Getting closer...

Kelly and Dorian in front of Dorian's crib (note the bassinet or "Moses Basket" inside the crib - he'll sleep inside that for the first month or two).


Who's a big boy? Dorian is!

We have contractions, people!

Yes! My body is in tip-top working order and getting ready for labor! I have started experiencing contractions. Now, some women experience these as early as the fourth month, so this does not mean labor is imminent. It does mean that I am one step closer to getting there though. Yay!

Our to-do list is getting shorter...

Items checked off our list in the past month:

-Crib assembled
-Last item purchased (changing table)
-Childbirth, Infant CPR, Baby Care and Breastfeeding classes completed
-Carseat properly installed by the California Highway Patrol (free service!)
-Birth preferences typed up and given to doctor
-Pediatrician interviewed; registration completed
-All baby clothes and blankets washed in hypoallergenic detergent, sealed in ziplock bags
-Children's books brought down from attic, covers wiped clean and books organized on bookshelf
-Diaper service registration completed - first diaper delivery arriving this Monday
-Health insurance chosen for Dorian (will begin after first 30 days on mine)

We just need the baby now! The only things left on my to-do list are related to cleaning/organizing the house, applying for nursing school and helping James with his various projects. Come on Dorian, we want to meet you already!

To dream, perchance to sleep!

Surprise, surprise, it's 1am and I can't get to sleep. I am desperately tired but Dorian still insists on compressing my bladder. I need to go to the bathroom, but then I get there and only a couple drops come out. Back to bed...5 minutes later, I experience an agonizing need to pee again. So I return to the bathroom and yep, you guessed it...only a couple drops come out. It's weird how suddenly all this came on, especially after months of barely experiencing any symptoms. I am seriously considering purchasing some adult diapers. At least now that I have stopped working, I can rest during the day and get ten minutes of sleep here and there. I've been trying to walk every day too because I know it's good for me and will help reduce labor time. I just have to be sure I time my walks with my liquid intake and the location of bathrooms en route! I am craving sugar like mad right now. It's taking all the willpower I have not to chow down on ice cream and chocolate. And let's not even talk about my back and hip issues at the moment...between my incompetent bladder and joint aches and pains, I feel about 90 years old. Still, in spite of it all, I am so excited and happy I can barely stand it!!!! I am now 37 weeks pregnant. Dorian is full-term.

Maternity Leave

I went to the doctor yesterday. Everything is still fine and dandy with Dorian and I. However, I have had an exhausting week. Dorian has settled onto my bladder, my back is aching like you would not believe, and I have not slept more than a few hours a night for the past week. I was not able to work on Tuesday and while I made it in on Wednesday and Thursday, it was pretty rough. My doctor is not comfortable with me making the long commute at this stage of the game and being on the go for 12 hours at a time. I was officially signed off on disability leave yesterday. Now I really am going to have time to nest, rest, pee, eat and wait for Dorian's arrival!

The clock keeps ticking...

We went to the doctor on Friday - she checked my cervix and said it is closed but beginning to bud! How exciting that my body is preparing for labor! We will be seeing her every week from here on out.

We "interviewed" the pediatrician today, even though we knew we'd choose him, as he was my pediatrician. James and I had the opportunity to ask some of the questions we've been wanting to ask, so it was a worthwhile visit.

We have our second to last baby care class tonight. Last week we diapered, swaddled and burped dolls. Tonight we are going over recognizing illness, which I think will be much more useful. It was funny because James and I were by far the youngest couple in the class last week, and also the only ones who had any experience caring for babies.

This is my second to last week at work, and thank goodness! At 36 weeks pregnant, I am finally experiencing some more significant aches and pains. My back is starting to ache constantly and I seem to pee every 15 minutes or so. I am not sleeping well at all due to having to pee so often. My hips seem to start throbbing randomly out of nowhere, and my feet even started to hurt yesterday! I am well and truly pregnant. And despite all the symptoms, I am still loving every minute of it. Every time Dorian kicks me (and quite hard now!), I can't help but smile and talk to him. Every hiccup makes me want to hold him and make them go away. Whenever I look at the crib by the side of our bed or the tiny little clothes he will soon be wearing, I start to tear up. I have never been so excited or happy in my entire life.

