Eluned G. Sharron Bethea » July 2007 Journal Entries » AboutMyBaby - online baby scrapbooks, photo albums, videos, birth and pregnancy announcements

< > July 2007

Sun, Jul 29, 2007 4:00 PM
Will and I did something quite unusual for us last weekend, and we did it again this morning: we went to church.

Don't worry, we didn't suddenly become Southern Baptists or anything crazy like that. We discovered the Unitarian Universalists back in Charlotte, N.C., when they hosted a couple of Buddhist events. We were married by a U.U. minister, and ever since we've kept an eye out for the nearest U.U. congregation. We just haven't actually gotten up and out the door on a Sunday morning.

The baby is, of course, a major factor in our new motivation. I grew up seeing my grandparents and half my aunts, uncles and cousins for extended visits each summer, but the rest of the year we were on opposite coasts. So during most of the year I had my church family. Only later did I really begin to understand the unconditional love and support I was surrounded by as a child. And I can remember all the help our church family provided, like emergency babysitters if my sister or I was sick. Especially since this baby won't live close by her grandparents either, at least in the beginning, I want her to have a church family too.

But the baby isn't the only reason we went. We found the nearest congregation when we searched (Google) for local hiking clubs -- they have one. They also have (we assumed correctly) a choir. And when we got there last week we discovered that they have a Buddhist study group, a book club, and a variety of other things going on. So while we feel like we fit in with U.U.s generally, this particular congregation almost seems made for us.

What drew us back so quickly was the choir. Last week, on our very first visit, they announced that this week they would have an "Instant Choir": everyone who wanted to participate came an hour early, rehearsed one song, and then sang during the service immediately following. Will had to try it, so this morning we were back, early even.

And Will was an instant hit. Most of you know this already, but he's a gifted singer. And though more than one person assured him that there are men in the regular choir, he was the only one to turn up this morning.

Will's been more shy than me lately (and that's saying a lot!), so it was really nice for me to be able to sit down while he worked the room, gathering compliments and meeting people. He signed up for the regular choir and the hiking club, and committed us to a dish for next week's potluck. So I guess we're going back.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Jul 25, 2007 6:00 PM
It appears that we're having a girl.

I had an unscheduled ultrasound today. I was rear-ended on the way in to work; just a bump, really, my car looks fine and I feel fine. But I called Dr. Sikking's office, and they wanted me to come in today just to be safe.

So Dr. Sikking did an ultrasound to check everything out, and everything looks OK. Then she asked if I wanted to know the sex, and we got a pretty good look -- well, I saw dots and squiggles, but Dr. Sikking says the baby is a girl.

I was supposed to go in Friday for some blood tests (another screening), so we did those today as well.

Comments:
Melissa: Little Melissa is on the way!

Poppa & Nana: A girl - cool! As you know, both Mom & I think girls are great.

Chicago Beers: Congrats! William will have so much fun with a little girl! And you too, of course!

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sat, Jul 21, 2007 7:00 PM
We got our first baby book yesterday! It's an adaptation of "Oh, The Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. Will read the book to me and the baby last night.

Steve and Janet Butler take "first baby book" honors. They've been friends of my family for almost 30 years now; my sister and I grew up with their kids, and my husband and I bought our first car together from Steve's dealership.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Wed, Jul 18, 2007 7:00 PM
Absentmindedness (or "pregnesia" as the cutesy maternity Tshirt industry puts it). I haven't been affected too badly, I'm happy to say -- mostly when I'm hungry.

And when I'm parking my car. See, twice a week they clean our street. They do one side on Weds. morning and the other on Fri., so on those days I have to park on the opposite side.

Yes, we do have a two-car garage: with one garage door opener (we think we've found another one that might work); that's full of stuff.

So I've been parking on the street since we've moved in, and it's been working just fine. Until about two weeks ago, when I started to forget about the street cleaning. Or, more importantly, about the meter maid who follows the same route as the cleaning truck.

Seriously, as I pulled on to my street last night I was thinking, "ok, it's Tuesday night, so I have to park on the Friday side of the street." Yet, somehow in the half-block to my house, I completely forgot all of this and parked on the wrong side.

So far (knock on wood) I haven't gotten a ticket. But I've got, hopefully, at least 5 more months -- and then the sleep deprivation kicks in.

Anyone want to come over and help clean out the garage?

P.S. When I left this morning, Will was watching TLC's A Baby Story.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Fri, Jul 13, 2007 11:00 AM
Had a quick check-in with Dr. Sikking today. We listened to the heartbeat (no ultrasound, just a little heartbeat monitor). We had a short conversation. I'm feeling better most days now, so there wasn't a whole lot to talk about. Dr. Sikking ran through the next few appointments; I see her again in 2 weeks for some blood tests. And her nurse took the usual measurements. I haven't gained any weight to speak of, but I'm sure that will change soon.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Thu, Jul 12, 2007 4:00 PM
Last night I took my last progesterone. Dr. Sikking's nurse told me yesterday that I only need the progesterone up to a certain point, and I'm well past that point. I trust Dr. Sikking, and her nurse, but I'm still nervous about giving up this medication.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Sat, Jul 7, 2007 12:00 PM
I'm fascinated by the reactions I get to the news that I'm pregnant.

Not so much from women -- women are pretty universally enthusiastic and supportive. And not from most of the single guys I know -- with a few notable exceptions, most of them offer an obligatory congratulations and then start looking for a way to change the subject.

No, I'm fascinated by the reactions from the fathers I know. Time after time, I think these guys are more excited than anyone. They have a lot of questions for me, questions that show how closely they paid attention to their own partners, like, how well am I sleeping? Most of them aren't going to have any more children, and they sound almost wistful about this. More than one has said he wants as many children as he can afford.

I think this says something, both about fatherhood, and about the men of my generation. Mind you, I have no idea what. But it says something.

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Tue, Jul 3, 2007 12:00 PM
Will and I didn't quite know what to make of the fact that we're having a Pig baby (according to Chinese astrology). Will's a Rooster and I'm a Tiger, and a Pig, well, just doesn't have the best connotation in the States.

It turns out the Chinese have a whole different view of Pigs. I've been reading up a little more, and we're lucky to be having a Pig baby. Xiao Fang, who studies folk culture at Beijing Normal University and is an officer of the Folklore Society, says, "The pig in general is considered by Chinese as a representative of fortune and luck, with a mild temper and an honest character, so many Chinese parents believe babies born in this year are lucky ..." in a Washington Post article, which also says, "Since time immemorial, prospective parents have been told, children born under the pig's patronage will benefit from the animal's image as fat, happy and prosperous."

And this might be the year of the Golden Pig; Golden Pig babies are twice blessed. Or it might not -- there seems to be a debate going. Some are saying this is the year of the Fire Pig, which is still good. Fire Pig babies are said to have a powerful protector/mentor.

Besides, we can always call it the year of the Boar instead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pig_(zodiac).

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates
Mon, Jul 2, 2007 11:00 AM
Quite unexpectedly, I was promoted to a first degree brown belt on Saturday. We went to the promotion ceremony to visit with everyone and cheer them on. I must've earned my degree right before we found out I was pregnant, because I stopped training immediately. (There are four degrees of brown belt; five if you count just the belt without any degrees.)

Comments:

Add a comment:

Name: Email:
Comment:

Notify me of scrapbook updates