Ice, Ice ... Baby?

Well, here we are, in the final hours of February 2011, and our little Ivy still isn't here. For the first time, we're sailing in the uncharted waters of post-term pregnancy. Today, Monday, Feb. 28, is two days past Ivy's due date, and still no imminent signs.

Not that it's a bad thing. This week has had its share of weather scares. Earlier in the week, the news channels got all abuzz about the coming SNOWPOCALYPSE, calling for massive snowfall in the Portland area, which means mega-massive snowfall up here at the 1,000-foot level. We indeed got snow -- and were praying that Ivy wouldn't come, and she didn't. But the snow wasn't THAT bad, anyway.

Over the last week, I've tried ALL the "home remedies" to induce labor, the most popular being the consumption of spicy foods. In the last week I've taken Savannah to Five Guys Burgers & Fries three times, each netting her a large portion of Cajun-style spicy fries. No go.

Despite being worried about the weather earlier in the week (I was out Wednesday and half of Thursday), the biggest worries should have come today, as we got about a foot of snow out of nowhere. (Where were the Snowpocalypse Doomsday Prognosticators THEN?) It was weird, though. I had that peace that surpasses all understanding sweep over me, and I knew that Ivy wouldn't show up during this most inauspicious of times. (That said, I did go to Howcast and get a crash course in baby delivery were the need to arise, because we weren't going ANYWHERE.)

That peace really allowed me to enjoy the day. It started off with me and London getting doughnuts at Joe's, as I noticed the heavy rains turned into snain (snow-rain mix), and then into full-on snow. We played and played upstairs with the Little People farm toys, and then had a leisurely lunch while watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. During the kids' nap, Savannah rested while I sat in my recliner working for NewReleaseTuesday.com and watching the flakes come down. After nap, I took London and Liberty outside to play in the snow. We built a snowman, threw snowballs and trudged down the street to the park to swing and slide in the snow.

The snow event came as our groceries essentially ran out. Fortunately, the snow had turned into a citywide slurpee by the time 7 p.m. rolled around, so I was able to slide my way around Sandy to pick up a snow day pizza for dinner. It was overall a good day, because I was able to enjoy it with full assurance that everything was going to be OK.

What happens next? We don't know! We're still trying to come to terms with the fact that we're having a March baby! Any guesses when Ivy will make her grand appearance? Will she come of her own accord, or will we eventually have to evict her?

DEFCON 2

A baby update... we are at DEFCON 2.

According to Wikipedia, that means a "further increase in force readiness, but less than maximum readiness." DEFCON 1, of course means it's go time.

At her appointment today, Savannah learned she is 80 percent effaced and 2CM dilated. It's no longer a matter of days; it's a matter of hours. Let's see if Dad is right with his prediction that Ivy would be born on Friday, March 18.

I wonder if we'll make it to the baby shower! (We hope so; Grandma Nomi has put a LOT of work into it!)

And... we're back

So, it's been a good... uh... year since we last updated the Hathcock Family blog. Needless to say, life with two TODDLERS leaves little time for updating the blog. They like to push all the buttons on the keyboard, or they ask to watch "Dora" or "Diego" or "Dinosaur Train" or just "a moooovieee."

The reason we're getting back into the swing of things with the blog is that we're going to be adding our third (and final) addition to the family, Ms. Ivy Soleil Hathcock, any day now. I was just reading about the awesome story that surrounded Liberty's birth just two years ago. (I saw "awesome" not because it was all good -- it wasn't -- but because it truly is a memorable one.)

Over the past few weeks, all our energy has gone towards getting ready for Ivy, and for getting over illnesses. Poor Liberty, in the mix of it all, didn't have a birthday party (yet?) and had a fairly subdued birthday -- although I don't know if you'd call Chuck E. Cheese and a fondue dinner "subdued" for a two-year-old.

We had our first false alarm tonight, Feb. 16, as Savannah began to feel some strong contractions and her body cleaned itself out. We've all put in our bets as to when Ivy will come on the scene. Savannah thinks it will be Monday, Feb. 21 -- President's Day -- and I've predicted it will be tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 18. The funny thing about that is that Savannah's baby shower is scheduled for this Saturday, the 19th. We'll see what happens!

This is where we'll post everything once stuff starts happening (and even if it doesn't)!

Here's our tree!

Thought we'd show you our beautiful Christmas tree! In our new house we have 10 foot ceilings, so we were able to get a really tall one! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Shortcut to the Tummy

Had to share this great story from dinner tonight...

I (Marcus) was trying to get London to eat tonight, and he was munching on everything except for the main course, which was a baked chicken leg. I thought it would be helpful to tell him why we eat.

I said:
"So, London, when we eat, the food goes in our mouth, down our throat and into our tummy. And when it gets to our tummy, it makes us strong -- gives us muscles!"

London, as he normally does after long statements from Dad, said, "Wow!" Then he started eating his chicken.

Later on, during dinner, London started shoving balls of rice under his shirt, saying, "It go in my tummy! Muscles!" Kid was looking for a shortcut to eating. Thought if he could just get the food directly to the tummy it would accomplish its task better. We were rolling in laughter.

BONUS STORY:
Lately Savannah's found these Advent season Bible readings, and we've read a few verses and lit a candle before bedtime. Tonight we were in the middle of reading the bible verse from the computer when London blurts out, "VeggieTales! I want silly cup!"

It was then we realized that on BibleGateway.com there was a sidebar ad for VeggieTales, and that London was totally concentrating on that, and a Silly Song with Larry he's watched a few times called "Sippy Cup."

Christmas is here!?

Wow, we can hardly believe another Christmas fast approaches. It's been a while since we've been on here, but as we've learned, there's really not a lot of time for writing blogs when you're chasing two little ones around!

Quick recap. Liberty is talking, saying "dada", "mama", "more" and "baby." She's also crawling! London says all sorts of words now, and is quite an athlete, singer, theologian and comedian. We had Aunt Stephanie out here the week before Thanksgiving, which was a nice treat. She just ate up little Liberty!

We had fun this past weekend going out to Albers Tree Farm just north of Sandy, as we do every year, to cut down the perfect tree. It's funny; the first time we went out there it was just Sav and I. The second time, same thing. The third time, we had a newborn baby boy. The fourth time, we had a pregnant mama and a 14-month-old. Now, it's all four of us!

We were excited that because of our new house and its 10-foot ceilings we were able to get an awesome, tall tree. Pictures of that are coming soon, but enjoy this family pic of us as we descended the hill into the tree area at Albers Farm.

Merry Christmas to all!

Teenage moment

I checked in on London in his room this afternoon, convinced that he probably would be awake after a long nap.

When I walked into his room -- quietly, I might add -- he turned over and opened his eyes at me.

I said, "Hi London!". He quickly grimaced and said, "No!"

I said, "Are you ready to get up?"
"No!"
"Do you want Mama?"
"NO!"
"Want to watch a movie?"
"NO!!!!"

After a pause...
"Do you just want to sleep?"

He then buried his head in his blanket and said, "Sleep!"

My little teenager.