I'm Ready For My Closeup, Mr. DeMille

Looking demure after her hair therapy spa treatment. Every girl loves to be pampered and Miss Anna is no different. We finally washed her little hair tonight---which, frankly, had gotten a little on the skanky side. She luuuuved having the warm water in her hair and actually ran her fingers through her hair and was wide awake through the whole thing.

I took the opportunity to take pictures because she sleeps so much we never get to see her eyes! This was an exciting moment.

Who's Who?

When Kyle saw Anna for the first time he commented on how much she looked like John....and the trend started that we kept calling Anna "John" and "him" in the hospital. I think we're over that now but I thought I'd bust out some old John pictures so you could see....

John

Anna

John

Anna
Intersting, huh?

So we're back at home and things are going well. Anna slept from midnight until 8 AM the first night we were home which freaked me out a bit. I attempted to feed her four times throughout the night and she completely refused. She was fast asleep....like comatose. Now she's back to eating every 2 or 3 hours so I'm not sure what happened to her that first night. If I would've known I could have slept a good night's sleep that night but those days are over for a while.

John is taking a liking to his sister. He gives her lots of kisses and always asks about "Anna?, Anna?". He loves to hold her in his lap and looks so proud when he is holding her like a real big boy. I need a video of this soon before the novelty wears off for him.

Kyle is a great daddy and is continuing to help a lot with John and entertaining him when I need to feed Anna or do other things. They have great fun together and come up with wacky and wild boy games.

I am doing really well. I am so amazed that it is possible that I woke up early one morning and by noon I had a baby and was munching on lunch....how weird is that? All in a day's work....

Well, I have lots more to say but I'll sign off for now.

Click here for the link to the Shutterfly pictures

Welcome, Anna!

Today, March 27, 2009 at 10:30 AM, marks Anna Maye Bethancourt's debut into the world....

She weighed in at 8 lbs, 7 oz and 20 1/4 inches long. Another juicy baby. Not quite as juicy as her brother but she was born on time, not a week late.

Here's the story:

We called at 3 AM to see if we could get in at 5 AM for the induction. When I called they said they had a lot of people come in overnight and to call back at 5 AM to see if we could get in at 7 AM. Uh-oh. This would be bad news if we couldn't get in today. I could not go back to sleep after the 3 AM call.

When we called back, Behold! There was room in the inn! They told us to come in at 6 AM.

7:30 AM - Started the pitocin drip and I didn't have much pain.

9 AM - My doctor decided to break my water to get things moving. Fine by me. I was a bit bored after an hour and half of sitting. I was at 5 cms here.

9:05 AM - Asked for my epidural. Based on previous expereince I knew the pain was sure to start after my water broke. I told every nurse that would hear me that I needed THE MOST experienced epidural man on staff because it didn't work with John's delivery and I was severley traumatized.

9:30 AM - Epidural man showed up. I was grateful the doctor facing me was epidural man #2 from John's birth--the man who corrected epidural man #1's incompetence. I'm in good hands.

9:50 AM - Still in major pain. I start to almost go hysterical thinking I was in for another no-good epidural. My nurse feels my pain. She tells me she's calling epidural man back in to shoot me up with more drugs but she's going to check my dilation first.

9:55 AM - WO, BABY! Already 10 cms dilated. She frantically pages the doctor to say I'm ready to push.

9:55 -10:20 AM - I think I just about might die today

10:20 AM - Doctor shows up saying she was two shakes away from leaving a patient in stirrups to get to me on time.

10:30 AM - I push 4 times and she's OUT! "ah dun" (all done) as John would say.

She's here, she's healthy, I'm alive, Kyle didn't comment on the size of the epidural needle or the status of my contractions. 3 hours from start to finish. Not too shabby. Painful but quick. YAY!

Tradition!

John and Kyle have started a new tradition of eating popcorn on the front porch and talking about "man stuff". No doubt today's topic was the ins and outs of having a little sister in your life....

Today, after John's nap, they both headed out to do their thing. So here's a picture of John with a little bed-head....

enjoying some popcorn!

...and pondering the impact Anna will have on his little life after this weekend.....

