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.

I'm going to bed now, but thanks to Hec and everyone else for sharing all their stories. I always take away two things - lots of different stuff can happen (and I like hearing about it; I always feel better when I've thought about stuff in advance) and when it's all over, you have a healthy baby and (mostly) healthy mom.

Also, I think Owen's cake is really cool looking.

Hec, that's so cool that you remember all that. I think Christopher's memories of our experience may go something like this: Contractions, hospital, walking, home, sleep, hospital, freaky-ass wife, epidural, pushing, BLOOOOOOOD, BABEEEEEEEEEE, no sleep.

Susan, if there is a history of allergies in your family, cautious is good. I'm usually freaked out because I can never tell exactly how much the baby is getting inside him and how much he's tossing to the dogs and the cat. Just when I get interested in my own meal I usually notice giggling, then it's mostly going to the dogs. Meal time in our house has a rapt audience sitting in a half circle around the high chair.

The best part of the new foods is when I think he's going to eat it--he puts it in his mouth and chews it up and smiles. But the smile is just a cover for him to spit out the half-chewed bits onto his bib.

I'm going to find the neighbor who's dog is barking right now and beat them senseless. Warm weather=open windows. Sleeping baby doesn't like barking dogs.

then helped my dad chainsaw a big ol' woodpile of trees and brush down to burning size

I better not tell DH. He'd leave me for a woman who can run a chainsaw.

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

Your OB will have a list.

The boy better like chocolate or I'm going to have to eat this cake by myse...oh, like that would be a problem.

Yargh! Have to find a baby doctor!

You can tell I'm childless, b/c the fact that a woman who's due in *two days* just said this made me snicker madly.

Hec, that's so cool that you remember all that.

That was the short version. I could easily break it down into detailed half hour increments. I remember way more about it than EM does.

Stephanie, I'm glad to share the details. I really think we got very nearly the ultimate in generic HMO type births. Except for Emmett having the cord around his neck and coming out purple. But otherwise it was totally dictated by HMO type procedures. We had great nurses. Loved our nurses.

Ple, don't worry about the Pediatrician. We just took the one our OB recommended and he's been great. He came over the day after the birth and we met him for the first time and he met Emmett at one day old.

You can tell I'm childless, b/c the fact that a woman who's due in *two days* just said this made me snicker madly

I admit I giggled, too.