Maternity & Family Photos

Several weeks ago, my cousin, Cheryl (or Tricia according to Camden) hopped across the pond to take some maternity and family photos for us.  

You can imagine my elation (as I wait for what seems like forever for this baby to decide she's ready to arrive) when I got an email from her today.

So while I impatiently wait for a squishy baby to swoon over, I'll be swooning over these pictures.

Take Luck,

LP

  

39 Weeks

The Bump ain't joking around when they compare a baby at 39 weeks to a watermelon.  I'm quite certain there isn't any more room left in my body for this child to occupy.  I'm also quite certainly shocked that I have reached 39 weeks.

Knowing I was making dilation and effacement progress the past several weeks is a total blessing and a curse.  It was (and is!) exciting to know that my body is preparing for labor and delivery of this baby, but it's also been super irritating for me to remain in this "anytime" window of pregnancy.  I would have bet money at 36 weeks that there was no way I was making it to the 39 week mark.  Shows just how little I know and just how much this little ladybug is already running the show.

At my 39 week appointment today, I didn't show any noteworthy progress on the dilation and effacement front.  My OB was gracious enough to sweep membranes in hopes to get things going.  There is no guarantee that it will work, but you can bet your booty I'm holding on tightly to the hope that it will.

There really isn't much else to report, other than me sounding like a big broken record and saying for the hundredth time that I'm ready to meet this little lady.  Speaking of feeling ready - I'm feeling very anxious about when things are going to start really happening.  I keep telling myself to calm the eff down but my little pep-talks aren't working so well.  I'm mentally checked out of work and ready to move onto the next (challenging) phase of a newborn and learning the ropes of two babies.

Come on, baby sister.  We are so ready to meet you!

Take Luck,

LP

Twins?

Today was an interesting one.

I was walking down the stairs to leave my building, with two men walking in front of me.  I made it to the platform when one of the men turned around, made eye contact with me, looked down at my tummy, and said, "Wow, are you having twins?!"

 I would like to state that I know this guy (let's call him Dan), and am not Dan's biggest fan.  He's an arrogant chump in his mid-50's and I find him incredibly obnoxious on both a personal and professional level.  I know I'm getting bigger (hell, I should be at 38 weeks), and honestly could give two hoots about Dan and what he has to say, but Dan is a good 50 pounds overweight and really has no business criticizing or commenting on anyone else's body.

Given that I cannot seem to leave my desk without someone making a comment about my pregnancy or body, you can imagine how a comment/question like, "Wow, are you having twins?!" might push me over the edge.

I'm proud (really proud) to say that instead of shying away and awkwardly laughing off the comment, our conversation went like this:

Dan: Wow, are you having twins?!

Me: Who the hell asks a pregnant woman that question?

Dan: (blank stare) Uhhhh...

Me: No, seriously.  Not cool.

Dan: Well, I haven't seen you in a while and you've gotten a lot bigger.

Me: Yes, well, that's what happens when you are a week from your due date.

Dan: (total insincere and thinking he's hilarious) It's been 20 years since my wife was pregnant.  I'm sorry I just shouldn't say anything.

Me: Yes, exactly.

Thankfully we were walking out of the building and to our vehicles during this conversation so I didn't have to make eye contact.  Otherwise I would have totally lost my nerve, responded with something only mildly sarcastic, and spent the drive to daycare thinking about what I should have said.  Instead, I got in my car, did a little fist pump and was really proud of myself for telling 'ol Dan exactly what I thought of his comment/question.

My only regret was that I didn't respond to "Wow, are you having twins?!" with "No, are you?" and walked off like a badass.

Source

Take Luck,

LP

38 Weeks

Hello, full term.  Hello, pumpkin sized baby.

It's amazing (and amazingly frustrating) to think how quickly my entire pregnancy flew by.  Until now.  It seems like I hit 37 weeks and everything came to a halt.  I really hate this stage of pregnancy where things can start happening "anytime."  Like every other pregnant woman in the world, the Type A planner in me would pay big money for a crystal ball that could tell me when all this false labor is going to turn into the big show.

For now, I'll just keep (impatiently) waiting.

What else has been going on lately?

As ready as I am to have this baby, I'm also having super mixed feelings and emotions about Cam not being my one and only anymore.  Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to welcome this baby girl and to give him a sibling - but another part of me is sad that this chapter in his little life and our life together is closing.  I tried to put my 38 week pregnancy exhaustion and discomfort aside this past weekend and make a point to do fun things with him.  Not that he will remember, of course.

We went to the Armed Forces Day Parade on Saturday morning, swimming at the YCMA in the afternoon, and for fro-yo afterwards.  We played and played on Sunday and went back for a swim at the YMCA in the afternoon.  I would like to note that getting in and out of the pool was no easy task for this giant-bellied-mommy.  My mom met us to watch him swim and the two of them would clap for me after each entrance to/exit from the water.  And to be completely honest, I feel the applause was well deserved.  

