Insomnia strikes again!

So, here I am, beginning to write this post at 2:45 am. I'm not sure if it was the Mt. Dew that I drank at 7:00pm or just Kiddo's way of preparing me for many late nights/early mornings, but I might as well be productive and update this blog, right? Here's the 36 week 411:

"Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly." Author's side note: what the deuce is a crenshaw melon? Stop calling my baby fruits I don't know...

What's really going on with me you ask? Let's chat for a moment shall we? Aaron and I have officially finished our prenatal classes. We've run the full gamut from what to expect in labor, to how not to hold your infant and check if they are sick, how to provide nommys via my chesticles, and now we've taken "postpartum adjustments." This last class was kind of nice because they brought in parents of a 2 month, 3 month, and 4 month old (with their actual pooping, screaming children even) and we got to ask questions. I had NO CLUE what to ask, I just wanted them to talk and for me to absorb their every word. I learned some rather explicit information about the days-weeks after birth for me that I have to say I'm not looking forward to living through, but I guess many women have survived it and even gone on to have more children, so it must be tolerable. I practically laughed my ass off when I saw the "pink products" the hospital will provide post birth for my personal use: they are the size of a small car! And somehow I'm supposed to fit them inside these mesh panty thingys, along with some ice packs for my poor booty region. I'm predicting a very pronounced waddle that will define my gait once I manage to combine all these items with pants and shoes.

I had a doctor appointment today, my last bi-weekly visit and met the final practitioner in my office. She seemed really sweet, until...

I had to have the Group B Strep culture taken. Now, I'm not naive, I knew this was coming and researched what it involved. In fact, I first heard about this joyous event in my birthing class when a young African American girl loudly announced that she got her "butt swabbed" while her friend/birthing partner cackled next to her (the same friend who I later caught shaving her armpits in the bathroom while we were on break, though I don't know if I shared that story). Our instructor mentioned that the test was important to do later in the pregnancy because if you do carry GBS, you must receive antibiotics via IV during delivery to prevent passing it to your child. It doesn't usually affect adults, but can really cause havoc for the baby. Back to the original narrative though:

My nurse came in to take my bp, which was a little high again, but that was after she reminded me about the test. I also have just started the school year and had to leave mid-school day to have this appointment while stressing out over the return of an admin placement, blah, blah, blah. In other words, adding to new school year stress by reminding me you're planning to boldly go where no one has gone before won't result in a calm, collected Valerie. I also had a huge weight jump this time: 6 pounds in two weeks! Are you kidding me? That's 3 pounds more than my scale at home says! All I'd had prior to the appointment was a handful of frosted mini-wheats, 6 pringles, and 32 oz of water! Geez! (I'm guessing it was the water that did it, since I did chug all 32 oz before the appointment to ensure I had a nice "sample" for them and my weight is once again lower here at home.)

In walks my doctor, 20 minutes after my bp test. I've had to disrobe from the waste down and cover my booty with this little sheet. The nurse had been kind enough to put down a little pink paper towel for my butt, but let's chat about that. I know it's supposed to make it more...I really don't know I guess. Comfortable? Hygenic? Pretty? All that happened was that my naked butt under a sheet on a vinyl padded table started to sweat and that result of that is one piece of pretty pink SHREDDED paper towel. So doc is in the room with me and asks the typical questions: is he moving (all the time), any issues (raging heartburn), any questions (not at this moment, can we cut to the chase here and get the little culture taken?). Then she measures my belly, which she said was something like 38 inches and "right on" for where I should be. Kiddo's heart was a-pounding away in his usual 140s, which is nice and healthy. Then she grabs the little swab for the culture. Up until this moment, I hadn't really minded being half-dressed and prodded and may have even gone so far as to say I was enjoying meeting and chatting with this doctor. As she collected the necessary culture, I learned how severely looks can deceive. Spoiler alert: this doesn't go well for me and all men and squeamish women may just want to skip down a bit further. Prepare for an overshare the size of Texas:

The little swab felt like someone was trying to wedge a dry freaking tampon up my lady parts! Seriously?!?! How big was that thing?!?!?! On a scale of 1 to huge, I'll give it a "did you just try to put a rusty VW Beetle in my crotch?" I'm sure this is one of those parts of pregnancy I'll forget, but geez! I was so surprised by the vag violation, I don't even really recall how my poor booty felt about the situation. Then doc tells me she's going to check my cervix and that can be a little uncomfortable. THAT will be uncomfortable? Where was the warning on the GBS test? Having my cervix checked felt like a beach holiday after the trauma of the previous activity.

Doc told me I wasn't even really dilated enough for her to tell if Kiddo was head up or down. At this point in the pregnancy, we want his tiny tootsies pointed at the sky. Because she couldn't be certain, she scheduled an ultrasound for next week. Because they don't do ultrasounds on Fridays, that means I have TWO doctor's appointments next week, both during the school day. Let's see what THAT does to my bp! I asked if I needed to do anything for my elevated bp, but doc said she'd just have the nurse take it again before I left and have me lay on my left side for it. She left and I got dressed. The little pink paper towel was in about six pieces, so I carefully gathered them all together and tossed them in the trash. I waited for the nurse to come for my bp, but didn't know I was supposed to lie down while I waited for her. Oops! She took my bp again, but it was still high so she wanted me to lay down. I asked if I could go pee first (32 oz of water people), since perhaps the stress of needing to pee so badly was causing my elevated bp. After my GBS test, I was shocked by home much it hurt to pee! I think the doctor completely missed my vag and dove into my pee hole instead! Maybe that's why the cotton swab from hell felt so large! Anywho, I went back and laid down for 10 minutes or so and my bp dropped precipitously, therefore enabling my escape from the office. So there you have it. If you're still reading and you're a woman, you can INDEED survive a GBS test and live to laugh about it.

Let's address another issue that's been plaguing me of late: forgetfulness. I'd heard that this happens during pregnancy, but I hadn't really experienced much until the last few weeks or so. Mom is in town this weekend, attending the Stork Affair with me, bringing us a new(er) couch and chairs for our table, buying wedding snacks at Costco, etc. We decided to hit Costco tonight to save us time tomorrow (wait, it's Saturday morning right now, isn't it? You work it out...) We wandered around and gathered goodies, and then headed to the checkout. After we paid, I started digging through my purse for my keys. Well, guess what I couldn't find! I knew immediately that they were locked in my car. Man I was mad, especially when I couldn't locate my spare key ANYWHERE in my purse! I called AAA and they said it'd be about 45 minutes. That's not a terrible wait really. Mom and I wheeled out to the car to wait since it was nice enough outside to do so. We chatted while we waited and I expressed how crappy it was to be so forgetful lately (seriously, if I don't write it down or say it immediately when I have the thought, I'll forget it). Mom asked to check my purse again for the spare that I once upon a time kept inside (I'd dumped the contents on to a germ-laden table inside Costco once already). I was fairly adamant that it wouldn't make a bit of difference since I'd already looked, but she insisted. I was rattling on and on about how I used to keep a spare on me at all times and I'd kept it in a small-zippered-pocket-but-that-must-have-been-my-old-purse-and-now-that-I-think-of-it-the-spare-may-be-on-the-hook-by-the-garage-door-at-home-and-a-fat-lot-of-good-it-does-me-there-and-I-hope-they-come-to-unlock-the-door-soon-because-I-don't-want-the-chicken-to-thaw-of-the-pasta-to-get-too-warm...

