Random 6AM Thoughts

I fell asleep very late last night, hence the late wake-up time.  It's usually 3 or 4 in the morning.  My mind races.

• My horribly misaligned hips make me feel guilty for being confused by other women's desire to evict.
• Visits are awesome.  I'll never hesitate to visit someone I care about again.  
• Email is good, too.  Not as good, but it's a definite uplifter.
• Thank you, God, for gchat.
• I am going to have a hard time adjusting to full on responsibility again.
• I'll be the primary caregiver!
• Henry looks so old sleeping in his bed.  Peaceful, cute, and grown.
• Wonder if cleaning up Penny's yard poop will help get things moving.  Do I want that visual to be the first image in our birth story?
• Penny needs more exercise and to bark a lot less.
• I love Cory.
• I don't really know Henry's new school teachers very well.
• A praline would be nice, Sarah M.
• It's good to have book hoarding friends
• Stretch marks hurt.  Stupid skin wounds!
• I'm glad I won't have class and research papers this time around.
• Hope everyone lets me keep my jobs.
• Should I get my PhD?  
• Will Cocks look like Henry?
• Definitely need to start working towards my LPC.
• Complacency sucks.  
• Henry and Cory need to get to the pool today.
• I really want to enjoy the remodeled Sea n Isle.
• Our first family vacation there was awesome.  Awesome.  It relaxes me to remember it.  I'll use it for early labor pain management.  Freakin' genius! 
• I had a very good childhood.  Cory did, too.
• It's amazing how good childhoods are typically attracted to good childhoods, and otherwise.
• I don't remember having painful Braxton Hicks with Henry.  Of course I would with Cocks.
• I hope that nursing goes well again this time.
• Must remind Cory to monitor my behavior.  It's going to be a huge adjustment this time around.  Expectations, anxiety, depression, pain...
• Cory might not be able to monitor.  Should we get a mood board?
• Mood board would eventually piss me off somehow.
• I still hate shopping--even for baby stuff.  
• Henry was so fun last night.
• I'm having a hard time imagining being a mom of two.
• I cannot remember how to swaddle or do the football hold.
• I cannot remember a lot of stuff.  I don't remember what I need to remember.
• I hope that Henry's alarm isn't set for this morning.
• I hope that H doesn't ignore me when Cocks gets here.
• Can't believe how much I text now
• Heartbuuuuuurn.  Praline would probably make it worse.
• This pregnancy is so. so. different.
• I love my house.  It's way too small, but my nesting lives strong here.
• I'll get tired of this house again very soon.
• This list is too long.
• I'll just read.  Book due back anyway.  
• Overhead too bright.  Wish this lamp was plugged in or that I could reach the outlet.
• Really hope my arms and legs regain some shape
• Heartburn is one of the levels of hell.
• I read the Twilight series.  Hehe.
• I need to apologize to Cory when he wakes.  Pregnancy hormones and harsh words over non-controllables--not a good combo.
• Wonder if Cory will make us some pancakes.
• Shoot, I could make the pancakes now!  
• Milk drunk babies are funny.  I can't wait!
• Cory probably wants to be the one to make pancakes.
• Hate shopping except for on etsy--especially early morning.  Addiction!
• Crap.  Just found something I was looking for but gave up on and settled for something different. I hate shopping.
• I walk like Jed Clampett

Go Cocks! 37 Weeks

We made it to the official full term mark on Sunday, and today was our 37 week appointment with Dr. Keith and my first cervical check since bed rest began way back in February.  Conditions are "favorable" for labor to begin soon, with almost two centimeters dilation and 50% effacement.  I am not surprised. After all, Cory and I made the legendary Scalini's eggplant parmesan dish on Tuesday, and I ate it for dinner, a midday snack, then lunch, then dinner.  Yum!  Even if it wasn't the culprit, it's a delicious dish.

Cocks's room won't be ready when he gets here unless he holds off a while longer.  But, since he'll be spending most of his time in my arms where I can feel his skin, smell the top of his head, and kiss, kiss, kiss his nose, I don't think he'll mind waiting on his decor.  And, I know we would rather have Cocks here with us than to have a perfect residence.

Getting Ready

First, Henry helped Daddy put together the crib.

Second, we brushed up on tongue twisters so that Cocks will have some classic entertainment.

Next, we went shopping.  Henry browsed through every department, row, and shelf in Babies R Us before selecting some toy stacking rings for the bath as a welcome home gift for Cocks.  Later, he made a card to go with the gift bag.

Then, we took some pictures outside Daddy's new office.  (Right at lunch/ nap time)

Before heading to a shower at Mama's office where a very thoughtful coworker bestowed some Annie's Gummy Rabbits upon Henry.

Then, another shower at friends' house where the kids played while a large group of very supportive, helpful, and loving adults celebrated the day that we hit full term.  

When I was pregnant with Henry, we didn't have Henry to help us get ready.  There's still lots more to do and not enough time, but we are ready, ready, ready!

We are officially...

Full Term!

Oh, happy day!  Joy, gratitude, and elation abound in my heart now.  We are safe.  And I am so ready.

Hooky TV Day

Henry has an official day off of school on Friday, so we didn't play hooky on our unofficial hooky Monday.  The result was that I missed him, so I decided to keep him home today, especially since Cory had an early meeting.  Unfortunately, I felt pretty nauseous and generally lethargic all day, and Henry watched about ten shows.  Yep.  Ten.  Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and Handy Manny were watched to our total limit today.  I felt pretty guilty for not attempting any reading time and only a small amount of pretend play.  (Even our train trip was based on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse storyline.)

But, about halfway through one of the shows, Henry got up, walked over to me and said, "Mama, you're pretty."  It was almost enough to make me want to read him a book!

Who are we kidding, though?  The floodgate was open, and the boy was loving mindless TV.  If I tried to read him a book at that point, he probably would have thought of it as punishment.

Go Cocks! 36 Weeks

I made the trip to see Dr. Keith all by myself today.  It speaks volumes that I went alone with no trepidation for I had little doubt that all would still be well.  My fundal height remains about the same, and Cocks's heartbeat, although difficult to pinpoint this time due to his morning exercise routine, sounded strong and regular.  It's hard to believe that in one more week, we will be full term!

Kayce asked me to predict the delivery date today.  I am hesitant to name a date for many reasons, but I still hold firm to pre-40 weeks.  Delivery will be smooth and the weather will be temperate.  Please let me be correct!  Not only am I far larger than ever in my life, I am also very anxious to meet our littlest Hughes--to see him and to hold him.

Any D-Day guesses from my readers?

Amen

We have much to be thankful for on this day.  Perhaps the most prevalent on my mind is that Henry told me, "I love tomatoes now.  They're my favorite."  I cannot tell you how happy it makes me that the boy made the turn from the dark side to the tomato lovin' side.  Did he really mean it?  Time will tell.