you say it's your birthday....

Happy Birthday to ME!!! It's my golden birthday, I am 29 on the 29th! I just went to breakfast with Katie and I have a lot of visitors coming by during the day. Then a big birthday dinner at mom and dad's house with Tracey, Ryan, Ainsley and Grandma! I am really excited. I am feeling A LOT better and am ready to celebrate :)

Soon another type of celebration will be in order!!!

SICK!!!! and still preggo...

So, I woke up Saturday morning another day pregnant as well as SICK! I caught some weird head cold from an undisclosed person. It came without warning. Totally lame. I have been in the house on lock down for the last two days. With the exception of three small outings.....first to dinner at a really great Thai restaurant on Broadway and 28th, then to the Holy Bowl football game (between Jesuit and Christian Brothers) and then to Target today. I was so out of it during the football game, it was unreal. Totally head cold disoriented. I will get rid of this thing by tomorrow, no matter what, because it is my damn birthday and no one can be sick on their wonderful day! Lennox may decide to share my birthday with me, which would be all right with me :) Levi says that it would make things easier for him....one less thing to remember!!!

My actual due date is this Thursday, October 2nd. It is so funny because I really thought that he would be here before his due date. He showed me....letting me know that this is not my show to schedule or to organize. Sorry ma! That is all right with me, he will be here before we know it and we will forget about all this anticipation about when he was going to arrive. I just let him know that he has to be sure to be here by October 8th because his Grandpa Jim will be coming over from Thailand to see him. I know that my dad loves us and all, but he really scheduled this trip to meet his first grandchild.

low baby!

Jen came over today for an appointment and evidently the little man has dropped! Of course two minutes before she arrived for our appointment, I got a stupid migraine and could barely see her through the visit. Totally sucked! I haven't had one of those in a long time....it came on fast and would not go away. She checked where the baby was and she said that he has dropped and that his head is really down in the birth canal. She said that she would do a pelvic exam if I wanted one, but said that even if I was a few centimeters dialated it doesn't mean the baby is coming anytime soon, and if I wasn't dialated at all I could have the baby tonight. All in all, she let me know that doing an exam is not absolute and will not tell us anything in regards to when the little dude is going to arrive. So, why even bother with the exam??! He will come out when he is good and ready. Levi is going nuts and can't wait for him to arrive....more because he get some time off work :)

While Jen was checking to see where the baby was positioned, it definitely hurt more than usual. It was a different feeling. I could feel the pressure of Lennox in my pelvis and I could definitely feel Jen's hands locating his head. It was crazy. Everyday is something new and different! I will keep everyone posted on his descent!!

amazing

I just got home and received a card in the mail from Aunie Diane (my momma's very good friend) with the above photo enclosed. In the card she explained to me that this picture was taken right before my parents left for San Francisco to stay the night at the St. Francis Hotel. This also happens to be the day before I was born. She couldn't have picked a better day to send this photo to me and share the story of the day before my birth......I have the best women surrounding me.

september 23, the day i have been waiting for

So.....this is the day that Lennox was born in my dream. It was such a fantastic dream that I had when I was about 4 1/2 months pregnant. It went like this.....

I was in the car with my mom, she was driving, it was early morning and I went into labor. I went to call Levi and let him know that I was in labor and I looked at my phone and it said the date and time which was September 23 at about 7:17AM. I called Levi and told him to come and home and get ready to welcome his son into the world. My mom and I calmly drove to the house that I grew up in (14th street house) and my dad was there to greet us. I proceeded to go through a fairly long labor and delivered Lennox late that night. I literally felt the contractions in my dream as well as the delivery. He was gorgeous!! He had dark hair, was chubby, and was a tall baby. It was an awesome experience, I was at home with the people that I love and my momma was there as well :) We all sat together, talked, laughed and kissed that little guy a million times. It was such a realistic dream that when I woke up I was still glowing and felt exhausted like I had just delivered him. I also had to realize that he wasn't born yet and stop looking for him next to our bed. It was so awesome.

So, that day is now here and we shall see what occurs. I may or may not go into labor today, but that dream was phenomenal and I am thankful to have had it early in my pregnancy. No matter what day he arrives, I hope that my experience is similar to what I felt and went through in that dream.

