My first mommy melt down

Things are absolutely crazy around here. The list of shit I need to do grows longer by the day. I had a little episode this morning after FINALLY getting to the Post Office only to find a letter from the IRS saying we owe them money from 2004. We paid our taxes, but apparently I didn't carry the one or something. Good reason why I need to find someone to do our taxes for this year. And Jay's car needs $800 worth of repairs...oh, and we're buying a house which requires us to empty our bank account, not to mention run around crazy to compile and copy and fax a shitload of personal financial information. Oh! and our tenant in the house in Northampton is not renewing her lease, so we have to find someone else to rent it...from Burlington. And my house still sounds like it's going to explode everytime the furnace fires. AAAAaaaargh.

I can't stand being stuck inside all day. I need warm weather just so I can get away from the disaster that is our house. Every available surface has folded baby clothes, um, unfolded mommy clothes, dog hair, dirty dishes, bags of trash waiting to be taken out, piles of mail, half written thank you cards, scarves, coats, boots on it.

Sam is on nap strike so I can't get to any of it. And honestly, if he did take a nap, I think I would curl up on the couch and sleep until spring.



On a positive note, Sam is finally sleeping in 4 hour stretches at night...sometimes. Still not long enough to fix my short term memory issues, but we're headed in the right direction.

I should just rename this blog "Pictures of Sam"

Quick hello to let you know that we are alive, though buried under nearly 3 feet of snow. I would provide a picture, but it's too cold outside. Maybe later I'll venture out when Sam takes a nap.

So, no pictures of the blizzard, but of course I have pictures of Sam...the most photographed baby on the planet. Sean Preston look out!



Big news is Sam is starting to raise his head, and keeping it up for a good 5 seconds. Oh, the things I am impressed by. Every day he takes another little baby step out of floppy blob stage into master of flailing appendages.



I am waiting for the plumbers to come by. I don't know if I mentioned it, but when my mom came to visit a while back we actually lost heat. They replaced some sort of circulation thingy and it was all fixed. Only now when the furnace/boiler fires up it goes BOOM! and shakes the whole house. Kinda scary. But plumber man is coming to save the day, and make the dog bark and wake Sam from his nap.

Sam is not too pleased sitting here with me in the sling...Move woman! Move! I do not sit, I am a man of motion! So here are a few of my favorite pics of recent before I go and walk, around the house, in circles...fun.

You BAD Mama!

This morning I had to hold down my little boys arms while they poked him with needles. The worst part was that he was all smiles and coos, then OOOOWWWWwwww. Sam cried. I cried. No fun at all.

I won't get into the whole vaccine thing, but it was difficult. The shots he got had no themerisol involved, which was my primary concern. But of course, side effects are possible, and there's a whole bunch of scary theories out there. Makes me worry. It's hard to know whether you make the right decisions. I'm not sure I informed myself as much as I could have, so in the end, I deferred to the doctor...who I trust. And after all, you never know when he might decide to take a romp in Amish country. But everyone has their own bias and perspective and I feel I should explore my own a little more. There will be more opportunities for that in the future...unfortunately.

Um, an upside? Well, Sam got his first taste of really sweet. The childrens Tylenol (his legs are really sore) is cherry flavored. I tasted it first. Yum. He seemed to enjoy it too.

Today Sam is 2 months old! At the doctor he weighed 14 lbs 1.5oz and is 24.5 inches long. He's a big boy. 90th percentile. Whoa. How did that happen? Virginia Tech offensive line here we come! Right. As if. I cry when the doctor gives the kid a shot, like I'm going to encourage him to be knocked about the head by large, aggressive boys. So instead of being on the team, perhaps he'll be the guy carrying the keg to the tailgate..though I'm not sure that's a good idea either.



Sunday we had the reunion of our birthing class, which was great. Cool to see all the little ones. Crazy to think we've all been in the same room before, just the babes were on the inside instead of the outside. We hope to do it again. It's good to keep in touch with other mamas, and the dads too. Sam was, of course, huge compared to the rest. I should get one of those T shirts that say "My baby can kick your baby's ass"...just for laughs of course! Sam is a gentle giant.

Our new box

Last night was the Super Bowl. We "watched" it. Meaning we stood in the kitchen cooking pizza and wings over a glass of wine while it was playing in the other room. What we saw of it was a good game. Too bad Chicago's quarterback Glennon, oops, I mean Grossman couldn't throw to his own players. In the end, I didn't really care who won. Whenever it got boring or there was a stoppage, we switched over to the Puppy Bowl on animal planet. Man, that's entertainment. I did enjoy Prince, though his medley of songs was kinda a head scratcher...was there some underlying theme I didn't put together? Let's Go Crazy, Proud Mary, All Along the Watchtower...and a few other mixed in. But I'm pretty sure he ended with Foo Fighters. Foo Fighters? Someone enlighten me please.

