We are one week from Herbie's due date! Which means we could be days (or hours) away, or we could still have up to three weeks to wait. As you can imagine, the anticipation is intense :)
We are trying to take advantage of our last few days/weeks as non-parents by sleeping in, spending time together, and going on a few dates. Yesterday was unusually warm in the 'burg, so we decided to walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner, and then pick up some frozen yogurt on our way home. It was so much fun :)
I loved being able to just walk out the door and head to dinner, take our time strolling home, and be able hold hands instead of push a stroller or hold a dog leash. We are about to have our entire lives and routines turned upside down, and although I know that being a mom will come with more joy and love than I can comprehend, I am really glad to have the chance to cherish these times with Alex. It will never be just the two of us again, and I don't want to forget how special this time has been for us :)
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Thursday, January 24, 2013
The waiting game.
Today marks 38 weeks and another trip to the doctor! Baby still seems to be doing quite well - strong heartbeat, moving around a lot, and settled into the head-down position, which is great. Every week now they are checking to see if I've made any...progress, you know, down there.
No dilating yet, and the doctor's estimate (with the disclaimer that she could be wrong of course) is that I still have another 2-3 weeks to go, which is to be expected I guess, as that is our due date. I'm just praying this little one isn't too late - if I get to two weeks late, I'll have to be induced, which would be a big bummer.
That said, there is no reason to worry about that yet. I am just trying to enjoy these last few weeks, get lots of rest, do some cooking, catch up on reading, and all of those things I won't be able to do for a little while as we adjust to life as parents.
Here's to hoping this baby got mom's punctuality gene :)
No dilating yet, and the doctor's estimate (with the disclaimer that she could be wrong of course) is that I still have another 2-3 weeks to go, which is to be expected I guess, as that is our due date. I'm just praying this little one isn't too late - if I get to two weeks late, I'll have to be induced, which would be a big bummer.
That said, there is no reason to worry about that yet. I am just trying to enjoy these last few weeks, get lots of rest, do some cooking, catch up on reading, and all of those things I won't be able to do for a little while as we adjust to life as parents.
Here's to hoping this baby got mom's punctuality gene :)
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Maternity Photos!
A few weeks ago (36.5 weeks along), Alex and I had some maternity pictures taken around the W&M campus. There are several photos from the photographer on FB, but I'll post several here too.
Although this is a little farther along than I would ideally have these photos taken (let's face it - smaller bumps are cuter bumps), I'm still really glad we did it :) We're also using this photographer for newborn photos, which I am quite excited about as well!
Although this is a little farther along than I would ideally have these photos taken (let's face it - smaller bumps are cuter bumps), I'm still really glad we did it :) We're also using this photographer for newborn photos, which I am quite excited about as well!
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Almost there.
Today marks 37 weeks, which means this baby is officially considered full term and could come at any time! First-timers (or rookies, as my doctor called me) don't usually come early, and are often late, but it is crazy exciting to know that if the baby did decide to show early, that would be okay and safe and healthy.
Frankly, it would be quite alright with me if this baby did come a week or two early, mostly because being pregnant is becoming increasing uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong - I will miss feeling the baby move in my belly, and the excuse to always wear elastic-waisted pants and crocs, and the reality that strangers are nicer to me because I am pregnant. But I will not miss the swollen feet, stiff knees, and sore back that have overtaken me in the last 2-3 weeks.
The other day as Alex and I were getting ready to leave the house, I was trying to put on my shoes - they are crocs, but they are ankle boots, so they are tougher to slip on than my regular ugly crocs. After much groaning, I finally had to have Alex put them on for me. Afterwards, I bent over to do something with the dog, and Alex said, "Don't worry, I'll get that," to which I replied, "No it's okay, I'll get it." His response: "You can't even put on your shoes." Fair point.
Frankly, it would be quite alright with me if this baby did come a week or two early, mostly because being pregnant is becoming increasing uncomfortable. Don't get me wrong - I will miss feeling the baby move in my belly, and the excuse to always wear elastic-waisted pants and crocs, and the reality that strangers are nicer to me because I am pregnant. But I will not miss the swollen feet, stiff knees, and sore back that have overtaken me in the last 2-3 weeks.