Anna News and A Funny Moment

I had my doctor appointment today and I am still the same ol' 4 cm dilated. We went ahead and decided to schedule an induction for Friday. Since I will be 40 weeks on Thursday, she is full term and perfectly ready to come into the world and we can't wait to meet her!
Maybe she'll even surprise us and come earlier than Friday??

I can't tell you how excited I am to think that we will be holding our little baby girl by this weekend. I can't wait to see what she looks like and to dress her up in those teeny pink clothes.

So now you know that she will be here soon--for sure! Please keep us in your prayers on Friday. We'll be headed to the hospital eeeeearly in the morning to start everything up. A specific prayer would be that my epidural would WORK this time.....

Tales from the Playground:
So our neighbor friend, Gabby (just turned 2), came over to play this afternoon. She and John were playing on his slide contraption in the backyard. John was looking up at her from beneath the thing saying "HI, BABBY!" and Gabby was looking down at him and with a big smile she suddenly exclaimed "John has blue eyes!"

She's two?!

Ahhh, is this the beginning of the women's infatuation with John's gorgeous blue eyes??? perhaps! I know I've already fallen victim :)

What a Treat!

We had a great weekend and this morning I was prepping myself to get back in our routine....


Then I got a call from my sweet friend, Shannon, inviting John to come over to play at Justin's house. They live less than a mile from our house and it was made clear that only John was invited and Big Mama was supposed to do something for herself this morning. What a BIG blessing, Shannon. How I do appreciate your offer!

Shannon (the brave soul) was keeping "half the class" at her house this morning. Jake and Luke (also in John's MDO class) were also headed over to her house this morning. Apparently the boys had a great time and I hear Shannon crammed all 4 of them into a wagon and took them to her neighbor's to play for a bit. I can't wait to see that picture! Shannon is always offering to lend a helping hand--or home--to her mommy friends. Her big heart is a huge blessing to me but I'm sure especially for those friends that don't have family nearby.


So I enjoyed a couple unexpected hours to myself this morning--thanks Shannon!

Also, a big welcome to Luke's little sister, Ainsley! Congrats to our friends, Leslie and Chris, on the birth of their new baby who arrived today! Little Anna is already lining up playmates...she just needs to show up so she can meet them!

Our Weekend

Still no news on the baby front.


Kyle, John, and I went to Discovery Green yestesrday morning to kill some time and enjoy the nice weather outside. Discovery Green is a somewhat new park downtown. It's been around for about a year.


John played on the playground, we observed the remote-controlled sailboats racing in the lake, and sat at a table to eat our picnic lunch. We were eating next to a big stage and someone started leading a kids/adult aerobic class. John got very excited about going over to the grassy knoll where everyone was "dancing". We took him over so he could dance but he just stared at everyone. Meanwhile Big Mama was waving her arms and legs wildly in hopes of bouncing this baby out of the womb. I'm sure people were looking at me thinking "a woman in your condition should not be doing this much activity". But I was.

So I was reading over my last several posts and realized that I sound very complainy regarding my pregnancy and not being able to move around. I felt convicted after listening to today's church sermon on gratitude. I have a lot to be thankful for so I will quit complaining about my aches and pains. Mostly, these past few weeks, I have just felt like a kid waiting for Christmas. You know when you are little and it seems Christmas will NEVER come---that's how I feel because I really am excited about meeting the little one. So no more complaints--I know the end is near--which is really only the BEGINNING of something new and exciting.

Waffles!!!!!

I think breakfast might be my favorite meal of the day. I try to convince mom to have waffles every day but she doesn't let me. But on the days we do, one of my FAVORITE things is to make my own "faffles" (waffles). Mom video'd me doing my thing this morning. Who says kids aren't responsible these days?

(excuse my bed head and PJs, please)

Spring Break....Give ME a break!

Wednesday morning I hit a wall. I did not want to face the day. My general pregnancy discomfort in addition to the active toddler's energy level and recent screaming spells in addition to no school to give me a moment's rest was slowly making me want to throw myself out my bedroom window (which, thankfully, is only about 12 inches off the ground--but still).

