Annika doesn't eat a whole lot, so I'll give her just about anything to keep her going. Yesterday, her first course was chocolate pudding. I added cheese and pieces of ham and a variety of other healthier options. I was surprised when I turned around and saw that all of her ham was already gone. I wasn't sure she would even eat it. Then I noticed her joyfully pulling out pieces of pudding covered ham and eating. So, though its not going into the family cookbook, I'll take what I can get.
Ham pudding.
I think that's grosser than ketchup and apples, but I'm not sure.
Baby tomorrow! Pray for us!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Inauguration
Loved: The enthusiasm, collective excitement, sense of national unity.
Didn't love: How long it takes "dignitaries" to sit down.
Loved: Parents bringing their young children, who won't remember this day, because it was so important for them to be able to have their children say, "I was there."
Didn't love: My child was un-enthused and kept trying to find Elmo. She's pretty good with the remote, so if it had been the right timing, she would have found him.
Loved: The benediction.
Didn't love: The invocation. (Did I get this right? Loved the closing prayer.)
Loved: Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perhlman and co. quartet playing Simple Gifts. Really, really loved it. Especially Yo-Yo Ma's look of pure joy and glee to be playing.
Didn't love: (And surprised and saddened not to love it) Aretha Franklin's performance. I love Aretha Franklin. I have several of her cds and I belt out her songs with joy and abandon when no one is near. (Or at least only Annika is near. She sings along.) But... this felt like she hadn't practiced or looked at sheet music or maybe she couldn't hear the accompaniment, which is possible because of the nature of the venue. Either way, I was disappointed. And her hat was very distracting. Very.
Loved: Hope
Didn't love: Aspersions subtly cast at our outgoing president. I wish he had been shown more respect, irrespective of personal opinions of his record.
Loved: Singing the anthem alone in my family room with watery eyes.
Didn't love: That I wasn't in a crowd of millions, singing the anthem with watery eyes.
God bless America, indeed!
Didn't love: How long it takes "dignitaries" to sit down.
Loved: Parents bringing their young children, who won't remember this day, because it was so important for them to be able to have their children say, "I was there."
Didn't love: My child was un-enthused and kept trying to find Elmo. She's pretty good with the remote, so if it had been the right timing, she would have found him.
Loved: The benediction.
Didn't love: The invocation. (Did I get this right? Loved the closing prayer.)
Loved: Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perhlman and co. quartet playing Simple Gifts. Really, really loved it. Especially Yo-Yo Ma's look of pure joy and glee to be playing.
Didn't love: (And surprised and saddened not to love it) Aretha Franklin's performance. I love Aretha Franklin. I have several of her cds and I belt out her songs with joy and abandon when no one is near. (Or at least only Annika is near. She sings along.) But... this felt like she hadn't practiced or looked at sheet music or maybe she couldn't hear the accompaniment, which is possible because of the nature of the venue. Either way, I was disappointed. And her hat was very distracting. Very.
Loved: Hope
Didn't love: Aspersions subtly cast at our outgoing president. I wish he had been shown more respect, irrespective of personal opinions of his record.
Loved: Singing the anthem alone in my family room with watery eyes.
Didn't love: That I wasn't in a crowd of millions, singing the anthem with watery eyes.
God bless America, indeed!
Monday, January 19, 2009
What??!!!!
So, at my weekly dr's visit this morning, my doctor says first thing, "so, how long do you want to be pregnant?" I said that this weekend, as "planned" would be great, but I wasn't too stressed. I sure don't want to go more than a week, but I'm ok. She said, "well, we can induce you today, if you want."
You could have knocked me over with a twinkie. I was so stunned that I didn't really have a response. When I recovered, I laughed and said that Friday would be pretty good. And that was that. So, we're scheduled to go to the hospital Friday morning at 8 and hang out until a baby is born. (And then some.) So, unless we go sooner, which the doctor said is very possible, (I'm dilated to a 4 and she did whatever she does to encourage natural labor) then we'll definitely welcome baby boy by the end of this week. When I called John and first said, "so, you want to have a baby today?" he also sounded a bit terrified. So, though it could still happen, we like planning for Friday.
We'll post info and pictures as soon as we can! I have to go clean my house, do my laundry and get every last thing that I've put off DONE! No time for fatigue or aches now.
