Welcome, Baby Che

Introducing Charles Richard, aka Charlie or Baby Che.

March 25th, 2009

3:03 a.m.

8 lbs 14 oz

22 inches long

Happy Birthday, Johnny!

Today is my Johnny's 31st birthday and I am so happy to be married to him. He's a gentle soul, kind, generous, and loving and I'm so lucky that he's mine! He is extremely bright and so talented and I am amazed at all the things he is capable of doing well! I admire his work ethic and good attitude- he's always helping me, or his family, or his friends. He's been a great friend and spouse and I'm so excited to see him as a dad because I know he will be great!

39 weeks

-Every time I call someone, I feel bad that I'm not in labor because I know that I just got their hopes up.

-So far the not wearing shoes and pants thing is going awesome! I am wearing some stretched out yoga pants from Old Navy and rotating through my collection of slippers. I consider it "dressing up" when I put on my slightly less stretched out yoga pants and flip flops.

-Even my maternity shirts are getting a little tight and short.

-Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I had this moment of panic realizing that the Cub will be here so soon and I should be relishing my last moments of not being SOMEONE'S MOTHER. But what to do? There's not much I can accomplish in the next seven days to make my pre-mother life more enriched, so I have been settling for sleeping in, taking naps and generally enjoying being by myself.

Baby cooker

37.5 weeks pregnant

My last day of work was on Thursday- the Legislature adjourned for the year late Thursday night (and for the first time in a decade, a half an hour early!) After running around like crazy all day, I was having a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions and I was DONE. I spent most of the weekend relaxing and sleeping. It felt INCREDIBLE.

We have a little over a week until the Cub is "due", although really at this point, it's anyone's guess when he will actually come. I've been soaking up my free time- I have a good balance going of working on baby projects and taking it easy. The best part about not working anymore? I would have to say it's a three way tie between not having to wear pants, sleeping in, and not having to put my shoes on. (Seriously, it just about kills me to put my shoes on.) It's pretty awesome here at my house- just call before you come over so I can put some pants on.

Every day brings me closer to the Cub and I am getting really excited. The goal is to accomplish a few things off of my to-do list every day and just let this little guy cook until he decides he's done!

Why Mormons Build Temples

With all the recent attention LDS temples are receiving, the LDS church has put out this video explaining what the big deal is. Check it out.

Time for a contest!!

Hello there interpeeps... it is time for a little guess-the-baby's-birthday contest. I am feeling ambitious here and am thinking that I will be able to send the winner a little something fairly soon after the baby comes (let's see how crazy that turns out to be!)

Here's the info:
-The baby is "due" Friday, March 27th.
-At my last ultrasound (at 36 weeks) he was measuring right on age-wise.
-This is my first baby.
-I am not planning on being induced.
-(TMI alert) I have not started dilating yet (well, I'm a one, but that's practically nothing).

Your job is to guess the vital stats of the Cub. Whomever guesses closest on the most items will win (there may be a combination of winners). Include your guesses for his:
-date
-time
-weight
-height

Leave your guesses in the comments!!

PS- You can also leave your vote for the name in the poll to the right. And for extra fun, guess which of those names will end up being the Cub's!

I'm one of them Mormons

I saw the most incredible video today on C Jane Enjoy It. Rachel Esplin, an Eastern Studies/Religion student at Harvard university, was part of a panel on religion at Harvard as the LDS representative (aka "Mormon"). I am very impressed with how wonderfully eloquent she is- she has composure and poise well beyond her 20 years. She gives comprehensive and doctrinally sound answers. I encourage you all to watch this great video- if you are familiar with the LDS church, it will serve as a tool to use in explaining the faith to others; if you aren't familiar with the LDS church, it may answer a lot of your questions. (My favorite part comes around the 12-13 minute region when she talks about Joseph Smith).



Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

Siftables

Check out this amazing new technology! Siftables are small blocks that have mini-computers inside! The toy and learning applications are incredible!



