Okay, boys and girls.  I don't get much of a chance to blog, but had to post this.

In our lovely neighborhood, the houses have odd foundations ranging from 1 ft tall to 15 ft tall.  (15 is a guess, some look taller.)  So we have the misfortune of not having much privacy since we can all look right into each others' backyards. 

We had some people move in behind us a while back.  Not only does the family dynamic there seem odd for MANY reasons, but there is one little thing we have found oudd about these people: all these months in that house and still no window covering in the living room...which we can see from our back patio.  We witness lots of things thru that window, but until tonight, the most I've seen is a great quality viewing of Finding Nemo. 

So I let the dogs out tonight to pee before bed and wasn't really even looking in the direction of the house.  Out of my peripheral, what do I spy but lots o' skin.  Yep, ladies and gents, I got to see a small breasted blonde giving head to a very appreciative brunette male.  (That's how big the t.v. is and how good the quality of it is.)  After I surpressed quite a giggle and looked for the occupants of the living room, I had to ask:WTF!?!  People, people, people!  If you are going to watch porn in your very open and public living room, get a smaller t.v.  Either that or hand out popcorn and some tissues (or a sock!)

Top that one, Patric. haha.

Hey, everyone.  My wonderful grandma is watching little missy for a minute while I type with two hands.  There are lots of you I want to get back to personally, but may not be able to tonight.  So thank you all so much for your congratulations, well wishes and Mother's Day salutations.  They are very much appreciated and help me to remember how awesome this whole baby thing is!  It's still surreal that Craig and I created a whole other person!  (I know, every parent says it.  But now I'm one of them.)

So just a little more detail on the birth of Natasha.  I know there were some questions that were brought up by the pics I posted.

Saturday afternoon, I started to see signs.  I didn't think much of them because I know labor can start and stop constantly.  Then, Saturday night, we had some people over.  While I was making dinner, I had a few light contractions.  Again, I took them as they came and went on my way hanging out with friends.  That night, in bed, I slept in 10 minute incriments because I was woken up by contractions all night long.  The next morning, I gave up around 5, I think, and got a shower and got dressed.  After a call to the midwife around 9, I just tried to catch up on some much needed rest while my wonderful husband timed the contractions for me.  At 3 p.m., after not getting much sleep, still, Craig called the midwife back.  We were told to stop timing the contractions and get out and do something.  We finally got her to send another midwife to meet us at the birth center to check me out.  Turns out I was almost 6 cm dialated.  (For those of you who don't know, all that pushing you see in movies and stuff....that doesn't happen until you are 10 cm.  Just sayin...cause I didn't used to know.)  I got home and we filled the bathtub so I could relax in the water (there's a pic in the "Natasha" album if you're so inclined.  If you are going to hate on a beautiful picture, then you need to just move on.)  (Couldn't do that before 5 cm, didn't want to slow labor.)  Salli and Lisa - two midwives - showed up a little while later.  I was checked again and was around 8 cm I think.  We moved to the pool that had been filling up in the nursery.  It was a little more comfy on my bottom (the bottom inflated) and more water made me more comfortable, too. 

I was laboring pretty good.  Enough that my midwife, Amber, didn't think I was in active labor.  Even when I was in the tub, Kari - another midwife - said I was very deceiving.  Contractions aren't the most comfortable thing, but I don't think they were as bad as I thought they'd be.  Everything was pretty peaceful.  I had the soft music I wanted, the low lighting...

Then came time to push.  There were a few things that changed my energy and my mood that I won't get into right now, but it was enough to make the final stages less than enjoyable, peaceful or calm.  I ended up being moved to the bed.  Pushing there was not successful, really. 

Since the tub, there had been a hiccup type of sound detected in the baby's heartbeat.  It was odd, but nobody seemed panicked.  That hiccup and slow progress in pushing (I have mixed feelings on this) got the midwives pow wowed together and deciding to take me to the hospital.  They discussed calling an ambulance, but Craig (who was amazing thru the whole thing, by the way) pointed out that it would be quicker to just take me.  So, they threw a dress over my head, slapped on some flip flops and I showed up at the emergency entrance of the hospital insisting that - despite the baby head just about to drop out of me - I didn't want a wheelchair. lol.  (Hey, the end stages of labor can make you do/say some crazy stuff. lol) 

So I was taken up the labor and delivery floor immediately and put on a table and had a large amount of things I wanted to avoid done (still no drugs, tho.)  But we won't get into that right now.  I pushed for about 30 minutes, I think and out she came.  More things happened that I am not happy with, but in the end, Natasha was out in the world and beautiful. 

