The World's newest Little Angel!

She's here! The world's newest little angel! Born at 3:22 pm on February 4th, Lydia Dawn weighed 8 lbs 2 ounces and measured 20 inches long. More details to come soon, but here's a few pictures to share her sweetness!

Just Keep Swimming!

This post's existence should answer anyone's questions as to whether or not I have had the baby yet. But, in case you haven't figured it out, I am still pregnant. However, I feel more miserable than ever. I feel so bad for David who has had to deal with all my emotional crying spells and short-temperedness. I just am so sick of everything! The comments when I see anyone of "you're still here?" or "when's that baby going to come?" Well, don't I wish I knew that one! Then everyone's "advice" they have to go home and vacuum or go walking. Well, maybe something's just wrong with me, but none of it seems to be working! My body seems to get more uncomfortable by the day, yet no signs of contractions. People act like something's wrong with me when they find out I have not dilated and I don't know how big my baby is. I'm even tired of random strangers asking me how far along I am and giving crazy looks of surprise when they find out I'm ready to pop! Then, on top of it all, I'm scared I'm just going to be the point of such bitterness and crankiness from all the pregnancy that when I finally do have the baby I'm going to look at her and want to send her back! I wonder if I really am cut out for this whole mom thing! I hope some people who are reading this understand the feelings I am having and will tell me that it's perfectly normal. I'm pretty sure they will.
So, let's focus on a few positive notes!

#1- The doctor has scheduled me to be induced next Monday, February 8th if I do not go into labor myself before then.

#2- I was able to make a new cover for the swing someone so kindly gave us! The other one was very boyish. So, after reading someone's instructions for recovering a highchair, I decided to attempt this project myself. It wasn't too difficult and took me a total of about 3 hours.


#3- I was able to go to our Stake Women's Conference Saturday night where Randal Wright spoke. He was the institute director in Austin when I was probably about 18-20 years old and has now written several books and speaks at various conferences worldwide. It was good to see a familiar face and he gave some really great advice on parenting that I took note of.

#4- If I don't have the baby tomorrow, then tomorrow night is the Premier for "Lost"! Yay! We're gonna get together with some friends and have a party!

There have been good things happening that I need to give credit to. And I really appreciate all the support that people have been giving me! Especially my mom, Lindsay, David and my friends here. And I know you all understand when I say that I wish it was all over with! But, Lydia! Your eviction notice is almost up and Grandma Anderson is almost done with your blanket! It's time, my dear!

Another January Birthday?

After another visit to the doctor today, I feel that the end is finally in sight. The doctor checked me and, though I am not dilated, I am pretty well effaced. He could feel the baby's head and predicted that as soon as she moves her head directly over the cervix I will go into labor. He is pretty sure that it will happen sometime this week.
We had been hoping that she would hang on till Friday night so that David can focus on his test and do well Friday morning. We'll see if that happens. She may think that Thursday night sounds like the one she wants! However, we are pretty sure that she will add to our shmorgishbord of January birthdays!
This knowledge had left me a little more nervous and anxious! I think I am starting my nesting phase! I cleaned up the swing someone gave us today, did a load of laundry and got David to do the dishes. And I have a few more things I want to get done tomorrow. I am hoping that I can just do these couple things and then I will let myself rest. (Don't worry, I actually am still sleeping in and trying to take things easy as I get these things done.) I also want to go to the beach tomorrow. Maybe get the baby moving!
So, overall, we are very excited that Lydia will be joining us soon! It'll be nice to finally meet my little alien!

Any day now?

I find myself asking so often lately, "Is there really an end to all of this? Is there really a baby in there? Or do I just have a lifelong condition of a squirming alien inside of me?" I know that millions of women have gone before me and had these same types of feelings. But, seriously, shouldn't the baby come with a specific date and time that you will go into labor? Then I think I would feel like I have so much more purpose! Instead I find myself having a small contraction, looking at the clock and wondering if this could actually be it! And when another contraction doesn't come, I roll over disappointed.

Yesterday I went to see the doctor and ended up asking him if he could strip my membranes or do something to help get this baby going! He's a little nervous (and rightfully so) that if he tries to get it all moving before the baby's ready that I'll end up in a c-section. So, he compromised with me that if I came back on Friday and the NST machine showed that I was having contractions, then he would do it.
So, now I am anxiously hoping that the small contractions I have are enough.