I'm quite confident that my co-workers (I'm looking at you, male engineers) believe that I've reached the point in my pregnancy where I'm going to spontaneously erupt and give birth at any second.  In fact, I was sitting in on a division meeting recently and our division head asked me, "So, Lauren, you're due just about any second right?"  I awkwardly laughed, waved my hand, and with a straight face responded, "No, no.  More like any minute."  Co-workers will ask me when my maternity leave begins and my response has remained the same, "I'll be here until she comes."  Some of these men look at me as though I mean that literally - as in I will be at work until she is literally leaving my body.

Speaking of co-workers, I cannot walk down the hallway without receiving comments on my body and/or pregnancy.  More "Woah," and lots of "I thought for sure you'd have had that baby by now."  My personal favorite was when I was wearing a striped maternity dress last week and someone graciously pointed out that "... stripes don't make you look smaller."

When picking up Camden from daycare last week, one little girl said to me, "I love your skirt."  And then her older sister quickly followed that compliment up with, "I love your big belly."  Needless to say, I was much happier to receive body/pregnancy comments from these little girls than insensitive old men.

I'm still having lots of contractions and cramping and thanks to my appointment this morning, I know that they are doing more than just annoy me.  More progress on the dilation and effacement front.  Thank you, Jesus.  The baby is low, my hips and (especially) pelvis are extremely sore and uncomfortable, and there are a lot times when I feel like this baby is going to fall out of me at any moment.

Maybe those insensitive engineers are onto something, after all?

It's hard to believe that whether she comes a little early or right on time - it won't be long now!

Take Luck,

LP

Mother's Day

My third Mother's Day is in the books and I can hardly believe it.

We celebrated my mom on Saturday by taking the ferry to Seattle so we could meet up with my little sister and spend the day celebrating the amazing mother that she is.

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo where he Cam didn't seem too interested in the animals (other than the penguins) but after witnessing his dance moves on the lawn - I was mostly convinced that the wild beast belonged there.

My little sister captured a really sweet moment between my mom and I.  We were standing there, watching a bird you wouldn't expect to see sitting in a tree sit on a tree (I know, super exciting), and my mom was feeling the baby move inside my big 'ol belly.  She loves to feel the baby move and I can't say that I blame her.

After the zoo we went to my sister's place so we could eat lunch, Camden could nap, and we could recharge the batteries a bit before going to an early dinner.  What can I say?  We like to eat.

  

A day shy of 37 weeks pregnant and a full stomach courtesy of lunch and dinner makes for one big and uncomfortable baby belly.  We made it home late and thank goodness Hammy didn't put up a fight about going to bed because we were all exhausted.

Sunday morning we all got up together bright and early and Ryan treated me to doing the grocery shopping, filling my car with gas, and bringing home a delicious Starbucks coffee.  When he got home he made sure to tell me that he considered buying me a Mother's Day card and flowers, but then decided - eh, better not.  I've never met someone who takes the phrase "it's the thought that counts" so literally.

Cammy, my 37 week belly, and I played outside a lot and our time included me being traumatized multiple times by the pesky garter snakes that have taken residence in our yard.  Much like Tiff, I do not do snakes.  Or rodents.  Or anything else that is creepy and/or slithery so you can imagine how thrilled I was.

My parents came over for a BBQ and we continued to celebrate the special day with a yummy dinner and a wild beast child.  I swear he woke up from his nap and insisted on being a grumpy, defiant, little monster.  The afternoon and evening saw lots of timeouts and tears (from the both of us).

With it being a challenging parenting day, I found myself feeling really guilty with my frustration and the losing of patience.  I know there are (and will be many more) challenging days, but I also know that the days of "just us" are really, really, really limited.  Thankfully we ended the night with him giving me some sweet goodnight hugs and kisses, but darn it if I didn't feel sad after I shut his door and he went to sleep.

Last year I did some reflection on Mother's Day and how I felt about my little guy.  Not much has changed really - except the love and pride I feel for Camden has exploded and grown even more as he has left the baby behind and grown into a little boy.  Even on the tough days, he brings so much joy and happiness to my life.  I feel immeasurably blessed and fortunate to be his mommy, and feel so grateful to be living the life I live with my guys and this sweet, growing, little ladybug.  I am so excited to give Cam a little sister and for next year's Mother's Day picture to show me holding two sweet babies.

   

Take Luck,

LP 

Camden Says / 03

I know I am completely biased and think the sun shines out of his cute little tooshy, but I knew I had to document another edition of Camden Says before I am sleep deprived and incapable of remembering the funny things my man cub says.

I also completely recognize and accept that I may be the lone person on this earth that finds these little gems to be funny.

Me: What's your name?

Cam: Camden

Me: Camden?

Cam: Yeah, Camden Wobin (Robin) Hood

- Calls his soccer uniform his "unicorn"

- Early one morning...

Cam: Nose wunning (running), mommy

Me: Do you want me to wipe it?

Cam: (inserts finger into nostril) Wook (look), mommy.  A booby.

- Speaking of boobies, this child is obsessed.  Anytime his (or Ryan's) shirt is off...

Cam: (counting boobies) One.  Two.  Two boobies!

And if he has a shirt on and (heaven forbid) he can't see his boobies...

Cam: Where my boobies go?

