Baby Making Music

So when you hear the term "baby making music" what do you think of? Maybe some Marvin Gaye or Boyz II Men, perhaps some Alicia Keys? Well those are all good answers, but I'm not talking about that kind of baby making. C'mon, we're 8 months pregnant here, been there, done that. I'm talking about the music that's played during delivery. THAT kind of baby making music.

During our tour of Winnie Palmer, they said the delivery rooms have ipod jacks and DVD players. Since I can't imagine watching a movie during delivery, I immediately thought about music. I wondered what kind of music gets played in the delivery room. I picture most people playing soothing music like Yanni, Enya or Enigma. I'm sure there are others who want Metallica, AC/DC or Lynyrd Skynyrd. I'm willing to bet that nurses give each other "the look" when certain songs come on. I'd love to ask what some of the more outrageous songs they've heard during delivery are, but I'm sure I'll be a little pre-occupied with my son being born to remember. So, what will we play?

I've been thinking about it for a while, but now that there are only 30 days left, it's time for action. Allison is almost 36 weeks along, so she can really go anytime. That means it's time to get that playlist created. I'll side with the first group of people I mentioned. I'll take some Enya, Enigma or a Cirque de Solei soundtrack. Allison really likes Coldplay, Billy Joel and Brian Mcknight, so maybe some of that music should be on the playlist too.

Then I think to myself, while soothing, will that music get her pumped enough to give her that extra boost of adrenaline to push Baby C out? I'm going to list a few songs that should be on this playlist and you tell me yay or nay.

First up, Salt-n-Pepa - Push It. If there is a better song out there for delivering a baby, I don't know what it is. Just look at some of the lyrics "ooohh, ahhh, ssss, Push it!" and "Ooh baby, baby...baby, baby!" Are you kidding me? The video for this song should have been Salt, Pepa or Spinderella giving birth, but those black spandex pants and yellow jackets were pretty hot too. I won't insult you by putting a clip of "Push It" below, I truly hope everyone reading this blog knows that song. However, this song was in one of my favorite commercials and THAT is the clip below. Enjoy.


Next up are three songs that made movie montage magic. The first of the 3 is not as popular as the others, but it's just as good if not better. This song was on my running playlist when I ran my last 5K and it's just awesome. You'll recognize it as the fight theme from The Karate Kid. It's Joe Esposito - You're The Best. Now before you make that face...hear me out. My job as Allison's birthing partner is to encourage and support her. Let her know that she's doing a good job. What is better than the best? Nothing! So if this song comes on, it's 3 minutes of Allison being told she's the best around...nothing's ever gonna bring her down!


The next two, both by Survivor, both from Rocky movies. You guessed it Burning Heart and Eye of the Tiger. I dare you to listen to these songs and not get hyped! "In the warriors code theres no surrender, Though his body says stop, his spirit cries - never!" C'mon people! This is the perfect song! How many times have you heard the stories of women giving birth saying "No, I cant do it any more. I don't want to do it any more, can't he just stay in there?" It's perfect. Plus, I can just say 2 words to Allison, look her deep in her eyes and say "Warrior's Code" LOL I'm pretty sure if I say that, she's start swinging on me, so it's a good thing I just watched that Rocky montage.


And Eye of the Tiger. I don't need to say anything more about this song than Rocky 3. I think all of you know this song too, but I had to put it on here anyway.


This is an odd one, but watch this clip and if you don't get goosebumps, call 911 because you may be dead. The Chicago Bulls intro. My cousin Ray had this at his wedding. It was really cool. It's more of an introduction song than a delivery song, so maybe we can play it for visitors. Can you picture it...AAAAANNNNDDD NNNOOOOOWWWWW, from Central Florida..Baaaaaaaby CCCCCCC!!!! I don't know if I should do the smoke & strobe light, but the rest would be cool.