We have some news! Other than Sam entering his "grumpy" phase that is. We're buying a house! It's an ugly little thing, but in a great neighborhood. It should turn out to be a good investment. It's going to be hard moving from this big old victorian into a 900 square foot box, but it will be ourbox. Our ugly box...see:



but the plan is to make it look like this!



Should only take us a few years. :-)

Crap. Well I had planned to do a longer post, but Sam has awoken and is beckoning his servant. So here's some pics of the DingDong...8 weeks old! Wow, time is flying.

Go Hokie...Basketball?!

I never really followed college basketball. Perhaps occasionally participating in sweet sixteen bracket polls, but without any clue of who is good or bad. Just randomly advancing one team or another based on rankings. I, unlike J (and most men, I think) need an emotional investment to enjoy watching sports. I need to want someone to win. So if a team I love isn't playing, or if they are not directly effected by the outcome (or if I don't have money riding on it) I don't watch. That's why college basketball has never made it onto my TV schedule. I could really give a crap about basketball dynasties the likes of Duke and UNC. That is, unless...

The Hokies are kicking their asses!

Um, wha?


Ok, looks like I'll have to bone up on some hoops knowledge. And tonight they play FSU! And I HATE me some Seminoles! God, with their lame tomahawk chop accompanied by what can only be described as the most annoying chant/song thingy in college sports? Emotional investment? Check! Yay, my winter Hokie drought may just be over. And I need a little Hokie love after...well, you know.

Dreaming of pooping...while probably pooping

I've seen enough America's Funniest Home Videos to expect a little pee to come my way. After all, while changing a diaper it's like having a gun of urine pointed directly at your forehead. This gun has, of course, gone off. Numerous times. As a result, if I'm remiss in having something to cover the weapon "just in case", I rush through the drill, diaper ointment be damned! You never know whether Sam is holding one in the chamber or not.

I've accepted my new life and the new threat of pee being launched at my face. It's a part of the joy of motherhood. But last night was a new experience. Explosive poo. I'm sure he's had these butt explosions before, but well within the confines of a diaper. This time it was during the high risk diaper change time...at 2AM...on the bed...more specifically, on the sheets where I sleep. Ick.

So today there is some extra laundry to do.

Other than being spattered by liquid poo in the middle of the night, things have been pretty good. I thought Sam was getting on a schedule, but then he decided that 2AM - 6AM was party time on Sunday night...I'm still recovering. Today has been good and I have been endulging in Sam's new trick...smiling! He's so cute! I can't wait for the giggles to come, but for now, the little grin with happy crinkled eyes is a treat. Makes the poop party worth it...

The prince is currently sleeping and thought I'd better write a little here instead of one of the million other things I should be doing ...specifically, writing Thank You cards. J and I were blessed with many cute and thoughtful gifts upon Sams birth. All that the universe asks of us for having such generous friends and family is the simple task of writing Thank You cards. No problem, right? Ugh. One or two...or even five, no biggee. But I think we're up to 14. I'm lucky if I get to eat lunch. When will I write thank you cards? I don't want to sound ungrateful, but I hope everyone understands when they don't get their recognition until spring. Perhaps summer.

Tonight we're going to Trivia! Sam made his debut last week and did great. He slep the entire time. Things are shaping up pretty good for a repeat performance. Right now is his first nap since this morning...so if he wakes up around 4:30 and stays up until 7ish we should be good! If he doesn't stay asleep, we'll just bail early. Wish us luck. Go Fredward!

Glennon, count your lucky stars...

he can't drive, or walk, or crawl...because "The Claw" has your name on it.
.

Here's to hoping for a Happy Hokie New Year.

I can't walk, but I can still look good...

Finally, here are some pics of Sam in his new kicks, lovingly provided by his Aunt PDiddy

Here he is, bustin' a move...don't worry, that face is just him being hardcore.

Wee little shoes...so cute.

Worn out from kickin' it.

Thanks Aunt Pam!

We're heading out tomorrow to J's folks for a week of xmas cheer. I'm SO looking forward to it. Hope everyone has a good holiday and great New Year...if I don't post before then...GO HOKIES!!