You could have knocked me over with a twinkie. I was so stunned that I didn't really have a response. When I recovered, I laughed and said that Friday would be pretty good. And that was that. So, we're scheduled to go to the hospital Friday morning at 8 and hang out until a baby is born. (And then some.) So, unless we go sooner, which the doctor said is very possible, (I'm dilated to a 4 and she did whatever she does to encourage natural labor) then we'll definitely welcome baby boy by the end of this week. When I called John and first said, "so, you want to have a baby today?" he also sounded a bit terrified. So, though it could still happen, we like planning for Friday.
We'll post info and pictures as soon as we can! I have to go clean my house, do my laundry and get every last thing that I've put off DONE! No time for fatigue or aches now.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Worried Husband
Last night I was having contractions and they were many and painful. But, they weren't any worse than some I've had and I wasn't particularly concerned. John, however, started packing some food and stuff for him that he'd put off. After an hour or so, he started wondering and giving me concerned looks, but I was still fairly confident that I was NOT in labor. To comfort him, I decided to call my sister about how you can differentiate Braxton-Hicks contractions from the real thing. My brother-in-law Troy answered and we discussed the matter. He reminded me that though they have 4 children, my sister never went into labor spontaneously. One was 5 weeks early and had to be induced, one was 2 weeks late and my sister scheduled the induction herself. The last two were induced out of scheduling convenience. So, fat lot of help she would be. But Troy, in all of his obstetrical knowledge and expertise, told me that he understood that if the contractions are still "in front" and haven't progressed to your lower back, then you're not in full-blown labor. I wasn't and am not, so maybe he's right. Anyone who has more experience with this, MARY, feel free to put in your two cents. I'm only nervous about having time to get John home from work and Annika to her babysitter. And maybe, a Big Mac on the way. (Just kidding. My doctor said she has patients deliver practically in the car or the hospital hallway because they went to Costco or McDonalds on the way to the hospital.)
Anyway, nothing yet and I'm content with that.
Annika update: She is just barely starting to put two or more words together and picks up most words now after only hearing it once or just a few times. She dances and dances and dances with everyone on Sesame Street and, if given her choice, she would name this child Elmo. She likes to sit on John's back while he does push-ups and he said that a week or so ago, she had a book and was happily sitting on his back, reading her book, while he did push-ups. Cute.
She still does not like her hair combed or done, so she often looks a bit wild. Quite wild. Really wild. I feel bad, but its literally a chase and wrestle experience and I'm not very limber right now.
She loves fish. I don't mean eating fish, except for Goldfish crackers, but pictures, cartoons, fish on tv and fish in tanks. She is starting to get the "f" sound, but often it sounds like "shish." I think this deep love comes from Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish. (This info sounds familiar. I may have already written this. Either way, she still likes fish.)
Annika is starting to exert her independence a little more and be a tiny bit cheeky, but not in a spiteful way. She likes to drip her water bottle on the table, sofa, floor, etc. and look furtively to see if we're watching, which she hopes we are. I take it away for a while and give it back later. She drops the cereal canister hard on the table and the cereal spills and she looks bashful, but impishly, to see what kind of reaction she'll get. I don't get too riled, I just take it away. I only jump in quickly and loudly if it has anything to do with her safety and then she looks quite startled. She's also learned to go "boneless", especially when its time to get into her carseat or the grocery cart.
We've been using our new webcam, thanks Gran and Gramps, to talk to both our families and Annika is really having fun with that. Especially when the dogs come onto the screen. She was petting the screen last time we spoke with John's family and she was very disappointed when the dog moved on. I think she was waiting for a dog to show up when we were talking to my family, but, luckily, my brothers put on a good show instead. She was a good sport.
I can't think of anything else, so here are some pictures. Of "old" baby.
Stay tuned for pictures of the latest model.
Anyway, nothing yet and I'm content with that.
Annika update: She is just barely starting to put two or more words together and picks up most words now after only hearing it once or just a few times. She dances and dances and dances with everyone on Sesame Street and, if given her choice, she would name this child Elmo. She likes to sit on John's back while he does push-ups and he said that a week or so ago, she had a book and was happily sitting on his back, reading her book, while he did push-ups. Cute.