Let me try to regain my composure and be serious for a minute. I think songs like Europe-The Final Countdown, Queen - We are the Champions, Kanye West - Stronger, most songs by the Black Eyed Peas and the songs listed above have a place in the delivery room. Allison will probably kill me if any of those songs are actually played during delivery, but she'll be in labor, delivering Baby C and most likely already pissed at me. So what's a guy to do? (this is a good peak inside my mind. This is what runs through my head all day and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Scared yet???) By the end of this weekend I plan to have the playlist completed. The goal is to have Allison relaxed and focused during delivery and hopefully the music helps.

Since we are talking about music, can I tell you guys a secret? I've already started a playlist for Baby C. I have a piano tribute to Metallica and My Chemical Romance. Lullabye versions of Greenday, Nirvana, No Doubt, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, Metallica and The Beatles. I still want to add some kid favorites and classical music, but I haven't had the time. That's another task for this weekend.

Birthing Class Week 6 - Infant Care Week

Tonight was our final class at the National Training Center. It was the Infant Care class. We watched a great video to kick off class. It was about 15 minutes long and went over the basic things that happen when the baby is born. It showed the suctioning, cleaning, eye antibiotics, hand and footprints and much much more.
There were multiple scenes of fathers cutting the cord. Mothers kissing their baby for the first time. Mothers breastfeeding for the first time. Babies crying for the first time. Baby C, Allison and I will be going through that pretty soon. By the time you guys read this, it will be exactly 1 month until Allison's due date. That's right 1 month! Can you believe how fast this year has gone? As if I wasn't excited enough, they throw this video at me.

Sorry to disappoint those of you who were expecting to read all about how I acted up in class and got into trouble with the sample baby, but I was on my best behavior tonight. I made Allison shake her head at me a few times, but not because I was being silly, but because the serious things I was doing came off as silly.

What the hell am I talking about you ask? Well, I'll tell you. Each couple had a baby to work with. We were told to practice putting diapers on and off the baby. I got it on with no problems. Snug around the legs, not too close to the cord stub, perfect. I took it off, pretending it was dirty, I folded it up to keep the stinky wetness inside, success! Trust me, I don't want to be good at this. I would much prefer to suck at this and not have to change any stinky diapers, but apparently I have a gift. Who am I to turn my back on this God given ability??

Then I tried to put the diaper back on him. I lifted him by his feet, slid the diaper under him and started to fasten it onto the baby, only I couldn't find the tabs. They were just here a minute ago. What happened to them? I found the one on the right side, this is too easy, perfect job again. Now, where the hell is that other tab? Maybe if I just pull this part here the tab will be below it...(ripping sound here) Whoops, that's not supposed to happen. I made a large tear in the left side of the diaper. Finally found the tab, but by that point the diaper was ruined. So, let's say 10 dirty diapers a day, plus 5 more if I break every other diaper, that's 15 diapers a day, times 7 days is 105 diapers a week! That's a lot of diapers. We simply can't afford that. Honey, you are on diaper duty. I can't be trusted. The fate of Baby C's poop is too important to be left to my clumsy, diaper tearing hands.

After we broke for snack, the class was more lively. I was playing with the baby for a while. I tried to hook his plastic hands onto the top of his diaper. You know, like the cool guys in a Dockers ad, but it just wasn't working out.
There was really good Q&A throughout class. I think we feel ready now. Not because we learned so much about infant care, but I think after 6 weeks of classes, we just want to be called up to the big show. I keep saying it and I might regret that I wished my time without the baby away, but I really can't wait for Baby C to get here. I want to meet him and take care of him. He will be here before I know it, so I'm not gonna harp on this too much. Allison has real reasons for wanting him to get here and she's been cool as a cuke. She's going through A LOT more than I am. If she is hanging in there, then I better hang in there too.

The teacher told us last week that the most important thing to do before the baby gets here is to rest. I've heard that from about 100 people. I have asked this question in the past, why am I "sleeping now, while I still can"? It's not like sick or vacation time at work. I can't make a bank of sleeping hours to use later on. Well, she explained it. She said, the reason you need to" sleep now" is basically because you have no idea when that baby wants to come out, so you need to be rested so you are ready for it. Labor can be 4 hours or 24 hours, so you need to be well rested. Now I understand. Wow! that was a lot of words just to say goodnight. I'm done now and I'm going to "get some sleep." Goodnight.

