a baby story...

Recap: We closed on our new home Friday at lunch time. Moved Saturday. Miles was born Monday Dec 14th at 8:20am.

Contractions started officially at 11pm Sunday night, but were increasing all day Sunday.
So, we were playing Yahtzee at 10ish and I was up after every turn, rolling my hips around and pretty uncomfortable. After Matt slaughtered me I said I better get to bed in case I had a baby the next day...So at 11pm we went to bed. I was up about every 10 min, moving my hips around, squatting, etc. Finally at 2am, sleep wasn't really happening due to the painful interruptions-so I called the midwives. Roswitha called back and said there wasn't much to do till the contractions were 5 min apart...drink a beer and get some rest she said.

So, I started trying to time them around 2:30. They were 4-5-8 min apart. So I figured I still had plenty of time till they got more consistent. Still, up every 5 min or so, rolling the pelvis, sitting on the toilet, moaning, walking around the house and reading up on early labor (maybe should have done that sooner?:) The beer made me feel nauseous.

At 6am I was a mess-moaning so loud Matt would wake with each one, stroke me and tell me to try and relax as best I could. HA. He was helpful though, because at least I was focused on him and not the pain, entirely. I COULD NOT relax at that point, probably because I had, unknowingly, reached transition, where relaxing during contractions is no use... I was pushing with each one.

My water broke at 7:15 am and Matt called the ABC again. I got the phone and told Roswitha I felt like I needed to push with each one. She said, GET IN THE CAR! So, we pull up to the ABC at 7:45am and 5 pushes later, Miles is out at 8:20am. Oh MY goodness. It was so fast. I didn't even have time to get in the tub like I wanted.

He weighed 8lbs 4oz and was 21 1/4 in long. He has hair everywhere and Paul Boudreau lips:)

I am still pretty tired and have yet to really process the miracle of labor. But I know two things 1. it was really hard 2. I did it!

We are IN love with Miles. He is so.so. cute, even when his face is red mid-scream. He is sleeping now and I probably should be too. But today is Christmas eve and who can sleep this day away?! We are so grateful!

39 weeks

How far along? 39weeks
Sleep: up at least 3x/night
Best moment this week: getting a great deal on Craigslist for our new living room furniture!
Movement: some *tiny* contractions added to the usual feet and body parts jabbing at my sides
Food cravings: milk to quell heartburn! peppermints...which ironically make heartburn worse!
What I miss: my old wardrobe. I am seriously down to only a few shirts that make it over my belly and they are almost ALL black. I am not in mourning, just HUGE! I almost looked at Target yesterday, but cannot seriously justify buying ANY more maternity clothes at this point:)
What I am looking forward to: MOVING! Lord willing, this weekend.
Weekly Wisdom: I am going to get huge-well you know, so the boy can come out! Thanks to some Ina May wisdom, I've been re-encouraged that my body really was made to do this labor thing and I'll be up for task when it's time.

Some other books that have been helpful so far:
The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America's Baby Experts

On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant The Gift of Nighttime Sleep

Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

this one encouraged me to walk daily; it's pretty much the solution to every prego ailment:
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition

Of course, they almost ALL come at child rearing and birth from DIFFERENT perspectives, making it a bit confusing to know what's the *right* thing to do, but at the same time, I like reading about the extreme perspectives and knowing that we'll settle into whichever form of parenting and birth that works for us, ultimately.

I realized yesterday that the ABC folks are definitely attachment parenting, natural child birthing, non circumcising, co sleeping hippies! haha. Obviously, we share many of the same values or we wouldn't be having our baby there, but still, we are not that extreme.

We had an appointment with Roswitha yesterday and saw another Hope Chapel couple leaving as we came! Hope people LOVE the ABC:) I weighed in the same as last week, mercifully, since Roswitha doesn't miss a thing when it comes to weight gain! But, she was encouraging that I am still within their 'normal' range. I mean, what God-fearing, holiday party going American doesn't gain 5lbs during Dec anyway? For crying out loud! I wish everyone had to 'weigh in' every week during the holidays!

Ok, there is sort of malfunction w/ the camera at the moment...pics to come shortly.

38 weeks

So, its 38 weeks. Here's the update:



Weight gain: 32#



Cravings: pumpkin bread.



Physically: TIRED! I think I slept through the night a couple of weeks ago, but it's a distant memory. I've read/heard that my body is preparing for the 2 hr feedings by waking every two hours to pee. Great...using the eye cream early...



Emotionally: excited=to meet Miles. very thankful=for the new house! scared=of what labor will REALLY be like.



Next Prenatal Appt: Wed at 3pm, depending on when we close, this may change.



We hope to start cleaning by Thurs/Fri and have a great move (as in moving our bed and baby stuff:) Sat and Sun. Things are about to start happening fast! But, I am consicously taking it slow and packing up things very slowly, getting naps and walks in daily and eating lots of greens and smoothies, playing yahtzee and watching West Wing to force myself to rest!



And now we wait....