Baby 2 Update

I won't tell the whole story now but wanted to let everyone know our current situation. After proceeding surprisingly easily to 9 cm dilation, Shan got stuck there, for hours. She has now received an epidural and we are still hoping for a vaginal birth. If she doesn't dilate all the way within a few hours it will be C-section after all.

All your prayers and well-wishes have been and will continue to be much appreciated.

Change of Plans...

I guess she was ready. Shannon went into labor. We're headed to the hospital.

Ready or Not...

Here we come!

The c-section is scheduled for 9:30 am. Prayers are appreciated. More updates--and an introduction!--soon.

Birth Class Brainiac

Do you remember being annoyed in high school by that funny guy that never seemed to pay attention but then would score the highest on the exam? Well, I married him.I knew he was smart but had never taken a class with him until our birth class with Magnolia. We didn't take a birth class this time since it hasn't been long since the last one. Instead, we've been going through our workbook reminding ourselves of each week's lesson. Each page has little reminders of what it was like to sit next to funny-guy-smarty-pants. Most weeks he would spend the first half of class designing his name tag. One class he didn't even finish before the end.

The rest of the time he spent adding notes and illustrations to our book. Here are a few of my favorites:

His additions have made going through the book this time more fun, and have actually helped us remember certain things. But the "annoying" part is that some weeks I will read ahead and then quiz him on the section and he remembers the material without the refresher! The teacher in me wonders if he is on to something...maybe more of our students should be doodling during lectures. Either way I hope our girls get his gift of information retention.

*Ahem* 38 weeks, doc...not 36!

Last Friday, we had our sizing ultrasound followed by a normal check-up.

After technician squirts jelly on my belly, our little girl shows us how she is practicing breathing, swallowing and sticking out her tongue. Both of us think she looks a lot different than her sister.

Then the usual routine -- blood pressure (same), weight (same), urine test (same), baby moving? (definitely) -- everything is healthy as usual.

The nurse spins her pinwheel to calculate how far along I am and comments "July 14th is just around the corner."

Politely, I correct her. "My due date is July 4th."

I look over her shoulder as she scans my chart. Sure enough, at the top of the page it says: "Due Date: July 14, 2009"

The nurse turns back a page. That one has the heading: "Due Date: July 4, 2009"

No wonder they've been freaking out the last few visits at how big I am.

A few minutes later, my doctor enters the exam room studying the ultrasound results and exclaims, "Yowzers!" in response to the projection that baby #2 will be almost 10 pounds and in the 90+ percentile.

I quickly share with him the discovery the nurse and I made, and his tune completely changes. He'll have the ultrasound tech re-run the report, but he guesses that puts Baby #2 in the range of 70th percentile with a weight estimate of around 8 1/2 pounds.

So planning for a VBAC is a go!

Just in case, this one decides she doesn't want to come out, like her sister did, we scheduled a c-section for July 13th. The end is in sight!

We can't decide if I am bigger this time or last...

Final Countdown...#2

Here are the facts:

• My due date is July 4th, but only 4-5% of babies are born on their due date.


• The average pregnancy is 41 weeks and 1 day, which puts us at July 12th.


• Magnolia was 2 weeks late.


• I am measuring three to four weeks ahead.


• I will be full-term on June 14th.


• School is out on June 18th.


• This pregnancyI haven't had any intuitions about when she will come.


• On June 19th, we will take another peek at this "little" girl and make some decisions. Brian and I have decided though, even if she is really big and the doctor advises another c-section, we won't schedule it until after her due date.

Cast your vote! You can get more specific in the comments after voting by picking an actual date to earn more bragging rights.

Honey, I Can't Shrink My Kids!

Having added water-walking to my work out regimen, having followed a diabetic diet for over a month now, and having lost five pounds I was hoping that, at my routine check-up yesterday, I would get some good news, that all my hard work was paying off, that I would have a healthy but SMALL baby, that my chances of delivering naturally were good. 

Fat chance.

The doctor took one look at me and said "You are growing a big baby in there. I'm pretty good at figuring out someone's gestation just by looking at them across the parking lot. But if I didn't know better I would say you were full-term." 

I am not full-term for another 3+weeks.

She said I am measuring as if I were carrying twins or as if I were month further along.  

Supposedly, I am doing all the right things to keep this baby small, but I'm just genetically destined to have big babies. Her guess is that my baby is already 7 pounds, but our next ultrasound isn't for another month. She ended our appointment by adding that it looks like this baby is trying to outdo her sister. Magnolia was 9 lb, 12 oz. 

