Regatta Weekend (But Really Just a Great Sunday Night)

Rockville Regatta with children is definitely a different experience than it was just a few short years ago. This year, we didn't even venture out until after the last race on Sunday. We joined the Willises at Ebb Tide and caught the final boat ride of the weekend. It was absolutely perfect (except that Van had to stay behind with Guerin who had had just about enough of the boat). We left the club dock and headed to Privateer with hardly a soul in sight. All this prego wanted to do was sit in the water, which I did, once I figured out how to extract myself from the boat. Not exactly the picture of grace, more like something anyone who saw it would rather forget! Regardless, I finally made it into the water. What sweet relief it was to have something besides my spine and ligaments supporting this belly. I could have stayed there for days. The boys loved playing on the beach, and, as there was no one else there, we could be a bit more relaxed in our tending of them. It was nice not to have to keep them out of other people's picnics. We brought the tube in hopes that Davis would be brave enough to try it. Was there every really any question? Of course he wanted to do it. And he loved it! Reeves and I spotted from the stern while Bryant captained. Jodie rode with Davis and got the best upper body workout to date. As it turned out, B pulled them a little fast, but it was necessary to get them over the plane, and once you get to that speed, who ever really wants to slow down. Besides, in a 20 year old boat with a 20 year old motor, it's hard to be precise. You pretty much only get to choose between Reverse, Stop, Forward - fast or slow. Apparently, D kept saying, "Ride 'em, Cowboy!" and "This is hilarious!" Reeves just kept waving at them and giving them the thumbs up and laughing. I had thought he might want to do it, but he didn't. Although he loved playing in the tube with D at the beach. He was even jumping off like D was, but of course, my camera battery had died by then. We stayed out much longer than we had anticipated. What a treasure Van is. He had dinner cooked and ready for us when we returned. The boys played till they crashed, and we all sat on the porch, chatting, eating boiled peanuts (J&V make the best), and glistening with sweat. It was that Tennessee Williams, pre-air-conditioning kind of hot - where you sit around and can see how hot everyone is, feel the sweat dripping down you, not a breeze in the air save for the occasional burst from a fan. It was the perfect cap to a super evening.

37 Weeks

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. Unfortunately, it was at the Jim Island office so the audio heartrate machine does nothing more than acknowledge the fact that my baby's heart is beating. It doesn't give them the number. Thanks, the constant kicks to my diaphragm have assured me that there is a heartbeat. That drives me crazy! The nurse agreed with me and said she'd try to switch it out with one from one of their other offices. That's great, but unless I have a third child, it's not going to do me any good.
Anyway the stats are:
Heartrate - yes, there is one.
Weight gain - none
Dilation - maybe 1 cm, but I haven't really dropped
The head is still down, so that's good.
No talk of inducing yet. I told Becky I'd like to hold off since Reeves starts school on the 27th. I'm sure I'll be quite uncomfortable, but I still think it will be easier pregnant than fresh from labor. Of course, I could be completely wrong. Who knows?
As I was scheduling my next appointment, which Becky had said should be within a week, the receptionist punched her little keys, looked up at me and said, "How about the 17th?" Ummm, have you seen me? Can you read? ONE WEEK, LADY!! I could have this child by the time you get around to scheduling me. Unbelievable! But I kept my cool and just mentioned that the doctor had said I needed to be seen in one week. Luckily, Becky was within earshot and told her to set me up on Wednesday. I mean really, it's not like I'm booking my yearly physical where we do have a few weeks playroom on either side. I've got a bun in this oven, and I'd like to be seen again before it comes out! So, check back for the next update then.

