[Click on the photo to see it larger.]
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Lullaby Not Required
The last few days have been strange for Mac's sleep schedule, but it's worked out well for his parents. Wednesday, he slept most of the day.* But he ate at 9 pm and somehow went to sleep around 10, his normal time. Then he slept until 1:45 am, and only took 2.5 ounces before passing out.
Thursday was a busy day, and because we were out and about, he slept more than usual (again). That night, though, he went to sleep around midnight, and slept until 5:15! I was so thrilled! (Especially because the MacDaddy takes the 5 am feeding, so I got to sleep from about 12:30 to 8:30!)
Now, I know that when babies start changing their schedules, there's a lot of flux during the transition. So I was ready for who-knows-what on Friday night, moreso because Mac hadn't eaten much that day. After eating at 10:30, he was still awake (hanging out quietly in his bassinet) when we went to bed at 11, and then nodded off at midnight. Around 3:55 am, he started to stir. I immediately gave him the binky (after all, 4 am is the cut-off: if he wakes before that, it's my turn, and after that, it's the MacDaddy's), and he was quiet until 4:15!
When he heard Mac cry, the MacDaddy asked when he was last fed. He was shocked when I told him 10:30 the night before. But we are absolutely thrilled that he's now going almost 6 hours between feedings!
I hope we can keep him on this schedule -- eating around 10 or 10:30 and sleeping until 4 or 5. I also hope he'll gradually sleep a little longer. Maybe we could move up the last feeding to 9 or so, and eventually I hope he'll sleep until 6 or 7. But this is a great start! Mostly, I hope I haven't jinxed it by bragging about it in a blog post...
And now, just to show you how much Mac has grown, a comparison to the photo above. The one at the top of this post was taken on October 29. The one below was taken on September 27.
*I should note that on Wednesday, October 27, he gave me his first real smile! I know it wasn't gas, because his eyes were smiling, too. He did it again this morning, after play time!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
First Day on Our Own
Monday was our first day alone -- Mac and me, that is. Until then, we'd had Gigi and/or the MacDaddy for at least part of the day. It went pretty well -- and was busier than you'd think. Here's what we did:
9-10am Second Breakfast (The MacDaddy does the first breakfast around 6am, then Mac will usually sleep until about 9.)
10-11am Tummy time and play time. (Play time is when Mac hangs out in the activity gym on his back, after he's tired of tummy time.)
11-11:15 Put on Moby wrap and walk the dog. Mac was still wide awake when I put him in the wrap, but sound asleep when we got back from our walk.
11:15-12 I did dishes with Mac in the Moby. It worked well, although I had to hold his head when I bent over to put something in the bottom rack of the dishwasher. But I was mainly doing handwashing at that point.
12-1 Lunch for Mac. I know it seems like a long time, but he's been a slow eater lately, and when you add in burping time and a diaper change, whenever I finally put him down, it's been an hour.
1-1:45 Lunch for the MacMommy while Mac swings and naps.
1:45-2:20 Blog update while Mac swings and naps.
2:20-2:30 I realize that during the next hour and a half, I need to shower so Mac and I can head up to SCC to meet the MacDaddy for an early dinner. Oops! I remember that Mac will be hungry at 3.
2:30-2:35 Move Mac to the bassinet in the bedroom and start shower.
2:35 Mac wakes up and realizes, to his clear dismay, that he is not in the swing and I am not there.
2:36-2:40 I finish my shower while wondering if I'm going to hell for not comforting Mac instead (as he cries miserably).
2:40-3:00 I alternately work on dressing myself and comforting Mac, in repeated, 2-minute cycles. Meanwhile, the MacDaddy calls to chat. I explain that I have less than an hour to get dressed and feed Mac so we can meet him for dinner on time.
3-3:45 Feed Mac, change diaper. Mac only has 2 ounces, and I know if I weren't rushing out the door, he'd have at least another ounce. Another point in the "bad mom" column for me.
3:45-4:10 Load up the car and drive to meet the MacDaddy.
4:10-5:20 Dinner with the MacDaddy. The MacDaddy even offered to do the diaper change, but we didn't think there was a changing table in the men's room. Turned out (long after the diaper change) we were wrong. I'll remember next time, though!
5:20-6 Drop the MacDaddy back at work and head home in rush hour traffic.
6-6:45 Put Mac in the stroller to wheel him inside. Feed Mr. McKitty (who is demonstrably furious that his dinner is nearly 2 hours late). Mac and I walk the Doggie-wog, who is thrilled to have a long walk, but wishes he could walk ahead of the stroller to protect us from those running children, bicycles, and cocker spaniels. I try to use the binky to hold off on Mac's dinner so we can finish the walk. A third "bad mom" point for me.
6:45-7:45 Feed Mac.
7:45-8:15 Hold Mac.
8:15-9:15 Test out the bouncy chair, just to see if it's equivalent to the swing for travel purposes. Result inconclusive. Mac is soothed, but stays awake. Could be effective or it could be Mac's in a good mood.
9:15 The MacDaddy gets home!
Of course, we didn't get to bed until after 11 (though Mac was asleep by 10), but it's infinitely easier when you have backup.
All in all, a successful day. Not perfect, but everyone survived!
9-10am Second Breakfast (The MacDaddy does the first breakfast around 6am, then Mac will usually sleep until about 9.)
10-11am Tummy time and play time. (Play time is when Mac hangs out in the activity gym on his back, after he's tired of tummy time.)
11-11:15 Put on Moby wrap and walk the dog. Mac was still wide awake when I put him in the wrap, but sound asleep when we got back from our walk.
12-1 Lunch for Mac. I know it seems like a long time, but he's been a slow eater lately, and when you add in burping time and a diaper change, whenever I finally put him down, it's been an hour.
1-1:45 Lunch for the MacMommy while Mac swings and naps.
1:45-2:20 Blog update while Mac swings and naps.
2:20-2:30 I realize that during the next hour and a half, I need to shower so Mac and I can head up to SCC to meet the MacDaddy for an early dinner. Oops! I remember that Mac will be hungry at 3.
2:30-2:35 Move Mac to the bassinet in the bedroom and start shower.
2:35 Mac wakes up and realizes, to his clear dismay, that he is not in the swing and I am not there.
2:36-2:40 I finish my shower while wondering if I'm going to hell for not comforting Mac instead (as he cries miserably).
2:40-3:00 I alternately work on dressing myself and comforting Mac, in repeated, 2-minute cycles. Meanwhile, the MacDaddy calls to chat. I explain that I have less than an hour to get dressed and feed Mac so we can meet him for dinner on time.
3-3:45 Feed Mac, change diaper. Mac only has 2 ounces, and I know if I weren't rushing out the door, he'd have at least another ounce. Another point in the "bad mom" column for me.