It's just a matter of days (okay, so probably 2-3 dozen days) now...

Baby item pictures!!!

I suppose it's time to get some more pictures up of all the cute little baby items we've been buying/given over the summer! We'll start off small and over the course of the next couple weeks, we'll work up to the larger items...


$3 toy banjo from the Salvation Army (brand new!) Grandpa Bruno keeps threatening to get Dorian addicted to the banjo from an early age, so we thought we'd preempt him and buy a toy one. Maybe the novelty will wear off by the time he is 5 or 6 and Grandpa is ready to enroll him in banjo lessons!


Dorian will be well-groomed and healthy with these necessities.


There's just something so precious about baby hats and socks, isn't there?


Most of Dorian's newborn outfits look like this - a onesie covered with sweatpants. We also have full-length, long-sleeved onesies with feet and little kimono tops. Big thanks to Auntie Han for sending a large parcel of baby clothes over from England (hand-me-downs from cousins Ro and Joshy). Of course, I have already laundered everything that will touch Dori's skin (including car seat covers, nursing pillow covers, etc) in hypoallergenic detergent and folded them neatly in ziplock bags. How organized (and compulsive!) am I?


A diaper bag even Daddy will use!


Book from Grandma Darby - James and I are determined to master the complicated art of swaddling!


A hooded towel and wash mitt set from Swiss cousin Corinne and boyfriend Manuel, who are also pregnant!

More pictures to come soon - see, I'm trying to make up for lost time here!

Almost 35 weeks, baby!

What a busy few weeks it has been. Our house is looking great - the picture of James and I above is in our newly painted dining room complete with our $90 Ikea table and chair set. Gotta love Ikea! Only the kitchen, bathrooms and nursery still need to be completed. The renovations of the nursery (currently our laundry room) probably won't take place until next spring now. The contractor took too long to start and James and I don't want builders in the house when I am in my last two weeks of pregnancy or when we have a brand new baby. Since Dori will be sleeping in our room for the first year anyway, there is no real rush. So the nursery and one of the bathrooms (which will become half bathroom/half laundry room) won't be completed until next year. Still, when our main bathroom and kitchen are completed, we will take pictures and a video of the whole flat so you can see what we have spent our summer doing! I am so pleased with our house - I am really nesting now!

James and I are now certified "first responders" for infant, child and adult. We know CPR, the abdominal thrust movement ("Heimlich Maneuver") and how to use a defribillator. We have been to hypnotherapy sessions once a week for the past few weeks and faithfully practicing at home. We attended our Childbirth Preparation course (8 hour intensive) on Saturday. It was such an incredible class - we are both so grateful we took it. We watched a few birthing videos - I cried at the end of each one when the mothers held their babies for the first time! The instructor went over all the ins and outs of labor signs, false labor, active labor, when to go to the hospital, etc. She went over the various pain medications, epidurals, induction techniques, c-sections, vacuum pumps, forceps, complications, and hospital procedures. James and I are more determined than ever to aim for a natural birth. There is no way I will take pain medication. Absolutely no way. If it gets to the point where even my hypnobirthing techniques are not helping me get through a long, exhausting and/or extremely painful labor, I will take an epidural over a painkiller any day. The morphine-derivitive painkillers can get into the baby's bloodstream, causing respiratory distress. Epidurals very rarely effect the baby; they simply block the mother's pain signals. Epidurals produce more of a risk for the mother (possible, though very rare, nerve damage, severe spinal headaches), but I would rather take that risk than risk harming my baby. Ditto for vacuum pumps and forceps - I will have an emergency c-section before using either of those possible brain-damage inducing instruments on my baby. I was so relieved to finally have someone lay it all out for us - every pro and con of modern maternal medicine. I feel prepared and armed with the tools I need to have the birth I want, even if it doesn't go exactly as I hope. Having said this, I still feel incredibly excited for labor itself. My hypnobirthing techniques are going to help me tremendously and the breathing exercises we went over in class were most useful as well. We held ice tightly in our hands and sat up on our toes to create a really painful feeling. It was horrible. Then we did this over and over again while practicing the breathing techniques and having our partners talk to us quietly, massage our backs, etc. What a total difference it made! I felt remarkably relaxed and like I could conquer the world. I am going to practice holding ice at home (seriously, try it, ice is painful!!!) with my hypnobirthing techniques.