I am in line at the post office, Sam pleasantly asleep in his infant carrier at my feet. The lady behind me, very nicely asks how old he is, and we began to chat. And boy, this lady likes to talk. She has this annoying passive-aggressive way of giving me parenting advice, without really giving me advice, you know? It is all very nice and polite, but with all sorts of assumptions that I am an idiot and, man, she won't stop talking. I fidget with my bag of presents and look disparingly at the line of fellow procrastinators in front of me. Sam stirs. I joke how the line better move because he is due to awaken at any moment, explaining how I burned an hour of precious sleeping-baby-time getting my shit together and getting out the door...

"Well, you'll be quicker once you get organized."

"Yep"

"You'll find that once they get older, they can even help themselves"

"Yep"

"You see, you have to set up areas for them to put their things, like shoes, and beach gear, that way, everyone can find their things."

"Yep."

Wait. Hold on. Beach gear? Um, I'm pretty sure this lady is giving me advice she gleened off of last night's episode of Supernanny. I think of calling her out, but I don't. Luckily the line starts to move. I realize that being a new mother has brought out new things in me...like the ability to be irritated by well-meaning but annoying older women. Oh, also, ROAD RAGE. I have no tolerance for idiot drivers when Sam is in the car. Or when he's not, because after all, he could be in the car. Not waiting your turn at a 4-way stop has become a capital offence in my book.

This less than pleasant attitude may have something to do with the season. Xmas is kicking my ass. Shopping, mailing crap, packing up baby stuff, gathering the dogs stuff, paying $28 to ship presents Express because there is no Priority slips anywhere and Sam threatening to awaken in full "Give me the boob!" frenzy...bah hum bug. I can't wait until we arrive in Connecticut at J's folks and can relax.

So, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. I hope all your presents have been shipped and that Santa is kind to you. I am hoping in the new year I may be able to sit down at the computer a little more often and share what is going on...but Sam is in charge now, so I'll have to run it by him.

what a babe

I've been trying to work on writing out Sam's "birth story", but of course it's a little busy around here. Especially since Grandma and Grandpa left yesterday. We are blessed to have such loving support. Luckily Sam has finally figured out that night time is for sleeping, so the past few nights have been more restful than the previous, which gives me more time to get some things in order. He's sleeping now so I thought I could finish up the story, but boy, a lot happened. It's going to be a novel! But I want to be sure to get it all down while it's still fresh. Hopefully one day soon I'll finish it.

In the meantime, here's something from my first baby photo shoot yesterday. As you can see, I'm not the only one who appreciates the virtues of the Snoogle.

SAM!!!

I am super excited to announce the birth of Samuel Frederic! Born Wednesday 3:02 AM via c-section he weighed 9 pounds, 10 ounces and is 23 inches long.

Thanks to everyone for the kind wishes and for checking up on us. We just got out of the hopsital yesterday and will be resting up for a few days. I'll be back soon to share all the details and more pictures that you could ever want. Sam is truly a blessing.

The. Cutest. Thing. EVER.

All the cliches are true. I have never loved anything so much.

MY WATER BROKE!!!

Ok, off to take a shower and we're headed to the hospital!!! They want to check out the baby. If things are slow, they're going to send me home for a while, but hopefully things will go quickly. Baby boy is coming!

Wish us luck!!!

If only I could put my cervix on the window sill...it works with tomatoes

If you can believe it, no change.

So, new game plan. We are going in for another NST tonight and as long as everything is ok, they are going to "ripen my cervix" with some sort of gel. Then they will do it again tomorrow. If no labor begins between now and Thursday, then I am being induced on Thursday.

I'd be lying if I didn't say I am disappointed with my body. She's not doing what I need her to do. But I am glad to know there is an end in sight. I don't like it that he's held up in there, shut up so tight. I know he's doing ok now, so I would prefer to just get him out of there now. The increased risks of c-section doesn't bother me. After all, it's more about him than me. I can take surgery and a longer recovery if it means he gets out healthy. Not that he's is trouble. It's just I can't help but worry that the reason this isn't progressing quicker is because of me, not him. That he's ready, or rather, has BEEN ready, but my body is just not interested.

So that's the scoop.

Baby by the weekend!

41 weeks! Bah.

Thought something might have been happening yesterday, but of course it stopped. Even thought my water might have broke, but baby just squeezed my bladder a bit. Sorry if that's a little TMI.

I'm losing my good spirits. Getting grumpy and a little worried. I know I shouldn't be worried, but you can't help it. I just want my healthy little boy in my arms...NOW.

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment. Hopefully there will be progress.

All systems go. Did you hear me? GO!

