Officially into the last trimester now. Getting closer!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Product Testing
Many soon-to-be parents worry about bringing a baby into a home with a dog. Will the dog be jealous? Feel outta place? Be angry or sad that a new little person is stealing all his attention?
Being that Jake is an incredibly important member of our family, we have done a lot of research online, as well as spoken to dog trainers about how to make the adjustment as easy on him as possible. All the professionals say the easiest thing you can do is keep your dog involved in everything going on and make sure visitors don't ignore him when they come over. So that's what we've been doing.
Anytime something for the baby comes in the house, Jake gets to smell it, inspect it and get to know what is appropriate for him to do with each item. He is quite curious about everything going on in her bedroom and he is right there trying to help me unpack new items, make her bed, put away her clothes, inspect her new noisy toys and everything in between.
Jake has been incredibly well behaved in all areas of adjustment so far, and we can honestly say that we are not worried about bringing the baby into the house. He is already fantastic with my niece and nephews and whenever he sees a little kid on the street or playground he wants to go right over and say hi. He is particularly fond of strollers right now and the babies that are in them. I'm actually quite excited to know that Alison is going to get to grow up with a fantastic dog for a pet/big brother.
Being that Jake is an incredibly important member of our family, we have done a lot of research online, as well as spoken to dog trainers about how to make the adjustment as easy on him as possible. All the professionals say the easiest thing you can do is keep your dog involved in everything going on and make sure visitors don't ignore him when they come over. So that's what we've been doing.
Anytime something for the baby comes in the house, Jake gets to smell it, inspect it and get to know what is appropriate for him to do with each item. He is quite curious about everything going on in her bedroom and he is right there trying to help me unpack new items, make her bed, put away her clothes, inspect her new noisy toys and everything in between.
Jake has been incredibly well behaved in all areas of adjustment so far, and we can honestly say that we are not worried about bringing the baby into the house. He is already fantastic with my niece and nephews and whenever he sees a little kid on the street or playground he wants to go right over and say hi. He is particularly fond of strollers right now and the babies that are in them. I'm actually quite excited to know that Alison is going to get to grow up with a fantastic dog for a pet/big brother.
Fantastic Baby Shower!
Its been a busy few weeks, so I haven't had a chance to blog lately, but needed to get on here to write about my amazing baby shower that was held at the beginning of November.
First off, I'd like to thank my wonderful friends and family for all the fantastic gifts we received. It was great to see everyone and spend some time catching up. Special thanks goes out to Jess for organizing the entire thing. I was delighted when I arrived and saw all the decorations, the diaper cake and the games she had planned. The soon-to-be grandma's helped with the food (which was delicious) and my dear friends Sarah and Kelly helped with games, presents and bringing cameras and the amazing cake.
As mentioned we got some amazing gifts! We got receiving blankets, adorable outfits, handmade blankets, a stroller and carseat combo, shoes, hats, a memory book, diapers, wipes, a bouncy chair, bottles, bath products, toys and so much more. It really really helped us start our collection of all the things you need for when baby arrives. We were also lucky enough to receive some gift cards which we used to purchase a playpen, snugli infant carrier, diaper bag, swing, exersaucer, bathtub and various small items we needed. We finally are beginning to feel ready for our little girl to make her appearance.
Thanks again to everyone for making my shower a memorable event. I feel lucky that I have such a wonderful support network of friends and family. Love you all!
First off, I'd like to thank my wonderful friends and family for all the fantastic gifts we received. It was great to see everyone and spend some time catching up. Special thanks goes out to Jess for organizing the entire thing. I was delighted when I arrived and saw all the decorations, the diaper cake and the games she had planned. The soon-to-be grandma's helped with the food (which was delicious) and my dear friends Sarah and Kelly helped with games, presents and bringing cameras and the amazing cake.
As mentioned we got some amazing gifts! We got receiving blankets, adorable outfits, handmade blankets, a stroller and carseat combo, shoes, hats, a memory book, diapers, wipes, a bouncy chair, bottles, bath products, toys and so much more. It really really helped us start our collection of all the things you need for when baby arrives. We were also lucky enough to receive some gift cards which we used to purchase a playpen, snugli infant carrier, diaper bag, swing, exersaucer, bathtub and various small items we needed. We finally are beginning to feel ready for our little girl to make her appearance.
Thanks again to everyone for making my shower a memorable event. I feel lucky that I have such a wonderful support network of friends and family. Love you all!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
26 Weeks!
I officially can no longer see my feet, which makes tying shoes incredibly difficult. I cant believe how much she has grown in the last 2 weeks!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
100 days to go!
Today makes the countdown from triple to double digits. It seems like it took forever to get here and then looking forward, 100 days seems like barely any time at all! With Halloween literally around the corner and then Christmas sneaking up on us ever so quickly, its going to be New Years before we know it!