Today James and I have our first Baby Care class! So exciting. Dorian's arrival is coming up fast. I only have a few more weeks of work left now. And a good thing too...look at my big belly!!!

There's only one thing worse than being blogged about, and that's not being blogged about

I've been trying to get Kel to read The Picture of Dorian Gray for a while, but between school, work and extreme cleaning she hasn't had time. It's not that our Dorian is named after Oscar Wilde's character (his name actually comes from the Dorian scale - WHWWWHW for those of you singing along at home) but I'm sure someone, someday, will presume he is and ask us about it. It's good to be prepared. The book is a great read with fast-flying British wit (particularly from the devilish Lord Henry) and themes of hedonism and Faustian pacts. I recommend it to anyone. Anyway, I ordered a DVD of the 1970's BBC adaptation with Sir John Gielgud and Peter Firth to which we both promptly fell asleep. It's a good version (at least the first half is), but it is very hot here at the moment and we had just been for a 4 mile walk. Hopefully we'll finish it tonight and then if anyone asks us if baby Dorian looks so young and cute because there's a picture of an old man in our attic, we'll be able to laugh knowingly.

Super busy until I pop!

Sorry for no posts over the past 2 weeks. Instead of 3 days as planned, I have ended up working 4 days a week in Half Moon Bay so this amounts to 4 really long days (I leave the house by 7:30am, return around 8pm). The rest of my time is spent running errands, going to doctor's appointments, organizing the house, buying items for the house, and starting tomorrow, various baby "stuff!" We have a tour of the hospital birth center tomorrow followed by a hypnobirthing session. Monday night we have our 5 hour CPR/Life Support class (for infants, children and adults). The following week is our 8 hour Childbirth Prep class and then our 3 week Baby Care class series begins. Busy, busy, busy...Dori will be here before we know it!!!

Dorian is a Mama's Boy

I went to the doctor for my bi-monthly check-up today. Dorian's heartbeat was strong and clear. My blood pressure was low and urine sample was negative. My uterus has grown the appropriate amount since the last visit, and the doctor was pleased with my weight gain. Imagine my shock when the doctor felt around my abdomen and told me that Dorian is already in proper birthing position!!! His head is above my pelvic area, his bottom is up near my diaphragm, and his legs are tucked under. I asked the doctor if he would continue to move into other positions. She said that more likely than not, he was there to stay. She said this happens in some pregnancies and does not mean pre-term labor is likely. She even checked my cervix and it is good and closed.

James and I were joking on the phone that he is obviously my son - he is a little planner already. James said he probably had it on his to-do list weeks ago! Seriously though, it does make me wonder, will Dorian be here sooner rather than later? As mentioned in my previous post, he could be born anywhere between 37-42 weeks. Does this mean he'll be born closer to the 37 week mark than the 42 week mark? I posted this question on an online pregnancy forum I belong to. So far, the responses seem to point this way (based on other women's experiences).

Let the betting begin!!!

Kelly

P.S. I have started feeling Dorian's hiccups this week - so cute!

General blabber

Not much to report here, but thought I'd check in and bore you all with the minute details of my life anyway. No pictures for you because the photographer is on an East Coast tour. He will be returning toward the middle of next week. YAY! James is doing great, having a blast on tour. Dorian and I are doing great too, though missing James a bit now. I feel like every day I wake up and I am bigger. Seriously. I have put on 4 pounds in the past 2 weeks and my belly feels very tight. It's hard to explain if you haven't been pregnant before. It feels like my abdomen is getting stretched, which I guess is exactly what is happening! Dorian's movements have lessened, but I am told this normal, due to the fact that he is so much bigger now. He is estimated to be just over 3 pounds, or almost half what his birth weight will be. He is a happy baby already, moving when he hears my voice and especially when I talk to James on the phone.

