Wedding Anniversary

May 28th, 2007
Today is our first wedding anniversary, and what a wonderful year it has been. Of course, I didn't expect anything less after almost 7 years of dating and living together, but this past 12 months has been a frenetic whirlwind of fantastic adventure.

Between the weddings and friends, travel and family, new dogs and new paint in more than one room, and most importantly the 9 month journey towards Scout that will enter a new phase any time now, this has been one of the best years of my life.

I can't wait to see what the next 12 months turn up!

Holding Pattern Continued

Midwife appointment today: dialated 3cm, 60% effaced.
For anyone who knows what that means and is interested. No real contractions so we aren't racing off quite yet. It just indicates that when the time comes (anytime between now and 3 weeks from now) my body has already done and begun some of the work.
I had a dream that I was 6 inches dialated. I told Dan and he asked if that was a lot. Think about it for a minute. I could birth a watermelon without knowing it at 6 inches.
I've encouraged Dan to "read the book."
Don't get me wrong, he may not be on top of his cm. vs. in., but he has been an amazing partner throughout this experience. I know that he'll be a wonderful labor assistant regardless of the measurements.
Plus he's always handy with a goof and a TAB - it's the hospital, Baby!

Bummis, Kissaluvs, Diaperaps, Fuzzi Bunz, Etc.

Last night I spent some time sorting through a bin of cloth diapers and covers that my good friend Leaning Apple has been so generous to lend us. I've put the chore off because the last time I looked through them I had no idea what I was even looking at! The sizes, styles, covers vs. diapers.... ??
I pulled out my old Raggedy Ann doll and used her as a measure, "Do these diapers go with these covers?" Poor Ann. Dan used her as a Baby Bjorn fitting tool, and now the diapers, oh the humanity! (Or whatever the rag doll equivalent is.)
I think I've sorted things out pretty well. I did some research online today using the info provided by the tags in all the different styles of "materials" we have. The reason for the preparation, other then it probably being a good thing for us to know since we will be bringing a baby home at some point soon, the lady from the diaper service is coming tonight for our consultation. She asked me what sort of package deal we wanted and I had to admit that I didn't know the first thing about any of this. The last diaper I changed belonged to a child that just started college. (Hi Robin!)
So with a stack of diapers and just enough knowledge to be dangerous, or at least covered in poop at some point, I think I'm ready for the diaper lady and her questions.
Wish me luck.

Holding Pattern

Still here. Still waiting. Feel like I've been busting butt trying to get everything squared away as well as keeping up with the usual household chores... ugh. I already feel like a harried housewife and I've only been out of my day job (still working in the evening) for one measly week. I'm really not going to get paid for this am I? The realities are settling in.
And the dog hair keeps piling up....

Showers, Showers, Everywhere and Plenty of V8 to Drink.

Catching up on some "old" news. Last weekend my mom and her lovely friends threw me a shower in B.H. There was delicious cake (carrot cake w/ raisins- so good for me -full of iron), amazingly thoughtful gifts, and enough oh-ing and ah-ing to out do any fireworks display.


Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with me and Grammie V.

Mother's Day Outing- Moose Point State Park

We met my Mom and Les at Moose Point State Park in Searsport for a picnic lunch under a beautiful May sky. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon and potentially the last outing with the bean on the inside.

Car Seat Has Arrived....

...Which makes all of this even more real and exciting. Between that and pre-washing all of Scoutie's clothes for the next year of growth I'm really getting a tangible feeling for my daughter's presence in our lives.

Happy (American) mother's day to all the mothers out there!

They're Just Boobs People!

I went to a breastfeeding class at the local hospital last night and left feeling pissed off. The first thing the nurse talked about was all the different ways women can be discreet while feeding their babies in public. In addition, while you and your baby are getting used to this new endeavor it's best to just stay home so you don't have to worry about being discreet.
So I sat there listening, trying to learn a whole new lexicon: latch, self expression, colostrum, football hold.... feeling caught up over her introduction to "being discreet". I was even given a catalog of discreet nursing wear and these funny shawl things that cover up your feeding baby as to not offend anyone. Ugh!
I finally raised my hand and lamely asked, "Is it OK to not be discreet?" The lactation nurse looked at me like I had ten heads. I went on to explain that I was uncomfortable with this idea that I needed to protect everyone around me because somehow my breast and attached baby would offend them. Come on! Am I suppose to squirrel away at home and only feed my baby in secret.
I feel like I can only do one of two things - either care about being discreet and carry it around as a constant concern or forget discreet and just focus and giving my baby what she needs when she needs it. It's a no brainer, isn't it?
They're just boobs people! Get over it! And stop teaching new moms it's something to be ashamed of and tucked away at the expense of you and your baby.

Cloudy with a Chance of Showers

This past weekend was the southern Maine shower, with chums from across the Pine Tree State and Massachusetts gathering to be wicked kind to us (as always, click on the picture for a larger version:

Gramps-to-be with Great-Aunt-to-be and Second-Cousin-to be

The hand decorating of the onsies

Cassie made trifle!!!

We had help displaying our gifts

Peanut!

The men hung out slightly apart, talking about man stuff.
Thank you to everyone who came- it was an awesome day. And massive thanks to C&C Music Factory for hosting. I'm just glad I was able to stay awake during The Prestige.

About a month to go....