I am trying not to be too disappointed. We are both healthy. Giving up sugar is getting easier and keeping my weight down means I will have less to lose after she is born. But I see my chances for a natural birth slipping away. 

Stop to Smell the Basil

Since my nesting tendencies are in full swing--their influence has even spread outside the nest--and since Magnolia LOVES going outside, I've been teaching her about gardening.  While I pick weeds she points at each one and says Ick!  She's a very proficient ick detector...maybe a little too proficient.  She ended up 'helping' me by plucking flowers.

Another new development from our times outside is that she LOVES to smell things. You wouldn't guess by the face she is making in the picture below, but she repeatedly asked to smell the freshly growing mint.

Her nose and chin are a little yellower these days too.

But her favorite is Basil. 

It is too cold for it to be outside yet, so every time we go up stairs, she points at the basil in the entryway and sniffs. There are three starters, and all three must be smelled.

Public Weight Problem

I start class by sitting on my stool in front, with as serious a face as I can muster, and tell them we need to talk. 

They get very quiet.   

I explain that another teacher told me that her students confided that my students were talking about me behind my back. 

Some shrink down in their seats, others trade knowing looks with their friends. 

Yesterday, a fellow math teacher, who is also pregnant, asked me if I had told my class yet if I was pregnant. I hadn't. 

For whatever reason I haven't found a good time to bring it up this time around, and I haven't thought it especially pertinent since they won't be getting a sub (because I'm due in the summer).

My colleague's students told her that my students were freaking out; they don't know what to do, because obviously I am pregnant, but they're scared to ask.

So I decide to have some fun...

I tell them that I had heard they were talking about how I was getting fat and they were worried about me. 

More squirming in their seats.

I tell them that I wish they had come to me. Trying to keep my composure--my face begins to redden--I share that I am gaining weight and seeing a doctor about it. 

Pause.

(I can't torture them any longer) 

“Yes, I am pregnant!”

Huge collective sigh of relief. 

Apparently, they had been discussing it after every class period, analyzing my clothing to determine if it was maternity or not. These guys are much more polite than my previous classes!

28 Weeks

Well, there is good news, bad news and great news--for me, at least.

Good news, first? I managed to keep my weight stable this last month by walking more and watching more closely what I ate. Baby #2 is healthy and moving a lot.

Bad news? My glucose tolerance test came back borderline. That, coupled with the fact that Magnolia weighed over 9 lbs, means I have to be on a diabetic diet for the rest of my pregnancy. Yes, it could be worse. I could have had been on it all pregnancy or I could have had to do finger pricks and insulin. But I've been pretty whiny about not getting to eat whatever I want this week anyway.

My body feels like it has gotten huge this last month, even though I didn't put on any weight. Sleeping is much harder and my emotions decided to get on a roller coaster. I'm definitely in my 3rd trimester.

So, ready for the great news? We decided that Brian is going to take some time off from grad school. Why is this great news you ask and what does it have to do with pregnancy? Well, he was scheduled to leave for California for six weeks starting July 5th, and Baby #2 is due July 4th. He was such an amazing support for me both during labor and during the difficult post-partum weeks that followed my first delivery. I was gearing up for being without him, but am super relieved and ecstatic to have him with me, getting to know our new baby, helping Magnolia adjust to being a sister, etc. Brian is a little bummed to be losing his cohort, which have become a pretty tightly knit group, but aside from that one disappointment he is just as excited as I am.

Wondertime

Today, I had my regular check-up for baby #2. As usual, I had a long wait in the waiting room, then another long wait in the exam room. It was perfect! I went through withdrawals when my regular doctor's appointments stopped after Magnolia was born. I did not miss the regular weigh-ins that showed my weight skyrocketing, but I did miss the few quiet moments to read magazines.

I discovered one of my favorites during one of these respites: Wondertime. It is a breath of fresh air compared to the other offered magazines: Fly-fishing and Parenting: What Moms Want (does that slogan bug anyone else?). Wondertime's slogan is "celebrate you child's love of learning"-- much more my style.

A little over a year ago, while we were doing one of the non-stress tests waiting for Magnolia to make her grand entrance, Brian read one of my favorite articles aloud to me: Confessions of a Mommy Blogger. If you are a parent and blog about your kids, it is a must read. It made us think and laugh -- a great combination.

