Dixon Baby Newsletter Vol. 7 (12/31/2003)

Baby name suggestions:

From Bonnie:
  Dixie
  Mason

We THINK we feel the baby kicking.  I first
noticed it the other night.  But, also I had just
finished off a big ziploc bag full of brocolli
and celery.  I thought I might have been experiencing
dancing celery.  But, I noticed the "movement"
again this morning.  I woke Joseph up and asked him 
to feel.  I think we have a winner!

I've done some reading, and most sources say first-time
moms are slow to notice movement.  First off, not having
had a baby before, the muscles are tighter which doesn't
allow for the feeling of movement as easily.  Secondly,
having never felt a baby kick inside you, you don't know
how it is supposed to feel.  

I'm in the fifth month now.  This is what baby can do and
has been up to.  Baby has real ears and can start to 
recognize sound.  They say that babies respond to their
parents' voices as soon as they are born because they've
been hearing you talk so much already.  Isn't that cool?  

Baby is now good at making faces.  Baby is practicing his
frowns and grimaces.  

Baby weighs almost a pound and has reached almost halfway 
its birth length.  It's between 7-9 inches now.

We've been discussing New Year's resolutions.  Joseph has
decided to be a daddy this upcoming year.  Of course, I 
think this may be cheating on his resolution, but a great
idea none the less!

Now for some bad news.  One of the dearest loves of my life
is now off limits to me, until I can find a more suitable 
one.  Sausage.  Almost every commercially avaialable sausage
contains MSG.  Why!!!  The horror.  So, if anyone knows a 
brand or someone semi-local who makes their own sausage
MSG-free, please let me know.  I'm considering dusting off
my sausage grinder and making my own.  

Baby had a great Christmas this year.  I think baby got more
presents than the rest of us put together.  And so it shall
be for a long time to come.  :)  It's been fun shopping for
baby and hard not to buy everything.  I think this is how
you start out spoiling your child.  Although, I have been
getting constant reassurances from everyone that babys are
MADE for spoiling.  

Our nursery is basically done and, most importantly, usable!
One less thing for me to worry about.  Now, poor Joseph
may be able to rest some.  Maybe.  :)  

We'll be putting on the finishing touches as we are 
inspired.  We went on our nursery scavenger hunt 
Saturday.  I found a froggy prince lamp, but I have to wait
a while until they get more in.  We also picked out the
outlet covers.  We really liked some pewter colored ones
with acorns and oak leaves raised on them.  We thought it
"matched" the big oak in the Pooh picture.  But, we 
finally decided on the clear covers that you can insert
a piece of wall paper in.  We plan on using scrap fabric
from the nursery curtains and accessories to put in the
plates.  We thought that would coordinate well now.  Later,
of course, we can easily change out what goes behind the 
plates to have it match the room decor.  Plus, later on,
Wee One may want to design their own wall plates by using
their art work or pressed flowers or movie stubs...whatever
their current interest.

Also on the scavenger hunt, we bought some non-list items.
We got an air purifier for the media room.  To put it 
politely, the fumes off the carpet in there are ghastly.
Since formaldehyde is one of the main off-gasses of new
carpet, I didn't want to subject Wee One to it.  But, we
still wanted to be able to enjoy the media room after its
long-awaited arrival.  So, after many airing out sessions,
we decided on an air purifier.  It is working great.  Even
me with my super-sensitive nose can relax in the media room.

The carpet in the baby's room hasn't been as offensive.  
But, since the air purifier is portable, we can move it in
there if it is needed by the time the room is put to use.

Also, on the scavenger hunt list was "something that rattles."
I found a small ice cream maker that doesn't require chopped
ice.  You just freeze the liquid-filled bucket.  I figured 
that rattled.  :)  Since we've really been paying attention
to what we eat, we like the idea of making more of the 
things we eat so we know what is in it.  Ok, I know ice cream
isn't exactly "watching what you eat," but since our 
diet hasn't totally changed to pine cones and bird seed, we'll
still enjoy treats.  It will just be nice to know what all
is in it and that it is the freshest we can get.

Along this line, my dad gave us a bread maker for Christmas.
I'm starting to get the hang of it.  I've had two successes 
and two failures.  But, I am learning how to recognize the 
right consistency of the dough and how to keep yeast happy.
So far, I am just trying all the different recipes I have on
hand.  Then I'll concentrate on perfecting our favorites.
Again, the bread making adventure is in response to us wanting
to know what we're eating.

I don't know how long this zeal for additional cooking and
prep time will last.  Afterall, babies have a way of demanding
alot of time and energy.  :)  But, we'll see.  Perhaps taking
a bigger part in our food genesis will become my New Year's
resolution!

Concerning all things baby, I continue to read, read, read, 
and retell a synopsis to Joseph.  I don't know if we feel 
any smarter, but we certainly have alot to talk about.  :)
One particularly helpful book was given to us by Misty and
Kyle: The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook:  Parenting.  
There are ALOT Of things we now know not to do.  Thanks,
Misty and Kyle.  :)

Remember how I 'bragged' to everyone that I didn't have
weird food cravings.  Well, with the nausea pretty much behind
me, appetite has taken its place.  I still haven't craved
anything weird, but I have been craving certain foods.  I
cannot drink enough orange juice or milk.  Though, I've never
wanted them simulataneously.  :)  My latest food thing has
been shrimp.  For three days straight, I ate shrimp.  My 
last shrimp day was yesterday.  We were in Poplarville, and 
for those of you not in the know, O'Neal's is THE place
to get a shrimp po-boy.  So, I did..twice.  Baby had shrimp
for lunch and supper.  I'm afraid now that he/she may learn how
to walk backwards before learning forwards.  ;)  I think 
Joseph has even been a little frightened by my shrimp 
appetite.  But, today, I don't want shrimp.  So, maybe baby
is ready to try something else.  

Additional preganancy symptoms:  You get dumb and clutsy.  Now,
I feel I can honestly answer to the name "Scatter-Brain."  :)
Also, just rencently, I had an especially clutsy day.  It
started when I tried to take the shrimp grease out the back door.
For some reason, I just dropped the pot of grease in the open
door way.  Grease went over the back door and floor.  That was
fun.   Next, I had just set all my pots of food on the stove
for cooking.  I thought I had turned on the burner for the beans.
Wrong.  I turned on the burner that currently had a glass plate
sitting on it.  When I realized it, I grabbed the plate and moved
it off the eye.  It shattered.  So, I had to throw out all the
lunch because I didn't know if glass had got in it.  So, I got
to start lunch twice.  Then, something else clutsy happened...but
this is where the dumb part kicks in and I just cannot remember
what it was right now.  :)

Blessedly, no injuries resulted from any of my clutsy'ness.  The
grease wasn't hot and there were no cuts from the glass.  The only
thing "hurt" was my pride.  :)  Joseph was very understanding and
even helped me clean up my bloopers.  Since, I've been trying very
hard to concentrate on what I am doing...including carrying glasses
or books or whatever.

We hope everyone had a great holiday!  Best wishes in the
New Year and watch out for pregnant ladies...they can be dangerous!!!

:)

Kay