baby sprinkle

We're pretty much ready, I think. This is j giving me one of his fake smiles in his old bedroom. It's now the baby room--decked out in the typical gender-neutral colors of green and yellow and all sorts of multi-color things that were j's when he was a baby. He's also been taping artwork he's been making for the baby to the wall.

On Saturday I was supposed to go across the street to my friend K's for a rowing meeting during which we were going to discuss staying in shape for next year, putting together groups for boats, that kind of thing. Instead, I showed up to a surprise baby shower, which was a lot of fun. I got more green and yellow clothes, some blue, and a lone pair of pink pajamas from a neighbor whose six-year-old daughter seems to be hoping for a girl. (I informed her I was not picky and had no problem using it if this next one is a boy, regardless of the pink ruffle on the butt.)

It was nice to have an afternoon with the rowing ladies, whom I haven't seen together in a while since I've been off the water for a couple months. K made an adorable cake shaped like a baby, writing "Baby Stowie" on the side. ("Stowie"--from "The Stowaway"--is their nickname for this baby since he/she rowed with me for most of my pregnancy.) It was a nice, relatively quiet afternoon with about 15 of us. K says that for a first baby, you have a baby shower. For a second, it's more like a sprinkle.

baby on the way

So now that I'm at 37 weeks, it's an ultrasound and a midwife check-up every week until I deliver this baby. I guess I don't mind it so much; it would just be easier if I didn't have to drive an hour each way to get to them. I've been doing this drive for so many months because these midwives are my best shot at a VBAC, so it's discouraging to even hear talk of a C-section... however, with the gestational diabetes, they've scheduled a C-section for 41 weeks just in case. The date for that would be November 2--election day--so P and I are applying for absentee ballots just in case. In fact, I insisted on it. I am hoping beyond hope that I can do a trial of labor before that date... and something about being really prepared in case of a C-section makes my mind think that maybe it won't happen.

I have some reason to be hopeful. The diabetes is under control, and the ultrasounds have all looked great in terms of fluid levels. Next week we'll get another growth scan to see how big the baby is (the primary concern with gestational diabetes is that the baby will grow too big). The midwives don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to have a good shot at a VBAC, and about 70% of women who attempt it are successful. I am trying to be optimistic, but also realistic, knowing that anything can happen.

One exciting thing was that I got a few shots of the baby's face via 3D ultraound, which I didn't get with j (clicking on the picture will make it a little larger). This new baby actually looks like j, which is crazy. He or she also looks pretty developed to me. Now that I'm full-term, he/she can come out whenever he/she wishes! (Preferably before November 2, ok, baby?) :)

big brother

Yep! I’m about four months along now, and definitely have the baby bump, though depending on what I’m wearing, I can hide it.

j is, we think, pretty excited about a new brother or sister, though he’s talking a lot about how when he “was in mama’s belly” and pretty much every picture he draws now is a picture of me with a little j inside me. Most of these pictures show me as a big head with arms and legs coming out of it, and a little sack under my chin with a tiny version of the head-with-arms inside. The first time I saw a variation on this theme, I thought he had given me a penis until I noticed the little person inside.

We’re working on moving j to the bigger room to make room for the baby in his room. Initially he said he didn’t want to move. So in an effort to get him more involved with what will be a big transition, we told him he could pick the colors of the room. That got him excited. His preference? “Green, white, black, and brown.” Um, ok. So we’ve got some bright green walls for him, P is working on the trim, and he’ll have some black and brown furniture in there. I think the room will look fun, though it means reorganizing the entire house (office stuff goes downstairs, baby stuff goes in his old room, all things j go in the “big boy” room). It’s a process, but we thankfully have some time to work on it this summer.

I’m still rowing on the water about 2-3 times a week, which has been awesome. I’d like to add a few more workouts on the rowing machine each week, too. I’m more active this pregnancy than I was, and I’m going to try to keep it that way for many reasons, one of which being that I might be more likely to have a VBAC with this one. VBACs are very difficult to get around here since many doctors won’t do them, so I'm going to midwives who work with a doctor out of a hospital that’s known for being more natural-birth-friendly. Unfortunately, they are an hour away and in a different state. Driving that far for each checkup is a bit exhausting, but I’m trying to give myself the best chance for a VBAC. It’s pretty sad that I can’t find a closer practice to give me a realistic shot at it, but that’s a vent for a different day.

And now that the semester is over, I can finally blog again. I still have to work the first summer session, but it’s part time. And as of June 30, I will be free, free, free from administrative work for the foreseeable future. Hooray!