10 Reasons...

At 39 weeks, I am almost 10 months pregnant.  What!?!?  They never said you had to be pregnant for 10 months - I always thought it was 9!  :-)  And I am more than happy to be pregnant for that long (okay, maybe not MORE than happy) if it means that this little one will be healthy when he is born.  And while it has been a long, exciting 10 months for me, I know it has also been a long, exciting journey for Andy as well.  So, I wanted to take this moment to list the 10 reasons why he is a wonderful husband and why I know he will be a fantastic father (hey, these wonderful men in our lives need to be honored for dealing with all of our pregnancy shenanigans!)

1.) He tells me I am his beautiful pregnant wife every day.  'Nough said about this one!  :-D

2.) He rolls with my moods - and I really mean rolls!  It has been a bit of a roller coaster for me to be perfectly happy one minute, crying the next, smiling and then angry.  You never know what you're going to get at times!  But Andy has been incredibly patient and supportive through it all - even if I am not so, uh, nice to him.  When I apologize after the fact, he always reassures me that it is okay and that he loves me.  

3.) Our baby loves it when he feels my belly.  Whenever I worry that our little man isn't moving as much, all Andy has to do is place his hand on my tummy.  Then, this little guy gets so excited that he starts doing some interesting combination of somersaults, salsa-dancing, soccer kicks and the running man.  He loves his daddy.  :-)

4.) He is willing to drive to the store to pick up anything I might want - even if he is exhausted himself.  The other night, Andy was working late - I think he left the office at 8:30 or 9 p.m.  He called me from the car and I asked him if we had any ice cream in the house.  It turns out that we didn't, but this wonderful man in my life stopped at the store and picked up a half gallon just for me.  And then, get this, when he got home he DISHED IT UP FOR ME and brought it upstairs to bed so that I wouldn't have to get out of bed (not the most graceful thing anymore) and come downstairs to do it myself!  Can you believe that?  After the stop at the store, he probably didn't get home until closer to 9:30/9:45 and he was still wonderful enough to do that for me.  What a guy!

5.) He goes to the grocery store for me.  These past couple of weeks, being on my feet for extended periods of time is really exhausting for me and has made my back hurt.  So, my wonderful hubby has willingly volunteered to go in my place.  And aside from that first trip, which took him approximately an hour to an hour and a half AND had numerous phone calls home to me, he has done a wonderful job!  And I really appreciate not having to waddle through the aisles right now.  

6.) He ties my shoes.  So, I used to wear slip-ons everyday, but they stopped being supportive enough for me at work these past 2 weeks.  I do have slip-on tennis shoes, but my feet don't fit into them very well right now - thank you very much, water retention!  So, that leaves my running shoes, which are exceedingly comfortable and supportive.  (Thank you to my principals, by the way, for insisting that I dress comfortably at work!)  Well, the downside is that I can't bend over to tie them, so Andy drags himself out of bed each morning to tie them for me.  

7.) He has done the lion's share of housework for the past few months - laundry, cleaning the cat boxes, dishes, cooking, vacuuming, etc.  Now, he has always done some of these (something about me leaving the laundry in the washer for hours before remembering to switch it to the dryer has prompted him to take over that chore each week), but some of them were always my chores or ones that we split.  I love to vacuum, weirdo that I am, but haven't been able to for a while because the repetitive motion made my back really sore afterwards.  The cat box is fairly self-explanatory - pregnant women aren't supposed to touch or come near cat feces; but it still isn't a fun one to do.  :-(  I used to do the cooking for the most part, along with some of the dishes, but after being on my feet most of the day at work, making dinner every night just seemed too much.  So, Andy started cooking more and more - which means we have eaten a lot of pasta, but hey!  Who's complaining?  

8.) He thinks the, ahem, less glamorous side effects of pregnancy are hilarious.  Without going into too many details, let's just say that he's a guy and he appreciates that there are certain things out of my, er, control right now.  And instead of feeling embarrassed by them, he makes me laugh because he thinks it's hilarious!

9.) He has become incredibly involved in getting the nursery ready!  We're talking many hours spent painting the nursery with my dad, time spent putting the furniture together and HOURS spent choosing just the right chair to go in the nursery.  (Let's not talk about that one...it became a sore spot after the 100th chair he showed me.)  This little guy has quite the daddy!