The other day as Alex and I were getting ready to leave the house, I was trying to put on my shoes - they are crocs, but they are ankle boots, so they are tougher to slip on than my regular ugly crocs. After much groaning, I finally had to have Alex put them on for me. Afterwards, I bent over to do something with the dog, and Alex said, "Don't worry, I'll get that," to which I replied, "No it's okay, I'll get it." His response: "You can't even put on your shoes." Fair point.
Monday, January 14, 2013
The Gypsy Woman
Okay, so it wasn't actually a gypsy - it was a really nice woman cutting Alex's hair - but let me explain why we're calling her that.
On Friday after the doctor, we stopped to get Alex a hair cut (usually I cut his hair, but we were having pictures taken Sunday and it was too much pressure!). When we walked in, the stylist says, "now when is that baby due? You look ready to pop!", to which I said "four more weeks", to which she said, "oh no, you'll have that baby by the end of next week."
Now, this is not an unusual conversation for me - everyone seems surprised when I tell them how long I have yet - but what came next was very strange indeed.
As Alex is getting his hair cut, she asked him the usual questions - what are you having, do you have names picked out, etc. He told her we had opted not to find out and we haven't shared our names with anyone.
As he's walking out to pay, I stood up and asked her what she thought it would be (people love to guess based on how I'm carrying). She said "It's a girl - you're carrying too low for a boy. A girl by the end of next week. And I'm just going to take a guess at the names. If it's a girl, I'm saying ABC and if it's a boy I'm saying XYZ."
I'm not telling you the names she guessed because SHE GUESSED THE GIRL NAME RIGHT! And although the boy name wasn't right, it was definitely in the same...genre. How crazy is that?? So if she ends up being right, and we have a girl by the end of next week, we'll definitely have to go back for more hair cuts/prophesies, haha.
On Friday after the doctor, we stopped to get Alex a hair cut (usually I cut his hair, but we were having pictures taken Sunday and it was too much pressure!). When we walked in, the stylist says, "now when is that baby due? You look ready to pop!", to which I said "four more weeks", to which she said, "oh no, you'll have that baby by the end of next week."
Now, this is not an unusual conversation for me - everyone seems surprised when I tell them how long I have yet - but what came next was very strange indeed.
As Alex is getting his hair cut, she asked him the usual questions - what are you having, do you have names picked out, etc. He told her we had opted not to find out and we haven't shared our names with anyone.
As he's walking out to pay, I stood up and asked her what she thought it would be (people love to guess based on how I'm carrying). She said "It's a girl - you're carrying too low for a boy. A girl by the end of next week. And I'm just going to take a guess at the names. If it's a girl, I'm saying ABC and if it's a boy I'm saying XYZ."
I'm not telling you the names she guessed because SHE GUESSED THE GIRL NAME RIGHT! And although the boy name wasn't right, it was definitely in the same...genre. How crazy is that?? So if she ends up being right, and we have a girl by the end of next week, we'll definitely have to go back for more hair cuts/prophesies, haha.
Friday, January 11, 2013
36 weeks
Quick update from the doctor today - all is looking good! I am measuring 37 inches at 36 weeks (the guideline is one inch per week, so 36 inches for 36 weeks, but this is within the normal range). Baby's heartbeat was 150, nice a strong as always, and he/she is already head down, which is really good!
The doctor also commented on how active the baby seems to be, meaning moving around more than most. Not sure how that carries over to life outside my belly, but for now I am just grateful that the little squirmy worm always lets me know it's in there!
We are going to the doctor every week now to check progress - as he said, we're getting a baby one way or another some time in the next 6 weeks!
The doctor also commented on how active the baby seems to be, meaning moving around more than most. Not sure how that carries over to life outside my belly, but for now I am just grateful that the little squirmy worm always lets me know it's in there!
We are going to the doctor every week now to check progress - as he said, we're getting a baby one way or another some time in the next 6 weeks!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Joy
I've been thinking a lot recently about joy - not happiness, but joy. I've always thought of joy much differently than happiness. Joy is something to experience deeply, less of an emotion and more of a feeling in your bones, rooted in gratitude and love. I would suggest that we can have joy, even when we don't feel happy.