She still does not like her hair combed or done, so she often looks a bit wild. Quite wild. Really wild. I feel bad, but its literally a chase and wrestle experience and I'm not very limber right now.
She loves fish. I don't mean eating fish, except for Goldfish crackers, but pictures, cartoons, fish on tv and fish in tanks. She is starting to get the "f" sound, but often it sounds like "shish." I think this deep love comes from Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish. (This info sounds familiar. I may have already written this. Either way, she still likes fish.)
Annika is starting to exert her independence a little more and be a tiny bit cheeky, but not in a spiteful way. She likes to drip her water bottle on the table, sofa, floor, etc. and look furtively to see if we're watching, which she hopes we are. I take it away for a while and give it back later. She drops the cereal canister hard on the table and the cereal spills and she looks bashful, but impishly, to see what kind of reaction she'll get. I don't get too riled, I just take it away. I only jump in quickly and loudly if it has anything to do with her safety and then she looks quite startled. She's also learned to go "boneless", especially when its time to get into her carseat or the grocery cart.
We've been using our new webcam, thanks Gran and Gramps, to talk to both our families and Annika is really having fun with that. Especially when the dogs come onto the screen. She was petting the screen last time we spoke with John's family and she was very disappointed when the dog moved on. I think she was waiting for a dog to show up when we were talking to my family, but, luckily, my brothers put on a good show instead. She was a good sport.
I can't think of anything else, so here are some pictures. Of "old" baby.
Stay tuned for pictures of the latest model.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Not much
I'm off to nap again, but I figured that since I'm getting close, some people want updates. So, I'm sore. I don't sleep well. He moves a lot. It hurts sometimes. I have contractions. They hurt sometimes. Doctor's visit today and everything is just as it should be. No reason to think he's coming early or late yet. Annika is cute and John is great. We'll send out a "he's here!" email and pictures when John gets home the first day and then more after we get slightly coherent. But only slightly.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Sleepy
Neither Annika nor I got our full nap this morning, so I'm not very alert. But, I keep not wanting to write anything and I was already on the computer, here is my short, feeble attempt at an update.
Baby Boy is MOVING and so am I. I never had contractions, or at least not very noticeable ones, with Annika this early, so I've been unsettled by this. Of course, all my friends with children have no sympathy because they all had contractions for months before delivery. Nonetheless, I keep having dreams that he comes early and I'm taken by surprise and I'm in my house deciding frantically whether it would be easier to clean my bathroom floor or my kitchen floor from a home delivery, or if I should "treat" myself and just deliver in bed. Great dreams, huh?
I was uncomfortable and unhappy enough yesterday at church that instead of going to Sunday School, I went and slept in the nursing mothers lounge. Those rocking arm chairs are comfy.
Annika is in love with fish. She points and says, "shish, shish? wa-er?" At today's babysitter's house, (I had a doctor appt.), to her delight and surprise, they had a new fish tank with 4 fish. Apparently, she spent the majority of the 1 hour visit in front of the tank. I attribute this deep aquatic love to "The Little Mermaid" and to Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish.
Annika wasn't sleeping during a routine nap a few days ago and sounded rather plaintive. Because I had nearly left her in a pool of her own vomit a few weeks ago, I was not comfortable ignoring her cry. I went in and found her face covered in bright, red, wet blood. Covered. Yelling urgently for John to join me, I grabbed her in my arms trying to find the source and how she could possibly been injured this way, but it "happily" turned out to be just a really bloody nose. She wasn't in any pain, just really... bloody. I held her on my lap for a while after cleaning her up and we watched Elmo or something soothing and I like to say that it was just my maternal love, but it was also a teensy bit of reluctance to clean any new blood from my "white" carpet. (Who installs white, wall-to-wall carpet? Even if they are an older couple? They have feet and grandkids, so really. White?)
I say "white" because that is a relative term by now.
I post this next part because John doesn't read my blog. Hee-hee. Family, don't tell him.
We were in bed, reading our scriptures before sleeping and John was TIRED. He was reading and said something to the effect of, " something, something, the tenets of Roderigo. What? What did I just say? Roderigo?" I almost wet my pants laughing, and I probably almost induced premature labor laughing. We decided that Roderigo was probably the name of one of the lesser known heavenly messengers like Gabriel, etc.
Roderigo! I'm still laughing. But seriously, don't tell him!
