Those are beautiful, Susan. I am a HUGE fan of Regency fashions but I don't think it would flatter my figure (short and busty). All those Regency illustrations are so willowy I figure that was the ideal. What's a plump little woman to do?

I love Buffista birth stories so much better than my mother's or my MiL's. You guys have a much better sense of humor and a much more practical approach. I honestly think my MiL enjoyed scaring the shit out of me.

Some women really see it as their life's mission to make pregnant people and new mothers miserable. Bitches. (And not in a good way.)

At my ideal weight, I think Regency styles would suit me well--back in my slim days, I loved anything with an Empire waist or even an A-line because they made me look willowy by disguising the fact I have a long body and short legs. I can already tell Annabel will be the same way, poor thing. She's basically in 18-month sizes, but her 12-month pants still fit, and 18-month tops that are onesies rather than shirts take some stretching to snap around her lonnnnnggg torso.

She's basically in 18-month sizes, but her 12-month pants still fit

Hee. That's where O's at, too.

Since the Elmo cake pan is at my sister's house waiting for the party next weekend, I made a small, round cake for us tomorrow. We're going out for a birthday celebration when DH comes home. It will just be us tomorrow along with a good friend and her son who is two months older than Owen.

Heh. JZ and I were talking about birthing plans and her notions about giving birth on the way home. Of course, we'd just been to see her friend and new baby.

I know somebody who, like Cindy's friend, tore upward so, I would never say No Episiotemies. I would definitely recommend talking about it with the OB, finding out their philosophy, emphasizing (as AmyLiz did) the perineum massage with oils or lubricant. Then saying, We'd Much Rather Not Have An Episiotemy Unless Your Professional Judgement Determines Otherwise. EM had a nurse who did a lot of perineum massage until it was thin, supple and slippery. EM had only minor tearing that took about two stiches. She didn't notice.

I think Emmett's birth was a classic HMO birth, with all the pluses and downsides. But mostly pluses. I don't know if we had a written birth plan (maybe a checklist?), but California Pacific Medical Center (aka, Children's Hospital) is very progressive. They had La Leche League in-house, and a nurse made an at-home visit within the first two days.

EM's labor went like this: water broke at 7am. No contractions started. We went into the hospital and saw the on-call doctor. Doctor wanted us to check in. We were very resistant to coming in at that point before the contrations had started. She was just being extra-careful, but I still remember the nurse standing behind the doctor, shaking her head "No!" backing our decision. We went home and walked and drank liquids and watched TV. Labor didn't start until 12 hours later at 7:30pm. It was widely spaced until about 10pm. Then the contractions started coming very hard. EM remembers this as being the most difficult part. Our doula came and drove us to the hospital. Contractions were 2 mins apart. We arrived, EM got put into a wheelchair and the orderly ran down the hall while she was yelling at the top of her lungs. We thought birth was imminent. Nope. She was only dilated 2cm. Hard labor for two more hours and she's exhausted and she's only dilated 3cm. We wanted to avoid an epidural, but now she wants one. We're flexible. She had to have a morphine shot to calm her enough to get the epidural. (EM, incidentally, is very needle phobic. That wasn't a factor. Labor was harder than needles, and the needles brought relief.) She had been pretty feral for three hours, no words spoken but groaning and hard breathing. She got the morphine shot and she started to talk a little. She got the epidural and got normal and chatty again.

But the epidural stopped the labor cold. They put her on a pitocin drip. Very slight at first.2 With the morphine shot (and exhaustion) she went to sleep. She woke up at 10am dilated to 8cm.

She began pushing at 11:30 (well rested) and Emmett was out at 1pm. Cord was around his neck, so he was purple when he arrived. First Apgar score was 3. Second Apgar (1 minute later, after a room full of nurses descended on him) was 8.

We got one night in the hospital. In the morning our Pediatrician came over and met us and Emmett. At about 10:30 I went in with Emmett as he was circumcized by EM's OB. We were released by 2pm that afternoon.

Really really would have benefitted from another day at the hospital, as we had to come back to check the next day for jaundice (which is very common).

And, Pleiades, if I don't get to talk to you before Tuesday, I love you very much and will be thinking about you on that day. JZ's been lighting candles for you every week for months now. Blessings on you. Easy birth and a healthy baby.

That cake looks great, Cashmere.

Annabel has her official 1-year checkup on Thursday. I'm tracking what she eats Mon.-Wed. just to make sure I've got the hang of this whole transition to eating like a toddler. She's the picture of health, but I'm a little concerned that I've been overcautious on introducing new foods, clueless newbie parent that I am.

That's an adorable cake, Cashmere.

Yargh! Have to find a baby doctor!

t face palms

Must remember to ask OB what to do about that. Haven't had time to, really. Should make P. do it.

Just popping in to say hey, and how is everyone? No Plei baby? I'll have my kids pray for her Monday and Tuesday. I may not be Catholic, but I'll put all those juicy adolescent Papist vibes to work!

I had a lovely, relaxing and working weekend at my folks this weekend. I worked out in my parents yard, trying to get a little sun, a little exercise and help my dad out. I raked until I got a blister, then helped my dad chainsaw a big ol' woodpile of trees and brush down to burning size.

(Yes, Queen Cleavage knows how to operate a chainsaw. I can also worm a horse and kill a chicken. A girl should be well-rounded, as well as WELL-ROUNDED.)

Sorted through a bunch of stuff for my portfolio -- KristinT, I'll prolly be emailing you the addy for my portfolio in a week or so, just to see if you have any great tips, if that's okeydoke with you.

My mom took me to Aldi's and bought me a bunch of sorely needed groceries for me and kitty.

Now I'm home, and all ready for my LAST WEEK OF STUDENT TEACHING.