Kyle reminded me of a high school girl we met last week riding her bike through the neighborhood passing out flyers for dog walking and babysitting while she was off school from spring break. "CALL HER!", he demanded. Ok, I have reached my limit. I will call a 14 year old who I don't know to watch my child for 3 hours. Really, what's the worst that can happen?

So today was the day. I scheduled a pedi refresher. The babysitter showed up at 9 AM. John was skeptical. I went to finish getting ready and by the time I left John and Kelsey were playing in his room and he waved me away saying "bye mommy!"

I was early for the pedi so I went to Starbucks where I called Kyle and whispered into the phone "I'm at Starbucks....drinking a decaf cappuccino....by myself!" Obviously I am crazy for not doing this sooner but honestly I didn't realize how much those 2 days at Mother's Day Out really keep my sanity in check....especially being pregnant. It's hard to lift and get on the floor and run around after John when I have 2 other little feet permanently stuck in my ribs most of the day.

So I had a great morning and now I'm refreshed and ready for the afternoon!

Still Waiting.....

To update all of Anna's fans:
She and mommy are fine. Kyle and I came home from the hospital Sunday morning and I took a long nap. Being hooked up to an IV, fetal heart rate monitor, and oxygen mask all night really put a damper on my sleeping pattern Saturday night.

Thankfully my sweet husband entertained John indoors all day yesterday while it was raining so I could take a nap and lay on the couch and conserve my energy for today since I would be on my own. I definitely think all that rest helped me feel much better today. Who says this pregnancy thing isn't hard on the guys too? I guess more so once you already have an active child to care for.

I did feel like it was a bit of a dress rehearsal being at the hospital. Once again, I was crying as I entered the maternity ward....just as I did with John. You'd think the second time around I would be a little less psycho but I was just as freaked this time. I'm sure everyone thought I was crying because of the pain....no, m'am....just freaked out.

I had a wonderful L&D nurse they assigned to me since they thought I was going into labor. She's an Aggie and even attended our same church for a while but has since moved elsewhere. I enjoyed visiting with her and I'm hoping she'll get to be my nurse when I actually do go into labor. That would just be great! A familiar, friendly face.

Well tomorrow is my next doctor appointment. I'm not expecting anything major. I have 4 friends that are pregnant this month. 2 of them have already had their babies and 2 have scheduled C-sections next week. Watch me, Ms.-4-CM-Dialted-Your-Water's-About-To-Bust-At-Any-Moment, have my baby the very last of them all....

Hey, but at least I'm READY! very, very ready! Can't catch me off guard. I can now even revise my packed bag based on my most recent trip. Yes, siree....I am set FOR SURE.

Greetings From The Hospital

Before anyone freaks out on me I am not in labor.

Earlier today I started to feel some cramping and pain. Then I started shivering and I was getting a little worried. I didn't want the pain to escalate really fast and be caught off guard. I called the doctor's office and they wanted me to come in and get checked out. It's very rainy here and I knew my parents needed time to come to our house to watch John and we had a long drive to the Med Center. So we went ahead and came in. Turns out I had a 102 fever and baby's heart rate was in the 200s and it should've been in he 150s. So they gave me oxygen, tylenol, and now we are watching Anna's heart rate go down and my temp decrease. I have had a few contractions but nothing really intense.

They have to keep me overnight and the doctor will come check me out tomorrow. If my contractions don't intensify I can most likely go home.

What's really wacky is my friend, Dee, is in the room down the hall. We were talking with the nurse about the doctor on call and she mentioned one of his other patients came in tonight. Kyle and I thought, "Wouldn't that be funny if Dee were here?" We asked the nurse if she had blond hair and a walker and she said yes. Then Kyle texted her husband, Chris, and they are here too. So funny (in a weird coincedence way not ha ha funny). She is not in labor but is dealng with a back sprain.

So at least Kyle has company. He and Chris headed out to get some food....and Dee and I are hooked up to fetal heart rate monitors. Exciting times.