The BBB - Night 2

Last night started out better in the Big Boy Bed. He went down more easily. He is still nopt so sure about going to sleep in there, but we're keeping at it, and I know it will get better with each passing night. I say last night started out better, but he came into our room much earlier than the night before. Not sure why he's waking up like that, although I think the fact that it was like a thousand degrees in our house last night had something to do with it. That AC is the bane of our existence and has been since we moved into the house. Apparently, it's too powerful for our humble abode. What the heck is that? Isn't that like being too rich? Is that even possible? Well, yes, it is. I hate that AC, and it's not like replacing it is a real option right now. So anyway, B took Reeves, put him in his crib, and worked his magic with the AC. (Somehow he's able to get it to go cooler that I ever can.) Things finally cooled off in the house. Reeves fell sound asleep. Bryant fell sound asleep. I tossed and turned and tried to get comfortable, read some, watched some Cosby Show reruns, and finally found sleep somewhere in the wee hours of the morning. I'm convinced the last month of pregnancy does nothing more than fully develop the baby's lungs and prepare the mother for sleepless nights.

First Night in the Big Boy Bed

This was his position the last time I checked him before I went to bed.

After many pleading "Mommy"s and "Momma"s, he finally fell asleep in his big boy bed last night. It wasn't until 3:30 that he came into our room. That's a rude awakening, realizing your child has the run of your house when he's not confined to his crib. I think we'll be locking the door or at least getting a baby gate. There's nothing fun about having a toddler staring you in the face in the pitch black night. Well, it is kind of funny when it scares the bejeebus out of your husband!

We have been reading in Reeves' big boy bed nearly every night, and although the room is not totally ready, he still is enjoying going in there and playing. I know (hope) it won't be long before he feels as secure in his big boy bed as he does in his crib. Until then, we'll just keep putting him back in bed and reading tons of books and rubbing his back for a bit before he falls asleep.

The Two Year Old Appointment

We took Reeves yesterday for his two year old doctor's checkup. Oh, how cute he was holding my hand as we walked across the parking lot. How perfectly adorable he was playing with the toys and reading the books in the waiting room. Even undressing him and taking his measurements was a dream. By the way, he is 27 pounds and 37 inches tall. According to Dr. Goedecke, he should be a little over six feet tall when he grows up. I'm taking that with a grain of salt, but apparently, along with those Messervy eyes, he may have inherited some of the Messervy and Robertson height of a generation or so ago. But I digress…it wasn't long into the appointment that this angel child of mine suddenly turned into a devil. We were talking with the doctor. He wanted to leave the room. Let the screaming commence. Pediatricians are special people. It didn't even phase her. She just kept talking to me, maybe a little bit louder now, and hardly seemed to notice the howler monkey now trying to launch himself from his father's grasp. Reeves finally did calm down and put his head on my shoulder and nearly fell asleep. This was when Bryant mentioned to her my concerns about his speech. It’s so funny. I'll be OK one day, knowing that he is developing just fine, but then I'll read something about a child with a vocabularly similarly lacking in volume to Reeves', and I start to panic. Bryant does his best to convince me that he is fine, but I read more and get more worried. Then I talk to people whose children hardly uttered a sound until they were three, and I start to feel better again. And that was what Dr. Goedecke confirmed yesterday. Her main concern was that he understands and hears what we were saying to him. For example, when he's playing on the other side of the room and we say, "Are you ready for a bath?", does he jump up and go running to the bathroom? Well, he hears the question, but recently, his reaction has been more of falling to the ground, rending his clothes to shreds, and screaming like his eyes are being gouged out. So yes, he both hears and understands the question, although his response is a bit hyperbolic. This is good. She said at 2, the main concern is that he doesn't have hearing problems and that the comprehension is there. He does communicate verbally; it's just that the words aren't actually English; but that's a good thing. Once the words start coming, he'll just start filling them in where right now he only has sounds. Momma's relaxed … for now. If I'm still concerned in 6 months or so, maybe we'll reevaluate.
There were no shots at this appointment, but he did have to get his finger pricked to test his iron. Iron levels are fine, and there was a lion on his bandaid, and as we all know, that helps heal a booboo faster than anything. I can't believe we walked out of that office without setting up another appointment. There's not another visit due until his 3 year old check up. Are we already there? We went to this office nearly every other week for forever, and now we just have to pop in once a year? I can't believe it. We did talk to Dr. Goedecke about Deuce. She said, depending on when the delivery takes place, she'll either be there that day or the next. That was a reality check for me. We're already talking about a pediatrician's visit with this next baby!! Where has the time gone?? Why do I feel so behind in the preparation for this baby? Oh my goodness, I've got to go. I have about half a house I need to go through and purge!