The tests show that everything is just honky dory in there. Getting plenty of oxygen, enough water in the pool to splash around and, most importantly, his right ear is perfect!



During the fluid check ultrasound we asked for a pic, but since it's so crowded and his back is to the front of me this was the only recognizable body part he could capture. Definitely takes after his father, no?

So the next step is...well, what it's been for the last week. Wait. I have an appointment on Monday, but we're hoping in won't be needed. Contractions are still happening, but nothing mind blowing. I'm sure anyone out there who reads this is as anxious as we are, so maybe I'll shut up about it. Contractions that, cramping this, I'm huge, wah wah wah...

So, in other news? Hmmm.

The mice who live in our house will poop in the silverware drawer, where there is NO FOOD, but won't touch the cheese in the traps we set up. Damn if I can't hear them right now in the kitchen scurrying around! Little monsters. I never had a big problem with critters before, but I think since baby is coming I've taken a harder line on vermin pooping near my food. Sorry guys. Well, not yet since you're not smooshed. But I will be sorry...I think we'll both be sorry. Part of me hopes they realize how dangerous the neighborhood just got and move out. The same part of me that thinks that the Secret of Nihm is plausible.

Oh, and it's going to snow. Tonight and some tomorrow too. Perhaps babe just wanted to wait for it to be pretty and white to come into the world? Or he is diabolical, and is waiting until driving and flying conditions are at their most treacherous...

Bustin' at the seams

Ok, this kid is getting evicted. Not only am I HUGE (I know. I've been saying that for 9 months now, but now it's really, really true) but I got my first stretch marks! Crap. I've been counting my genetic blessings that I've avoided them, and if this kid had a sense of timing I would have escaped them altogether. I'm trying to look at them as badges of honor, and though I'd be happy to have none,mothers have been gladly sacrificing their bodies since the beginning of time, so I should stop my whining. I've got it pretty good. They aren't on my belly (yet) but on my hips, where I already have some from puberty.

Doctor checked me yesterday...no change. Not dialated, not even a smidge. I have a NST on Friday were they check to make sure baby is chillin' ok, that his sense of timing is better than theirs. In the end, he knows best. I might let them do a membrane sweeep on Monday if something doesn't happen over the weekend. That's when they kinda poke at your amniotic sac to stimulate hormones and hopefully get the ball rolling a little...I know you're jealous, sounds like fun, huh?

So, is my November baby destined to be a December baby? We shall see!

J and I both have a weird feeling about Saturday.

First Notice: Past Due

Well, STILL pregnant. Baby Boy's due date has come and gone. Though the doctor told me 41-42 weeks is not unusual I must admit I was holding on to that day. I figured the little guy would be enjoying his first Hokie football game on the couch with us, but instead he got the usual muffled Daddy screams through my abdomen wall. Perhaps his first words won't be "Tubbs, shut up!" but "GLENNON! You idiot!" Of course it all turned out ok on Saturday. Since we couldn't have Baby, at least we got to retain the Commonwealth Cup! Yay Hokies!

Last night I had some contractions, but at this point I don't put a lot of stock in that. I know I'm getting closer, but to guess how close that may be seems futile. It will happen when it happens. Only it is getting awfully close to xmas! I would like to keep him a November Baby. For some reason that line between months offers some kind of mental buffer. Expenditures on presents is a worry...especially before the winter heating season in Vermont. Baby Bday + Xmas + Gas Bills = poor house.

So I'm just waiting. I'm a little annoyed that the pre-baby house cleaning and grocery store trip has faded in their effectiveness. The dog hair is accumulating and the fridge is becoming bare. Today I have a list of little tasks to complete. Maybe the activity will help move things along.

So until further notice, I am still cookin' the kid. Everyone send me some labor vibes!

Cookin'

So, no change. Same ol' situation. She told me I should start thinking about it being 41 weeks so I don't drive myself crazy. I don't WANT it to take 41 weeks! **whiny voice and stamping feet**

A 41 week baby MUST be bigger than a 40 week baby. And I don't want that if I can help it, considering where he has to squeeze through. And I know for sure a 41 week pregnant butt will be bigger, and my butt is as about as big as I can stand. Come on kid...get a move on!

However, if you are a superstitious type, perhaps he will come on Saturday. J's dad had a collegue call him from a casino and ask him if he wanted to place a bet. He said put $10 on 25 at the roulette table since it's Fredwards due date...and it hit! Woo hoo! Not exactly scientific, but a girl can hope.

