Just for kicks... and in case I get desperate.

What natural labor-inducers have any of you tried that worked? Castor oil is out of the question, don't even bother suggesting that. I'm thinking more along the lines of foods, something that might actually provide nourishment for me and baby (and preferably taste good). Walking and assorted household chores are apparently not going to work. Of course, Doc says they are all wives tales, etc... but I figure what's the harm in trying (some of them, at least).

bloggy baby fun

make your predictions in the comments for this post...

1) how much do you think lauren's baby will weigh at birth (lbs., oz.)?
2) how long do you think he'll be?

oh, and in case you are wondering, as of tonight my belly button is basically completely flat. not an innie or an outie.

New Poll AND contest!

Contest closes Tuesday, at the beginning of my ultrasound appointment, 3:15. Leave a comment (click on "wandered along") with your prediction here after you vote in the sidebar and I will do a drawing from those of you whose guess matches what the sonographer sees on the ultrasound. The lucky winner will win a $10 Starbucks gift card. So if you participated in my little informal survey a while back, play again! (You may have even changed your mind, and that's ok!) This time you could get something for it!

If you post "anonymously", be sure to leave your name... anyone could claim to be the anonymous winner.

Please POLL along!!!

I have posted a new poll in my sidebar. I don't know how to make sticky posts, so I just put my surveys in the sidebar. Anyway, I bought a couple of Mum plants last night and planted them this morning, with Baby Bear's help. (Help which required me to strip her down to her diaper before coming back inside. You know how neat a helpful toddler help is.) They are a deep red color, I think. One might be a little more magenta, but it was kind of hard to tell. It's in a pot, the others are planted in the flower bed, so it's ok if its' color is a little different. Bear picked off most of the blooms. I really need to teach her to stop picking all the flowers. At least with Mums, picking or dead-heading encourages fresh growth and re-blooming.



I also hope to buy some bulbs, extend my front flower bed, put a small bed around the base of the mailbox, and maybe do a flower bed in the back around our bedroom window. If hubby will help.

I have a few daffodil and crocus bulbs which I hope will bloom again in the spring, so now I am trying to decide which bulbs to plant. Heavenly hyacinths? Topsy tulips? More daffs? Decisions, decisions. Thankfully it's still a little early to plant bulbs here, so I have time to decide.

What are your favorite things to plant for Fall and for Spring preparation?

My favorite sounds...

• Baby Bear's exclamation of "yayyy!!!" and hands clapping at the end of any song. This could be a song on the radio, Mommy or Daddy's rendition of the ABC song, a song on a video, or even a hymn or gospel song at Avoca Bible Church.
• The garage door or front door opening when hubby returns home from work, followed quickly by Baby Bear's shouting ,"Da-Da or Daddy! " as she runs to greet him.
• The ocean lapping against the sand on the shore.
• Birds chirping.
• Baby Bear's breath as we rock.
• The creak of the rocking chair.
• The sounds of nature at my parents' home: wind through the trees, frogs (well, sometimes they get annoying), birds.
• Baby Bear's chuckles.
• Wind in the sails of a sailboat.
• Wind in my ears at the beach.
• Music. Especially piano, classical guitar or Baby Bear banging on the keys or turning a toy or everyday object into an instrument of some sort.
• Baby Bear asking for a bow whether it's to play with or wear.
• Soft wind chimes.
• Rushing water- Falls Creek Falls, Laurel Falls, or other streams in the middle of the woods.
• Baby Bear's grunts as she attempts to pull herself somewhere she really shouldn't be, like on top of the chest(makeshift coffee table) in our play room.inspiring
• New words or phrases from Baby Bear.
  
• Hubby's voice. and breath from the pillow next to me while he sleeps.
• A well-played harmonica.
• Gentle, steady rain
• silence the morning after a heavy snowfall. you can almost hear the glistening of the snow if you listen carefully (doesn't happen often here)
• a good friends voice on the other end of the phone line
  

Thanks to FarmWife for inspiring this post! Please leave a comment if you've decided to play along with us!