Baby Theo- Day 2

Day 2 is going well so far. We are all pretty well rested since Baby Theo spent most of the night (and today) sleeping. He is doing well nursing and pooping and just being a generally calm baby. Let's hope he stays this way. His sister, Beatrice, is on her way in to meet him right now. I can't wait to have my whole family all together. I think I could spend the rest of the days of my life just sniffing his new baby scent.

More pictures posted here.

P.S. GO CELTICS!

Pre-Natal

For the past few weeks, I've been thinking about the days leading up to the arrival of our baby. Especially the night before. Will I be able to sleep while filled with so much anticipation and excitement? Will Cory and I have one last quiet night together, filled with foot massages and chocolates and soft music?

I'm thinking that's probably not gonna be the scene in the Chase house tomorrow night. Cory will be out watching Game 6 on the edge of his seat and I'll be home, flipping back and forth to the game, my stomach filled with stress and bile. That's a healthy way to welcome a baby into the world, right?

Get it done tomorrow night, Celts. That's an order.

BEAT LA

Thank you, Big Baby. And a shout out to Nate Robinson. I owe you guys one. Now please go on and take the next 2 games. We need to get this wrapped up before Wednesday, 6/16. Thanks in advance.

Conversation I just had with my husband.

Cory: So can we talk?

Me: Does this have to do with the Celtics?

Cory: So if this does get to Game 7 on Thursday night, we'll need to discuss me going to Ryan's to watch the game.*

Me: [no words, just incredulous look on my face]

Cory: Nothing to worry about now, we'll cross that bridge if we get there. Let's just focus on the baby now. And the Celts winning the next 2 straight.

Me: [waddling away angrily] I married you. I actually chose this life.

*He's watched all the post-season games there. Obviously he can't break the streak. That would catastrophically affect the basketball universe.

Mother of the Year

I think I am still in the running for mother of the year.





That's some questionable parenting. I guess I can ease up on the mother guilt every time I forget to take my prenatal vitamin, or take a Tylenol, or can't play with Beatrice because I am coughing up a lung on my sick bed.

Did I mention I am currently battling the worst cold of my life? I haven't been this sick since college. I am doing my best to get rid of this malaise before the baby comes next week. I'm also trying to stay away from Beatrice and Cory. Beatrice was not too happy this morning to find me still laying in bed, tissues strewn about. She pleaded with me to come watch 'toons with her. I explained through the mucus haze that I couldn't get out of bed. She responded by scurrying away, then returning to club me in the face with one of her plastic dress up high heels...feel better, mama.

To My Lovely Beatrice

My lovely Beatrice, things around here have been quite hectic. You've been a trooper, patiently waiting for Mommy and Daddy to play with you in between getting things ready for your new brother or sister. Mostly you've been allowed to watch more cartoons than usual and you're not complaining about it. I hope to continue these posts to you (or about you) once your brother or sister is here. I am going to try my best to keep these tributes to you going, so when you see Mama on the computer (or 'puter as you call it,) feel free to grab a rattle and entertain your brother or sister while I try and string 2 coherent sentences together.

You've grown so much in the past couple of months. You are talking up a storm and providing many laughable moments. Last month, your Daddy and I were in the kitchen, tying a piece of pork and banana leaves with twine. You dragged your stool over to see what all the kitchen counter excitement was about. You kept saying that you couldn't see, you needed a 'telescope.' Then you reached for the long tube of twine and held it up to your eye, just like a telescope, proclaiming triumphantly, "All better, I see now." You are a smart little one.

The other night when I was sitting next to you, you reached over, threw your arm around my shoulder and exclaimed "You my best send ('friend'... you're still having trouble with the 'f's.) You melt my heart on a daily basis.

Earlier this week, while chatting in the car, I asked you, "Did you nap today for Miss Bah?" (She had already told me that you fussed for an hour before she went in to get you.) You stated matter-of- factly "Miss Bah take me out of my bed." So it was clearly her fault... interesting 2 year old logic.

Yesterday when I picked you up from Miss Maria's, you could barely wait until I made it up the stairs to show me your hands. Miss Maria (or 'Mia' as you call her) had painted your nails. For some reason you keep saying she 'pierced' your nails. You keep looking at your little pink fingernails and rubbing them. You are such a little girl.

I am so excited to see what a great big sister you will grow into. You have been so nice to Mama lately, rubbing my belly, talking to the baby, and putting your old toys and books in the baby's crib. Please remember that you will always be my first baby girl, the one who showed me how to truly love unconditionally and how to truly be a mama. I love you, precious girl.

The Growing Season Begins

One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.

~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show

I should be pregnant every Spring. Things are moving quickly in these parts. Our procrastination level is at an all time low. No longer are we discussing projects for 3 weeks...'er 3 months... 'er 3 years before actually tackling them.

Yesterday we had some time to kill between our doctor's appointment and picking Beatrice up at day care so we stopped at our local nursery to pick up all of our plants for the garden. We are kind of cheating this year, growing mostly from plant. Last year's bounty was slightly disappointing (we'll blame the torrential downpours of June/July) and I know we'll have less time this year to tend to the garden, so we did everything we could to get off on the right foot.

