She's here!

Wow, well I have so much to tell you! First of all, check out my baby's cuteness. I cannot even tell you how obsessed with her I am. I could stare at her all the time. She is actually a really good baby, too. Even when she fusses, I can almost always calm her down by sticking my boob in her face. She is a total chow hound.

Anyway, on to the birth story... on Sunday night (Nov. 22), we checked into the hospital so that I could get the cervidil to help dilate my cervix. Well, it worked! The next morning I was between 2 and 3 cm dilated, and I was having contractions. At this point I said, "I would like my epidural now, please." And I got it. I could still feel a lot "down there" but it helped enough with my contractions that I was pretty satisfied, and it turned out that because I had some feeling in certain lady parts, I was able to participate more in the pushing process.

Anyway, so after the epidural, we waited for me to continue dilating. I had more contractions, and as they got stronger, I felt a lot of pressure, and my sweet husby helped me breathe through them, just like we learned in class. My sister Nikki was also there helping coach us through them by reading the monitor and telling us when to start and stop the breathing to get the most benefit. Having her there after she had the benefit of going through 2 births of her own was really valuable to us. Once we got to 10 cm and I started pushing, our other family members retreated to the waiting room and Nikki and Gavin stuck with me, one on either side, for the duration. Nikki counted off my pushing and coached me through how to push, which isn't as instinctive as you might think. Big huge props to Nikki. It was surreal scary at this point, knowing that this was it.

Anyway, I pushed and pushed and pushed for a few hours, but the baby just wasn't moving enough. My doctor let me tough it out for a while but then told me that unless we could get her to move within the next few contractions, she wasn't going to move, and we were going to have to have a c-section. After going through all of that and exhausting myself with pushing, the last thing I wanted was to have to call it a day and go to the OR, so I gave it everything I had. The doctor also used a vacuum extractor and together we popped her out! It was the most amazing thing to see her for the first time! Here are some pics!

Bouncing on the yoga ball with Daddy (this really soothes her).

First baby-tub bath! We thought she would hate this but she actually liked it. We think she is going to be either an Olympic swimmer or a regular bather. We will take either.

In her swing! She LOVES this thing and will stay in there for hours between feedings. It is probably the most used item we own at the moment. Yayyy swing!

So that's our birth story! Every day is turning out to be an adventure when we learn something new about Elise. She is so funny and cute, no matter what, and we will basically do anything and everything to make her happy. She rules our house with little tiny pink-mittened iron fists of fury. More pics and posts to come about her, no doubt.

BIG props to my parents for staying with us since the birth and helping us get a handle on this parenting thing and special props to my mom for helping me get my breastfeeding established with all her experience and advice. Finally, thanks to everyone else for all the well wishes and support over this past week and two days! We did it, team!

Updates, updates

Hey folks. Well, here I am, 6 days post due-date and STILL EFFING PREGNANT.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, however, because tomorrow night I check into the hospital to start the induction process. Yayyyyy! It's obvious that this baby is not coming out unless we flush her out like we're on a quail hunt or something. Actually I have known this for a while - I feel validated that the doctors now realize it too...

Sooo anyway, we go in tomorrow night, at which time they'll give me some meds to get my cervix dilating and then the next morning they start the pitocin. It could be a long haul after that, but we'll see... rest assured that as soon as it's all over and I have pictures of the beeeeby I'll post them right away. We're bringing a laptop, so hey, if things are slow enough, we may even update the blog along the way.

Right now I cannot even explain to you how ready I am to get this process going. The baby is more frequently positioning herself riiiight up against my sciatic nerve on the right, which is excruciating, and my back is killing me on the left side too! My top speed is "slow waddle" and I am just so unbelievably ready to get this show on the road. I think this is nature's way of preparing women for the hardship of childbirth. Look at all this wisdom I'm dropping. Actually I'm just delirious.

So that's the update - not much else to report, because this issue has pretty much taken over my life! Hopefully by the next post there will be more Burgii in the house than ever before. Keep us in your prayers!

It's Friday the 13th and my cervix needs a pep talk.