Meanwhile, I feel like I am twiddling my thumbs. I've worked on several projects throughout the pregnancy and I just feel burned out of them lately. I could continue to work on mine and David's wedding album or do a couple of pages for Lydia's baby book. But, instead, I end up putting on a movie and working on my everlasting puzzle or just wanting to go to sleep. I went through a spirt when we first got back from Washington where I crazily organized everything in the baby's room and cleaned the house. And now, I just feel lazy. I have no signs of what they call "nesting". I almost wonder if I have a pre-postpartum depression or baby blues. I have no idea. But I do know that I really want to have this baby! I feel like when I do, not only will my body have a chance to recuperate from all this, but my many wakeups throughout the night will have a purpose other than a run to the toilet! Maybe that's it. I just don't feel like I have much of a purpose right now. Lydia, please...please come soon!

20 Day Eviction notice

So, I've just been catching up on Ciera's blog and came across this. Yeah, it's definitely how I feel! So, Lydia, this is your first letter from your mother! :)

Little Miss Lydia Dawn Dickinson:
I hereby issue 20 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 20 days in which you can either gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day, after which, you will be physically removed from the property.
You are being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed.
Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure.
And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

After 20 days from this day that you don't comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion.

Thank you for your cooperation.
Love, Momma


So, despite wanting all the pains that come from being this pregnant to be over with, I really am very excited for Lydia to come still! I'm ready to see her little face and to cuddle with her! (I sure hope she's a snuggler!) We already love our little girl and wouldn't trade her for the world!

(For lots of pregnant pictures, see the December 09 pictures! I don't have all the pictures saved on David's computer, which is where I'm working from right now. So, I can't just put them in the post.)

My Giveaway Today

Lindsay was so kind as to let me know about My Giveaway Today.

They are giving away a $150 giftcard for a tshirt quilt. So, if you follow the link, you too can enter to win this. It's a project I've been wanting to do and was a way that I could convince David that he no longer needed to keep soooo many tshirts in his dresser. So, I plan to make one eventually, but I would love it if someone did it for me! I've never quilted anything before.

Where in the World are Kimberly and David?!

I've had that line running through my head for the past week (for y'all who used to be Carmen Sandiego fans). But I think that really could be a true question given my lack of posts the past month. To sum it up, I can honestly say we've been busy! But life is settling about as much as I ever expect it to and so here are a few of the things we have been up to.

#1. We are officially moved! Hoorah! We were able to quickly find a new apartment and were moved in before Thanksgiving! And I must say that I had a lot to be thankful for this year! In the last couple weeks in our old apartment we discovered that cockroaches that big really do poop. And they got into all sorts of places that we hadn't ever anticipated leaving their traces. Our apartment complex also had a couple of mice or rats which had made a couple visits to our apartment leaving a couple of their traces as well. We called the cops on our neighbors who were having a huge Jerry Springer episode involving the whole apartment complex one Sunday afternoon. And we continued to have our usual struggles with the power company turning off our power and even claiming that we had paid them money, but that we didn't actually have an account with them (my thought is give me back my money then!). needless to say, we are ever so happy to be in our new apartment! I have yet to see a cockroach, we've only had a maintenance guy over once to do a minor repair, our neighbors are so cute, and I can honestly feel at home here. I feel safe bringing a baby home here. And we even put up our Christmas tree!

#2. We got to go to San Antonio for Thanksgiving! I love having my family so close! My dad was even able to come help us move. (Thanks dad! It was much needed!) So, after David finished his classes on Wednesday, we drove out to San Antonio. Dad made his delicious fried turkey and we helped mom make all the other delicious sides. We felt really relaxed there. We did a little bit of shopping and went to the Dickins Festival in Boerne. We enjoyed some fake snow out there (soap bubbles actually, but it looked pretty real!). neil didn't care for the crowds out there, so we saw our fill and then went home to play a game. Overall it was a great holiday and was wonderful to be with family!



I don't know how well you can see the snow, but it's there!

#3. The weekend after Thanksgiving, a couple of my friends (Cassidy and Stormie) threw me a baby shower! I love getting baby stuff! It's all so cute and little! My parents were able to come out for it (well, my mom came for the shower and my dad came for a coin show in Houston). So, it was fun having them here. Also, my cousin Lee and his family came from north Houston for it! It was so great to see them again! I got so many cute outfits and much needed baby supplies! Thanks everyone! I had a blast!


#4. I also was able to finish my project I had been working on. A blessing dress for Lydia (and other future daughters). I intend for it to be used on all of my daughters and grand daughters. It's only my second dress I've sewn on my own, and I sure had my share of screw ups that I had to fix on it, but I must say that I think it turned out beautiful! I am so excited to use it! What do you think?



#5. The rest of our time has been spent getting ready for Christmas and organizing our apartment. (Well, I guess I should clarify my time. David has been studying for all his finals.) We leave for Washington on Saturday to spend Christmas with David's family. And when we return, I will be in full baby gear making sure everything is ready!


So, now that y'all are caught up on my busy life, do you think you would be able to answer the question? Where in the world are Kimberly and David? Submit your answers via your comments. The best answer wins the loudest laugh!