The Family Fletch

I sent this text to Dan a few days ago:

(Euro comment unrelated.)

It’s true, I didn’t think this (or the carpel tunnel) would happen to me. I also didn’t think the exhaustion and pain would happen either. But folks, month 9 is here, this baby has dropped and I am uncomfortable as all get out. I can’t do a lot without getting worn out or very uncomfortable, which can be frustrating. Painless braxton hicks have given way to actual contractions, giving me a preview of what’s to come.

In addition to these changes, Baby Fletcher has been a bit of a stinker. Over the last 3 weeks, we’ve been closely monitoring him since he stopped moving around as much, and are also keeping an eye on his growth.

Our latest tests have looked good, but we will likely see Baby Fletcher yet this month rather than hold out for his June 5 due date. 

As grateful as I am for the prudent medical care, it has been stressful. It’s impossible not to worry about him; between the worrying and the discomfort, it seems like these last weeks will feel the longest. Dan’s travel schedule has been tough, too. Happy that will slow down this month.

But don’t worry — I’ve had some fun, too. My friend Marlina hosted a beautiful shower for me the other weekend in Omaha. I met Marlina through a mutual college friend when we moved here, and then joined her book club. So thankful to have that group of ladies — we have a lot of fun together. My mom came for the weekend and we put together some final baby items and (she) planted some new flowers out front. My dad has also dropped in to check on me; he assembled the stroller, fixed some broken doors and we ate frozen yogurt. 

Prior to that, I joined Dan in Chicago for my belated birthday present: The Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour! They were so great, and it was a fun last quick weekend with just the two of us. 

Last weekend we put some finishing touches in the baby’s room and completed our infant CPR class. All that’s left is to get the car seat in the car and finish packing a bag.

Hopefully, our next post will include our little boy. We’ll take all your prayers and good wishes for his safe arrival.

P.S. See anyone you know here? Not sure if there will be more spots or not.

pregnanthusband:

When my pregnant wife is going to bed and suddenly feels very hot.

She’s like:

Funny blog, particularly relevant caption. Pajamas and pants — can’t stand ‘em. 

UPDATE: Sorry if you couldn’t see the photos before — should be working now!

On the whole I feel pretty good. I’m still working out which seems to help with aches, pains and anxiety. (And probably my waistline, considering given that my strongest craving is for sweets.)

Since our last update, we’ve taken some baby classes and spent a great deal of time looking at daycares. Considering I have hard time boarding the dog, this was challenging. But we found some great options that left us feeling like “I won’t bawl my eyes out if I drop him off here in the morning” (Dan), got in to our first choice, and are excited for him to learn and socialize when I go back to work. 

Another piece of news from the second trimester is that I was cast as a pregnant patient in a commercial. I’m not sure it’s wise to be on camera when you’re pregnant, but it was a fun experience and my discomfort in the hospital gown led me to this glorious discovery!

We’ve also worked a LOT on the house, including Baby Fletch’s room. Dan took a few days off and and he, Rocky, Grandpa Cliff and Sue helped us paint the baby’s room, our room and tackle other odds and ends throughout the house. We still have a list of things to do and fix, and it’s nice (and fun) to enlist family to help. Here are a few early photos of the rooms courtesy or Rocky. 

We painted three walls a dark gray (more room around the corner) and gave the rest a fresh coat of white, including the built-ins. Rocky put in a banded glass light fixture.

Our room was a beast. We changed the paint colors above and below the chair rail, gave all the trim and doors a fresh coat of white paint, installed a new ceiling fan and moved in new furniture. The above photo doubles as the 30 week shot, along with this one of my lopsided belly: 

That lump is his little bum. :)

Dan did great (understatement) on finals and has already started his next set of classes. April is an extremely busy month with lots of work travel, bachelor parties and a last quick trip to Chicago for the Fleetwood Mac reunion tour.

I also had two great showers in Cedar Falls this past weekend, and from the looks of our house, it seems that we have a baby coming in as few as 7 or 8 weeks.

