baby number 2

mama’s crazy

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

*Disclaimer: I wrote this blog post when I was about 8 weeks along and I am VERY happy to say that these dark days have passed (fore the most part, I think) and my mood is much improved! Don’t be scared of me… I’m still blaming it on those out-of-control, first-trimester hormones!

This familiar experience has become a new experience altogether.  I don’t know if it’s because my life has so drastically changed since my first pregnancy, or because the situation is different, or if it has something to do with the hormones, but I’m crazy.  Certifiably crazy.  I say it’s the hormones.  That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

I’ve noticed with this pregnancy that my temper is shorter, I’m more easily annoyed, and I feel grumpier in general.  I remember when I was about this far along with Theo, his papa told me that he’d heard horror stories from men about their pregnant wives due to the hormones and mood swings.  We tossed our heads back and laughed hearty laughs as the wind blew threw our perfectly styled hair and birds chirped around us on a sunny Spring day as we rolled around and kissed in a field of clover. 

I think we have officially left the meadow and have made it to the darkest of the dreary dungeons.  Those birds we heard are actually bats.  And the clover kind of turned in to thistle.  I might have just turned into the woman those horror stories were written about. 

I’m grumpy.  There are times of happiness but in general, my mood has been kind of dour. 

I get annoyed easily and sometimes I feel like ever fiber of every organ inside of me is screaming “go away!” at whatever or whomever is irritating me at the moment. 

There have been a couple of times when Theo would not stop crying when I just had to hand him off to his dad before I screamed something inappropriate. 

There was one time when I had to walk away from Theo’s dad before I screamed something inappropriate at him.  I don’t remember what the argument was about, but even at the time I knew it was ridiculous and I felt that there was nothing I could do to control my emotions. This is just not me.

Obviously I have controlled my emotions and when I say I had to walk away, I don’t mean that I was going to harm anyone if I didn’t.  It’s just that at that moment, my nerves were so frayed that I had to step away and take a breath. 

So, since I didn’t experience any of this with Theo, I’m wondering if this baby could be a girl?  All those extra hormones?

Or is this craziness due to the fact that this pregnancy was unplanned and has got me beyond stressed?  Or because I already have a baby and am sleep-deprived as it is (thank you third shift and baby and pregnancy)?  Because I have little to no down time to recover from the daily stresses that add up over time? 

I. Just. Don’t. Know.  But I know that I don’t like myself very much when I am crazy. 

~C~

a crystal ball would be nice

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

This is my 12 week check-up check-in.  So what, it was 2 weeks ago.  I’m just getting around to it, okay?

First of all, when I had my 6 week check-up back in April of this year (nothing about that sounds right) we talked about the mild shoulder dystocia that happened while I was giving birth to Theo (I talked about it here).  The doctor that delivered Theo said that a lot of things could have been the cause…I could have been borderline too small or he could have been in a funny position or it could have been that I was in a funny position OR it could have been a combination of 2 or all of those.  Anyway, I asked about the necessity of a c-section with my next kid and he said that it wouldn’t necessarily be the case.  He even said that giving birth may have relaxed the pelvis enough that it wouldn’t even be an issue with baby #2.  I was feeling pretty good about that.

And then…

I saw my OB 2 weeks ago and one of the first things she said was that she thinks I have a small birth canal and she would like to “offer” me a c-section for this baby.  Like she’s offering me a dessert at half price or something.  Of course I knew that subsequent babies typically get bigger but I was hoping that it wouldn’t be much of an issue if my pelvis had truly relaxed, Theo and I hadn’t been in optimal positions, etc.  She said if I can avoid getting gestational diabetes this time (which sounds about as likely as not getting wet in a swimming pool), then there’s a better chance for a successful vaginal birth.  Once you make the choice to go vaginal, and the baby’s head is out, there’s no going back.  If he or she gets stuck (i.e., shoulder dystocia), there’s a good chance that he or she won’t survive.  The doctor that delivered Theo said there’s not much that’s scarier for an OB than shoulder dystocia.

I really don’t want a c-section.  I’m comfortable with the vaginal birth (as comfortable as one can be with it).  Although it was scary for those 10 seconds, Theo’s perfect and I’m fine and we all recovered beautifully.  I wish I had a crystal ball and I knew what was going to happen.  The doc said she could do an amnio at 36 or 37 weeks to start checking for lung maturity and as soon as it’s good, she would induce in hopes of getting a smaller baby.  But I’m not real hot on the idea of an amnio either.  She said if I choose to go vaginal AND I get diabetes, she won’t let me go past 38 weeks this time. 

More stuff to stress out about.  Of course I don’t want to put my baby in harm’s way, but I have a feeling that Theo’s shoulder dystocia was a fluke and it probably won’t happen again.  Is that just me being selfish or is that me following my motherly instincts and listening to my body? 

Anyway, the little booger was hiding for the doppler so I had to get another ultrasound (okay, twist my arm!).  We saw that nugget squirming around like crazy in there.  We saw her/him kicking and waving and chomping.  It’s so amazing how in such a short time the baby goes from a little ball of goo to this teensy weensy miniature human.  Just incredible.  He or she was healthy and happy so at this stage, we couldn’t ask for more.  We made it past the scary 12 week threshhold so there’s a good chance that this baby is here to stay.  Now we can let ourselves get attached (or more attached as the case may be).

