A Tale of Two Gizmos

Big Dave was taking out the trash the other day (note to self: garbage pail in baby's room needs to be emptied every day, or woe be unto the person who forgets). As he was putting the cans out by the roadside, he happened to notice two rabbits nearby. They hadn't seen him yet, so they went about their business of eating the tall grass near the well shed. He looked closer. One of the rabbits looked familiar. He inched his way over towards them. At this point, the rabbits noticed he was getting closer and became suspicious. Before they could run for the woods, Big Dave got a good look at one of them. He came running inside and announced, "I just saw Gizmo! She's right by the shed. It's got to be her! Quick, come outside and see for yourself!" So I followed him outside, but the rabbits were long gone. My husband insisted he saw Gizmo, and gave me a play-by-play of the sighting. According to him, she is much bigger now, looked healthy, and seemed to enjoy eating the wildflowers growing under the big oaks by the shed. I couldn't help but notice the sad look in his eyes. I suggested he may want to leave some veggie scraps by the shed, to try to draw her out of hiding and encourage her to stick around. But my husband said no, that she was wild now, and should find her own food. The catch in his voice was unmistakable. Over a year later, and he still misses that rabbit.
This morning I was taking out a dirty AC filter to add to our trash collection when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of rabbits by the shed. Sure enough, when I got a closer look, I did see Gizmo (or maybe just one that looks like Gizmo). I stood still for a minute, just looking at her. There are few sights more peaceful than watching rabbits graze as the early morning sun rises over the oaks. Just before I went on my way, I spoke to her. "I hope you realize how much that man misses you. If it weren't for his high bid at the auction, you very well could have ended up in someone's stew pot, or been made into someone's winter coat. You could show more gratitude, you know."
The rabbits continued eating. They seemed to be unimpressed by my little speech.

I sighed. Another day had begun.

What No One Ever Tells You About Parenthood

1. I never thought I would be so happy to see someone poop (our daughter pooped for the first time while we were trying to give her a bath -- over a week after she was born).

2. Laundry is now a daily instead of a weekly chore. Who would've thought something so small could create so much mess?

3. Babies are psychic. They know when you are thinking about taking a nap, catching up on chores/paperwork or just taking a break. That's when they'll cry for no reason other than to keep you from doing anything constructive. Our daughter has become a master at this.

4. Meals become something to gulp down, rather than taste.

5. Everyone who volunteered to babysit/help before the baby was born disappears once the baby arrives.

6. People with no children are quick to tell you what you are doing wrong with your child. People with children are quick to tell you their baby horror stories. And everyone is quick to dismiss your feelings if you don't paint a rosy glowing picture of early parenthood.

7. You will never experience unconditional love like being up a 4 am with your newborn, convinced you will never sleep again, when your child looks at you, smiles, and grabs your finger. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, nothing else matters. She is all that is good and pure and worthwhile in the world. She is the reason you were born. She is wonderful, frustrating, delightful, and maddening. And you realize - she is yours, forever.

Baby Pool

A good friend of ours has "suggested" (demanded, actually) that we start a baby pool, whereby everyone can submit their guesses as to when the baby will be born, weight, height, etc. So, we are now offically announcing the start of the "Welcome to the World, Baby Big!" contest. We're taking guesses on the following stats:

Sex of Baby
Weight of Baby
Height of Baby
Date of Birth
Time of Birth

The person(s) with the most correct guesses will get a mystery gift, as well as bragging rights. You can submit your guesses via email or comment on this blog. We'll announce the winner after the arrival of Baby Big

Baby Big in 4-D!

Yesterday we traveled to Tampa to have a 4-D sonogram done. We'd like to introduce you to the many faces of Baby Big (Week 35):

This is his/her "suckin' on a lemon" face, AKA grumpy pants

because apparently he/she didn't like being photographed.

"The Thinker". Probably trying to figure out a way to bust out of his/her tight space.


The Contortionist. Trying to itch his/her nose with the foot. We had a heck of a time
getting him/her to move the foot so we could get a good look at the face.

Hope you enjoy. Our next regular ultrasound is next week, so we'll post updates then.

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Right now, if someone gave me the choice between a good night's sleep and having Big Dave, Big Dave would probably win out, but I would think long and hard about the choice first.

Baby Big has decided he/she will remain active all day and all night long, giving me no peace. If it's not the baby's constant movement keeping me up, it's the 3,000 trips to the bathroom, the 3-4 snack attacks in the middle of the night, or the soul-searing, gut wrenching heatburn.

When I finally drag myself out of bed in the morning, I am greeted by a smiling, well-rested Big Dave, who cheerfully asks me if I slept well. I attempt a snarl, a glare, some kind of facial expression to signify my displeasure, but all I can usually manage is a snort, followed by a glazed stare from under half raised eyelids.

The father of this child then smiles, hugs me, then says, "Baby Big giving you trouble again? Well, that's all part of the process, isn't it?"

Any man who can say that to a non-caffenated, sleep-deprived, swollen-footed, achy pregnant woman is a brave man. Smart, no. But brave indeed.

What is Love?

Many years from now, my son or daughter will come to me with the age old questions:

How do you know you're in love? How do you know when someone is "the one?"

And I will tell them:

Does their happiness mean more to you than your own? Are they the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning, and the last thing you think about when you go to sleep?

Will they be the one standing right beside you, holding your hand during the unexpected trip to the emergency room? Will they be the first one to cheer your accomplishments, the first one to comfort you in times of saddess or failure? Will they be in the doctor's office when you're given bad news, and, once outside the doctor's office, will they hold you while you cry? Would you do the same for them?

It's love when you watch them get sick, then clean up the mess without a second thought. It's love when you serve them the last piece of pie. It's love when you give them the TV remote control.

You're in love when you have seen all the other person's faults and shortcomings, and in spite of, or maybe because of them, you still can't imagine your life without them.

You're in love when you'd rather end the argument and make up than be proven right.

You'll know they're the one because after meeting them, you will feel like a whole person -- that the missing half of you has finally been found, and you'll never take that forgranted.

Mostly, I will smile and tell them, "You'll just know. The same way your Dad and I did."

8 Weeks and Counting!

As of Thursday, we only have 8 weeks until Baby Big arrives, so we are trying to get the rest of the baby chores done. We have a meet and greet with a pediatrican at the beginning of the week, a birthing class later on in the week, and some final touches to complete the nursery. Eight weeks still seem like a long ways away to me, but then again, this last week flew by at an alarming rate, so maybe it will pass quicker than I think.

Big Dave and I did find out some distressing news, though. Turns out, I have gestational diabetes. So we have to go back for a consult visit with the Shands people and meet with a dietician to develop a new diet plan for me. Just what I didn't need or want, but at least it was caught early enough so that with diet changes the baby and I should be fine. At this point, they don't see insulin being needed. And after I deliver, the diabetes should disappear too. The most distressing thing about it all, though, is that subsequent pregnanies, if any, are at higher risk for diabetes as well. Disappointing news, but at least everything still seems to be right on target with Baby Big.

Our last ultrasound was on Saturday, and Baby Big weighed in at 4 lbs 1 oz (according to the size of the femur). With 8 weeks to go, and the baby gaining about a 1/2 pound a week, he/she is expected to be around 8 pounds at birth. Oh boy.

Also on Saturday Big Dave and I had some professional pregnancy photos taken. They show off the pregnant belly, and will probably be the last photos of "just the two of us". We'll be emailing those out later on in the week, as well as the best of the ultrasound photos, so keep an eye open for 'em!