Cold Spaghetti

5:30am. My Dad hears noises from the living room. He gets up to investigate.

Will has climbed out of bed and come downstairs. He is lying on the sofa, propped up with pillows behind his shoulders. His Navy ballcap is on his head, cocked sideways. He has “Traditional Home” magazine open and resting on his stomache. In a quiet voice, he talks to himself while perusing the pages.

My Dad says, “Will, it’s 5:30 in the morning. What are you doing?”

Barely looking up, my 2-year old answers, “I’m reading.”

As of yesterday morning, I am officially in the clear to give delivery at Mama’s Cradle! Hooray!

Friday was our big prenatal meeting with everyone present who is going to be at the birth. My Mom, Paul and I, Vicki (midwife), and Donna (doula extraordinaire) were all there. We discussed the birth plan, some last minute decisions (do we want Vitamin K and Erythromycin? Ans: probably not, only if Kate is born with existing bruising or evidence of infection and then only towards the end of the 2-hour post-delivery window), discussion of Group Beta Strep (we took a sample just in case of a transfer to a medical facility — the last thing I want is either of us on antibodics for days), and a pelvic exam. The pelvic was basically unnecessary, but since I opted for the Strep sample and was a little nervous based on symptoms over the past few days, we did it.

Bottom line: the Braxton-Hicks I’m having are working. I’m about 3 cm dilated (which is nothing) and could continue to slowly dilate, or hold here for awhile until my body decides it’s time to produce oxytocin. Cervix is soft and starting some effacement. What does this all mean? That I’m in a normal place at 37 weeks and labor could happen at any time, but not necessarily. It would not be abnormal to go to 42 weeks, it would not be abnormal to go tomorrow.

Personally, my fingers are crossed that Kate will manage two more weeks of uterine splendor.

I am now in Mobile full-time. Paul is home working like a madman to get the house in as much order as possible. Be sure to check out his great progress and send encouragement!

Paul and I have been participating in a community, parent-lead effort to start a Reggio-Emilia inspired preschool in Uptown New Orleans. The dream is about to be reality; by the time we get back to the city with Kate, Will should be able to start at his new school.

Today, the school policies, procedures, and release forms arrived. The Abeona House release has to be the coolest, most positive child-related document I’ve ever seen.

THE ABEONA RELEASE

I release my child, ___, into the care of the loving staff of the Abeona House Child Discovery Center.

I am fully aware that my child will participate in the following:
– Making mud pies
– Dancing wildly
– Looking for and playing with bugs
– Eating sugary birthday cupcakes
– Laughing hysterically
– Thinking deeply
– Getting wet
– Making friends
– Playing with glue, paint, clay, plaster, and wood
– Building with sticks, toothpicks, shoeboxes
– Getting new hairdos (sans scissors)
– Stretching…mind, body, and ever-beautiful spirit

In essence, participating whole-heartedly in CHILDHOOD.

I have read the Abeona House policies and procedures outlined in the general information guide and fully comply with them.

Signed: (Will’s very happy parents who wish they too, could enroll)

Food, usually something I find exciting, has been anything but for the past few weeks. Everything tastes bland, nothing strikes me as interesting, and I have had no preferences (a very rare occurance). But today things got a little interesting. I had a Commander’s Palace lunch today ($7 at the Farmer’s Market and placed in my hands by Chef Tory himself — bargain!) It was a dirty rice and BBQ chicken with some kind of super-deluxe-special marinade that can only come from a 5-star world-class place like CP. Normally I don’t eat meat at all and the few times I have had meat, chicken is not what I usually chose. But it was the first food I’ve been even remotely interested in for the past few weeks and I’m really happy I did. If we had more time this week, I’d be gunning for Paul to take me someplace awesome (like Bayona!) It’s good to know that I can still perk up to good NOLA eats.

Today is 36 weeks and 3 days. My body is definitely showing signs of labor preparation.

– Energy. I’m tired. Exhausted, really. Completely and totally wiped out. (And a bit cranky.)
– Kate’s Position. I think she’s dropped. There is a ton of pressure in my pelvis and a few times a day I wonder if she’s going to stick a hand out of my butt to wave to the world.
– Heartburn. Still some heartburn, particularly in the evening.
– Cramps. Fairly frequent, but very irregular Braxton-Hicks. (I’m really surprised that these bother folks so much. I find them very mild and go away quickly with a little bit of movement.)
– Food. All food seems bland and un-interesting.
– Mood. Tired, overwhelmed, mildly excited about meeting the baby but hoping that she’ll wait until Paul gets more stuff done around the house!

On Sunday, Andrea and Leigh Ann, two of my friends from our PhD cohort, held a baby shower for Baby Kate and I! Eva, Hongyun, and Gina rounded out our department and were joined by my Mom, Aunt Sandy (long-time family friend) and Will. Andrea and Leigh Ann decorated Andrea’s apartment with baby clothes that included my Mom’s christening gown (which I also wore), a baby sundress of mine, and one of Will’s newborn jumpers. We decorated onesies and socks with fabric paints (fun!), opened generous presents filled with beautiful baby girl clothes and accessories, ate strawberry shortcake, and enjoyed Will’s entertainment. (Baby Kate also brought him presents, compliments of Aunt Sandy and my Mom!) It was wonderful fun and we are now very well stocked in baby clothes for Kate — hooray! (photos below compliments of Hongyun!)

I’m preparing my birthing supplies and need some help.

— Anyone have suggestions for good music to labor by? I’m not sure what my mood will be. We’re trying to prepare a number of CDs of different types. What artists/albums/songs would you choose/suggest?

— After some rest following delivery, I must eat a “reward meal” before leaving the birth center. Anything I want, provided that either we bring it to heat up there or can get it at one of the many restaurant choices. Lately, food has been bland and dull to me and I can’t get excited about anything, so I am at a loss. What would you choose/suggest?

Please help us figure out when Kate is coming! We’ve started a “Baby Pool” — one that doesn’t require you to give your email address, etc. Just go to the link below, register your guesses, and you’re done!

http://bebepool.com/babykate

Impressive? OH YEAH.

My happy guys — happy because Mommy made them BLACK MOONS! Yummy!