Well, this pregnancy seems to be getting nowhere. I was reading a book a few days ago that had a quote comparing something the heroine was going through to the last few weeks of pregnancy, where it felt like the baby would never come, and you were going to be the size of a barn and unable to bend over for the rest of your life! I could totally relate.

But, just to let you know, if I do not have this baby by Monday, we will set up a schedule for me to be induced. I’d rather not have to do this, but it is nice to know I won’t be pregnant indefinitely! So, I’ll have some sort of update by then I’m sure!

(Also, I’m starting to think I may have a Halloween baby…mostly because early in my pregnancy I made so much noise about not caring when she was born as long as she wasn’t born on Halloween. So…well, you know how that works. Luckily, I have a good friend who just stated we could call her Pumpkin if she was. I think this works! )

But, since being pregnant is so all I think about. I thought I’d share some of the more interesting things that happened with my last two pregnancies! Nothing yucky…just a few amusing stories! And I promise I have some actual post ideas rolling around in my head. One day I might actually get to those (on working parents, dinnertime as a family and other sorts of things).

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When I was pregnant with my daughter Shiloh, my oldest, I played in a basketball tournement in Brussels, Belgium. In between jet lag and ball games you could find me sacked out on the gym floor with my pitifully swollen feet propped on gym bags or bleachers. I took naps in a shopping mall, the airport on a dolly with our teams luggage, and many other interesting places. But I did get to see some lovely architecture, eat some magnificent chocolate, visit the place where Napeleon was finally defeated at Waterloo, see the sculpture of Madonna and Child, buy my coming daughter the most gorgeous baby dress covered in handmade Belgian lace, and ride through the canals of Brugge, looking at all the marvelous churches. It was a blast. Just wish I hadn’t been so tired.

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When my son was born, they of course, let me hold him for awhile in the labor and delivery room before they gave me my own room. They took him to give him a hearing test, clean him, and all the other things they do to newborns while they got me settled in my room. Then they brought him to me again. I had a visitor come and I was showing off my baby. The visitor commented that he had just seen Landon in the nursery and was surprised at how fast they got him to me. At the same time, I was noticing some red birthmarks on the baby’s head that I hadn’t noticed before. Of course, I’d just given birth and it was in the wee sma’s of the morning that I had been admiring my son.

I undo the folds of the blanket to check the feet (my son had incredibly long feet for a baby) and I noticed the hospital tag. Believe it or not, this baby did not belong to me! It was a girl! I buzzed the nurses and you should have seen the commotion. They were so apologetic. I was not concerned….I was more amused. I am glad they tag babies well though! And it is funny to think what would have happened if I’d discovered the mistake during a diaper change!

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When I was pregnant with my daughter I read all about how mothers sometimes are disappointed in the appearance of their newborns. They expect instant Gerber babies with round rosy cheeks, beautifully shaped heads, and perfect complexions. So I prepared myself for all possibilities. I would expect a cone headed, jaundiced baby with baby acne. Then I wouldn’t be let down. And then the doctor’s handed me the most beautiful baby girl imaginable! Her complexion was lovely, she was just the right amount of baby chubbiness with dimpled fingers and chin, a perfectly rosy little mouth, huge round eyes that were alert and looking around, framed in amazing lashes….all a mother could ever dream of. People went on and on about how lovely she was.

Of course, I decided then that I, of course, just make beautiful babies. So…no preparing for the worst with my son. He of course, would be all I could hope for. My son was born, and the doctor placed him in my waiting arms…..

But this could not be my child! This child was red – and so skinny his skin was hanging off his bones. He looked like a concentration camp baby. His fingers and feet were extremely long and bony. Not a dimple to be found. And let’s not discuss complexions. As well, he had the slantiest (is that a word?) eyes that looked like little slits in his skinny face.

Although my kids were very close in weight, my son was about six inches longer than my daughter. Who would have known that could make such a huge difference in looks!

Maybe this story sounds mean. I think it’s funny. I, as you probably know, think my son is absolutely gorgeous now! He just took a little getting used to in the beginning. He’s turned out nicely though, if I do say so myself.

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When I was pregnant with my son, I fully expected my inquisitive three year old daughter to ask all the embarrassing questions about how the baby comes out, etc. To my surprise, and delight, she never asked. When my son was six weeks old and I had to go back to the doctor for my check-up, I left both kids with a good friend who had an apartment near the clinic I was going to. When I picked up my children, my friend informed me that the reason Shiloh had not bombarded me with questions was because she had figured everything out for herself.

I gave her a confused look and she filled me in. While I was at the doctor’s appointment, Shiloh informed my friend that her mother had gone to the hospital and the doctor had pulled a baby brother out of her mouth.

Shiloh does know how babies get here now. Her love for animals and reading and watching everything she can about them helped her figure this one out with only a little help and explanations from her mother.

Now, I wonder what Landon’s been thinking……?

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Things I did during my first two pregnanies:

*Play in a basketball tournament
*Continue jogging daily
*Continue bike riding daily
*Roller coasters
*Play in the ocean during Hurricane Danny
*Waterslides
*Hike up part of Stone Mountain
*Jet ski riding
*DisneyWorld (and riding all the rides)
*Play football
*Play ultimate frisbee (a truly marvelous game)
*Inline skating…ramps and the works
*Bowl
*Be the maid of honor in a wedding
*Worked or went to class (college) up to the day I went in labor

Things I’ve done during my third pregnancy:
*nap
*take long bubble baths
*nap
*read a lot of books
*nap
*rest on the couch
*nap
*have my husband and kids fetch anything I needed/wanted
*nap
*sit down to teach all day(for the first time ever!)
*take off work more than a week before the baby is born

Yes, I’m definitely older!

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And, just out of curiousity, how did you other mothers deal with questions from your older kids about where babies come from, how they get from mommy’s tummy into the world, and breastfeeding? Do you have any advice on answering these questions? Just trying to get ready. I’m sure my five year old will soon be asking…..I do hate those kind of questions!

Also, feel free to share any great pregnancy stories. Looks like I’ve got time to read ‘em!