Category Archives: pregnancy

Mar15

“Baby Bargains”

Posted on by
“Baby Bargains”

So, first off, I would like to offer a public apology to my mother-in-law for the E.R. information in the last post. (Though I maintain what I said earlier on the phone that Jared was originally supposed to say something when he talked to you last…) So, sorry about that.

Moving on.

Pretty much the highlight of my life right now is getting things prepared for Baby Boothette’s arrival. It’s hard to focus or care about anything else right now. (That doesn’t sound too crazy, does it?) But those of you who have done this whole “having a kid” thing realize that it can get ridiculously expensive. Average crib prices are $400+, not including mattresses, bedding, etc. Strollers, monitors, carriers, car seats, clothes… it’s enough to make your head spin!

The guy who is essentially Jared’s “boss” (and just had his second child this past summer,) suggested some books to Jared. Naturally, we bought them. (Please refrain from any brown-nosing comments. Thank you.) So far, the most useful has been the book Baby Bargains.

My main complain with this book is the awkward size. It is really oddly shaped for a book- long and not very wide, combined with a good amount of pages that seems to stress the binding when you try to read the book. I know that sounds silly, but that really bothered me when I first started reading it. Fortunately, once you get past the awkwardness, the book is a treasure trove of information.

Example: Ikea cribs are some of the best deals you can get out there. Why spend $400-$700 for a crib when you can get the following for $119?

(We are going with a white crib because 1: We are having a girl. White girly furniture is just fine. And 2: My mom gave us all my white bedroom furniture when we bought the house. Meaning this crib will match perfectly with the girly stuff. Maybe one day our daughter can appreciate “vintage” furniture???)

So, we are pretty excited that this crib gets an “A” (excellent) rating for such a great price. Please note, according to the book, Ikea cribs are in the “good” section for cribs, but when you get to high chairs, they get a C+ (generally avoid) rating. So it’s not a simple blanket statement for brands, which is cool.

Not to be sacrilegious, this book has become our “Baby Bible.” There’s information, ratings, and charts for everything you could imagine regarding babies, broken down into smart sections, plus what the book reviewers say are their favorites (good, better, best). You even have parts like how many onesies and other outfits would you want to have for a new baby?

Just fabulous.

If I had to be sick, at least I was sick while reading this book, because I’ve been having way too much fun planning out everything for the baby!

(Oh, what have I turned into that this excites me so?)

Mar14

On Spring Break and Hospital Trips…

Posted on by
On Spring Break and Hospital Trips…

I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to write lately. There’s a lot of things going on in my life right now, and I have started to write a post several times and just never finished them. Someday, perhaps.

Fortunately, I am on Spring Break this week. Unfortunately, I’ve been sick for the past week, so I haven’t really had a chance to enjoy it up to this point in time. Because sick and pregnancy goes hand in hand with each other, apparently, especially with that special ironic twinge that you can’t take most medications to alleviate symptoms.

Fortunately, being sick means I have had a lot of time to “relax”. Unfortunately, “relax” means you get so bored that plucking hairs out of your head one by one seems to be the only route to retain a semblance of sanity. (Which I pretty much lost about 4 years ago anyways, when I started teaching seventh grade.)

Fortunately.. okay, enough of that.

Even with my cold/cough, Spring Break started with a big of a bang. I’ve had a medical issue a few times throughout the pregnancy that has given us a couple of scares, and it reoccurred Thursday evening and went into Friday. Since this was a little longer than previous times, I called the doctor’s office on my lunch. Really, since this wasn’t new, I was expecting to be told to just wait a little longer or to come in later in the day. You can imagine my surprise when they “strongly recommended” that I go straight to the Emergency Room in the hospital.

Now, before you get your panties all bunched in a wad, everything is FINE. Baby Boothe was never in any distress. In fact, she’s kicking or wiggling right now as I write this. Honestly, the scariest part of the whole experience was being told that I should go to the E.R. and having to get subs to cover my classes at the last minute. (Fortunately, I have some awesome, supportive coworkers that immediately stepped to the plate when I told them I needed to leave.)

Anyways, I talked to Jared, and he immediately got himself pulled together to meet me at home to take me to the E.R. (Who ever wants to the emergency room by themselves?!) Our hospital’s emergency room is actually quite pleasant and calm, or was when we went in at noon on a Friday. There was a little confusion, because at 23 weeks, apparently that goes straight to their OB/labor unit. And then apparently my doctor’s office and nurses never actually talked to my doctor before telling us to go to the E.R.