Diet & Exercise Plan week 1

So here we go, listed below are the exercises I did last week. I did good with my dieting too. No Rice Crispy treats or soda during the week. Had a Sprite on Saturday and half a can of root beer on Sunday.

Heading back to Saturday night.
Saturday - 6 sets of 12 OZ Curls
Sunday - 30 pushups. 40 crunches. Mowed lawn.
Monday - 20 pushups, chest workout, 60 minute run/walk
Tuesday - 10 pushups, biceps workout, assisted chin ups (4 hand grips), abs
Wednesday - 25 Pushups, leg workout, abs
Thursday - 20 pushups
Friday - 30 pushups, abs
Saturday- 20 pushups, 1.8 mile run
Sunday- 10 pushups walked the veggie aisle 5 or 6 times, stairs in my house about 20 times,

Started the week out strong...tailed off a bit, but I'm happy I did something.

A Special Gift

This afternoon Allison's co-workers threw her a Tea-Party themed Baby Shower. They did a really nice job. Allison had a great time and I enjoyed seeing all my old co-workers. Once I get the pictures from Amanda, I will post about the actual shower, but for now, I'll only be talking about the gifts.

I want to start off by saying I like and appreciate every gift that was given today. We got a lot of stuff we needed, some fun stuff, gift cards and some clothes. Thank you very much for everyone who attended and to those who gave a gift.

Having said that, there was one gift in particular that I loved. It could quite possibly make it into the top 5 gifts of all time. I think it ranks just below my Wii, but above my Guitar Hero. But seriously, I love this gift. I want to take the rest of this post to thank Amanda, Ashley and Allison (not my Allison. My Allison's manager is also named Allison)

They took my blog, this blog you are reading right now and turned it into a book.
They included every post from the blog and put it into the book. I made it a little hard on them because, as I was told today, I can be "wordy." But they got every last word I wrote and have left a few blank pages for future posts.
They didn't just print it out and put the pages into the book. They did it scrapbook style. Who knew they were scrappers? What are scrappers you ask? That's easy, scrappers are women(or men) who scrapbook. It's not my term, I got it from a movie. Apparently that's what they like to be called.
They put stickers that say "Cutie" or "It's a boy" on some pages and the pages themselves are not just white paper. Most of the pages have fancy designs on them. Anyway, I don't know if it's tacky that my favorite gift is a printout of words I've written, but I think it's awesome and very thoughtful of them to take the time to print it out and put it together like that. I've kinda been obsessed with the blog. I'm glad people are reading it, enjoying it and now I have a hard copy of it to show Baby C one day. It's always good to have a hard copy. You never know, Al Gore may take the internet away from us one day. I can see it now, Bill Cosby Himself style "I created the internet, I can take it away from you!"

I wish I would have thought of it sooner, but it would have been a great idea for Allison and I to take a picture with Allison, Ashlee and Amanda. That picture would have gone right here. Thanks again to everyone and have a good weekend.

Birthing Class Week 5 - Graduation

Contrary to what I've been saying, the 6 week birthing class was actually a 5 week birthing class. The 6th week is an optional (funny, the whole course was optional) Newborn Care class. We're going to that class next week, but I sit here writing now fully prepared to have a baby. Laugh all you want, I have a diploma to prove it, so I must be ready....(1980's "Yeah Riiiiiight!")
Anyway, we showed up 30 minutes late for class due to weather related traffic. The class had already started a mock- delivery. By the time we got to class, the imaginary contractions were 5 minutes apart. The partners were rubbing & hugging and practicing other techniques to comfort the mothers-to-be. The room was quiet, lights were dimmed, soothing music was playing then BLAM! I threw my pillows on the floor. Not to be funny or interrupt the class, I was in a bad mood and it just sort of happened.

I wasn't really sure what to do, so I just waited for the teacher to say the next thing. Eventually we got into it and tried the positions listed on the sheet. There are more positions than they show you in TV and movies. Let's see if we remember to do any of them when the time comes. Hopefully we can find one or more positions that work for Allison.