Cabana Moms

Let me preface this by saying that if you're one of these moms, I won't even apologise for offending you because you deserve it. Yesterday, Caroline and I, for at least the second time, had our relaxing time at the pool interrupted by other people's children. I don't understand this - on so many levels. First of all, it is just common courtesy to notice that, if your children are clearly bothering people, you should remove them from the situation. I know, I know, big words coming from the mother of the Dining Room Screamer, but we're getting there. Regardless, I'm talking about other people in this post, not me! Anyway, here we are, in the pool, trying to play with our boys when this, admittedly precious, 3 or 4 year old, comes over to play. OK. No problem. We'd love for you to play with us for a little bit. Then his older sister comes over. Then they start kicking and splashing right in the middle of us. Then they start interrupting us to talk to us as we are trying to get some good girl talk in. Then they start fighting with each other! I whisper to Caroline, "Where is the mother?" She points her out, lounging in a chair, sunglasses on and reading her book. Well great! I'm glad we could come to the pool today to babysit your children while you enjoy some down time! And don't tell me you didn't notice it because we both saw you look at us, and you couldn't have not seen the exasperated looks on our faces. Yes, we were exasperated with YOUR children!
Finally, they left, and we relaxed, only to be joined within 30 seconds by another adorable 4 year old on a noodle. I don't know what it is about us. Maybe we're just glowing, or maybe these kids see us and want to be near us, or maybe, and I think this is the real reason, maybe their mothers are too lazy to actually get in the pool with them, and the children just want a little grown up contact with them in this pool because maybe, although they can technically "swim", maybe they just don't feel SO confident and want Mommy there just in case something bad happens. Particularly the last girl, who was there all by herself save for her mother, who had on an "interesting" bikini and Daisy Dukes with the button undone. Classy. Come to think of it, maybe this girl was just testing out new mothers because, even at 4 her mother was an embarassment to her. I must point out that, like the other mother, this one was in a lounge chair, reading. This led Caroline to point out that neither one of us are sure at what age we will be able to go to the "No Lifeguard on Duty" pool, toss our children in, then obliviously read for the rest of the afternoon. Maybe around 7 or 8, but certainly not at 4. It doesn't take but a blink for a child to disappear beneath the surface, and I can't imagine losing a child because I just had to finish that last chapter.
It really ticks me off that not only were we responsible for our own children, but yesterday, because of the laissez faire parenting of these two, we felt responsible for the welfare of their children as well. Now, I understand wanting to sit by the pool and read, particularly in light of this final Harry Potter release, but when you've got kids, some things just have to be put on the back burner. It's lovely to be a Cabana Mom, but unless your kids are bringing you fruity drinks with umbrellas in them and not bothering anyone other than the bartender, get in the pool and spend some time with them, and let the other mothers who are trying to do that, play in peace with their own children.

