Thursday, December 24, 2009

My Newest Treasure

Look what's under our Christmas tree!
Judah Lee Hoffmann
Born December 22 at 2:58 p.m.
8 lbs. and 21 inches long

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Still Waiting...

No baby yet. What a trickster. He's already like his Daddy.

I'm 38 weeks as of yesterday. I went to the doctor Wednesday and I'm around 4 cm. and 90% effaced, so I am making progress. She said, "If I broke your water you would have a baby in a couple of hours." I assured her I had nowhere to be, but she said she wanted to give him another week to mature before she did that. I took that to mean that if I make it to my next appointment on Tuesday she would go ahead. I hope she knows not to tease a very pregnant woman. She also said she didn't think I was going to have time for an epidural once I really started labor because, according to her, my cervix is "like butter". I hope she's very wrong about the no epidural part...

The night before both Luke and Eli were born I drank raspberry tea, so I have always had suspicions it might have had something to do with my labor coming on. I've had rasberry tea twice in the past week and a half with no success. Does anybody else have any suggestions?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Luke's First Day of School

Luke started school last Wednesday. He has been dropped off every day without tears (excluding my own) and only minimal lip pooching. He's happy every day when he gets picked up, so that makes me not worry about the sad face when he gets dropped off.

The first day I picked him up a little girl in his class came out the door after him to give him a picture she had drawn. He just looked at her and said, "That's not mine." After I explained that she had drawn it for him and was giving it to him, she said, "It's me and you." He has his Daddy's innate charm, I guess. The ladies already love him.

He came home this week talking about the Christmas story and singing Christmas songs. He told me about Mary and Joseph, Baby Jesus, the donkey and he's been singing Jingle Bells with random words. It's been fun to hear the things he's learning.

There was one day when I had doubts about our decision to put him in school. Not that anything in particular made me worry, but I guess it's just letting go of control. Then I thought about all the wonderful people aside from my parents who have had an impact on my life and helped me become who I am. I'm grateful my parents let go enough to give those people an opportunity to help me grow, and I know this is a wonderful school and a wonderful chance for him to grow in ways that I can't provide. It's a gift. To me, to him, to Eli (he likes being an only child in the mornings, he has decided).

The face I see every day at the end of the school day

Friday, December 4, 2009

How Low Can He Go?

I'm officially 36 weeks and officially ready for the baby to make his debut. I went to the doctor Wednesday, and she was way too encouraging that I would make it another week. She was not on the same page as me. She did say that he is as low as I thought. That was confirmed yesterday when I went to the bank and a guy about my age stopped me to ask if I was having a boy. To be honest, he was a little bit thuggish, even though he had a sweet face and smile, and I was surprised he would be interested. When I said "yes" with a question in my voice, he made a motion with his hands below his belly and said, "Well, they say boys hang lower."


Mom has been making me take all kinds of pictures so she can show everyone how huge my belly is. As with the comments from the fella yesterday, I have been a good sport. You can't really tell in this picture, but my belly no longer will rest on my lap, but rather between my legs.


I'm hoping these will be the last of the belly pictures. I appreciate all prayers that have been made for baby to stay put until it's time. Would you mind revising those prayers, please? It's time. Thanks. Much appreciated.