3:45-4:10 Load up the car and drive to meet the MacDaddy.
4:10-5:20 Dinner with the MacDaddy. The MacDaddy even offered to do the diaper change, but we didn't think there was a changing table in the men's room. Turned out (long after the diaper change) we were wrong. I'll remember next time, though!
5:20-6 Drop the MacDaddy back at work and head home in rush hour traffic.
6-6:45 Put Mac in the stroller to wheel him inside. Feed Mr. McKitty (who is demonstrably furious that his dinner is nearly 2 hours late). Mac and I walk the Doggie-wog, who is thrilled to have a long walk, but wishes he could walk ahead of the stroller to protect us from those running children, bicycles, and cocker spaniels. I try to use the binky to hold off on Mac's dinner so we can finish the walk. A third "bad mom" point for me.
6:45-7:45 Feed Mac.
7:45-8:15 Hold Mac.
8:15-9:15 Test out the bouncy chair, just to see if it's equivalent to the swing for travel purposes. Result inconclusive. Mac is soothed, but stays awake. Could be effective or it could be Mac's in a good mood.
9:15 The MacDaddy gets home!
Of course, we didn't get to bed until after 11 (though Mac was asleep by 10), but it's infinitely easier when you have backup.
All in all, a successful day. Not perfect, but everyone survived!
Monday, October 25, 2010
So Cute I Can't Stand It!
The reason I started this blog is to update friends and family who want to know about the Mac Man. I know what that really means is that y'all want to see lots of photos of him. To address that demand, periodically I'll post gratuitous pictures of his cuteness. No particular reason and no story behind it; just so you can ooh and aah over him. Enjoy!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
We Miss You, Gigi!
Gigi left us yesterday. As you can see, we miss her terribly.
She got here the night before Mac was born and stayed with us for 5 wonderful weeks.
She taught us a lot about how to help a tiny little baby grow into a big boy, how to bathe him, how to soothe him, how to get him to eat... She also took LOTS of pictures (I'll post some eventually) and even cooked for us. In fact, she left us with 4 meatloaves and 4 spaghetti meals in our freezer! I won't even mention all the laundry and cleaning she did.
We've managed to survive the first 24 hours without her, but we can't wait for her to come back and see us! (And don't worry, Gigi, Mac has not been crying nonstop since you left. It took some time for me to catch that first photo.)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
One Month Old!
Yesterday, Mac turned one month old! He really is growing so fast! We had lots of fun taking his one month pictures.
Over the past month, Mac has learned to:
- Start picking his head up when he's on his tummy.
- Start pushing up from his tummy.
- Roll over from his tummy to his back.
- Focus on faces and objects. (He loves our black and white photos of San Francisco!)
- Sleep for a five-hour stretch.
- Stay awake for a couple of hours, a couple of times a day.
- Make noises other than crying.
I'm really looking forward to this next month. I'm hoping that Mac will learn to smile spontaneously and to sleep through the night. (I'll be happy if he sleeps for 7 or 8 hours at a stretch.) Also over this next month: a bigger wardrobe! For the first month, Mac only had a few outfits tiny enough to fit him. But now he's getting bigger, and more things are fitting him. There are a few outfits that are just a tad too big for him, but I can see he'll be growing into them in a couple of weeks.
Happy birthday Mac! Here's to another great month!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
A Day of Firsts
For Mac: He rolled over for the first (and second, and third) time today.
Yes, he is 3 weeks and 5 days old. That's right; he's amazing.
For the MacMommy: I bragged about my baby for the first time today.
Enjoy:
Special thanks to Gigi for catching it on video!
Yes, he is 3 weeks and 5 days old. That's right; he's amazing.
For the MacMommy: I bragged about my baby for the first time today.
Enjoy:
Special thanks to Gigi for catching it on video!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Mac's Birth Story
Better late than never, right? I wanted to capture the story of Mac's birth for everyone. I think this will be reader-friendly, without the gory details. But the nice thing about doing this a few weeks after the fact is that I don't really remember many of the gory details!
So let's just say that on Friday, September 17, I woke up and started to get ready for my 10:30 doctor's appointment. Over the course of the morning, I had reason to believe that my water may have broken. It wasn't obvious at first -- it's wasn't a gushing waterfall like you see in the movies. So I figured my doctor would tell me when I got there. And she did. She was going to perform a couple of tests, but immediately confirmed. Yes, my water broke.
She told me to go home, get my stuff (fortunately, I had packed that week) and head to the hospital. I asked if I could get some lunch first, and she said that was fine. I called the MacDaddy to let him know it was go-time, which got him out of a boring meeting. I also called Gigi, who had already rescheduled her flight to arrive that night.
Then I went to Jamba Juice to get my favorite -- a Peanut Butter Moo'd. The girls behind the counter said I looked like I was ready to pop. I told them I was, in fact, ready to pop and that my water broke that morning. It was fun watching their chins drop to the ground. I explained that everything was fine, I had just come from the doctor's office and I had time before I had to go to the hospital.
Once I got home, the MacDaddy informed me that someone wanted to show the place. I said that was fine, but it would have to be AS-IS. Well, the MacDaddy didn't seem to understand "as-is" and spent the next hour and a half getting the place ready to show. When I told him he didn't need to vacuum, he said he was doing it for Gigi, who would be sleeping on the floor (on an air mattress, of course). Basically, he was frantic, and he was releasing his energy by cleaning. Oh, and it didn't help that he had slept for about 2 hours the night before -- he was up reading all night.
Finally, the MacDaddy got his bag together and we left for the hospital. He was still tense -- he told me that he expected the next 24 hours to be alternately boring and stressful. It was about an hour from check-in at admissions until we got to my room, and the MacDaddy actually fell asleep. I was relieved -- he needed it.
Once we got into a room, we pulled out the computer and started watching Supernatural, Season 5. At that point, the MacDaddy realized the whole labor thing would not be what he was expecting. In fact, it was kinda fun. Around 5, my doctor stopped by and determined that, based on the smile on my face, I was not having contractions and would require pitocin to induce labor. I knew that would mean no food, so I asked if I could have dinner first. She said I could, if I did it within the hour, so I sent the MacDaddy off to get me In 'n Out Burger.
So it was 7 pm, about 12 hours after my water broke, that they started the pitocin. Gigi got to the hospital about 2 hours after that, and things were still pretty quiet. Then, about an hour after Gigi got there, the pitocin finally kicked in, and I started feeling the contractions.
After my nurse determined that I had made some progress, she offered me the epidural. For a split second, I considered deviating from my original plan ("epi-ASAP") because the contractions weren't that bad. Then I remembered my reasoning: if I waited until I needed it, I'd have to live for another hour and a half wishing I'd asked earlier. Thankfully, I stuck to the plan. It was only about half an hour to push the fluids, and then maybe another half hour for the anesthesiologist to get there. But by the time he showed up, I was definitely ready. Definitely. And it was definitely a relief.