Brian got me a subscription after Magnolia was born. We continue to enjoy every issue. The December issue was one of our favorites: ideas for how to cut back during the holidays and create interesting traditions. The most recent issue had a design for creating the coolest play room, complete with rock-climbing into the sky light. Brian wants one. For himself.

A year subscription is only $13, but they have a great website if your family is trying to cut back.

By the way, Baby #2 has a healthy heartbeat, is moving regularly, but is measuring a little big. I'm fine, except, for the first time, the doctor is concerned about my weight gain, which made it really hard to come home to Nana's homemade monster cookies...maybe I'll just have half.

She-Who-Is-Yet-To-Be-Named

We got to have our long ultrasound today.

 

Confirmation that it is indeed a girl.

Want to compare to Magnolia's ultrasound?

Most of the time she was playing with her fingers.

She was rather quiet for both peeks, but did move a little.

The ultrasound tech did not give us an estimated birth weight, but said that Baby is in the 50th percentile. So here's hoping for a smaller girl!

Cyber Sex Party

Last time we were pregnant we threw a Sex Party.

This time with all of our sickness, school/work obligations, and planning Magnolia's 1st birthday, we decided against hosting one for this baby. Instead, we're throwing a virtual one. And this is it.  So welcome to your first--it is your first right?--Cyber Sex Party!  Let us know you were in attendance by leaving a comment.

With Magnolia, the group-think powers were without a doubt: it was going to be a girl. This time, the masses were divided, and so were we: "Its a boy...no its a girl...no boy...girl..."  The suspense has been killing us!

So we were super disappointed this morning when the OB office called to tell us their only ultrasound tech called in sick for the first time in years.  We rescheduled for next week but still went in for the rest of our monthly appointment.

While Shannon was getting weighed and peeing in a cup, Brian put on his puppy dog eyes--puppy dog mustache?--and convinced the nurse to ask if the doctor would do a quick ultrasound, just to find out the sex. 

The doctor agreed! 

It was great to see our babe and see it moving.  Shannon hasn't really felt it yet, which is odd.  But we were assured it was because the placenta is in front this time.  After briefly showing us the face and heartbeat the doctor gave us a toilets-eye view and asked, "What do you think it is?" 

We both tried to decipher the mish-mash of moving black and white patches on the screen and Brian said, "It looks like a girl."

"I think so too," said the doc.

Magnolia's going to have a sister!

Ella's Voice Mail

This is a message our adorable niece sent us about a year ago. We finally got the appropriate cord to get it off our phone and onto the computer.

If you're interested in recording your own phone messages check out these simple directions. Unfortunately, the site, which hosts people's funny, unusual, and cherished voice mails, doesn't appear to be collecting anymore.

Sex Poll

Last time we asked our friends what the sex of our baby would be there was no doubt. Over 90% somehow knew Magnolia was a girl, and 1 or 2 of the 3 votes for boy were just couples hedging their bets.

We are dying to know this time if Maggie is getting a sister or a brother. Two weeks until our ultrasound appointment but we don't wanna wait that long. That's why we're asking our friends and family, whom we now know to be collectively psychic.

So clear your mind, align your chakras, scatter your chicken bones or whatever you need to do to tell us the sex of our baby!

The poll's on the side but we'd love it if you left a comment too!

Our Year In Unpublished Pictures

We're back! Blogging got put on the back burner as we dealt with craziness this month: school closure due to flooding, Brian's January session in California, and final exams. I've been working on this post for weeks! I wanted to finish it before I went on to another post, but kept running into road blocks.

Some friends'--the Amundsons--posted their favorite picture from each month of the previous year that didn't make it to their blog. Here is my attempt at the same...

January ~ Well, I can't find any of our January pictures (roadblock). Our friends threw us a great shower, we went up to Mt. Baker for a weekend, and I know we have baby bump and nursery painting pictures somewhere, but I can't find them. This one was taken later, but it can stand in.


February ~ A month of waiting...This picture is from one of many walks on the beach trying to get my labor started.

March ~ Our Family! Our friend Meg Nelson, took this picture (and the one I used in January) as a part of a practice photo shoot.

April ~ I just think this one is funny. "I pity da foo who dudn't like my mohawk!"

May ~ Our friend, Josh took one of my all time favorite pictures of Magnolia.

June ~ It's amazing how quickly she gets over things!