Deuce News

Just got back from my appointment with Becky. Despite the huge amounts of food that I ate last week at Kanuga, I have lost a pound. I can't believe it, but I'm not going to argue with it. Since I started out this pregnancy a bit overweight, Becky is fine with my weight. It appears that the baby is getting all it needs. I'm thinking the weight is coming off from my ring finger because my ring is still spinning, and my thighs don't look to be any smaller! Typical. Deuce's heartrate was in the 130's. I have dropped a little but not too much. The best news of all is that Deuce has turned over. He/she is now head down, butt up! I was pretty sure this was going to be the case today. I have been feeling kicks against my diaphragm which have made me a bit short of breath. This didn't happen before that last ultrasound. I think the baby flipped over the day after that ultrasound. I was in Costco and felt the most unbelievable pain on the left side of my belly. I had to lean on the cart for support. I cannot even imagine what my facial expression was. I was hurting! After 15 or 20 minutes, the pain went away. I am convinced that was when the somersault happened. Whenever it was, Bryant and I are just happy to know Deuce is taxiing to the runway in the correct position. Thank you all for your prayers about this.
On a non-health related note...Just before bedtime Wednesday night, after Bryant had finished reading to him, Reeves came and got on the sofa with me. Deuce was moving all over, so I put Reeves' hand on my belly. He got to feel a really big move, and he recognized it. Something clicked. We honestly think he knew he was feeling something inside Momma's tummy moving, and not just the tummy itself. He was so excited and kept wanting to feel more movements. We loved it.

Kanuga 2007

Where to begin? Another wonderful week at Kanuga has come and gone. I can't believe we are already on the backside of Kanuga, already reminiscing about our 2007 week.

We spent a lot of time explaining to Reeves that this would be his last year at Kanuga without his little brother or sister. I don't think he really cared. As long as we didn't tell him that Davis wasn't going to be there, he was happy. He would clap and cheer everytime we mentioned we were going to see D, and as the actual departure day drew near, his excitement grew.

I finally learned this year to take full advantage of my list making abilities. There is nothing I like better than crossing things off a list, and packing for Kanuga this year gave me lots of things to check off. It was, as a result, the most organized we have ever been in preparation for this trip. It was also the earliest we were ever packed. Unfortunately, it was one of the latest times we left because Bryant had to finish up some stuff at the office. But no matter, we still made it in time for dinner (6:30), so all was well. If I recall correctly, that was the last pleasant meal we had until Thursday. Reeves showed his two year old colors at almost every meal. As soon as we put him in his chair, the madness would begin. It was unbelievable. He is normally a really good eater. I would even go so far as to say he is a polite diner, wiping his mouth and his hands with a napkin, generally using a fork or spoon for each bite. But not at Kanuga. I don't know whether by Thursday he realized that everyone in the dining room was not trying to torture him, or he just finally got hungry enough to actually want to sit through a meal and eat, but at that point, we were on the verge of not going to the dining hall anymore. He was just so bad when we were there. Thank heavens for Honey Nut Cheerios.
We were lucky enough this year to share a cottage with the Townsends and Willises. It was the best cottage ever - five bedrooms, a big living room, and a huge front porch. It also happened to be very centrally located, which was a necessity for me this year. Deuce has not made excessive mobility a comfortable option for me. The cottage was perfect.

The children loved playing bubbles in the yard, and we all loved watching them, particularly in the sweet light of the morning.

(It helped us forget what we had just been through at breakfast!) We loved the extra room we all had and the convenience to anywhere we could possibly want to walk - particularly the "school".

This was Reeves' first foray into the adventure that is "school". The first day didn't go so well, he cried all day, yadda, yadda, yadda, but by Friday, one of the teachers ran out and met me in the playground to tell me how happy he had been all day! I hope his first days at O'Quinn's aren't this hard!
Tuesday night we all headed to Miss Piggy's for ice cream.

It's a fun place and the kids love all the old timey rides and memorabelia. This was the first year we have had to think about Reeves and the actual consumption of the ice cream. To accommodate his milk allergy, we brought with us his vanilla soy ice cream. We bought him a cone and filled it up.

Reeves loved it, and Bryant and I loved that he was finally able to "go out for ice cream". This is a practice we will surely be repeating a lot.
Of course, what week in Kanuga is complete without a trip to see the Sandburg goats? This jaunt is where I truly realize just how big our little boy is getting. This was his third time, and he was perfectly content following Davis and the goats around, feeding the goats, petting the goats, and exploring. The first trip, he was in the Bjorn; the second he was bald and not so sure on his feet. I think this may be the last time there will be a major difference between Reeves last year and Reeves this year.