Yesterday was a fantastic day....Sal took me out for my 'birthday' since she was wise in thinking that I will probably be too busy to celebrate my day....(which for those of you who really know me, the fact that I normally celebrate my birthday MONTH should let you know how focused I am on this baby to not even think twice about the fact that my birthday is in six days). So, she took me to get a mani/pedi and out to Thai food for lunch! The Thai food was in your honor Dad :) The food was fantastic, the mani/pedi felt awesome and the conversation was entertaining as always. I then treated myself to a prenatal massage later in the afternoon which was beyond relaxing.

I will keep you all posted.....I am planning on putting an entry on this thing when I go into labor to keep you all in the know......
Wish us luck!
:)

doc appointment

So, I am not in labor (yet). I met with Dr. Micks today and she said that she thinks that this little man will be on his way out very soon. I just love her! Dr. Micks, Claudia and Jen are just the greatest......I will keep you all posted on any other contractions (REAL ones..) or signs of labor :)

contractions and the ticking clock...

So, I started having random contractions yesterday right after our midwife left. She was telling me how many of her clients are having contractions and how crazy things are going to be this weekend. She said she has five women that may be having their babies this weekend or early next week. So OF COURSE I would start having my fair share of contractions, albeit false, the second she walked out the door. I had a restless night sleep, I can tell you that much! When your belly feels like a concrete boulder is trapped inside, finding a comfortable position is nearly impossible. This morning I woke up early and was still feeling those random contractions. Levi and I are in our uncle's wedding tomorrow and we have the rehearsal dinner tonight. I thought that Lennox and I already had a little convo about this situation and had agreed that he could not even begin his entrance into this world until Sunday evening. Kids, they never listen, do they?? :)

I organized all the items that are on the birth list and put them in the baby's closet. It was funny getting all the supplies together last night, with Levi looking at me like he couldn't even imagine what in the hell we would need extra sets of sheets for, or a flashlight. It was hilarious. I felt like I was on a scavenger hunt. I must say, I will have the best prize ever for finishing this particular scavenger hunt!!!

Think good thoughts for me in regards to having this baby hold out until after the wedding!! I have an appointment with my doctor today at 3pm and she will probably do a pelvic exam to see if I am dilated at all. I will keep you all posted!!!

WOW!!

dog park mornings and free days...

Took the dogs to the dog park today. Fall is in the air and I loved walking all around the park with Sami and Finn in tow. Every one keeps asking me if I am 'so ready for him to come' and/or if i am 'bored with all my free time.' The answer to those two questions are no and no. I am having the best time ever! I am able to visit with my friends and family whenever I want to, organize the house, get mentally prepared for the little man's entrance, catch up on sleep, become a wii master (my fitness age score today was 26...beats the heck out of the age 53 I received the first time I took the fitness test...), play rockband as loud as I want, make delicious food and spend time with the hubby. It just keeps getting better :)

I got my first disability check in the mail today and it sure is nice! At least for the next few months I will be providing a little bit of income to the pool. Levi has been working so hard since he started his teaching job. He has been coaching every weekend (usually Saturday and Sunday) and he has been such a good sport about it. Even through his complaints, he still is able to say that he 'really likes' his job teaching (which is quite amazing for him to admit that...especially because he hadn't even had any beers yet). He is such a capable, genuine, structured and creative teacher. His students are really lucky to have him. He is getting into his groove now, and I can tell that he is less stressed out every day he gets home. Thank goodness for his job and for coaching...without those two things I would have to be back at work super early!

baby daddy bbq and lovely friends

Yesterday afternoon we had our final bash to celebrate Lennox's pending arrival. Auntie Kamaria went ALL out--organizing the bash, bringing food, treats and fun! When she pulled up in her Passat surrounded by food and a Maragarita Machine AND a chocolate fountain, I knew this bash was gonna be no joke! It was was fabulous. We have the most LOVING and AMAZING friends in the whole world. During the party I could not stop thinking about how lucky we are and how thankful I am to be surrounded by such phenomenal friends and family. Levi and I much have some good karma from a past life or something....I don't know how else to describe it. All the little kiddos were hanging out together and seemed to have a blast as well. It seems like it happened overnight....one night we were having 'adults only' parties and now every get together we have there are kiddos six and under running around the backyard playing! Times are a changin.....which I love. Levi scored on some soccer related (Man U and England) jersey kits for little man. He was also given a Bob Marley onesie for Lennox.....these gifts really stole the show! He is going to be sooooo stylish!

