Who's child is this?

Many of you have been commenting on how she has my eyes. Well after diggin' up some old photographs, i've determined you're right. Glad to know she's not ALL Ben. Although, she'd grow up to be quite a looker if she was...

Tempting Fate

The Joys of Breastfeeding

Foods i can't have because they make Esther cranky and, on a scale of 1-5, how irritating that is for me.

Chocolate 5
Cheese 4
Broccoli 5
Onions 5
Garlic 6
Cauliflower 1
Kale 3
Collards 1
Ginger 4


In other news: she has a propensity for eating non-food stuffs including her toys, her parents, and herself.

Bath Time

My Little Esther-bug

I realized that with all the baby happenings i never got to show everyone my beautiful house. Stephen brought this to my attention as he commented on a baby picture by saying, "nice walls." My talented and gorgeous husband built us our teeeny tiny dream home. It is smaller than most cheap new york apartments and can be heated by 4 sleeping bodies all winter long... although we use propane.

Small Homes are becoming a trend it would seem. And what better way to grow up close (sometimes too close) to your family.

1st day back at work... sad

Giant Diaper Butt and other Photos

getting old

I just bought a new vaccuum which makes me so excited that i practically wet myself when i used it for the first time lastnight.

and

there is nothing sexier than a good daddy.

Wearing us down

Thanks for all the moral support!

Colic and Cranky Mommy

She's developed colic and although in all these pictures (and in truth, she looks so cute and pleasant in most of the pictures we have of her, as when she's fussing and crying we're predisposed in quelling the noise rather than taking pictures), she is actually turning into an auditory nightmare. But she sure is cute (thank goodness, otherwise she'd be left on her own to work out whatever is causing the colic rather than being held close and cooed to while she screams and turns an unnerving shade of purple. Nonetheless, I still find myself battling the late-night-i'm-a-horrible-mommy feelings that bombard me when i'm at the end of my rope and she shows no signs of letting up with the shrieking... on some level i feel really bad for whatever discomfort (as i can only assume that's what it is) is causing all the drama, but mostly i'm frustrated and fried, and sort of in need of other mommy's or perhaps just someone to sit around with me and assure me i'm not losing my mind...
If any of you guys feel like coming by on a weekday afternoon say 2ish to share in the joy of the colic walk (a two hour jaunt around the woods with the wee one strapped on with a homemade leather contraption and listen to me rant about how i feel like the worst mother in the world) please feel free.

No Time, More Pics

Sorry, still no time to write but here are more pics. Love you all!

Rowen, can't wait to see you.

Pics of Esther.

I'm sorry it's taken me so long. As you can imagine we're pretty busy around here. More are coming I promise... as soon as I can get over to the library and get faster internet access.

To all those who sent prayers, blessings, love, e-mails, cards, gifts, etc: We Love You!!! Thank You!!!! And we promise to visit you before she starts walking... at least we hope.

It's A Girl!

After 72 hours of labor, Elizabeth Anwyll Jones, with the wonderful attentions of Benjamin Rush Matthews gave (unmedicated) birth to Esther Mathilda Jones Matthews at 2:58am Saturday, October 28th, 2006. Miss Esther weighed in at 7lbs and 6.5oz, has blondish/reddish? hair and blue eyes and is beautiful. Mother, father, and baby are all doing well, and (hopefully) sleeping a lot.

10/31/06 Sorry this took so long to publish, folks. Blogger was acting up on me on Sunday. -Jes

Thursday?

So this is it, this is the week.

Today is officially my last day at work. Unless i find myself stir crazy next week and still knocked up despite my best efforts to have oogobs of sex, down cod liver oil, do those pelvic tilts, take long ass walks, and talk the baby into fitting it's solid little bowling ball head through my... in which case i may just come back in to work to keep from going completely nuts. And for the glorious internet access i get at work (as opposed to our prehistoric dial-up in the hollow).

My plan you ask? well tomorrow morning I'm getting a massage. Then i'm gunna stop by my father-in-law's house and get more boxes of our shit that has been slowly mildewing since last december when we moved here and had great intensions of starting a whole new life full of adventures and nights out... and then i'm going to haul it all back to our house and try to fit it all in somewheres.

