The Moby Wrap

I am seriously considering 'investing' in one of these thingies. If anybody has any hands-on experience with one, let me know. I like the idea of wearing my baby easily and comfortably but at the same time, I spend alot of time at home so I am not sure that I would use it all that much. It's a great idea though.

http://www.mobywrap.com/instructions.php?link=4

When it rains...

You know that saying, 'When it rains, it pours'? I'm finally beginning to understand the meaning behind that.

Yesterday, all the way to the doctor's office I was having strong, regular contractions and I thought I was actually in labor (which would have been unrealistically convenient). But it turns out these are still 'false labor' contractions and aren't causing any changes to speak of. I'm actually still at 2cm and 30% effaced. The doctor is not very optimistic about my going into labor by my due date (the 28th) and is now throwing the word 'induction' around, which makes me crazy. I do NOT want to be induced. Being induced means being stuck in a bed until contractions regulate, not being able to eat anything, and relying on stupid chemicals to do what mother nature was meant to do all along. No offense to those of you who have been through it with good results, it's just not what I'm used to and I don't want it. So I'm currently doing research on what I can do to stimulate labor myself and hoping against hope that I don't have to deal w/ the induction issue at all.

THEN, this morning, my three year old proceeds to swallow a very powerful magnetic rock- the shiny ones that you can get at places like the discovery center and which I THOUGHT we had put away where the kids couldnt play w/ them unsupervised. I freaked out a little bit, having heard horror stories about kids swallowing magnets, and promptly called both the Poison Control Center and the kids' doctor. The PCC told me that he'd probably need an x-ray to make sure it wasnt 'hung' anywhere but as long as it was only one that he swallowed, the danger was minimal. I also checked Web Md to verify this and made an appointment for the doctor to see him as soon as possible, which was 9:20 am. The doctor promptly sent us to the radiologist at the neighboring hospital and so we had to wait a good half hour in the outpatient waiting room for the x-ray lab to be ready. The waiting area was overcrowded w/ growly people of all ages and I have never seen so many 'crocs' in my life! (Is it odd that the mere sight of these shoes immediately throws me into the pits of depression?) Anyway, the magnetic rock was actually already in his lower abdomen so they sent me home w/ the happy mission of 'searching' through each of his stools until I find it. If he doesnt pass it withiin five days, he'll have to go back and be x-rayed again. So far, I've searched through one batch w/ no luck. Yay.

September Lullabies...

Last year I posted the lyrics to this- one of my favorite songs- for my friend Heather and her new baby, Ava. I'm so inlove with the lyrics that I'm shamelessly posting it again for myself. No baby yet, by the way. But I'm starting to feel very ready for the weight of that little body on my heart and that fuzzy little baby head under my chin:

PALE SEPTEMBER
lyrics by: Fiona Apple

Pale September
I wore the time like a dress that year
The autumn days swung soft around me like cotton
on my skin

But as the embers of the summer
lost their breath and disappeared
My heart went cold and only hollow rhythms resounded
from within
But then he rose brilliant as the moon in full
and sank within the burrows of my keep

And all my armour falling down
in a pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm
as I'm singing him to sleep

He goes along just like a water lily
Gentle on the surface of his thoughts his body floats
Unweighed down by passion or intensity
Yet unaware of the depth upon which he coasts
And he finds a home in me
For what misfortune sows, he knows my touch will reap

And all my armour falling down,
in pile at my feet
And my winter giving way to warm,
as I'm singing him to sleep

Officially Bottomed Out...

Excuse me if I digress, but WHAT has happened to this gal? No, I'm not a 'fan', and no, I don't think she's got some extraordinary talent or anything but you had to admit that she had it together for a while there. Her VMA performances were pretty legendary and seemed to 'top' themselves each year what with her crazy outfits, killer body, and increasingly racy songs. Role model she wasnt, but media babe she definitely was. Now it seems that she is an entirely different person...one who has no idea how to dance, perform, or even speak coherantly (again, not that she was ever particularly adept at any of those things). Yes, the body is good for a mother of two (she evidently still feels comfortable at the gym) but my husband and I both were completely awed by how truly terrible her much-touted 'reappearance' at the VMA's was. She stumbled around the stage like a very nervous 'Britney impersonator', almost like she was embarassed to be seen. The dancing was laughable (if you could even call it that), the lip-synching was off, and she kept casting her eyes from side to side in what could only be termed as blatant confusion. SO wierd.

Speaking of wierd, the whole VMA program this year was kooky. Initially, the idea of changing the venue to Las Vegas seemed like a good one but now that the fiasco is over, I don't remember a thing about it (except for the hilarity and embarassment caused by Sarah Silverman who-although quite tasteless much of the time-comes up w/ some truly inspired bits). Mostly, I believe, this is because of the poor construction of the show itself which came off more as a New Year's Party than an awards show. The performances were rediculously inadequate and the best ones were cut off by commercial breaks and difficult to observe because of the cramped quarters of the hotel suites that served as their respective 'stages'. Also, it was no secret that most of the award recipients and presenters were intoxicated, almost to the point of slurred speach. Jamie Fox and Justin TImberlake especially seemed to be throwing back a few too many. I don't know if MTV has learned its lesson from this chaotic attempt at 'modernizing' their standard awards show but if not, I hope they do some major tweaking before they try it again next year. This was a waste of time for everyone involved, if you ask me.

