Finally!

Clara Isabelle Streadbeck

Born: August 30 at 11:31 PM

Weight: 8 lbs 13 oz

Height: 19.5 "

It's never going to look the same, is it?

Honestly, these pictures don't do justice to the glory and wonderment that is my abdomen. It's bigger than the pictures make it seem.

37-38 weeks......and still growing!

Never Mind

I've decided not to have the baby. Or else she's decided not to be born. Either way, she is taking her own sweet time! I don't mind carrying a baby for the whole 40 weeks, but if I'm going to do that then I don't want to start labor until 40 weeks. Instead I was dilated to 3 cm. a month before that. And then I have the days and days of contractions, long and painful contractions, that would stay regular for hours at a time, then dissipate for awhile, only to come back stronger and closer later on. Close meaning 3 minutes apart for several hours. And let's not mention the weeks of increased nausea and vomiting.

And since the definition of "true labor" is when the contractions are actually progressing the state of the cervix, and since after 2 weeks of contractions I am now dilated to 5 cm., it would appear that I've been in labor for 2 weeks. Not cool. None of my other births were like this. In fact, with both of my others, I went EXTREMELY quickly from a 4 to a 10, meaning not hours, but minutes. And that's why I'm worried. I really don't want to have this baby at home.........or at Costco. =0)

And I really really want her to be born before September 1st, because that is the deadline for starting school here in Washington, and if she's 6 before she gets to go to kindergarten, then she'll always be the oldest in her grade and when she turns 16 she'll have to date boys in the grade above because all the kids in her grade will still be 15, and then she's going to get in with an older crowd, probably bikers with tattoos, and she'll start sneaking out, and wearing lipstick, and I just CAN'T HANDLE THAT RIGHT NOW!!!

So cross your fingers for me that she's born in the next 6 days.

Holy Hail Storm in June, Batman!!!

When we went to Montana this summer, one of the highlights was the incredible hail storm we had. It was exciting!

I had never seen such large hail before EVER! When it started, the children were napping in their room, and suddenly it sounded like someone was throwing baseballs onto the roof. I ran in to check on them, but they were both still snoozing. Then it sounded like an entire baseball TEAM was pitching hard balls at the roof, and yet the children slept on. The day before had been sweltering, and within minutes my parents lawn was covered in white.

And the children slept on.

The windows started shattering with the force of the hail. The window IN the children's room shattered and broke into shards........and the children slept on.

My van was dented in several places from the hail. I kinda like it, it's a conversation piece.

Russ was at the Fireworks stand during this time, trying to close all the doors and windows, and take down banners (so the wooden stand wouldn't topple over with the wind) all without getting knocked unconscious by the falling balls of ice.

It was certainly extraordinary. Fortunately no people were killed, but several animals were. And the insurance companies have been writing checks for cars and buildings non-stop ever since. Every single business that insures vehicles knows EXACTLY where Bozeman, MT is now!

Another interesting event during our stay, more baffling than exciting: a week after the storm we drove to my brother Josh's house, so that my kids could play on his swing set and trampoline while I cut out fabric for a sewing project. However when we got there, the trampoline was GONE! My brother and his family had been out of town for several weeks, but we'd been over to Josh's house a couple times and the trampoline had been there then. However the fence was unlocked and anyone could get into the back yard. My dad went over to the neighbors to ask if they had seen anything or anyone suspicious while my mom and I searched to see if anything else had been taken. Surprisingly, the neighbor said he knew exactly where the trampoline was. Apparently during that hail storm the trampoline had been swept into the air like a sail, it had toppled and cartwheeled over my brother's 8 foot tall fence, and then over the neighbor's fence, and then the next neighbor's fence, and the next, then flown across the street and slammed into the side of someone's house. The owners of that house dismantled the trampoline and kept it in their garage until we came asking for it.

I never cut out my fabric. Instead my Mom did, and sewed the entire project for me the day before I left. What a wonderful Mom I have, I'll have to take some pictures of it when I get the baby's room all set up.

The newest member of our family!

Meet the newest addition to our family: Zazu. We bought our little Lovebird in May, when he was freshly hatched, and then waited for several weeks until he was old enough to go home with us, in the middle of July. Zazu is in high demand among the entire family, he snuggles, gives kisses, and is constantly begging to come out of his cage and play, which the children are always thrilled to let him do.

Zazu on his cage.

Giving Hyrum some lovin'....

Chewing on Hyrum's buttons.

Brielle is extremely devoted to Zazu and begs to hold him continuously from morning to night.

And Zazu is a very good sport about it.

But Zazu's ultimate favorite snuggle-buddy is Russell. If he so much as hears Russell somewhere in the house he will take off in search of him.

Zazu spends countless hours attempting to remove Russell's glasses.

Or gently nibbling on his ear. Sometimes not so gently. =0)

For Russell, Zazu will make all sorts of baby bird cheeps and chirps, and is constantly grooming him or giving him kisses. Such a sweet little Lovebird.

And the last picture is of Zazu on my belly. He spends a lot of time sitting there and shredding post-it notes, one of his favorite past-times!

Gambling on Sunday

We're now taking bets for when our baby will arrive. The person that guesses correctly may choose the middle name for the baby AND become the honorary Fairy Godparent of said child. (wings and wand cost extra) If the winner so desires they may have our dog in lieu of deciding on the middle name. No joke.

Here are the facts: My due date is September 6th. I don't generally go to my due date. (Brielle was three weeks early and Hyrum two weeks) I'm not in labor, nor do I feel like I will be soon. The baby is larger than her gestational age (probably due to the glucose intolerance). Dilation and effacement are as mentioned in prior post.

Happy guessing!!

Bets Placed Currently

Russell- August 15 8:00 AM expired

Brooke- August 15 8:01 AM expired

Brett & Maria- August 18th 12:01 AM expired

Christian- August 20 4:20 PM expired

My Doctor- August 20 expired

Jenny- August 21 2:04 PM expired

Heidi- August 22 10:23 PM expired

Scott- August 22 10:24 PM expired

Shannon- August 23 11:59 PM expired

Laurie- August 29 3:30 AM expired

Heather- August 30 9:00 AM

Amie- August 31 12:01 AM

Carol - September 1 12:01 AM

Shay- September 1 3:01 AM

Ian- September 7 8:31 AM (Two days late? I am not amused, Ian.)

(if no time is specified I will give you 12:01 AM, because I'd hate for someone to win just because they had the WHOLE day marked off as theirs!! Gotta be precise here!)

Could you maybe circle around the neighborhood a few times?

I'll be 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow. And as of today I am dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. Oh yeah, and having contractions.

Now, I want the baby early, but not THIS early. I've only done one coat of paint on the baby's room and it needs at least one more, and then I need to move the crib and dresser in there, and maybe FIND the boxes of baby clothes and sort out things for a newborn.........and hopefully some will be weather appropriate since the last little girl I brought home was in January in negative 20 degree weather. And I should probably scrounge up my car seat too......hmmm the list keeps getting longer. So much to do!!!