Speedy the singing frog

So you may or may not remember the Singing Frog from the Warner Bros. cartoons...
Ring a bell now? Wikipedia tells me that his name is officially "Michigan J Frog" but all I remember is that the whole set-up of the cartoon was that he sang for his owner, but whenever the owner wanted to show him off, he would sit like a normal frog and just say "Ribbit." When the person would leave, he would dance around and sing "Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal...." (again, Wiki says that he sang more than that, but that's the one i remember).

Regardless, we have come to call Speedy the singing frog. Whenever she is jumping around inside, I put Steve's hand on my belly and I'm like - did you feel that? And then she stops. Go figure.

Well, the past few days, she's been the singing frog with me as well. Not a lot of movement in there - in fact, Speedy was not being so speedy. So I finally called the midwife hotline today (very awesome thing by the way - they call you back within 5 minutes of leaving a message with the dispatcher and answer any question. It's great!) Anyway - she hasn't been moving a lot, so I was a bit concerned and called them. "Come down to labor and delivery and we'll check you out." Are you sure? I'm not being that 1st time mom that is neurotic? Nope. So I headed to the hospital, a bit nervous... was hooked up to a snazzy beast of a machine that monitors fetal heartrate and movement and after drinking 10 ounces of cranberry juice, Speedy was back to being Speedy again. Darn singing frog. The midwives also did a sonogram to test her fluid levels to make sure she still has lots to swim around in, and those levels were good as well.

As I walked to the parking garage a hour and a half later, I called Steve - he was a bit nervous waiting for my call at work and all I said was "She's a freaking singing frog." He began to laugh with lots of relief.

I also got a bonus tour of the birthing center before I left. What a great place. Four poster queen size beds, rocking chairs, and big tubs are in every room. Lots of windows and light - and even though they are in a hospital, they have a homey feel. They promote immediate skin-to-skin contact and I can even wear my own clothes and no stupid hospital gown. Woohoo. (although she did request that if Steve wants to sit in the warm tub with me to hold me up, he had better be wearing a bathing suit. ;)

Anyway, that was the excitement for today. Now I'm supposed to religiously do kick counts every night (at least 10 in an hour). The best part is that the midwives were so nice, and told me that if I came everyday because I was worried that would be ok. Which was nice of them to say, but I do think they would get a little annoyed with me if I came everyday. ;)

Insert foot in rib cage

or knee, or elbow or other body part....

I actually wish I knew which ones they were, but they are certainly becoming more apparent as the days go by. This whole pregnancy thing has been a whirlwind - and each day I am amazed by what this little girl inside me is doing. I mean really, do we stop and think enough about how freaking crazy it is?? I dunno. I guess I was waxing poetic yesterday when I was thinking about it in my prenatal yoga class, surrounding by 9 other women at different stages.... one with twins... one who was "due on Saturday...." many of whom who were just in the beginning, which seems not that long ago for Speedy and I.

Lately, I can feel that she's curled up on the right side of my body - my belly looks all uneven - Steve looked over at me the other night on the couch as we were listening to some new music a friend let us borrow (the Asylum Street Spankers - a music/vaudeville troupe and WAY fun) and he said, wow, you look lopsided. and indeed i did. I keep wondering, is her head I'm feeling? a little butt? If I feel cramped, how must she feel? I mean, the fetal position feels great and all, but for 8 more weeks?

There are a few friends of Steve's at the shop that have kids, and they were talking yesterday... Have you packed a bag yet, they asked? Steve was like, um... we haven't even rearranged the office yet. Pack a bag, Bill said. Put lots of things in there that make her comfortable, and "whatever you do, don't even think about leaving the delivery room for some food. Bring snacks or have a friend stop by. My friend left for 5 minutes to get a snack because all the nurses told him he needed a break and the baby was born and his wife still hasn't forgiven him." Maybe we'll have to add some peanut-butter crackers and trail mix to the hospital bag. :) However, we did muse upon what would "make me comfortable." I told Steve I would like him to put together a music mix, but he's not sure what i'm going to want to listen to - "what if you really want something mellow, and it's the Rolling Stones? What if when you're pushing all you want is AC/DC and the next song is bluegrass?"

AC/DC? Um, probably not. Although there is a Humble Pie song that makes me laugh... yah, pulling out the random 80s hair band... do any of you out there actually know Humble Pie? Te he... they make me laugh.