Now that summer school is over, I have completely finished my nursing prerequisites. The next step will be to apply to nursing school, but unfortunately, applications for Fall 2008 are not available until October-March. It will give me something to do in between feedings and naps, I suppose! I am working 3 full days a week at the accounting firm in Half Moon Bay. I couldn't do more than that due to the brutal commute. Luckily, my bosses have been so flexible with my schedule ever since I told them I wanted to be a nurse last year. I am so incredibly thankful to have landed this job. I will definitely be working this schedule through the end of September. The doctor will reassess me then. I hope to keep working up until the baby is born, though the commute to Half Moon Bay may not be feasible.

I had a great experience this week on BART (the subway). First of all, let me say how shocked I am that people don't get up for pregnant women in the Bay Area!!! Maybe 50% of the time I get offered a seat, but definitely 50% of the time I don't. Maybe when I am so big I am toppling over, more people with offer them to me? It's pretty horrifying to me because I ALWAYS offer my seat to the elderly, disabled, young children and pregnant women. I don't mind so much for me because I am feeling healthy and doing okay so far, but it's the principle! On Tuesday, the train was packed and I had to stand. On Wednesday, it was the same thing for the first few minutes. Then, all of a sudden, I heard this woman yell "Get up! Give the pregnant woman a seat!" I looked up and saw this woman standing over a man who was sitting down with headphones on his ears and using a laptop. Everyone on the train turned to stare! The man looked really embarrassed and quickly got up. The woman then told me to sit down. I was pretty embarrassed too, but her heart was obviously in the right place.

Our house is looking good. Dad is on to painting the third room, and the contractor will be starting the (minor) building work soon. I am going through all our junk and throwing things out like crazy! It is amazing to me that we have accumulated this much stuff in 3 years. I absolutely can not stand clutter, so I am actually having a wonderful time getting rid of things we do not need. James and I have decided to get rid of our TV. We NEVER watch it. The only things we ever watch are movies on our laptops, or downloaded programs. We are following in my parents' footsteps. As a child, I never watched TV. Mom and Dad did not think it was good for us so they kept their TV set locked in the attic. It wasn't until I was an adolescent that we finally got a TV with a VCR so we could watch films. I definitely think not watching TV as a child helped me focus on my education and forced me to find other ways to spend my time.

Anyway, I need to go for a power walk as it has been a few days (with work and all). I hope everyone is having a great summer. Food for thought: I am 31 weeks pregnant. 37 weeks is considered full-term (though estimated due dates are always at the 40 week mark). Dorian could feasibly be here, 100% healthy and ready to take home from the hospital, in 6 weeks! CRAZY!!!!! We're going to be parents in 6-11 weeks, however you look at it!

When is the baby shower?

In a word: Never.

I have had so many people ask me when our baby shower will be that I thought it was time to address this issue on the blog. I do not believe in baby showers. I have been to too many showers that were all about the presents. You are supposed to be welcoming a new life into this world, not greedily trying to get as many presents as you can from your acquaintances. I have been invited to the baby showers of people who had all but fallen from my memory, only to receive invitations to their baby showers. Now, I do not mean to attack those of you who have had/plan to have baby showers. I think they can be great celebrations of life if done tastefully. I have no problem going to them and giving gifts to the future babies of dear friends and family. I just don't believe in them for me. I am lucky my husband feels the same way. We didn't have a wedding registry for the same reason. In my opinion, there's nothing tackier than getting an invite to a wedding (or not even getting the invite!), in addition to a long laundry list of what you are supposed to purchase for the bride and groom. And you can be sure Dorian's birthday parties will be all about playing games and being outside and having fun. My kid will have a serious talk if he becomes all about the "Gimme, gimme, gimme" at his birthday party.

I love presents as much as the next person, but I believe they should be given because the gift-giver genuinely wants to give them, not because they are expected (or even required!) to. Please don't hate me for my convictions, just accept them as more Kelly-quirks. Thank you to all of you who have expressed interest in coming to a baby shower for Dorian (and looking horrified when I explain why there will not be one). I don't mean to seem ungrateful. I am so lucky to have people who care about my family and want to celebrate this amazing experience with us. I hope all of you will come see Dorian after he is born. That's what it is all about, isn't it? Dorian will know he is loved through the arms that hold him, the smiling eyes of the people who look at him, and the time spent with him.

