Stella Noel

I woke up at 2:35 am on 1/18 with the third really strong contraction. I went back to sleep after the first two, but this one got me up.

At 4:30, I started to need moral support, so I woke Jacob up. Not long after, it was MOST DEFINITELY time to get to the hospital. We dropped Zade off at the Bonds' house (thanks, Alysha!) and went to the hospital.

40 minutes later, Stella Noel was born! I thought I still had hours and hours of labor left, but I'm so glad it was only 40 minutes.

She weighed 7 lbs, 11 oz. Measured 19 inches. Born at 6:33 am. Wonderful!

2009 goals

I'm huge on making goals; I make them all the time, except at New Year's because, like everyone else, I never keep the New Year's goals.

Here are my current goals for the next year or so:

1. Have a baby and figure out HOW to be a mom to two small children

2. Grow a 4'x4' square foot garden

3. Train for the February 2010 Cowtown Marathon

4. Bake 52 types of bread

5. Read 52 books

6. Try 52 new recipes

We'll see what happens. I plan for January and February to be mild, goal-wise, as I have a baby and recover and try to adjust to a new life with two kids. March will be when I start my garden and running.

Surreal

Being pregnant is surreal, kind of like a science fiction story where the rules of reality are casually changed.

Take last night, for instance. Normally your stomach does NOT suddenly bulge out the size of a rather large grapefruit, but when you're pregnant, hey, that's normal. Normally, in fact, your stomach is generally quiet and still. Not so when you're pregnant and the baby's moving or your muscles decide, on their own, to tighten.

But like the science fiction, it's all perfectly "normal."

Tricked!

I woke up late this morning. Jacob said he turned off the alarm so I would be able to sleep in, since I got almost NO sleep the night before.

So we go about our usual routine of getting ready for the day, only Jacob also bathes Zade. I figure, hey, Jacob's already late for work and he knew it was bothering me how much Zade needed a bath, so he's being sweet. Sure.

Then we're downstairs and Jacob puts Zade's shoes on. Well, it was a little cold, and shoes would keep him warmer than just socks. After making a lunch, Jacob casually puts on Zade's jacket. Again, it's a little on the cold side, so no big deal.

Then Jacob is about to leave and offers Zade the chance to go outside. I'm all "NOoooo!! You can't do that to a kid--offer to take him outside when he just can't go." But then Jacob whips out Zade's hat from his pocket, picks up Zade and REALLY DOES TAKE HIM!!!

"WHAT??" That's all I could think. So I throw a jacket on over my pjs and follow him out. "Are you serious? But where are you going?" He just smiles and drives off.

So I figure he felt so bad for how exhausted I was yesterday that he arranged to have someone watch Zade while he was at work. Sweet!

Then about half an hour later, the time it takes for him to get to work, he calls: "Did I leave my work keys there?" Yep. He had.

Five minutes later he opens the door and has FLOWERS!! And the news that he has TODAY and TOMORROW off!!!

!!!

So tricked!

He is so sweet!

Christmas and nesting

Christmas was the best!!!

Every year is the best, of course, but this year was my first-EVER white Christmas!! FUN!!

And today, I'm totally nesting... I cleaned out the pantry and reorganized it, then moved on to reorganizing practically the whole kitchen. Then swept and mopped the floor--SERIOUSLY mopped. I was on my knees scrubbing corners and those spots that don't ever seem to come off with just a mop. And while I was down there, I noticed the cupboards are kind of gross and dirty... so I started on that. Too tired to do all of it, but I got some done.

I am just SO EXCITED to be feeling SO MUCH BETTER!! I actually had ENERGY to do stuff! Well, this morning I didn't, but I decided to do stuff anyway, and the energy just came. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Happiness!!!! It's nice to not be helpless anymore!!! :)

Bronchitis

So I dragged myself to the doctor today. I've had a cough for more than 2 weeks and it's recently been getting worrisome.

I have bronchitis.

Last time I had it, I was in elementary school. I got sick the day after school got out for the summer and was in bed for two weeks straight.

No wonder I've been SO TIRED!! I thought it was just me being weak combined with the pregnancy. But, no, it's me pregnant, weak, AND sick.

Good thing--the medicine I have should clear it out within 5 days! YAY! I hope ALL the sickness in the house will be GONE by the time the baby comes--she's due in 3 weeks!!! Though I think I'll be late--I'm not anywhere near uncomfortable enough to be that close to being done with the pregnancy.

Thanks, Mom!

My mom came over after work today to play with Zade.

Both Jacob and I are sick = no energy to play with our now-feeling-better (YAY!) son. So his grandma came over and not only played with him, but vacuumed half the house, did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, gave Zade a bath, and, most importantly, made Zade laugh.

THANKS, MOM!! You're the BEST!