Museum and Limitations

We awoke to another rainy, dreary, and cold day. What to do with the little man? He gets very bored at home and loves to expend energy playing outside. The park was out, of course. Last time we went to the Memorial City play castle it was a disaster and he just wanted to sit next to me and eat goldfish (not the point of the trip!). So today I decided to go to the Children's Museum. We have a membership but we haven't been in several months. I knew they were working on a new addition but I had no idea they revamped almost the whole thing.

I cruised in and headed toward our usual "Tot Spot" (0-3 year age) and there was a gift shop in it's place and I noticed the whole area had changed. Apparently tomorrow is the official opening day so there were a lot of people there. The Tot Spot moved to the second floor and it's bigger, better, and more modern than ever. Not to mention there are windows to get in some natural light. The old Tot Spot was a bit cave-ish. So if you haven't been in a while it's definitely worth it.

I was hesitant to head so far from home. It took us a while to get there with all the traffic but I decided if I had to be anywhere the Children's Museum is the place to be--it's 5 minutes from the Medical Center, where my doctor and hospital are.

It's getting much harder for me to pick John up and be as active as he wants me to be. It's a little disappointing for me and it makes for a cranky little man when he wants me to do stuff that is sort of physically impossible. Kyle has been a big help entertaining John while I just assume the beached whale position on the couch. I am very much ready to hold Anna in my arms and see her little face. Let's go, A! What're you waiting for?? We can't wait to meet you.

Just not in the next 3 hours or so...it's Friday the 13th....after midnight we're good to go again.

A Fun-Filled Afternoon

Yesterday John and I had a great Mommy and me afternoon. I was satisfied to know that if Anna were to arrive now, I had a super afternoon of one-on-one time with my little man.

After I picked him up from MDO we went to run an errand. He opened the door for me at Pottery Barn Kids (well, I think he just likes to open doors but it seemed like he was being chivalrous so I'll take it).

When we came home we played in his teepee while listening to a CD of his favorite songs. He was playing with a pop-up book while I laid on a pillow and watched him. In the middle of his dissecting of the pop-up book he looked at me and then leaned in for a whopper kiss, completely unprompted. I was surprised but delighted by this little treat. It's like he just had the spontaneous emotion to show me some affection and did it. My heart melted...

After that we went outside to play with his bubble maker---which is like crack for him. He loves the bubble maker. One of our neighbor friends had one and he entertained himself for 20 minutes with that thing. It still has not lost it's appeal. What is it with kids and bubbles? And this is the rest of our day in pictures......

BUBBLES! Everybody scream!

Action shot: running with the bubble wand! There isn't a second to lose when you're a bubble- maker

Too bad this shot is out of focus because it's one of the better shots I've captured of the man. Since telling him to smile or say "cheese" evokes the crazy squinty-eye face, we're working on a new word to get smiles--"Sunshine!"

Then dad came home and the world stopped. Forget bubbles...dad's home.

The two peas-in-a-pod started to clip some weeds in the yard and John was compelled to bring me flowers from our rose bush (thanks, Meraz'! The rose bush you gave us as a house-warming gift is still blooming)

And here is the bouquet I accumulated

Random Updates

This morning's update:

This morning we were getting ready to head to our last Tots n Tunes class. We were running late so I just put John's sandals in front of him in his room. I went back to my bathroom to put on my makeup. After about 5 or so minutes I went to check on John and he came walking out of the hallway wearing his shoes...on the correct feet! What?! My baby is getting so big! The velcro straps weren't done but I was amazed that the shoes were on his feet. I made a huge deal about this but John acted like he does it for a living. Not even a proud smile when I praised him so much. Whatev, mom....

Another doctor update:

I am still between 4-5 cms and 80% effaced. Last week I was 4 cm and 60% effaced. So we're still headed in the right direction. We're going to continue to wait it out. My doctor is going on vacation Saturday so I'm hoping it either happens before she leaves or when she returns.

