Fetal Attraction

The End

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:55:00 +0000

Biggest Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 01:12:00 +0000

Last week a friend asked what the biggest surprise was...the weirdest thing...now that we are parents and have a baby. I responded that the weirdest part was how un-weird it is. How natural it feels to be Delia's parents.

And that is strange. I don't get up on weekdays to go to the same job I've gone to for over seven years. My schedule is now largely determined by my boobs. I'm somebody's MOTHER! These are big friggin changes...and yet, it feels so completely normal.

I like to think that BD and I are "go with the flow" kind of people and that this type of easy adjustment to parenthood is part of that, but maybe, it's just because we're still in the honeymoon phase of this whole thing. Reality has yet to hit us.

Fine with me. This feels nice.

Birth Announcements?

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 21:46:00 +0000

Do I need to do them?

Final Countdown

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:58:00 +0000

Only five more days until Cletus' due date! Gotta love that countdown clock...

Anywho, I plan on wrapping up this blog on April 16. Thanks for the feedback. I'll make sure to keep family and friends' posted on Delia's progress via e-mails and stuff..and maybe even (gasp) personal phone calls and visits.

Today is our first day alone together (BD is, quite unhappily, back at work). I'm not really getting much done on a school project, but I can't blame this on Delia... only on good old fashioned procrastination.

She's a really cool kid, and I'm very proud that she's gaining weight like a champ (now up to 7 lbs, 6.5 oz). We've pretty muched gotten the whole breastfeeding thing figured out, even though I still curse like a drunken sailor with tourette's syndrome every time she first clamps down. This is the main reason I have yet to breastfeed in front of others... not out of boob modesty, but because my foul mouth betrays the serenity of the moment.

Tonight, I'm going to class without her. Which means BD, Unkie Matt, and Dr. Rachel get her "to themselves." This will also be the longest time-wise and distance-wise I've been separated from her. The anxiety! My ta-tas are already twitching in protest.

Direction of Blog?

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:59:00 +0000

I'd love some input on we're you'd like to see this blog go. I'm a little reluctant to become a "mommy blogger."

Thoughts?

Happy Easter!

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 22:39:00 +0000

Delia as Scholar

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:50:00 +0000

Delia slept through an entire graduate school class on evaluating health communications campaigns. She's way ahead of her time.

Nicknames

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 14:11:00 +0000

I tend to call her:

Kitten
Kitty Cat
D
Critter

Fetal Attraction Contest: Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 22:44:00 +0000

And the winner is.....

Alex!!!!!

Although he guessed a bald-headed boy, Alex's near perfect date and weight guesses put him at the front of the pack. Yes, we all rolled our eyes when we saw his guess for a March 29 delivery date (doesn't this guy know that 87% of first born babes come after due date??), but he showed us all. And he was a mere 3 oz off on the birth-weight.

Alex attributes his win to "the letters Delia has been writing [him] from the womb for the last several months."

He will be awarded a gift certificate to local cutie-patooty gift store, Now & Then, at our Easter Brunch on Sunday. Media welcome.

And now for the bad news: blog regular, Aunt Shanley, came in dead last despite repeated declarations that she knew (just knew!) the gender based on some fool-proof measure (genders of the other babies being born around the same time). Oops.

Thanks to all participants, and thanks to contest sponsors: GS & GS.

The Day

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 15:47:00 +0000

Here how a "typical" day goes for us now...

Wake up around 9 a.m.

Feed Delia-- this takes up to an hour (repeat every two to three hours)

Grandma, grandpa, or dad holds Delia while I shower, eat, get online, whatever.

Feed Delia (last time I'm going to put this in...trust me, it takes up most of the day)

Play with Delia. Take pictures of Delia.

Eat, putz around.

Visit with visitors. Maybe nap.

Evening: give to Delia to Matt for "Unkie Time"; eat dinner

Settle in around somewhere between 9 and 10:30

Feed Delia

Sleep

12:30: feed and change Delia

Sleep

3:00: feed and change Delia

Sleep

5:30/6ish: feed and change Delia

Sleep

9 a.m. Wake up and begin again

The New Balance

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 14:58:00 +0000

My plan had been to finish up all of my work for the semester (which ends April 25) by the baby's due date (April 16). But she came three weeks early, so.... new plan!

Fortunately, I feel good and have lots of help. So I'm going to attempt to go to class tonight (but maybe just for an hour), write a paper by Saturday, and go to class on Saturday. I know I don't have to, but I kind of want to. Mostly, I want to bring her and show her off!

As for work, well, I'm officially unemployed right now. I guess April 1 began my maternity leave/ leave of absence/ termination (whatever you feel like calling it). If you'll recall I had a super-productive day at work the day my water broke, so I actually (mostly) left things in a good place. I still have my office to clean out, but I probably take care of that in a couple of weeks.

I'm giving myself some time to figure out this new balance...but so far, I think I really like it.

PS: Our in-house pediatrician moved in yesterday. Lucky, eh?

Delia and Dad

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:38:00 +0000

A Mother's Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 19:14:00 +0000

It feels more like Thanksgiving than April Fool's Day (though Delia did fool me big time with her early arrival).

I have so, so much to be thankful for.

Thank you to Delia for coming early and fairly easily...for being healthy...for being ours.

Thank you to our families for being so supportive, helpful, loving, and excited. Delia's dad and I haven't had to lift a finger (other than to play with the ten cute ones on our daughter) around the house. And we're fully aware that those loads of laundry don't clean themselves and those pastries don't bake themselves. Thank you.

Thank you to our friends...we are feeding off your love, energy, and excitement.

Thank you to our coworkers, classmates, and professors for being happy for us, and flexible as we adapt to our new rhythm.

Thank you to you, blog reader. It's been fun seeing all of the comments...and it's really saved us from having to make a million phone calls.