Then Gigi, the MacDaddy and I settled in for the night at around 11, and I hadn't made much more progress. Until we woke up around 2:30 or so. At that point, the MacDaddy wanted to go home and take a nap in a real bed. But Gigi suggested that we should have the nurse check my progress first. Fortunately for us -- I was pretty much ready to start pushing!
At that point, the MacDaddy left to call Nana and invited her to join us. I was thankful to have her there to help -- it freed Gigi to take photos. And, of course, how special for Mac that he got to meet both of his grandmothers when he was born!
I won't go into too much detail, except to say that the pushing was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Probably for three reasons. First, my nurse (Beverly) was fantastic -- a great coach and a great guide. She made sure I knew exactly what I needed to do. Second, I only had to push for an hour and nine minutes (Apparently, the MacDaddy was counting). Third, my contractions were several minutes apart at that point, so I had time to rest -- almost fall asleep -- in between. (In fact, if my contractions had been 2 minutes apart, I probably would have pushed for about 20 minutes.) (Well, there's also a fourth reason -- Mac was only 6 pounds, 4 ounces.)
I will always remember the moment that I first saw Alexander McKay. I will always remember that rush of emotion. But I will never have words to describe it, so I won't even try.
Mac was born less than 24 hours after my water broke. I had expected labor to be, well, laborious. Pretty miserable. But it really wasn't at all. In fact, it was a pretty positive experience. And the end was the best part.
So let's just say that on Friday, September 17, I woke up and started to get ready for my 10:30 doctor's appointment. Over the course of the morning, I had reason to believe that my water may have broken. It wasn't obvious at first -- it's wasn't a gushing waterfall like you see in the movies. So I figured my doctor would tell me when I got there. And she did. She was going to perform a couple of tests, but immediately confirmed. Yes, my water broke.
She told me to go home, get my stuff (fortunately, I had packed that week) and head to the hospital. I asked if I could get some lunch first, and she said that was fine. I called the MacDaddy to let him know it was go-time, which got him out of a boring meeting. I also called Gigi, who had already rescheduled her flight to arrive that night.
Then I went to Jamba Juice to get my favorite -- a Peanut Butter Moo'd. The girls behind the counter said I looked like I was ready to pop. I told them I was, in fact, ready to pop and that my water broke that morning. It was fun watching their chins drop to the ground. I explained that everything was fine, I had just come from the doctor's office and I had time before I had to go to the hospital.
Once I got home, the MacDaddy informed me that someone wanted to show the place. I said that was fine, but it would have to be AS-IS. Well, the MacDaddy didn't seem to understand "as-is" and spent the next hour and a half getting the place ready to show. When I told him he didn't need to vacuum, he said he was doing it for Gigi, who would be sleeping on the floor (on an air mattress, of course). Basically, he was frantic, and he was releasing his energy by cleaning. Oh, and it didn't help that he had slept for about 2 hours the night before -- he was up reading all night.
Finally, the MacDaddy got his bag together and we left for the hospital. He was still tense -- he told me that he expected the next 24 hours to be alternately boring and stressful. It was about an hour from check-in at admissions until we got to my room, and the MacDaddy actually fell asleep. I was relieved -- he needed it.
Once we got into a room, we pulled out the computer and started watching Supernatural, Season 5. At that point, the MacDaddy realized the whole labor thing would not be what he was expecting. In fact, it was kinda fun. Around 5, my doctor stopped by and determined that, based on the smile on my face, I was not having contractions and would require pitocin to induce labor. I knew that would mean no food, so I asked if I could have dinner first. She said I could, if I did it within the hour, so I sent the MacDaddy off to get me In 'n Out Burger.
So it was 7 pm, about 12 hours after my water broke, that they started the pitocin. Gigi got to the hospital about 2 hours after that, and things were still pretty quiet. Then, about an hour after Gigi got there, the pitocin finally kicked in, and I started feeling the contractions.
After my nurse determined that I had made some progress, she offered me the epidural. For a split second, I considered deviating from my original plan ("epi-ASAP") because the contractions weren't that bad. Then I remembered my reasoning: if I waited until I needed it, I'd have to live for another hour and a half wishing I'd asked earlier. Thankfully, I stuck to the plan. It was only about half an hour to push the fluids, and then maybe another half hour for the anesthesiologist to get there. But by the time he showed up, I was definitely ready. Definitely. And it was definitely a relief.
Then Gigi, the MacDaddy and I settled in for the night at around 11, and I hadn't made much more progress. Until we woke up around 2:30 or so. At that point, the MacDaddy wanted to go home and take a nap in a real bed. But Gigi suggested that we should have the nurse check my progress first. Fortunately for us -- I was pretty much ready to start pushing!
At that point, the MacDaddy left to call Nana and invited her to join us. I was thankful to have her there to help -- it freed Gigi to take photos. And, of course, how special for Mac that he got to meet both of his grandmothers when he was born!
I won't go into too much detail, except to say that the pushing was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. Probably for three reasons. First, my nurse (Beverly) was fantastic -- a great coach and a great guide. She made sure I knew exactly what I needed to do. Second, I only had to push for an hour and nine minutes (Apparently, the MacDaddy was counting). Third, my contractions were several minutes apart at that point, so I had time to rest -- almost fall asleep -- in between. (In fact, if my contractions had been 2 minutes apart, I probably would have pushed for about 20 minutes.) (Well, there's also a fourth reason -- Mac was only 6 pounds, 4 ounces.)
I will always remember the moment that I first saw Alexander McKay. I will always remember that rush of emotion. But I will never have words to describe it, so I won't even try.
Mac was born less than 24 hours after my water broke. I had expected labor to be, well, laborious. Pretty miserable. But it really wasn't at all. In fact, it was a pretty positive experience. And the end was the best part.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Enter the Mac Man!
It has been just over 24 hours since the MacDaddy and I got to meet the Mac Man. Alexander McKay surprised us at 4:57 a.m. on September 18, 2010. He measured 20 inches and weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces.
I just don't even have the words right now, so I'll leave you with a few pictures. I promise to post some stories over the coming days.
In the mean time . . . Enjoy!
I just don't even have the words right now, so I'll leave you with a few pictures. I promise to post some stories over the coming days.
In the mean time . . . Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
We're having a baby!!!
Well, not tonight or tomorrow . . . but we have a likely induction date!
At my doctor's appointment today, my blood pressure was a little higher than it had been, and I had a few potential symptoms of pre-eclampsia -- but no pre-eclampsia right now. However, because I'm already 37 weeks, which is full term, my doctor thinks we should go ahead and induce next week. As she put it, "There's just no reason to keep you pregnant longer than that, unless you want to be." Do I want to be pregnant? No. I want to have my baby!
