Sunday, August 17, 2008

announcing...



Isaac Nathaniel Schleifer
born
August 10, 2008 at 4:10 pm
8 pounds, 2 ounces,
21 inches tall
sweeter than sugar!



Groggy Mommy :(











Sleepy Daddy :(








4:15 pm Sunday, August 10


A day in the life of Isaac...









Wake up, it's time to eat!


I am the luckiest girl in the world--as I have said before. So far, this is my experience of motherhood--tranquil, calm, tender, and sweet. I know, this is the HONEYMOON PERIOD. Things change. But this rocks!

Friday, August 8, 2008

still not time :(

And, I'm bigger and bigger every day. All we have is 2 cms and NO OTHER SIGNALS.

Many of you have come forward to share your stories and empathize with the Heffalump-ness I'm feeling. I am extremely grateful to you for reaching out and comforting me with your stories. I guess everything that's going on is NORMAL and most of you have shared the experience. THANK YOU!

So--OK already. LET'S GET THIS #$%^&* SHOW ON THE ROAD. Is is possible to compel your offspring, as their parent, to make the move? I wish. All I know is I've been having some seriously persuasive conversations with Isaac Nathaniel.

My dear and wonderfully supportive MiL, Carolyn, said today that babies that are past due (technically we're not until Sunday) look more like BABIES and are generally pudgier and therefore cuter than babies born earlier. So--that's a benefit.

I have my good days and bad days. Today is a good day. There is an end in sight. I think if things don't move on their own, we will have serious chats with the doctor about an induction sometime next weekend--Friday, Saturday or Sunday. He said he'd want that anyway. Dave starts school on Monday! And my dear uncle Adam is also travelling on business that week too. So--we've got to get things MOVING!

One tremendously wonderful thing is that Dave said we should just have TAKE OUT from now on (Thank you God). One sad thing is that our doggie care standards have virtually gone out the window. Though, God makes things like TREADMILLS. Which, are wonderful for large doggies living in 1000 sq. ft. apartments.

One not-so-much thing is that THERE IS SO MUCH STILL TO DO to set up things for our house closing, and getting us settled in to the area. One would think I'd have it all wrapped up at this point. No.

Boring, I know. I'm bored. B*O*R*E*D. My big activities are laying on the couch with my feet elevated to avoid deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Oh, and groaning.

We miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

motherlode of photos--no--it's not time

Hi!
OK--finally! I have pictures! Dave's parents gave him a video camera for his birthday--so soon we will have videos of the baby and the dogs (on the treadmill!). More on that all soon.

So--the photos! Dave looks so handsome and professional on a regular workday.


Me as a HUGE HEFFALUMP. No words about my ankles, sciatica, or the pulling sensations of my large lump. These are not Fergie's lady lumps.





Our front facade...






Interior Pictures...we're almost done!







Tuesday, July 29, 2008

false alarm!

Hi!

Without too much oversharing---I had a little mini-fire-drill, thinking it was TIME!

Multiple symptoms began yesterday at 6:15 pm---and we wanted to get a real doctor's opinion before calling the whole world and letting them know it's time. THANK GOD we had restraint!

It's not time. :( In fact, the doctor said, there are no signs and signals at this point. We're a ways away. Though, he did say, things can change very quickly.

Dave's mom will be here this weekend, so when it really is TIME, she can help with things like driving to the hospital.

My mom is grateful that Carolyn (Dave's mom) can be here to help me. My mom is legally blind and she's got COPD and is on continuous oxygen. She has portable oxygen tanks that last about 2 hours each--which--are too heavy for her to carry even! So--she needs my help a lot for many basic things we all take for granted. I know she would love to be able to help me more, but things are what they are. And, if I'm deep into labor, I can't be much help to her either. So--thank goodness for Dave's mom--and my uncle Adam, who both have graciously offered to step in and help!

I'm so glad I have both moms who have actual experience with actual children and infants--because I don't have any experience. And they're both lovely. Also--my dad's sister has offered to come help after Carolyn goes back home. So--THANK GOD for all these helpful, experienced MOM'S!! I am very lucky.

OK--more soon---when it really IS TIME.

We miss you. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Dave turns 40!

We are officially middle-aged.

Except, we're just starting our family and Dave's second career. Apparently all very common these days. Except by the time we have our 'family home' it will be time to move into an active adult community. [Not that we would!!]

So--anyway--back to Dave. Last weekend, we went to that tasty Mexican restaurant in downtown D.C. This weekend, we went to see 'The Dark Knight' and Dave got to play with his new 'Grand Theft Auto' videogame and we had delicious ice cream cake from this place called Maggie Moos. Those are the things he really wanted for his 40th. His mom is coming this weekend, and we'll celebrate more of the birthday season.

Except--POOR DAVE--I ruined his birthday. First, I should say, I cooked an elaborate, delicious breakfast--and everything was normal and lovely the first part of the day.

Later, he took me to the movies on what was possibly my worst time in my whole pregnancy. I resolved my pants issue--by getting some more that are HUGE. So--that was OK. But--I wore some shoes that I had been wearing throughout--but, that I shouldn't wear these days--they're just too tight with my sausage-dog-ankles. But, fashion took priority over reality--since we were going out in PUBLIC.

Sitting for 2 hours was pretty near unbearable, and my right ankle swelled sooo much during the movie--that realistically, I couldn't wear my shoes--and I basically had to limp and shlep myself while holding onto walls and ballasters while we walked back to the car. No possibility of browsing or having a nice time at the mall together. I felt like everyone was staring at me. It was really crowded, and there were lots of people behind us. I felt like a spectacle.

It felt like we parked a million miles away. By the time we got back to the car, I was verging on tears. Just so completely frustrated by this whole thing. It goes on and on and on. There's little I can do to relieve my discomfort. I can't even verbalize exactly what feels so uncomfortable. I guess a 7 pound person pressing and pushing on internal organs...? So--it was bad. I think Dave was bewildered about what to do.

My fragile emotional state with complete meltdown lasted well into the evening. And instead of me making a yummy birthday dinner for everyone, Dave had to get Chinese Take-Out. It was the first time I was that emotional in this whole 9 months.

Dave was a peach. As usual. So sweet. He sat with me and held my hand and ordered me to relax for the next several days.

I have been a fit and healthy person in my life--so all of this physical limitation and constant discomfort has really challenged my self-concept. Not to mention, put a real crimp in my actual activities. Like the movies. Come on--how hard is it to go to the movies?!!

Big fun. We miss you!
Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

7 pounds in 1 week!

So--I was right. I did gain a bunch of weight. But, I did not eat an additional 24,500 calories last week. So--the doctor thinks it's FLUID retention. Great.

Will this pace continue for the next 3 weeks? If so, I could gain an additional 21 pounds this August. Wonderful!

No wonder none of my clothes fit.

How to leave the house to buy new clothes when you look like a sausage...

:( Sad!

We miss you. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

pregnancy note

OK--I didn't think I could get any bigger. I really have not been PORKING out. Seriously. But I don't fit into any of my pants, and I'm feeling resistance to leaving the house to go buy more---because, it's, shall we say--too late? I look like a sausage. How can I leave the house looking like that? Besides, I don't want to spend the money. This is almost over.

Last Wednesday I was all proud of myself for only having gained 35 pounds. Everything I read said the weight gain slows down at this point.

We'll see what the doctor says this Wednesday. I bet I've gained 30 more pounds.

Oh--and---all yesterday we had practice contractions called 'Braxton Hicks' :)
TICK TOCK.