A Mommy Story

Since I’m officially past due, I had my first non-stress test yesterday. It confirmed what I already thought: she’s a very healthy baby who is just choosing to take her time. Plenty of fluid in there, good heartrate, so we continue to wait. I have a feeling that I may go past everyone’s predictions from the “Guess the Birthday” game at the Virtual Shower. I think the latest guess was May 25. I guess this baby just likes to prove people wrong – she may beat out every weight guess, too, as she’s estimated to be around nine pounds.

We’ve tried most of the “natural” induction methods out there, aside from castor oil. Sorry, sitting on the toilet all day with strong intestinal cramping just doesn’t sound worth it to start labor. So now we’re moving on to the Murphy’s Law method of induction. We bought advance tickets to see Pirates of the Caribbean 3 tonight, and we’re making plans for the weekend.

The theory is that if we make plans to do something fun, the baby will decide it’s time to spoil those plans. It’s similar to a successful tactic used by a friend to get food to show up at a restaurant – as soon as he goes out for a smoke, the food always shows up. If this method works for us, my water will break just as the previews finish and the opening credits begin.

In the meantime, I’ve been tasked with a meme from Kari to reveal eight random facts about myself:

1. My favorite movie of all time is Moulin Rouge. I’ve watched it way too many times and yet never tire of it.

2. I was originally ambidextrous, and wrote better with my left hand, but thanks to pushy kindergarten teachers, I was forced to write with my right hand “for my own good”. I still use my left hand to open jars and do other tasks.

3. In high school, my normal lunch was a Snickers bar and an order of fries, unless it was pizza day. It’s amazing I grew at all.

4. I have a little “lucky troll” in my car that has been with me since I learned to drive. He must always be in my car. His hot pink hair has has faded to white, and the front half of him is burned black from all the sun exposure, but I won’t get rid of him.

5. I was a rennie for nine years. Translation: I was a costumed performer at a renaissance festival for nine years. I met my husband there, too.

6. When I was in Britain for a summer in college, I hitchhiked once. It was in Scotland, just outside Inverness, and I missed my bus going back from a tour of Loch Ness. It was only a 5 mile or so walk back, so I started walking, but was stopped three times and offered a ride. I accepted on the third one – it was a family with a small child, so I felt safe. Turns out even my travel guide said hitchhiking is safe in the Scottish highlands. Nice people.

7. I have a scar just under my lower lip. During the blizzard of ’78, my mom took me into a store and set me down, thinking I had my footing. I didn’t, and fell on my face (big snowsuit – couldn’t move arms), putting my tooth through my lip.

8. I always feel awkward tagging people to do memes. So if you’d like to play, consider yourself tagged!

Thanks, Kari! That helped kill a little time while I continue waiting. (Don’t worry, Kate, I haven’t forgotten your meme tag, either, and will probably get to it tomorrow!) Now I must get back to my other way to pass the time – chasing after a cranky toddler who has taken to calling me “Mr. Mommy.”