When we got home, Cory tilled the plot and planted* the following:

• Grape tomatoes
• Heirloom tomatoes
• Summer Squash
• Buttercup Squash
• Kale
• Leaf Lettuce
• Thai Hot Peppers
• Snow Peas
• Eggplant
• Cucumbers
• Oregano
• Basil
• Horseradish

And oh ya, we also have one of those topsy turvy tomato plants. I'll keep you posted on how that works out... I have high hopes for it.

I am looking forward to being out in the garden this weekend. Speaking of this weekend, the weather can't look better for New England. I hope you all have wonderful, relaxing weekends. We'll be enjoying some day trips and every minute we can savor outdoors. And ice cream...lots of ice cream.

* I got to pull the pregnancy card on this task. Due to the growing belly condition, I can't really be near the chicken manure (even though it's organic, it's still feces.) I'll be on watering and weeding duty so it evens out.

Gone Birdin'

If ever I questioned that notion that women "nest" before the arrival of their offspring, this weekend cemented my belief in that madness. I was a madwomen, going a mile a minute, from the minute I woke up Saturday until right now. At some point during the weekend I did say to my patient husband, "Listen, I know I am being an insane person right now. Just go with it. "

It doesn't help that with every task crossed off the to-do list, another gets added. Then there's things that don't even make the list like organizing my belt drawer. What, you don't have a belt drawer? And not to worry, the irony is not lost on me. I haven't worn a belt in about 8 months and probably won't for about that long post-partum. But I have a damn neat belt drawer should I need to find one in a jiffy.

Off to finish painting the kitchen cabinets. And I think there's a closet re-org that has my name on it.

40 Weeks

Things I will miss about being pregnant:

• Using my body for what it was designed to do. (This statement will upset the feminists.)
• Reckless eating with reduced guilt
• Elastic waistbands
• Growing a baby and feeling it move inside me. it really is a miracle.
• The kindness of people-They give you seats, hold doors, offer an extra smile, make small talk. They are also nice to people with babies too so I can probably milk this another year.
• My round belly- Like shoulder pads, the round belly distracts from other body parts.
• The things Beatrice says about the baby in my belly- The other day she was patting my belly and asked me if she could hold the baby. I told her that the baby wasn't ready to come out but that when he/she is here she can hold it. So now she keeps squeezing my belly saying "hold it" like she might be able to get him/her out. She's also been asking "baby come now?" I explained to her that the baby will be here after Uncle David's birthday. I think I've done more harm than good with my timeline though because she keeps saying "Uncle Dabid birthday, cake, ice cream, baby." So you know once those candles are blown out, she's gonna be looking high and low for this baby. Other times, she'll put her ear to my belly and tell me the baby is sleeping or crying. I will really miss those special moments.

Things I will NOT miss about pregnant:

• Conversations like this one- Unnamed family family member: "Wow, look at that belly. Every time I see you it just gets bigger and bigger." Please note that I see said family member at least once a week.
• Conversations like this one- Local Gas Attendant (he pumps my gas once a week): "Wow, how much longer are you going to be able to drive. You're not going to be able to reach the wheel pretty soon."
• Conversations like this one- Julia, holding up maternity pants: "Cory, you weren't supposed to put these in the dryer." Cory: "How was I supposed to know. Look, they are still enormous, they didn't shrink." *
• Blowing my nose - when I am not pregnant, I probably blow my nose once a month. I am not a snotty person. Good lord, when I am pregnant, there is some intense snottage. And bloody snottage. Sick.
• Losing the bellybutton- Please come home bellybutton. I'll take good care of you, I promise.

* Yup, he used the word enormous.

Cheers!

Beatrice, you have this funny habit of saying "Cheers" everytime we have two of something. So if we're both reading a book, you'll say Cheers and we'll tap books. Or drinks. Or muppins (muffins.) The other day I was kneeling down to help you with something and you pulled up your shirt, marched over to me, and thrust your belly into mine, proclaiming "Cheers." Our belly to belly toast made me smile all day long. You are precious.

Buns of Steel

I went to the doctor yesterday about this tailbone thing. He is hoping it isn't my coccyx because they can't really do anything about that. He's thinking I strained my sacral ligament. He asked me to get on the table so that he could try a couple of things. I immediately panicked because for some reason I thought he'd need me to take off my pants and I couldn't remember what underpants I was wearing and I knew I hadn't shaved my legs. Why does my mind work like this? Luckily he did not request a pants removal...perhaps he could see the fear in my eyes.

So he started manipulating and moving body parts. Again I was reminded how I can't wait to have my body back. Not that I don't love being pregnant but everything feels swollen and bulky. He tried to find the source of the pain by basically kneading my ass, for lack of a better phrase. This process was slightly humiliating, not to mention really painful.

After he finished kneading the dough, he rolled me into a ball of sorts and adjusted me. It bordered on an assault. But once I stood up, I was like a new woman. I've never had back PT or chirpractic work. That shit is amazing. And the goal is that the loosened feeling lasts, which it did for about 1 hour, but then back to the same pain (although a bit reduced.)

I go back tomorrow and hopefully he can re-create the relief but with longer results. In the meantime I am doing mad squats to get my ass rock hard.

Objects in the Rear View Mirror...

I honestly need to have my license revoked. I did it again (see #4.)

Luckily we never repaired the damage from the first offense.

To make matters worse, science has poked holes in my bullet-proof pregnancy brain fog defense.