27 years old and pregnant

I celebrated my 27th birthday on July 24th. It was a very relaxing day with my favorite pregnancy necessities: food (beef and ice cream), activities (eating and napping), and people (parents and James). 27 years old sounds very adult to me, but then I must remember, if I am having a child, I must be an adult! In May 2006 I saw my general practitioner for a check-up and mentioned that James and I were trying for a baby. She looked at my chart and said, "Oh, so you'll be 26 when you have your first child. That's pretty close." She proceeded to tell me her theory (from 30+ years of medical experience) that 27 is the perfect age to have your first child. She said she has watched hundreds of women become pregnant and start families and has found that on average, 27 is the prime age for pregnancy. She told me she based this on optimal physical and mental health, ease of labor, recovery time, financial and emotional stability and more. So, I guess our miscarriage last summer proved her right. My body obviously wanted to wait until I was 27 to have my first child. And what a big first child he will be...

Home stretch!

I'm in the third trimester now. 7 months pregnant this week. You'll get a belly picture eventually. Remember the theme of this blog? No pictures for you. ;)

James and I have both been busier than I ever thought possible. He leaves for a 3 week tour in 4 days, so has been rushing around preparing for that, gigging, teaching and helping my dad paint the first room in our flat. As you know, I had a 17 page paper and an exam in Microbiology last week, plus work and a whole situation with a turtle we're trying to rescue. Long, long story - basically, we found a turtle in our yard but no one wants it and none of the shelters will take it. He has been out of his natural habitat for over a month (he is an aquatic turtle). I have spent hours and hours trying to find someone who will take him in. I don't even like turtles, so I must really be nuts to spend so much time helping him. I just don't want an animal to die in our yard.

Anyway, on top of all this I am really starting to feel pregnant now. Still loving every minute of being pregnant and probably having it easier than most, but I can tell I am now in the third trimester. The first trimester was somewhat rough. The second trimester was easy for the most part. Now, just as I've heard, things are getting a little more challenging. This week, Dorian has been up to his old tricks of using my bladder as a mattress. I have peed no less than 10 times a night all week. Plus I wake up at EVERY little noise and then it can take me an hour to fall back asleep. I am exhausted. I started having intense back and hip pain this week and my femurs (thigh bones) ache when I lie on them for more than an hour. Since I can't sleep on my back or stomach (not good for baby or blood flow to placenta), I have no choice but to lie on them. Needless to say, I have not felt 100% this week. Friday morning was so bad, I woke up and was convinced I was back in the first trimester...I was soooooo nauseated. I am sure this was from exhaustion. I had to call in sick to work - I was so bummed because it was the first sick day I have had in over a year and I was determined to make it through this pregnancy without any!

Now before all you start lecturing me - "Oh, you think you're tired now!" "Just you wait until the baby is born." "This is nothing!" - I don't want to hear it. This is my blog and I can complain if I want to. There's a huge difference between being 7 months pregnant, churning out 17 page Microbiology papers, commuting to HMB and working 10 hour days and caring for a baby where I can stay in bed all day with the baby and hopefully be able to sleep when the baby is sleeping. It's going to be easy caring for a newborn, right? Piece of cake! ;)

I better sign off for now and get on to my to-do list. You have no idea how much we have to do before this baby is born. We have a to-do list the length of Homer's The Odyssey. Finish summer school, start and complete nursing applications, baby classes, CPR classes (for nursing school), work in HMB, continue my 1-1.5 hour daily power walks (I am convinced this is helping me stay sane and have a healthy pregnancy), various doctor appointments for me (I start seeing the doctor every 2 weeks instead of every month now), sort out pediatrician, health insurance, passport and more for Dorian, buy the rest of the baby stuff we need, go through all our junk, organize the house, hypnotherapy for hypnobirthing, read 3 books and do daily exercises assigned to me by hypnotherapist, move from room to room in our house as each room gets painted....our house is a complete mess because of the renovations and painting. It will probably be like this until early October. I know it will be worth it in the end, but right now, I have to keep reminding myself that it's good to be busy!!! Sometimes I wish I had a personal assistant to help me out with all my tasks. I'd love to be one of those pregnant women who could sit in a garden with ice tea and a book for 9 months...then again, do they even exist anymore?

No comment? No posting!

So if you've been wondering why I haven't written in almost 2 weeks, it's because I'm on strike. I have decided that until more people start leaving comments, why should I bother posting? I don't work for nothing, you know.