So, first things first, still preg. I went to the doctor this week and my cervix is still pretty much the same as my last appointment - 1 centimeter dilated and about 75-80% effaced, which is better than nothing of course, but not enough action to make induction a possibility before 41 weeks. Grrrrrr.

I shouldn't complain too much. My due date is Sunday, and I'm really ok with waiting the full 40 weeks. But I am starting to get annoyed with my cervix. Really cervix? We can't work together as a team? Not even now, when it's showtime and your big moment to shine? The truth is, I haven't asked much of you up till pregnancy - you've enjoyed an easy ride. Now when I need some cooperation, you decide to clam up. All of my other lady parts have been there for me. Unacceptable.

Anyway, I go back to the doctor on Tuesday for another check-up. Keep your fingers crossed that someone decides to be a team player, ahem.

My birthday was great! We went out with some friends to a very nice dinner, and Gavin got me a kickass spa package. He says I will need it once the baby's born, which at this rate is looking like Christmas, New Years.... at this rate we'll miss the tax deduction cutoff and that will REALLY piss me off! I'm predicting Christmas Eve, 2009, 12 lbs, 3.5 oz. The perfect 3 month old.

Other than that, it is shaping up to be a great weekend, with beautiful weather and entertaining football games. I am going to make the most of it with some quality time with Gavin and the dogs. I'll let you know if anything interesting develops.....

Dirty Thirty

HAHAHA - I'm def not adopted, but it is my birthday and I thought this pic was funny.

Well, folks, here I am - 30 years old and still young and spry as ever. Ok, maybe definitely not so spry at the moment, but I'm hoping to regain my spryness very soon. I thought turning 30 would be a drag, but really, it feels good. It's like ripping off a band-aid and realizing, hey, that wasn't so bad.

One thing that helps is that I can say without reservation that I made the most of my 20s. I really lived it up in my 20s, folks, and Hallelujah for that. My mom always says that time will pass no matter what you do, so you have to make the most of it.

Someone also told me a long time ago to get up and do things when I got the opportunity, even if I felt like staying home and being lazy or taking the more comfortable route, because I'll never regret having the experience. At the time, something inside me perked up and thought, this is great advice, so I took it.

So here are some of the greatest hits of my 20s, in no particular order.

1. Marriage! I married Gavin just 3 months shy of my 25th birthday, and now I look back and think - wow, I was a child bride. But it was the best decision I ever made. It's been such a great ride so far. I love him more and more every day and here we are about to pop out a puppy! I love you heeeeeeny!

2. Trips with friends to fun places! (NYC thrice, Vegas twice, New Orleans twice, Key West twice, San Antonio, Denver, football road trips to Nashville, Birmingham, Atlanta, Auburn, Tuscaloosa, Athens, etc.)

There was a time when I felt a tiny bit guilty taking these trips, because I may have had homework (during college or law school) or perhaps the responsible thing would have been to stay home and study or do laundry, but I stuck to my philosophy and went anyway. Sometimes I just packed Maddie up and took her with me. Looking back, those memories are priceless. I took a lot of these trips in law school, so much so that Gavin called me "Miss Goes-out-of-town-a-lot." He has a way with nicknames. We were courting then, so I think he just missed me.

All I can say is that you really are only young (like that) once, with that kind of freedom and energy, and when I look back, I remember the things I did, not the things I perhaps "should have" been doing at home. I guess they all got done somehow.

Props to Gavin for encouraging me to take all the "girl" trips I have taken over the years - he never put up a fuss about the money I spent or the time I spent away from him - thanks Bear!

3. Family trips! My fam knows how to travel - Canada, California, the UK, Utah, NYC, such great times and memories with loved ones. Also, my trip with Gavin to Italy was something I'll never ever forget.

4. Study abroad program! 6 weeks in Oxford England, with backpacking jaunts to various places in Europe on the weekends, including Amsterdam, London, Dublin, Belfast, Paris, always staying in inexpensive and sometimes scary hostels. I was so lucky to be able to do that with a group of pals from law school. I had practically no money, and barely got home by the skin of my dad's Visa card for "emergencies only", but I had the time of my life.

5. Sports car! Glad I rocked the convertible sportscar for a couple years - it was something I always wanted to do and loved every minute of it.