So it's just the waiting game around here. Looks like it will just be the two of us for turkey day. We are not inundated with turkey as I had feared we might. J forgot to sign up for the free turkey at work, so it's just the one bird. Still alot for two people, but lord knows I won't feel like cooking much after the kid shows up so the leftovers will be a blessing. And I made 2 pies! A pumpkin pie (which is already half gone) and a cherry pie that is waiting for Thursday in the fridge, yum! Of course none of this is going to help my butt situation, but let's just hope breastfeeding goes really well and the kid will just suck the fat off of me? It can happen, so I've heard. I've also heard not to count on it.

But then, there's always this

Still here, still pregnant

I've been hiding out a bit around here. I'm not laying low just on the blog front, but my phone communications have been few and brief. I think it's because there is this big thing that will be happening and everything else just seems boring and not worth mentioning. Also, most of my recent experiences are best described with whining. And I don't want to whine too much. So to all my buds out there, sorry I haven't been in touch very often...soon I will have news. Very soon I hope.

Especially Mrs. T! I don't think I've mentioned it in a blog post, but Mrs. T is pregnant too!! She's going to be having a little girl in April and I am so excited we are going through this major life change at the same time. Though being a bit further ahead makes me feel a little remiss in my friend duties, as she deserves all the care and attention she blessed me with when it all began for me. Oh I can't wait for our kids to meet! I can imagine them great friends. That is until cootie age. Then they'll ignore each other, until about 13 or 14...then we'll HOPE they ignore each other.

Hey, Mrs. T! if you read this...I remember you asking about how to post a picture. What's the the story? Am I going to get to see a pic of this little girl or not?!

I can't let this blog post go without a little bit of a whine. I hurt. Every joint in my body hurts. I feel like I've been hit by a bus. The worst part is, I can do nothing. I just sit. I feel useless.

Ok, now on the upside! My turkey points didn't have to be used to buy a turkey! Figures since such a large portion of the population is vegetarian. It's just $20 off your bill. Yeah! So yesterday I got some pie fixins and stocked up on some other crap. During the process I realized I can no longer go to the store to shop. My pregnant "waddle" has turned into a pregnant "shuffle" since my joints hurt so much. I felt like I was using the shopping cart as a walker. I must have looked pretty pathetic...also REALLY pregnant. 3 people asked me when I was due...usually they don't. I think they were just trying to insure that my grimaces and groans weren't indications of labor. Ooops, I let that go back into the whining realm...sorry.

Oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY! Today is my SIL bday. Yeah! You know what would be a GREAT present? A NEPHEW! I'll see what I can do.

Know any good turkey recipes?

Yesterday was the big "before baby" shopping trip to the grocery store. It took 3 hours. Not 3 hours just in the store (thank god), but 3 hours to waddle in, waddle around and waddle out. A good portion of that was also unloading the car and putting everything away.

Then I took a 2 hour nap.

It's frustrating that things that used to be simple have become major endeavors. I suppose it's a primer for what is to come...they say to add an hour to every task when you have baby with you. At least then I'll have baby in a little carrier on the front of the cart instead of grinding his head into my cervix as I walk.

One of my goals with the shopping trip was to get a turkey! I've been collecting "Turkey Points" from our grocery receipts, but I didn't have enough for the trip yesterday. I decided I better get a turkey anyway, since I wasn't sure the next time I would be able to get to the store. And because I want to get that sucker cooked, carved and in the freezer before my water breaks. Well, of course my grocery bill was absurdly high with all the frozen and canned foods and low stress meals, and as a result I earned a ton of turkey points. Doing the math in my head I knew I was close, when added with my points at home, to get a free turkey. I toyed with the idea of returning the turkey I got and trying to redeem points another day. But then you have to account for the reduced grocery bill and perhaps the docking of points...and I started to get a head ache. I didn't want to deal, so I bought my Butterball. Well, I got home and we do indeed have enough points for a free turkey. So now we can have two turkeys! The one I already have isn't real big, and if baby comes before Thanksgiving, there's a good chance of alot of people being around, so another turkey isn't really a bad thing...

Then J came home last night and when poking around the fridge I hear "So you got a turkey?"

"Yeah, funny story" I reply.

"Well, I got an email at work...everyone gets a free turkey and a pie...so I guess we'll have a lot of turkey."

Um, you think?

I don't have enough room in our fridge for 3 turkeys. Especially when you take into account the stockpile of Lean Cuisine and Amy's Lasagna. I'm assuming there is a charity somewhere in town that will take one... or perhaps my MIL can use one at xmas?

Otherwise, it's turkey until Valentines Day in our house.