Goings On This Week

Here are some random tidbits from the week:

--My mom has been here, and she's been a big help. We've taken Amelia out almost every day for lunch and little shopping excursions, and so far that has been going well.

--Because my mom has been here, Darryl and I were able to put up our Christmas tree and other decorations. Deck the halls! We also went out last night for what will probably be our last "just the two of us" outing for quite a while. We even did a little Christmas shopping.

--Here's the life of a new parent: After having watched Dancing with the Stars all season long, I was so exhausted I drifted off to sleep before the winner was announced Tuesday night. Fortunately, I had TiVoed it (it's on my Season Pass, of course), but still... (I was glad Helio won, by the way, although I would have been okay with Mel B winning, too.)

--My calves and ankles are finally returning to their normal size after many months of fluid retention. I no longer feel like Fred Flintstone.

--Am I a big nerd because I'm excited about this Clash of the Choirs that is coming in December?

--I love Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts and want to have them over to eat chips and queso dip and play board games. Do you think they would accept my invite?

Amelia's first bath

Amelia had her first real bath tonight. Here are some pics...

Not too sure at first...
Warming up to it...
Look at that face!
I can't believe she's two weeks old already!

Amelia's first "real" outing

Amelia, my mom, and I went out yesterday on Amelia's first official outing. We had lunch at Ruby Tuesday's and shopped at DSW, HomeGoods, and Babies R' Us. I was quite proud of myself for handling the carseat and the stroller with increasing ease and confidence. (The other day, I asked Kim when the carseat stops feeling so awkward--man, that thing is heavy with a 9+ pound baby in in it--and she said emphatically, "Never!") Amelia was great through the whole thing, sleeping most of the time and waking just once to be fed, which my mom did in the car while I went into a store, and needing to be changed just once.

This outing was really more for me than Amelia, I think--now I'm not quite as terrified to leave the house with her. That's been a big obstacle for me to overcome.

In other Amelia news (knock on wood here), Amelia has had two good nights in a row, sleeping a few hours, taking a bottle and cooing some, and then sleeping a few more hours. Cross your fingers...

And in news completely unrelated to Amelia, it was just a bad football weekend at our house with LSU's loss (the curse of being #1) and FSU's loss (that's D's team, and let me tell you, he was NOT happy). Oh, well...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was really good this year. It was at our house, and my parents were here along with two other sets of relatives: my Uncle Len, Aunt Jeana, and cousin Larson; and my cousin Vicky and her husband, Robert. If I'd had the energy, I would have really relished this opportunity to cook up a storm, but my mom did the cooking--with some contributions from others--and it all was delicious. (I did make Paula Deen's Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cakes--yum!)

Here are a few pics...

First, a "family pigging out" action shot:



Here's Darryl with Amelia and cousin Larson:


Here's our first "family" picture. It's not the greatest, but it'll do:

And finally, here are the two people I'm most thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Morning after Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was good. We had some family over and my mom--a great cook--prepared most of the food. I'll do my official post later today, complete with pics.

Other things going on...
--My parents watched Amelia Wednesday night so Darryl and I could go out to eat. Wow, that was nice; I hadn't been in a restaurant in over a week. (Darryl and I were big "going out to eat people" pre-Amelia.) It was really great spending time just the two of us, even for just a couple of hours.

--While I am anxious to get out of maternity clothes, I do have to say that I enjoyed wearing my "comfort waistband" maternity jeans yesterday for Thanksgiving lunch. Nothing like having pants that expand along with your stomach. (You're jealous of my "Thanksgiving pants," aren't you, Tim?)

--Speaking of maternity clothes, my goal today is to find some "transition" shirts/sweaters that will make me look a little less pregnant. The stomach is shrinking slowly, but in the meantime...

Well, my mom has finished feeding Amelia, so it is time for me to get ready to shop. I'll post more later about Thanksgiving.

Random Things

1. For those of you who read my blog (all 4 or 5 of you), thanks for putting up with my "all Amelia all the time" posts. I'm a new mother, and I love posting about her.

2. That being said, apparently Sunday night was a fluke. She slept a good portion of the night last night, but Darryl and I had to take shifts making sure she stayed that way. (The theory here is that the more she sleeps at night, the easier it should be to keep her awake during the day.) At 3:30 this morning, I was rocking the bouncy seat while watching last Thursday's The Office, which I thought was one of the best episodes of the season. (Or am I more easily amused when I'm sleep deprived?)

3. Is anyone watching Friday Night Lights? (Again, a show I watched while on the baby shift.) I'm loving the new storyline with Santiago and Buddy Garrity, and I think it has lots of potential. Anyone with me on this?

4. I must have this for Christmas.

I'm a week old today!

Dear Lord, please let this continue...

Amelia slept from about 10:45 to 2:30 last night, had a bottle, then slept until 6:45 this morning!

(Now, I have heard that babies can "trick" you by doing that one night and then never doing it again. I hope this is NOT the case with Amelia. Cross your fingers!)

Weekend with Amelia

Things are still going well. The day/night confusion thing is getting a tiny bit better day by day. I think it is just going to take awhile. Darryl and I are at least taking shifts, so we're both getting more sleep than we did the first two nights.

Today I had a little bit of cabin fever, so we all went for a ride in the car to run a couple of errands--first to a barbecue store for Darryl to pick up some turkey frying stuff (yum!) and then to Babies R' Us to pick up a couple of items. It felt as though light years had passed since I had been out and about. (Christmas decorations are up in our town. What???)

Here's an Amelia pic for the day. This was from last night. Call me a proud mother, but I think she's adorable. :)

Bonding with Amelia

Darryl and I are really enjoying this week with Amelia. My parents, who came up as soon as they heard we were heading to the hospital, left Thursday so that Darryl and I could have some "alone time" with the baby. (This was pretty gracious on their part; this is their first grandchild, after all. They're coming back for Thanksgiving, though.)

Anyway, she has us tied around her finger...even during the sleepless nights. (By the way, I think we may be on the verge of a breakthrough with that, knock on wood.)

We went for our first visit to the pediatrician yesterday, and Amelia is already up to 9 pounds, so she's definitely eating well. :) (I guess infancy is the one time in a woman's life when it is good to gain wait.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics from the last few days...

Darryl read her One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish yesterday. About halfway through, he said, "This is a long book." Amelia seemed to like it, though:

First Night

See that sweet little angel below, sleeping ever so peacefully? Yeah, she doesn't sleep like that at night.

I'm really big on the whole going by a (flexible) schedule thing, but these books I've read don't really talk about how to keep the baby awake during the day (with some naps, of course). I think we definitely have one of those "days confused with nights" situations, but I also realize it might take some time for her to get this figured out.

Today has been a little better with keeping her up for longer periods during the day. We've given her a sponge bath and have talked to her. We're also open to any reasonable suggestions for keeping a baby awake when she's supposed to be awake.

That being said...even when she refuses to be put down in her pack n' play at 3 a.m., we can't be mad at her. She's too stinkin' cute. :)

Amelia Paige is Finally Here!

Amelia Paige (finally) arrived Monday night at 8:23! She was 8 pounds, 9 ounces and 22 inches long (!). She has lots of blond hair, really long fingers, and big feet. We're absolutely in love with her and can't wait to get to know her better.

I'm trying to do that "sleep when the baby sleeps" thing, but I can't stop looking at her. :)

Still no news to report...

No baby action today, either.

Darryl made some really good chicken and sausage gumbo, and I made an apple pie and did laundry. The house is clean, I have food to provide for my parents when they come up as soon as they get "the" phone call...we're just waiting for the baby.

The wait continues...

I forgot to update last night, but really, there was nothing to update. Coretta still doesn't want to come out. I'm trying to convince her how much fun we'll have once she gets here!