Now I am in complete waiting mode for the little man's arrival. His room is all set up (thanks to my crazy organization skills....note to self: going to IKEA nine months pregnant and buying a dresser AND a bookcase and proceeding to drag it home and put it together by yourself is probably not the best idea in the world...). Anyhow, it had to be done, and I was the one to do it. The room looks fabulous and the only thing that is missing is little Lennox himself. Everyone has been so generous and it is so much fun looking at all the little gifts that each person gave us.

Pictures will be up soon. I am planning on getting most of them developed today...although that will take initiative and that is something I am lacking today :)!!!

THANK YOU AUNTIE KAMARIA!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!

so many thoughts...

I was just thinking about how amazing this little new life is. I can't wait to meet him, but I also am sad that I won't have him in my belly anymore. I only know him in my belly at this point--how he moves like crazy when I am trying to go to sleep and after I eat a really good meal, and how he gets the hiccups just about nightly around 9:45pm. I am going to have to get to know him in a completely different way once he enters this world. I am so thankful to have had such an easy pregnancy, one that I can actually enjoy and pay attention to on a daily basis. He seems to have started to drop. I am feeling pressure in my pelvis that definitely was not there before. He has also switched sides in my belly, but he is still head down. I am going to be a mommy to this little man who is a blend of Levi and I and our families. We try and guess every night when he will arrive, what color his eyes and hair will be and what type of personality he will have. I am so glad that I have had this time off work to reflect on this pregnancy. I even made a little video for Lennox to watch when he gets older! We are so lucky.....

meeting with midwives

I met with one of our midwives, Claudia, yesterday for my now weekly appointment. I am measuring at 38 weeks, which is two weeks ahead of where I am at right now. Every thing else was great--my blood pressure, weight, heart rate as well as Lennox's heart rate. Our two midwives, Claudia and Jen, come to the house for our appointments and usually stay between an hour and an hour and a half. The first part of the appointment is just like what happens at the doctor's office--weight, blood pressure, urine test, heart rate, etc. After that, we get to catch up on how things have been going, any questions or concerns that Levi and I have and/or information about the birth. They are amazingly patient, kind, knowledgeable and genuine. We are so thankful to have them in our lives. Levi and both feel very safe and taken care of and are so happy to have a home birth!

Many friends and family (and complete strangers for that matter :) have asked Levi and I why we have chosen to have a home birth. After researching options regarding labor and delivery shortly after I found out I was pregnant, we came to the conclusion that we wanted to have an intimate and 'normal' experience instead of a medically induced birth. We wanted to be able to be at home, where we feel comfortable, and I wanted to be able to move around a lot, eat, move to different spots and have the option of either laboring or delivering in the water. We watched the documentary, The Business of Being Born, which was informative and startling. The documentary was done wonderfully, and after watching it I had pretty much decided that I wanted a home birth. After talking it over with Levi, he agreed (a lot quicker than I thought he would) and we were on our way to finding our midwives. The first midwife I called was unable to work with us because was already booked for the month of October. She referred us to another midwife who then referred us to Claudia and Jen. We were so happy when we finally found our midwives :)

We had to go through a screening process to ensure that we had a low risk pregnancy, that I didn't have any pre-existing health conditions and that Levi and I were both in agreement that we wanted a home birth. At first, Claudia and Jen met with us monthly and then bimonthly and now weekly. They are both so helpful and have explained so many things to us that I have never heard anything about at the doctor's office. We started off with a different doctor than we have now at UC Davis Med Center--we didn't get Dr. Micks until I was half way through the pregnancy. Thank goodness that we did get her (it was seriously meant to be) because she is supportive of our choice, is open-minded and is amazingly kind. She even wants to talk personally with our midwives and coordinate services with them! In the event that I need to be transported to the hospital, she has given me her pager number and she stated that she will meet us at the hospital and will do whatever is necessary for us.

I know that I am rambling on and on, but one more piece of information for everyone--the following is a list of celebrities that have had home births with midwives present:

• Pamela Anderson
• Charlotte Church
• Cindy Crawford
• Ricki Lake
• Demi Moore
• Thandi Newton
• Kelly Preston
• Meryl Streep
• Leila Ali

Thank you all for being so supportive and open minded to our choice. We can't wait for our son to arrive so that you can shower him with the love and support you have given us for so many years!!! We love you :)