Oh, who are we kidding — we live in the Midwest and it’s been here since November. Dan has class this weekend, so he went to Chicago ahead of the big snowstorm, where he’ll get to hang out with The Smiths.

Meanwhile, I purchased the following items at Whole Foods on my lunch break: 

• Decaf coffee beans
• 2 dark chocolate bars (they were 2 for $4, and our favorite had been out of stock for weeks)
• Gluten-free, nitrate-free pepperoni pizza (in case I actually get the cajones to eat it)
• Mint frozen yogurt
• A big salad

The checker and the person in front of me glanced at my items, then at my coat that wouldn’t zip. So sue me. I’m over six months pregnant and will be snowed in to my house with my pets (ahem, and workout equipment). Plus, I already have enough supplies for our normal healthy meals.

And yet I still wanted to defend myself with: “Hey! I’m wearing pre-pregnancy pants!”

First, I had such a great birthday. Thanks to everyone who called, wrote, posted, etc. I was sort of dreading turning 31 and you all made the day much happier! 

Dan sent beautiful flowers to work, and afterwards, we had a great dinner at Lot 2 by our house. I was pretty surprised by my gift: Fleetwood Mac Reunion Tour tickets! I am out of my mind excited and our doctor has given me the OK to go as long as I’m not having any complications. Hopefully things are non-eventful between now and April. 

We put in a couple more days of work and then sped off to sunny Los Angeles to see Spencer, Laura and Joey. When we arrived in LA, we took a cab to Spencer’s office at College Humor. “Hopefully you can take a nap when we get to his apartment,” Dan said. 

Little did he know, we wouldn’t have much time for napping. Spencer arranged for us to attend a taping of Adam Corolla’s podcast. Dan’s been a fan for a long time (and as a result, I’ve fallen asleep to it countless evenings). It was hard to keep that a secret from him, but worth waiting to see his face when Spencer told him. Classic!

The studio was amazing; Corolla is a gear head and has older race cars and luxury cars in the studio that he works on restoring. This is Paul Newman’s old race car. Very cool. 

Corolla himself was a nice guy, and it was icing on the cake that we got to meet him. Huge thanks to Spencer for hooking us up!

After that, we drove downtown where Laura and Joey met us at an LA Kings game. We were so happy to hang out with Laura and Joey — a visit made more exciting because they’re expecting their first baby in June, too!

The next morning, Spencer, Dan and I woke up and had one of the best breakfasts. (Not a great photo of our groggy selves, but oh well.)

Fun fact: Sitting to the left of us are Dax Shepherd and Kristen Bell. They were adorable.

Then we spent most of the day checking out shops and stores in Spencer’s neighborhood (Los Feliz). The weather was perfect and erased all memory of the snowstorm we had in Omaha just a couple days before.

That evening we met up with Laura and Joey, had some tacos and margaritas (well, some of us) and went to a show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. It was hilarious and fun to see Spencer’s comedy roots. 

On Saturday it was cool and overcast, but that didn’t stop us from going to the beach. Laura and Joey brought Ladderball and we played while eating fish tacos and coming up with unlikely scenarios that would send the guys into the ocean. 

Those unlikely scenarios occurred twice. The first time, Dan had to go in. Here he is, running in his skivvies.

The second time, all three of them went in.

After getting warmed up, we headed to Laura and Joey’s for dinner and so Spencer and Joey could serenade us with a few songs from Newsies. It was wonderful.

Then it was off to Borderline, a country western bar where Joey sometimes performs. Joey was the VIP for dressing in country gear (somehow Spencer left his boots and belt buckle at home — tsk, tsk). The guys line danced and eventually took the bar’s special shot: The Rocky Mountain Bearf*cker. 

We had an early flight the next morning and I was wiped out. So unfortunately we had an early departure back to Spencer’s and were home the next evening in time for the Superbowl.

I should say that every vacation, Dan and I come up with a list of goals. Fair to say that this trip was the first trip where we accomplished all of them — with extra points. 

Happy birthday, Dad! Hope this milestone year is the best yet. We love you!

BOY! Upsetting all the predictions, including his momma’s. :) We are so excited and can’t wait to meet this little guy.