Emily's First Fourth of July

She slept through it.  Sorta. =)

Jacob and I both had the day off, and I was hoping to get some errands done but, of course, everything was closed for the holiday.  So we decided to check out a local movie theater that had a "Mommy Matinee" show during the week.  The tagline is: "Moms, dads, grandparents, nannies and their babies are welcome. Let the kids fuss – we don’t mind!"  We figured that this was probably the best opportunity to see how Emily would do in a movie theater... go somewhere with other babies, and at a discounted cost!

We say "Dark Shadows".  The movie was decent, and Emily was awesome.  She slept through the first quarter of the movie, bounced around on our laps for the middle half, and slept through the last quarter.  She really only fussed a little bit when she got bored, but she was easily distracted by Alice Cooper on the big screen. =)

After the movie we headed home for a little bit, and then out to Jacob's folks sailboat docked in a marina on the Columbia, where we BBQ'd dinner, got Emily to go to sleep (soothing a screaming baby in a sailboat is difficult... more on everyone in the boat than the baby), and then sat on the boat and watched all of the fireworks going off in Washington (just on the other side of the river), and the show that the local marinas did together.  (Jacob and I have both been surprised over the course of the last few days how good Emily is at sleeping through loud noises.  Even tonight we have LOUD fireworks going off in our neighborhood, and she's sound asleep!) All in all, we had a pretty good holiday! 

Emily's first movie!

What I Thought I Knew

I've always been a fan of school.  Even after I graduated with my BA I kind of missed it... so I went back.   I'm a bit of a nerd like that. =)  So, when we found out that we were having a baby, I wasted no time is checking out the classes offered at the hospital where I'll be delivering (and where I get a discount on said classes with my health insurance!).  I signed up for a 4-week child birth prep course, and two single-day classes in newborn care and breast feeding.

When I pictured a child birth prep class I had images in my head that I must of picked up from TV and the movies.  Mom's on the floor sitting on a pillow leaning up against Dad who is coaching her through breathing techniques. (You know what I'm talking about!) I wasn't really sure how this could possibly last for four weeks.  Thankfully, that stereotypical images was FAR from what we experienced!

While the class did cover some relaxation and breathing techniques, we also learned all about stages of labor, when to go to the hospital, what to be looking for/thinking about when your water breaks, all about different pain medications and birthing positions, as well as other items/procedures that may come in to play in the delivery room.  It was VERY informative and I was VERY happy that we took the class.  (Our last class was last Thursday, and we also got to take a tour of the maternity ward so we knew where to go when the time comes and I could see where I'd be spending a couple of days).

The problem with the class (and watching a movie that SOO many of my friends recommended:  The Business of Being Born), is that it started to make me rethink everything that I thought I knew and wanted.  I am NOT a fan of being in pain.  I always thought that I'd go in, get an epidural, pop out a kid and everything would be a-okay.  I also kind of thought that if the baby didn't come within a couple days of her due date, that I'd just make an appointment for an induction.  Now, however,  I am seriously considering trying to do this thing naturally.  I am NOT closing off the option to get an epidural, but I have down in my birth plan, that I'd like to try other things first and see how long I can go without needing one.  And, as far as induction goes, I know that it could become "medically necessary" but the idea of using pitocin scares the beejeezus out of me!

This new change in my thought process is super scary for me.  I'm one who likes to be in control of things and be able to ask questions/understand answers.  I know that when I'm in labor I'm going to have to totally give myself over to the experience and trust others to ask questions and help me make decisions.  Enter our doula.  Yes.  We decided to go with one.  Jacob really liked the idea of having someone with training by our side the whole way, and someone who could explain things/advocate for us when we're otherwise occupied. =)

Our due date is only a few short weeks away... I'm getting more and more scared/nervous/panicky/fill-in-the-blank as the days go on.  Of course I'm excited/curious/anxious, too, but I feel like the less-positive emotions are taking the bigger toll on me right now.

And now I feel like I've been rambling and totally gotten off track from my original point... I loved my child birth class.  I suggest taking one.

The Name Game

Jacob and I have a name picked out... we've had one picked out from the very beginning.  In fact, I have had a list of baby names for YEARS that I couldn't wait to pick from. lol  Thankfully, Jacob is not overly picky/opinionated on the subject and liked my suggestions.  We had a name picked out for a boy, and one for a girl.  Now that we know we're having a girl, I'm happy to be able to think about her name in relation to her... rather than just a "future possibility".  (Jacob has a hard time remembering what it's going to be though.... lol... I told him that he better figure out a way to remember before we get to the hospital!)

Here's the thing though... we're not telling anyone the name.  Why?  No, I'm not worried that someone's going to "steal" it, but, rather, I don't want any feedback on it.  I don't want people telling me, "I know someone named ..., she was...".  I don't want to associate the name that I love with other people's preconceived notions on personality... I already get that enough with the due date.  (It's kind of amazing to me how many people around here actually know something about astronomy... I never even thought about it).  I also don't want to hear people's opinions on the name or get other "suggestions" as to what might sound better.  Once she is here, and the name is on the birth certificate, I believe that other people will be less likely to throw in their two cents (I kind of wish sometimes that I would have taken this approach to wedding planning, too, and just not told anyone anything about it until it was planned and done! lol)

Another reason that I'm a little leery about telling the name ahead of time is because I don't want one of these things to happen.  (P.S.  HUGE Friends fan.... I can relate a Friends scene/episode to pretty much ANY life situation. lol)

Before I was born my  mother was certain that my name was going to be Krista... and she told everyone.  Well, guess what?  I'm not a "Krista", and I don't want to run the risk of getting baby gear with our chosen name all over it only to decide at the last minute to go with something else! lol

So, the name is staying a secret.  But don't worry... there's only 12 more weeks to wait!

OMG!

Day Three: Friends

30-Day Blog Challenge 

Your Favorite TV Show

  

This one will be a no-brainer for anyone who really knows me...

I LOVE Friends.  A couple of years back someone gave me the complete series on DVD... since that time I have watched it start to finish several times.  When I get somewhere that has cable (we don't actually have cable, and haven't since college), I always know that I can find a syndicated episode of Friends somewhere! =)  

I have watched the episodes so many times that I often relate situations in my every day life to things that happened on Friends. lol  Maybe that makes me a little big of a geek, but if there's ever a Friends trivia challenge, I'm a contender. =)

Now it's your turn to make me feel better... who else has those shows or movies that they've watched so many time and love so much that they have somehow become a part of your day to day life??