Today's crazy moment update:

Kyle and I were driving on the 59 freeway today headed to the doctor and a woman was crossing the freeway. And I don't mean running across the freeway. This woman was leisurely strolling across 5 lanes of HIGH SPEED traffic carrying a cup of something (I'd propose a cup of some hard liquor or something else that would impair you enough to make that type of decision). We had to slam on our brakes and I saw the truck behind us barrelling toward the back of our car. The woman was standing on the dotted line while an 18 wheeler swooshed passed her. Thankfully we were spared from any accidents but what a weirdo.

Sunday update:

Mammaw and Grandpa swung by to eat dinner with us on their way back to CA from College Station. We headed to Pappadeaux's where John was exposed to his first mudbug. I don't think he was impressed.

"Uhhh, can I ask what this is on my plate, please??"

The Magical Magic Show

Yesterday we attended a fundraiser at John's Mother's Day Out school. After our elegant Chick-fil-a dinner and bidding on gift baskets we enjoyed a magic show by Carter Blackburn. Now, Carter's dad is a photographer and did my senior photos in high school. Our parents have mutual friends and I even remember when Carter was born (I feel really old). Apparently he does these magic shows all over the city and is really good....rabbits, doves, all sorts of real animals, fire and loud music are involved. John was in heaven.

The theme for the fundraiser was "Mardi Gras" and John swiped some beads from his teacher.

"What? You want these beads??? And do you like my BBQ sauce goatee?"

John still does this crazy face when you ask him to smile....in fact, one of the moms is a photographer and she took pictures of every one of the kids at school which she enlarged so the parents could purchase them to benefit the auction. Every child's picture was up on the board---except John. She couldn't get a picture of him. I wonder why?? I can barely get a picture of my own child and this is what you get when you ask him to smile....not quite portrait material, I suppose

"Hold up. The magic show is starting!!!"

Gettin' his groove on...

A Day To Be Quiet

Today I've experienced something that is so foreign...lots of peace and quiet.

Kyle and John left early this morning for a "Guy's Day" to College Station. John was long overdue to visit Granny and Papaw and Mammaw and Grandpa, who are in town from CA. Kyle played some golf and I hear John enjoyed a fun-filled day of eating Granny's famous grilled cheese, eating all the blueberries he could possibly stand, riding in golf carts, dining at Miramont, and playing with some of his favorite people, including Aunt "Teen-Teen" (Christina).

I sure missed my little buddy but it was an amazing thing to actually dry my hair, get dressed, and put on my face without having to find a new activity to distract John every 5-7 minutes. I helped host a baby shower for a friend earlier today. Thankfully Anna did not make a dramatic entrance at someone else's party....how embarrasing would that be?! So I ate dinner by myself and am hanging out doing nothing and loving it! I'm going to sign off now so I can go enjoy doing whatever it is that I want to do.

Welcome to Anna's Room

Finally, I have come to a stopping point.

Her angel wingsThese decorative ball things that I made to hang over the crib. This idea came about 3 weeks ago while flipping through a Pottery Barn Kids catalog.
The changing table. Debbie graciously sewed the basket liners to match the crib bedding
I found these vintage tags for $2 a piece and thought they were so cute but didn't know what I was going to do with them until I got home and realized I had 4 frames from the guest bedroom I could re-purpose

The nursing corner with the out-of-place blue chair that was in John's nursery. I wasn't going to reupholster it since that was too pricey. But I kind of like how it sticks out a bit since it reminds me of my little baby boy.


I found a lady on Ebay who makes these letter canvases to match your crib bedding so I sent her a fabric sample. I'm really pleased at how they turned out.
The crib again

The window seat with the window valance I made to match the bedding

The pillow to match the crib bedding

The lamp

My ebay chandelier with lampshades I covered to match the crib fabric...very proud of this find since most chandeliers I found were $100 or more. Got this for $50. LOVE! IT!

The infamous bow holder which was the last craft thing I did for this room.

Now, you can see why I've been a little busy. I'm glad the doctor "scared" me into finally packing a bag which also led to me shutting down my craft factory. It was getting out of control.

I hereby declare I am cutting back on my web time spent on Ebay, Etsy, Tip Junkie and the latest blog I've found...The Domestic Fashionista...this is a woman after my own heart and I only wish I knew about her blog sooner.....what fab ideas! I can't even stand it!