Geoff's visit to ruined Detroit

Geoff visited us when Nora was born. So we went exploring. I've never seen some of the ruined areas of Detroit, but I took some pictures. Plus, I discovered the Panoramic thing on my iPhone. This is a version of Detroit that haunts me.

Newborn Photo Shoot

A friend of mine is building up her photography skills and asked if she could use Nora as a subject for newborn photos. Being the good friend that I am, I agreed to let her take beautiful pictures of my baby. Kensi did an amazing job. If she goes professional, I am recommending her to everyone I know. 

Henry wasn't exactly cooperative, and he refused to smile, so shots with him are minimal. But the pictures I got are so beautiful, I had to show some of them off. 

Our Nora Jane

She finally came! And it was an absolute miracle. My doctor and I agreed on my due date that since I wasn't progressing, we would schedule a c-section for Monday April 21. If she came on her own before then, great. If not, surgery.

So Monday morning we were packing to go to the hospital and I started having some pretty uncomfortable contractions. I ignored them though, because I figured it was just because I was dehydrated (I had to start fasting at midnight) and running all over the house.  Plus I didn't want to get my hopes up. By the time we got to the hospital at 10, I was having trouble walking when the contractions hit. So I mentioned to the nurses what was happening and they said they'd have my doctor check me. Sure enough, I was in labor! My doctor asked if I wanted to give it a try and Ben and I both said YES. 

12 hours later, I gave birth to Eleanor Jane Fisher, all on my own! It was the most amazing thing, to be so involved in the process instead of motionless in an operating room.

It was so different this time; Ben got to cut the cord and I got to hold the baby right away. It was exactly what we wanted. And my epidural was awesome. It saved me so much pain and made it easier for me to be mentally present and aware.

Eleanor was so tiny--only 8 lbs 2 oz.  All the nurses commented on what a big baby she was, and I kept thinking, are you kidding me, she's so tiny! Almost 2 1/2 pounds smaller than her brother. I still feel like I might break her. She's so wonderful, and I can't believe she came the way she did. She's such a sweet little person.

Henry is fascinated by Nora. He likes to watch her and tickle her feet and share his food with her and rock her when she is in her car seat. It's pretty sweet. Henry seems so big and advanced now.

It's definitely going to be an adjustment, having two kids. Thank goodness my mom is here to help with the house and the kids. And I just love saying that--my kids. The plurality feels so grown up.

Distractions

I've been trying to find ways to distract myself lately. And being pregnant always gives me the crafty bug. I've been slowly re-doing our bedroom so it feels more cozy and airy.

We bought a cheap comforter when we first got married, and I've been wanting to replace it for a few years. We finally got a new wool comforter that is suuuper cozy. I spent hours and hours looking at different duvet covers, but I couldn't find anything I liked (for less than $600), so I decided to make one myself.

I was a bit nervous undertaking this project, what with the large amount of fabric it required, but I like the way it turned out. I'm somewhat obsessed with the gray/yellow combination.

We have a pair of little dressers that also serve as our bedside tables. We got them for free from a family who was moving, and they've been really functional. But I'm not so into that Ikea look, so I decided to paint them.

This was my most recent project--I just finished Ben's today. The picture doesn't accurately capture the color, but basically it's yellow and bold and bright and I love it. I forget how much I love painting. Especially when I don't have to sand first.

Our dresser was my first furniture makeover project, and I actually did this way back when I was barely pregnant. We also go this dresser when we were first married and on quite a tight budget. It was really beat up, but other than that it's a good dresser. I had plans from the get-go to sand and paint it, but I had to wait until we had a garage/driveway/yard to do it in.

I was happy with how my first furniture makeover attempt came out. I thought a distressed look would be a safe way to go. There's something quite satisfying about do-it-yourself projects. I got to use my first ever power tool on this baby--an electric sander that Ben got me for my birthday. It's not a drill or saw or anything, but I still felt powerful.

I have a few more plans that include pillows, a rug, and a headboard. I'd also really like to paint these terrible walls, but we have to paint everything back when we move, so I'll just tough it out. The distractions do help, though I'm pretty sure time is still crawling by... I'm waiting to get a picture of the whole room until I have everything come together. Can you stand the suspense?

Flipped

Despite the odds being against us, our baby is now head down. This means no more c-section on Friday. We could still end up having one, but at least now we have a chance. Let the waiting (and discomfort and walking and bouncing and spicy food eating) begin.

Breech

Just a heads up, this post is basically going to be about me. So if you want to be reminded of Henry's cuteness or Ben's general awesomeness, please refer to any earlier post.

Now that I am in the 37th week of pregnancy (full term!), I am going through the typical discomfort, emotional craziness, and general feeling unattractive-ness (read: huge) that most women experience around now. I'm very self-conscious about my belly size, especially since people often comment on how large I am or stare at me like I'm some kind of spectacle (adults and children alike do this). I also have a hard time feeling pretty with what I consider to be such a swollen face. So the other day I took a few pictures to remind myself that pregnancy is a beautiful thing (as am I). Those are the pictures that I'm featuring here, to break up all my babbling (forgive the smudged mirror, these were quick photos taken on my way out the door).

I've been optimistic about not having another c-section, because this baby doesn't seem to be as big as her brother. But last week she decided she wanted to be breech. I've tried different "home remedies" to get her to move, but they just seem to have made her move further in the wrong position. The stinker.

Since I've already had a c-section, there aren't many doctors who would consider anything but a repeat c-section for a breech baby. The final say will be determined on Thursday, with my last ultrasound. If she is still breech (which is most likely at this point), we have a scheduled appointment for delivery on April 11. It's not at all what we wanted and I'm trying not to be disappointed. But our excitement is overriding most of the negative emotions I expected to feel. I figure if I'm one of 3% of pregnancies that ends breech, this just must be what needs to happen. And who could not be excited about getting to see their baby in only 12 days?

Sing Tangled

Every time we are in the car, Henry asks to "listen Tangled please." Recently he's started singing along, and not only to this soundtrack, but to other songs he knows. I find it ridiculously adorable. Forgive me for the orientation, shakiness and length (2 whole minutes) of the video. I just held up my phone while I was driving. I know, safe driver.