10.) Even though he hates getting his picture taken, he agreed to do a maternity photo shoot just for me.  :-)  Hopefully we will get those pictures back soon and I can post them!  Andy was a real trooper and seemed to actually enjoy the session, even going so far as to choose some places to take pictures, ways to hold lil' man's shoes, etc.  He ended up having a really great time!

I just wanted to share all of these because people focus so much on the mother during pregnancy (and, obviously, there's some very great reasons why), but sometimes forget that the dads are going through it as well.  He clearly cannot understand the physical or even some of the emotional changes/challenges that I have experienced, but that certainly doesn't mean that he isn't feeling or experiencing nothing!  I think it's really important to honor these dads - they have put up with their wives becoming much needier, dependent and, at times, an entirely different person.  Thank you, Andy, for being so incredibly wonderful!  I love you and cannot wait to raise this little baby with you!

Baby Watch!

I suppose I have probably been on baby watch longer than I am aware (though I have been watching for him to arrive for the past couple of weeks), but today it all rushed to the forefront in sharp relief! 

You know you are on baby watch when...

1. ...you send a text message to some people and when it doesn't go through, you get a series of frantic phone calls to make sure all is well.  :-)  Background: this morning, I was driving to work on Monarch Road.  For those of you unfamiliar with Highlands Ranch/Castle Pines (which I am pretty sure is most of you), Monarch Road is a rather beautiful stretch on pavement that winds through some backcountry and neighborhoods as an alternative to I-25.  There is quite a bit of open space and on other mornings I have seen a huge bull elk, the occasional deer and some hawks.  This morning, however, I saw an enormous herd of around 30 elk gathered by the side of the road getting ready to cross!  It was incredibly majestic and a great way to start my day.  I was so in awe that I had to send a text message to Andy, Zach, my mother-in-law and my dad.  Apparently, though, when I send a text-message to multiple people my phone changes the format to a multi-media format.  Now, for those of us who have joined the next century and own phones that can receive a picture (ahem, NOT my dad!), this is not a big deal.  For everyone else...red alert!  I had no idea anything was wrong until I left work this afternoon and checked my phone...missed calls, text messages, voicemails, etc. all with the same message: "Are you okay?  Is everything alright?"  After I finally got a hold of him, I discovered that my dad had called Andy, Darcy and my brother to check and see if there was any news.  Poor guy!  I reassured him that we would make sure he knows when things are actually happening - and not through text message!  :-)
2. ...people covertly peek into your room in the morning to see if you have even made it to work. :-)  They then pretend that they really came by to say, "Hi."  {{Snicker!}} Little do they know that I know the real reason why!
3. ...people become extra worried when it takes you seemingly forever to get up from a chair.  Or they see you on the floor.  Or they see you "stuck" in a bent over position.  Yeah...no.  It just takes me around 5 minutes to stand up from a seated position anymore because if I jump right up (which is not possible with a watermelon in my belly), I will topple right over due to cramped up muscles.  And, maybe, I am on the floor because I can't write on my chart paper from my chair.  Leaning forward at 38 weeks from a seated position = not possible.  And, though I try not to bend over,  I still can.  It just takes me about 10 minutes to stand back up!  
4. ...you call someone and they answer with, "Is there a baby yet?" Ha!  (By the way, I am now nervous to call anyone!  I think I may have to text them first to just reassure that I am calling to see if they can bring me candy canes.  He he he!)
5. ...people size you up from far away to see if the baby is "lower."
6. ...you seem to have "disappeared" at work for just a couple of minutes and people start to organize a search team!  :-)  Background: as any of you who have been pregnant know, your bladder shrinks to the size of a grain of sand.  ;-)  Well, I had to use the restroom this afternoon and just couldn't wait.  I stepped out of my room for 2 minutes (leaving my kids unattended...I know, I know - not good!) to run, er, waddle up to the bathroom.  When I came back, my assistant principal was pacing back and forth outside of my classroom thoroughly frantic that I had gone missing!  She thought I was off somewhere having contractions or in labor.  I felt so bad for a couple of reasons: 1) because we aren't supposed to leave our students unattended and 2) because she was so worried about me!  I had to reassure her that I was actually okay, just suffering from pregnancy discomforts, and that I would make sure they knew if it happened at work!

