Adventures in Being Myself

(Author's note: obviously this post will be published WELL after 12/18 and MANY things have happened since 12/18. It will take me a while to get caught up. That's part of being a new mama!) As I sit here in my living room, listening for my newborn to cry out for mama between clicks of the keyboard, I cannot help but reflect on the last three weeks. It's December 18th and, if things had gone "according to plan" Peegie and I would be brand-new parents as of YESTERDAY...not seasoned, veteran parents of nearly one week. But, as the saying goes, "if you want to make God laugh, make plans!" Over the last three weeks, I found myself thinking a lot about summer vacation...but, not because of fear of imminent child birth! Every summer, Peegie and I travel to Hope Town, Abaco, for summer vacation. We usually plan our vacation to coincide with Regatta Time in Abaco...a five-race regatta that starts in Green Turtle Cay and ends in Marsh Harbour. Since 2002, we have ...

It was bound to happen. In my case it is later rather than sooner (thankfully...) As my doctor wrote in the note for my employer, "Paige is experiencing a complication of pregnancy that requires bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy." Toxemia. A wicked disease for which the only cure is delivery of a baby. In the meatime, it's Game Over. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Go straight home, lay on your left side, and do not attempt any activity that will elevate your blood pressure. To-do lists, loose ends and plans be damned. This is so not fun, but it could be worse. MUCH worse. To wit: I could be 26 weeks along, instead of 36 weeks. I could be situated in a job without flexibility, benefits, an understanding boss, and technological resources for telecommuting from home. I could be alone, without a loving and doting baby-daddy to cart me to my "social outings" (i.e. weekly prenatal visits) and keep me company. I could have had a challenging pregnancy fro...

I'm actually blinking in this photograph, but Peegie said it looks like I'm in prayer. He's talented with a camera, that man of mine.

At left is a scan of several 3D ultrasound photos from today's visit with my doctors. I continue in wonder at the technology available today, and cannot IMAGINE where we'll be in 20 years. I love the third shot...the sonographer thinks it is a bona fide smile since "babies don't have gas in utero..." We both got a good report today: baby is 2 lbs., 14 oz. (+/- .7 oz) and 15 inches long from tip to toe. Heartbeat was a "perfect" 150 bpm. The coolest news is, although I am 28 weeks, 5 days along, baby's development is at 29 weeks, 6 days, which means baby's development is 8 days ahead of my due date. The doctors have not adjusted my due date, but today's measurements indicate baby could make its grand entrance as early as 12/21. My sister thinks baby will arrive on Christmas Day. I would be okay with that...what greater gift could I ever receive? But, I am NOT okay with her suggestion for a name, should the baby arrive on Christmas Day. Someho...

The day has finally come...I can't avoid it any longer...I finally look pregnant . It's good timing because I'm back in Tallahassee for legislative committee meetings and (yet another) Special Session and all of my friends were expecting to see me pregnant . I'm 28 weeks along (that's expectant-mom-speak for "7 months pregnant") and things are still proceeding very well: no morning/all-day sickness, no weird cravings or aversions, no extreme fatigue, manageable weight gain, and decent energy for everyday life. The photograph at left was snapped by Kent LeBoutillier - Peegie's "Wicked Stepmother" - last Sunday. I think she successfully captured my good side.

Things I have learned: I require EXACTLY nine hours of sleep each night. If those nine hours are interrupted for, say, an hour at some point during the night, I will sleep right through my alarm for the entire interrupted portion of the nine-hour requirement. Pregnancy Senility is a very real condition. I hear it morphs into Mama Senility after delivery. Swimming is the most luxurious form of exercise and stretching during pregnancy. Bonus benefit: quick and true relief for swollen feet! Sitting in a jacuzzi (heated to exactly 99-degrees) under the stars is the best way to bliss out before bedtime. Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Ice Cream tastes better during pregnancy, especially if you mix in a copious number of mini marshmallows. Fast food really IS as bad for the body as they say it is, and the effects of sodium and caffeine are swift and sure. There is no point in pre-registering at the hospital for delivery. No matter how many times you dutifully FAX the carefully completed form to the co...

It's been exactly two months since Peegie and I got the biggest surprise of our lives. On or about December 29th of this year, "we" will become "three" when we welcome a child into our lives. It's a good reason to (finally) figure out the scanner feature on the printer in my office. I'm a little slow on the technology curve. Clever, but slow. Here is a picture of the wee tot we are calling "Ziggy" (a term of endearment for Zygote...) Baby looks shy in this photograph but, then again, the poor dear had to endure an hour-long torrent of ultrasound waves that day.