TAGGED!!

Eight Random Things About Me:
Rules:1. Each player starts with 8 random facts about themselves.2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their 8 random things and post the rules.3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and post their names.4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

1. I have a spider phobia. I don't really freak out when I see one in the house, but I will wake up in the middle of the night and *think* I see a spider on our blankets, or, even worse, one coming down from the ceiling on a web right above me. I throw the blankets off and jump out of bed (rude awakening for Tony!) and we search and search and never find a spider. I do this at least once a month.

2. I hate mangos! I have tried and tried to like them, but I just don't!

3. I have seen hundreds of concerts including Slayer, The Grateful Dead, Eric Clapton, BB King, AC/DC, Soundgarden (in a tiny club- it was awesome), Metallica, Megadeth, Phish... you name it and I have probably seen them!

4. I prefer Winter to Summer.

5. I LOVE books and come home with a new one (or 2, or 3) everytime I visit a thrift store. I like all books... reference, fiction, children's books... Someday I will live in a house with a library!

6. I was introduced to Tony by his ex-girlfriend who I worked with. She was horrible!!

7. I like to watch cheesy 80's and 90's movies~ Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, Singles, Swingers, etc. I own all of the above by the way.

8. I am not going to tag anyone... if you read this and decide to post 8 random things about yourself please post a comment letting me know so I can check it out!

Welcoming Harper Corrigan

I woke at 8:30 am Sunday May 12th with mild cramping. Being 41.5 weeks pregnant I was sure I was going to be pregnant forever, so I dismissed the idea that labor had started. Tony had been home from work for several days and was returning that morning. I got up and made breakfast while Tony got ready. At 10:30 am, just before Tony was to leave I started to notice that the cramping did not go away... in fact it had become a little stronger and more regular. I timed a few. Sure enough they were coming every 5 minutes. Tony made a quick call to work to let them know he would not be coming in, then got to work filling the birth tub. We had a feeling it would take quite awhile and we were right!

I labored throughout the day, spending most of my time on the birth ball or sitting on our rocking loveseat. The contractions started getting pretty strong at about 2:00. I tried to nap a little but was only comfortable for a half hour or so. I really wanted to be in the water but the tub was still filling. We would fill until the hot water ran out, then wait an hour, then fill again. It was a slow process. Finally at aproximately 3 pm I moved to the birth tub. It felt great even though it wasn't quite as warm as I would have liked. After spending an hour or so there I decided to move to our bath tub so we could cover the birth tub and let the heater heat the water a little. We had planned a water birth and I wanted to make sure the water was warm enough for Baby.

It was around the time that I moved to the bath tub that we decided to give our midwives a call. They arrived at 5:35 pm. I was in laborland at this point, working very hard to stay on top of each contraction. After a quick blood pressure check and a listen to Baby they started boiling and microwaving big pots of water to pour into the birth tub. It was funny to me that they were actually boiling water for my birth! Isn't that what they always tell someone to do in the movies! When the water was nice and warm I gladly moved from the bath room back to the birth tub. I spent the next hour or so kneeling and leaning on the side of the tub.

I was having long contractions close together, most of them double peeking. My membranes had still not ruptured and I remember thinking that if my water would break that my Baby would be right there! I was just getting ready to ask one of the midwives to please just break my water when POP! ruptured membranes! I immediately felt the Baby move down. The next contraction I was pushing~ finally! I started pushing at 7:40 pm and his head was out within 4 or 5 pushes. My midwife checked for the cord around Baby's neck. The cord was indeed there but she could not unwrap it. She had me push a little but baby did not move. She had me get onto my hands and knees and push while she helped him out. At 7:59 pm our beautiful Baby was born! I immediately turned to see my Baby and saw a BOY! I was so surprised and happy at the same time!

We weighed our little guy about 2 hours after the birth~ 9 pounds 8 ounces! Not so little after all! He is a happy, gorgeous boy. He nurses like a champ, sleeps great, and loves to snuggle! We are truely blessed to have little Harper in our lives, and can't wait to watch him grow!

We love you Harper!

Finally... a baby!!

After our long wait our sweet Baby has finally joined us! We had a beautiful baby boy just before 8pm on Saturday May 12th... 12 days past his expected due date! He weighed 9 lbs. 8 oz. at birth and was 20 1/2 inches long. A big healthy BOY!

41 week BELLY!

Photobucket Album

A watched uterus never contracts...

This is exactly how I have been feeling this week~ like a watched pot. Our phone rings off the hook all day long and it is always the same thing when we answer the phone "No Baby yet?" No. No Baby yet! Honestly, we won't keep it a secret when this Baby does decide it is time (although after this week I am tempted to!).

I have been feeling really good. I have had better sleep this week than I have the last 2 months. We have been walking a lot and trying to get some projects done around the house. Tony painted the hallway the day before yesterday and has been getting quite a bit done in the yard. We never did get the garden beds ready and I am really disappointed. Hopefully we will get at least a couple plants in the ground. We have had beautiful pumpkins in our garden every year! I can't imagine a Halloween without our home grown pumpkins!

Tony went back to work today. He is picking up a couple shifts so we have at least 2 or 3 days left of his paternity leave after baby is born. I decided it was a good thing for him to have a few days off before Baby to get things in order around here and for us to spend some time together before our family changes again.

I have been playing little games with myself, like if I cast on now can I finish another pair of longies before Baby arrives, or which will come first, Baby or my new custom Baby Hawk mei tai that I have been stalking the mailman for... Anything to pass the time!

Daddy Nesting...

Tony has been doing his own nesting around the house this week. He came rushing home from work a few days ago to make a grocery list and go stock up on food and snacks for before and after the birth. He has been cleaning up around the house, inside and out, for several days now. And last night he set up the birth pool. I am glad he did because it turned out to be a bigger job than I had anticipated!

And of course since we are setting up the pool Esme' thinks that Baby is on it's way! She asked several times "OK, is the Baby coming out now?"

And look! He even reads the directions!

So proud of his finished work! Please excuse the wild man hair! Hmm... maybe we need to squeeze a haircut in before Baby arrives...

BIG BABY BELLY!

We are still waiting on Baby, so I thought I would update my blog while I have some free time. I suspect that here very soon free time is going to become rare!

Here is the belly cast that Tony and I made a couple weeks ago. Tony is becoming pretty good at casting pregnant bellies~ he did 2 casts of my belly when I was pregnant with Esme' and now this one. This one is absolutely gorgeous! We haven't taken my previous casts out for comparison yet, but I think I am bigger this time around. I feel bigger than ever anyway! I am torn between painting and decorating this one or just leaving it white. It really is quite striking all on it's own!

There have been no signs that Baby will be joining us anytime soon, although I really have a feeling it will be this weekend. Cinco De Mayo is a possibility and Riley pointed out that if the Baby waits until May 6th the Birth Day will be 5-6-07! I have been able to start and finish several projects around the house while waiting. One of these projects is sure to be interrupted by Baby!!

Come out Baby~ we are all so anxious to meet you!