During her pregnancy, people warned
she was about to fall in love
like never before.
She simply didn’t understand
connection,
strong bonds,
the feeling of adoration
until her
son.
Romances come and go but
your baby
hooks you for life.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Dannika: Big Sister!
Chris and I told Dannika that she was going to be a big sister last week. To prepare her for this, we checked out some books at the library to read to her about what babies are like, what she can expect, and even the very basics of how babies are made. After reading some of these books to her throughout the week, we told her at dinner on Thursday that she was going to be a big sister and that there is a baby in my tummy. We told her that the baby is only the size of a lemon right now, but by the time it’s ready to come out it will be as big as one of her dolls. The questions that followed were quite interesting.
“There is a baby in your tummy? Right now?”
“Yep.”
“Where is the baby.”
I put her hand on my tummy. “About right there.”
“How come your tummy isn’t big?”
“The baby isn’t very big yet. It has to stay in there for a long time to get big.”
“Why?”
“The baby can’t eat on its own, so I have to eat for the baby. My food goes through the umbilical cord to the baby so the baby can eat. Every time I eat some of my food goes to the baby and that helps the baby get bigger. Just like when you eat it helps you get bigger.”
“I was in my mommy’s tummy too.”
“Yes you were. And your mommy had to eat so you could get food too when you were a baby.”
“Yeah, but I don’t have an umbillicon cord anymore. I have a belly button!” (Dannika pronounces umbilical “umbillicon”)
“Yep!”
“Can daddies have babies?”
“No. Daddies can’t have babies in their tummy. Only the mommy can do that part. But daddies help make the baby, so it’s his baby too.”
“Where did you and daddy make the baby?”
GULP!
Monday, Dinnertime
“Bethy? Is the baby still in your tummy?”
“Yup.”
“Is the baby getting some of your food right now?”
“Yep. Every time I take a bite, some food goes to the baby.” I put some casserole in my mouth.
“Do it again!”
“Do what again?”
“Feed the baby again!”
I take another bite. Dannika smiles.
“Feed it again!”
Of course, it has also come up that we do not know if Dannika is going to have a baby brother or a baby sister. When asked if she would like a baby brother or a sister her answer has always been:
“I want a baby sister.”
“Well, we may not get to choose a sister. You might have a brother instead. We’ll love whatever God gives us.”
“Yeah, but I want a sister.”
“That would be fun. But I’m sure we’ll love a baby brother too.”
Dannika makes a face. Silence.
There are many more stories of Dannika’s inquiries about her sibling, but I am running out of time. Perhaps there will be a second entry later.
Peace!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
In Your Dreams
I've read that when you are pregnant you are likely to have some very wacky, very vivid dreams! For me, this has proven true and it is one of the symptoms of pregnancy that is actually kind of fun!
Earlier this week I had a dream that I was the director of a Christmas version of Singin' in the Rain. While I sat in an auditorium, hundreds of men and women, dressed in red with white fur collars danced around magically with umbrellas in a way that was truly mesmerizing. Snow flakes fell, the dancers did tricks with their umbrellas--seriously, Wicked would have to run for its money if this musical was ever produced.It was amazing!
I also had a dream where I was able to buy my dream house, a five bedroom three bathroom Victorian with crown moldings, built-ins, hardwood floors, and a den that I could turn into my very own library. Of course, during my dream I was decorating the baby's nursery after moving in to this gorgeous home. Did I mention it that it had a fenced-in yard and was on a culdesac?
Last night I had a less pleasant, but still very strange dream. I was in a canoe on the Nile River with a friend from church and all of a sudden the 7 plagues (from the Moses story) started to occur. First there were locusts everywhere. Then frogs completely filled the water and the boat. It felt so real when I woke up, I checked my skin to see if there were any bugs on me!
Has anyone else experienced the phenomenon of vivid dreaming during pregnancy? What was the strangest/best/most entertaining dream you had?
Earlier this week I had a dream that I was the director of a Christmas version of Singin' in the Rain. While I sat in an auditorium, hundreds of men and women, dressed in red with white fur collars danced around magically with umbrellas in a way that was truly mesmerizing. Snow flakes fell, the dancers did tricks with their umbrellas--seriously, Wicked would have to run for its money if this musical was ever produced.It was amazing!
