We've Got a Backstop

We were going to call it a "drop dead date" but, while that term works well for work-related due dates, it just seems inappropriate when discussing the birth of a new baby. So instead we're calling it a backstop. We'll go to that date but no further. The doctor says if Grace isn't born before next Saturday, August 2, we'll give her a little nudge (or a large shove) that day.

In order to allow their doctors to have a life outside of work, the hospital maintains a rotating schedule. There's no guarantee that the doctor you've been seeing all along will be the one to deliver your baby. But we've really enjoyed our doctor, and he'll actually be on call at the hospital August 2, so we're happy about that possibility. Of course, if Grace is born in the week between now and then, we'll be happy about that too!

In the meantime, would you be praying for some relief for Melinda's restless legs/arms syndrome? Around here, we refer to it affectionately as "crazy legs" but it's not quite so affectionately referred to when, despite being exhausted, Melinda can't sleep because her legs want to get up and go running. If you happen to be driving around Kenmore at midnight and see us out for a walk, don't be surprised. (And please don't honk hello -- you'll scare us to death and wake up the neighbors.)

Crazy legs aside, things are going well and we're enjoying the beautiful sunny weather we've been having in the Seattle area. We just look forward to bringing Grace out into it...

(Don't forget to comment on Grace's middle name in the "We're Taking a Poll" post below.)

Waiting for Grace

Just a quick update to say that our little peanut has apparently decided she isn't quite ready to face the world yet. She's not officially due till next Sunday (July 26) but the doctor says it could pretty much be anytime now. In the meantime, you can help us -- see the post below and submit a comment to help us decide on her middle name.

Melinda

We're Taking a Poll

As mentioned in our last post, we're still working on a middle name for our little peanut. We have three options in mind, and are open to new ideas too. What we're hoping for is some feedback from all of you. What thoughts or feelings do these three names evoke?

(And no fair giving the thumbs-down on a name just because it reminds you of an old girlfriend who dumped you or the lunch lady who wouldn't give you extra helpings.)

One more thing... we ask that if you're going to leave a comment on one name, you comment on all three. Otherwise, it's not really an accurate comparison. Thanks! And again, feel free to suggest a name you think should be up for consideration.

Without further ado, here are the names:
* Grace Elizabeth Lipsey
* Grace Amazing Lipsey
* Grace Victoria Lipsey

The Latest on Our Peanut

Well, we're down to the "see the doctor once a week" stage in the baby countdown. Our little peanut, who will undoubtedly be called Peanut from time to time but whose actual name will be Grace, is doing fine. She's standing on her head like a good little girl, ready to make her appearance and greet the world. The doctor says things are progressing well and he guesses it'll be another week or two, although he also mentioned that we're in the phase where she could come anytime if she wanted to. So it looks like she'll be just about on time. Of course, there are no guarantees and we know that first babies are often late. We're just taking it one day at a time.

We had a final ultrasound about a week and a half ago, during which we saw blurry shapes moving across the screen but where the doctor was able to determine that Grace is currently about 6.5 pounds and has chubby cheeks.

Overall I'm feeling pretty good. I tire quickly, and have to alternate busy, active times with times of rest, but am sleeping well which helps. I'm continuing to swim and walk on a regular basis, and feel really good when I do.

We're close to having Grace's room (the walk-in closet) all set up, although there are a few things yet to be done. We've got the car seat, so we're legal to bring her home from the hospital, the baby diaper service will deliver our initial batch next week, and the only major item we haven't purchased yet is the stroller. We think we'd like this one, the Bumbleride Indie.
It's supposed to be highly maneuverable, relatively light, easily foldable, and usable as a regular or jogging stroller, not to mention the height-adjustable handle (important since Vic is 6'2") and the fully reclining seat (important for use with a newborn). And it's pretty.

Oh, and we haven't decided on a middle name for Grace yet. Probably something we should get around to sooner rather than later...

Melinda

Victoria

Several weeks ago (and yes, I'm just now getting around to blogging about it), Vic surprised me with a weekend trip to Victoria, BC, for my birthday. Although I've lived in the Seattle area most of my life, I'd never gone the few hours north to see Victoria, so this was an especially fun and thoughtful gift.

We took the Victoria Clipper from downtown Seattle, which was a great way to take the trip -- smooth, quick, and easy. Our hotel in Victoria was beautiful and had a fantastic view across the harbor to the main part of the city. The lights of the city sparkled on the water at night, the mini ferry boats crisscrossed it all day, and the birds bobbed along the shoreline. Taking a bus to Butchart Gardens was simple, and we spent a couple of hours wandering through the grounds, oohing and ahhing over the amazing colors, textures, and beauty of the flowers. We enjoyed a yummy dinner in Chinatown, semi-crashing a 93-year-old Chinese woman's funeral dinner in the process (thankfully none of the guests even seemed to notice that the restaurant had seated two white diners in the corner of the room). We stumbled onto a pizza place that serves gluten-free pizza, and there we heard about the national Canadian gluten-free convention in town for the weekend (which we visited the next day to sample various products -- yum). We discovered delicious coffee (for Vic) and dark hot chocolate (for me). There was people-watching, Italian gelato, a dip in the hotel pool, and a nap on the lawn overlooking the water. And there was a beautiful birthday rose delivered to our room.

What a lovely weekend.

Melinda

At Butchart Gardens

Victoria Harbour Ferry

eating pizza

delicious Chinese food (aka crashing the funeral dinner)

Victoria at night

Oh Deer!

Yes, while making lunch for myself and the Peanut this afternoon, I happened to look out the window to the back yard. Lo and behold, there was a deer munching on our apple trees and blackberry bushes. What a fun surprise!

Melinda

Flowers & Sugar

On the final day that we had the Tundra (see last post), Vic and I had the afternoon free and decided to take a drive. And where did we go? North, to the Skagit Valley tulip fields. (For those not from the Seattle area, the Skagit Valley has become famous for their annual Tulip Festival in April, and all month visitors come from near and far to take in the fields of bright spring colors -- a welcome sight after a gray winter.)

It had snowed the day before and we worried that it might have damaged the flowers, but no. Though surrounded by deep mucky mud, the blooms were gorgeous.

Color as far as the eye can see

A single variegated bud

Daffodils too

Then yesterday, Vic and I took our little peanut to the doctor for her latest checkup. She's doing great -- everything going as it should and right on schedule. They also did a few tests on me, the most important being the one for gestational diabetes. About three months before a baby is born, they test the mother for sugar levels in order to determine whether she's developing this condition (about 1 in 5 do). It's generally handled with a modified diet, and goes away after the baby is born. So we're waiting to hear the results of the sugar test.

I'm feeling a bit more tired these days, remembering longingly the early days when I slept for 10-12 hours a night plus naps. In fact, I'm thinking a nap sounds pretty good right now, so I'll bring this post to a close.

Melinda