Henry in his new vest. Everyone is a pirate.
There’s a week and a half before the official baby due date, but things are definitely Happening down there. The baby’s head is incredibly low, which is apparently unusual for a not-first baby (which makes no sense to me). Her head is so low that when I got checked yesterday, the midwife couldn’t get around the head to reach my cervix to see if I’m dilated at all. I’ll leave you to contemplate whether Unreachable Cervix is a better name for an all-girl punk rock band or as the title of a short story about a woman who travels the globe looking for love in all the wrong places. Or as the name of a particularly grueling hiking trail (“the Unreachable Cervix Trail is the straightest way to the summit, but the Western Boulder Trail is a lot more manageable”).
Every one of the midwives I’ve talked to in the last few days has gotten a serious and slightly alarmed look in her eye, and emphasized that, if I think I’m in labor, I need to go to the hospital Right Away, because things are going to be quick (not one has said “are likely to be quick” — they’ve all spoken pretty definitely). One even said, “If you have to wait around at all for childcare, don’t. Just bring the kids with you. Otherwise you won’t make it.” So I’ve kind of been preparing mentally to have the baby on the front steps/in the car/in the hospital lobby/while standing at the nurse’s station checking in.
In only semi-related news, I’ve been knitting a lot. Turning off the computer plus not being able to bend over to clean the house (well, not bend over and breathe at the same time) has given me a lot of time to sit and knit. I finished a vest that I started for Henry months ago. You can kind of see it in this photo. He wanted a golden vest. I used some local wool from Romney Ridge Farm, which is very soft and springy and cozy and has some really nice variegation. I made my own pattern using The Knitter’s Book of Handy Patterns. He wore it almost every day until it started to get too warm. I also knit a tomato hat for the baby (I had the yarn from making a strawberry hat in the past, but couldn’t find my pattern, and plus am maybe feeling too tired to deal with putting in the strawberry seeds). I forgot to take a photo before Eli happily stuck the tomato hat in the hospital bag (because we like to add at least one thing a day, thus ensuring the bag will weigh 400 pounds when I go into labor, and also because we’re all deluded about how tiny newborn heads are). And I knit one more thing that’s a present so you’ll hear about it later.
I loved your birth story on Design Mom. Congratulations on your upcoming birth. I’m due with our 4th but first boy on the 13th of June. So very thrilled and excited. I hope this birth goes just exactly as you and the little one want. Have a happy weekend 🙂
Thanks! And good luck to you, too!
We’re eagerly awaiting the birth story of the next little Falatko- may it be as smooth- and fast as Zuzu’s was!
I thought it was going to be last night — we even went in to the hospital — but my contractions stopped and so we came back home. I guess it was our trial run. I did take a nap while I was there, which was maybe worth all the fuss just for 45 minutes of deep sleep!
Thinking of you! Can’t wait to hear the news. Maybe this weekend?? Love to you all and very best wishes for a wonderful birth.
Well, it wouldn’t be right without the pre-trial run to the hospital…actually you guys are a little late this time! So excited to hear the news about Phillipa Philomena Falatko! Maybe tomorrow!
Anyone have baby news????????????????????????????
Hi Lisa! I’ve been meaning to update, but of course have been, well…a bit busy! Ramona Greta was born May 25 at 1:23 p.m., weighing in at 8 pounds 2 ounces. She’s awesome, and adorable (of course). I do want to write up my whole birth story because I felt like I was in labor for weeks. I’m so glad not to be pregnant any more!
Oh, I’m soooo glad to hear this!!! I know we’ve never met, but I feel like I know you and your kids through the blog and I was worried—I know you’ve been busy–who has time to write! Congrats!!! Can’t wait to see photos! Wowie–was Ramona on your name list??? Don’t remember that name! Take Care!!
Lisa
Lisa, Ramona was always #1 on our name list, but I never wanted to mention it, in case it got shot down, or in case, I don’t know, someone commented and said, “I love it! I just stole that name for my new baby, who was born before yours! And I’m telling all my friends!” Because that’s so likely to happen, you know.