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May 17, 2007

And A Stroke Is Just A Headache

May 17, 2007 By

Actually seen on a labor and childbirth message board:

I’m 38 weeks and just took a Tylenol for a headache, but now I’m worried. What if I go into labor and can’t feel it? Could the Tylenol keep me from knowing if I go into labor?

Now, I’ll admit up front that I’ve never gone through labor, so I don’t have full knowledge of the pain involved. But if a Tylenol can completely mask the pain of labor, then pregnant women everywhere would be screaming out for Tylenol instead of epidurals, and drug dealers would be selling Tylenol dime bags just outside the hospital and OB offices.

Filed Under: pregnancy Tagged With:


May 15, 2007

A Broken Record

May 15, 2007 By

Good god, the only thing I can think of to write about is this pregnancy. It’s like it has swallowed up the rest of my life while I sit and wait for labor to start. I am officially the most boring blogger ever.

Oh, and can I tell you how many calls I’ve had in the past week? You’d think someone had announced I was carrying the reincarnation of Elvis with the number of calls I’ve received asking, “Any baby yet?” Trust me, folks – when the baby gets here, you’ll know. We’re not secretly plotting to hide this new baby away from friends and family until she’s in school.

As for when she’ll make her grand entrance…who knows. No impending signs of labor yet, even after walking for roughly 6 hours at the zoo on Saturday. My doctor thinks she’s waiting until we pick a name for her (yes, still no name), while I think she’s just prissy and waiting for a formal invitation, on parchment paper with calligraphy, to be delivered, requesting her presence outside of my uterus at her earliest convenience.

And then there are the people who aren’t calling to ask if the baby is here yet, but instead telling me, “Just don’t have the baby on Friday. I’m busy then.” Or, “Your grandmother and aunt are out of town this week, so it would be best to wait until next week to go into labor.” Seriously, WTF? You think I can schedule labor? Has it not been made clear that I have no control over this process? Because if so, I would have decided to go into labor as soon as I hit 37 weeks to reduce my chances of having to squeeze out a 10-pound baby.

So I wait. This waiting game is maddening. While there’s no way I want to end up with another c-section, it was kinda nice to know ahead of time when I would be having a baby. And to be honest, I’m feeling pretty good. Sure, I’m tired and sore, but those are minor complaints, and for the most part, I’m still doing my daily routine. My coworkers tell me, “You’re glowing!” but I remind them that it’s 80 degrees outside, so it’s most likely sweat.

Tonight I’m finally going to pack my hospital bag and reassemble the car seat. Maybe that will convince this baby that we’re really ready for her.

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I do still have a toddler, too. (Her antics of late are an entirely different post.) What’s she been up to while I ponder if this baby will be born in May or June? Well, mostly watching a lot of TV. Check out one of our newest DVD finds, Boca Beth, over at Mommy’s Must Haves, and win a copy for yourself.

Filed Under: pregnancy


May 14, 2007

My Chinese Fortune

May 14, 2007 By

Since it was Mother’s Day, I had the honor of choosing dinner, so I picked Chinese. My fortune cookie fortune?

You will soon take a very pleasant and successful trip.

Let’s hope that trip is to the labor & delivery floor of the hospital, and I really hope I’ll be able to describe it as “pleasant and successful”.

My lucky numbers were 12, 34, 5, 16, 8, and 27. I’m aiming for the 16th – the 27th is way too long to wait.

Happy Mother’s Day, everyone!

Filed Under: pregnancy


May 12, 2007

I Still Don’t Have A New Shirt

May 12, 2007 By

Last week, I spent a little time to go out shopping for myself. Knowing I’ll be able to ditch the maternity clothes soon, I wanted to grab a few new summer t-shirts. I do have several older t-shirts in my closet, but many have been stained thanks to the serious efforts of a toddler I know to drop things on me and use me as her personal napkin and tissue. I figured I deserved a little something new for myself.

I walked into Old Navy, started to look through the summer specials on the tables in the middle of the store, examining all of the new summer colors and thinking about what I could pair different shirts with. But then I absentmindedly wandered away and soon found myself in the section of the store that doesn’t fit anyone larger than 4T. I browsed the sale racks, looked at the new tank tops, and oohed over the cute summer dresses.

Twenty minutes later, I left the store with two t-shirts and a tank top – all sized 4T. Oh, and just to make sure I didn’t forget anyone, I also bought a sleeper for the new baby, too.