Ok, I'm going to sleep now. Maybe Roderigo is our guardian angel and will assure safety and sweet dreams. Aaaah...still laughing.
Baby Boy is MOVING and so am I. I never had contractions, or at least not very noticeable ones, with Annika this early, so I've been unsettled by this. Of course, all my friends with children have no sympathy because they all had contractions for months before delivery. Nonetheless, I keep having dreams that he comes early and I'm taken by surprise and I'm in my house deciding frantically whether it would be easier to clean my bathroom floor or my kitchen floor from a home delivery, or if I should "treat" myself and just deliver in bed. Great dreams, huh?
I was uncomfortable and unhappy enough yesterday at church that instead of going to Sunday School, I went and slept in the nursing mothers lounge. Those rocking arm chairs are comfy.
Annika is in love with fish. She points and says, "shish, shish? wa-er?" At today's babysitter's house, (I had a doctor appt.), to her delight and surprise, they had a new fish tank with 4 fish. Apparently, she spent the majority of the 1 hour visit in front of the tank. I attribute this deep aquatic love to "The Little Mermaid" and to Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish.
Annika wasn't sleeping during a routine nap a few days ago and sounded rather plaintive. Because I had nearly left her in a pool of her own vomit a few weeks ago, I was not comfortable ignoring her cry. I went in and found her face covered in bright, red, wet blood. Covered. Yelling urgently for John to join me, I grabbed her in my arms trying to find the source and how she could possibly been injured this way, but it "happily" turned out to be just a really bloody nose. She wasn't in any pain, just really... bloody. I held her on my lap for a while after cleaning her up and we watched Elmo or something soothing and I like to say that it was just my maternal love, but it was also a teensy bit of reluctance to clean any new blood from my "white" carpet. (Who installs white, wall-to-wall carpet? Even if they are an older couple? They have feet and grandkids, so really. White?)
I say "white" because that is a relative term by now.
I post this next part because John doesn't read my blog. Hee-hee. Family, don't tell him.
We were in bed, reading our scriptures before sleeping and John was TIRED. He was reading and said something to the effect of, " something, something, the tenets of Roderigo. What? What did I just say? Roderigo?" I almost wet my pants laughing, and I probably almost induced premature labor laughing. We decided that Roderigo was probably the name of one of the lesser known heavenly messengers like Gabriel, etc.
Roderigo! I'm still laughing. But seriously, don't tell him!
Ok, I'm going to sleep now. Maybe Roderigo is our guardian angel and will assure safety and sweet dreams. Aaaah...still laughing.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Christmas
We had a wonderful, quiet Christmas at home. Annika enjoyed opening the presents and her stocking. She got some fun toys and stuffed animals. When she opened her stuffed Curious George doll from Grandma Chris, she'd only gotten the first foot out before she said, "ooh, ooh, ah, ah." (Her monkey sounds.) She has also since said, "curious."! We volunteered at the family shelter Christmas morning and the roads were terrible. We prayed the whole way there and back!
We went up to Michelle's in Seattle on Saturday and had a wonderful weekend with her family. Annika LOVES the space to run around, the cousins to run around with and we appreciated the 4 enthusiastic babysitters. We were lucky when the house did not burn down, despite the forgotten candles that melted all over each other and left scorch marks on the walls!
We're home now and had a fun New Year's Eve with friends and actually stayed up to ring in the Oregon New Year!
I'm feeling less and less mobile and useful and John is being characteristically heroic. We're 3 weeks away from the due date and I don't want to go early because of the loving help that is coming from family. However, I'm anxious to not be pregnant anymore and to see our boy!
I'll try to add pictures later!
We went up to Michelle's in Seattle on Saturday and had a wonderful weekend with her family. Annika LOVES the space to run around, the cousins to run around with and we appreciated the 4 enthusiastic babysitters. We were lucky when the house did not burn down, despite the forgotten candles that melted all over each other and left scorch marks on the walls!
We're home now and had a fun New Year's Eve with friends and actually stayed up to ring in the Oregon New Year!
I'm feeling less and less mobile and useful and John is being characteristically heroic. We're 3 weeks away from the due date and I don't want to go early because of the loving help that is coming from family. However, I'm anxious to not be pregnant anymore and to see our boy!
I'll try to add pictures later!
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