The next two days in the hospital were irritating to say the least.  Finally, a doctor with some sense told the nurses to take the baby off the monitors, get her in my room and let her have a boob whenever the heck she wanted!  I love that doctor.  And, fortunately, he has agreed to be our pedi.  He is all about letting nature do it's thing when we can!  So she was brought to my room and has been with me ever since. :)

Her Daddy and I are both SO happy to have her here and are falling more in love with her (and each other, I think) with each passing day!  I know that when they are both in the same room with me, I feel content and full of love like I've never known.  I have a beautiful little girl and a wonderful husband and continue to wonder how life could possibly get much better!  (Yep, I'm a sap.  Betcha never woulda known.)

Okay, Nat's hungry...AGAIN!  I love this nursing thing, but wish I could just attach her with duct tape or something. lol.  Everytime I start to do something, she's hungry.  I'm blessed to get to nurse her, tho, and will take advantage of it as long as I can!

I will try to get back to everyone individually as soon as I figure the sling out better.  It will free up a hand for me. :)  Thank you all again for your comments and messages!  Happy Mother's Day to all the other mommies out there.  The ones of human kids and animal kids, alike!

Howdy!  I figured it was time I post a blog letting everyone in on what's going on with me, the super belly and the short term future.  I keep getting similar questions from people that make me feel like a schmuck for not keeping everyone updated better. 

Well, let's address the more popular questions first:  I am at 38 weeks as of yeseterday.  That is based on my ESTIMATED due date of May 9th.  So it could be any day now or I could still have 3 weeks.  The general gestation period for 1st time moms is 41 weeks and 1 day.  So I'm not in any hurry, just taking it day by day.  I'm ready to meet this little girl, but I know she'll be here when it's time.  Some people seem to think I'll go early based on my belly, but Amber - my midwife - tells me that a lot of that belly is fluid, so I don't necessarily have some 15 lb baby in there. lol.  Tho, looking at the pics (since it doesn't seem that big when I look in the mirror) I can see why people think so.

Most of you have seen the nursery pics and know that it is more or less finished.  I still have some clothes to put away, but it's done.  (You can see the pics in my nursery album in my pics.)  I would like to get a book shelf of some sort in there for all the books she already has.  And I plan to get her plenty more!!!  Books, that is.  Mommy and Daddy are both readers, so hoping she will be, too. 

Another question only a few people have been brave enough to ask: I have only gained about 30 lbs at this point.  I'm hoping not to gain too much more, if any, but 25-35 lbs is about normal.  Most of that is made up of baby (of course,) boobs (boy howdy,) placenta, fluid, and a few other miscellaneous things.  Everyone keeps assuring me that, with breastfeeding, it will all fall off.  I have a slight fear that  I will be the exception to the rule, but only time will tell. 

The membership Craig and I got to the YMCA has kept me sane on certain days.  Especially now that I know the pool is SO comfy with such a big belly!  I fully intend to get back in there within a month or two of Natasha's arrival.  I'm not going to overdue it or anything, but I want to give my aging body a fighting chance. haha. 

I think we have decided on a home birth.  We have all the stuff we need (oops, I still need an adapter for a hose) that was on the list given to us by the midwife.  Craig is concerned that the dogs will be an issue, but I think they will surprise him.  I believe Rebecca will be "babysitting" them in the living room while I'm in active labor.  And as long as nobody goes running thru the house, we should be okay.  lol.  Rizzo's taste for rear end should be okay by then.

No, I don't know how effaced I am or how dialated.  I have had one pelvic about 2 weeks ago and don't know that I will have any more until I'm in labor.  I do know that Natasha's head has been in place for quite some time and she is in position.  I also know I was beginning to efface as of 2 weeks ago.  Not that effacement or dialation would give me an exact indication of anything, but it is good to know that my body is doing it's thing. 

Also, no, I don't know how much the baby weighs or how big she is.  Our last ultrasound was the beginning of March.  And an ultrasound doesn't really tell you anything but an estimate that could be off by as much as a pound and a half either way.  BUT, I was a little over 6 lbs and Craig was a little over 7, so we shall see.  Oh, and apparently Craig had a big head.  lol.  But I am not worried.  I have faith in the nature of birth and my body. 

I finished up with my last client last week.  It's a little sad, and I'm kinda going crazy with nothing to do, but it's probably for the best since I probably won't get this kind of time to myself for a while.  I will probably be anxious to get back to work, but only after getting to know and bond with my daughter and her daddy. 

I think that's about it for now.  I will definitely keep everyone updated on baby's progress as soon as I know anything.  Thanks to everyone who keeps checking in on me. :)  I know everyone is anxious to hear something and I know I have been horrible about keeping you updated.  But I will make sure someone posts something as soon as we know anything.  I have so many friends and family members on here that I don't get to keep in touch with as much as I would like and you are all in my thoughts, even if I'm a slacker about contact. 

Okay, it's nap time now. lol.