Bigger and Bigger

So, it has been quite awhile since I posted a new blog. No, I did not fall off the face of the earth, and yes, I am still pregnant!

My work computer blocks my access to blogs (all blogs) randomly and for different periods of time. Why blogs are considered "personal data storage" is beyond me. 

Anyway, I am 38 weeks and 2 days today! Eek!!! Although mentally and physically, I am totally ready to have this baby; our home is totally NOT ready! The bathroom project, since they screwed it up so bad, took over a month longer than it was supposed to. It should have been done mid-June...they finished last week!

Needless to say, we are still working on organizing it and putting things back where they belong. So, since the basement isn't fully together, neither is Silas' new room. Which is where we stored everything that was in the basement while the work was taking place. Since Silas' room isn't even ready to get ready, he is still in the nursery... which means the baby is homeless (or will be once he or she is here). But, we have a bassinet, so the baby will just sleep in our room for the first couple of weeks. My only goal now is to have Silas' new room ready to get ready for him before the baby comes. That is, have the basement in order and everything that should be stored in the basement there... so that the back bedroom is back to its "pre-construction" state. Then it will be a "simple" matter to get it ready for Silas. 

I was hoping for a somewhat relaxing maternity leave this time around; time at the beach, time in VT... yeah... that is obviously NOT going to happen. Last time, I spent my 12 weeks painting, packing, moving into our new house, and unpacking and organizing that new house. This time won't be much different except that it won't be a new house... just the current one. 

Anyway, I have kept up with exercise even if I haven't kept up with blogging about it. Still hitting the treadmill (no way am I going out in this heat and humidity to run outside) about 3x a week, and strength training 2x a week. Feeling good physically, if not entirely comfortable. And, if I do say so myself, I have remained rather small. I am pretty much all baby, as one stranger in the lunch place remarked: "It looks like someone just placed a pregnant belly on you! Your tiny!" and as a co-worker proclaimed only yesterday, "Wow! You're due in two weeks?! But you're so small! My sister in law just had a baby and she was HUGE!"

So, why oh why do some people feel the following statement isn't offensive, "Girl, you are getting bigger and bigger each day! That belly is growing so big!" OK, biatch. First of all, I have gained all of 1/2 lb in the last 3 weeks. Did it not occur to you that yesterday, I was wearing a bit tighter of a top and today I am wearing a flowy sundress... so I just appear to be bigger. And not only that, have some damn tact! Nobody, pregnant or not, wants to hear the words, "Wow, you are so big! You're getting bigger and bigger!" Seriously. I don't care if I am getting bigger because I have another human being growing in me. It is still rude. Especially since I have been exercising and eating healthy all in an effort to ONLY gain weight the baby NEEDS. I have gained 30 lbs. Saying it like that, I don't mind it so much. Really I don't. Even though I worked and slaved for months to LOSE 30 lbs prior to getting pregnant, it actually doesn't bother me hearing the words, 30 lbs. I know in order for this baby to be healthy, I need to gain weight. Plus, all my maternity clothes are a size 8 or 6...and they are a bit big on me. But, generalizing it by saying I am getting big? No, I am NOT getting big. I am growing a human being. There is a difference. 

Didn't your mom ever teach you, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all?"

My Review of Odor Remover

Originally submitted at Diapers.com

bumGenius Odor Remover

 

bumGenius odor remover quickly eliminates the source of odor-causing bacteria in cloth diapers. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and is completely free of chemicals, oils, detergents, perfumes and solvents. Use instead of deodorizing dis...

Odor Remover

Ridiculous price, great product

By New to Cloth from NY,NY on 6/25/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy to Use, Efficient

Best Uses: Diapers and diaper pail

Describe Yourself: Meticulous Cleaner

I would give this diaper odor spray 5 stars if it weren't so expensive for something that gets used up very quickly. For people who still have smells, I think this is designed to be used on wet and dirty diapers... not as a way to clean the smell OUT of them. I spray this on my sons organic cotton diapers, and the wet covers, before putting them in my diaper laundry bag. It helps to cut down on the smell while they are waiting to be laundered and I know will help avoid bacteria growth. Diapers should ALWAYS be washed on hot cycle to kill the bacteria that create smell. if you have stinky diapers after washing, lay them out in the sun!
They need to have a less expensive refill for this because having to buy these tiny bottles and them trash them (recycle them) after a couple of weeks isn't exactly very environmentally friendly...and the price isn't wallet friendly. Otherwise, really works great!

