Catherine Wellons Cobb was born on Saturday, June 23 at 9:55am. She weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and measured 20 inches long. Her delivery was picture perfect and we would relive it again in a heartbeat if we could. I can’t wait to tell you the birth story. I’m sorry it took so long for me to follow up, but we’ve been completely absorbed in the moment and I’ve pushed everything else aside and made her an absolute priority and focus for the past almost-week.
Contractions hurt! But epidural takes it away. Feels weird though to be numb. Here we are, I’m a little doped up but we’re happy.
My water broke at three am and we just got to the hospital! Chris is parking the car and I’m all suited up…having real contractions for the first time and they are painful but definitely tolerable. I haven’t timed them but I’m guessing they’re five minutes apart.
Hello! Baby ___ and I are sitting here in my very favorite coffee shop in the whole world, wrapping up some work and taking a minute to write this post. Symptoms, baby’s weight, and all of those stats I’ve been posting aren’t much different from last week. I just need to take a moment to say I told you so, so please humor me.
I KNEW my little girl would be late! I KNEW it! I said it from the very beginning. I was too happy and comfy being pregnant, not to mention almost every pregnant person I knew went a little past her due date before going into labor or being induced. But when two doctors at your practice, upon examining your cervix, tell you with such confidence she’ll be born by this weekend or tonight (respectively), you tend to believe them. You rush around getting everything in order and making arrangements and getting yourself mentally prepared. Then, you wait. And wait. And wait some more.
Suddenly, you find yourself in what Roy D. Mercer would call a “sit-chee-ation.” I personally feel like I got all gussied up then stood up by my date. I’m sitting at the restaurant alone, holding a rose and looking kinda silly. None of this would have happened if I didn’t take my doctor’s advice verbatim.
But, anyway. Here we are and she’s due today, but it’s okay if she waits a little while. I would just like it if she comes on her own, without having to schedule an induction. I’m so excited it’s the weekend, and I’ll have Chris to keep me company…and anyway, if she is born at 12:01am Saturday, I will be getting some amethyst earrings. 😀 And maybe that is what my girl knew all along!
The closets, dresser drawers, and bathroom cabinets are all perfectly cleaned, laid with fresh drawer paper, and organized.
The kitchen cabinets are neat and orderly and fully stocked, with everything in its place.
The freezer is stocked with washed, chopped, and blanched collard greens and kale. It is also stocked with three different vegan casseroles, homemade pizza dough, homemade yeast rolls, homemade vegan blueberry muffins, homemade vegan cookie dough, various types of fruits and vegetables, two homemade vegan stews, fresh pasta, every kind of raw nut and seed you can imagine, and good sliced bread from the farmers market…among other things. (patting self on back)
The baby’s nook is squared away and stocked with everything we’re supposed to have for a newborn, and of course much more. (THANK YOU to all of our generous friends and family. I can’t imagine having to do this without you.)
We bought a cute, comfy rocker, and it should be in a couple weeks after she is born.
The baby’s clothes are all washed with baby-safe laundry detergent. (oh the power of marketing)
My toenails have remained freshly manicured for the past month.
Other things have remained freshly manicured as well. (thanks Chris)
We’ve watched all the childbirth, childcare, and breastfeeding (yes, Chris too) videos.
I’ve decided exactly what sort of feeding and sleep schedule I’d like to work towards.
The carseat is in the car.
Our hospital bags are by the door.
Even my cervix is 4 centimeters, fully effaced, and ready for action.
Now, we’re just waiting on two things.
1. Contractions
2. A decision on baby’s name!!
When your doctor says you’re gonna have the baby on “this day” you are a fool to believe him! Yes, you should be prepared just in case, but seriously – he actually has no way of knowing, no matter how awesome a doctor he may be. Yes, I did need to find this out the hard way. I’m sitting at home working when I could be hanging out with my co-workers working because I believed him when he said “I’ll most likely see you back in here tonight or tomorrow.” And do you think I’m about to head back to work like “Hey guys! Just kidding!” No, I am not. I am not going back without a baby to show for it!
Everyone is waiting on me and her. Meanwhile, I guess the freezer could use one more healthy casserole.