So, if you didn't catch the hint, WE'RE MOVING IN!!!!!!!! We've been sleeping in our house since last wednesday (Ben's birthday) and despite that we don't have a shower curtain, our kitchen appliances don't work, and Ben is still building the kitchen and bathroom and finishing little things i didn't know had to be done (ie the weird door stop thingie...) we are quite comfortable and warm and dry and happily making our middle of the night trips to the bathroom (in my case 8-10 middle of the night trips) naked!!!

I'm so happy to be moving in. Unfortunately, I'm terribly frustrated by my lack of efficiency with the moving process. It's not easy being hugely preggo -- I can't carry anything heavy or large, I can't climb into the loft to store things, I can't get into the closet under the stairs cause I won't fit through the door. But slowly things are happening... or not so slowly... depending on how you look at it.

So with our little world coming together (and I mean LITTLE, as in our whole house is less than 700 sq ft) i'm hoping that this wee one will see fit to not go too far beyond (if at all) it's due date.

Here's hopin'

Oh and just for kicks here's our list of names:
boys:
Owen Calder/Lee
Wyatt Calder/Lee
James Owen
Calder Lee
James Grey
Calder Grey
Emmit Owen

girls:
Ada Rae
Esther Rae
Mathilde Ann (Tilly)

*place your votes in the comments section, or if you're not a blogspot member feel free to send me an e-mail to place your vote.

(I know everyone did this already but it's getting down to the wire and we're still no where with it)

My Half-Hearted Apology

Dear Everyone I come in contact with in the next week or two,

I am sorry i'm so cranky with you. I'm sorry I yelled at you or mocked you behind your back by making that stupid face.

I'm sorry i'm 8months and 3 weeks pregnant and feeling at the end of my rope. I'm sorry I'm so busy and don't write you or call you back. I did get your messages and I did think they were sweet...

I'm sorry i'm a black hole for your energy and mine. I'm a taker right now. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'll be a giver from the time this baby pops out until the end of time...

I'm sorry things won't really go back to normal but rest assured they will reach some level or mundanity at some point and as odd as it sounds that's comforting.

Thanks for stickin' around anyhow. Thanks for calling me and checking up on me and loving me. Thanks for letting me be cranky and knowing that when i bite your head off it's not about you.

Love,
Libby

Nope, not yet... still waiting.

pictures as promised.

I promise

to update tomorrow. My mom and best friend threw Ben and I a surprise baby shower over the weekend with tons of food and people. It was a truely amazing event. My best friend from college flew in for the weekend, also a surprise (I love you Kirstin!).

I have pictures (but i forgot to bring them to work with me). I will post tomorrow with pictures (Thanks Melissa!!) and tons of details.

Also, Yesterday my co-workers threw me a surprise baby shower lunch with a giant chocolate chip cookie for a cake (Jodi, You Rock!!!).

It never ceases to amaze me how many people in this world not only like me but love me... thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thanks Rowen!

These videos are great!

Baby Moving

9 Months Gestation

To Do List

-finish insulation and drywall
-plaster
-paint
-install water heater
-install gas heater
-install bathroom sink, toilet, and kitchen sink
-get the plumber in again
-get the electrician in again
-get the septic guy in again
-the loft floor
-the downstairs floor
-the staircase
-window and door trim
-sand and paint front door
-sand and finish the upstairs floor
-buy a bed and other furniture we may need
-pick furniture up from Ben's mom
-pick up the co-sleeper from my friend
-several trips to and from Ben's dads to get all of our shit in storage
-buy cloth diapers and diapering stuffs (and then wash them 40 thousand times before use)
-Go to target and spend a freakin' fortune on random crap for the house and the baby
-Move in

Think we can do it all in 4 weeks?

35 days until D-day.

Ben is insulating and drywalling our beautiful Little House.

I am slowly collecting the things we still do not have for the baby.

My friend Maggie's little sister had her baby this week. Another boy. Congrats Ame!!!

We have our 35 week appointment today.

Hiccups?

My whole pregnancy I've been wondering if the baby would get the hiccups. Low and behold, several times in the last couple weeks (including right now as i write this) i've been experiencing what I can only assume is the hiccups. It's a rhythmic kicking feeling. Quite funny really. In my head I imagine the noise that would go with them (*hic*).

Also, my belly is so big that it's hard for me to wash the dishes. Note here how far away from the sink I am and the awkward lean to my back I as stretch to reach the faucet for rinsing... Maybe that means I'll get to relinquish my dish duty.