Monday 5 May 2008

Baby Update, Almost 36 Weeks

Almost, but not quite. I will meet with the Doctors tomorrow, as anticipated. I have a couple questions in mind, mostly about the Braxton Hicks contractions that settle in around 2:30 pm everyday and last through dinner. Around 6 per hour. Doesn't seem to matter if I am active or not, how much water I drink, what position I am in. Everyday. Done by bedtime. I can't find anything about this online, just that BH are normal. I didn't have anything like this with Lil'Bug.

I am guessing it's a good thing anyway since a baby hasn't fallen out yet. :) I might just skip asking until I see the midwife next week. Depends on how comfortable I feel with the Doc.

I am huge, BTW. Now every time I go out someone asks if I am having twins, due yesterday, or carrying a big boy. When I say due in June, one little girl, the reply is anything from, "Right...." to "You know, docs can get it wrong, you may have twin boys in there...." Ugh. Why does pregnancy invite strangers to comment on my reproductive organs anyway? Or my weight. I know I am huge. HUGE, but that doesn't make it ok to guess my poundage. Or comment on my butt, thighs, or lack of neck (which I think is weird, since I still have a chin line). Anyway, it makes me not want to go out.

Also, I have a question for anyone who'll take it up:
What, if anything, did you take to the hospital that you ended up using? Last time we packed tons of things and used very few. So far I have PJ's, robe, socks with treads, baby outfit, de-tangler, comb, hair ties, receiving blanket, underwear, camera. That's it. Oh, and the outfit I wear there, I'll wear home. I feel like I am missing something......

Blogoversary

I started this blog last May, towards the end of the month when I finally got up the courage. For a couple of years my only experience with blogs was MySpace and LiveJournal and only reading them. It wasn't until I joined the local homeschool network that I discovered the other formats and possibilities. Now I can't even imagine doing a Meme by email!

So in honor of my upcoming one year blogoversary, I am resurrecting the first blog Meme I ever did: The Seven Random Things and I will update and reflect!

Seven random things (that bug me):

1) People who ask for input or ideas when really they don't want input or ideas. What they want is for you to do something for them. I would really rather they just asked directly.

*Last week I might have also added "People who do this and then when you do the implied thing for them do not say thank you." But, whatever. I will do a whole new post on this next.

2) People who think they are cars. Yes, we have sidewalks, perfectly good ones that are always cleared of debris and snow....but yet I almost run over at least 30 people while I am driving in and out of my neighborhood because they refuse to use said perfectly good sidewalks. Why? They think they are cars. Beep beep.

*Still bugs me. However, I think now that my flowers are in bloom I would rather people walk as far away from my yard as possible. I'm not driving every day anymore either, so I don't encounter the people-cars as much.

3) Itty bitty parking spaces. I am perfectly between the lines and so is the big SUV on my left....and yet, I cannot open my door and thus load groceries easily, let alone get the cart up to my car.

*There is a local mall that not only has itty bitty parking spaces but they are all at a weird non-parallel to each other angle. It is so annoying especially in winter when you can't see the lines anyway and the lines of cars snake into each other, but even in good weather this arrangement of rows make zero sense to me.

4) People who take the fact that we homeschool as a personal insult to their own parenting choices. I mean, why is this?

*I used to think that was their problem. I don't think so anymore. I think I may have come off as pompous and snotty about our choice. Perhaps that was their problem? Sometimes it is easier to blame something else than to admit that people don't like me for me. I may have more degrees than 3 elementary public school teachers combined, but that does not make me a better or more qualified homeschooler. In fact, the thing I lack would: patience. So, I am working on that.


5) Myspace. Specifically, my little sister's myspace page. I won't explain it, it just bugs me. I could link to it, but I'll just leave it to your imagination.

*This doesn't bug me anymore either. Last term I would have said my students' MySpace was the cause of much angst but I'm over that now too. People seek out what they need. I think that, if anything, a factor that bugs me is people lying on their blogs about who they are and what they do, IRL. It serves no purpose. I don't mean screen names and psudonyms, but rather hobbies and interests or crisis. At one point I had created a fictional author so I could participate on a newspaper forum and my students wouldn't recognize me. I see that as stupid now. It was me with a false background. It lasted about two weeks before I came to the conclusion that it was icky and I changed my profile to me and started a blog of my own.

6) The fact that the "beep beep" cart at the grocery store doesn't fit through the checkout lane. I don't feel bad at all about leaving it by the candy/magazine rack for store employees to deal with. I have to deal with groceries and screaming tot who wants to park the darn thing in the middle of the Doritos display.

*Still a HUGE problem.


7) Laundry. It never goes away. It multiplies when you add water and gets really ugly when you feed it after midnight.

*Yup, this too. Now that I cannot easily pick things up off the floor it is much much worse. Also, standing and folding hurts my back. As much as Lil'Bug and Dearest try and help, we are slowing losing the battle. I'd rather have Gremlins.

More Spring!

This is the first time I've seen our pear and plum trees in blossom. Last year the late frost killed the buds and the year before the trees were victims of juvenile vandalism.

Perhaps we shall see some fruit this year? That would be awesome!

The same late frost was an issue with the magnolias last year. This year? Their beauty amazes me. I love magnolias!


This Spring has been full of life and wonder, even if the warmer temperatures and sunshine were late coming. It seems like the hurt and sadness that started last Spring has finally passed and we have found ourselves rooted in good ground. We've decided to stay put for another year, take the tasks of trying to sell the house more gently and enjoy the new baby and the summer and living in our home.....for once! We've always rushed around, frantic on some project, always doing it for an external factor. This summer we will simply enjoy. When we are ready, we will stick the sign in the yard and figure out where we are headed. It may be far, it may be near BUT hopefully the housing market won't be as scary!

Thursday 1 May 2008

Backyard Bugs April 29



Confirmation. Scary grub= June Bug!