If you have any suggestions for the filling of "THE BAG" let me know - or music for that matter. Now if we can just decide on a name...

One of my favorite blogs...

I know, it's weird. but it's a blog that posts pictures of really bad cakes.

Yes. Cakes. But it's pretty funny what's out there. and this is a new one that I enjoyed - not as good as the fetus cookies (yes, no joke), but pretty weird. Thank goodness my baby shower cake had happy flowers on it.

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/02/hey-everybody-thish-cake-ish-from.html

Adventures with Skunks, in Sparta, with Scupper, and Speedy

So here's the latest - and it's all over the place, but some of you (shocking!) actually follow this blog, so I figure I had better give some updates.

Mrs. Stripey
Yup. It was a "mrs." or a "miss" or a "ma'am" or whatever you'd prefer. The little skunk was finally caught by an able trapper who proclaimed that it was indeed a "she" and she was about ready to give birth to skunkettes. Luckily, that did not happen under our house, or otherwise, she would have been quite happily (and legally) there for another SIX weeks. However, since skunks sometimes have followers and friends, the trapper put another trap out and we caught ANOTHER ONE! Not sure whether it was a "she" or a "he" but nonetheless after two weeks, lots of skunk spray, fights with the landlord, three traps, and two skunks, we have been proclaimed skunk free. We hope Mrs. Stripey and her new brood are doing well somewhere else that is much better for them than our crawl space.

Sparta
The booming metropolis of Sparta, IL called us for a few days - well, actually, it was Steve's parents, but we had a lovely time. I was actually happy to feel 29 degree weather (but i guess that's knowing that we'd be back to 60-65 soon enough). Steve's mom and I made two baby slings - and they are pretty awesome! - and a nursing cover, so i can happily breastfeed in public with a handy apron/cover thingy. Found both the patterns online and splurged a bit on nice fabric, but still way cheaper than I could have bought them for - and the slings are sized perfectly - one for Steve (with cute fabric with dogs all over it) and one for me.

Steve also did a bit of housework - and i've put below my favorite shot of him in a pair of coveralls his mom found in the garage.

His dad also showed us his new replica rifle for re-enacting that they do (French and Indian War, if you will), and we were regalled with fabulous stories of the battlefield. Steve also enjoyed showing off the guns - and Mark - if you're reading - these pics are for you!

Last but not least, a Scupper saga
Not too much new to tell about our pup, save for the fact that when I picked him up this morning at the dog sitter's, i think he got bigger in 5 days. His aunt Liza spoiled him rotten when she was here visiting, so I include a photo of the two of them in their favorite spot. Now we just have to convince him that sitting on the sofa whenever he wants is not OUR favorite spot for him to be. Yah right. good luck.

Oh - and last but not least, you'll find the latest belly shot of me taken this weekend in Sparta. This one is at the end of 30 weeks. I've hit a new milestone - (over 30!) - and this week, I go see the midwives every two weeks, instead of every month, so you know it's getting close... the little countdown on this blog has us a bit shocked (is it really 60 days?) and I know Speedy is getting bigger and stronger when last night, as I lay in bed to read an article in my new cooking magazine, she kicked and the magazine when up in the air. Woosh. I think i felt her little foot digging into my ribs on the plane ride home. Is this what they mean when pregnant ladies all of a sudden "just want them out?" Oh dear - I can't have that just yet. One more dissertation chapter to write before she comes. ... seriously... i have to get one more, right?

Pics from the Baby Shower

It's a choice

Gotta give rapper M.I.A props for wearing this to the Grammy's on Sunday...

I need to look into more "evening wear" for these last few months of pregnancy, what do you think? ;)

THANK YOU!!!

From the bottom of Speedy's little tiny heart, from the bottom of Steve's very athletic and in shape heart, and from the bottom of my heart that is now pumping 1 extra liter of blood,

THANK YOU!!!!

Thank you to everyone who was so gracious in sending little Speedy (and of course, us) shower gifts. Let me tell you, this little girl is set for clothes until she's at least one year old... and she's is going to be SO CUTE. (at least the clothes will be). Thank you also for all the accessories and thoughtful choices. We have such a small house, but after organizing everything with my mom and aunt on Monday, it looks like things are going to fit for the mean time. And with the addition of a bassinet from Craigslist (thank you to those who contributed to the craigslist fund!) it looks like i can still put off getting a crib until we really need to... which means, at least for the moment, everything will fit in the baby's room/aimee's office. Woohoo.