Mom found the exact zippered pouch that I had mentioned and my spare key was in it. DOY! I'm not sure how I missed a HUGE zippered pocket with a smaller zippered pocket inside when my purse is as small as it is, but yes I did. I apologized to Mom for being such a B-word about her looking through my purse and called AAA to cancel the help request. I lied and said my husband brought my spare, rather than attempting to explain to the helpful helper that my placenta has caused all blood to flow away from my brain. The craziest part is that any other day, I would have forgotten to lock my doors and there wouldn't have been a problem, since I seem to forget to do that a lot lately. Wow! I have a Master's degree in Educational Leadership; no wonder no one wants to hire me to help lead a school.

Let's mention something good and fun from the last week now shall we? My former roommate and awesomest friend Stephanie got married last weekend! Having lived with her for two years and had many deep and fart-filled conversations with her, I wasn't sure that marriage was something she wanted when we were in college. Whether it seemed too restrictive or whatever, it just didn't seem to be something she was comfortable with and I really loved that about her; I think it was through these chats that she helped foster my own feminist side, because I had previously held the belief that I wouldn't amount to much until I was a wife. I have to thank Stephanie because I have been able to move beyond that way of thinking now. Yes, I'm married and very happily so, expecting my first child and thrilled with my life, but I think Stephy taught me that it is ok to be myself and have my own thoughts and ideas and that ruffling feathers or going against the grain is a better, smarter way to live. I'm really hoping that all of this is coming off heartfelt because I mean it so deeply and don't want this to be construed as negative or judgmental. Steph is just this amazing, go-getter lady who is always looking to do something good and I swear never takes time to just quietly exist in a space. Everyone knows her and everyone LOVES THE HELL OUT OF HER. I've watched her grow a lot though in the last few years and when she told me she was getting married, it didn't seem like a weird thing; it seemed very right, like the pieces of a jumbled puzzle had been laid in place. Stephy will always be Stephy, but seeing her get married last weekend brought tears to my eyes. There is no way I would have missed this day, pregnancy-shmegnancy!

The day started off pretty nasty though, with this intense storm in the morning. But it cleared off by the afternoon and during the pictures. I spent the morning in the salon with the girls, a baby shower gift from Kathryn. I LOVED my hair, but really, that whole time in the salon was about being with these amazing women! HOW THE HELL was I fortunate enough the meet these ladies? How have I managed to somehow count myself among their ranks? I'll never really understand it, but I don't want to. They are all just amazing! We got ready at the salon too so that we could just run back to the hotel to eat and then go get photos. It was a great day, a beautiful and touching ceremony, and an awesome party! To Stephanie and Ryan, I wish you more happiness, love, and laughter than you can fit into your lifetimes. Stay you, eat well, and love life!

Here are some hijacked photos of the day for your viewing pleasure. (Photo credits is Rislow and Gabster!)

...I've been trying to upload the photos unsuccessfully, so I'll try to post them later. Woot for potential multiple updates!

Quick update!

Speedy update since I know I'm a bit behind, but I am also extremely busy at home. Here's the last two weeks' updates:

34 Weeks - "Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies."

35 Weeks - "Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight."

After all those comparisons to melon, I need to go get some fruit! Aaron and I have now attended the baby basics class (washing, changing, medicating, swaddling, etc.) and the breastfeeding essentials classes. I'm glad to report that we actually only have one class left: postpartum adjustments. I'm supposed to learn all about what to expect AFTER I have the kid. (On a different but related note, I dreamt last night that Kiddo came out very quickly, but was a girl, I got into a fight with my mother about her name, and was in need of serious mental help as I came to the realization that little girls maybe don't like Mario as much as little boys and I would need to repaint the room.)

This weekend, Aaron, Kiddo and I are off to Madison to shake our booties for Steph's wedding! I'm both excited and apprehensive. This is the only wedding, aside from my father's, that I have ever been in. I bought a totally cute pair of heels to wear with my dress, but then I began to worry about how my feet might hold up. I bought a pair of flats also, but those bastards tore the hell out of the backs of my feet. I've been trying to let them heal up, but when I tried the flats on this morning, YIKES there's still a lot of pain. I think I'm just going to wear the heels and grit it out if they start to hurt. I do believe that we are staying in the swankiest hotel I've ever been in this weekend as well. I think I'm most excited just to see my girls again!

