Creating Memories (Dad)

Lately I've been considering all the ways I can document our son's birth along with all the firsts that will occur over the next year. We've purchased a camcorder so that we can easily carry it along to holiday gatherings and other places, so at least we'll capture all the milestones. We even started a video journal for little Wendell, taking some footage of his nursery room and recording a message before he arrives.

But it's so easy to get carried away with this stuff. For example, I considered buying a really nice still camera to take lots of high-quality photos; Danielle has the materials to start scrapbook, to knit scarves, and to create photo montages; and I've even thought about writing short stories from the point of view of an expecting father. There's just no limit to the amount of creative memory-keeping projects you can do! As a self-proclaimed writer, blogger, and movie maker, I feel sort of obligated to use these talents for the sake of my future son... and yet I wonder if it's not possible to go a little overboard.

Perhaps a little scarcity in the photo-taking and movie-making might be healthy. After all, how much more do I cherish the few movies that exist of my childhood because of the paucity of materials! Would I get the same nostalgic chills watching old movies if I had hundreds of hours of it, perfectly preserved? And the end goal is not to commit EVERY moment to film so that nothing is forgotten. Forgetfulness can be a blessing, too!

I suppose, like all things, there's a balance between capturing too many moments on film and too few. It'll be nice to be able to put together collages and montages for special events over the years, but perhaps it removes some of the fun if it's ALWAYS expected. Perhaps childhood is best preserved in our memories where details are provided not through celluoid or other storage media, but through fuzzy, imperfect neural connections which fill in the blanks with magic and wonder.

Things to consider moving forward. After all, the idea is to prepare our son for the future; not to create an immersive past he's afraid of leaving behind.

Appointment and H1N1 vaccine

My appointment last night went pretty well. I met with the final doctor in the practice and he was of the same opinion as the last two... that we can wait this out and should be able to deliver naturally. This made me feel a lot more relaxed. After measuring and feeling my belly, this doctor thinks our boy is just approaching the 9 pound mark now. This is both a relief (I've been afraid that he was already 10 pounds) and also terrifying (for obvious reasons). I still have no progress, of course, but we all know that can change at any time. Our next appointment is scheduled for Monday, when they will also do a stress test since I'll be past my due date at that point, just to make sure baby is doing okay.

Ah the H1N1 flu shot. For a long time I was set against getting it because I was afraid of side effects and because it hadn't been tested very well. But after knowing several people that have had this flu and were miserable, Paul and I decided that maybe it would be a good idea to go ahead and get it. Besides the shot being recommended for pregnant women, it has been pushed towards caretakers and guardians of infants under the age of 6 months. So I found a Walgreen's out by our house that was distributing them today and Paul and I took early lunches and met there at 11:15. Turns out, we were just in time. We got two of the last four vaccines that they had. Whew! We were there for over an hour, but at least they had a place to sit and nice people working there. I think we're both relieved to have that taken care of.

I love the holidays. So many yummy cookies and goodies around the office! I think I'll go have another sugar cookie (because this baby isn't already big enough)! :)

39 and a half weeks (Mom)

We never thought I’d still be pregnant at this point, but here I am, still pregnant and still at work. I’m doing alright though. I’m a little uncomfortable and it’s hard to move around, but other than that I feel really good! But the waiting is taking its toll on me because of the concern over complications. The more time that goes by, the larger the baby gets and the more worried I become about being able to deliver him naturally. The doctors have been great at letting us play it by ear up till this point, and encouraging us to try to do things the way we would prefer to. But even I am starting to get anxious about it now. I just don’t want to make a bad decision that could affect the wellbeing of my son’s life, and the fear increases with each day that passes with no sign of his arrival. I would much rather deal with recovering from a c-section than living with making a bad decision. I go back to the doctor again tonight and am meeting with the last doctor in the practice that I have not seen before. I’m hoping that he will offer us some guidance, or better yet miraculously tell us that we have some progress and can go to the hospital right away to induce!

Work has gotten very boring for me this last week or so. Don’t get me wrong, I am VERY appreciative of the low stress levels that I have these days. Everyone has been absolutely wonderful at letting me ease my way out of doing my regular duties here. Not to mention that they have all been very encouraging and sympathetic as well. But I do feel a little strange being here and not really doing much. I would use vacation time and just go home and work on stuff around the house, but I really need to save all the time I have for my maternity leave. So here I am!