I did have to go in for more lab work, just to confirm that I do not have pre-eclampsia (yet). Assuming that comes back clear,* I will go to the hospital to start the induction process next Wednesday, September 22, with a likely delivery date of Thursday, September 23 (and definitely by Friday, September 24)! I let her pick the dates (although she would have let me choose, if there were a particular date that I wanted), and she picked based on her call schedule. She's on call Thursday night, so if Mac comes any time between 6 am Thursday and 5 pm Friday, she'll deliver him. That's very reassuring to me.
Funny thing is, just this morning, I was telling the MacDaddy that September 23 is a full moon. He asked if I'm planning on turning into a werewolf, and I reminded him of all the Old Wives' Tales (and Labor and Delivery Nurses' Tales) about full moons inducing labor. Looks like we can plan on having a full moon baby -- and if the tides help to move things along, that's fine with me!
It's all a little overwhelming, but I'm very excited. The Type A planner in me is absolutely thrilled that I get to have a timeline. My mom was able to change her ticket so she'll be here on Tuesday afternoon. The MacDaddy was able to schedule boarding for the Naminals from Wednesday through Sunday (though we can pick them up earlier if we're ready). And I was able to schedule a car seat installation/inspection for Thursday morning. And the MacDaddy and I are planning to pick up the last few things we absolutely must have (newborn diapers, diaper rash cream, wipes, baby medicine cabinet stuff, baby bath products, stroller and an extra car seat base) on Sunday afternoon. And I can finish packing my bag this weekend, with an idea of exactly what I need to keep out until Wednesday and what I need to pack.
I think the MacDaddy is mainly stressed. I have to share our conversation when I called him after my doctor's appointment:
Me: Are you ready to have a baby?
MD: Umm...
Me: Not today. She wants to induce next Wednesday evening.
MD: Okay...
Me: Are you okay?
MD: Yeah. We knew this was going to happen.
Yes, we did know that at some point, after several months of pregnancy, we would end up going to the hospital and leaving with a baby. That is the most likely outcome. I thought that was so adorable of the MacDaddy to say, though.
Considering the stress he must be feeling, the MacDaddy's handling it pretty well. I think he is just thinking in terms of everything that must be done before Mac gets here. Which probably isn't quite as much as he might think.
I have to acknowledge that there is far more excitement for me at the prospect of having Mac sooner. I mean, I'm the one who has been feeling him wiggling around in there for months, and knows that he wakes up in the morning around 7-ish, so I'm probably a little more curious about what he's going to be like on the outside. And, of course, I'm the one who is experiencing all kinds of pain in my hips just getting out of bed to go to the bathroom 7 times a night, so naturally I'm eager to have him on the outside -- where he'll at least be easier to carry, even if I'm still up 7 times a night.
*If the lab work indicates pre-eclampsia, then we may have an earlier induction date (as in, ASAP). I'm hoping for good results, though, and planning for next Wednesday.
At my doctor's appointment today, my blood pressure was a little higher than it had been, and I had a few potential symptoms of pre-eclampsia -- but no pre-eclampsia right now. However, because I'm already 37 weeks, which is full term, my doctor thinks we should go ahead and induce next week. As she put it, "There's just no reason to keep you pregnant longer than that, unless you want to be." Do I want to be pregnant? No. I want to have my baby!
I did have to go in for more lab work, just to confirm that I do not have pre-eclampsia (yet). Assuming that comes back clear,* I will go to the hospital to start the induction process next Wednesday, September 22, with a likely delivery date of Thursday, September 23 (and definitely by Friday, September 24)! I let her pick the dates (although she would have let me choose, if there were a particular date that I wanted), and she picked based on her call schedule. She's on call Thursday night, so if Mac comes any time between 6 am Thursday and 5 pm Friday, she'll deliver him. That's very reassuring to me.
Funny thing is, just this morning, I was telling the MacDaddy that September 23 is a full moon. He asked if I'm planning on turning into a werewolf, and I reminded him of all the Old Wives' Tales (and Labor and Delivery Nurses' Tales) about full moons inducing labor. Looks like we can plan on having a full moon baby -- and if the tides help to move things along, that's fine with me!
It's all a little overwhelming, but I'm very excited. The Type A planner in me is absolutely thrilled that I get to have a timeline. My mom was able to change her ticket so she'll be here on Tuesday afternoon. The MacDaddy was able to schedule boarding for the Naminals from Wednesday through Sunday (though we can pick them up earlier if we're ready). And I was able to schedule a car seat installation/inspection for Thursday morning. And the MacDaddy and I are planning to pick up the last few things we absolutely must have (newborn diapers, diaper rash cream, wipes, baby medicine cabinet stuff, baby bath products, stroller and an extra car seat base) on Sunday afternoon. And I can finish packing my bag this weekend, with an idea of exactly what I need to keep out until Wednesday and what I need to pack.
I think the MacDaddy is mainly stressed. I have to share our conversation when I called him after my doctor's appointment:
Me: Are you ready to have a baby?
MD: Umm...
Me: Not today. She wants to induce next Wednesday evening.
MD: Okay...
Me: Are you okay?
MD: Yeah. We knew this was going to happen.
Yes, we did know that at some point, after several months of pregnancy, we would end up going to the hospital and leaving with a baby. That is the most likely outcome. I thought that was so adorable of the MacDaddy to say, though.
Considering the stress he must be feeling, the MacDaddy's handling it pretty well. I think he is just thinking in terms of everything that must be done before Mac gets here. Which probably isn't quite as much as he might think.
I have to acknowledge that there is far more excitement for me at the prospect of having Mac sooner. I mean, I'm the one who has been feeling him wiggling around in there for months, and knows that he wakes up in the morning around 7-ish, so I'm probably a little more curious about what he's going to be like on the outside. And, of course, I'm the one who is experiencing all kinds of pain in my hips just getting out of bed to go to the bathroom 7 times a night, so naturally I'm eager to have him on the outside -- where he'll at least be easier to carry, even if I'm still up 7 times a night.
*If the lab work indicates pre-eclampsia, then we may have an earlier induction date (as in, ASAP). I'm hoping for good results, though, and planning for next Wednesday.
Monday, September 13, 2010
37 Weeks!!!
37 Weeks! You know what that means, don't you? It means that Mac is now a full-term baby!
It also means that my doctor may induce at any time if my blood pressure spikes. And that I could go into labor at any moment, even if she doesn't induce. And, by the way, with the way I've been feeling most days, I wouldn't complain if she did want to induce.