And why exactly do I watch this show every year, you may ask? I have NO idea. Teenage habits die hard, I guess.

9 Months and All Is Well...

Here is my last belly picture. Nine months and counting. It's been a long haul but there are now officially three weeks left until the due date. I am suffering a little bit from lack of sleep (can't get comfortable at night) but last night, my friend Jolie came over and administered a MUCH needed and HEAVILY discounted hour and a half massage complete w/ essential oils specially formulated for 'mother/baby bonding', plinky new age music, and dim lighting. When she finished, I realized that I had never truly had a massage before and pretty stupid for having paid over 100 dollars for some of them. She worked out my hips and legs, my lower back (by loosening my shoulder and applying strange but highly effective pressure to my arm socket) and last but not least, my feet (which, after shopping for two hours yesterday at Wal Mart, were near death). When I was finished, I felt like a new person and a little bit like I'd had a few beers. I slept very well last night.

The massage made me realize that it's really a good idea to invest in some sessions during pregnancy, not only for yourself but for the good of the baby. Come to think of it, I also think a pedicure would be a great idea since painting my own toenails at this point is next to impossible. So those are some things I learned this time around. Other very useful stuff I have learned from this pregnancy, so far:

1. If you have other kids, over-do the relaxing part and assume that the family can take care of themselves sometimes. If you aren't a 'napper' (and I'm not), at least take a few hours during the daylight hours to sit and do nothing. Otherwise, by the time it's your usual hour for preparing dinner or getting ready for meetings, you are quite worthless.

2. If you are going to be driving long distances (more than thirty minutes) remember that you may get unusually tired due to the pregnancy and be very careful. I almost fell asleep a couple of times on what I used to think were 'quick trips' to Lebanon or Gallatin and scared myself pretty badly.

3. Morning Sickness can actually be worse the 2nd or 3rd time around and DOES NOT necessarily mean the child is a different sex than your other children...heh heh.

4. Eating Raisin Bran for breakfast every morning is a great way to stay regular (and when you're pregnant, that's a big deal). And Tums still worked the best for heartburn...I am SO sick of those things!

5. Drinking the occasional beer or a couple of caffeinated drinks a day is NOT proven to be dangerous to the developing baby and shouldnt be judged by 'all knowing' strangers.

6. The single greatest purchase I made this time around was the 'Bella band' that I mentioned on an earlier blog entry. ( http://www.ingridandisabel.com/bellaband.html )
Not only was I able to extend my pre-pregnancy wardrobe and continue to wear my non-maternity jeans until I was 8 months along, but I still use it to keep up those stubborn 'under-belly' maternity pants that old navy and Gap are famous for (and do NOT like to stay put), and am confident that it will be even more useful after I have the baby. I can wear it w/ my pre-pregnancy clothes again (while I'm losing the baby fat) and since it's a basic black, it will just look like an added layer while it holds in that inevitable jelly belly and gives me a smoother waist. Now did that sound like an add or what?

That's all for now. The countdown to 'birth-day' begins and I'm anxious, of course. I'll keep everyone up to date and post an entry about the experience as soon as the dreaded day has passed. Readers BEWARE...

Beautiful Bernice...

A Great Pyrenees at full size...about 100 pounds of doggage.
Bernice


Meet Bernice. She is our new 12 week old Great Pyrenees and we already love her dearly. We decided some time ago to get a large dog that may help prevent other dogs from taking over our property and from what we understand, this breed is ideal for that purpose. They are calm, mild-tempered, and extremely loyal. I've never met a puppy like her. She doesnt jump and galavant or get under your feet. She lays in a watchful position on high ground (even w/out being trained to do so) and when she's not doing that, she's making continuous circuits around our property like a palace guard. She rarely barks and when she does, it is an intimidating sound indeed. It took her exactly one day to become familiar w/our family and only one trip around the property line w/ my husband to realize her job. She follows us around obediently, always staying a few paces back, and hasnt been agressive or unfriendly to our current cat and dog as of yet. However, when the dreaded brown lab puppy from next door tried to come around yesterday, we saw her tail go up immediately and she made a low growly sound in her throat. The chocolate lab hightailed it back home immediately (Bernice, at 12 weeks, already outsizes the other dog).

For those of you not familiar w/ the breed, the 1st picture is how she should look when she's full grown, minus the pure white cleanliness...hahah. Living around here, I'm certain she won't look like a champion but she will still be beautiful. The lady we got her from said that her fur will start to 'fill out' in the next couple of months and soon get really long, like the dog in the 1st picture. Typical of the breed, she doesnt get wild and jump up on the kids...as a matter of fact, she doesnt do anything suddenly or compulsively. She seems to be thinking through every move she makes. I know this may not be the ideal 'puppy' for some families, but in our case, it's exactly what we needed.

And yes, it will cost a friggin' fortune to feed her...but at least I'm not inadvertantly feeding four strays instead.