Barometric Pressure

I'm taking a poll, except I'm too lazy (more like tired) to figure out how to add a poll to my blog tonight. But, here are the questions.

Do you think the change in barometric pressure caused by the thunderstorms and rain tomorrow will send me into labor?

If not, do you think this child has enough of a sense of humor already to wait until April 15th to make his/her arrival into this world?

As for hints, all of the labor indications are definitely there. Contractions (definitely contractions) since Monday, low dull backache with contractions, emotional mood swings since this weekend, nesting and other hints I won't disgust you with on this blog.

Any guesses on the weight? Hint: As of Monday's doctor's appointment at 39 weeks and 2 days, I had gained approximately 32 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. When Annabelle was born early at 39 weeks and 2 days, I had gained 40 lbs and she weighed 7 lbs, 9 oz at birth!

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

There is something about the near birth of a newborn baby that causes things to break in our household. Before Annabelle, I probably would have adjusted the above sentence to say "that brings bad luck our way." But, slowly, very slowly I must add, I am learning to not sweat the small stuff. Maybe it is knowing that we have been very fortunate and very blessed in our almost 10 years of marriage. Or maybe it has been watching our economy crumble around us over the past few years and still knowing that we are going to be alright because we have planned accordingly. Or perhaps it is the simple joy that a child brings that makes you realize that money is just that, only money.

Before Annabelle was born, I remember specifically telling hubby, "We just cannot get ahead! Every time we are doing well, something else happens!" Those things that happened seemed to be big ticket items such as a new transmission for my lovely first car, a 1998 Mazda 626. Or a new roof required by our homeowners' insurance policy. But now I laugh at that comment. We were living very comfortably on two incomes. I should be making that comment now instead of 5 years ago!

Within a week before Annabelle was born, we realized that our furnace was not working after we turned it on for the first cold wave. It was supposed to be a $500 fix, if I'm recalling correctly. Of course, that freaked me out as we were attempting to live on just one income in a few short months when my maternity leave ran out. But, I think I was more freaked out about bringing home a newborn into a very cold house. It turns out that the part was actually covered under warranty (after hubby demanded more information), and the company acted fast and got the furnace working again the day before Annabelle was brought home from the hospital.

And now we have another newborn baby due in 4 short weeks, and within the last week, our television and vacuum cleaner completely died!

I am blaming Pigs' Tales for the television. Only kidding Pigs! But, perhaps I shouldn't have commented on that blog post or maybe the television would have lasted just a little bit longer.

As for the vacuum cleaner, I am sure I can find someone to blame. Hubby! Aren't men to blame for most everything anyway? Again, only kidding hubby!

So, I have spent this week reading up on televisions and vacuum cleaners in Consumer Reports as well as shopping online.

And along with those big purchases, I have also been desperately pricing twin size mattresses and box springs (aka foundations now) for the best deal. Let me tell you people, shopping for mattresses is like shopping for cars. Perhaps worse! The choices are endless, and there really is no ability to compare properly. Thank goodness we are only looking for a twin mattress for a 34 lb toddler right now. I'm not looking forward to replacing our queen mattress that needed replacing 5 years ago!

As for having another baby, I think we'll hold off another 3.5-4 years as the expense seems to get bigger each time! Oh wait, I probably shouldn't have made that comment either!

The Honeymoon is Over

Yes, the honeymoon is officially over. Isn't that what they call it? You know, those 3 months they call the 2nd trimester. I sure was hoping that honeymoon would continue into the 3rd trimester, but nope, not this time! Well, I guess it did by one month since I have less than 2 months to go, but I was hoping to only be miserable and really big the very last month.

But, the back pain has started. I guess it doesn't help that I'm toting around a 34 lb 3 year old! And, I'm still having to lift her into her crib every evening for bedtime. We need that big girl room and bed finished ASAP!

And, the best part, I think this child is now ALSO on my sciatic nerve, hence the back pain. Apparently that is a real comfortable spot for Annabelle and Beebo both. I literally had to have Annabelle's bath stool AND hubby to help me crawl into bed every evening while I was pregnant with Annabelle for the last few weeks (if not the last month) because she loved chilling on my sciatic nerve.

Please just pray that this child isn't planning to come a month early! I'm anticipating a week early based on Annabelle's arrival, but I cannot handle any earlier than that. Seriously folks, there is way too much to do!

Enhanced Sense of Smell

From: Mommy-To-Be
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2006 11:26 AM
To: Daddy-To-Be
Subject: the smell here...

is about to drive me crazy (it is making me sick)! They were supposed to stop painting last weekend...it stinks again!


Copy of original e-mail is posted above in blue.

Smells are definitely enhanced during pregnancy! The building's management of my office building decided to paint the ENTIRE building while I was pregnant, or so it seemed! They painted the main lobby and entryway, and the entire building rinked of paint. I even called the doctor once to make sure it was alright for me to be working in those conditions while being pregnant. They recommended I just step outside and get some fresh air. However, they did tell me they are not as concerned any more with paint fumes since the lead is no longer in paint. I still was not happy with the situation, but what was I to do?

Posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:43 a.m.

First Doctors Visit

From: Mommy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:42 AM
To: Daddy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

we probably won't get out until 3:00.

http://www.awhg.yourmd.com/ypol/user/userMain.asp?siteid=1802309&content=userHomePage&bcx=My

See above to get directions. I already printed, but I wanted to make sure you saw ahead of time.


