Baby announcement!
No, the baby's not here yet, and yes, I did deliberately choose that headline in order to momentarily startle my readers into thinking this is the announcement. :)
In fact, this is a comparatively minor announcement. It concerns the issue of the baby's blog nickname. In spite of her initial objections, I have managed to convince Becky to go along with the super-cute moniker suggested by Nadine. Thus, Baby Loy will henceforth be known on the blog as "Loyette."
Er, that's assuming she's a girl, as expected. If not, a) we're going to be severely annoyed at our ultrasound techs; b) we're going to have to figure out what to do with all these pink clothes; and c) the baby will need a new blog nickname. :)
In other news, Becky's bored, and wants some advice from other mothers who have gone through the "waiting game." You know: you've gotta get everything ready for the baby by Week 37, so you do, and then Week 38 comes, and Week 39, and even though you're not even technically due yet, nevermind overdue, you feel like the baby oughta be here by now -- and you don't know what to do with yourself in the meantime. Any suggestions for how to pass the time? We're both a little sick, and she's a lot pregnant, so we're not in any particular mood to go out... we've watched about a zillion Law & Order reruns on our TiVo... the entire house is clean and organized... Becky's read like ten thousand baby books... and, well, we need ideas. Specifically, she needs ideas. I've got some work-related stuff I need to do, but Becky's going increasingly nuts with boredom. Thoughts, anyone?
And before anyone says it, in response to my question about "how to pass the time," there is no need to suggest the obvious. We're having a baby, so clearly, we know about that one. ;) Besides, unlikely does not mean impossible.
Posted by: Brendan Loy | Dec 27, 2007 8:36:19 PM
Well, at the risk of borderline TMI, one way to speed up the arrival of a baby is judicious application of the same (or closely similar) technique as started the baby in the first place (unless a turkey baster or equivalent was used) ...
Moderate, careful exercise can help ...
From direct familial experience, it's sorta like potty-training ... one can try various things to speed up the process, and it'll *still* happen when it wants to ...
I take it, from comments, that there are no Braxton-Hicks, yet ?
Posted by: Alasdair | Dec 27, 2007 8:41:28 PM
FWIW, in 18 days or so, you are likely to be holding a healthy (probably noisy (with strongly-exressed opinions)) baby ...
Posted by: Alasdair | Dec 27, 2007 8:43:58 PM
I knew someone would go there, and I figured it would probably be you, Alasdair. ;) Hence my attempt at a pre-emptive strike above...
But anyway, at this point we're not looking for techniques to speed up the baby's arrival (Becky's already done all the research on that one), we're just looking for ways to pass the time.
Posted by: Brendan | Dec 27, 2007 8:45:24 PM
There's a lot of football on the television here -- there will now be games on that won't suck.
I thought one of those would be tonight, but TEXAS is making ARIZONA STATE cry over there... This isn't entertaining, whatsoever.
Posted by: DUP | Dec 27, 2007 8:51:34 PM
I knew you'd pipe in on this one, Allie, you old lech!
Posted by: Wobbly H | Dec 27, 2007 9:05:11 PM
SEX
a great orgasm bring on labor.. so they say but hey it is a win win in my book :)
Posted by: Antonia | Dec 27, 2007 9:35:58 PM
If you have a freezer, believe me you WILL appreciate any cooking that is somewhat prepared. Oh wait, maybe that's more important after the first and second child.
Posted by: Anita | Dec 27, 2007 9:39:05 PM
1.) Go on date...a nice dinner with candles, at this stage in the game Becky could even have a small glass of wine. This will be the last time in looooong while you will get to have dinner without having the baby with you, checking on the baby or talking about the baby.
2.) Make a list of the many ways you love each other and give it to the other person. In a few months you might be willing to kill each other so this will serve as a reminder how much you do love each other.
3.) Do enjoy the "deed" because I guarantee the child will cry, throw-up, say mommy/daddy a thousand times when it comes time for this to happen once you are a parent.
Posted by: Jenn | Dec 27, 2007 9:58:53 PM
Jenn - perhaps they should just listen to/watch Bill Cosby on the subject ... (grin) ...
Posted by: Alasdair | Dec 27, 2007 10:01:35 PM
Anita is right. You're going to realize that simply eating a meal (much less making a nice one) will be HUGE. Start making some dishes that can be frozen and reheated. It's not the most fun activity, but it will pass the time.
Posted by: JO | Dec 27, 2007 10:21:57 PM
I agree with Jo and Anita. Though you may have friends/family that bring you a meal or two, when those are gone, you're going to wish you had a freezer full! You will both likely be too tired to cook anything, and popping a pre-frozen meal in the oven/crockpot/microwave is better, not to mentiont cheaper, than ording take out and pizza all the time.
Play some board games, or card games, or any games, for that matter. Rent some movies and cuddle on the couch, enjoying your "together" time. It's few and far between after baby (and doesn't get any better after baby #3! Even when he's 5 years old!!!)
Posted by: Trisha | Dec 27, 2007 10:30:23 PM
Meal making is a great idea...if you don't want to mess up your kitchen and having some fun with it (either with husband or friends) you could try one of these meal making places in the Knoxville area
Knoxville. Creating Dinner.
Knoxville. Dream Dinners.
Knoxville. Entree Vous.
Knoxville. Super Suppers.
Knoxville. The Dinner AFare.
http://www.easymealprep.com/main/direct02.php
Posted by: Jenn | Dec 27, 2007 10:30:42 PM
Get a spiral bound notebook with one hundred pages.
Make a list of one hundred items that you want to teach/show/impart to your daughter.
On each page of the notebook describe DEEPLY what each of these items mean to you.
Posted by: Nadine | Dec 27, 2007 11:10:17 PM
My wife says to plan something nice about a week away that you won't be able to do if they baby gets here, so you can have something to look forward to. That way, if the baby comes, you have a baby, if not, you have something else nice. If the baby doesn't come, enjoy the activity and plan another one for the next week.
If you're really feeling dangerous, buy tickets you won't be able to return!
FWIW, I can't believe I'm doing so well with the bowl games this year. I'm a faithful reader, but hardly ever post (3 or four total, I think), and did pretty miserably last year.
Enjoy the quiet for the next few days. You'll miss it, but you'll love having your baby, too.
Anthony (Father of 3)
Posted by: AnthonyH | Dec 28, 2007 1:15:16 AM
Well after having a couple of babies, I have to say that napping was the thing I missed the most after they were born. If I were her, I'd just be zzzzzzzz.........
However, if she's tired of sleeping, she can start on the baby book (maybe she already has). Journaling about pregnancy, making little ornaments or pictures out of baby shower wrap, that sort of thing.
Am I the only one that's a bit bummed we don't get to see this overly-pregnant Becky we've heard so much about? She was this beautiful little pregnant lady a few months ago. I know you're trying to be on the low about all of it, but maybe just a body shot? :)
Best of luck to you guys! Enjoy your peace and quiet. Seriously, it's fun to have a little person in your life all of a sudden, but you have NO IDEA what a commotion this 10-pound little bundle of joy will bring you. Hang on~!
Posted by: Christine | Dec 28, 2007 1:52:52 AM
I saw this a few days ago. O' the memories. Be sure not to leave out the Final Test. ;)
HOW TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE READY TO HAVE CHILDREN...*
http://ragingbull.quote.com/mboard/boards.cgi?board=JOKES&read=60630
Posted by: Mindsurfer | Dec 28, 2007 2:17:15 AM
I went through this about 3 months ago. In addition to cooking some freezable food, which others have suggested, I made cookies to bring to our labor and delivery nurses. Our childbirth instructor suggested it to us to help establish a good relationship with them once you get to the hospital. The other life saver for me was a 1,000 piece puzzle. I would have gone absolutely mad without it. And I finished it the day before our little one came, so the timing worked out well. But that might not appeal to all people. Good luck, and I look forward to hearing the news when you decide to share it! Best to Becky too. It's hard work, but worth it.
Posted by: DMW | Dec 28, 2007 10:12:38 AM
To give some balance to the 'doom and gloom' side, there most certainly can be Life after the baby arrives ...
It may well take planning a lot of the time, and yet you are likely to find yourselves becoming more spontaneous (by necessity) in the next few months ...
One important decision to make is which of two major 'flavours' of parenting you intend to follow ... will you be the parents who minimise *any* noise around the baby so that the baby "isn't disturbed" ? Or will you be the parents who keep the noise levels as 'normal' as possible, so that the baby learns to sleep and enjoy Life with those 'normal' noise levels ?
I/we went with the latter approach, and it has been a Sanity/Marriage/Life saver ...
(grin)
Me, I'm waiting to hear all the interesting things Brendan is going to do with his newest toy, when she/he arrives ...
Brendan - you are going to love the startle reflex ...
Posted by: Alasdair | Dec 28, 2007 3:19:08 PM
For God's sake, sit there and appreciate every minute of your "bored time"! When you are walking around bleary-eyed at 3am with a crying baby, after grueling labor and no sleep for days, you will wish to God that you were bored! Take this from another new mom! But it will all be worth it because it will be the best feeling you will ever have in your life. Also, the meals for the freezer are a great idea too!
Posted by: Clare | Dec 28, 2007 9:41:40 PM