Darryl and I went to eat with our friends Blake and Jessica last night at Ted's Montana Grill. It was nice to hang out with them and to get out of the house.

Oh...and will LSU be #1 again???? I hope so!! (Another reason Coretta needs to show up--she has an LSU cheerleader outfit to wear!!)

Still no baby

I feel an obligation to post an update every day. I've already learned that if I don't pick up my cell phone when it rings, people assume it is because I'm labor and can't answer it. :)

I pretty much stayed around the house all day, but tonight, in an effort to cure my cabin fever, Darryl and I went to eat at Macaroni Grill and then saw the movie Dan in Real Life. I liked it, and Darryl didn't. (He later confessed to me that he doesn't really like Steve Carell. What??) Granted, it isn't on my Top Ten List of Greatest Movies of All Time, but I thought it was a nice, understated movie.

Oh, when we were at Macaroni Grill, there was a table full of little girls--plus some smaller groups scattered throughout the restaurant--dressed in 50's attire (poodle skirts, pedal pushers, scarves around ponytails) with their dads, who were dressed in white t-shirts and black leather jackets. Apparently there was some daddy/daughter dance or event somewhere tonight. Anyway, it was really cute...made me excited about having a little girl. Of course, Darryl and I joked that mom was probably home with a glass of wine and a chick flick, enjoying a few moments of peace and quiet and having the house to herself.

And as for me...soon I'm going to bed in hopes that I'll be awakened by labor pains. :)

Darryl said it best...

Darryl just made a rather astute statement: "This feels like Christmas anticipation, but we don't know when Christmas is going to be..."

Yep, we're still here waiting for the baby to show up. Today, the midwife I saw said that she is just positive I will have the baby before the weekend is over, so she didn't want me to sign up for an induction just yet. If she's wrong, though, I go back Monday to schedule an induction for Tuesday or Wednesday.

And so we wait.

I baked a cake tonight. Oh, and Darryl and I went to the BBQ joint down the street, where the woman behind the counter said, "When is your baby due?" My reply: "Two days ago." The woman: "It seems you have been pregnant quite a while." You're telling me, sister.

My First TV Post in a While

My mother will just have to indulge me...I haven't posted about TV in a while. But while I'm waiting for a baby and nothing else is going on, I might as well...

I'm not really watching a whole lot this year. But here's the rundown on what I am watching. If you watch any of the same shows, I'd like your opinion, too...

Dancing with the Stars--I haven't been as much into the show as usual this year, mainly because it has coincided with trying to get lesson plans finished and stuff like that. I'm pulling for Jennie Garth and Helio the Racecar Driver. Or Scary Spice. (I didn't like Scary Spice in the beginning, but she CAN dance.)

Grey's Anatomy--I'm trying to figure out why I'm still watching this show. I think it is definitely on its way down. My favorite character, Addison, moved to the gross Private Practice show, and I don't really like any of the other characters right now. I'm over Meredith and Derek (although, and I know I'm in the minority here, I was never a big fan because I find her whiny and annoying), and I hate the pairing of George and Izzie. My favorite character now is Bailey. She's the only one I don't want to strangle.

The Office--While this show still has moments of humor, I almost think it seems to be trying too hard. Some of the plotlines are way over the top, and I thought the 1-hour episodes were 30 minutes too long. I do like the pairing of Jim and Pam...I'll hang in there.

Friday Night Lights--Still the best show on TV, even with the stupid plot involving Landry, Tyra, and the body they dumped into the river. Everything else about this show I love...and I will say that at least the actors playing Landry and Tyra are doing a great job with the yucky material they've been given. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton, however, are THE reasons to watch this show. They're brilliant.

And, of course, with the writers' strike going on...who knows how many more of these shows we get to "enjoy" anyway?

Any thoughts?

Still waiting...

Yeah, that's about it.

Due date has come and (almost) gone

Well, no baby appearance today. I kind of figured that would be the case. Does anyone ever deliver on her actual due date???