Thank you to our cats for not freaking out and peeing on random things.

Thank you to the seasons for bringing spring, cherry blossoms, daffodils...and my lovely daughter.

Thank you to my body, which has performed well above average. Thank you to my hormones for staying in check. I do not take this for granted.

Thank you to Delia's dad. Thank you the most.

I'm Pregnant!

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 12:49:00 +0000

Somehow my annual April Fool's Day joke seems less believable this year...

Delia in living color

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 22:47:00 +0000

Visitors Welcome

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 15:27:00 +0000

Visitation hours are 1pm to 8:30 pm, call or text our cell phone for details.

Mother and child are resting right now after lactation class. Delia successfully fed about three times last night. BM was even able to get a 3 hour chunk of sleep (but I had to pry Delia out of her arms to get to that point).

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 21:43:00 +0000

Delia Jean was born at 4:41pm EDT. She is a beautiful little thing with a full head of hair. Due to the 2 1/2 week early arrival she weighed in at 6 lbs 13 oz. But she was 19 and 1/4 inches long. Darcy is glowing and sharing a moment with the healthy little one that she carried around for 9 months and pushed out like a champ.

Cheers to all. And thank you all for your kind wishes, support, advice, and generousity that have helped get us to this point.

--BD

These are the days of miracle and wonder

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 18:15:00 +0000

Labor is going along smoothly and much less painful for bm. She is off the pitocin and is progressing quickly.

Just wanted to take a minute to marvel at the times we live in. From the crazy equipment in the hospital, to the fact that bm's parents were called at 4am and able to join us in the hospital before 10am (and they live 1000 miles away), to the ability to post web updates from my phone in the hospital and get feedback from friends, loved ones, and well wishers all over the country.
-BD

In keeping with the birthplan of "get it out"...

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:44:00 +0000

Due to the water breaking before the contractions started, BM was given Pitosin to speed along labor (after a water break it needs to come out within 24 hours). Pitosin causes long and very painful contractions. She was in too much pain too early in the process to wait and see what the rest would be like. So she got an epidural. She is doing much better right now and is even getting a little rest.

BD

Full Term

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:47:00 +0000

Well BM made it to full term, but just barely. Sunday she was 37 weeks and today at 3:50am her water broke. We're in the hospital right now getting some early labor rest. The nurse says things are going fine. So, with any luck, we will be holding our new baby within 21 hours according to the doctor.

BD

Feeling Good About Life

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 21:48:00 +0000

I'm just feeling really good, and I thought that I'd share. I really thought I'd be more sore and more tired...more "over it"...than I do at this point. So I thought it'd be nice for y'all to read a "life's just dandy" post on a pregnancy blog since they seem to be so rare.

Today, I wrote a 15-page new business proposal and presented some client work to our firm's board of directors. Yep, that was in one day. Oh yeah, and I stepped out for an hour at noon to have a delicious, expensive, outdoor lunch with my amazing husband. Beautiful weather. And I'm leaving by 6. And I get to go to a PEO meeting (my women's group) which always means a good dinner.

Cletus is happily kicking at my ribs. BD said it would be helpful (not naggy) for me to give him a to-do list. Seriously, life is good.

Is it Procrastination If...?

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:04:00 +0000

Last night, I intended to finish paper #3 (already in progress) or start paper #4. Instead, we assembled the pack-n-play, put batteries in all of the baby geegaws, set up the baby monitor, attempted to arrange the downstairs baby room, switched the positions of the crib and the changing table in the nursery, and rubbed lotion on my giant ankles.

Then we got news of Unkie J and Auntie S's friend who gave vaginal, drug-free birth to an 11 lb, 7 oz baby (nope, not a typo). So then there was the time needed to get out the smelling salts and resuscitate me.

So if I'm tackling other things on the to-do list, does it count as procrastination?

Fetal Attraction Contest: Our Guesses

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 19:17:00 +0000

My entry (I think it's a winner!):

Gender: Boy
Arrival Date: April 17
Arrival Time: PM
Weight: 8 lb, 9 oz
Height: 21.5 inches
Hair/No Hair: Hair

BD's entry:

Gender: Girl
Arrival Date: April 15
Arrival Time: PM
Weight: 8 lb, 12 oz
Height: 21 inches
Hair/No Hair: Hair

Registering Today

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:37:00 +0000

Today, I'm registering for three graduate school courses for the summer semester. I will happily drop one or two classes if I later determine that I can't handle it.

Thanks for all of the advice and feedback...all of which I've interpreted the following way: do whatever you want to do. And this is what BD and I want to do. :)

Superwoman Complex?

noreply@blogger.com (DarcyLaine) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:18:00 +0000

I've had pretty much the same plan in my head since I found out I was pregnant: that I'd stay home with the kidlet during the day while taking graduate school classes at night until I finish my degree.

As you saw on the blog earlier this week, I have been able to arrange this plan with my work.

I got a lot of support for this plan. BD is behind it 100%.

But now that I actually have to enroll in the courses for next semester, people are coming out of the woodwork advising me to reconsider taking classes. These people are all moms, all smart, all accomplished, and they come from my family, school, and work life.

People, I'm already leaving my career. The kid will be about 6 weeks old when I start classes again... over 4 months old during finals. Do I really need to be at home 168 hours every week? Am I really going to be so tired and so frazzled, that I can't handle 6 hours of class-time plus an additional 6 hours of study time a week?

And if your answer to both of these questions are "yes," then I'd love to hear your advice on how I should sell that to my bosses. "Oh by the way, when I said I was coming back in January 2008, it'll probably be more like January 2009... is that okay?"

I know it won't be the easiest route...but I have never taken the easiest route. So, I'd love to get some more feedback: Am I really not the superwoman I seem to think I am?