Meanwhile, things have been weird. I've been having more trouble sleeping. Even though I was looking forward to relaxing all weekend, I ended up out and about for most of it. Except when I was up and about, reorganizing the nursery and packing my hospital bag. Mac's bag is pretty much packed. I have a bag packed, and so does the MacDaddy, but a few things are still waiting to be packed in them.
I'm also wondering if the MacDaddy knows something I don't. Our nephew's (Kai) 3rd birthday is October 9 -- just a few days after Mac's due date. Yesterday, the MacDaddy got it into his head that we absolutely, positively HAD to purchase Kai's birthday gift yesterday. He had several other, more pressing errands to run, but insisted that the gift had to be purchased -- it couldn't even wait until today. Hmm... In all fairness to the MacDaddy, it probably wouldn't have been purchased today, but why couldn't it have happened on Saturday? There would still be 3 weeks left to mail it. Oh, well, it's done (mostly -- I still want to add a couple things), so that's good.
I have my next doctor's appointment tomorrow, and if anything interesting happens, I'll post another update.
It also means that my doctor may induce at any time if my blood pressure spikes. And that I could go into labor at any moment, even if she doesn't induce. And, by the way, with the way I've been feeling most days, I wouldn't complain if she did want to induce.
Meanwhile, things have been weird. I've been having more trouble sleeping. Even though I was looking forward to relaxing all weekend, I ended up out and about for most of it. Except when I was up and about, reorganizing the nursery and packing my hospital bag. Mac's bag is pretty much packed. I have a bag packed, and so does the MacDaddy, but a few things are still waiting to be packed in them.
I'm also wondering if the MacDaddy knows something I don't. Our nephew's (Kai) 3rd birthday is October 9 -- just a few days after Mac's due date. Yesterday, the MacDaddy got it into his head that we absolutely, positively HAD to purchase Kai's birthday gift yesterday. He had several other, more pressing errands to run, but insisted that the gift had to be purchased -- it couldn't even wait until today. Hmm... In all fairness to the MacDaddy, it probably wouldn't have been purchased today, but why couldn't it have happened on Saturday? There would still be 3 weeks left to mail it. Oh, well, it's done (mostly -- I still want to add a couple things), so that's good.
I have my next doctor's appointment tomorrow, and if anything interesting happens, I'll post another update.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
My New Labor Plan
So if I'm fortunate enough to go into labor naturally (rather than via induction) and without my water breaking (which requires me to go to the hospital ASAP), I have a plan for "early labor."
For those of you unschooled in the terminology, "early labor" refers to the beginning of labor, where you are actually starting to have contractions, but you don't have to go to the hospital yet. The idea is that you walk around plenty to move it along quickly. For me, of course, the idea is that I want to move it along quickly to the stage where I can show up at the hospital and request the drugs. (I'll take an epidural for $1000, Alex.)
As for my plan? Target. Tonight, after dinner, the MacDaddy and I did some shopping. Barnes & Noble, then Michael's, then Target. At the first two places, my hips and knees were really killing me. At a couple points, I felt like crying.
When I got to Target, though, I'm not sure what happened. It's like they pump something into the ventilation system there. It's not that I wasn't in pain, it's just that I felt compelled to shop. Admittedly, when we got to the baby section, I told the MacDaddy, "My back is really hurting, and I need to stop walking and stand for a minute." Yeah, stand here and look at the cute baby outfits!
So it occurred to me that if anything can take my mind off the contractions enough and keep me walking, it must be Target. I also figure that when I feel like I would rather be in the hospital than continue roaming around Target, then we know it's definitely time to head to the hospital. And the bonus? We have a last-minute opportunity to pick up any items we've forgotten to pack in the hospital bags!
So tomorrow, the MacDaddy and I will be packing up our hospital bags to put them by the door. And when the time comes, we'll load them into the car and head to Target.
Disclaimer: I reserve all rights to
(a) Respond with an eye roll and/or an expression of "where would you get an idea like that???" to anyone who suggests going to Target when I am actually in labor;
(b) Totally disregard this labor plan; and
(c) Laugh hysterically at this post after Mac gets here and insist that this was always a joke.
For those of you unschooled in the terminology, "early labor" refers to the beginning of labor, where you are actually starting to have contractions, but you don't have to go to the hospital yet. The idea is that you walk around plenty to move it along quickly. For me, of course, the idea is that I want to move it along quickly to the stage where I can show up at the hospital and request the drugs. (I'll take an epidural for $1000, Alex.)
As for my plan? Target. Tonight, after dinner, the MacDaddy and I did some shopping. Barnes & Noble, then Michael's, then Target. At the first two places, my hips and knees were really killing me. At a couple points, I felt like crying.
When I got to Target, though, I'm not sure what happened. It's like they pump something into the ventilation system there. It's not that I wasn't in pain, it's just that I felt compelled to shop. Admittedly, when we got to the baby section, I told the MacDaddy, "My back is really hurting, and I need to stop walking and stand for a minute." Yeah, stand here and look at the cute baby outfits!
So it occurred to me that if anything can take my mind off the contractions enough and keep me walking, it must be Target. I also figure that when I feel like I would rather be in the hospital than continue roaming around Target, then we know it's definitely time to head to the hospital. And the bonus? We have a last-minute opportunity to pick up any items we've forgotten to pack in the hospital bags!
So tomorrow, the MacDaddy and I will be packing up our hospital bags to put them by the door. And when the time comes, we'll load them into the car and head to Target.
Disclaimer: I reserve all rights to
(a) Respond with an eye roll and/or an expression of "where would you get an idea like that???" to anyone who suggests going to Target when I am actually in labor;
(b) Totally disregard this labor plan; and
(c) Laugh hysterically at this post after Mac gets here and insist that this was always a joke.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The Nursery, Phase 4.9
I know you've been waiting to see the Nursery -- especially after all that drama getting it ready! I have to give Gigi lots and lots and lots and lots of the credit. I picked the paint color, but she was key in selecting the fabric, and she MADE (yes, "made") the drapes, bedding, diaper stacker, and probably something else I'm forgetting.
There are still a few things to be done, but it's looking pretty good. I'll point out the "to-do" items along the way. [Secret tip: you can click on any of the photos to see them enlarged. Then just use the back button to return to the post.]
So here it is:
On the far right, you can see my baby shoes! I actually have Mark's baby shoes to hang to the left of the window, too. How cute is that?! And yes, Gigi MADE those drapes!
Here's the beautiful crib!
These are cute photos of our relatives on ponies -- some in full cowboy costume! In the top row, second from the left, is Pappy (my father)! Top row, second from the right, is Papa (the MacDaddy's father)! Isn't it too cute?
Yes, Gigi made the bumper! Don't you love how it's monogrammed?
And these are above the closet. How cute! Seriously, I don't know how you can stand it, it's so cute!