I think that if I find myself checking to make sure no one is around before I bend over or sit down or  stand up OR if people start following me around with catcher's mitts, I will call my doctor to get this baby out!  :-)

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

I think the hardest part of this entire pregnancy is happening right now: waiting.  Yep, you heard me!  I think this part is WAY harder than the lower back pain, nausea, waddling around, heartburn, etc.  This waiting is really taking a toll on me - not physically, but mentally and emotionally.  I've found that it really breaks down into 3 major emotions:

• Impatience/Boredom - Isn't it funny how these two feelings show up together?  I mean, think about being a little kid stuck inside on a rainy day.  You're bored and really just can't wait for the weather to clear up so that you can go outside and play.  So, you wander around and get into everyone's business.  Nothing you usually enjoy actually sounds fun on those days - movies will really only get you so far, video games are pretty boring if you've been staring at a t.v. for hours anyway, your books don't sound interesting, and everyone and everything starts to annoy you.  Well, that's me - the little kid stuck inside, waiting.  Except, I don't think I'm nearly as cute.  :-)  Plus, I'm BORED!  I'm pretty sick of not having any energy to do things.  I would love to be able to cook dinner without being tired, run errands, go for longer walks, etc.  It would also be nice to feel like I was a bigger help around the house.  I've managed to gather up all of our Christmas decorations and put them in a huge pile in our family room, but that is as far as I've gotten.  The final step just seems like it will require SO much energy!  So, I wake up each morning and wonder, is today the day?  Will he finally show up today?  And I am hopeful!  I hope that it is the day, that he will decide to arrive...and one of these days, he will.  But, until then, I will impatiently await his arrival.

• Anticipation - Okay, so I also feel like a little kid who is counting down the days until Christmas. Remember those times?  When you just CAN'T WAIT for Christmas morning because you just know that Santa will have come and left you the most amazing gifts ever.  It's a time full of so much magic, whimsy and excitement.  Well, that's how I feel right now, too!  I CANNOT WAIT for the day that this little one arrives because it will be the most amazing gift ever.  The hard part is just not knowing when he will decide to arrive.  But, I am so excited to meet him.  I often find myself wondering what he will look like.  Does he have 8 arms and legs?  Because, it sure as heck feels like that at times!  Will he look more like Andy or me or his own special self?  Will he have a nose?  Eyes?  Ears?  What color will his eyes end up being?  Will he have a head full of hair?  Will he even have a head?  Is his head big enough?  I haven't been able to tell where his head is for WEEKS!  I know where all 8 of his arms and legs are, but his head seems to be a mystery object...hopefully he's got one!  ;-)  He and I have spent so much time together snuggling already, I am so looking forward to when I can count his fingers, toes, arms and look into his eyes.  Oh, this anticipation is killing me!!!

• Anxiety - I think this one is actually the hardest for me to handle.  And it actually has nothing to do with actually being in labor and fearing the pain.  I find myself so incredibly excited about meeting him (and finally getting to be done being pregnant) that I am actually looking forward to being in labor and at the hospital.  Weird, huh?  But, I guess I feel that when I am at the hospital, it will mean it is finally time and experts will be there to help and make sure that everyone is healthy at the end.  No, my anxiety actually stems from not knowing when it is going to happen, where it is going to happen and having absolutely no control over any of that.  I have the craziest scenarios running through my  mind: my water will break at work (actually a pretty big fear and totally possible!); I won't know that I am in labor and will end up having this baby on my kitchen floor (not likely, I know, but I am not claiming to be rational or logical here!); that a freak blizzard will occur and we will be stuck at home or it will take us hours to get to the hospital....I could keep going, but I actually try not to entertain these ideas all that much.  

Take all three of those emotions and you have one exhausted lady.  It doesn't help that I only get a couple of hours of sleep at time because he is sitting on my bladder...but in the end, I think all this impatient anticipation is taking it out of me!  Oh well, soon enough, soon enough...right?