-----Original Message-----
From: Daddy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:40 AM
To: Mommy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

how late? I was given permission to go home and be lazy, remember?


From: Mommy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:34 AM
To: Daddy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

yeah, but I brought a pbj sandwich, cheese, etc. You may want to stop and get something...I don't want you to be starving since it will be late probably when we get out.


-----Original Message-----
From: Daddy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:11 AM
To: Mommy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

why would I be nervous about hearing what I already know?

Are you going to want to eat lunch before?


From: Mommy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:10 AM
To: Daddy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

I just am, your not?


-----Original Message-----
From: Daddy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:07 AM
To: Mommy-To-Be
Subject: RE: hello

y?


From: Mommy-To-Be
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 10:02 AM
To: Daddy-To-Be
Subject: hello

my stomach is in knots...I am getting very nervous.


Copy of original e-mails are posted above in blue.

These were e-mails sent back and forth between hubby and myself on the day of my first OBGYN appointment to find out if I was in fact pregnant. I had actually called and scheduled the appointment on the Monday before this appointment on Friday. I remember telling the scheduler at the doctor's office that I needed to schedule an appointment to find out if I was pregnant. She said, "Well, have you taken a home pregnancy test?" "Yes," I said. "Then you are pregnant," she said. "Those tests will sometimes provide false negatives, but they do not provide false positives."

I still was in complete disbelief at this point though. There was no way I could possibly be pregnant! I mean, seriously, it wasn't in my grand plan timing wise. And, I thought I was way too young to have a baby (despite the fact that I was 27 when I got pregnant and 28 when Annabelle was born). If I couldn't prepare a decent meal for hubby and myself, how on earth was I going to feed a baby and a child?

Posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 1:16 a.m.

Cosmic Bowling

Cosmic Bowling with coworkers and Cashew! Little did I know that I was pregnant!

Posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:11 a.m.

Chinese Fortune

I had lunch with my two bosses, Lisa and Mike, and a good friend from Tennessee's sister, Julie, at P.F. Chang's on this day. They were interviewing Julie for a part-time position in our department.

The Chinese fortune knew before I did that I was pregnant. If only I had kept that darn fortune! And, I laughed jokingly with Lisa and Mike about how they probably hoped that fortunate was not true.

Posted on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 at 12:04 a.m.

The Conception

This is probably way more information than anyone wants to know, including Annabelle when she is a teenager or grown for that matter, but I know for a fact that Annabelle was conceived on Sunday, January 29th, 2006.

How do I know that? Well, that is really none of your business!

I ovulated the very next day, and I told hubby then, "That was it!" Deep down, I really knew then that we had just conceived Annabelle, but I completely denied it when the pregnancy test showed up as positive. I remember thinking after looking at the pregnancy test, "There is no way I am possibly pregnant! There must be something wrong with this test."

I know some people don't know when they ovulate, but back then, I knew. I had the obvious signs, but I won't publish those here. I don't know when I ovulate so much any more, but fortunately, my periods are very regular now, much unlike then. My periods fluctuated dramatically back in 2005 and 2006, anywhere from 6 weeks +.

I actually went off birth control in October 2005. It wasn't in the hopes of getting pregnant though. Birth control pills were actually making me a little loony! In all actuality, they were causing my moods to swing dramatically. I was just a very mean person to my husband, and I knew it was caused by the hormones, which were escalated by the birth control pills. Actually, I "planned" to get pregnant the same month that Annabelle was actually born, October 2006. So, she was in actuality 9 months early! And, I say, "I" planned because hubby was ready for a little one long before me.

Dear Annabelle,

God obviously had very different plans for our lives. I know I was getting a little too caught up in my career again, and I think it was his way of telling me to slow down and take life easy. I think He wanted me to stop and smell the roses! And, that is exactly what I have done since you've been born, for the most part. I have truly enjoyed being a mother to you, and I've found so many more joys in life besides work (for pay). You bring such joy to our lives, and I cannot imagine my life without you.

Love,

Mommy

Posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 p.m.

Pregnancy with Cashew

I've got it in my head that I need to organize and document everything for Annabelle that I can remember about my pregnancy with her (before the next child comes along). So, I hopefully have a few good years left to complete this huge project.

Fortunately, I have many e-mails (stored on my office e-mail account) that I can use for support. And, I will actually be posting some of these e-mails throughout this blog because they were quite funny. However, time is of the essence as I'm afraid that my employer could let me go any day based on the current state of the economy, and I must print those e-mails or copy them to this blog as soon as possible.

Any blog entries you see posted before October 2007 are written after the fact, but the e-mails will be posted as is with only the e-mail addresses deleted and names modified. For example, some of the e-mail names will be changed as follows:

Me: Mommy-To-Be
Hubby: Father-To-Be
Grandmama: Grandmama
Granddaddy: Granddaddy
Nonnie: Nonnie

I will post these entries with the relevant dates in 2006. Just wish I had started a blog much, much earlier!

If you read a post of an actual e-mail that is posted, please note that you'll want to read the blog entry from bottom to top (just as you would an e-mail) because the original e-mail will be at the bottom and then followed by the replies on top of the original e-mail. The dates and times will be listed, so you should be able to follow it pretty easily.

And, some of this is never before seen footage of my pregnancy with Annabelle. Well, hubby was definitely privy to all of this information, but that is because most of the e-mails were between us.

If you don't like gruesome details, you may want to tune out! Hee! Hee!

Enjoy!

Posted on Monday, February 23rd, 2009