Here's the dresser/changing table! As you can see, we still need to add two photos. I need to pick up the extra frames, and there will be one of Gigi as a little girl and one of Nana as a little girl. And the rest are relatives of ours, too. To the right of the dresser is the diaper stacker that Gigi made!
Eventually, we'll have a rocking chair in the room, but that's not here right now. So you'll just have to satisfy yourself with the current state of cuteness.
There are still a few things to be done, but it's looking pretty good. I'll point out the "to-do" items along the way. [Secret tip: you can click on any of the photos to see them enlarged. Then just use the back button to return to the post.]
So here it is:
These are cute photos of our relatives on ponies -- some in full cowboy costume! In the top row, second from the left, is Pappy (my father)! Top row, second from the right, is Papa (the MacDaddy's father)! Isn't it too cute?
Eventually, we'll have a rocking chair in the room, but that's not here right now. So you'll just have to satisfy yourself with the current state of cuteness.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
36 Weeks!!!
[Or... 36 weeks and 2 days!!!] And only 26 days to go -- or maybe 33 days for me.
I know you want to see a belly pic. But I'm expecting a really cute pic of me, my belly, and the MacDaddy taken at 36 weeks, and I'll post that one, instead.
As for how I'm feeling? Don't ask. I am amazed at the broad range of discomfort one can feel. Who knew pain could be so creative? Every day, I discover a new form of discomfort. Mainly, these days, I feel like my pelvic bone is broken, which is very uncomfortable for walking around. Not that I walk around that much, but I do have to go to the restroomregularly at least every 30 minutes.
I've now completed the two work-related tasks I felt I absolutely, positively, without a doubt had to complete before Mac arrives. The first is my FMLA leave paperwork. All done and approved. The second is my CLE affidavit. Every year, attorneys have to file an affidavit to show that we have completed 15 hours ofclasses that are more gut-wrenchingly dull than a high school class on the philosophy of geometric computer programming continuing legal education. (I shouldn't be so hard on CLE; this year I got to attend a CLE program on animals that assist those with disabilities -- and it included a free lunch!) My CLE affidavit was due on September 15. I had completed the CLE by June 30, and I just needed to pull all the documents together and fill out the form online. I was procrastinating just for the thrill of worrying what would happen if Mac showed up on September 13, and I hadn't completed my affidavit yet. But now that's done, so I get to keep practicing law for another year without punishment, regardless of when Mac decides to show up.
Now, anyone who knows of my tendency to procrastinate (Pappy?) might be wondering why I completed these two tasks with about a month to go before Mac's due date. Well, at our 36 week appointment yesterday, my blood pressure reading was 130/88. Even though the doctor repeatedly said that's not high, it's just borderline, she did say:
Do I think Mac will be here early, like next week? I think I'm just like any other woman who is 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant, without a scheduled c-section. I think that Mac could be here in a week, or in 4 weeks, and there's no way for me to predict it. (But you're welcome to try -- check out our Baby Pool here!)
Besides, I firmly believe that if I go to great lengths to prepare for him to arrive early, he'll just camp out inside me for a few more weeks. On the other hand, if I allow myself to procrastinate on all those things, well, I may as well plan to meet him early next week.
So I went to work and took care of the most immediate work stuff. I also booked Gigi's ticket. It's an award ticket, so now she can change it to whatever date she wants. Hopefully, she'll be over-prepared to fly out early, making it less likely to happen.
Now I just need to pack my hospital bag and pick up a few little necessities for Mac...
I know you want to see a belly pic. But I'm expecting a really cute pic of me, my belly, and the MacDaddy taken at 36 weeks, and I'll post that one, instead.
As for how I'm feeling? Don't ask. I am amazed at the broad range of discomfort one can feel. Who knew pain could be so creative? Every day, I discover a new form of discomfort. Mainly, these days, I feel like my pelvic bone is broken, which is very uncomfortable for walking around. Not that I walk around that much, but I do have to go to the restroom
I've now completed the two work-related tasks I felt I absolutely, positively, without a doubt had to complete before Mac arrives. The first is my FMLA leave paperwork. All done and approved. The second is my CLE affidavit. Every year, attorneys have to file an affidavit to show that we have completed 15 hours of
Now, anyone who knows of my tendency to procrastinate (Pappy?) might be wondering why I completed these two tasks with about a month to go before Mac's due date. Well, at our 36 week appointment yesterday, my blood pressure reading was 130/88. Even though the doctor repeatedly said that's not high, it's just borderline, she did say:
- As of Monday, I'll be 37 weeks, which is full-term. So if I have a "high" blood pressure reading on or after Monday, she may just induce.
- "When is your mom flying out for the delivery? Is her ticket booked yet?"
- She wanted to see me on Friday for another BP check. Not only that, she walked me to the front and told the scheduler that she could come in early Friday, if she needed to, because she wanted to be sure she saw me on Friday. Keep in mind, I already had an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday.
Do I think Mac will be here early, like next week? I think I'm just like any other woman who is 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant, without a scheduled c-section. I think that Mac could be here in a week, or in 4 weeks, and there's no way for me to predict it. (But you're welcome to try -- check out our Baby Pool here!)
Besides, I firmly believe that if I go to great lengths to prepare for him to arrive early, he'll just camp out inside me for a few more weeks. On the other hand, if I allow myself to procrastinate on all those things, well, I may as well plan to meet him early next week.
So I went to work and took care of the most immediate work stuff. I also booked Gigi's ticket. It's an award ticket, so now she can change it to whatever date she wants. Hopefully, she'll be over-prepared to fly out early, making it less likely to happen.
Now I just need to pack my hospital bag and pick up a few little necessities for Mac...
Monday, August 30, 2010
35 Weeks...
And 35 days to go! (Well, 42 days, on my 41-week schedule...) Yep, this coming Saturday is one month before my due date. And I'm starting to feel "ready."
As far as the condo goes, I feel like we could manage if Mac showed up now. We still have a few finishing touches for the nursery, and there are probably a few things we could use baby-wise, but I think we could manage to bring him home and survive until we made it to the store to pick up the last few things. (Stay tuned for another nursery post, in which I rave about how hard Gig and the MacDaddy have worked to put it all together!)
As far as my physical state, I am so ready. I had a few days of relief from the worst of the sciatic pain over the weekend, but this morning it came back full-force. Back to taking baby steps to get anywhere and leaning over at odd angles. My digestive system has forgotten how to run smoothly, what with the constant heartburn. I'm starting to feel a little queasy a lot of the time, too.
What really surprises me is that I don't notice the heat so much any more. It's like I have enough other complaints that the heat doesn't really make it on the list. (And it's not just because it's "cooled off" to a mere 98 degrees today -- I felt this way last week at 109.) It's probably helping that the MacDaddy has officially taken over all the long walks for the Doggie-wog. Although the Doggie-wog is very patient with me, I don't think he could stand having me walk him at 0.5 mph for 30-40 minutes.