I think in the piles of to-do lists and chores and work, I have been distracted from focusing on the joy in our lives, and the even-more-incredible joy that is on its way, in the form of this little baby. And since joy is not dependent on my happiness, I can have joy, even when I feel overwhelmed or frustrated or just plain tired.
So that's my goal for these next few weeks leading up the baby's arrival - experience joy, express joy, remember joy, and anticipate even greater joy. These are the last few weeks I'll ever have being pregnant with this child - I want to enJOY it :)
I think in the piles of to-do lists and chores and work, I have been distracted from focusing on the joy in our lives, and the even-more-incredible joy that is on its way, in the form of this little baby. And since joy is not dependent on my happiness, I can have joy, even when I feel overwhelmed or frustrated or just plain tired.
So that's my goal for these next few weeks leading up the baby's arrival - experience joy, express joy, remember joy, and anticipate even greater joy. These are the last few weeks I'll ever have being pregnant with this child - I want to enJOY it :)
Monday, January 7, 2013
(Not) Ready
Our baby is due in one month. Just one more month to prepare and wait and plan and do everything we need to do to be ready for this baby's arrival in the world.
I was struck today by the reality that I don't actually feel all that ready. You would think that after nine months of preparations, I'd feel ready for anything, but truth be told, I don't.
From a practical perspective, we're almost ready - we've got probably two or three more shopping trips, two more hospital classes, bags to pack, and a few other things on the "to-do" list, but that's it. Sounds manageable for a month, right?
So when I say that I don't feel ready, it's not in the physical sense - it's in the other senses. Emotionally, how do I prepare for the stress of labor and the joy of meeting our child in person for the first time? Mentally, how do I prepare to manage total exhaustion when, at most, I start getting 2-3 consecutive hours of sleep? Spiritually, how do I prepare adequately for parenting, God's latest calling on my life, and for the spiritual battle that I know will be waged for this child's soul?
And then I had another thought.
Maybe, my lack of confidence in my own "readiness" is a chance for God to show his power in my life more clearly. Since I know how limited and how unready I feel, I'll know that any strength or wisdom or peace I experience comes directly from God's power and not my own preparations.
Chris Tomlin has a powerful new song on the radio right now, and lyrics of the chorus bring me a lot of comfort when I am feeling small and unprepared for the great task God is giving us.
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.
The One who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.
I was struck today by the reality that I don't actually feel all that ready. You would think that after nine months of preparations, I'd feel ready for anything, but truth be told, I don't.
From a practical perspective, we're almost ready - we've got probably two or three more shopping trips, two more hospital classes, bags to pack, and a few other things on the "to-do" list, but that's it. Sounds manageable for a month, right?
So when I say that I don't feel ready, it's not in the physical sense - it's in the other senses. Emotionally, how do I prepare for the stress of labor and the joy of meeting our child in person for the first time? Mentally, how do I prepare to manage total exhaustion when, at most, I start getting 2-3 consecutive hours of sleep? Spiritually, how do I prepare adequately for parenting, God's latest calling on my life, and for the spiritual battle that I know will be waged for this child's soul?
And then I had another thought.
Maybe, my lack of confidence in my own "readiness" is a chance for God to show his power in my life more clearly. Since I know how limited and how unready I feel, I'll know that any strength or wisdom or peace I experience comes directly from God's power and not my own preparations.
Chris Tomlin has a powerful new song on the radio right now, and lyrics of the chorus bring me a lot of comfort when I am feeling small and unprepared for the great task God is giving us.
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.
The One who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Christmas Break
This Christmas was quiet around the Heacock house - probably our last quiet Christmas...ever :) We still had a lot of fun though, just the 3.8 of us. Here are a few pictures from the break!
Leonidas got to open his stocking Christmas morning and seems to be enjoying his new chewy, treats, and extendable leash!
I made a big dinner for the two of us - pot roast, green beans, cornbread stuffing, crab cakes with red pepper remoulade, and pumpkin pie. We set up our little Christmas table with new placemats Alex gave me for Christmas - I love a festive table!
To cap off our Christmas celebrations, we visited Christmas Town at Busch Gardens! We saw a show, visited some penguins, rode the train and gondella, and just generally enjoyed the beautiful light displays.
Leonidas even got to enjoy some time out on the town - who knew running errands could be so much fun? :)
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