6 months old already!!!

I can hardly believe this half a year could go so fast! Today Lacey had her 6 month appointment and I realized my little baby's already almost grown up (into a big baby anyways).
So Lacey got her report card and is doing quite well. 16lbs. 13.5oz (90th%), 27in.(93rd%), 43.5cm(80th%) for her head - Finally her body caught up with her head! She started "officially" sitting on her own this weekend (without being surrounded by pillows for her frequent topples), and she is a rolling machine. Just try and keep her on her back...she even decided that she would rather sleep on her stomach too. I quit turning her over after an unsuccessful week of trying.
On the mommy front, my shoulders have been quite in pain so we are on the hunt for the new best baby carrier. So far we have in our posession a Moby, a sling, a Bjorn and a Snugglie. Now none of these work for more than a little while (and by little while I mean that as soon as I can take them off I do). Enter the soft structured carriers. This has been my new research obsession (last was cloth diapers). We are now debating between the Ergo, the Beco, and the Boba (I love baby things - they have such great names). Unfortunately trying them out is difficult since most places don't carry more than one type (we've tried an Ergo and get to try the Beco in Madison in a couple of weeks). Kind of excited since this will hopefully make our trip to California a little easier in a few weeks.
Clint is leaving us tomorrow for the sunshine state and will be there for most of the next month. This is the first time that it has worked out to go and visit him! Yipee! Aunt Megan will be coming with to keep me company and help me maintain my sanity while Clint is at work (not sure how it will be traveling with a baby and all). We would like to think of this as an experiment to see if Lacey will be welcome on future vacations:)

Lacey's Birthday

So things of course started a couple of days before at work. I started having irregular contractions at work that continued through my birthday (despite my attempts to get things going by taking oscar for a walk). around midnight (12:08 per Clint) I woke up with my first more intense contraction. I decided to get up against better judgement since it was kind of exciting (and just when I was getting comfortable i would have another one). I walked around the house and tried to watch TV for a couple hours, and by 3AM the contractions were about 10-20 minutes apart. I called work and told them that I thought I might be coming in some time that day and to find out who was working, but was told that things might still slow down or go away completely. I guess that was why I was still somewhat in denial at 4AM when things picked up and I told Clint that he should maybe stay home from work that day. I think around 5-6 AM I called my friend Carrie and told her what was going on (still in denial), and she offered to come over. By 8:45AM I was only 3-4cm and hanging out in and out of the shower (had to come out to let the water warm up again), and around 11:30 or so I had decided that I'd had enough of the stupid water cooling off so I wanted to get to the hospital (they had a whirlpool and it was all I could think about). I didn't care any more about my goal of laboring at home until I was 8cm. Alas, we got to the hospital and that's just what I was to my delight (I was immediately happy and I think my contractions slowed down for a while). After that lasted for a little while (I have no concept of time), things started picking up again and getting a little more intense, and I was getting pretty tired from being up all night and all....I was a little worried I wouldn't have enough energy to get Lacey out. I let Loree (my midwife) break my water at 9cm to make things move a little faster (they didn't - don't let them fool you with that). and low and behold, 4 1/2 hours after we arrived (and multiple trips to the whirlpool, shower, and an hour and a half of trying to push her out, our little chub-o popped out (Clint was amazed that she was not the size of a guinea pig...that's what he was imagining). I never actually remember feeling like I had to push, but I was sick of waiting around and wanted to try and make it happen faster...She had a little meconium while she was still inside, but all that was affected was the color of her fingernails (mmm, green). I was able to hold her right away and our snuggling began (and still continues on a regular basis - we're a fan of naps). I was a little selfish at first and didn't let anyone else have her till the next day - well, Clint got to hold her after everyone left, but he is the dad afterall. I have to say, it was kinda fun that I got to have her where I work since I already knew everyone and was familiar with everything that was going on, and even got to do some things that I otherwise probably wouldn't have (like give her her first bath).

She's Here!

Lacey Lucille Herrick
11/13/09
4:16 PM
7# 14oz
21.5 inches

more to come after I sleep someday...it's the mobile uploads from my blackberry that enable me to update facebook....this thing is another story.....

40 Weeks + 2 days

So we had our sort of last appointment today. Yesterday at work I did make a little trip down the hall to have Loree help things along a little bit but to no avail. I am still 2cm, 75%, -2 today.....she definately got very active yesterday and it lasted up until bedtime. Perhaps there were lots of little contractions that she was feeling that I wasn't. We also discussed induction options today, but for the most part shot those down. I'm pretty completely opposed to being tied down so we're hoping she makes a timely exit (in the next week and a half). Our NST checked out ok (yay for my healthy placenta), and we have another one Friday and Monday if she is still camping out along with an untrasound to check amniotic fluid level. I'm pretty optimistic that she will be ready in her own time, and hoping that it is a good sign that my favorite midwives are on most of the week and this weekend:) On an even better note, I get to go and have a massage tonight at Fox Valley School of Massage with my alumni discount. It's usually hit or miss on the quality, so I'm hoping for a good one.

