New OB

I've never really trusted much medication to work very well. So, I've been somewhat partial to the idea of unmedicated birthing. After reading a couple books on gentle birthing and watching the documentary "The Business of Being Born," I've come to desire a natural birth even more.

The health insurance that we just got through Steve's work, United Healthcare, gives some more freedom in choosing doctors and hospitals than our current/previous insurance, Kaiser Permanente. So after some research online, I've made an appointment in January with the Nurse-Midwives at Dimensions Ob/Gyn in Glenridge Shopping Center in Lanham. This means that I will also be giving birth at Prince George's Medical Center's in-hospital birthing center. It appears that this hospital has a pretty low rate of complications during childbirth.
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And well, since everyone else seems to have put snowy photos on their blogs, here are ours:

Baby gifts

Well I registered on target.com but I wasn't able to add some things to the registry through their site, like diapers. Maybe I'll go to the store and add those things. Anyways, after creating the registry, I tried searching for it and "Wendy Kelley" didn't bring up mine. What will work, though, is if you type in the ID number: 014399700857333.

Newborn Essentials

My baby shower(s) would probably be held in January/February, and I was thinking about ways that people can coordinate their gifts. Since not everyone lives near a Target, I don't think that a gift registry would be the best idea. Based on what I read on the internet, this is a list of things that I still need to have or borrow:

hundreds of diapers: disposable and/or cloth
infinite wipes
rash cream
baby first-aid kit
baby nail clippers
baby soap

nursing bras (my pregnant bra size is 36C, pre-pregnancy 34B)
nursing pads
nipple cream
breast pump: manual or electric
bottles
burp cloths

2 sets of crib sheets
swaddling blankets
pacifiers
baby monitor
bouncy seat

new car seat or combination car seat + stroller

4 onesies
4 pajamas
3 outfits
5 pairs socks/booties


If you get or promise something, reply to this post as anonymous and I'll remove/check the item(s) from this working list.

The Temple

It is suggested that endowed church members should visit the temple monthly. But, Steve and I haven't gone to the temple together for 6 months since before I was pregnant. But now that I'm not throwing up anymore and I can go longer without food, it was probably about time for us to go again. I am 27 out of 40 weeks pregnant, or six months, with a girl that I may name Crystal. Due March 7.

At tithing settlement last Wednesday, the Bishop reminded us to go to the temple. So, during church on Sunday, I wrote a note to Stephen about possibly going to the temple on Tuesday night and he wrote back that we'll plan on it for now.

Last night was the Tuesday night and as soon as Steve got home from work, we got dressed and left at about 5:30. First, we ate some dinner at Checkers and then we left for the temple. The colored lights at the Temple were pretty but we had neglected to bring the camera. While we were changing, Steve had to switch to a different size of temple pants because his normal jeans size ended up being too small.

We made it just in time for the 7:00 session. We planned on a Tuesday night instead of a Saturday because I figured that the session would take less time so that my bladder wouldn't explode. I kept a little baggy of goldfish crackers in my pocket just-in-case I needed some nourishment. There were only 7 of us in there. I looked as we walked past the clock after the session ended and it was 8:40 and we made it home at around 9:30--about bed time. So, it appears that one should set aside 4 hours for a temple trip on a Tuesday night.

Every Sunday, after an hour-long sacrament meeting, I have to sprint to the bathroom. I was surprised that my bladder wasn't exploding after 1 hour and 40 minutes in the temple session. So, I guess that, this was either an answer to a prayer or a result after a full day of work without drinking enough water... or both?