Prepared Childbirth Class

Last Saturday Shaun and I went to a Prepared Childbirth Class. I'm not sure you can ever really be prepared for childbirth but it's good to have as much information as possible. I was secretly hoping to find out some fabulous secret to giving birth and maybe I really didn't have to squeeze him out of you know where. No such luck! Unless you have a C-section and that didn't look all that great either.

Are bodies are amazing and I have to keep telling myself that I can do this. My body does know how to do this and I will be able to walk again after it's all done, Maybe not right away because I'm not messing around and I'll be getting an epidural. I'm not interested in thinking I can do this without pain meds.

I really enjoyed the class and found that it did in power me but it also scared me. I mean they showed us forceps, If those things don't look like something out of a horror movie, I don't know what would.

I thought it was a really good class for Shaun to get a lot of information he didn't know or probably never wanted to know but you need a good partner to go through labor and it was great on showing us all sorts of things that might help. Also noting that everything could change in the middle of labor so the partner should adjust and try something new. It was great to try out things and tell Shaun what I thought I might like and things I would not like.
At one point in the class they had us lie down on yoga mats, They turned off the lights and had glowing candles. They wanted your partner to help you with breathing exercises that we had learned. They put on this soothing relaxation tape and that's when I lost it!! I got the laughing giggles so bad.
I found it so funny to first be lying down on a hard ground with my big belly which was not comfortable and I have Shaun next to me saying, "one, two, three, whew" with a lady on the tape saying, " You are at peace, You are at peace.....
I just starting having a giggling fit. Good thing we were in the dark. I covered my mouth and tears just starting streaming down my eyes I was laughing so hard. Shaun starts laughing with me and we squeezed each others hands and tried to calm down from our laughing fit, quietly in the dark room with the lady on the tape. You are at peace.....
There's something not peaceful about laying on the hard ground with a big belly after watching video's of women in labor who did not look like they were at peace at all and having Shaun next to me counting the breathing exercises. I just found it all so funny.
Once I calmed down and really begun to try and relax it wasn't so bad. The relaxation tape with the lights out and candles did seem helpful.

They had us write down what our fear was about labor. I wrote that the pain and being too much of a wimp was my fear and Shaun wrote that his biggest fear was that it would last along time and he would have to watch me suffer for so long.
Hopefully the epidural will help with my fear and Shaun's fear of my suffering and that I will not be in labor for a horribly long time.
I'm glad we went to the class and Shaun and I did find it really helpful and we got a lot of good information.

Also, Something really funny the nurse told us. We were talking about having a birthing plan. The nurse told us that one lady had a 15 page birthing plan with instructions that everyone had to refer to the baby as peaches. How ridiculous! (ha, ha, ha) Some people are so bizarre.
Shaun thought that was hilarious and thinks we should come up with something like that just to be funny. I told him that when I'm in the middle of labor I'm not sure funny ridiculous baby names are going to be funny to me. We better pass on that.

You can also bring in music if you like. Shaun and I thought some nice soothing music with also some kick butt music. We were thinking about themed music from some kick butt movies like:

"Your the best around" From the Karate Kid. Shaun and I sing this all the time. It's really cheesy and that's why we think it's so funny. It's our new theme song. Kicking butt with Mr. Miyagi. We've got to rent that movie and watch it again. It will probably be more like a comedy now.

"The eye of the tiger" From rocky. Nothing like pushing a baby out with some kick butt music.

"Highway to the danger zone" Top Gun. Or just the whole Top Gun sound track.

If you can think of some more hyped up music to help me push Max out. Let me Know:)

For your viewing pleasure:

"Your the best around" From the Kirate Kid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fWvub_WBho

"Eye of the Tiger" Rocky
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/352067/rocky_iv_eye_of_the_tiger/


"Highway to the danger zone" Top Gun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8rZWw9HE7o


Are you pumped up now!! OH YEAH!!

Valentines then, Valentines now

It was the first Valentines Day since Shaun and I had met and were dating. We weren't seriously dating so when Valentines Day was coming up I wasn't going to make a fool out of myself and expect anything from Shaun or give him anything.

To my surprise Shaun calls me and wants to know if it would be alright to bring me something over for Valentines Day. What?!? I was completely unprepared for this. Of course, I tell Shaun, "Sure, Come on over, I have something for you too!!!"

I think fast and run to the store. I walk in and see some nice work out/lounge pants and decide to get them! I mean if work out/lounge pants are not romantic then I don't know what is!! (Ha, Ha) But really? What do you get a guy for Valentines Day anyway? I thought they were practical and guys love work out/lounge pants:) They were navy blue and looked comfortable.

Shaun comes over and he gives me something a little more "Valentines Day." He gives me some Victoria Secret lotions all wrapped up in a cute pink Valentines package.

Later on when we were married I told Shaun that I really didn't have anything for him and how I ran to the store last minute to pick up those dang sexy work out/lounge pants.