I think I read somewhere that Mac should be about 18 inches long and weigh about 5.25 pounds. And in two weeks, he'll be considered "full term." In so many ways, I can't wait to meet him!
(Don't get me wrong -- I much prefer that he keep growing inside me for at least a few weeks. Best for him and best for all of us!)
As far as the condo goes, I feel like we could manage if Mac showed up now. We still have a few finishing touches for the nursery, and there are probably a few things we could use baby-wise, but I think we could manage to bring him home and survive until we made it to the store to pick up the last few things. (Stay tuned for another nursery post, in which I rave about how hard Gig and the MacDaddy have worked to put it all together!)
As far as my physical state, I am so ready. I had a few days of relief from the worst of the sciatic pain over the weekend, but this morning it came back full-force. Back to taking baby steps to get anywhere and leaning over at odd angles. My digestive system has forgotten how to run smoothly, what with the constant heartburn. I'm starting to feel a little queasy a lot of the time, too.
What really surprises me is that I don't notice the heat so much any more. It's like I have enough other complaints that the heat doesn't really make it on the list. (And it's not just because it's "cooled off" to a mere 98 degrees today -- I felt this way last week at 109.) It's probably helping that the MacDaddy has officially taken over all the long walks for the Doggie-wog. Although the Doggie-wog is very patient with me, I don't think he could stand having me walk him at 0.5 mph for 30-40 minutes.
I think I read somewhere that Mac should be about 18 inches long and weigh about 5.25 pounds. And in two weeks, he'll be considered "full term." In so many ways, I can't wait to meet him!
(Don't get me wrong -- I much prefer that he keep growing inside me for at least a few weeks. Best for him and best for all of us!)
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
34 Weeks!
34 weeks, as of Monday! The photo is from Tuesday. Can you tell I'm exhausted? It doesn't really help much that I'm developing sciatic nerve pain. My doctor more or less suggested that it's going to get worse from here, until delivery, and there's not much I can do. So now I'm walking at about a 1/2 mile-per-hour pace.
The great news is that my blood pressure was 138/88 on Monday, and I had to go back to the doctor today and it was down to 130/88. Also, my blood work was really good and I don't have pre-eclampsia. I'm continuing to eat chocolate to help prevent it.
I am so glad that Gigi is here this week. She and the MacDaddy have been working really, really hard on the nursery. I don't know what I would be doing without them! A couple of weeks ago, I came home and the MacDaddy had put together the crib all by himself! This week, the MacDaddy took Gigi to get the mattress and a few other necessary items, and they also hung the drapes! I have been so relieved, because these things are harder and harder for me to even help with.
Unfortunately, the nursery is currently a big mess, so I can't take any photos to show you. But I promise that as soon as it's in order, I'll post plenty of photos!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Enter the Baby Pool!
Go to www.bebepool.com/alexandermckay to guess when the Mac Man will get here and what he'll be like!
Another BP Update
So I had my 34-week appointment today. I had pretty decent BP numbers the two times we checked it over the last couple of weeks, so I wasn't expecting anything unusual.
You know it's not going to be good, though, when the NP taking your blood pressure stops pumping, then says, "You know, I'm going to pump a little higher. Sorry if the band gets tight." And it wasn't great. My reading this time was 150/92. To give you a frame of reference, "normal" is 120/80 or below. And the benchmark my doctor gave me last time (i.e., call if it's at or above...) was 130/85. Doctors generally consider blood pressure an issue for a pregnant woman if it's at or above 140/90.
So, now what? Well, first off, my doctor very clearly said that 150/92 does not worry her, and that she'll tell me when it's time to worry. That being said, it's enough of a flag to warrant additional testing and monitoring. She gave me an order for blood work, and I went right after my appointment (the lab is in the same parking lot), so hopefully she'll get my results over the weekend. Also, I go in for an appointment on Monday for another BP check. Other than that, it's kind of wait-and-see.
My doctor also told me to "take it easy," but that I'm not on bed-rest yet, so I plan to enjoy the weekend! That's fortunate, too, because Gigi and Aunt Coco are coming to town today for my shower tomorrow!
Oh, and the good news: Mac is doing really well. His heart rate is in the 140s-150s. And although those numbers are bad for my BP, they are great for his heart rate!
I'll update again on Monday for my 34-week update, as well as my doctor appointment.
You know it's not going to be good, though, when the NP taking your blood pressure stops pumping, then says, "You know, I'm going to pump a little higher. Sorry if the band gets tight." And it wasn't great. My reading this time was 150/92. To give you a frame of reference, "normal" is 120/80 or below. And the benchmark my doctor gave me last time (i.e., call if it's at or above...) was 130/85. Doctors generally consider blood pressure an issue for a pregnant woman if it's at or above 140/90.
So, now what? Well, first off, my doctor very clearly said that 150/92 does not worry her, and that she'll tell me when it's time to worry. That being said, it's enough of a flag to warrant additional testing and monitoring. She gave me an order for blood work, and I went right after my appointment (the lab is in the same parking lot), so hopefully she'll get my results over the weekend. Also, I go in for an appointment on Monday for another BP check. Other than that, it's kind of wait-and-see.
My doctor also told me to "take it easy," but that I'm not on bed-rest yet, so I plan to enjoy the weekend! That's fortunate, too, because Gigi and Aunt Coco are coming to town today for my shower tomorrow!
Oh, and the good news: Mac is doing really well. His heart rate is in the 140s-150s. And although those numbers are bad for my BP, they are great for his heart rate!
I'll update again on Monday for my 34-week update, as well as my doctor appointment.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
33 Weeks!
Or, 33 weeks and 2 days. Close enough. I mean, I only have 47 days left, as of today, and I have a lot to do. So I may slip a little here and there.
Not too much new to report. My blood pressure on Sunday night was 124/84, which is just under the benchmark my doctor gave me to call her. So I guess it's not an emergency, but I'll see what she says at the appointment on Friday. My knees still hurt, too, especially when I'm getting up from a sitting position if I don't have any support to lean on.
Mac has learned a new trick: wedging his little foot up under my right ribcage. His foot doesn't seem so little when it's in that particular spot. It doesn't hurt, but it does give me the urge to reach under my ribcage and take it out -- except that I can't feel my ribs from the outside because there's so much stuff in front of them these days. I think they call that stuff "a baby."
Can you believe I only have 47 days left? That's like a month and a half! Of course, on my schedule, I probably have about 54 days left, but either way, less than 2 months to go!
Not too much new to report. My blood pressure on Sunday night was 124/84, which is just under the benchmark my doctor gave me to call her. So I guess it's not an emergency, but I'll see what she says at the appointment on Friday. My knees still hurt, too, especially when I'm getting up from a sitting position if I don't have any support to lean on.