July ~ The girls went to Priest Lake and Everett for some fun with the Gracey family.

Meanwhile, Brian was in California studying...wait a minute, that doesn't look like studying. His "mod" was the cool hang out 'cause he and his roommate held regular Dance! Dance! Revolution and Karaoke parties.

August ~ Magnolia and I spent a lot of time "hiking" with the dogs in the off leash area around Lake Padden.

September ~ We drove to Seattle to meet up with some special college friends that are now all around the world. Jen and Magnolia became good friends.

We also went to LaConner for lunch to celebrate my Grandma Gracey's birthday. "Hmm, do you have any green pea and tofu dishes??"

October ~ The big event in October was Dad Rush's birthday and retirement. We celebrated by getting the entire family to dress like Dad -- Plaid short-sleeved button ups, pens and spiral notepads in shirt pocket, slacks or shorts with belt, and dress socks and leather shoes. He's a trend setter.

Our niece Ella also had the brilliant idea to put red marks on our hands since his hands are always cut from working in his shop. Unfortunately, it was one of the only times Dad Rush didn't wear a short sleeved plaid shirt, but you can see some of the other Clive trademarks below.

November ~ We ended our fall cheering on Brian's volleyball team. Magnolia loved to scream (kinda sounded like a garbage disposal that someone forgot to turn off) along with the crowd while sporting her Raider colors.

The orange liquor box continued to be a favorite toy.

December ~ Bear suit clad (her third suit! Brian swears this is the only outfit she needs)Magnolia in the forest of Christmas trees!

Happy 10 Month Birthiversary

***The most noticeable new thing this month, because she does it so much, is how Magnolia spends most of her time pointing at things. The most frequently pointed at object is a light; it doesn't matter if it is on or off. She doesn't really want the object most of the time so we just name whatever she is pointing at and move on to the next thing. Our day goes something like this: "Light!Christmas tree! Doggy! Oh, another light! Teddy Bear! More lights!"

***Magnolia still gives great kisses, when she wants to. This month she added our dogs, Otis and Trudy to her list of recipients. They are usually very patient with her. She has also begun to gently pet them--mostly Otis...Trudy is very protective of her but keeps her distance from those unpredictable hands; Otis will take any loving. It's all great big sister training.

***Well, it's official--Magnolia has said her first words. At the beginning of the month we began to decipher a slight difference between her "mamas." There were definite times that "Mama" referred to Shannon and another common mama sound morphed into more of a "meh." This means milk and she will often combine it with the sign for milk. The third mama sound she makes was for more. This one has recently been replaced by just making a short, loud, distressed sound. The real shocker came upon Brian's arrival home from work one day. Like usual, I would ask her, "Who is here?" and as Brian came into sight Brian and I both said and signed "Papa." Then Magnolia said it, which was a huge surprise because she doesn't really babble any p sounds. She has only done it a couple of times, but it is always clear that she understands its connection to Brian.

***We have had to start using the words "no touch" more and more as Maggie becomes increasingly mobile. One of the most common reminders is the dog food bowl. Sometimes she will be crawling around near the dog food (or something else she has been recently told not to touch) and she will pause near it and shake her head no as if to remind herself not to touch it! Sometimes when she crawls across Brian's studio, which is usually covered in shredded dog toys, she shakes her head the entire time!

***While trying to free our car from our icy-slushy driveway, Magnolia clearly used the sign for eat over and over. This was one of the first unsolicited signs she has used. All we had ready at that time was a bottle, which she hungrily drank down. Also, about 2/3 of the way through she started holding the bottle for herself--another first!

Sidenote: notice in this picture she actually got a taste of frosting this month!

***Our happy girl continues to love people and enjoy life. Almost without fail when music starts, either from one of her many musical toys or a jingle on the radio, she will start dancing, which mostly consists of bouncing up and down, and every once in awhile swaying side to side. A few times this month she also sang along to Christmas music in her sweet Magnolia babble.

***The big parenting adjustment for us this month was dealing with a pregnant mama. My body decided breastfeeding+pregnancy+working was not going to happen and it stopped producing enough milk for Magnolia. So earlier than we would have liked, we switched completely over to formula. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be as I watched my little girl gulp down way more milk than I had been able to give her. I'm betting her weight will be back up at our next appointment. Bottle-feeding has also allowed me to have one less thing to wake me up in the middle of the night so I am getting more sleep and feeling more rested. Most nights Maggie is making it 10 hours, then taking a little milk before bedding down for another couple hours. Lastly, Brian has been a real trooper, and become our sewage specialist. We decided to do cloth diapers--which we don't regret--but my early pregnancy nausea has prevented me from doing much of the diaper cleaning. He has also had to put up with some strange dinner combinations as we try to find foods that I feel like eating--veggie burger, shrimp, and pancakes, mmmm.