Paul and I have been quite the anti-socialites lately. We have opted to stick with activities that keep us within 30 minutes of the hospital. We have also made sure to do LOTS of relaxing. We have been going to bed early, waking up late and taking lots of naps on the weekends. I think this is something we will greatly appreciate having done once the baby arrives. Paul has also put a new plan in place to keep me cheerful, where every third day that the baby hasn’t come, then Paul and I get to have a date night of some sort. This weekend we went to see the new Disney movie The Princess and the Frog at the theater. It’s been a fun way to take some of the anxiety off of us. And it keeps Paul and I very close which will be a great way to start our life as a family.

Doctor's Update

Hello Again!

I had another doctor's appointment this morning. Baby Bishop still appears to be in no hurry to enter the world. I met with a completely new doctor and he seemed to be of the same mindset as the last one. He said shoulder dystocia is very hard to predict so he doesn't see it being a huge concern at this point. He believes the baby is big, but not so big that we need to be worried. He did say that if we are concerned and want a c-section, then we can go ahead and schedule one, but he also thought that if we'd prefer a natural birth that there should be no problem with that.

I go back to the doctor again on Monday. At that point we will just reassess again to see what the best option is.

Again, I'm just hoping to go into labor on my own and as soon as possible.

Love,
Danielle & Paul

The Waiting Game (Mom)

The whole "nesting" thing is absolutely not a myth. The funny thing is, it seems to have hit Paul as much as it has hit me. The two of us just keep coming up with one project after another to work on around the house. The house is getting very organized and very clean. I think it makes us both feel happy to be at home when things are in such nice order! Plus, we put some very nice finishing touches up in the nursery! :)

Paul had a great idea to do a little video journal for our son before he arrives. So yesterday we set up the camera in the nursery and talked to our baby boy. It was pretty cool, and I'm very glad that we did it! Good idea Dada! :)

I'm getting extremely anxious for our boy to arrive. Less out of discomfort (although it's true that is a factor as well) than concern though. Since they were worried that he was going to be a big baby two weeks ago, every day that goes by means he has had a chance to get bigger, increasing the risks of problems trying to give birth naturally. It just makes it harder knowing that we might have to make a decision about how to handle this best. I go back to the doctor on Wednesday and I'm really hoping that they will green light inducing me on Thursday if the baby hasn't come by then. We shall see I guess.

Come on baby boy, you're making your mommy worry!

38 Weeks (Mom)

Since our little guy can come anytime now, Paul and I decided that we needed one last nice date night together. So last night we went out to Maggiano's and had a lovely dinner. The food was great, the restaurant was decorated so pretty for Christmas, and we just had a really good time together. I'm very glad we had a chance to do that before our baby arrives.

A new pattern has begun at work. When I leave work at night, I just say, "Good-night, I hope I don't see you tomorrow!" And every day I show up to work, everyone smiles and says, "still here huh?" and gives me a sympathetic look. My work has all been reassigned to Jackie and Julie for my maternity leave. The changes went into effect starting this past Monday so that I would be around to answer any questions as they came up. It's a good plan. So I have finished up pretty much all of my outstanding projects this week, which is great! But now I kind of feel like a paperweight and I'm not really sure what to do with myself here. I just answer questions if they come up and then wait around for the next one. But with how tired I am these days, it's really nice to be so unstressed at work.

I'm having some contractions, but they're pretty irregular. They started as I was leaving work last night. But then they stopped all together aside from a couple that I felt in the middle of the night. I just keep hoping that they're at least helping to make some progress. They're back again this morning, so hopefully they're more than just Braxton Hicks. Only time will tell I guess.

In my head, I play over and over again how I'll tell Paul that it's "time" all day long. I just can't wait to tell him that it's time to go have our baby!

Oh Baby... (Mom)

Okay my dear little one... I love you and I am so glad I have gotten to experience this whole pregnancy thing, but you really need to come out now.

Doctor's update today!

Hello Again Everyone!

Went back to the doctor this morning. Baby Bishop doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to get here, but we all know that can change in a day (I have to tell myself this not to freak out that he won't come out). :) I met with a different doctor in the practice this morning and he seemed to think that I had no greater risk than anyone else for having to deal with shoulder dystocia. He thought that if we preferred having a natural birth then we should go ahead and try for one. We can always change our minds if we still have no progress or get concerned.

So again we are here hoping that I will go into labor on my own… and the sooner the better!

Thanks for your continued support and prayers!

Love,
Danielle & Paul