What happened to my plans to buy new clothes for myself? I wish I could claim this was an isolated incident, but this is often how it happens. I have every intention of splurging on myself, but then my “mommy brain” takes over and suddenly my wants are in the back of my mind, and replacing them are the needs for my child.

A few weeks ago, I sorted Cordy’s clothing and found that my Amazon child had outgrown 99% of her clothing from last year. That left her nothing for this summer, requiring an entire new wardrobe. I bought her a few things at a local used clothing store, but it still wasn’t much. I didn’t even have an entire week’s worth of outfits for her.

So naturally, when I walked into Old Navy last week, that little subconscious part of my brain directed my feet back to the children’s clothing section of the store, and I left with nothing for myself and more summer clothing for Cordy. Eh, I guess new clothes for me can wait. I’m not the one changing sizes every season.

This ability to place my child’s needs above my own is only one part of what makes me a mother. And thinking about this topic reminds me so much of my own mother. My parents divorced when I was a baby, and we had very little when I was growing up. Yet my mom always made sure I had new clothes for school, and even occasionally let me buy brand name clothing that cost way too much. One year, she even bought me one pair of Guess jeans – I was in heaven.

However, as a self-absorbed teen, it didn’t occur to me that my mom never had new clothing. It wasn’t until college, when she showed up for my honor society induction in a dress I wore to a dinner my freshman year of high school that I realized that I could recognize every outfit she ever wore. All of her clothing consisted of gifts, really old and well-worn jeans, or clothing that I had cast off in favor of clothing that was more “cool”. She never bought herself new clothing, because she felt she needed to provide for me first.

And now I see that the same instinct is alive and well in me. It’s not just my love of cute clothing for toddlers that keeps me from buying more for myself – it’s all part of being a mom.

Parent Bloggers and Light Iris are having a Blog Blast asking everyone, “What is it that makes YOU a mom?” They’re giving away a $100 Spa Finder gift certificate to one lucky writer who addresses this question in a blog post. If you want to enter, you’ve got until midnight tonight.

Edit: This post was one of the winners in TheGoodBlogs Mother’s Day contest – yay!

Filed Under: being a mom, memories Tagged With:


May 12, 2007

Real Moms Brag

May 12, 2007 By


We may underplay our parenting skills, but one thing real moms won’t hold back on is talking about their children. Real moms know their kids are the best out there, and we’re not afraid to brag about it.

I mean, look at that face. (Click the picture to see that adorable face up close.) Those gorgeous blue eyes filled with both innocence and a twinge of mischief. That pretty, smooth skin. Those curls – oh, the curls! Her golden blonde curls attract many admirers at the playground, the mall, the grocery store…everywhere.

I know my daughter is beautiful, and I happily beam with pride that I created her from the building blocks in my body (with half of the DNA coming from daddy, of course). Where I see imperfections with myself, I see perfection in her.

But she’s not just the sum of her outward beauty. She’s also a bright, interesting little person that we’re learning more about every day. She loves numbers, counting all the way to 19 in English and 10 in Spanish. She can also recognize written numbers, reading off prices in the store, state routes on highway signs, and the address of any house we visit. She knows her shapes and colors, and can spend an hour sorting items by shape and color. Her sense of humor is unique, filled with knock knock jokes that don’t make sense to anyone except her.

I take pictures of her all the time. I want to preserve each new day, watching her grow and change slowly over time. I want to proudly introduce her to the world and celebrate each new milestone.

Of course, you should know I’m not insane. She’s not the ideal child by any means. I know others don’t see her the way I do: they don’t see that spark inside of her that I see. And that’s partially because every mom sees their own child as I see mine. They see past any imperfections to that inner soul, that reflection of something bigger than they are. Your own child is your legacy, your greatest project, your hardest job, and is undeniably a part of you.

So I understand if you see Cordy’s curls as a little unruly, or her skin a little too pale, or her temper a little too hard to handle. That’s OK – she’s amazing to me, and I’m not afraid to tell everyone about it. And I’ll happily listen to you brag about your amazing child as well. Because real moms aren’t afraid to brag – we know our kids are pretty damn special.

This post is an entry for the Real Mom Truths contest! The winner will receive this amazing 4G iPod Nano and Chocolate gift set, plus a link to their post on True Mom Confessions on Mother’s Day.

Filed Under: Cordy Tagged With: