Hello Neighbor

First Item of business: Rejected Birth Place(s):

Tree Nursery
Randals (produce isle)
my couch

Today I really booked it in the grocery store while Mom shopped and Tony tried to keep up with me. That's right I blew him out of the water with my crazy speed walking. As a result I got a horrid contraction in my right side that just went on and on. Mom and Tony say this is progress and I choose to believe them. Rather than assume that I just pulled a muscle.


Second item of business: Mariachi Frogs

Our fine friend Joe is a true son of Lubbock TX and had a bit of interesting trivia about the frogs we spotted during last night's walk. Here is what Joe had to say:
"They were involved in a dispute over authorized advertizing space. The owners claimed they were art not advertizing and to support their claim they sent them to Lubbock to sit in front of our museum for years."

My Mom recalled this news story and said we might have famous frogs in the neighborhood. Joe had thoughts along the same line when he added, "Ask them if the frogs have ever been to Lubbock. Or if, at the least, their frogs know our frogs."

Third item of business: as promised...LAWN DINO!


Final item of business:
I have been avoiding the phone lately because lots of folks want to know about the baby's progress. I really delight in the fact that our loved ones are invested in this baby and it makes me happy to be remembered. However, I don't really want to talk about the labor and birth until it is over. That is why I have been posting so often so that folks can get some news without having to deal with my grumpy mug. Tony however, is all about chatting about baby progress. So feel free to give him a call!

No baby, but we did see a Dinosaur!

Today's rejected birth place(s):

OB's office (during non-stress test)
Garden Center (shopping for native plants)
Galaxy Cafe
Grammy's Chevy
In the kitchen making chicken pesto and peach cobbler
In neighbor's yard next to giant dinosaur statue...let me explain.

This morning I had the doctor urge things along during my exam and as a result I have been feeling contractions today. In an effort to get this thing moving I walked and walked and walked some more. This evening it actually got down to a humid 78 degrees so Tony and I went for an after dinner stroll around our neighborhood. We amused ourselves by mapping out stroller routes and checking out other people's landscaping.

When low and behold what should we see but a white house, with a manicured green lawn, and huge green dinosaur. Not ONLY that but these folks also have giant frogs in a Mariachi Band. Sombreros, guitars, the works.
I can't believe I didn't have my camera with me. I will go out again tomorrow (provided I am not in the hospital) and snag a photo of this bizarre and wonderful freaky...thing.

Come back tomorrow for the dino photo.

Hula

Today's rejected birth place(s):

HEB: Seasonal Section (hence the hula hoop that I am almost wearing as a belt)
Randals (after a two hour walking/ waddling session)
St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Chillies
Blockbuster (we need to cool it on the DVDs...but the Wire is so good)
an ATM at 10:30pm
lying in bed drinking red wine. YES I said it. Drinking.

My Mother-in-law suggested a half glass of wine and said it might relax me into contractions. As I walked around the grocery store (post wine) my abs gave up the effort of holding up my uterus. This ment my uterus had to pick up the slack and started cramping as a result. YEAH! Of course it didn't last but I feel productive. I am going into the OB's office early tomorrow morning for a quick check on me and the baby. Fingers crossed.

Mom says "At least I can get some filing done while waiting for my Granddaughter"

Today's rejected birth place(s):

Home Depot
Lowes
Babies R' Us
Kohls
HEB (frozen food isle)
Blockbuster
Petsmart
A iconic Austin Mexican Restaurant (Chuy's)
In the middle of a sudden torrential rainstorm...on the Solstice!

Because of this reluctance to pop out the kid has lost her shot at being a Gemini and is fated to be a Cancer instead.

I was bummed by that for some reason. Couldn't even start to tell you why. I'm not into astrology. I have no idea what it means to be a Gemini or Cancer. I told Tony about this and he responded by performing a beautiful little crab dance as if he were our baby, whom he has decided to name "Pinchy". It's hard to explain, but it was spectacular and made my hormone addled eyes mist over with Tony love.

Oh and due to the rain it was just 88 degrees for most of the day. It was heavenly. We were even able to open some windows for the first time since late April. Here is the cat enjoying a nice breeze.

Non-bebe...yet

Today's rejected birth place(s):
1) The Apple Store
2) La Madaline
3) The Library
4) Surrounded by my neighbor's puppies

11pm and no baby yet. I don't know what to do with myself. I think TV/ ice cream may hold the answer.

P.S. Here is another place the kid rejected: #5 Lenscrafters.
I went in to get my glasses adjusted for the third time this month. They don't seem to fit right no matter what I do. Either they fall off, sit crooked, or give me a splitting headache. They still aren't quite right but I am tired of making trips to the mall. During my final (I swear) trip to Lenscrafters yesterday I got the usual "When are you due" questions and got to use the fun overdue answer, "4 days ago". Everybody gasped and one of the managers said he went through three years of Medical School so if I dropped the kid in his store I could be comforted by his semi-doctor status!

"Where's that Baby at?!"

That was the text message from my sis-in-law Becky this morning and I'd bet you a million dollars she said it like Yosemite Sam in her head.

Well the Baby is still chillin' in my tummy for the time being. Today we decided to forgo walking even though Bethany made a great suggestion in the last post that we visit The Blanton Museum which was actually free today.
However, with gas prices the way they are we stayed home today.

My Mom is one of those folks who own a big gas burning vehicle. Unlike most folks in my neighborhood though, she has an actual use for her 4-wheel drive, loading space, and towing capability. At this moment her car is covered in off-road mud and filled with building supplies and tools. Moma has to make a 14 hour drive on a pretty regular basis deep into the Arizona desert to reach building sites on the Navajo Nation. So her car suits her job but the current gas prices mean that she needs to restrict her driving to work related trips.

So instead of walking to start labor I tried coaxing the kid out with the cunning use of dreary chores. I attacked every mind-numbing task that I had lying around the house. Like organizing receipts by purchase, date, and ridiculousness of expenditure. Then Mom and I steam-cleaned every surface the kid might conceivably touch. Not because we worried about germs mind you, but because we are BORED!!!
I wish I could work on my comics but sitting down at the computer is a little uncomfortable right now as I have a kid struggling in my lower abdomen every time I lean forward towards the mouse. In fact I better wrap this up right now.

Today's rejected birth place: Brand new "High Efficiency" commode:

Tony picked up two new toilets from Austin's free toilet program since our thrones are from 1984. Tonight he went through the mighty task of ripping out the old unit and installing the new one. My Mom did all the calking and sealing of the toilet and she cleaned up after the project was done.
I...took this picture.

Now I haven't actually (ahem) used this potty but it would have been fun if she popped out while Grandma and Dad were upstairs dealing with pluming issues.

Stay tuned for more non-updates!

Speaking of Flowers and no Baby...

Today I am one day past my due date and still no signs of imminent labor. My Mom and I decided that the best thing for me to do was walk around as much as possible. So we headed down to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center and enjoyed a walk through the native plant gardens. We also enjoyed doing laps inside the Center's museum because it was 104 degrees out today. I have a dying lawn due to the unusually horrible heat and lack of rain. So Mom is helping us plan a no-grass native plant solution for our yard.

After the heat became overwhelming we drove over to BookPeople. A wealth of loving friends and family have resulted in my running through several packs of notecards so we picked out some new thank you notes.

Then it was off to Whole Foods (due to proximity more than anything) for snacks and icecream.

After all that walking around I have had no noticeable "contractions" per se, though I have felt some tightening and aching. I wouldn't be a bit bothered by my current pregnant state, (in fact I feel great) if not for the pressure to give birth before she gains another half pound.

Ah well, doesn't hurt me to keep moving. Tonight we are installing some new free toilets from the city. So that might push things into gear.

I gave this kid the opportunity to be born in a national park, a bookstore, and a Whole Foods...I can't believe she didn't take me up on these options. I will keep folks appraised of our baby progress via this blog as things happen (or don't).

Thank you to everybody who have sent their good wishes our way. Your kind thoughts are much appreciated!

No baby yet, but look at the pretty flowers~

So the due date has arrived and we have no baby yet and it looks like we might be waiting at least a day or two. My doctor has pushed back our induction date to next week because I am reluctant to get into the whole Pitocin dance.

Today my Mom bought me some "It's ok that you aren't in labor flowers". We are going to go find a cool place somewhere in Austin to walk around and get things moving. I hate the mall with a fiery passion so we are considering the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. It is over 100 degrees outside so options are limited.

Thanks for everybody who wrote in to check on me and say sweet things. I will thank you all individually when I get back from my "please water, just break" hike.

Take Care