Announcing Cecilia Hope!

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is JDM filling in for Elaine. We are very excited to bring you the very first shots of Cecilia Hope, born December 26th, 2007 at 6:26 PM. I'm sure Elaine will have more to add once she is allowed to come home.

Christmas Eve at the Farm

Tannenbaum

38th Week

Here I am in my 38th week of pregnancy. I have heard that if you have an easy pregnancy, you have a hard delivery, and vice versa. So, in order for me to have an easy delivery, I'm going to go against everything I've stated here so far about complaining about being pregnant, and I'm going to start complaining. To be honest, this is the first time in this pregnancy I have had something substantial to complain about, but here goes.

I have pregnancy induced carpel tunnel syndrome in my right hand. It comes from my hand being swollen and squeezing my nerves inside my hand. It doesn't hurt, per say, but it is pretty annoying. It feels like my fingers are made out of Hubba Bubba gum that has been chewed too long; stiff, and not very elastic. I can also liken it to when you are outside and it's cold, and then you come inside and your hand starts to warm up and feels tingly and numb. The good news is it's supposed to go away after I have the baby and the swelling goes down.

Speaking of swelling, at the end of most days when I look down at my ankles, I'm hoping and praying they belong to someone else. They are seriously, unusually large and puffy; very ugly. My foot pops out of all my cute little flats like muffin tops. You know the lady in the motorized cart that is so fat she can't walk? Have you ever had the misfortune of looking at her ankles? That's what mine look like now. =(

I also waddle. I'm pretty sure the baby has dropped, and it's very difficult to walk normal anymore. I'm feeling pressure in body parts I have never felt before, mainly my pelvic bones. I grunt everytime I bend down, or stand up, or sit down or stand up.

And even though my body has cooperated and I don't have any stretch marks (YET!) I do have more than my fair share of varicose and spider veins giving me all they've got. I tried to wear support panty hose for about two weeks, but it was a work out just getting them on, and then I had to fight with them to stay up everytime I went to the bathroom which is seriously about once an hour lately. My body is covered with huge blue veins, and my legs have a nice sprinkling of spider veins making unpleasant little designs. Anybody want to tell me all these veins go away after the baby is born? I'll be your best friend.

I am happy to tell you (and John is overjoyed) that my need to clean and prepare has declined. I am still straightening things up, and doing laundry, and preparing the baby's room, but at least now I can think about other things.

So, do you think this qualifies? Since I have had it pretty good so far, but the end is rough, this means my chances of having an easy delivery goes up right? I try not to think too much about the delivery, and I'm not watching as many "Baby Stories" as I used to- they just seem too real right now. I do think often of not being pregnant anymore, and I do think often of holding my baby, and swaddling her. My doctor will only let me go one week past my due date, so the longest I will be pregnant from this point forward is three weeks.

Sneak Preview

Things have been kind of crazy around here lately. John's dad had surgery on Tuesday, and luckily, he seems to be recovering well. We hosted John's family for a few days, and his mom will be staying with us until his dad is out of the hospital. We were also graced by Mike's presence last night.

This is a newborn picture of me. Wasn't I cute? I am actually hoping that our baby looks more like John, specifically the curly hair. I am also hoping that our baby acts more like John because I can almost guarantee he was an easier child to raise.

If you don't love a cat in a bag, you just might not be human.

Plethora of Blankets

My body is currently possessed by a cleaning lady. I have this irresistible urge to clean EVERYTHING. The highlight of my day so far was washing these blankets. I'm not the world's cleanest person. Physically, my legs are tired of hauling my body all around my house, cleaning this, washing that, reorganizing something else. John thinks I have totally lost it. He sits on the couch, and watches me like I'm the Tazmanian Devil, twirling and cleaning and mumbling and foaming at the mouth as I go. Even he is cleaning more than usual, but it's still not enough.

Sadly I think those Cinnamon Rolls were only a premonition to this state of delirium I'm in now.

She Is Not A Fair Weather Fan.

At this point she really doesn't have a choice in the matter, but that's o.k.

The Baby Years

When John and I first starting dating, 8 years ago, it seemed we went to a wedding a month for years. Everyone our age was getting married, and we were either in the wedding, or inclined to go to see old friends. Now a days we've moved into the Baby Years and we haven't been invited to a wedding in over a year.

So, if you're keeping track (who can keep track of all these babies?) this is Cori and Steve's new tiny little baby, Louise. She's so tiny and cute and sleepy. Seeing and holding her makes me feel as ready as I'll ever be to hold my own baby. Won't be long now.

Yes indeedy. I did it. It was fun while it lasted, but really, how many pictures of the kitchen and nursery and baby showers can I put in front of you?

I'd like to say now that I'm in the habit, I'm going to keep it up, but really, I think even I'm out of things to share with you.

So, with that, I'll leave you with a big...

"M-I-Z"

and you answer...

"Z-O-U!!!!!"