How to hold down a full-time career, get a graduate degree, participate in a social/charity group, and grow a fetus in your uterus all at the same time. The working woman's guide to pregnancy.

Monday, April 16, 2007

The End


Sunday, April 15, 2007

Biggest Surprise

Last week a friend asked what the biggest surprise was...the weirdest thing...now that we are parents and have a baby. I responded that the weirdest part was how un-weird it is. How natural it feels to be Delia's parents.

And that is strange. I don't get up on weekdays to go to the same job I've gone to for over seven years. My schedule is now largely determined by my boobs. I'm somebody's MOTHER! These are big friggin changes...and yet, it feels so completely normal.

I like to think that BD and I are "go with the flow" kind of people and that this type of easy adjustment to parenthood is part of that, but maybe, it's just because we're still in the honeymoon phase of this whole thing. Reality has yet to hit us.

Fine with me. This feels nice.

Friday, April 13, 2007

Birth Announcements?

Do I need to do them?

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Final Countdown

Only five more days until Cletus' due date! Gotta love that countdown clock...

Anywho, I plan on wrapping up this blog on April 16. Thanks for the feedback. I'll make sure to keep family and friends' posted on Delia's progress via e-mails and stuff..and maybe even (gasp) personal phone calls and visits.

Today is our first day alone together (BD is, quite unhappily, back at work). I'm not really getting much done on a school project, but I can't blame this on Delia... only on good old fashioned procrastination.

She's a really cool kid, and I'm very proud that she's gaining weight like a champ (now up to 7 lbs, 6.5 oz). We've pretty muched gotten the whole breastfeeding thing figured out, even though I still curse like a drunken sailor with tourette's syndrome every time she first clamps down. This is the main reason I have yet to breastfeed in front of others... not out of boob modesty, but because my foul mouth betrays the serenity of the moment.

Tonight, I'm going to class without her. Which means BD, Unkie Matt, and Dr. Rachel get her "to themselves." This will also be the longest time-wise and distance-wise I've been separated from her. The anxiety! My ta-tas are already twitching in protest.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Direction of Blog?

I'd love some input on we're you'd like to see this blog go. I'm a little reluctant to become a "mommy blogger."

Thoughts?

Sunday, April 8, 2007

Happy Easter!


Saturday, April 7, 2007

Delia as Scholar

Delia slept through an entire graduate school class on evaluating health communications campaigns. She's way ahead of her time.

Friday, April 6, 2007

Nicknames

I tend to call her:

Kitten
Kitty Cat
D
Critter

Thursday, April 5, 2007

Fetal Attraction Contest: Winner!

And the winner is.....

Alex!!!!!

Although he guessed a bald-headed boy, Alex's near perfect date and weight guesses put him at the front of the pack. Yes, we all rolled our eyes when we saw his guess for a March 29 delivery date (doesn't this guy know that 87% of first born babes come after due date??), but he showed us all. And he was a mere 3 oz off on the birth-weight.

Alex attributes his win to "the letters Delia has been writing [him] from the womb for the last several months."

He will be awarded a gift certificate to local cutie-patooty gift store, Now & Then, at our Easter Brunch on Sunday. Media welcome.

And now for the bad news: blog regular, Aunt Shanley, came in dead last despite repeated declarations that she knew (just knew!) the gender based on some fool-proof measure (genders of the other babies being born around the same time). Oops.

Thanks to all participants, and thanks to contest sponsors: GS & GS.

The Day

Here how a "typical" day goes for us now...

Wake up around 9 a.m.

Feed Delia-- this takes up to an hour (repeat every two to three hours)

Grandma, grandpa, or dad holds Delia while I shower, eat, get online, whatever.

Feed Delia (last time I'm going to put this in...trust me, it takes up most of the day)

Play with Delia. Take pictures of Delia.

Eat, putz around.

Visit with visitors. Maybe nap.

Evening: give to Delia to Matt for "Unkie Time"; eat dinner

Settle in around somewhere between 9 and 10:30

Feed Delia

Sleep

12:30: feed and change Delia

Sleep

3:00: feed and change Delia

Sleep

5:30/6ish: feed and change Delia

Sleep

9 a.m. Wake up and begin again

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

The New Balance

My plan had been to finish up all of my work for the semester (which ends April 25) by the baby's due date (April 16). But she came three weeks early, so.... new plan!

Fortunately, I feel good and have lots of help. So I'm going to attempt to go to class tonight (but maybe just for an hour), write a paper by Saturday, and go to class on Saturday. I know I don't have to, but I kind of want to. Mostly, I want to bring her and show her off!

As for work, well, I'm officially unemployed right now. I guess April 1 began my maternity leave/ leave of absence/ termination (whatever you feel like calling it). If you'll recall I had a super-productive day at work the day my water broke, so I actually (mostly) left things in a good place. I still have my office to clean out, but I probably take care of that in a couple of weeks.

I'm giving myself some time to figure out this new balance...but so far, I think I really like it.

PS: Our in-house pediatrician moved in yesterday. Lucky, eh?

Monday, April 2, 2007

Delia and Dad


Sunday, April 1, 2007

A Mother's Thanks

It feels more like Thanksgiving than April Fool's Day (though Delia did fool me big time with her early arrival).

I have so, so much to be thankful for.

Thank you to Delia for coming early and fairly easily...for being healthy...for being ours.

Thank you to our families for being so supportive, helpful, loving, and excited. Delia's dad and I haven't had to lift a finger (other than to play with the ten cute ones on our daughter) around the house. And we're fully aware that those loads of laundry don't clean themselves and those pastries don't bake themselves. Thank you.

Thank you to our friends...we are feeding off your love, energy, and excitement.

Thank you to our coworkers, classmates, and professors for being happy for us, and flexible as we adapt to our new rhythm.

Thank you to you, blog reader. It's been fun seeing all of the comments...and it's really saved us from having to make a million phone calls.

Thank you to our cats for not freaking out and peeing on random things.

Thank you to the seasons for bringing spring, cherry blossoms, daffodils...and my lovely daughter.

Thank you to my body, which has performed well above average. Thank you to my hormones for staying in check. I do not take this for granted.

Thank you to Delia's dad. Thank you the most.

I'm Pregnant!

Somehow my annual April Fool's Day joke seems less believable this year...