6. Career! I have been really fortunate to have had great and challenging jobs with excellent mentors and fun opportunities. It's been demanding at times, but, to my own shock, being a lawyer has suited me well, and I'm really happy with where I am now.

7. Baby! I have wondered throughout this pregnancy whether my last hurrah as a 20-something would be to have a baby. How very silly of me. Elise loves my uterus - it must be like a 5-star hotel in there or something. It's ok, though - it will be a great way to kick off the thirties.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing, but it's true what they say, that when you look back on your life, you remember the good things, so hang in there. Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. I really really really hope to be posting about a birth verrrrrry soon!

Love ya!

Heyyyyyy

I caught Maddie mid-yawn.

Well, I'm still preg, but definitely getting there... as of today I am 38 weeks and it DEF shows. There she blows!

Hmm, what is new that I can tell you... the baby has "dropped" which means that, pelvically speaking, she is positioned appropriately to be born. This is not a reliable indicator that labor is imminent, however, because this can happen weeks in advance. Of course.

Elise is looking good - measuring a little on the petite side, but that's ok. If I have to choose between popping out a 6-7 pounder or a 9-10 pounder, my vagina and I will take the smaller baby, thanks. Heh - I said vagina.

Girlfriend kicks me and stretches out her tiny gams A LOT, which is still neat, even after all this time. Frankly though, I'm really ready for this to be over. Not to be a Negative Nancy, but I can't really do anything comfortably and I am not a person who enjoys being uncomfortable. Which is why I wouldn't have enjoyed Woodstock.

So Gavin is watching this thing about a half-wolf, half-man that supposedly killed lots of people in France in the 1700s. Apparently a cop and a zoologist are trying to "crack the case" in 2009 to determine whether the killer was a person, an animal, or a mythical creature, like a chupacabra or something. It is ridiculous. I haven't seen the ending, but something tells me the results of this investigation 300 years after the fact will be inconclusive. Gavin and I have such different tastes in TV sometimes. Basically, if it features time travel, alternate dimensions, space, volcanoes, wolfpeople, or cavemen, you can find it on my DVR, thanks to Gavin.

In other news, I wanted to blog about the current babies in my life - my doggies. Maddie and Sugarbear have gotten really clingy these past few weeks, which makes me think that they know something is up. Here are some pics of them snuggling up to Gavin... awwww.

I know, they are cute. ell, I will keep you updated on any new developments.... hope to talk to you REAL soon...

Hey there...

Sooooo... how the hell are ya? Me? I'm about ready to erupt like Vesuvius - thanks for askin. Here I am, 36.5 weeks along, and still, there's just one of me. I am looking forward to having a mini-me. I am looking for matching pink velour sweat suits for the baby and I to wear home - wouldn't that be great?? Keep your eyes out folks. I need you.

In the meantime, Gavin and I have been really busy, andthat has helped. We have done SOOO much - the nursery is officially complete. I should take some pictures and post them, but that would require me getting off this couch and walking back there for actual activity, so no can do.

Lately, when I get home from work, it's like I have these bursts of nesting energy when I clean my house like a and organize things like a mother trucker, followed by periods where I am incapable of doing anything but sitting right here on my ass. I have been told this is hormonal. I can't complain though, because if it weren't for these bursts of energy, nothing would get done.. at least not by me. Poor Gav has really been picking up the slack - thanks honey!

I also have some fun new symptoms, including but not limited to low back pain on one side and sciatic pain on the other - yay! Back pain? Really? I feel like a Plaintiff or something. I also think I lose my mind momentarily at times. An example of this was when I saw my very sweet, very southern, very hilarious grandfather a few weeks ago. Keep in mind that he hadn't seen me in a while, and I was wayyyy pregnanter than at our last meeting.

Here's how that went:

Me: Hey DeDa!
DeDa: Hey Honey.... what happened to you? (sarcastic allusion to my large and in charge state)
Me: Well, DeDa, I done got knocked up. (hugs)

Seriously Bets? He appeared to get a real kick out of that, but now that I think back, I'm pretty sure it was inappropriate. Whatevs..