On the upside, I got a taste of what it will be like to check in whenever I do go to the labor. The rooms aren’t too bad, and they have a good sized shower in the bathroom. And the nurse that hung out with us while we monitored Baby Boothe’s heart rate was quite pleasant. (After 15 minutes, the heart rate was still perfect, and the issue had been fading away, so we were discharged pretty quickly because it was clear that Baby Boothe was not in distress.)

The moral of the story? I really don’t know. I can think of a couple of things that are rather clever, but none to positive to say.

Let’s just leave it at the fact that this Spring Break can only get better from here…right?

Feb23

And the verdict is in…

Posted on by
And the verdict is in…

Everything is on track with Baby Boothe! We went in for the 20 weeks anatomy ultrasound today, and it was great. Everything – all hands, feet, internal organs, face–everything looked great. The technician didn’t see anything that would cause alarm. And Baby Boothe was pretty active and wiggling.

But let’s face it. You are tuning in for something a little more exciting than just basic anatomy reports about Baby Boothe. So let’s get down to business.

Baby Boothe is a Boothette.

That’s right! We’re having a baby girl! I’d show you the proof, but that probably would be seen as taboo and violating my child’s future rights as a human being once they appear outside the womb. But let’s just leave it at the fact that we don’t have a lot of questions about the gender, because she wasn’t in a very lady-like position.

Anyways, apparently there will be a lot of pinks, bows, and dresses in our future. And we couldn’t be happier. Lots of fun planning to start doing now that we know. 🙂

On a final note, look at these cute little toes! Already love them!

Feb7

Wiggles…

Posted on by
Wiggles…

There is something incredibly amazing and awe-inspiring about being able to feel an unborn child inside of you.

(Baby Boothe 12/27/2012. Two days later, s/he was in the much more respectable pose that I used for our announcement blog.)

The range of emotions that swell up in me each time I feel movement is like I never felt before-at least not all at once.

Part of it is a little mysterious. Like a little secret you hold on to; only you know what’s going on. The reason why I smile in the middle of an otherwise boring training. Or stop and pause for a moment because I want to savor the moment.

Part of it is terrifying. Who am I to be attempting to raise a child? All the “What if?”s and things that could go wrong (and in my life, usually seem to do).  Fear for being responsible for a tiny, helpless being, who one day must be a functioning, contributing member to society in a world that seems to increasingly grow in insanity by the minute.

Mostly, though, it is pure joy. Wonderment. Ecstasy. Because I know there is a little life in there when four and a half months ago, there was nothing but me. Amazement at the rapid growth. The miracle of life. And this time, I get to be a part of it.

Despite all the many difficult symptoms I have/am experiencing, it feels so worth it all. Because I already have such incredible hope and love for this unborn child. Each and every extra wiggle, kick, or stretch I can feel just reminds me that my baby is there, and for now, is safe and doing well.

Now, I just hope I can hold to that thought and joy in four months from now when wiggles are full blown kicks and stretches under my rib cage in the middle of the night!

Jan22

A Special Announcement, Part 2

Posted on by
A Special Announcement, Part 2

Friday, I told my students about my “big” news. I’ve struggled with whether to tell them or wait until it was so pathetically obvious that it just wouldn’t need to be said (except to a couple of seventh graders… some just don’t notice/think things through!). In the end, I felt I should tell them sooner than later, so I thought it would be fun to include it as a “bonus” question to their quiz. It looked something like this:

“This summer, an exciting thing your teacher will be doing is…
A) going to Disneyworld
B) going on an European vacation
C) having a baby
D) moving into a new house”

Before I showed the students the question at the end of their quiz, I had them swear that they couldn’t reveal it to the other classes until the end of the day (yeah, right. It was worth a try, though). I have rarely seen my students so excited to answer a question. After we finished grading the normal quiz questions, they were begging for the answer to the bonus question. Let’s just say I had to apologize to the teacher next door at the end of the day because of the exuberant noises emitting from my classroom when I revealed the answer was “C”.

Most of my students were very sweet. I did get lots of quick hugs from excited students, and lots of special requests and suggestions for baby names (which, surprisingly, were very similar to the names of the students suggesting them). There were a few favorite comments though:

Student 1: Can you name the baby [his name]?
Me: No.
Student 1: Then can I name the baby?
Me: No.
Student 1: Well, can I at least be the baby’s godfather?!
Me: No, but thanks for asking!

Another highlight situation:

As I reveal the bonus question to the class, the student stares intently at me for several seconds, then declares, quite sincerely,”Well, it’s not C!” A couple other students ask him why he says that, to which he responds, “Well, look at her!”
I am sure several of you could appreciate why somebody who is starting to show being pregnant and is uncomfortable with it would find that comment both sweet and amusing.

Overall, I was happily surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response and comments I received from my students, especially because it’s been such a difficult year and harder for me to bond with them. What a wonderful way to go into my weekend!