Seen on Milk Breath and Margaritas

Shuffle playlist

Lovely and fun songs that iTunes shuffle brought to me today:

Paint Me in Your Sunshine-Marie Digby
Your Song- Kate Walsh
Vegetable Car- Joshua Radin
When You Become King of My Heart- Alana Davis
Get to Me- Train
The Captain- Guster
Listen to the Music- Doobie Brothers
Death and All His Friends- Coldplay
Revolution- Grandaddy
Charlie- Ingrid Michaelson
Spit on a Stranger- Nickel Creek
Take What You Want- Mesa Drive
Sucker- John Mayer
Where Does the Good Go- Tegan and Sara
Hello- Tristan Prettyman
One Fine Wire- Colbie Caillat
Bruises- Chairlift
Tongue-Tied- Aqualung
Traffic in the Sky- Jack Johnson
Addicted- Kelly Clarkson
Momma's Boy- Chromeo

Fictionist

My JohnnyT (my most favorite musician ever) subbing in on the bass with Stu last year

One of life's most joyful things is seeing people I care about succeeding. That's how I feel about my childhood pal, Stuart Maxfield, and his band, Fictionist. As long as I have known Stu (since Kindergarten, yo), he has been a bit of a musical prodigy. He funneled his musical talents into many venues, but the one that seemed to be the most fulfilling for him is that of indie rock musician. He's had several incarnations of bands (System, StuManFu, Good Morning Maxfield) but his latest project really shines. Their sound is unique and full and satisfying to the ear. The Salt Lake Tribune highlighted them here today. They have a concert in Provo tonight at Velour with another of my most favorite local bands, Paul Jacobsen and the Madison Arm. Unfortunately, because I am great with child and all I want to do at night is lie down, I won't be there, but I encourage all of you locals to get there!

Breech Baby No More!

Last week (36 weeks pregnant) I had my first internal exam. My doctor wasn't sure that the baby was head down, so she sent me in for an ultrasound to double check. I was so confidant that he was head down and I was kind of irritated to have to take work off again for another appointment. (Getting away from the Capitol during the Legislative session is a big deal.) Imagine my disappointment when the ultrasound tech found the Cub's head up, not down! Oooh, that baby was on time-out! I was super frustrated but I tried not to let it get me too down.

John and I fasted (well, John fasted) and prayed that he would turn on his own, I had a priesthood blessing, I did specific yoga positions, I talked to the baby, and even made acupuncture and chiropractic appointments. I wanted to make sure that I did everything I could to help the baby turn. Still, nothing seemed to work. I could still feel the baby's hard, round little head up by my ribs.

My doctor called me on Tuesday and we talked over my options- a scheduled C-section or an external version followed immediately by an induction. Both options didn't sound appealing, especially since she was recommending the induction at 38 weeks. (I had to go tell my boss that I would probably be having a baby during the last week of the session- not ideal.) Luckily, Dr. Eborn called another doctor who has more expertise in the external version technique and he recommended that we try it THIS week and then if it was successful, let me go into labor on my own! Yay!

So yesterday, I took the day off of work and John and I checked into LDS hospital. After getting some medication to relax my uterus, Dr. Voss came in and pushed on my belly, using his hands to scoop the baby up out of my pelvis, turn him around, then let him slide into my pelvis head down. It was pretty uncomfortable (aka painful) but it only lasted about 45 seconds. (I'm lucky, sometimes the doctor breaks a sweat from exerting so much force for several minutes trying to get a baby to turn).

It was a success- the baby is now pointed the proper way and there's only a 5% chance that he will turn again! Yay! I am pretty bruised today (I feel "knocked up" in a whole different way) but it was so worth it!! Now I'm back on track for a normal delivery- no induction, no C-section!!

Little Lovelies

Beautiful things to enjoy today...

-this article at Segullah called 100% about being pure-hearted

-reading about NieNie's lovely dreams: No Request is Too Extreme

-OnePrettyThing.com

-Baby Anna's nursery

-The Legislature's tribute to Utah's fallen soldiers

Happy Birthday, Baby Sam!

v

It's this little boy's birthday on Saturday... the time has flown. John and I were contemplating whether we can still call our little buddy, "Baby Sam" after he's turned FIVE! I just love hanging out with my nephew and he never ceases to entertain me. He's so sweet and tender and has always been a little cuddly, lovey boy. He loves to run and play and ride his scooter. His favorite thing to do at my house is to play the Wii- he is very good at Lego Star Wars in particular, and will always tell you how to play better. He's smart and fun and I know he will be a great cousin to the Cub!

Exhibit A

Johnny is going to be such a great dad. I love looking through these pictures of him with the kids in our lives- they all adore him and he is so patient and sweet with them.

Uncle Johnny and Sam

Uncle Johnny with Lily

Johnny playing and reading with Sophie, Thomas and Lily (whenever Sophie sees me, she asks, "Johnny?" and usually I reply, "He's at work." To which Sophie says, "Okay. Johnny work. Johnny coming?"


Johnny and the "Moosh" (whenever she sees me, she asks me, "Where's your boy?")


Johnny with baby Lily, only one day old