I also had a dream where I was able to buy my dream house, a five bedroom three bathroom Victorian with crown moldings, built-ins, hardwood floors, and a den that I could turn into my very own library. Of course, during my dream I was decorating the baby's nursery after moving in to this gorgeous home. Did I mention it that it had a fenced-in yard and was on a culdesac?
Last night I had a less pleasant, but still very strange dream. I was in a canoe on the Nile River with a friend from church and all of a sudden the 7 plagues (from the Moses story) started to occur. First there were locusts everywhere. Then frogs completely filled the water and the boat. It felt so real when I woke up, I checked my skin to see if there were any bugs on me!
Has anyone else experienced the phenomenon of vivid dreaming during pregnancy? What was the strangest/best/most entertaining dream you had?
Sunday, October 2, 2011
2nd Trimester Thoughts. . .
. . . the time between regular clothes and maternity clothes is rather awkward.
. . . every time I see a baby I get excited. Then scared.
. . . is the 2nd trimester burst of energy basically like going back to sleeping 8 hours a day instead of 12? (Or at least wanting to sleep that many hours?)
. . . to take the Bradley Method classes or not to take the Bradley Method classes. That is the question.
. . .On a similar note--lactation class. I know I should, but. . . but. . .do I gotta? Ugh.
. . . where is my shiny, smooth skin and hair? I am breaking out like a teenager and every time I shave I cut myself due to all of the goosebumps I have.
. . . I don't think putting on too much weight will be a big problem at this point. I feel bloated after eating even small meals, so it's hard to want to overindulge. Unless whatever I'm eating includes cheese dip.
. . . You know what sounds really good right now? Cheese dip.
. . . There is a baby inside of me. A PERSON. It's there. RIGHT NOW!
. . . I feel almost no inspiration to start planning my nursery. I think it is because I don't know if Poppy is a girl or a boy yet. I must be a "genderist" decorator. I use the term genderist because a professor in college said the word sexist is sexist. Er, something like that.
. . .really wish my "symptoms" that are "probably fine" would go away, as they are "scaring the crap out of me"
. . . Did I feel you the other day or was it my imagination?
. . . How will Dannika react when we finally tell her? How will her mother react? :-/
. . . I really need to get my act in gear and get my house organized before this baby comes
. . . Having a legitimate excuse to go shopping for new clothes is great.
. . . Prenatal massage. The second best thing about having a baby. Tied with
. . . every time I see a baby I get excited. Then scared.
. . . is the 2nd trimester burst of energy basically like going back to sleeping 8 hours a day instead of 12? (Or at least wanting to sleep that many hours?)
. . . to take the Bradley Method classes or not to take the Bradley Method classes. That is the question.
. . .On a similar note--lactation class. I know I should, but. . . but. . .do I gotta? Ugh.
. . . where is my shiny, smooth skin and hair? I am breaking out like a teenager and every time I shave I cut myself due to all of the goosebumps I have.
. . . I don't think putting on too much weight will be a big problem at this point. I feel bloated after eating even small meals, so it's hard to want to overindulge. Unless whatever I'm eating includes cheese dip.
. . . You know what sounds really good right now? Cheese dip.
. . . There is a baby inside of me. A PERSON. It's there. RIGHT NOW!
. . . I feel almost no inspiration to start planning my nursery. I think it is because I don't know if Poppy is a girl or a boy yet. I must be a "genderist" decorator. I use the term genderist because a professor in college said the word sexist is sexist. Er, something like that.
. . .really wish my "symptoms" that are "probably fine" would go away, as they are "scaring the crap out of me"
. . . Did I feel you the other day or was it my imagination?
. . . How will Dannika react when we finally tell her? How will her mother react? :-/
. . . I really need to get my act in gear and get my house organized before this baby comes
. . . Having a legitimate excuse to go shopping for new clothes is great.
. . . Prenatal massage. The second best thing about having a baby. Tied with
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