…love Jillian

I have found myself surprised by a couple of things as this pregnancy draws closer and closer to the end. 

First, I’m not exactly sure when the acronym BF transitioned from boyfriend to breast feeding but I was reading an article the other day that used the abbreviation BF and I immediately thought breast feeding when in fact they were talking about boyfriends.  It definitely caught me off guard and I thought, “WOW.  My thought process has definitely shifted.” 

Secondly, when I first got pregnant I thought BFing was something I was going to try.  I was going to see ‘how it went’ and as long as Baby Elizabeth and I were both willing and able I would do it as long as possible (aka The Wing It Method.)  What I’m finding about myself now that The Wee One is almost here is that the need to breast feed has found it’s way to the top of things that I NEED to do.  Sure, I’ve heard it can difficult.  I’ve even heard it can be painful.  But isn’t Baby Elizabeth  worth the pain and hassle?  I think so.  So, my new plan is as follows: to promptly stop calling the lactation specialist at the hospital the “breastfeeding nazi,” spend as much time as she is willing to give soaking up all the BF knowledge she can provide.  Sure, up until now my lackadaisical attitude toward all things breastfeeding has been my primary platform to deflect any and all judgment to date but from now on I’m just going to own my new found desire to feed my baby the natural way.  (Not that I’m judging the moms that choose not to BF because I’m still of sound mind and body and I wholeheartedly believe everyone has a right to choose their path.  I’m just saying that for right now, the need to BF our baby has jumped to the top of MY priority list.

As with everything else in this pregnancy, I’m yet again shocked at how my thought processes have shifted; I haven’t attended any classes (especially the ones that brow beat the breastfeeding school of thought) or had anyone (that I care to hear from) push their beliefs on me–I’ve done my own research, read the books and the blogs, Googled, and finally resigned myself that as long as I can BF (or at very least  pump) I will.

1 Comment | In: Baby, Breast Feeding | | #

So it appears Baby Elizabeth is going to camp out until she is evicted…or so it feels.  When I had my doctor’s appointment last week he was shocked The Wee One was still cooking.  He was sure she would have made her move since I had been ‘thinning’ so quickly.  Unfortunately, we are embarking on yet another week of cooking the baby/working.   Sure, I’m technically only 39 weeks but something inside me (and the doc) said she would come early—which doesn’t appear to be the case…

In all honesty, I’ve really been fine.  Not too uncomfortable or miserable.  The 100 degree temperatures have subsided and all in all I’ve been holding up pretty well.  Everyone has been asking me when I’m taking off work and my standard response has been, “if I can work, I want to work.  I’m not wasting any time off before Baby arrives.”  But then this morning, I was standing in my closet trying to determine what I was going to wear to yet another week of work (another week I was planning on spending cuddling with our new addition) and I was trying to decide if I could get away with wearing yoga pants and at that moment a light bulb went off—THIS is why women take off early!  I’ve always been pretty good at getting dressed for work.  I like getting dressed up and being around people but today all I wanted to do was be comfy—not my usual self.  I opted for capris and a cute shirt but if Baby Elizabeth makes me work next week too; my co-workers might be seeing me in yoga pants….

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #

Hubs and I are participating in a blogger fantasy football league.  Today is our draft….

When I asked Hubs if he had accepted the league invite he said no and immediately grabbed his phone.  Our conversation went like this:

Me:  It’s hosted on ESPN.com.  All you have to do it accept the invite when you log in

Hubs:  Hmmmm, I’m not sure I have an ESPN account.

Me:  Seriously?  You play fantasy football every year.

Hubs:  Yeah, but it’s not on ESPN.

Me:  Huh, where is you other league hosted at?

Hubs:  (looking at me like I’ve lost my mind)  We write our own software.

Me:  (staring.  speechless) You write your own software?

Hubs:  Yeah.

Me:  Wow.  Of course you do.  You really are a geek.