(legalese)

Cloth wins...hands down.

Since I have found a cloth/hybrid diaper that I really like and that really works, I have been very happy with diapering my little man. Never even once reaching for the "easier" disposable or wishing I had one on hand.
I love my GroBaby diapers. They never frustrate or disappoint me at how awesome they are. I have even begun to really like using the cloth inserts. With a flushable liner, even changing poopy diapers is super easy and not gross or icky at all. 

The problem came in, when GroBaby changed to GroVia. The changes they made to the diapers, actually seem like they are going to be awesome. Tuck-in tabs for the velcro so it won't come undone in the wash, 1/2 higher rise for those of us with tall babies, and a waterproof back to the organic cotton soaker pads. AWESOME!!!

Of course, since I had just spent quite a bit of money buying GroBaby shells and soaker pads because they were on sale and GroVia wasn't, I probably won't be purchasing too many GroVia diapers anytime soon. We are on a tight budget and buying the GroBaby shells and soakers was already out of it... so... the newer more awesome diapers will have to wait *sigh*. 

No big deal. 

BUT... the biosoakers were not available for purchase at the same time as the other diapers were. The nanny and my husband used the biosoakers exclusively, while I used mostly cloth and the biosoakers when leaving the house or traveling. I only had 2 boxes of 50 GroBaby biosoakers and they were no longer available as everyone had sold out of them. eeekkk!!!

Needless to say, I ran out of GroBaby biosoakers before the GroVia biosoakers were available for sale. Which meant.... I had to go out and buy some disposable diapers. *Side note, GroVia biosoakers came in earlier than expected on Gro-via.com and so I am "patiently" awaiting my order to arrive sometime in the next few days*

I was too tired the night I realized there would be no diapers for the nanny the next day, so I sent Jacob out to CVS to pick up a pack of diapers. I didn't really care which brand as they were all equally bad for the environment and I didn't plan on using them on any permanent basis. He came home with one of the Huggies brand diapers--not the Pure & Natural ones we used before which weren't too bad I have to admit.

A couple of nights ago, I was talking to Jacob about cloth diapers and how I couldn't believe how easy they were and how much I liked them. He just said, "I like disposables." I didn't feel like getting into a discussion over which was better with him because I know he has made up his mind NOT to like the GroBaby diapers, whether the biosoakers or the cloth soaker pads... it wasn't an argument I was going to win, so it wasn't worth having.

The next night, I was putting Silas' diaper on before bed, and I noticed a rash up his back, near where the back of the diaper is, and in the creases of his legs, it was rubbed raw. I pointed it out to Jacob and said simply, "He got a rash from those Huggies diapers, and they rubbed his legs raw." Jacob looked at me, almost defeated and said, "Yeah, I noticed that too, but the rubbing could be from the swimmie diapers that were a little too small." In his voice, I heard the sound of defeat, the sound of giving in, the sound of, 'you were right, the other diapers are better but I am not going to admit it out loud, this is the best you'll get'.

I didn't want to gloat, so I didn't say anything like, "I told you so." I didn't say anything at all. I just smiled, and on the inside, was totally doing the Dance of Joy, Balki Bartokomous style.

Now, if I can just convince him of how awesome cloth diapers are... 

Baby steps... baby steps...

Buddhism for Mothers: A Book Review

I took a break from reading books about Natural Childbirth, and decided to pick up a book a bit about parenting. 

OK, I stumbled upon this book randomly when I was on Amazon.com buying the Calm Birth CD to practice my Calm Birth meditation methods. 

Buddhism for Mothers: a calm approach to caring for yourself and your children by Sarah Napthali, is not just for Buddhists or those interested in Buddhism. 

I am not a Buddhist. I took a Hinduism course in college, and found it very interesting. I know I know, they are NOT the same. But, they are more similar than say Buddhism and Catholicism. I have read a bit about Buddhism too. It is an intriguing religion. 

