Dixon Baby Newsletter Vol. 13 (3/3/2004)

Wee One got to attend its pre-first Mardi Gras party this
past Tuesday.  Not only that, Wee One got its first 
crawfish, too!  I think he/she was particularly fond of 
the spicy corn, mushrooms, and potatoes cooked in the crawfish.  
I say this because although Mommy's eyes were watering
and her lips were on fire, she kept shoveling it in.  :)
Wee One says, "Thanks, Uncle Philip and Aunt JUlia, for 
a great time and delicious selection of tummy treats!"

Baby's new thing is vanilla milk shakes.  I stopped at a local 
restaurant during breakfast hours and asked for a milk 
shake.  The lady knowingly glanced at my tummy and granted
my request.  :)

Monday, I had another doctor's appointment.  I found out I 
have gained 6 pounds in two weeks!  Wow!  Guess the Mardi
Gras goodies and the vanilla milk shakes really added up
fast.  The doctor wasn't concerned because my overall weight
gain has been normal, but I am a bit cautious.  So, I've
decided to trade my milk shakes for plain milk and lay off the
salt.  Since I haven't been previously gaining, I've kind
of went squirrelly eating anything and everything.  I'm going
to go back to watching the quality of food I eat and adjust
my quantity as a last resort.  ;)

Baby had me tuckered out this weekend.  We went to spend the
weekend in Jackson.  Joseph had some work to do, and we 
wanted to do some car shopping.  We also had some fun things
planned, but I was just too pooped to do them.  We all made
it back home fine, but still tired.  Being home, though, does
make you bounce back quicker.  Nothing like sleeping in your
own bed.

I talked to the doctor about how long I could stay at home
before having to come to the hospital to deliver.  He said
the average first time mom is in labor 12 to 24 hours.  He
also said this will be the worst pain I will probably ever
experience, and that I wouldn't need anyone to tell me when
to go to the hospital.  I told him we were 45 minutes 
away.  He said it didn't matter.  He had patients that drove
from 2 hours away, and he has never once delivered a baby 
in the car.  So, he's leaving it up to us as long as we
don't have signs of a problem.

We talked about their procedures at the birthing center. 
About the only invasive thing they do prior to the baby 
being born is that they have the mom hooked to an IV.  He said 
they do this because there are emergency circumstances where 
your veins will just collapse.  They don't want to waste
time fumbling to start an IV if there is a problem.  That
sounded reasonable to us.  Also, they do confine the mom's
to their bed during active labor.  He said he may let me 
walk around a bit.  It will just depend.

New pregnancy symptom:  When I got out of bed Saturday my
hip popped out when I swung my leg off the bed.  It has
bothered me ever since, but it is getting better.  I told
the doctor about it.  He just smiled and nodded his head.
He said, "Don't put your leg out at this angle," while he
lifted his left hand above his shoulder at a forty-five 
degree angle.  At this, I smiled and shook my head.  That 
is  exactly the angle that hurts!  Pregnant ladies have 
both muscles and joints getting extra pliable in 
preparation for the big stretch at the end.

The next few visits to the doctor will be with the other
doctors at Wesley.  They do this so you will have met 
all the doctors and won't have an unfamiliar face on
the big day if your regular doctor is out or unavailable.
I thought that was a very good thing.  Of course, I will
feel much better if it is Dr. Washburne there. 

Baby got a new car this weekend...a Acura TL.  Daddy 
Joseph has promised to take care of it for the next 15 to
16 years so it will be ready when baby gets its license.
A car was the one thing we didn't put on the Wee Dixon
wish list.  ;)

The other night, Joseph got to feel the baby kick without
even trying.  We were all sleeping soundly...except for
baby.  (Wee One has dropped kick boxing and taken up 
tumbling at night.)  Anyway, I was snuggled up to Joseph 
and Wee One belts Daddy Joseph in the back.  It woke Joseph 
up.  I told him to get used to it.  ;)

Hope everyone is doing well!

Kay