40 Weeks

It is official...we are no longer counting down, we are officially counting up...as in days past 40 week from now on. Clint and I both were feeling Tuesday, but she may just deside to spite us. I just thought it was weird that we both had the same feeling about a date (in my experience moms are wrong about this a lot of the time so don't be surprised when you don't hear from me).

39...We hope this is the last week

Yes, we're getting anxious now. Clint more than me. Mostly I think because he is sick of being "turned into a pretzel" every night by my "pillow monster" (large amount of pillows I use to get comfortable and then toss and turn with all night). I myself would just like to stop waking up for the day at 3AM, but I know that's not going to be getting any better any time soon, so I will just take being able to sleep on my back or whatever other position I feel like being in. We have everything ready to go now so I have gone back to cleaning the house today (I may as well be productive - this is my 4th low census day at work in a month - I should not have gloated so heavily in September when I told everyone that I hadn't had one since June and they were getting it every other week).
So I decided that I want her to come either tomorrow or the weekend of the 14th (sorry megan and eric - but happy birthday to you). I have been keeping tabs on the midwives call schedule, and my favorite is on those days. This weekend is my least favorite so I will keep my legs closed then....I think animals can stop their labors if they are uncomfortable with a situation so I will try and do the same. I was happy to hear that I was 70% effaced yesterday (still 1cm and -2 station though). I realize this means nothing about when things will happen, but just the fact that I can check that stuff means its close and I find that entirely exciting.
Chandler and Oscar have been extra snuggly (especially Chandler) lately. I wonder if they know they will get less attention soon? They got to dress up this weeknd to hand out candy to the trick-or treaters so as you can tell that thrilled them to death. They watched intently for the 5 or so trick or treaters that came to our house....needless to say there was a lot of extra candy...



Afterwards they fell asleep from all the excitment, or maybe they were just annoyed from putting up with Clint and my incessant need to parade them around the house to take pictures....







So before things started I was putting the bowl of candy by the front door for easy access and I tripped on the last 2 steps...no worries, bujt lets just say I immediately needed to use the bathroom. So when I returned this is how I found Oscar...I think he was contemplating his attack, but didn't find anything open so didn't know where to start....he could have also been waiting for someone to give him the "ok" as this is how he looks at his filled food dish every morning until we tell him that he can eat....we're mean, I know, but otherwise he used to plow us over and gobble it up in 2 seconds. Now we just made him mind his manners....



Also this weekend, Clint decided to put in my new In-sink-erator (yep, I got to disposal happy with the last one). It looks like I called the right plumber for the job (I think he might not like this picture when he sees it)



All of the snuggling exemplified - she never does this anymore so I think she suspects something (P.S. I look kinda dorky, I know):

Week 38 Recap

before I get started, happy Halloween everyone. I've officially held off on buying trick-or-treat candy until today since most of it would have been gone by now anyways (I would have eaten it, of course)! I feel very proud of that. Now sure what the trick-or-treat scene will hold this year, but I am not overly optimistic about the kiddy turnout - hasn't been so great in the past and that just left us with a lot of left overs....I may not care about being the "best house ever" anymore by giving out handfuls of candy to everyone in an attempt to get rid of it all. Clint and I haven't made plans this year as the Halloween party that we were going to go to was cancelled on accoiunt of a divorce (weird, I know). I was actually really looking forward to it, so boo :( Other than that I am definately growing around the middle, and last night had Clint take my shoes off for me - definately prefer the slip ons now, for sure. Not uncomfortable, just awkward feeling when I try to do anything that involves bending.



At my appointment I was 1cm and 50% effaced so I was pretty excited about that (less work for later although who knows when later will be). I'm not really anxious or anything, so checking that stuff doesn't bother me. She will come when she comes. Until then, I will enjoy the fact that I can still take naps (and justify it by the fact that I'm pregnant). On another note, it was strange this week at work taking care of some moms that were due after me....I told them all so. I just find it strange that my baby is as developed as the newborns I take care of. I have officially stoppoed looking at babycenter.com to find out what piece of produce she is comprable to every week since the examples in the nursery give me a much better idea:)

So we have another appointment on Monday, and I plan to see if there is anything that is going on any further then too. Almost 39 weeks (tomorrow)! Clint and I are going to finally get some hanging out time that is not spent cleaning (yay! he's coming to the farm with me today - ran out of milk). and we are hoping to still get to celebrate our anniversary next Friday and celebrate the November Ogi birthdays Saturday afternoon.