But, I have been very stressed out lately. Part of it is pregnancy hormones making it all worse, there is absolutely no denying that. But, outside forces are also working against me. I am an Aries. OK. I am passionate and I wear that passion right up front. I cry when I am angry, and once let loose, strong emotion is very hard to pull in for me. It can take hours before I am fit for society again. 

Stress effects pregnancy. Right now, I am so stressed out, and then to make it worse, stressed that all my stress is going to make this baby born tied up in knots! 

So, I signed up for Upliv, this stress management program from Johnson and Johnson. Need to be a bit more active on that:) But, I thought this book sounded like it could maybe help as well. 

I was not wrong. 

Buddhism for Mothers is not really about how to practice Buddhism. It is more, how the practices of Buddhism can help YOU! As I was reading it, I found myself saying over and over again, "wow, that is me!" or "wow! that is my husband" or "our relationship". And thinking again and again, "huh, that totally makes sense, and it would really help me in such and such situation which crops up again and again."

There is plenty in there for the actual Buddhist as well, but for those of us just looking for a little emotional support, and maybe some tools for practicing mindfulness, or anger management, or stress management... this is a great book. 

In fact, I have asked my husband to read it. While it may be called Buddhism for Mothers and is definitely steered towards addressing moms, I think anyone who has children, or deals with children regularly (teachers, nannies, grandparents, aunts, uncles, whatever!) can benefit from it as well. 

Bottom line... pick it up. It is a highly interesting read that just might help you achieve a bit of calm in your hectic life! 

oof!

Ouch! 

I think it is safe for me to say I have definitely hurt my ankle. I don't think it is serious, I am not a hypochondriac, but I took the risk of hitting the gym last night and now today, it continues to hurt. I have it wrapped, but even just walking was slightly painful. 

Last nights workout was both great and terrible. My Cardio session was awful. This was due to several factors. 
1. My ankle hurt--so running on the treadmill was a bit painful and I had to stop a couple of times to walk, but then walking causes me to feel crampy and tight in my abdomen...
2. It has been a while--In the last 3 weeks, I have managed to workout 3 times. Treadmill twice and running outside once. While normally that wouldn't have such a large effect on my overall fitness level, being pregnant, it really did. Our bodies change so quickly when we are pregnant, one week running can be easy and no problem, the next, it could be difficult. 
3. My Mind. My brain was totally somewhere else. Usually, when I run or hit the treadmill, I manage a good mindfulness of my being and my surroundings. Taking all of it and none of it in at once. Last night, I could NOT get that feeling. My mind was wandering all over the place. Mostly, to my basement which while it is coming along nicely, the workers are trying to rip me off at every turn and have done some things in an incredibly sloppy manner. 

The great part of my workout came after my crappy cardio session when I had my training with Alex. She really pumped it up and now that we are closer to the end, is working on the larger muscle groups and the core to really prepare my body for the end of pregnancy (i.e. carrying around an extra 25 lbs all in one concentrated area) and of course, labor and delivery. She definitely recognized I wasn't in top form though, which is nice because it takes the pressure off. 

Working out with Alex, I was finally able to get my mind out of my basement and into what I was doing because I really try to concentrate on each exercise to make sure I am doing it properly. Although Alex is there in our sessions to correct and guide me, I do these exercises more than just the once a week and she isn't there each time to make sure I am doing them right. So, it is really important to concentrate. 

That was definitely a good thing. Then, when I got home, I started inspecting the basement and noticed a ton of things they did the backwards, cheap and easy way. Granted, the basement and bathroom look about 1000x better than they did before. Don't get me wrong, and to be honest, most people probably wouldn't notice the things I did. No matter how much we fight it, we all become our mothers in some form some day--and inspecting and noticing the tiny things is definitely my mother coming out in me! Of course, I am so done with these guys and their thinking they are the only ones who know how something should be done, and quite frankly, their condescending attitude towards me because I am a woman (and yes... that is it. He speaks very differently to my husband), that I just want this done and I want them OUT of my house. 

Anyway... my body is in a bit of pain today, particularly in the core area thanks to the bridges and crunches I did last night (ouch!) and the standing pull ups that really worked out the backs of my thighs (ironically enough). 

But, in the end... I know this will all be worth it. My body is prepped and ready. Now I just need to start practicing my Calm Birth methods to get my mind in the game as well!