No Comments | In: DaShaun, Marriage | | #

Baby Elizabeth is due to make her debut any day now.  Everyone (and I mean everyone) is on pins and needles waiting; some even calling twice a day to check on “how I’m feeling.”  Well, rest assured, she should be here soon.  And as excited as I am for her arrival–tonight, I found myself eating dinner relishing in the quiet moments of what my life USED to be…

Hubs met a friend after work which left me to my own devices for dinner.  Without even thinking I reverted right back to my pre-Hubs go to—I grabbed a box of Stove Top (Yum), a bag of Steamfresh broccoli/cauliflower medley and a piece of chicken.  I sat down at the bar with my iPad, ate, and caught up on my favorite blogs.  When I was finally done eating, I looked around and both puppies were sleeping, and the house was totally silent.  No tv, no barking, no Hubs talking and I was completely happy to be right there—completely alone, sitting in the quiet with nothing to do or say.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago, my life was full of quiet nights on the couch eating dinner out of tupperware (cause seriously, why would you EVER use actual dishes when you can just prepare meals in the very container they will be stored in?) and I surprised myself with how “normal” I felt—it was like I reverted back to my previous life when everything was so easy and simply (and how quiet and calm Maggie can be when it’s quiet and calm in the house.)  It was a moment of pure bliss and I somehow felt like I was cheating on my current life OR maybe this is the universes way of allotting me one more quiet moment before my life turns into a crazy blur of sleepless nights, feedings, crying, and poop and if that is the case, I say, Thank You Universe.*

*The moment I finished typing, “Thank You Universe,” the garage door went up and both puppies are currently running around barking like a couple of uncontrollable wild dogs and Hubs is talking on the phone (not acknowledging or saying hi to them so they will shut up) and my quiet night is officially over—-Very Funny Universe.  Very Funny.

No Comments | In: Life | | #

So, yesterday was my 36 week checkup.  And everything is looking great.  Baby Elizabeth is growing right on target and I’ve been feeling pretty good.  When the doc checked for “progress” I was kind of surprised to hear that I’m 60% effaced and dilated 1 cm.  What?!?!  The Wee One might be making her move…

Other than that, there is not too much to report.  We all ready and waiting!  And it sort of sounds like she will be here sooner than later!

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump | | #

For some reason blogging has fallen way down on the ole priority list.  And the longer I go without blogging, the harder it is to get back into it.  It’s not that I haven’t had anything blog worthy to write about; I think I’ve just been a little bit overwhelmed with life.  Baby Elizabeth is due to make her debut in a few weeks and it seems like there are a million things that need to be done.  I have a new job and A LOT less time on my hands.

A couple weeks ago, my Mom, Sister, and two besties threw me the most lovely baby shower ever!  I felt incredibly loved and and lucky to have some many people in my life that understand just how important this new addition is to our lives.  I really do have the best family and friends.  My mom has spend the years storing and keeping all the important stuff from my childhood…all the way down the onesie I wore home from the hospital.  I can only hope that I will be organized enough to do as many things for our little girl as my Mom did/does for me…

After the baby shower my mom and sister came over to help me organize all the new baby necessities.  I loved having them here.  (I’m also sort of surprised at how much I LOVE folding baby clothes.  I HATE doing laundry but knowing that those tiny pink clothes belong to our little girl make folding them bearable if not enjoyable.  Perhaps Baby Elizabeth will wake an organized OCD version of myself that has long been repressed whilst throwing my underwear in a drawer and then rifling through them while I look for the perfect pair each day.)  I know everyone was here to help ME but it felt like they were here for Baby Elizabeth and that made my heart all melty.  I can only hope that Miss Elizabeth and my mom are as close as I was to my Grandma.  My Grandma and Grandpa were a HUGE part of my life and I look forward to the day she is old enough to let my Mom paint her toes and follow my Dad around in the yard…maybe not at the same time but you get my point!

Anyway, we have a few weeks to go and I’m so ready to meet our little one…I hate waiting.

No Comments | In: Baby, Baby Bump, Family, Good Buddies | | #

I know I haven’t been blogging much lately.  With the new job, growing the baby, and the Hubs being on bed rest there really hasn’t been much time.  So I thought I would do a quick recap on what’s been going on in life. 

• A couple weekends ago Hubs and I totally put on a one day Pop Warner cheerleading camp. I could bore you for hours with details but the jist of it is this:  we spent time with the coaches doing hands on stunting, going over rules, and answering questions.  And then the kids had a stunt clinic.  It was a total success.  Of course, I didn’t do much (considering I’m 8 months pregnant) so I relied heavily on Hubs to keep the camp moving at an upbeat pace.  We invited some of our favorite local cheer buddies to staff and they brought some of their friends so we managed to meet some fun new people!  The camp as a whole was an overwhelming success!  I will say this though, staffing a cheer camp 8 months pregnant is a humbling experience.  The girls were obviously disappointed when the “fat/pregnant” girl came around to help—thinking back to 10 year old me (or even high school me) and I ALWAYS wanted the cutest girl to be our buddy too.  I guess I’ll just have to show em next year…

• Hubs had sinus surgery last Friday.  He is officially on bed rest til Monday.  And he cannot lift more than 4 lbs for the next 3 weeks.  I have to admit, I was pretty annoyed at him for having the surgery while I’m 8.5 months pregnant but when I saw him afterwards he looked so uncomfortable and miserable that I couldn’t be annoyed even if I tried.  He is doing really well!  So that makes me happy!