This morning I went to the doctor. Chris went with me. There were two fender benders, so we ended up being 30 minutes late, but they fit us in anyway. The doctor said I’m 4 centimeters dilated and he suspects he’ll see us at the hospital tonight or tomorrow. He said he doesn’t see us making it to the weekend. Now, I’ve heard this before so I’m a little skeptical, but just in case I decided to work from home today and tomorrow…which brings about feelings of guilt. It bothers me I didn’t have more of a “closure” day to say bye to everyone. But anyone who’s ever gotten a cervical check at 4cm knows that there’s lots of blood and the feeling that the baby could fall out at any moment. So I’m at home, scrambling to respond to some client feedback, and taking a couple minutes to update this blog. We are very excited…
This will be brief, but I wanted to take a second to mention a few things I’d like to pass on to my own daughter, that I learned from my dad.
1. You can never love your children enough, there is never too much affection, and you can never tell them enough that you love them. They need to hear it and life is too short not to love, love, love.
2. Sometimes, you just need to “Take it easy” and “don’t let the sound of your own wheels drive you crazy.”
3. There’s a world outside of where we live that is worth exploring!
4. To be equally at home in a ritzy restaurant and in the back of a rusty pickup truck.
5. To feel compassion for people and be interested in them because they’re people, not because of how they can help you.
6. To see the beauty in simple, every day moments. These are what make life worth living.
7. To tell stories. To read. To write.
8. To be a generous, welcoming host(ess) to guests in your home.
9. That even cleaning the bathroom or laying mousetraps in the attic can and should be an adventure.
10. Sometimes, its okay to overindulge…it’s even okay to grab a brown paper sack and collect as much candy as you can from the gas station isles before 30 seconds is up…then go home and eat it.
11. The beach, the ocean, lakes, rivers – any body of water is restorative for the soul.
12. Know better than to trust a politician.
Well…there’s SO much more, but that’s my quick list! I love you Daddy.
I can’t speak for Chris, but I could not have asked for a better weekend.
The only drawback was that we didn’t get to be with my dad or Chris’s dad for Father’s Day, because we simply can’t travel right now. But we will be seeing them very soon.
In the meantime, I soaked in every single moment of this [potentially/probably?] last weekend of “us” as we are now before we become “us” as a family of 4 (Meeks included). Here were the highlights:
Brunch on Saturday. We woke up leisurely, showered, and walked to a favorite brunch spot Flying Biscuit. I loved the walk in the nice weather, and just sitting there eating my favorite – tofu scramble with veggies, a side salad with really yummy dressing, and a homemade biscuit with apple butter – with Chris. Afterwards we walked through Candler park and Chris bought me a grape shaved ice from a man making them in his front yard using a really cool-looking antique manual shaved ice maker. Then, we walked through the Midsummer music festival and sat there in the shade just enjoying the weather and being outside. It was perfect.
Braves Game Saturday Night. After stopping by the baby store and deciding/agreeing on a rocker (finally), we went the the Braves Game where we had awesome seats and awesomer weather. Too bad the Braves lost terribly.
Cheesy childbirth video Saturday night. Chris actually lies in bed with me and willingly watches these dated labor and delivery videos with me without complaining one bit. And I love it!
Sunday antique find. Chris had been meaning to buy a privacy screen – our place being very open – for people who come to visit, or anywhere else we might need it. We stumbled across these super tall, old…plank/door thingys.
Chris sanded and sanded and sanded while I painted picture frames for the baby’s nook, ran back and forth to Lowes for supplies, and sat in my chair watching Chris and eating watermelon (Chris had brought out a cooler of beer for him and watermelon for me plus a chair for me). The result was this very cool-looking screen, which my camera doesn’t do much justice.
After that we pretty much cleaned and cooked and watched a little TV before bed. I gave Meeks a bath, just to make sure if anything were to happen he’d be clean and ready for the baby.
Today, I was back at work and feeling great. She is technically due on Friday. I was honestly surprised she didn’t come this weekend – not because I myself ever thought for a second she’d come early – oh no, I was sure she’d be late! – but because my doctor has NEVER steered us wrong and he told me he thought she’d be here by June 16!
The waiting is fun and exciting for us – not frustrating like it seems to be for most people at this stage. I don’t know why. Maybe a combination of me feeling so good this last trimester, really appreciating the “freedom” I’m about to say goodbye to, as I KNOW it anyway, and also just enjoying the sweet anticipation before I open the best Christmas present!
Anyway…that’s my update for now.
Why I Consume Art 