The apprehension comes from the fact that I am officially nearing the end of my eighth month. I know most docs would tell me not to travel, but there's no way in hell I'm missing this! So, always a planner, I am packing an emergency bag, just in case Kiddo decides to get this show on the road a bit earlier than planned. I've packed a blanket from Aunt Emily and Aunt Steph, his little scrubs, and the Who Loves Baby? book from Auntie Gab, complete with pictures. For myself I've packed an extra change of clothes (since I already have a few packed for the wedding travel), extra underwear (a must I hear), chap stick, hair ties and headbands, and some of the styling funky socks I got at Target last time (black and purple argyle and grey and purple stripes). I've also packed a few other things, but really, I think that's the essentials. Oh, and we'll have to pack the car seat so we don't have to go buy a brand new one.

So far, I'm not anticipating that Kiddo is planning The Great Escape yet. I've had some Braxton Hicks contractions that feel like somebody is yanking on my belly button. Most don't really hurt, they are just kind of uncomfortable, but on occasion they take my breath away. Next week is my last two-week appointment (second day of the school year no less) and then I have to start going every week! Next week is also the first of many visits where I shall have to strip down and let it all show so the docs can check things out. By the way, can someone PLEASE invent a filter for the TVs of pregnant women? Any time I see a pregnancy show, I have to watch it! I can't turn the damn things off, and you know that smooth deliveries don't make good TV. Instead I have to watch C-section hell, crappy epidurals, semi-insensitive nurses, and women who literally scream their children out. I don't think it's healthy for me to watch these things, but it's like I'm unable to change the channel, and even if I could, the batteries in the remote have gone dead (figuratively speaking of course).

Really, I need to go finish packing. Aaron and I are going to head out tonight to finish up any last minute "we need that" shopping for the wedding. I seriously can't wait and I think it's a great way to end my summer "vacation" (like I'd know what that is...).

TTFN!

2 Glorious Years

Dear Kiddo,

Today is a very special day. Maybe you can feel that, maybe you can’t, but I want to share with you why today is so very special for your Momma. Two years ago today, I became my whole self. Two years ago today, I said with words what my soul and my heart already felt. Two years ago today, I married your Daddy.

It’s hard sometimes for me to believe the changes that your Daddy has made in my life. Maybe this is a chance to tell you the story of how we met and how we became ready to meet you (though I still don’t know if we’re ready to meet you Angel). Here goes, for you:

Your Daddy came into my life at the perfect time, though I wish he had come sooner so that we could have already spent more time together. Momma was a senior in college and had just broken up with a guy; I was feeling pretty down on myself, like I may never find someone to share my heart with. I remember thinking that sometimes my heart felt so full of love I would burst. Momma had never really had a good relationship with a guy and sometimes, I felt like I was doomed to be alone. I always got hurt by boys and I spent a lot of time building up walls around my heart so that it wouldn't hurt so much. I had a journal that I wrote, just like this one. I wrote some pretty awful things in it after the break-up, about how terrible I thought all men were (I’m going to raise you right Kiddo; you’re not allowed to do mean things to girls…). Little did I know as I wrote my angry and bitter words about boys that those words would help me meet Daddy.

Daddy had a journal on the internet too, on the same site that I used. It was actually his birthday in 2004 that he got curious enough to see if there were other people on the website from Iowa. He did a search for other blogs and somehow found Mommy’s. I’m still not sure what possessed him to do it, but he read all of Momma’s angry words and decided to send me a message. He said something about how he was a man and had to agree with me that men sucked big time. I read your Daddy’s words to me, there weren’t many, but they made me laugh. I sent him a message back, saying that I thought girls could be pretty awful too (something I’m sure you’ll learn Kiddo, but I’ll be there when you do to show you that not every girl is cruel).