Shaun then informs me that he had bought two of the lotion packages and had given one to me and one to another girl!! Ha, Ha, Ha!! Oh Shaun!! You naughty little player! I'm glad you're all mine now!

This Valentines Day Shaun and I are doing something we started to do last year. We go to the dollar store. We each have the same amount of money and we go through the store and buy things that remind us of each other. This is really fun!! We each start at different ends of the store and try to be all sneaky and not let the other one see what we got for them. We catch glimpses of each other through out the store and make funny faces at each other and laugh.

We then go home and give each other our gifts and tell each other why we got it for them. Some are really funny and some are really sweet. We have so much fun doing this!

This is going to become are new Valentines Day tradition. I also informed Shaun that I want dipped chocolate strawberries to be the tradition too. I LOVE dipped chocolate strawberries.

We've done the flowers, rose petals, and all that really romantic stuff but really I just have fun talking about what we love about each other with funny stuff from the dollar store.

As long as we can talk and bond WITH Chocolate covered strawberries. I'm as happy as could be.

Here is my delicious strawberries.

Notice one has already been eaten. I had to have one right away.

Thanks Shaun! I'm glad I came up with this great tradition for me:)

ONE PRECIOUS BOOK

Look what I got today! Thank you Ashley for this beautiful book! I love things like this. Very special. I wish the pictures could really capture just how cute and vibrant each page is and all the amazing detail. Thanks again Ashley! I adore it!

check out Ashley's website www.forevermemoriesllc.com

This reads:

Ten tiny little fingers that always want to play, that never stop exploring the wonder of today. Ten tiny little fingers that from the very start, Will reach out for tomorrow yet always hold your heart.

This reads:

We never guessed all our hopes and dreams could come in such a small package

I'll love filling this book with precious pictures of Max!

BABY SHOWER, FEBRUARY 7TH

One amazingly talented Kelley

+

One Amazingly talented Angie

=

One great party



How adorable is this spread. I LOVE the Max letters! Absolutely as cute as could be! They will be going in his nursery. Thanks Ang and Kel. You are WONDERFUL!!!!
I LOVE YOU!


The before party crew
Ashley, Tara, Ammie, Kelley, Sam, Angie, Brooklyn, and Marge



Is this not the cutest diaper cake!!
Thanks Barb and Whitney!



Me and my sister Tara

Me and katee

Brooklyn and Sam

Brooklyn was at Angie's bed early this morning saying, "When do we get to get rid of the boys." She was ready for girl fun!

My mom had these sent to the party. She made them with a design and Personalized with Max on them. I love that personal touch. Thanks mom.

Kelley's Nana makes the best knitted things! She always makes Kelley's kids the cutest sweaters. I've always been a big fan. Now Max gets one!! Thanks Nana!

The grand finale! The stroller/car seat set I wanted! Thanks Maher family!

Shaun, Ammie, and Max would like to thank everyone for coming! We appreciate all the great gifts! Even those that could not come and continue to be so thoughtful with giving to Max! I love you all!!

People who could attend the shower

Marge

Kelley

Angie

Tara

Ashley

Sam

Katee

Brooklyn

Tiffany

Amy

Lindsey

Tori

Barb

Whitney

Melody

Kami

Jill

Jan

Lisa

Laurie

and of course, Ammie and Max

Thanks for sharing this special day with me!

I wish I could post more pictures of everyone but my camera was on night vision and it made everyone blurry.

At the end of the party they had Shaun and I compare bellies. I've got him beat by a long shot!

Belly time

18 weeks

22 weeks

26 weeks


30 weeks 3 days



Mommy saying "Hi" to Max
checking out the belly

I'm 30 weeks! Can you believe it! I'm now having my appointments with Dr. Damore every 2 weeks. I had my appointment yesterday and things are looking good. If I could only feel as good all the time. Pregnancy is hard work! But it will be worth it!

I'm measuring at about 30 weeks and I gained 2 more pounds. Dr. Damore felt around for Max and said it appears his head was down facing my right side, with his back curved up my left side with his legs on my right side. Of course this changes as he still has room to move around in. It's so fun to watch him move around my belly. He really does some big moves now!

He can move a lot better then his mommy at this stage. Rolling from one side to the other for me at night can be quite a challenge. Who knew rolling over and getting up out of bed could be so much work. I find myself grunting a lot as I try to move myself while also trying to move the king size pillow I use to rest my belly on and to help straighten my hips by having it run down between my legs. It's probably really quite comical with the sound effects of my grunting. I'm like a beached whale trying to roll itself back into the sea.

As I get bigger I think Shaun's going to have to help me out with this. He'll probably help me roll over to the other side with much effort by the both of us. I'll finally get my pillow all situated with a lot of fluffing, wiggling, and straining to move it to the perfect position for my belly and hips. Aha! I made it! when suddenly, because of all the movement.......... I now have to go pee!!