Next year, he will be taller. He probably will be in shorts and a shirt instead of a jonjon. But he's a little boy now, and he'll be a little boy next year, and I just can't believe we're already past all those many, many baby milestones. Well, hopefully next year, he will be using real words instead of pointing and noises.

Guerin finally got to interact with the goats this year. Unless you count his being attacked while nursing last year. I suppose that was technically interaction, but not very voluntary on his part. I can't wait to see what next year brings for him. I guess Deuce will be the little one then, and Guerin will be running around with the big boys.

He also got to participate in the annual "photo in front of the scarecrow" this year. Poor Davis. We'll be sure to put Guerin beside you next year!

By the way, while everyone else did the hike up the trail,

this was how Deuce and I acended to the barn. It made the whole afternoon so much more pleasant for me, and as a result, for everyone else as well.
Wednesday night is dress-up night and the kid's carnival. We usually take our group picture that night, but somehow we forgot this year. I'm using the pregnancy as my excuse. I think it is perfectly justified for everyone else to claim pre-traumatic stress syndrome, merely in anticipation on the feats of Terrible Two's we all knew we were getting ready to experience at dinner. Whatever the excuse, I'm sorry we didn't do it, and I'll be sure to remember next year. The children loved the carnival. Davis could take part in almost every booth and won prizes at each.

The fishing booth was really the perfect fit for Reeves, and as long as a sucker came out, he was happy. Not so sure how happy Daddy was to have red spit dripping onto him, but he was a trooper. The ballon was also a big hit with this two year old. He also loved it when Guerin let his go. Such fun to watch it fly away!

The lake was absolutely perfect this year - not too cold, not too cold. Reeves' lips never even turned blue! I was so glad to have Davis with Reeves because he is such a little fish, and sometimes, no matter how much we parents plead for our child to do something, they won't do it until they see their friends doing it - like jumping off the dock. OK, I must disclose, I was hesitant to let him jump at first, but thank heavens for Jodie (resident swim instructor) who assured me Reeves was perfectly capable of jumping. I'm so glad she did. He loved it.

I'm not sure if he loved the jumping more or just the fact that he could do the same thing that Davis was doing, but whatever it was, it was fun to watch.
On Friday, we got to watch as Davis participated in the Children's Parade and Fun Run.

Reeves wanted to be a part of it so badly. Next year, next year. I don't think he thinks of himself as only two years old. Davis took the Fun Run very seriously and finished somewhere near the front of the pack.

I said it at the beginning, and I'll say it again. I can't believe Kanuga 2007 has already come and gone. It's only Thursday, and already, we've settled back into the daily grind. I'm not eating nearly as hearty a breakfast as I did up there, which is probably a good thing because I'm also not walking as much either. (Conversely, Reeves has, thankfully, resumed his normal mealtime composure and consumption.) I miss the mornings of whittling in the woodshop with Bryant, the afternoons spent on the porch reading and chatting, the swimming and the playing, and the nightly board and card games on the porch. It is such a special week because we get to spend it with such good friends whom we see entirely too rarely. Jodie and I get to laugh as we watch our husbands roll their eyes at us,

and we get to spend each day watching our children become as good of friends with each other as we have been for three decades. We look forward to and treasure our little summer getaway in the mountains. I'm already making my packing list for next year.

Happy Head

What makes a boy who loves trains and hats very happy?

A hat with a train on it!

We found this at Mast General and just had to get it for him. It was tough, of course, because I'm generally so reluctant to buy cute things for him! It's the same fatal flaw that has me cursing the overabundance of toys that has taken over my den.

