Might have to take down the pregnancy ticker

It's been pretty fun to watch, but it's really starting to freak me out now!

GO! Set. Ready?

Given that I can't sleep, and I've been meaning to blog on this topic for what seems like forever, I figured it was about time. How many times have you heard or said the following: "you're never completely ready for a baby." I heard that constantly growing up, and I've been told that more times than I can count since announcing this pregnancy. I know it's true; it has to be. How can you prepare yourself for something you have no concept of in actuality, particularly if you didn't grow up around lots of little kids and babies (I certainly didn't).

It occurs to me that having a child is the one thing we do almost completely backwards, thus the title of this post. Under normal circumstances for most any task, we would do everything possible to prepare ourselves. We'd read, we'd study, we'd practice. We'd "get ready." Then we would set up the plan for how to accomplish whatever it is we want. "Set." Finally, when we feel "ready and set," we'd implement said plan and tackle whatever it is we were preparing for; "go." You can't really do that with having a child. For most people (my personal observations here), the first thing we do is start trying (GO!). Only once we have succeeded do we really start setting out the fully detailed plan. What do we need? When do we need it? How does this whole birth thing actually work (you expect me to do what?! LOL)? Only once we've taken the plunge and there's no turning back do we bother to get around to being "set" for actually bringing a child into this world and into our own home. And then, once we think we're all (or mostly) set, or we hope we are because we're running out of time.... only then do we really sit down and say, am I ready for this? The answer is no. No matter how much prep work we do, we'll never be truly ready. All we can do is hope and wait and pray.

Doesn't really matter, anyway, because it's too late to change my mind at this point. Only 5(ish) weeks left. EEK! Are we ready? No; see above. Are we set? Well, we're getting there. Hey, we have a constructed crib in the baby's room now. Yay! ::big smile:: OMG, we have a crib!!! That means we're *actually* going to have a baby to put in it. EEK EEK EEK!!!!! What the heck were we thinking?! We're not ready for this! ::tries not to faint:: And we're breathing....

Quite a range

When I had my storybook shower at the beginning of this month, we posted two contests for the attendees. One was "guess the birthday" (using birth time as a tie break, should two people pick the same date). The second was "guess the weight" (using length as the tie break). We got quite a range of answers! I guess that's good. It means not too many people will be all bunched up, so there shouldn't be any close calls. The dates range from 9/23 (two weeks early) to 10/15 (8 days late). Times from 2 AM to 11:23 PM. Weights from 6 lbs. 5 oz. to 8 lbs. 8 oz. (Thank goodness no one thinks I'll be giving birth to a behemoth.) Lengths from 17 3/4 inches to 20 inces even. Should be an interesting contest!

The funny thing is going to be seeing how well my father does at the birthday game. He decided to take the "scientific approach." He looked up the moon tables on his palm and chose the date of the full moon closest to my due date. LOL So he guessed October 13. Given the sheer number of engineers we had there (these were most of my college (Georgia Tech) friends), I'm surprised he was the first person to think of it. Let's see how accurate science is, shall we?

Atlanta Get-Together - a special thank you

I just wanted to thank everyone who came to the Atlanta GTG today at Valerie's house. We had a fabulous time. We just had one three weeks ago, but they decided to hold one again, since this will be my last one before my baby is born. (Next one is scheduled for the last week in September or first week in October; um, no). We had a great time, despite missing a couple of members who had to cancel at the last minute (missed you Stacey and Maria!). Lots of laughter, lots of stories, lots of food, and some stitching. LOL It was so much fun!!

And surprising! That's right, part of the GTG involved a surprise baby shower for me, and not only did the "locals" participate, but several other members of the TWBB as well, some from as far away as England. I was so stunned! And I didn't have a single clue it was coming. I have been promised I don't have to send out thank you notes (bless you), but I did want to publicly thank the following people for making today so special for me: Valerie (the hostess with the mostest), Jana, Lori, Kirsten (who also brought the yummiest cake!), Cris, Ginny, Becky, Cindy, Angi, Teresa, Annette, Margaret, Sue, Jenni, Lisa, Mel, Pauline, and Kay. Y'all are the best!

I understand that at least one package did not make it in time, but Valerie will get any stragglers to me at a later date. So, if you don't see your name listed above but you did send something, it just hasn't gotten to me yet.

Thank you all again! I feel so loved and blessed with friends like you.

-Erin, smiling through happy tears

Where has Mr. Wiggles gone?

Before I start this story, I want everyone to repeat (and believe) the following statement: everything is fine! Got it? Okay, you may continue. For anyone who gets the baby newsletter, this story is a repeat.

We had a minor baby scare on Tuesday. He had been very very active for the last week or so, virtually in constant motion. He was quiet, though still moving, on Monday. Tuesday, I realized late afternoon (naturally, around 4 pm when the doctor's office closed) that I had felt virtually no movement all day long. Called the office, and they sent me to "OB Assessment" to have fetal heartbeat and activity monitored. Took them a while to find the heartbeat (not uncommon for our uncooperative child), and he still wasn't moving much. After about an hour, they decided to use the accoustic stimulator, which is essentially a buzzer placed on my belly that provided noise and vibrations. Boy, he did NOT like that! I thought he was going to jump right out of me through my belly button. But that was the reaction they wanted, and after that (I think he decided he didn't want to go through that again), he's been moving regularly. Whew! Don't scare mommy like that again please!