In the meantime, I've had a few showers! My pals J and V gave me a really nice couples shower a couple weeks ago, and we had the greatest time. Here I am with the hostesses....


Then, my office gave us a really really nice shower at a local restaurant. Gavin and I were floored when we got there and saw all that they had done. Here's a pic or two...

Well, I go to the doc tomorrow to see if I'm dilated at all.... that should be really fun, as cervical exams always are for me. In the meantime, I'll try to take a look at my life and see if there's anything going on in my life that's not baby-related that I can blog about. I feel bad being so one-dimensional on this blog, but the fact is, being this preg really consumes your life for a while. I go to work and then come home and do pregnant lady things. I'll do better.

See you soon!

And the Burglet's name is....

Ta Da! No, it's not Slim Shady, Snoop Doggy Dogg or Brooke Lynn, although that one got lots of play. Elise Maria is the name - learn it, love it, because one day you'll have to know it for when she's President.

The picture you see above is the result of Gavin and myself really reaching outside our little logical lawyer comfort zones and getting artsy-craftsy. We went out and picked up some letters, lady bugs, and flower pots, painted them, and hung them on the wall in the nursery. The Burglet has the best room in the house, hands down. I will post more pics when I have everything organized in such a way that pleases me. Right now we are a little bit in furniture limbo, because we bought a new bedroom set for our room, which will free up some space in Elise's room (I'm currently borrowing her entire closet for my stuff). We will move that in this weekend, and then I can really finish up the nursery and organize all her baby stuff.

Speaking of the baby stuff, last weekend we had a FANTASTIC shower in Pensacola! The shower was at my mom's house, and the hostesses were my mom and two sisters, Nikki and Maria. We had a great turnout and I got to see so many of my loved ones that live in Pensacola. Shout out to my wonderful mother-in-law and sister-in-law Tammy for making the trip all the way from Deland to be there! As for the haul, I have three words: dirty, filthy loot. Hells to the yes. Everyone was so generous - thanks guys!

Here are some pics.

This is my sis Nikki and my wonderful mom. Note the huge crate o' booze. I was pretty much the only one not participating in that aspect of the shower. That's my family, folks. Yay for evening showers!

Me, Nikki, and Maria (who likes to call Elise "E. Maria")

This is her first Florida Gator outfit - it's 0-3 months sized, so she can pretty much wear it right away to support Dad's team. Look at what a good sport I'm being!

This is more like it! Thanks Auntie Mary!

Little tiny pants.

This is my cousin Anna, me, and my friend Mary (the aforementioned Auntie Mary) - we were all inseparable in high school and it was so great to see them and visit!

And now... survey saysssss....

How far along: 34 weeks, 4 days.

Total weight gain/loss: I still don't want to talk about it!

Maternity clothes: 100% when I leave the house. Fortunately they make cute mat clothes these days that don't make me look like a walking tent (I think). I still wear some of my old t-shirts when it's just Gavin and me hanging around the house, nesting, because it doesn't matter if my belly hangs out then. I figure it needs some air.

Stretch marks: So far so good, but keep in mind that there's a lot of my body that is completely hidden from me at this moment.

Sleeping: Not awesome. I just flip from side to side and have to pee a lot, so what can I really expect in this regard? I'm getting by just fine.

Best Moment of this week: The shower, visiting with my loved ones, and the fact that Gavin was able to be there (he was the photographer) to see me open all our presents and enjoy the party as well. He is going to be the best Dad ever!

Movement: Still going strong! She likes to stick her little dogs right up into my rib cage and rub her little head against my sciatic nerve, which is super fun for me.

Food Cravings: Nothing is really grabbing me right now, but that could change in a matter of moments. Still enjoying the fruit rollups. Hey - are those cheetos?

Labor Signs: None, but still having a few Braxton Hicks contractions here and there.

Belly Button in or out: Outer than space.

What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach and back.

What I am looking forward to: Another shower this weekend, and getting the nursery FINISHED!

So that's it folks - work continues to go well, and I am feverishly trying to get everything on my to-do list done so that I can leave my workload in peace once the baby gets here. I hope everything is going great for you, too - see you soon!