The Fireworks

And what is the 4th without a little light show? After everyone left, we finished cleaning up - at least, finished what Julie and Troy hadn't done -THANKS SO MUCH!!- pulled the boat out and headed home. I am certainly moving much slower than when I wasn't almost 8 months pregnant. It was just after 9:00 that we got home. I took Reeves inside only to change his diaper and put some clean, dry clothes on him, then we were off again, up to the Navy Base to watch the show. Thank heavens for a nice lady with a golf cart who must have felt sorry for me as I waddled as quickly as I could up the road, following B and Reeves in the stroller. She gave us a ride all the way to the river. That was such a treat. I think the boys would have made it in time for the show, but I probably wouldn't have!
Reeves loved watching the fireworks. He loved watching it from his daddy's shoulders and playing with his daddy's hat. I enjoyed watching my two favorite boys cap off a wonderful day with a wonderful show.
On the walk back, which I could handle because we weren't in a rush, Reeves got to be pushed through the fountain and, his favorite of all, got to pretend to be a train. There are lots of unused tracks on the old Navy Base, and it just so happened that these were the straightest shot to our car. He loved it! And I loved how much shorter it made our trip back!
We all slept like champs that night.

The 4th of July

I can't remember a Fourth of July with better weather. Upper 80's and sunny with the perfect breeze. It was almost cool in the shade. Absolutely perfect. We had a great day with the Smiths, the Ayers, and the Moyles. I can't thank Julie and Troy enough for letting us invade their house and front yard. What a perfect spot. It was so much fun watching the boys (yes, all boys only) play and swim and yell. I can't think of any better way to tire out some young ones. Bryant cooked great burgers and dogs and some of the best beer brats I have ever tasted. Stephen and Caroline brought a delicious red, white and blue potato salad, and Amanda and Jason rounded out the meal with a super salad. Oh yes, and I made tomato pies, which actually ended up like pies this time!
Of course, there was watermelon - and plenty of it! The children dove right in. It was like we hadn't fed them all day. They had juice running down their bellies as they ate right down to the rind. Then all the pink faced boys went and threw their rinds in the marsh. How nice it would be to abandon all sense of cleanliness and eat like a child eats! I try, sometimes I do, but unless you're going to be jumping into a pool right after eating this watermelon, it just doesn't seem worth the hassle!Reeves and I went down the causeway for a little swim. The water is still a bit chilly but it felt great. It was so nice to get a little salt on the skin. Reeves loved it, but I must admit, it made me a little nervous. I hadn't taken his lifejacket with us. Luckily, he had a death grip on me with both his arms and legs, so there was no chance the tide would pull him awayfrom me! Thank heavens for the big towel Aileen gave me. It takes a lot of fabric to cover that big belly! If this construction gig doesn't work out, I think Stephen could always get a job in the circus as a contortionist. I don't know how he got that big tall body into that itty bitty Jeep! I was mighty impressed, and the children loved it. Pinky, next year you'll be running around with all these big boys! You were just the happiest little one there, smiling and cooing. Hope you enjoyed your first Fourth of July. We sure enjoyed sharing it with you!

Smile!

Not sure why or exactly when he started this, but this is the face he makes when you ask him to he smile for a picture. All that's missing is the "Cheese!"

Piece by Piece

These are the puzzles that Reeves' friend, Betsy, gave him for his birthday. I cannot tell you the hours these things have used up. He loves them. There are four different puzzles, each one on a different skill level. Reeves has mastered the four piece elephant. He is now working on the giraffe - a full six pieces! He definitely needs some help, but it won't be long before he is helping JMT with his 10,000 piece puzzles. Thanks, Betsy, for such a great gift!!

Let Him Eat Eggs!

