Our Family Adventure

When people ask if we’ve picked out a name I say, why yes we have- Ajax Gabriel.  They then pause and say, oh that’s different.  Although my grandmother insists the name is strictly a household cleaner that is not in fact how Mr. Dave chose the name (yes this was his pick).   From a quick google search I have discovered that Ajax is a type of computer program, a champion Australian racehorse of the 1930s, a Danish handball team, an electronic band from New York City, a town in Ontario, a 1987 shoot ’em up arcade game released by Konami, and even a 1953 Anglo-American covert operation to overthrow the government of Iran.

The inspiration for the name however comes from Greek mythology as Ajax plays an important role in Homer’s Iliad and throughout the epic cycle, a series of poems about the Trojan War.   Ajax is described as a man of great stature and colossal frame, the tallest and strongest of all the Achaeans.  Apart from Achilles, Ajax is the most valuable warrior in Agamemnon’s army (Thank you Wikipedia).  This is what Dave and I must explain almost every time we tell people the baby name we have picked out.   Anywho, I just thought it was interesting enough to post so that when the little guy decides to grace us with his presence people already know that, no we did not name him after a cleaning product.

I also thought I should post some pictures of the baby shower.  My mom, Mary, and mother-in-law, Dara, threw it for us on 02/15/09 at an Italian restaurant in Dearborn.  The food was great and people seemed to have a very good time.  Thank you very much future grandmas!

Ok, so my maternity leave has officially started as I did not make it into work this morning.  I had a few more little contractions last night and was up all night worrying (a few little ones this morning too).   In the end I decided it wasn’t worth the stress of trying to drive into Lansing by myself.   Until yesterday the possibility of going into labor while driving seemed very unlikely and I hadn’t really worried about it.   Last night, however, I began to realize that maybe my family (who had been pressuring me about the drive) probably had a legitimate concern.

So we finally retired Mr. Dave’s 1996 Dodge Intrepid and upgraded to a more respectable family vehicle:  The Pontiac Torrent.  We wanted a small SUV that had enough room for a bambino and a GSD.  We almost went with an Escape, but the guy at the Ford dealership was extremely rude and unpleasant.   Mr. Dave negotiated like a pro and I glared at the salesman the whole time (as we rushed to the dealership after work and I didn’t have time to eat dinner.  We didn’t expect to be there till 9:30 closing the deal, but we ended up driving the new car home).

On a baby update- my doctor’s appointment went well on Wednesday and we are still maintaining the status quo- no real progress to report.  The doctor happily reported, again, that we could go at anytime.  Tomorrow is my last day of work and then maternity leave till June.  I must admit that the three hour commute is beginning to take its toll and this evening driving home I had my first Braxton Hicks.  Only two to report, but at 39 weeks signs of impending labor are very overdue and Dave thinks we’ll go tomorrow.

I know I just placed my first entry not more than 5 minutes ago, however, I don’t think there are any rules as to the frequency of posts, etc.   On a baby update – the Doctor thinks Ajax is around 7 to 7 1/2 lbs and so far seems to be healthy and active.  The Doctor says I can go at any time, which makes me feel like a ticking time bomb.   I am due on April 1st and the Doctor promised me she’d only let me go one week past my due date before inducing.  I’ve gained about 31 lbs throughout the pregnancy and am about ready to just have this kid.  I’m on the weekly doctor visit schedule now, so I may have more exciting information by Wednesday.

Here’s a recent belly shot- 37 weeks:

Hello Family and Friends!  Dave has been offering to set me up with one of these blogs for a while now, but I have always declined the offer.  I have come to realize, however, that I love checking in on my cousin’s blog and seeing her family and knowing what they are up to as they are all the way out in Washington.  As our family will soon be expanding (in less than 2 weeks if Ajax is punctual) I thought I should set something up to keep everyone posted on what’s going on in the Indish home.

Thus far Dave and I have taken three baby classes, read numerous books and magazines on birthing/parenting, we have our hospital bag and car seat next to the door, have taken a tour of the hospital, have the doctor’s number written in several strategic places throughout our home, and have planned our route to the hospital.  Thanks to the soon-to-be grandparents (Dara/Rod and Mary/Gordy) the nursery is set up, baby clothes are washed, and the carpets have even been steam cleaned.  Big Max (our german shepard) will be in for a rude awakening when we bring Baby Indish home as so far he thinks the nursery is now his private bedroom and prefers to lounge in there and look out the window at the dogs across the street.