Mommy and Daddy started sending more messages to each other. Sometimes, we’d post things on our blog about one another or to one another like funny quotes and links or great song lyrics we both loved or that expressed how we were feeling. Then we started talking through AIM, that’s AOL Instant Messenger (something I’m sure you’ll NEVER use and that proves how old Mom and Dad are). Daddy worked the late shift at Oscar Mayer and I would stay up late to talk with him when he got home. I can’t even remember much of what we talked about, but I remember waiting at my computer for his icon to light up, telling me he was home.

I think it was probably around the beginning of January in 2005, just a month or so after his first message to me, that I started thinking that I liked him a lot more than I realized. I remember that he gave me his phone number one night and I called him, intentionally leaving him a message because I was kind of shy about talking with him, voice to voice, since I’d never actually met him in person or even seen his face. He posted something on his blog about know what the voice of an angel sounded like after that call and Kiddo, my heart melted. Daddy would never claim it, but he’s quite the poet when he wants to be and between him and me, he’s definitely the more romantic, which I love about him.

The next time I called though, trying to just leave him a message, his mom Elaine picked up the phone! Oh my goodness I didn’t know what to say! I got scared because I knew I’d have to talk! So I just stuttered and asked to talk to Daddy. I can’t tell you if I was more nervous waiting for him to pick up or while I was actually talking with him! I should have know at that moment, with that knee-shaking, terrified, but terrifically excited feeling that I was in love, but I’d never been in love before, so how could I have known? I can’t remember if we talked long that time or if it was short. I think we were both pretty surprised to be hearing one another’s voices (it was the first time I heard Daddy’s voice).

Over the next few weeks, we kept talking more and more, still a lot on the internet, but also on the phone more. Then, one night while Momma was at home on a short break from college, Daddy and I were IMing and he said the words…the BIG words…the words I hope you only say when you really and truly mean them Kiddo because they change so much: Daddy said, “I love you” and it broke me (Daddy used to “break” me a lot, when he’d say something sweet and I didn’t know what to say in return). Momma had no way to respond at the time. I’d never heard those words before, not from a man. I knew he meant them too, which was so exciting and so scary at the same time! I cried very hard as I read them; I read them over and over again Kiddo. I knew I loved your Daddy too! That was January 29^th, and for a long time, Daddy and I used that date as our anniversary.

I told him I didn’t want to say those words to him yet, because I wanted to see his face when I said them. Daddy said he understood. We both did something silly then. Neither one of us knew it at the time, but we had bought each other Valentine’s Day cards. After that night though, the cards we’d gotten for each other just didn’t seem to make sense anymore, because they were cards you send to friends and Daddy and I weren’t just friends anymore. We each went out and got each other a new Valentine’s Day card, but we sent both cards to each other. So instead of just getting one Valentine, we each got two and we each wrote “read this one first” on the old card. Mommy wrote Daddy a poem in the second card and Daddy sent Mommy a paper journal, because he called me Pandora for all the secrets I kept hidden from him because I was so shy around him.

Then Daddy took another big step and asked what I was doing the weekend after Valentine’s Day. He planned a trip to come up and see me at college. I was so nervous waiting for him to arrive! I had to sit through my vocal seminar thinking that at any moment he was going to call me and tell me he was in Decorah! When he finally did call, I drove to his hotel room to meet him face to face for the first time. Your Daddy hid behind the door as he opened it, and I told him it wasn’t fair since I knew he’d already seen me through the security window. We hugged and Daddy had brought me a couple of gifts, one of which was a stuffed puppy named Aimee (I wanted a puppy pretty badly).