After that we checked into the pretend hospital triage and eventually into the fake delivery room. We were shown some pushing positions and breathing techniques. The teacher, who has been a nurse for 10 years, said it's normal during delivery for a birthing mother to push for 30 seconds every 2 minutes for 2 hours! Damn! 2 hours??? DAMN!!! Oh man, we were warned about this. Not to say or do anything that could overwhelm or discourage the mom-to-be. Honey, if you are reading this, it's just for dramatic effect, got to keep the readers coming back! I"m sure it's no biggie. You'll be great. 2 hours? Cake walk. ;)

After the pretend delivery we watched a 20 minute movie. A stand up comedian was telling the story of his kids being born. It had it's funny moments, it's corny moments and it's scary moments. Scariest moment? When they say "here you go Dad" and hand you the baby. He said "Thanks, what do I do with it?" It's true. I thought to myself, I don't know what to do with a baby. I'll say "Hi Baby! How's it going?" Great. 3 seconds down, what do I do the rest of my life with him? The comedian explained what I already knew, you figure it out. You make mistakes, but just love the baby and everything will be fine. I'm ready. Bring it on.

Allison is almost 35 weeks. It has gone fast, but it has also dragged at times. I'm really excited for the Newborn Care class next week. I promise you this. When I post next week, I'll tell you all about Allison being mad at me for acting up in class. Maybe if I get it out of my system now...


I should be fine next week. It's serious stuff, newborn care. I was really good but for 2 brief moments in breastfeeding class, so I should be able to hold it together. If not, you'll hear all about it.

The Nuesery is Ready

Allison and I have spent the better part of the 2 weeks since the shower going through all the gifts and setting up the nursery. I think we're done. It looks great, if I do say so myself. We have his diaper bag packed and ready to grab when we go to the hospital. We still need to pack Allison's bag and finish sorting through the hand me down clothes we've gotten. Who knew that would be such a daunting task?

We've already found out how easily baby socks can disappear. After the first wash, 5 socks went missing. It took us 2 days to find the hidden compartment that socks disappear to. If you have a front loader and are missing clothes...make sure to look under the rubber gasket just inside the door. That's where ours went.

Check out some of the pictures. Allison is hidden in one of them, try to spot her.
Here is the glider, crib and monkey rug.
Next up, the monkey lamp.
A piggy bank. Gotta start saving now.
Here is a picture of some of the stuffed animals we have for Baby C already.
The shelves that were put up today. I left spots for some sundae helmets. I think I have some a NY Mets one and a LI Ducks one in my old room at my mom's house. Until he can choose for himself, he can have those helmets.

Diet & Exercise Plan

A while back I measured my stomach at it's roundest point, with the goal of dropping 5 inches in 5 months. Since that time I haven't really done much to reach that goal. So I've decided to ask for help from you guys.

During my doctor appointment last Wednesday, they had me sign out my medical records because they have been digitally entered into their system. Once I took them home I flipped through them. Take a look at this:

• December 12, 2000 - weight 159 lbs
• July 12, 2006 - weight 176 lbs
• August 12 2009 - weight 184 lbs

Did you notice a trend? Granted it's not the year 2000 and I'm no longer 24 years old, but 25 pounds in 9 years, that's bad right? I think it is. If this pattern keeps up, I'll be 234 pounds when Baby C opens his time capsule. He'll be tying my shoes for me too since my belly will be way to big for me to see my feet.

So here's the plan. Every Sunday I'm going to post the workouts that I've done for the week. If I don't post it or if it doesn't look like I've done enough...LET ME HAVE IT! Seriously, call me out. Give me a hard time. Also, if you see me eating junk food or drinking soda get on my case. It's bad for my stomach (remember my stomach issue?) and it won't help me lose weight.

I've signed up for a 16 week 5K/10K training program at the National Training Center in Clermont. Starting September 1, we meet 3 days a week. The group setting will be a huge help for me. I hope I can keep going once Baby C comes along. All of this is for him. I want to be healthy and be able to throw the ball, ride bikes and run with him. It'll be pretty hard if I plump up to fat ass. Beefcake, BEEFCAKE!!!!

Wish me luck.