A Slice of Life

"Dog with Orange on Big Belly"

Week 35

We had our last child birthing class last week- got a cerificate of completion and everything. That puppy is going up on the wall of the baby's room so- when he or she is older and questioning our methods, we can just point to it. SEE! 10 hours of grueling parental preparation proves that we're up to the task. You just can't argue with a framed document.

Yeah, right. Why do I get the feeling that for the next eighteen years we are going to be flying by the seat of our pants?

Lots of Showers in Maine

This Sunday gave us rainy skies and a Great Baby Shower...or should I say Baby Downpour up in Turner! The new Grammie-to-be Prince put on a heck of a to-do! Many thanks for all the great stuff to ready us for the coming child. Just over a month to go!
Grammy and Iris watch the goings-on.

Ruby tries to take it all in with Mom's help.

Griffin and Ava share a book with Pokey.

Fartin' around the Fort

This weekend the Smith and Prince clan took a trip to historic Fort Knox in Bucksport. Griffin had a blast poking around the dark corners and figuring out where the soldiers slept. He also pointed out where the cannons were and balanced on the spot.
























At one point, Uncle Jay found himself looking down upon the Smith's for a great photo-op! The visit was a wonderful chance to spend some quality time with the family from New York! The visits are always too few and far between!

Hal & Ruby Hit the Books

The Smiths of New York arrived for a visit today!

Ruby noticed that I had the camera and she had to smile!



















...but she quickly forgot I was there and got into the wonderful story Auntie Hallie was reading!



















Not to be outdone, Griffin spends some quality time with Hal before bed.

Week 33

News? Well, Hallie measures out at 32 cm, and has gained 32 Lbs. So- for anybody concerned that she might not be big enough- she's right on track. She's just so darn tall that she probably doesn't look AS pregnant as somebody smaller.

I'm beginning to see our child birthing class less as an educational experience and more as a comforting distraction to allow our egos the knowledge that we are actively preparing for the birth of our child. If we didn't have this class, we would just be waiting and growing between visits to the midwife. With it, we are preparing to be parents.

...Though I don't want to belittle the knowledge that we've gained. I saw pictures this week of the normal "abnormalities" that may occur in birth- the way newborns don't seem to look in movies or on tv- slightly coned heads, the tiny white dots of Milia, Stork bites, sucking blisters...stuff that won't alarm & concern me now if we encounter them.

I'm also realizing that these classes are not really classes for US, but for ME. Hallie answers any questions that I don't think to ask in class and just seems to know everything. I'm glad she's going to be there at the birth!

:)

Week 32

Another class, another week closer to the birth of our child. I think that stork is getting it's bundle all loaded up and ready for delivery.

New developments are Hallie's belly-button (an unbelievably fascinating topic, let me tell you.) It's no longer flat, and has started to pop out. I wish I had a time lapse of it over the last few weeks- like a pop-up timer, our Thanksgiving turkey looks to be about ready.

But I'm jumping the gun.

After all, she's only 7 months pregnant. I did read that after week 32 your baby has an excellent chance of survival. Excellent. I like the sound of that. (Of course, I like the sound of a full-term delivery a bit more, but I'll take some relief from the worry where I can get it)

We're both a little worried about how our first child, Ruby is going to take this whole "new-baby-in-the-house" thing. Neither one of us think she going to be a big fan right away. She's been numero uno for our attention for quite some time now and we know she's going to feel downgraded soon. I think after she adjusts she'll appreciate her new role as protector...

Week 31

Another checkup, another clean slate.

We attended our second birthing class last night. I'm relieved to say that it was not followed with nightmares involving myconium as last week's class was. This was my anxiety, mind you, not Hal's. We did get to see all the nasty tools that I hope we don't have to use- a screw that augers the electrode into the baby's scalp for more data readings, the suction pump to slurp the tyke out, the scrapers & hooks to disrupt the placenta. And let's not forget the FORCEPS.

What happened to the good ol' days when the men sat in the waiting room with an old copy of Sports Illustrated & a couple of packs of cigarettes?

If anyone's going to need some relief in the delivery room, it's probably me.

Remember the Shower?

Hallie's High School Bud's look on.















Jim enjoys his cake.



















Who's the party animal with the lampshade on his head?















A Baby's Eye view of Tom




















Boy, Hallie sure looks great!




















Jay & Hal can't wait to start their own family.

Week 30

We began childbirth classes last night. The first of six classes. We're a group of 10 couples and everyone else knows the sex of their baby. AREN'T WE SPECIAL!?

Hallie's the best at deep, slow breathing. I thought she'd be good considering the yoga she practices daily and meditation she practices occasionally.

The classes were a good introduction and basic overview of anatomy and what to expect when it came time to deliver. We've got the advantage of being familiar with the hospital, the maternity ward and the nurses (Hallie anyway). As new parents-to-be, I wouldn't call us at ease, but I think we'll be as well prepared as anyone could be.