The Newel Post: June 2010

I went to the doctor Tuesday for my 39 weeks appointment, the official due date is Saturday. I was again asked if I wanted my membranes stripped, and it didn't sound any better this week. My doctor told me that I am still not progressing and so she wanted to schedule an induction. She said how about tomorrow night? I was shocked, I was just not expecting it to be that soon, but agreed. I had to then call Troy at work and tell him that we would be going to the hospital tomorrow to have our baby. I thought I was shocked . . . The phone calls continued to my family, Troy's family and then friends. Excitement quickly followed, once I had a moment to take a deep breath. Tomorrow is the big day, April 8th will be Tucker's birthday!

38 Weeks

I have been going to the doctor each week for the last 3 weeks now. At this point I am not progressing at all. The doctor asked if I wanted her to strip my membranes, I immediately responded with, "No, thanks though." I am getting very uncomfortable and beyond swollen. I am very limited on which shoes I can even get on. It is getting ugly and very funny for some. It has been unusually warm already this spring, but I insist on keeping the cankles covered.

Baby Tucker's Nursery

At 36 weeks the Tucker could come at anytime really and he would be considered full term. Troy kept saying after the 36 week milestone that if he came tomorrow, we would be fine, "We have everything we need." I however, was not ready and still needed (wanted) the time to finish the baby's room, wash the clothes, put them away, and pack the bags for the hospital. All along I kept telling Troy that I hope I have scheduled induction or a scheduled c-section so that I know when it is going to happen. Troy faked looking shocked and said, "Really, you want to plan and schedule something?" He knows me so well. Well now the room is done, clothes are hanging in the closet and all the gear is put together. Now it is just a waiting game!

These are silhouettes of Tucker's big brother, Bing, and big sister, Nat.

Our friend Tyler's mom painted this dog picture for his nursery, it's made of old wood, has newsprint behind it and looks like an antique piece of art, it is perfect!

The Name Game

Well we have finally decided on a name! Grady Tucker Bethune. We are going to call him by his middle name, Tucker, not to make things difficult. (As a teacher I know the pain of labeling all the school supplies for a student just to be told they go by their middle name, ugh!) My dad's name is Tom and growing up my grandmother, his mom, called him Tucker and occasionally Tuck. There is a little boy in 3rd grade this year named Tucker, he thinks I am naming the baby after him! How cute! I think I will just let that one go. :)

It's raining, it's pouring . . . Baby Showers

In two weeks time we have had 3 baby showers and still one to go! We are so blessed to have such good and generous friends and family that are so excited for baby Tucker to arrive.

It began at school with my class throwing me a shower. (When I say my class, I really mean the very enthusiastic and sweet parents of the kids in my class.) They were so cute! They each made a guess about what day they think the baby will arrive and then how big he will be. They had out their rulers trying to figure out the length. I overheard one say, "Oh he will be AT LEAST 11 pounds!" I sure hope that child is wrong. This was followed by a baby bottle chugging contest, cookie cake and gifts. It was so fun and we got so many adorable things for Tucker.

The following day my friends Jessica, Donna, Niki, Brooke, Stephanie and sister Stacey, threw me my 'big' shower with all our friends and family. There were so many details that made it perfect, from glass baby bottles filled with daisies hanging by twine to personalized cupcakes and a grits station that was so tasty. Each person brought Tucker a book in place of a card with their gift to start Tucker a library. It will be so neat to read the personal notes to Tucker inside each cover as we read to him at night. It was so sweet to have all our friends and family help us prepare for the baby, I can't imagine this child will want for anything.

The hostesses and myself: Jessica, Niki, Me, Stacey, Donna, and Brooke.

A sign Jessica painted for the hospital door, it matches the fabric on his crib bedding.

Gifts galore, believe it or not there are piles in all the corners of the room that you can't see!

We recently went on a trip to Gatlinburg with a group of friends that Troy went to Pharmacy school with. They also had a shower for us. It was another shower filled with thoughtful planning and lots of laughs. We played a few games at which I failed miserably. We were each given 3 pins and could not say 3 words, one of which was Tucker, and if we did we lost our pins to whoever caught us saying the word. I instantly lost two by saying Tucker. Each person also used playdough to create a model of what Tucker would look like, it was very entertaining. We received more great gifts including a koozie for his baby bottle, perfect for Troy's child and a painted toy box for all of his books! It was so good to get to see them all again, it is not often we can all get together and hope to do it again soon!