Mac has learned a new trick: wedging his little foot up under my right ribcage. His foot doesn't seem so little when it's in that particular spot. It doesn't hurt, but it does give me the urge to reach under my ribcage and take it out -- except that I can't feel my ribs from the outside because there's so much stuff in front of them these days. I think they call that stuff "a baby."
Can you believe I only have 47 days left? That's like a month and a half! Of course, on my schedule, I probably have about 54 days left, but either way, less than 2 months to go!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The Nursery, Phase 3
(If you haven't already, please read the three previous posts -- The Nursery Before, The Nursery, Phase 1 and The Nursery, Phase 2.)
So on Friday night, after the carpet installation, we had to make the bed, and then I wanted to check on my wardrobe. It's huge, and it has to be anchored to the wall. Well, when the MacDaddy shook it to see if it was bolted, it was pretty clear it wasn't. In fact, at that point, it was slightly sturdier than a house of cards. It never used to shake before. Then I realized the bottom piece -- which braces the entire wardrobe -- was missing. The MacDaddy pulled it forward and I saw the missing piece. Only now, it was four pieces of particle board. Particle board doesn't break cleanly. When the MacDaddy put the wardrobe back up against the wall, it looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or, more accurately, the Leaning Tower of Particle Board. Clearly, it was not salvageable.
This might sound infuriating to you. But seriously, I got the wardrobe for super-cheap at Ikea when I moved in to the MacDaddy's condo. I needed the closet space. It was huge, it was about $150, and it was not quite as attractive as dorm furniture. I had always figured that when we sell the condo and move out, we would just leave the wardrobe behind. In fact, we got the new Ikea catalog on Thursday, and I had it with me on the plane on Friday. As I looked at all the nice armoires they had, I wished I hadn't bought that ugly piece of particle board. So really, this was a blessing -- an opportunity to get a new armoire!
That meant, though, that before we could start putting away all the clothes, we would have to purchase a new armoire. Ikea, here we come. We also got new nightstands to match. And if/when we ever move, we can use them in the guest room, if we want to get "real" furniture. But this armoire is very, very nice. It's made of wood, not particle board!
Right after we got back from Ikea, the MacDaddy got a phone call from a realtor. Guess what? He wanted to show our place on Sunday! At 1:30! Of course I couldn't turn that down. No one has seen our place since May 31. This could be our last shot to sell the place -- and we just got new carpet!
Plus, I figured it would be good for us to have a deadline. Otherwise, we might not get the place put back together for a month.The MacDaddy and I are procrastinators like that.
So in the course of 24 hours:
So finally, our place was back together by Sunday afternoon. The MacDaddy and I were completely exhausted. We decided to hold off on crib assembly until next weekend...
Meanwhile, we got the feedback from the realtor. His clients were looking for something a little bigger. Yeah, so are we -- that's why we want to buy a house. Oh, well. At least I have nice carpet and a nice armoire.
So on Friday night, after the carpet installation, we had to make the bed, and then I wanted to check on my wardrobe. It's huge, and it has to be anchored to the wall. Well, when the MacDaddy shook it to see if it was bolted, it was pretty clear it wasn't. In fact, at that point, it was slightly sturdier than a house of cards. It never used to shake before. Then I realized the bottom piece -- which braces the entire wardrobe -- was missing. The MacDaddy pulled it forward and I saw the missing piece. Only now, it was four pieces of particle board. Particle board doesn't break cleanly. When the MacDaddy put the wardrobe back up against the wall, it looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Or, more accurately, the Leaning Tower of Particle Board. Clearly, it was not salvageable.
This might sound infuriating to you. But seriously, I got the wardrobe for super-cheap at Ikea when I moved in to the MacDaddy's condo. I needed the closet space. It was huge, it was about $150, and it was not quite as attractive as dorm furniture. I had always figured that when we sell the condo and move out, we would just leave the wardrobe behind. In fact, we got the new Ikea catalog on Thursday, and I had it with me on the plane on Friday. As I looked at all the nice armoires they had, I wished I hadn't bought that ugly piece of particle board. So really, this was a blessing -- an opportunity to get a new armoire!
That meant, though, that before we could start putting away all the clothes, we would have to purchase a new armoire. Ikea, here we come. We also got new nightstands to match. And if/when we ever move, we can use them in the guest room, if we want to get "real" furniture. But this armoire is very, very nice. It's made of wood, not particle board!
Right after we got back from Ikea, the MacDaddy got a phone call from a realtor. Guess what? He wanted to show our place on Sunday! At 1:30! Of course I couldn't turn that down. No one has seen our place since May 31. This could be our last shot to sell the place -- and we just got new carpet!
Plus, I figured it would be good for us to have a deadline. Otherwise, we might not get the place put back together for a month.The MacDaddy and I are procrastinators like that.
So in the course of 24 hours:
- The MacDaddy set up his bookshelves downstairs, packed as many books as possible, and stacked the rest neatly on the dining table. He also moved all his papers over to the desk.
- The MacDaddy, with the help of his father, picked up all the heavy furniture pieces we purchased at Ikea and moved them upstairs so I could begin construction.
- The MacDaddy and our friends, Case and Nicole, moved the dresser and crib into the nursery -- and helped dispose of the packaging.
- Case and Nicole moved the desk to the office area. They also packed a few items in their car to take with them for temporary storage so we wouldn't have to find places for those things.
- The MacDaddy and I treated Case, Nicole and their son Sam to dinner to thank them for all their help.
- I constructed the armoire. That project took me a few hours Saturday night, and continued until Sunday at noon. (It's a really good armoire. Lots of little pieces to put together. Lots of pieces, and lots of screws.)
- I moved the baby stuff from the floor of the nursery to the dresser drawers and tried to make the room look a little neater.
- The MacDaddy took me to Ikea when I thought I was missing a few screws. We spent an hour on that, just because we had to wait in line. After we got home and I was able to proceed with armoire construction, I found the missing screws in a bag with other screws. I had misidentified them.
- The MacDaddy brought all the clothes upstairs and put his in the closet. He also brought up the suitcases of shoes and stuff.
- I loaded up the armoire and stashed the suitcases wherever I could.
- The MacDaddy vacuumed and swiffered the floor downstairs.
- The MacDaddy and I rolled out the new area rug. (It looks great, by the way.)
- The MacDaddy and I put away various other items in closets and under the bed.
So finally, our place was back together by Sunday afternoon. The MacDaddy and I were completely exhausted. We decided to hold off on crib assembly until next weekend...
Meanwhile, we got the feedback from the realtor. His clients were looking for something a little bigger. Yeah, so are we -- that's why we want to buy a house. Oh, well. At least I have nice carpet and a nice armoire.
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