Mommy had the whole weekend planned, for the most part, because I didn’t want things to seem weird or for us to not have anything to do. We went to dinner in Marty’s on campus and then Daddy had to sit through a college talent show with Mommy and ALL OF HER FRIENDS. He was so brave! The next night, Daddy took me to a very nice dinner at La Rana Bistro and that night, Mommy and Daddy had their very first kiss. He tried to kiss me a couple of times in the hotel room, but Momma was shy and your Daddy was sweet. He walked me to my car though and there, with the snow falling around us so perfectly, we kissed and I said the words to him. Kiddo, it was like a scene from a movie…until a car honked at us!

Daddy had to leave the next day and it was very hard for both of us. I didn’t want to see him go, because I was so happy when he was around! The good thing was that his leaving didn’t mean we stopped talking. I think we talked even more after his visit. I even went down to spend my Spring Break with him in Davenport and I met his parents (very scary). Your Daddy was so very sweet to me; I didn’t want to stay every night in his parents’ house and make them think I was some sort of tramp or floozy, so Daddy got us a hotel room the first night I stayed so that I would be more comfortable. It is still a joke between your Daddy and I because I didn’t know where he was taking me and all I saw was a big Bennigan’s restaurant sign outside when we stopped and I couldn’t figure out why it had a fountain and a desk and smelled like chlorine (silly me, it was a Holiday Inn with a Bennigan’s inside).

Daddy kept visiting Mommy. He came to see my final choir concert at Luther and watched me graduate. He and I kept talking while I student taught in Des Moines that fall and he listened to me complain about my first job as a teacher (because it was hard and scary and meant I was an adult). We took our first (and to date, only) vacation together up to the Twin Cities. Then Daddy and I decided it was time to move in together. Daddy quit his job in Davenport and got a job here in Des Moines and we got our first home together, an apartment in West Des Moines.

I still remember the day that your Daddy asked me to marry him. Mommy knew he had her ring because she had accidentally picked it out at the mall. Mommy had a bad day at work and came home and was complaining a lot. I didn’t notice right away, but Daddy had cleaned the whole apartment up! He’d even made our bed! He finally had to ask me to stop moving around so much. He’d gotten me a gift and wanted me to open it. I saw a box from Build-a-Bear sitting on the bed. At first, I thought it was the box that was usually in my closet, but I opened it and inside, there was a new bear! It was the polar bear that I wanted! I was kind of surprised at first because I’d wanted to put the bear in an Eskimo outfit, but Daddy had dressed this bear in a tuxedo. Daddy told me to keep looking in the box, so I kept pulling things out. When I got to the bear’s birth certificate, I saw that the bear was named “Will you beary me?” I looked at Daddy and Daddy had the ring ready in his hands. Mommy started to cry a lot then. I don’t know if I actually said “yes” or not, but about a year and a half later, Mommy and Daddy got married in Independence, Iowa outside at the Heartland Acres Event Center. Two years from that day, I am sitting here, in Daddy’s and my first house, crying over the sweet memories and waiting for you to arrive.

I hope you’ll be just like your Daddy, Kiddo. I don’t know if I have the right words to tell you, him, myself, or anyone just how amazing your father is. He is sweet and loving and caring, kind and generous, tender, so incredibly understanding, and Kiddo, he’s funny. He makes Mommy laugh so much! He’s going to make you laugh too. Daddy is perfect for Mommy because he can calm her down, he knows the right things to say when she’s upset, he is supportive when she needs it, he knows when to leave her with her thoughts, he listens so well, and he’s constant. Daddy is pretty much as perfect as someone can get. He’s Mommy’s opposite in all the important ways! Daddy has given me the most amazing things Kiddo, and he’s helped me become me! Without Daddy, I couldn’t be this person, I wouldn’t be a wife, and I wouldn’t get to be your mother. I am so very lucky! I think back to that first weekend we met and it is almost like the weekend never ended. In some ways Kiddo, Momma still feels like she’s having a really long weekend with Daddy, interrupted by annoying moments of work and paying the bills. Soon, you’ll join our weekend fun! You’re going to love your Daddy so much Kiddo! I can’t wait to see you two together!