Do you see that Egg Replacer on the right side of that picture? That egg replacer that we've been using for over a year to make cakes, cookies, pancakes. Well, no more! On Tuesday morning, Reeves and I went to his allergist's office for his egg challenge. I came armed with two boiled eggs and one scrambled egg and lots of toys and books. I had been forwarned that it would be a long appointment.
We started with the pricks on the arm - positive, negative, egg white, and egg yolk. 10 minutes later, after passing that test, we moved on, in ten minute successions to rubbing egg white and yolk on the cheek, the lips, the tongue. No reaction. So we gave him a teeny tiny bite - ten minutes, no reaction. The bites got bigger and bigger, but his skin stayed clear and not itchy. Finally, after finishing two eggs in just under three hours with absolutely no reaction, Reeves is now declared not allergic to eggs anymore!
We are not going to be giving him scrambled eggs for breakfast every day because we do still believe in the theory that the less exposure, the better. The longer he goes without eating lots and lots, the better the chance he will have of remaining allergy free for life. But we will begin slowly adding eggs to his repertoire. We won't avoid things that have egg as an ingredient. But it's so nice to know he can have them. That his cakes will actually have a decent consistency, that his pancakes will be light and fluffy. And best of all, we found out, during this appointment, that he LOVES scrambled eggs. He was wanting to eat them even during the required ten minute waiting time. It's like a whole new world has opened up for him. We are so happy. Now, let's just pray his milk challenge goes as well.

Deuce News

We had our second ultrasound for Deuce today. Apparently there was some concern that the baby was a little...little. I'm glad we didn't know. Well, all worries have been put to rest. Deuce is 4 1/2 pounds - 58th percentile. Perfectly on track according to the tech and the doctor. Heartrate was 148 today. Up considerably from what it had been in recent visits - generally upper 130's, lower 140's. All the measurable bits look good. Amniotic fluid is quite plentiful. Interestingly, we can't see any sign of the fibroid that I had with Reeves. I wasn't too worried about it, but it's nice to know it's not there now. They're all hormone related. I just knew I was much more pleasant with this pregnancy than with the last one! (Right, B?) And there was no sign of the "telltale bits", at least not to Bryant and me, but, since we had a different tech today, I do have to now live with the knowledge that someone else out there knows what I'm having!! There was one bit of news that we found out that we didn't know before....Last night, I was lying in bed, B was at the computer. Deuce was moving all over the place, as is our routine whenever I stop moving. I have recently been feeling movement quite low on my belly. I mentioned to him that I wouldn't be surprised if we went in tomorrow and found out that this child was breech. Well, call it mother's intuition or a keen interuterine sense of space and movement or whatever, sure enough, Deuce's head is right up by my left ribs. I guess this is the child that will always be trying to be closest to my heart. No one is worried about it at the moment. Becky said babies often will turn themselves around. We will check again at the next appointment and the one after that. If towards the end, Deuce is still breech, we have two options. First, we can try to turn it from the outside. That is, we would go into the hospital, get on the monitors, and she would see what she can do to turn the baby. I'm not so sure about this since, in the office today, she showed me just a little bit of what she would have to do, and it nearly made me jump off the table. Not so sure I want to go through that - intensified and for even longer. But I do feel like I would want to endure that as opposed to the second option which is a C-Section. I haven't really thought about a C too much. I mean, I knew I didn't want one with Reeves, and since he came out fine (and I use that term loosely), the possibility of having one with Deuce hasn't even ever really entered my mind. But now, now that that outcome is a very real possibility, I am surprised by the way I am feeling about it. I really don't want one, but I would never put Deuce's health in the way of my not wanting a scar or not wanting the difficult recovery time post-partum. So, for the next 8 weeks, we'll be doing a lot of praying that Deuce flips over and decides that head down is quite a comfortable position. Well, that and trying out Becky's answer to my question of "Is there anything I can do myself to try to get it to flip?" That answer was to stand on my head - seriously. She said that doing that sometimes encourages them to turn over. Who am I to question? This is only my second baby. She's delivered hundreds, probably thousands, and had four of her own. I'll take her advice, maybe it will even help relieve some of that pressure on the underside of my belly. But just in case, please pray that this baby turns itself head down on its own.