll sing Louisiana's praises once again as we head back outdoors for the mild winter we value so much. We've had a lovely summer but, with all due respect, we'll be glad to see these dog days move right along. We're itching to get back outside and jump in a couple of rain puddles, okay?

 

37 Weeks

This week was the first time I can officially say that I am legitimately uncomfortable.  My hips hurt, my lower back aches, and I am having Braxton Hicks contractions on the regular.  My little one seems happiest when he is right square on my bladder and I have never peed so much in my life.  I wake up every hour on the hour throughout the night to readjust and/or pee.  Everyone keeps urging me to relax and rest and take it easy but, quite honestly, when I sit still I only feel worse.  The more I move and stretch and bend, the better I feel.  And so I keep busy with my normal, everyday routine, allowing my body to take on its normal chores and tasks.  The longer I sit still, the more achy and sore my muscles feel and so I keep on keeping on.  My patients keep asking me when I will take my maternity leave and I just smile and reassure them that I won't go into labor in their living rooms.  Maternity leave will come soon enough and I will delve into that time just as deeply as I have delved into this one.  My yoga practice is looking pretty ridiculous these days despite my dedication.  I can barely bend over anymore and so I stick to my standing poses and lunges.  But it helps, keeping all of my ligaments loose, and so I press on.

I am nesting in every way: cooking, cleaning, storing away as though we are all about to go into hibernation.  My lists are getting shorter and shorter as I knock them out day by day.  It is an amazing experience to me: the journey of pregnancy.  Putting so much time and energy and effort into preparing and making way for a new life.  I take such great pride and joy into getting everything ready for I know that the more I do now, the less I will have to do when he gets here.  Because the only thing I want to do when he gets here is hold him, rock him, and soak in every ounce of who he is.  That's what this is all about, after all.