Breast feeding and carpet cleaning

My carpet cleaning went well and was fairly uneventful. The most significant thing that happened was Abby and I were pretty much locked in my room because the carpets and couch were too wet to use for a majority of the day. When I finally took her outside, it was like a scene out of...well a movie where people come out of a cave into civilization after being in said cave for quite some time. Neither of us could open our eyes all the way and there was a bit of stumbling as we stepped off the porch. All is dry and clean now and we are back to living and moving throughout the entire house.

On Tuesday night I went to a breastfeeding class. I had heard that this was a good class to take and you learn a lot of useful information and a lot of that information I forgot as soon as the words left the instructor's mouth.
I had also heard that dads are welcome to attend the class. This is odd to me seeing as I will be doing the breast feeding. Josh has nipples, but you can't milk him Focker!

Friends of ours went to this class too and the wife made the husband come along. I knew she was going to make him come and about an hour before the class, I feared that I would look bad not having a husband there.
Not to worry, I had already made up a story in my head about how he would have come, but he was stuck in a meeting where he was getting a very generous promotion and his company was also going to buy us a boat.

My friend's husband ended up being the only guy there.

I just felt that it was not necessary for Josh to be there. If there was any burning important information he needed to know, I could just as easily tell him upon my return, provided I was not sworn to secrecy upon leaving the class, which I wasn't.

After attending the 2 hour class, I found there was no information that Josh needed to know in order for my breast feeding experience to be successful. It was suggested that the dads, or the PC term the instructor used- mommy's support system, could help keep the baby stimulated while mommy is feeding the baby. One suggestion was to tickle the babies feet while baby is nursing.

I do not know about you, but I sure would hate for someone to tickle my feet while I am trying to eat. I shared this information with Josh and he agreed, eating time is not tickle time. I would much rather Josh help me out by cleaning the toilet or making something for me to eat than crowding over me tickling Parker, while I'm trying to feed him.

Most of the information in the class was very useful. It is an interesting thing, breastfeeding. Whether you choose to do it or not, you have to admit that it seems like a natural thing to do, your body produces the milk, and that process starts as soon as the placenta is out. However, you have never done anything like it before in your life, (and if you have, I'm not sure I want to know about it) so although it is natural, it is new and awkward. If any one is planning on breast feeding or even just considering it, look into going to one of these classes. Leave the hubby at home so he can make dinner or draw you a warm bubble bath or whatever.

There was one interesting thing that occurred in class. We were kind of introducing ourselves and this one girl, young girl, probably 18 or 19 said a few sentences that struck me and I wished someone who would appreciated their awkwardness was there to hear them. Here is what she said:
"I go to a Christian school down the road. I tried to talk my boyfriend into coming tonight, but he wouldn't do it."
In case you are reading this in a drunken stooper or if you are not really on the ball today, I will point out the three things that immediately ran through my head:
1. She is 9 month pregnant and goes to a Christian school.
2. Obviously she is not married, which is fine, but probably not fine for someone who goes to a Christian school.
3. Is the boyfriend the father?

(I thought of this in the car a few minutes later.)
4. I wonder what kind of drama this baby is going to be born into.

Trials and Tribulations of Bedrest: Week #1

The title is a bit misleading. There have been few, if any, tribulations throughout the first week of bed rest. This is mainly because, aside from a brief venture into St. Mary's County, every day is pretty much a repeat of the previous one. I live in my own personal version of Groundhog's Day, and I'm telling you it is about as much fun to live through as the movie was to watch. In other words, bed rest sounds like a marvelous idea, until you are actually living it.
Here is my calendar of events for the past week Try to keep up will ya?

Tuesday, May 27: Put on bed rest. Came home from the doctor's office, notified work, ate lunch waited until Josh got home, made dinner, watch Hell's Kitchen*, went to bed. (Bed rest or not, my week revolves around Hell's Kitchen. I am not into reality TV but I am into judgemental Brits who use the word "ballics" and can reduce men twice their own size to tears.)

Wednesday, May 28: Take a shower, eat breakfast, read, walked Abby, ate lunch, read, watch Judge Judge, wait for Josh to get home. On this day I had a special treat, my parents came down to deliver the crib and glider and took us out to dinner.

Thursday, May 29: Repeat first few steps from previous day, get a call from Josh that he forgot his wallet and his gas light came on. My mom does not know this area, so we drove Josh's wallet the 40-50 miles it needed to travel in order to get to Josh. I also bought a new trash can from Target. Repeat last few steps from the previous day.

Friday, May 30: Repeat the first few steps and the last few steps from the previous days. In the middle of the day I alternate taking Abby for short walks to the mailbox, about 50 yards away and reading copious amounts of books. Thinking to myself: You've got to be kidding me! This is still going on?

Saturday and Sunday were not so bad since Josh was around. In between trips to the mailbox and books, I have made Josh quite a few "to do" lists. Some of them pertaining to the baby, some of the for my own entertainment!

Monday, June 2: Repeat Friday. Although, Abby and I did get into a bit of a scuffle. I wanted to go read on the deck and thought she should join me. She had other thoughts. In my effort to coax her onto the deck, she headbutted me, resulting in a bloody nose. I will keep you posted if things turn ugly around here. She seems to be in better spirits today.

Things I have realized since being confined to 9458 Seagull Court:
-I will never do anything that will result in a long term house arrest. Short-term maybe, but nothing more that a month!
-I get an intense urge to cook when I am home alone. The problem is, I am then home alone with lots of food. Not good.
-I have to take a shower and get dressed in real clothes, not PJ's, everyday in order to feel like I have ended the previous day and began the next. Yes I have even blown dry my hair some days.
-I am lazy. My neighbor just had a baby girl about a week and a half ago. She is home all day and so am I. Think we have gotten together just once, just for a few minutes even? No, no we have not. We will catch each other outside when we are walking our respective dogs to the mailbox, but that is about it.
-I LOVE Chelsea Handler. She has two books out- "Hello Vodka, Are You There it's Me Chelsey" and "My Horizontal Life" She also has a show on E!- Chelsea Lately. She is real life friends with Jenny McCarthy, my other hero and mentor. If I everturn this blog into anything more than a blog, it will be partly because Chelsea is my idle.
-In about the 3 weeks or so, since I have been stripped of my work-out routine, I have become a fast reader. I have read no less than 5 in 3 weeks. For a dyslexic girl, that is damn good.
-I have an burning desire for my carpets to be as clean as possible and I am having them steam cleaned tomorrow.
-If I do not carry my cell phone and house phone with me every where I go, people assume I am in labor.

I had a doctors appointment today. No further dilation, but I was given the ok for short (1 mile) Abby walks once a day. I am having contractions although they have no pattern yet and are not painful <--words I am sure to eat in a few days/weeks time.

My aunt and uncle want to start a pool for when I am going to go into labor. My aunt says June 12, my uncle says June 16. No one thinks I will make it to July 2, my original due date. Any takers? Prize TBD--

I have a breast feeding class to go to tonight. I'm sure it will be interesting and I will report back tomorrow...while my carpets are being cleaned!