Meeting baby sister

Life with babe is going very well! She's just so wonderful. She loves to eat, and as of yesterday was already over her birth weight. Sidamo really seems to like her, but subconsciously the transition seems to be taking a toll on him. He's acting out a bit and sleeping terribly (worse than his newborn sister), but he doesn't seem to make the connection between the new baby and the turbulent emotions. It's a big transition for him, but I'm sure he'll work through it all sooner rather than later. Here are some pics and a video of Sidamo and Nora's first meeting. He was slightly more enthused about the "Awesome Big Brother" sticker (thanks, Leslie!) than about the new human being, but oh well. The last photo is from Nora's first day home. Or was it the second? It's all a blur.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So you're the one who's been kicking me

Well, the little lady finally decided to reveal herself after 41 weeks and 2 days of intrauterine karate practice. Nora Catherine was born this morning at 7:44, weighing 7 lb. 11 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches. We did end up inducing Wednesday night, but it really went as smoothly as we could have hoped. I was worried that Pitocin would inevitably result in an epidural and eventually a C-section, but the doctors and nurses were wonderful and really respected our wishes to keep the birth as natural as possible. So besides the fact that the labor was long and tiring and toward the end I lost all my grace and started dropping F-bombs like a drunken soldier, it was really as peaceful and pleasant as possible.

Nora is just as sweet as can be and seems to be adjusting well to life outside the womb. She'll meet her big brother for the first time this evening, and then she'll for sure be happy to be part of the family.

Here are some pictures of our funny little girl. We can't figure out who she looks like, but I'd say the conehead is definitely from Greg's side.

Just born.

A minute or two old. Sorry for all the skin, but, well, I had just given birth and forgot about modesty for a spell.

Daddy and his little girl.

A few hours later, all cleaned up.

Mama got cleaned up too.

L&D

Greg and I have been at labor and delivery since a little before noon, but I'm not sure exactly why. I went to my regular doctor's office for my appointment this morning, and they thought my amniotic fluid levels were dangerously low so they sent me to the hospital. We've been in a delivery room since then. After about 3.5 hours we finally saw a doctor who said my fluid is low, but not as low as the first person suggested. The baby is moving a ton and seems to be happy and healthy. Still, the doctor wanted to induce but didn't set any actual plan in place, telling us we could work it out with the doctor who was coming on at 5. It's now after 6, and we haven't seen anyone—not even a nurse—since around 3:30. So I have no idea what we're doing here, whether we'll need to induce, etc. Either way, it's not the low-key, low-intervention almost-birth-at-home I was envisioning, and I'm feeling a little powerless.

Keep sending the good thoughts. If labor could start on its own before doctor number two comes up with a different plan, that would be awesome. And given the pace at which they seem to be working around here, I'd say it's entirely possible.

Nada

Sorry folks, still no baby. I feel like I need to update daily so you don't assume my silence equals birth.

Today wasn't the greatest. Sidamo woke up before 5 and was up for the day. Oh my. Of course that meant he was in a terrible, putrid, no-good mood all day. Luckily I was able to pawn him off on Guadalupe, the woman who has been coming over to watch him and Max two mornings a week, while I went upstairs and napped and practiced my Hypnobabies (hypnosis for childbirth). Poor Guadalupe. It does feel a little indulgent to have childcare help when I haven't had the baby yet and I have basically no work to do, but man does it feel good to get a few free mornings in before my world turns upside-down. After nap-time Sidamo was in a much better mood, and so was I.

I have an OB appointment tomorrow to do a fetal stress test and make sure everything is OK with the baby since as of then I'll be a week past my due date. Fingers crossed for good outcomes and no discussion of induction.

Greggiful weekend

We had a lovely weekend (no, it did not produce a baby). Since Greg's birthday coincided with Father's Day, we celebrated his birthday on Saturday and Father's Day on Sunday. Sidamo couldn't have been happier, since it resulted in two cupcake days for him.

Saturday we went to our neighborhood's annual street fair, which was lots of fun. In the evening we grilled out and had birthday cupcakes (thanks, Maia!). Sunday we had a yummy breakfast at a local diner and then went to Dianne's house to celebrate the two occasions with Grandpa, Great Grandma, Aunt Lisa and Scarlett. Fun times, and lots of sugar.

Family self-portrait at the street fair

Sidamo's first snowcone

How many candles can fit on a cupcake? The whole box, according to Sidamo.

After the candles came off Greg's cupcake, Sidamo transferred them to his own so he could take them out and lick them again.

Obviously there's still no baby news, but we're hoping it will be soon. Maybe I'll go scrub the floors on hands and knees while eating fresh pineapple and spicy food. That should do it, no?

No news

Thanks for the prompt, Heather. No news on the baby front, but that's OK. Greg's birthday is tomorrow (and obviously that's also Father's Day), so it's nice that we'll be able to celebrate a little bit this weekend.

Tuesday would be a good day though, wouldn't it?

Lordy, lordy, look who's 40 (weeks)

So today is the big due date. As you can see, my little girl has no more interest in punctuality than her mama.


I'm still feeling great and am not in any big rush to get her out, but I do want her to make some moves soon so I don't have to fight with my doctors about induction. I just had an appointment today (which actually was scheduled yesterday, but I somehow got confused and showed up a day late—oops!) and learned that my doctor is on vacation for the next two weeks. Seems like something you might mention to your patients, no? So I was stuck seeing someone I had seen (and disliked) before. I have no idea who will actually be working when I deliver, but chances are it will be someone I don't know. I'm so glad we have a doula we love so there's some consistency of care throughout the process.

Anyway, back to induction: Kaiser doesn't like to let people go past 41 weeks, but really there's no scientific reason to consider induction before 42 weeks. I certainly won't consent to a medical induction until/unless there's medical reason, but that doesn't mean my doctors won't pressure me to do it. So to avoid that uncomfortable situation, I'm really hoping this little girl decides she's ready to meet the world sooner rather than later. Join me in sending some evacuation vibes her way, would you?

Yummy lentils

Not much news from these parts, but I did make some tasty lentils tonight for dinner—after a long cooking strike. Here's what I did if you'd like to try it out (sorry, no pictures).

Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
1.5 cups dried brown lentils
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. rosemary
1/4 tsp. thyme
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. dijon mustard
salt to taste

Directions
1. Heat oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until just starting to turn golden. Add carrots and cook together, stirring frequently, until onions brown. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. Add lentils and spices to the same pot, and add 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer. Cook until lentils are just tender. Drain and add to bowl with carrots and onions.
3. In a small bowl, mix vinegar, oil, and mustard and whisk until well blended. Pour over the lentil mixture, stir everything together, and serve either hot or cold.

Mmm.

Maybe school isn't so cool

Well, day two of school went a little less well than day one, and day three went disastrously. On Monday Sidamo was fine when I dropped him off but started crying for me at around 11:30 and continued to be weepy until I got there at 12:30. Then today he got hysterical right when I dropped him off and continued crying on and off until I picked him up. I showed up an hour early since the drop-off went so badly, and when I got there he was out in the playground, holding his teacher's hand and crying hysterically for Mommy. I stayed there with him for the remaining hour to help him see the fun in the place, but I'm a little concerned about going forward. Any tips from seasoned parents?

It just makes me so sad to leave him when he is crying for me—especially given the adoption issues—but what other choice do I have? Can someone please tell me it will get better and this will have no effect on our attachment?