I did go to the doctor today. I'm still "progressing," but not much. The coolest part of the visit was I was hooked up to a non-stress test machine to chart the baby's heartbeat and movements, just to make sure she's not in any kind of distress. All looked good. I'm supposed to go back Thursday to discuss possible induction that would likely be scheduled for Sunday or Monday. While I would like for this to happen "on its own," I think by Sunday or Monday, I'll be all for an induction. I'm ready for her to be here!

So that's the latest. Until then, we wait...

November 5--Nothing Going On Except (Maybe) Nesting

Darryl is convinced I'm nesting. He may be right, but this isn't what I thought nesting would be. I thought nesting was all about doing "ridiculous" chores like attempting to clean out all the closets or cleaning the grout in the kitchen floor with a toothbrush. (Or, I also like Kim's story about having the desire to buy and put up all new Christmas decorations before her daughter was born.) I haven't had a nap in two days, though (and that is a record), and I've done laundry, changed the sheets on the bed, cleaned the refrigerator, downloaded lullabies on iTunes, cooked dinner, and made brownies. I also fit a visit to TJMaxx and Target in there somewhere. Is this "nesting"?

I'm ready to get this show on the road. Darryl and I have been walking the circle in our neighborhood every day for about two weeks, but today we went twice.

Tomorrow I go to the doctor. I hope she says something encouraging...

Sunday, 39+ Weeks, and Baby's Room

Today, Darryl and I--thinking that this could be our last weekend just the two of us--decided to drive up into the hilly countryside north of us to look at some leaves. Our first stop was Amicalola Falls, where we took this picture at the top of the falls:

Now, I didn't really walk up all those steps (you can park at the top of the falls), but I told Darryl I was ready to leave because I was attracting LOTS of attention because everyone thought I had hiked it. I also don't like my facial expression in that picture, so consider the following one my official "34 years old and almost 40 weeks pregnant picture":
We also went to Ellijay to an apple barn, where I bought some apples (healthy, right?) and a fried apple pie (um, well...at least it has fruit in it). It was a good day, and the leaves--at least the ones that had turned--were very pretty.

And finally, here are a couple of pics of the baby's room. We've had it done for a while, but I've just been lazy about posting the pictures.

Here's what the room looks like as you walk in. The wall to the left basically just consists of closet doors.

And here are the other two walls. Ignore the white basket with a few remaining items to wash. Oh, and Coretta's "official" name is going on the shelf above the changing table/dresser:

So there you go. We're ready.

My 34th

So, yesterday was my birthday, and it was pretty good. Typically, I still get excited about my birthday just like a little kid, but this year, it really took a backseat to the impending baby arrival. (It's probably just preparation for my "taking the backseat" pretty much for the rest of my life once I have a child to think about!)

Still, it was a good day...

--I started off my morning with Dunkin' Donuts and a caramel apple cider from Starbucks.
--Darryl and I went to various places, purchasing last-minute things for me and/or the baby. The baby can now come any time she wants. I'm ready.
--We had Mexican food for dinner last night, but I didn't really have too much of an appetite. Darryl told me that he'll take me somewhere really good after the baby is born and my mother is here to babysit one evening. (If Grandma doesn't mind doing that, of course.)
--LSU--in typical fashion--won a game in the last few minutes, and then FSU managed to beat #2 Boston College...so LSU should be back to #2!!! Geaux Tigers!

I have pictures to post later today: probably my "last" pregnancy photos as well as long-overdue pics of the baby's room. I know everyone is just waiting on pins and needles...

Maternity Leave...At Last!

So I'm officially done with school now. It's a good feeling.

I'm exhausted this evening, though; I was up until 1 in the morning finishing up with some grading.

But now I'm done.

Next on my agenda: rest, rest, rest until the baby gets here. :)

If you just heard harps playing and angels singing...

...it was because I just finished grading those blasted Julius Caesar papers.