- After catching a whiff of a familiar aroma, I checked his diaper by peeking in the back and asking "Cam, did you go poo poo?"  He said no and I visually verified that he had not.  Not two minutes later, he went over to Ryan, grabbed at the back of his pants waistband and said, "Daddy, go poo poo?"

- He takes certain rules very seriously (especially those involving pushing, hitting, spitting, biting, and throwing toys), so we hear a lot of "No pushing/hitting/spitting/biting/throwing, Mommy/Daddy," even if those things didn't actually happen.  He doesn't understand that light bottom taps (hitting) and blowing raspberries (spitting and/or biting) are forms of playing and will not hesitate to put you in timeout if you do either to him.

- After a biting incident at daycare (he was the biter) that was brought on by his personal space being invaded (not an excuse, I promise you), we talked to him about what to say when and if someone is touching you and you do not want to be touched - "Please do not touch me, (insert name)."  He repeated it several times to us and then Ryan put his hand on his back and without missing a beat, Cam said, "Please do not touch me, Daddy!"

- When the sun is out he will proclaim, "Thank you, Jesus for the sun!"  This is definitely something he learned at daycare.

- I caught him praying (with his hands folded and eyes closed) in the car recently and he said, "Mommy, Daddy, Zoey, Amen."

- In the car, jamming out to Sir Elton John on the radio...

Me: Cam, can you say, 'Elton John'?

Cam: Elmo John!

- Learning and practicing baby sister's name...

Me: Cam, what is baby sister's name going to be?

Cam: Amboomeps (ambulance)

- Randomly came home from daycare last week and started repeating over and over (and over and over to literally anyone that will listen)...

Cam: I saw (a) polar bear at Ms. Debbie's!

- Last weekend when my cousin, Cheryl, took our maternity/family photos, we talked the entire way to the ferry terminal about how Cheryl was going to get in our car and Cheryl was going to take our pictures.  He was repeating her name and asking "Where Cheryl go?" over and over.  She no sooner gets in the car and Cam started calling her "Miss Tricia" and he called her "Miss Tricia" for the entire time we were together.

Take Luck,

LP

36 Weeks

From the looks of this blog, you'd think this pregnancy was consuming my life as that's all I seem to talk about.  Rest assured that while it's a big part of my life, I do not just sit here caressing my ever expanding tummy and daydreaming about this baby girl.  Well, maybe I do a little bit.

Mom and I got to take a peek at my little honeydew this morning via ultrasound.  I am happy, happy, happy (OK, thrilled) to report that she is definitely head down and weighs a very healthy 5 pounds 15 ounces, give or take whatever the margin of error is on the ultrasound.

With all the Braxton Hicks contractions, sporadic real contractions, and cramping I've had the past several weeks - I was very excited to hear that changes are indeed happening on the dilation and effacement front.  My hope is that this little bug will greet us with her presence a little early (emphasis on the little) but I am well aware that I could stay like this without anything truly happening for the next several weeks.  What will be, will be.  

I had my Strep B test and they also drew blood to check my platelet count.  I don't care what my platelet count is so long as I am in the clear for an epidural.  Judge away, but hear me roar that I have nothing to prove.  I'm going in with the mindset that we'll see how labor goes, but I will not hesitate to ask for the juice if I feel so inclined.

What else has been happening recently? 

We finally got the lead out and moved furniture into baby sister's room and I've slowly been hanging things on the wall.  I seriously could enter a contest for the world's most inept interior designer and the 20 texts and pictures I sent to my Tiff asking for her help/opinion would solidify my nomination.  Aside from the prints my college roommate, Becky designed for me - her room is by no means Pinterest worthy, but it'll do.

Baby has had the hiccups several times in the last two weeks.  I swear Camden had them all the time and from very early on when in utero, and she only just recently started.

The comments I mentioned have begun in the form of "Woah," "Isn't it almost time yet?" and "Oh, you still have that many weeks to go?"  Let's just suffice to say that I've perfected the smile, nod, and "watch it" awkward laugh.  I also really enjoy the men that put their arms/hands out to mimic the size of my tummy - as if I'm not aware.  The funniest part to me is that I don't think I'm that big, so what the hell, people?

The reality that Camden's time as my baby boy/only child is really starting to set in.  Most of the time, I keep my composure and concentrate on the positives of this change, but there are definitely times when I burst into tears.  Between working full time and putting him in daycare, and now only weeks away from rocking his world - my mommy guilt is dangerously high.  I'm trying to soak up and be intentional with all the time I have left with just my Hammy Cammy.

My cousin came over from Seattle this past weekend to take some maternity and family photos of us and I am really, really excited to see them.  She is out of town for the next 10 days, so in case you are wondering, I'll be over here practicing patience until she sends me the goods.  I'll be sure to share.

I'm a real spectacle as I hustle to the bathroom 80 times a day.  Last week I was on my way to the bathroom when I felt a sneeze coming on, so I picked up the pace and was silently pleading with myself, "Don't sneeze! Don't sneeze!"  Sneezing and I are not on the best of terms right now and I would imagine our relationship will continue on this course for quite a while.

I officially see my OB every week from here on out.  

Now excuse me while I go sanitize binkies and bottles, and pack my hospital bag.

Take Luck,

LP