Watching Our Children Grown: A Night Out

It is nice to say that Samantha appears to be over her ear infection. The timing was really unfortunate being that BeBe and Papa had so looked forward to playing with her while they were here but what can you do? We felt so bad that so many things did not go well for them over this vacation.

Looking back on the week there wasn't much on our calendar but we again kept busy. I am busy trying to finish up the last-minute details for the baby. It seems that even the littlest errands can take us a while.

Tracy and Cheryl had included a free night of babysitting in the birthday present to Travis so we took them up on it this past Wednesday evening. We enjoyed a nice meal at Macaronic Grill (also on them) and then went to Barnes and Noble just to browse and hang out (it is a favorite past time). We have reports that Samantha was very good for them and ate very well. We can't thank them enough for their generosity.

We are really working on discipline with Samantha and what works, etc. It seems that the "naughty chair" is taking effect. She did something she knew she was going to get in trouble for today and immediately said "no" when I came around the corner. As much as I hate to discpline her it's good to see results and know that it's working.

Thursday we were back at the doctor's office. Poor Samantha had been off her schedule all day so she missed the entire thing including hearing the baby's heart beat. I didn't gain any weight this week and my blood pressure was normal. The baby's heart rate was 160 and I'm measuring pretty close again. He examined me and I'm 2 centimeters dilated and 60% effaced. In some ways this is exciting but other ways I am reminded that I stayed this way with Samantha for a month. We shall see if anything changes this week.

Admittedly Friday was a tough baby day. I felt totally exhausted and my back was killing me. I really notice my lower back hurts if I carry Samantha around more than usual. Maybe the little guy was just going through a growth spurt but today I feel better. That isn't to say that I wouldn't be able to take a nap though.

We've been working hard at getting ready for our little guy. I washed up the last of the new clothes last week and washed the carseat cover today. His bag is packed and mine is packed as much as possible.

We have a Plan A and Plan B for baby. Plan A is that my mom will be here to take care of Samantha while I deliver and she will stay to help out. Plan B (finally put into place this week) is that we will call Cheryl and Tracy to come stay with Samantha and Christy and Scott will help watch her during the day.

Cheryl commented this week that she feels like an expectant mother herself because she is making sure she carries her cell phone everywhere. Both she and Christy had dreams about getting "the call".

Travis is generally really good about charging his phone and answering at work but every one-in-a-while I can't get ahold of him. We made sure this week that I had other numbers to contact him with just in case.

While my parents were here they helped me hang three pictures in the baby room. All is left is to paint the letters to his name and get them up.

One way or another we'll have a baby is three weeks!

Playing in the kitchen...