• My new job is keeping me very busy!

No Comments | In: Life | | #

Remember my new buddy M from my last post?  I owe her big time.

She totally referred me for a fancy new job and I totally got it!  Yep, that’s right, I’m leaving my current job for a new more lucrative position that does not require lugging a million carpet samples around in my car day in and day out.  Sure, it kind of derails my originally plans of working part time (for peanuts) and spending 3 days a week with the baby.  But, they made me an offer we couldn’t refuse.

When I initally started talking to them I didn’t think they would be even remotely interested since I’m going on maternity leave in the matter of weeks but they didn’t care….I start on Monday!  I’m excited and a little nervous about starting a new job at this juncture but I definitely think it’s the right thing for our budding family.  And it helps that my Mom is available to watch Baby Elizabeth while I work….another perk of waiting so long to have kids :)

No Comments | In: Work | | #

Last November I received an email from “M”  (I’m not exactly sure how she would feel about being on the ole blog—I kind of think she would be fine with it but given the sensitive/private nature of this post, I’ll just call her “M” for now) announcing her interest in helping out on my AAKC Committee.  She started coming to our meetings and was immediately someone I could count on for help with just about anything….I loved her instantly.

After a few months of working AAKC events together, we started giggling and talking about other stuff.  And that turned into phone calls and then we started going to lunch and somewhere along the way we became actual friends.  Today we went to lunch.  And it was as if M knew exactly what I needed; she spent her entire lunch hour telling me about the ins and outs of her labor and delivery.  (Our conversation might have kicked off with me trying to explain just how scared I am for the actual birth of Baby Elizabeth; I may or may not have watched a couple episodes of “Baby’s First Day” this morning and was more freaked than usual.)  M told me all the embarrassing stuff, the painful stuff, the amazing stuff, the surprising stuff and the stuff no one tells you.  She was so open and shared many many words of wisdom.  Sure, I have friends with babies and sure, they tell me stuff.  But this was a full on frank conversation about lady parts.  About what ACTUALLY happens; not vaguely supportive things like, “it hurts but you’ll be fine” or “the pain is totally worth it.”  She told me exactly HOW it hurts, WHERE it hurts (during and after) and tips to keep me and my lady parts feeling better in no time—you know, things only a real friend has the interest or time to explain.  And now, I’m a lot less worried.  Sure, I’m still painfully aware that getting the baby out is not going to be fun or pleasant but I suppose I can stop worrying about who exactly brings the dynamite (the doctor or the baby) and if my lady parts are going look (or feel) like hamburger when it’s all over…

So, this season is not only bringing a baby but an invaluable new friend as well!

No Comments | In: Baby Bump, Good Buddies | | #

Yesterday a co-worker invited me to be friends on The Facebook.  Now usually, I try to avoid being friends with people I work with on FB for various reasons but mostly because some things are best left out of the office. Sure, I have no qualms about blogging for complete strangers, acquaintances, and lord only knows who else but work people? Not so much. (Don’t roll your eyes, I know my logic is dumb—ANYONE could find and read this blog but for some reason, I’m thinking the majority of people I’m not interested in sharing my life with have better things to do than track down my tiny corner of the interweb : )
Anyway, I do like this particular work friend so I decided to peruse my status updates to see if there was anything incriminating on there (you know, like taking off at 3 or complaining about things that shouldn’t be complianed about) before I accepted and do you know what I found? I’m Baby Elizabeth obsessed. I cannot stop talking about The Wee One. 
I always thought I would be the type of mother who stayed the same. The mother that would have a little one and my outlook and priorities would stay pretty similar. But I’ve already turned into the mom that can’t think about anything else.  Her movements mark my day (I fully enjoyed feeling her hiccup on cue for 3 straight hours yesterday) and it’s apparently obvious that I can barely talk about anything else….
So for all you readers that miss the snarky comments and ridiculous stories, the only left to say is this: My name is Jillian and I’m obsessed with my baby.

1 Comment | In: Baby, Baby Bump, blogging | | #