Just kidding (though I do appreciate comments!) I have been massively busy with my Microbiology class. I just turned in a 17 page paper and have our third exam this Thursday. I will write more once the exam is over. Especially if you all promise to start leaving comments (those of you who already comment - thank you and keep up the good work!)

James is going to take a picture of me tomorrow so you can see the belly growth. Dorian's definitely cooking now!!!

Is it wrong to find this so funny?

Okay, normally I don't like it when parents make their kids do cute things for the camera or train them to perform routines (particularly ones that are WAY too mature for them). Kids are naturally cute and should stay young forever. I know I won't let Dorian grow up.

Having said that, this is the funniest video I have seen in a long time!!! I had to post it. I laughed out loud for a good ten minutes. If you haven't seen the Beyonce "Crazy in Love" video, you probably won't find it quite as funny (though still cute).



How is it that even a toddler can dance better than me?!

Pregnancy Developments

This has to be quick as I am supposed to be studying for a Microbiology exam (ah, procrastination - I am so good at it!)

Recent developments in our world:

1. I am 25 weeks pregnant.
2. Dorian has really been moving like crazy, and his movements are getting stronger by the day. So much so that we can now see the movement on the outside of my belly as it happens. It looks like I am exhaling (when I'm not).
3. James sang to the baby while resting his head on my belly 2 nights ago. Apparently, Dorian either loved this or hated this because he kicked James in the face twice! It was hilarious.
4. My breasts started leaking this week. It is a clear to yellowish fluid called colostrum and may or may not increase up until (and obviously, after) the birth. A little weird, but as it's normal, I'll take it. I thought about posting some pictures on the blog, but then decided some might view this as obscene. I know you Brits wouldn't, but I have to remember half our readers are American and not used to "indecent" exposure of the boobies.
5. A couple people have asked me what the status is on my job with the accounting firm - I realized I forgot to update you all on this after I helped out with the big office move. I am working 10 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays through August 4th (when my class is completed). I am commuting to Half Moon Bay, which is something I would not do if this were a full-time job. However, since I only have to commute twice a week, it's not too bad. My employers and I have not discussed my future after August 4th so stay tuned.

As tomorrow is July 4th, I'll leave you with a heartfelt "Happy Independence Day!" Whatever.

Equation babies!

Congratulations to James' former band mates Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman! Kath gave birth naturally to twin girls yesterday on the night of a Blue Moon in England. She and the babies are doing well. Welcome to the world, Poppy and Lilly! We can't wait for you to meet Dorian at Christmas - maybe you'll make beautiful music together like your parents do.

James and I met while he was touring the US with Equation in 2000. Click here to hear a clip of Equation song "Mother and Child." Shameless promotion time: If you're interested in purchasing a CD, please contact me! :) Equation was and still is one of my favorite bands ever, and not just because I love their electric guitarist.

Kath and Sean now play as a folk duo. As you all know (or should know by now!!!), James now plays in the band Tempest.

Age of Viability Reached...

I am now 24 weeks (6 months!!!) pregnant. Actually, according to my doctor, I was 24 weeks pregnant a couple days ago. We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and she reviewed the stats from our 22 week ultrasound. She said the baby was measuring 2 days ahead (already a little over-achiever, like his parents!) However, unless the baby is measuring a week behind or ahead, the official estimated due date is not changed.

24 weeks is the standard "age of viability," which is the earliest a baby can survive if born early. Some babies have survived after being born as early as 21-22 weeks, but 24 weeks is when more than 50% of babies born at this time will survive (with intensive neonatal care). At 25 weeks, approximately 70% will survive and at 26 weeks, this figure jumps to 90%. Almost all babies born at 30 weeks will survive (once again, with specialized hospital care).

I should mention there is absolutely no reason whatsoever to think I will go into labor this early and it is not something I worry about (honestly!!!) I just find it incredible that babies who weigh merely a pound can survive - aren't we lucky to live in this day and age with our outstanding medical technology? I might be interested in going into neonatal nursing so I am trying to use this pregnancy as an excuse to further educate myself on all things fetal.

However, before I become a nurse I need to ace Microbiology so back to studying...