Love, your Momma

Yeah, I know...

I haven't updated in a while; I know it. Really, I'm not sure where the time is going lately and I've found that unless I write something down on a "to-do" list, I forget it. I may have forgotten that I already made a comment about my forgetfulness of late. Whatevs!

Here are the two missing Kiddo growth updates, for 32 and 33 weeks. I can hardly believe that we are in the seven week countdown.

32 Weeks: "By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

33 Weeks: "This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood."

The good news is that I think I can blame the LARGE weight gain in the past week to Kiddo's growth. Earlier this week, I wasn't really all that hungry and dropped a pound, but let me tell you, he's sure helping Mom make up for it today. I am ravenous! I had cereal for breakfast, pasta for lunch, and three Flav-o-Ice dohinkers already today and all I am thinking about at this moment is chocolate.

What else is new? Hmm. Well, Aaron and I painted the closet doors in Kiddo's room, completing the painting process (unless I decide to add or amend something). The "magnetic" paint was a pain in the ass and we now have some charming black stains on the carpet from it. It was a nightmare! It has the consistency of oil mixed with metal filings, beads up, flies everywhere, won't spread evenly, and refuses to budge from whatever it touches (walls, paint brushes, hands, etc). Also, its magnetism is negligible; I doubt it will hold a sheet of paper, considering the magnet we tried was barely hanging on. Seriously, if YOU ever consider using it, give me a call and I'll come punch you in the face. Your time would be better spent recovering from my punch. The good news is that the chalkboard paint on top of the magnetic nightmare looks pretty good. The only things left to do in the nursery now are to hang curtains (still trying to figure out what color we want) and assemble the rocking chair that we'll pick up this weekend.

Next week is the final week of summer school. Hallelujah! I get a one week reprieve from school and I plan to use it to just sit around a be lazy, maybe do some yoga, wash up Kiddo's diapers (since I still haven't done that yet) and generally satisfy my OWN needs for a change. I refuse to clean! (We'll see how that goes.) I'm hoping that at least one day involves a Top Model marathon. Maybe I'll work on filling in a piece or two of Kiddo's baby book or start working on birth announcements so they're ready to go when he does arrive.

Our final "birthing" class is this weekend. This is the one where we get to see the actual birthing suite. I made it through seeing the epidural needle and witnessing crowning and I think that the TV show One Born Every Minute is worse than what class has shown. The animated video of the c-section was worse than seeing a baby crown, I think. I've decided to labor as long as possible without the epidural and then see how I do with the "half-epidural" that I've been told I can get. I don't want to be drugged out of my mind with narcotics (nor do I want Kiddo to feel the effects) or have the meds wear off. I'm starting to get to a place where I'm just ready to have him here. All the planning and work has been great, but I want him out of my belly and in my arms already! I'm not a patient person, obviously.

Well, here are just a few photos to look at. I'm gonna go find something to eat (although I shouldn't).

Not perfect, but there's the closet doors. I took the little door guide off this morning, so they are a bit askew, but meh, it'll be fine.

We found a Mario place mat at Walmart once and decided to grab it. I have it hanging on the door to the room, since my ambition to paint the Mario 3 map has disappeared. Maybe I'll find that desire in a few weeks, maybe never. Later on, Aaron and I want to do something in the room with the lettering you see, like write or paint "Super Killian" somewhere.

Mario got a bit of a face lift. I decided to make his ear a little smaller and therefore had to adjust his hair as well.

Silly picture, I know, but I wanted to show off the giant Mario blanket we got for when he's older. I think it's the size of a full bed.

I may have already posted this, but here are the bouncer and swing set up in the living room.

Check it out! Auntie Emily and Uncle Eddie got Kiddo a basket of fun! We got some great blankets and some extra sheets for the crib, a few necessary books, a stuffed elephant, and they somehow found this adorable owl outfit that I had been eyeing at Babies R Us for weeks!