Something to Think About

Matt and I have been going and enjoying our childbirth education classes/lamaze. I think it is really helping Matt overcome his anxiety about the birthing process. I am very proud of how interactive in the class he has been. He has been answering questions about me and my discomforts...things that I haven't really noticed. Something I have been debating A LOT lately is

getting an epidural. The more I have heard stories, the more I am not for it. I know that doctors tend to push back getting it so you can get up and move and let gravity do its thing. Then I have heard about how it wears off too early or doesn't kick in until after the baby. I have not taken any kind of pain meds like Tylenol this whole pregnancy. There have been plenty of times I've wanted to especially these days but I am sticking to my guns and not giving in. I consider myself a pretty tough person and I think I am going to go as long as possible, if the entire labor, without pain meds.

Our instructor has talked about the transition phase in labor which is when the woman becomes a holy terror. This really holds true if there isn't any pain meds so Matt is in for a shocker. However, during our last class the instructor was telling us what to pack in our hospital bag and she said a good camera/video camera. We have 2 good cameras so I really didn't think much about it until Matt came home the other night and videotaped me. He said he is going to video the birth of our daughter and show the family my transition phase during labor. In the beginning we were worried he was going to be unconscious and now he is going to video? He said he will have his sister, Christie, come in and massage me while he tapes. I am excited that he is getting anxious, but not so much that he has turned into a camera man. He has been making hunting videos of himself, taping the dogs, and me.....glad he got himself a toy!

Dillard's had another really good sale again, and I couldn't refrain from getting stuff for Andi. This time I got 12-18 months. The coat and hat is 3months... so she will be wearing it this winter. We are expecting her to be in 0-3 months at birth because she will probably be an 8 pounder.

This last one is on behalf of Matt. He really liked it too even though it is pink!

We had been contemplating getting a rocker for the nursery. There isn't a whole lot of room, so we didn;t want anything big. The rockers we were finding weren't comfortable until Matt's mom, Barbara got us this leather one with ottoman. It is soooo comfortable and looks great in the room!!!!

We have 9 more weeks until D-day! I have been reading soooo many books, especially breastfeeding since that is my plan. My goal is to do it for a year plus work full-time which is going to be difficult. I really wish I could be a stay-at-home, like the rest of the women in my family were...but unfortunately due to my stupidity when I was younger with a credit card, I won't be able to. Hopefully in 2 years I will be debt free and be able to at least work part-time. 

Another worry at this point is finding a good babysitter. We just need one for Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week is covered. I don't want to do daycare, just someone to either come to our house or take the baby to theirs. We will be praying a lot for this to fall into place.

As for present time, the pregnancy is going well. However, Matt has started having to give me low back rubs and my sciatic nerve on my right side has been acting up. In the middle of the night my hip to mid thigh is froze where I have trouble walking. My right foot keeps swelling during the day, my left not so bad. If I work a long shift then my hands start swelling too. Overall, things are good. 

Andi's movements now take my breath away. She does things with such force. Matt got to feel his little Bam Bam's rambunctiousness the other night. It literally feels and looks like she is trying to come out of my stomach. She is over 4lbs now and I have only gained 17. Hallejuah!!!