Coming next month... First Steps? Over Christmas Magnolia started standing on her own for longer and longer periods of time. Her "cruising" around the furniture and assistd walking have also become more frequent and than her "drop and crawl" tactic.

Our little Kumquat

The first week of December, we went in for our first ob appointment for pregnancy #2. So far we are both really healthy. We got to take a peek at our then kumquat-sized baby. It made it so real!They were able to use the ultrasound to determine a due date -- July 4th! Brian is not so sure about that as a birth date for our equally Canadian child. If we end up with another large baby, they will be encouraging me to schedule another c-section. Maybe then we will split the difference between Canada Day on July 1st and the 4th of July.

Rush Baby #2 - It might actually be a teddy bear...

Whaaat?

That's what Brian said after I had plopped on our bed early one morning about a month ago and informed him, "I'm pregnant."

We weren't planning to get pregnant yet and he didn't even know I was taking a test so it was a little bit of a shock to be yanked out of a dream with the news.

I took the test because the day before my mom asked me out of the blue if I was pregnant. Assuredly I answered, "No, I am just recovering from the cold we have been fighting." But she planted a teeny seed of doubt, so, just to put it to rest, I decided to check.

Sure enough: preggers.

The first morning there were lots of mixed emotions. Ever supportive, Brian, even though he had only been in bed for a couple of hours, woke up to talk through our news before I had to head to work. We are now calling it our pleasant surprise.

It has been so different this time. With Magnolia, we had been waiting and planning for her. There was measured excitement and anticipation as the testing window approached. Then we took great pleasure planning how we would specially announce that we were pregnant to our friends and family. This time we just called or emailed family and have been nonchalantly telling friends as we see them. Sometimes we even have to remind each other that we're pregnant!

We have felt a little bad not giving this baby the same enthusiastic pre-birth introduction to the world. It's not that we're not excited; we are. We just have more going on this time. During the first trimester last time, I was on summer break. When I felt crummy I could just lay on the couch and eat whenever I needed to. This time I am working almost full-time and have a little one to care for when I get home. Most nights I barely make it through dinner and end up heading to bed with Magnolia around 7:30.

Thus the lack of blogging. We have so many posts in draft form. Check back often in the days and weeks to come as we catch up.

Graduation Party, Baby Shower, Birth Class Reunion, and Hooray for Maggie!

This was a weekend packed with celebrations! Magnolia and I drove South to Marysville after work on Friday for Peter Clark's Graduation/18th Birthday party. The Clarks are long time family friends and I used to babysit Peter and his siblings. I can't believe he is heading off to college (SPU) in the fall.

After staying the night at my parents' house in Everett, Maggie and I donned our party clothes yet again and drove to West Seattle. There we helped host our good friend Jacqueline Hawkins's first baby shower. We were responsible for the games -- right up our alley. We played guess the flavor of baby food, guess what's in the diaper (mostly melted chocolate bars, but I put in some realistic looking grey poupon in one diaper for fun), diaper bag bingo, and decorating onesies. It was great to celebrate Jacqueline and baby boy Hawkins. It will be fun to have kids so close in age.

Ladies enjoying the yummy brunch.

Jacqueline's sister, Claire, smelling one of the diapers.
Krysta French creating her masterpiece.

Four Firwood Friends

After the baby shower, Magnolia and I again got in the car and drove to Bellingham for our Bradley birth class reunion. Not everybody could make it, but it was fun to see those that did and here about their experiences. This picture was taken at one of our last classes, a few days after my due date. The girl in overalls to my right was due just after me, believe it or not, and had her baby, Ashby, a day early. So Magnolia is the second oldest in class, but she was the biggest and most alert by far. But the boys are beginning to catch up...

Jesse, Truman, Ashby, Magnolia and Justin (not pictured: Tyler and Lucas)

Magnolia loved meeting all the people, especially the other babies. Even though we had a packed weekend she was still ready to play when we got home. She was talking and stretching her legs on her playmat while I chatted with my mom on the phone when suddenly she rolled over!