I’ve gained half a pound.  I had my first 1 hour glucose tolerance test to check for early gestational diabetes.  Got those results back last week and I was holding steady at 77!  That’s a really good thing.  Let’s hope it stays that way.

relatively likable baby names

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

So the idea originally was to find a baby name that had a “th” in it that would compliment Theodore/Theo. 

The only ones I could really come up with was:

Meredith

Nice, right?  Meredith and Theodore.  Not only do they both have the “th,” they both have the “d” sound and the “r” sound – they are even the same number of syllables.  The name is classically familiar but not overly popular.  I like it.  But what I don’t like about it is that the nickname would surely be Mer or worse, Merry/Meri.  Looking at it, those don’t seem so bad but I don’t love “Mary” for my baby and that’s what people would think her name was if they heard me talking to her.  I know, I shouldn’t care what other people think.  But these are the thoughts that dance around in my head so I’m letting them dance around on my blog.

Anthony

Okay, Anthony isn’t too bad alone.  But again, the nickname situation.  If we gave Theodore his name with the intention to call him “Theo,” I just feel obligated to do the same for baby #2.  I don’t like “Tony.”  What other nicknames are there for Anthony?  

Edyth

I actually kind of looove this name (alternate spelling of Edith) with the nickname Edye.  How cute is that?  “Edye/Edie and Theo.”  It’s got the oh-so-desirable, but not so obvious (with the nickname) “th.”  Problem: the dada kind of haaaates it with the “y” spelling and isn’t hog wild about it, even with the “i” spelling.  I can just picture EDYE’s little name in block letters on her wall above the crib.  (The 2nd crib we purchsed in a year, that is).  Ay ay ay.  Trying to choose a name is more fun and more frustrating that picking out cribs, by the way.

Zanthie

Weird, I know.  My sister came across this name in a book.  It’s a girl name by the way.  I initially rejected it mentally, then I said it a few times and it grew on me.  I definitely would not have to worry about my kid having the same name as anyone else in her class – ever!  But nicknames?  Zanny?  I don’t know about that.  And it doesn’t matter because the dada HATES it with a passion.  Reminder:  I have to carry the kid for 9 months.

That’s the end of the “th” names for now. 

Here are some others that could potentially be up for grabs, supposing I let go of the “th” dream.

Crosby

We both kind of fell in love with this name after hearing it on the show Parenthood.  Couple of hang-ups:  1.  Nickname “Cros” is not so bad to use casually, but would I hang it in block letters over my baby’s crib?  No, it would be Crosby.  2.  This is totally weird and I’m sure I’m the only one that would ever think it, but we decided on Theo one night while watching the COSBY show.  I fear that CROSBY is too close to COSBY and the boys would get teased.  Stupid, right?  For something a little less paranoid, read on…

Calvin

I have liked this name for as long as I can remember.  But now that we have a son named Theodore, I can hardly name my kid “Calvin.”  A little too close to ALVIN…Theodore… get it?  I can already hear the “Where’s Simon?”  jokes. 

Jayson

I have also liked this name for as long as I can remember, but I am like the ONLY one.  Really.  I don’t know anyone else that supports me in liking this name – including the only person whose opinion really matters.  Sure it’s common…I get that.  But it’s not popular.  How many babies do you know named Jayson?  I like to include the “y” because the baby’s paternal grandfather’s middle name is Jay and I think it would be a nice way to honor him.  No dice.

Okay, just a few more…

Vivienne

Ah, Vivienne.  I was in luuurve with this name for years, literally.  I swore my daughter would be named Vivienne and yes, her block letters above the crib would be “VIVI.”  What a sweet nickname.  Then, that skank Angelina had to screw everything up.  I’m talking about Angelina Jolie.  She named her twin baby girl Vivienne and the name’s popularity has sky-rocketed ever since.  I’m afraid that by the time my daughter got to Kindergarten, there would be two other Vivis in her class.  I had it first, Jolie!  I’m afraid Vivienne is off of my list.  So sad about this! 

Brenna (Brynna?)

I sort of love this name.  It got brought up in conversation when my husband mentioned something about his co-worker while I was pregnant with Theo and before we knew he was a boy.  I immediately liked the sound of the name, and I think the nickname is super-cute.  Brynn or Brenn, depending on the spelling.  My hubby, however, has a hang-up about naming his child after his co-worker.  I tried to explain that he wouldn’t be naming her after his co-worker.  Besides, if you were this said Brenna person, would you be offended if someone said “I liked your name so much that I named my child Brenna”?? I think not!  This isn’t someone that he is friends with outside of work…it’s not like I’d be naming my child the same thing that my best friend or my cousin named their child.  What’s the big deal?

Sabrina

This name is new to our list.  Well, not completely new.  We both liked it before but for some reason, it has really grown on me.  But how would you spell the nickname, pronounced “Bree” … Bri makes more sense based on the spelling of the name but I don’t like how it looks and I wonder if it would get mispronounced.

Cameron

I like Cameron and “Cami” for the nickname.  I don’t like Cameron for a boy, only if it is a girl.  I don’t know why, but that’s all there is to it.  That being said, I don’t LOVE this name.  But I like it.

That’s enough for today, right?

~C~