Three years ago today, I was definitely in labor. I had been experiencing random, uncomfortable, borderline painful contractions for several days, but it was on the 25th of October into the very early morning of the 26th of October that the contractions began to settle into a pattern. They were also getting painful. I had picked up a pizza the evening of the 25th and brought it home, and we ate. Afterwards, we watched The Punisher. Or should I say, Dan watched The Punisher. The contractions were getting consistent and were strong and painful enough to cause my sense of reality to fade away, leaving nothing in its place but a pain filled darkness. Needless to say, I didn’t watch much of the movie, despite being on the couch in front of the television the entire time. I blogged on the morning of the 26th around 4:30am, and then again ten minutes later with our decision to go to the hospital.
Unfortunately for me, it was another excruciating (I am only using one word to describe the pain because I could list all of the words I can think of to describe pain and still not be able to emphasize enough HOW BADLY IT HURT. So, I’m saving time and space and using just one word) 28 hours before Alyssa was born. I only had pain relief for the last four of those 28 hours, and even then the epidural was turned off as soon as I was ready to push. During those 28 hours I probably slept a sum total of, oh, let’s see, three hours? It was bad. Really bad. So bad that, at the time, the idea of EVER letting a penis within a fifty mile radius of my body was unthinkable. Obviously I later changed my mind, since I decided to do it all over again! I changed my mind pretty quick too, considering that I wasn’t quite two weeks postpartum when Dan and I resumed having sex (yay for vaginal births with no complications or tears)!. ;)
Food for the party has been decided on and purchased. Today (Friday) I will be making up the main dish for Saturday. I don’t know what it’s called, but it consists of potatoes that have been peeled, cut up and boiled, and chopped pieces of fresh green beans and ham steaks added in, along with some salt, pepper and bacon (I may skip the bacon, since I’m not sure how everyone feels about it with potatoes!). It’s cheap but delicious and moderately nutritious (haha, I rhymed). Also, it’s very filling, and will be a good dish to have on the raw, brisk afternoon that Saturday’s party will be held on.
Gifts for Alyssa, on the other hand, have not been purchased yet. Everything I can think of she either has, my mother is giving her, Dan’s family may be giving her, she isn’t quite ready for, isn’t interested in, or it comes with small parts that are definitely not Ryan-the-baby-who-likes-to-shove-everything-in-his-mouth friendly. If you guys have any suggestions, PLEASE, throw them my way. My only exclusions are books (she has fifty or more), puzzles (she chews on the pieces), electronic/battery operated items, and Bratz or anything like them.
Perhaps a miniature tea set? I have no idea if she already has one. I received my first tea set when I was 3. It was made out of real porcelain and had flowers and such. My mom was really worried that I would break it somehow or hurt myself on it, but when I realized how precious it was it became sacred. It was my first “grown up” item, so it definitely taught me how to treat important things.
Dress-up clothes? My daughter loved dressing up at that age.
What about some sort of mini musical instrument? I had one of those little pianos when I was a wee baby, and even though it didn’t inspire me to learn or anything (I wish it would have!) I still have the piano to this day!
what about one of those disney tents they have at kmart? i use to love those as a kid. Easy to set up too
Does she have a tricycle? Or what about those easy bake oven things (whatever they’re called…)? She might be too young for one of those though. And dolls? I had a plethora of them when I was little, and I used to set them all up on the couch next to me while I watched TV :blush:. Three seems to be a hard age to buy for, because not much else is coming to my head!