The world's strangest favor

Probably my most embarrassing pregnancy moment to date: I had to ask someone for the world's strangest favor yesterday. I had a baby appointment, and when I came out of the office building, the person next to me in the parking lot had parked almost right on the line nearest the driver's side of my car. Granted I was a little closer to the line than normal (not exactly centered), and the parking spaces are narrow (less than a foot from tire to line if you are perfectly centered), but there was not even a foot between the sides of our vehicles. Not only could I not have gotten the door open far enough to actually get in it if I could have reached it, I couldn't even get my hips between the sides of the cars. Turning sideways did no good with this basketball sticking out front, which also prevented me from crawling through the passenger's side. ::sigh::

So I head back into the building, hoping to find someone, someone skinny enough, to help me. Thankfully, an angel was sent promptly. As I was walking in, a very nice man, roughly my age and quite slender (5'10" and 160-170), was walking out. I stopped and asked if he would mind helping me, and he said he would certainly try. When I explained the situation and what I needed him to do, he just smiled. "I'd be happy to help. I hope someone will do the same for my wife if she is ever in a similar situation." As we walk out, he asks where I am parked, and I point off to our left. "Uh-oh, I hope I'm not the idiot who parked too close!" LOL He wasn't; in fact, he was parked directly in front of me. Even he commented on how close the cars were, and even he had difficulty getting in the door (but not getting between the vehicles ::rolls eyes::). He backs it out for me, I thank him profusely, and I leave. Next time, I'm cheating to the right side of the parking space!

Just what I wanted! (not)

This morning, I woke up to another "official" sign of late pregnancy: stretch marks. Now, these are not my first stretch marks. I have plenty from being overweight on and off my entire life, but I've had most of those long enough that they have faded to the pale silvery hardly-noticable type (particulary when I am so pale to begin with). It was just rather a shock to see "fresh ones" glaring purple in the mirror this morning. I know, they are to be expected, but that doesn't mean they are welcome. Guess I should step up my skin care regiment with the stretch mark cream Connie gave me for Christmas. I haven't been very diligent about it to this point; perhaps this is my punishment. If I start now, maybe I can minimize them to some extent. We shall see.

David Tippin found ALIVE!

THEY FOUND HIM! David Tippin has been found alive, bundled in sheets in an abandoned house less than a mile from his own home. Scent dogs tracked him all night during the cooler temperatures when tracking is good. Early this morning, they found where he spent Sunday night. A few hours later, a man called police reporting that he had found David in a vacant rental home on his property. He saw a light on in the house that shouldn't have been on, entered the home, and found David sleeping on the floor. The hospital confirms that, other than several very minor scratches and some mild dehydration, he is just fine. His only requests: his stuffed polar bear and lunch (hot dog and french fries).

Thank you all so much for your concern, and especially your prayers.

Please help find David Tippin

David Tippin, the 4-year-old son of a friend of mine, is missing. THIS IS NOT A JOKE! This is someone that I personally know. In fact, I just spent the day with her and a bunch of other stitchers on Saturday. I saw her less than 10 hours before she found her child missing.

He was last seen in his own bed in Stockbridge, GA, wearing an electric blue Finding Nemo t-shirt and gray shorts. He is a white male, 3 foot 6 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He seems to have wandered out of the house before daybreak on Sunday morning, and he has not been seen since. Here is a link to Stacey's blog, which has more information and a photograph of David.

Please, especially if you are in the Atlanta area, please keep your eyes open. Help us bring this child home to his parents. Stacey is one of the most honest and decent people I have ever met. If there is anything you can do to help, even pray, please do so. Thank you.

The Friday Five - from 07/30/2004

1) Of everything in your wardrobe what do you feel the most comfortable wearing? Why?
Currenty, maternity clothes (for obvious reason). Under normal circumstances: jeans and t-shirts. I feel that I can go most anywhere in that, and I look relatively decent. In the winter, it's jeans and turtlenecks.

2) How would you describe your style?
Nonexistant! LOL Extremely laid back and comfortable, and very anti-skirt (in skirt only or dress form).

3) How many pairs of shoes do you own and do you wear them all?
How many do I actually own? Probably close to 30, but most of them are piled into a bag in the closet and haven't been worn in *years.* I really need to give them away. I actually wear, um (I'm counting), 5 pair: "real" sneakers, two pairs of Keds (one white leather, one USA stars and stripes), black dress shoes for pants, black dress shoes for dresses.

4) Where do you buy most of your clothes?
Wherever I can find things that fit! Jeans usually come from Wal-mart (seriously; their Faded Glory brand actually tends to fit the best). T-shirts from all over, though the majority are probably from Disney. Turtlenecks from Land's End. Most of the rest of my clothes from Rich's, Sears, or JCPenney. I ordered all of my maternity clothes from JCPenney, and I can't say enough good things about the fit, the quality, the service, or the ease of returns. I have been *extremely* pleased. (No affiliation, just a happy customer, blah blah....)

5) What was the last piece of clothing you bought?
My TWBBWWGTG t-shirt. (That's the Teresa Wentzler Bulletin Board World Wide Get-Together, for any non-board people who may come across this.) I couldn't pass up the chance to have an "official" TW t-shirt, even if I can't attend the event. :( But it's for a good reason (I suppose, LOL). Thank you Margaret for organizing that effort! I can't wait until I can actually wear it!