I had a check up with my OB on Tuesday. A few weeks ago I had to do the Glucose Challenge, in which you have to drink a disgusting beverage that tastes like flat orange pop in less than 5 mins, then wait around for an hour barely moving (since movement burns off sugar) and then get some blood drawn. This is to check to see if you're at risk for developing gestational diabetes. With a history of diabetes in my family I was particularly nervous about this test. (Mainly because it means I would have to cut our sweets and carbs, which seem to be my two favourite things lately) At the check-up on Tuesday he disclosed the results. I was 4.2 and you want to be under 7, so he said I'm in the clear.
As per every appointment, they took my weight and once again.... nothing... I haven't gained any weight since last month, so that still makes it only a 2 lb weight gain throughout my entire pregnancy so far. My OB's official medical advice was "go eat cake". (little does he know I baked a chocolate cake the night before and had an extra large serving) Once again he mentioned that the baby is growing and meeting all the stages on time, so there is nothing to worry about.
Aside from the regular check-in, Rob and I have been attending prenatal classes on Monday nights. Its a group of 7 couples (including us) and we are meeting for 7 weeks, covering topics like labour and delivery, how your relationship will change, financial challenges, medical interventions, etc. Its incredibly informative and not at all what you see on tv. We aren't sitting around with pillows learning how to huff and puff properly. Although they will touch on ways to make labour easier (massage, hot water bottles, breathing etc) its not the main focus of the class. Its more of an overall education of what to expect now and after the baby is born.
All the couples are due within 6 weeks of each other, and then we will continue meeting once a month for the following year so we can discuss the baby's growth stages and any struggles we are having as a couple or as new parents. We chose this course mainly for that purpose. It allows you to develop a support network of people who are going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. We've already made friends with a few of the couples in class and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few classes brings.
I had a check up with my OB on Tuesday. A few weeks ago I had to do the Glucose Challenge, in which you have to drink a disgusting beverage that tastes like flat orange pop in less than 5 mins, then wait around for an hour barely moving (since movement burns off sugar) and then get some blood drawn. This is to check to see if you're at risk for developing gestational diabetes. With a history of diabetes in my family I was particularly nervous about this test. (Mainly because it means I would have to cut our sweets and carbs, which seem to be my two favourite things lately) At the check-up on Tuesday he disclosed the results. I was 4.2 and you want to be under 7, so he said I'm in the clear.
As per every appointment, they took my weight and once again.... nothing... I haven't gained any weight since last month, so that still makes it only a 2 lb weight gain throughout my entire pregnancy so far. My OB's official medical advice was "go eat cake". (little does he know I baked a chocolate cake the night before and had an extra large serving) Once again he mentioned that the baby is growing and meeting all the stages on time, so there is nothing to worry about.
Aside from the regular check-in, Rob and I have been attending prenatal classes on Monday nights. Its a group of 7 couples (including us) and we are meeting for 7 weeks, covering topics like labour and delivery, how your relationship will change, financial challenges, medical interventions, etc. Its incredibly informative and not at all what you see on tv. We aren't sitting around with pillows learning how to huff and puff properly. Although they will touch on ways to make labour easier (massage, hot water bottles, breathing etc) its not the main focus of the class. Its more of an overall education of what to expect now and after the baby is born.
All the couples are due within 6 weeks of each other, and then we will continue meeting once a month for the following year so we can discuss the baby's growth stages and any struggles we are having as a couple or as new parents. We chose this course mainly for that purpose. It allows you to develop a support network of people who are going through the exact same thing at the exact same time. We've already made friends with a few of the couples in class and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next few classes brings.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Room to Grow
The baby's room is starting to come together. The first picture is of her bedroom door. We found small letters, painted them and put them on the door. We tried hanging them with double sided tape, then glue dots, then poster stickies, but nothing worked. We ended up having to hot-glue them, and now they won't be going anywhere!
We've had the crib for about a month, and now we've got the gliding rocking chair and a book case. We found great letters at Michael's Craft Store and painted them, then Rob used his handy man skills to hang them for me. I must say, they turned out great.
Some of the stuffed animals in her crib are mine from when I was a child. The little purple bunny I actually received as a gift the day I was born, and according to my mother, she went everywhere with me.
I've also started gathering a few books that I loved when I was young. She is already getting a decent collection going. We've got a few Franklin books, some classic Robert Munch and the entire collection of Jillian Jiggs stories. My mom has managed to track down one of my favourite books called Jenny Greenteeth, about a water witch who lived in the Toronto Beaches area. I can't even recall how many times I made her read it to me. We couldn't find any copies locally, since the book was only released once, back in 1985, but we managed to find a gently used copy and its currently being shipped in from Alberta.
We've had the crib for about a month, and now we've got the gliding rocking chair and a book case. We found great letters at Michael's Craft Store and painted them, then Rob used his handy man skills to hang them for me. I must say, they turned out great.
Some of the stuffed animals in her crib are mine from when I was a child. The little purple bunny I actually received as a gift the day I was born, and according to my mother, she went everywhere with me.
I've also started gathering a few books that I loved when I was young. She is already getting a decent collection going. We've got a few Franklin books, some classic Robert Munch and the entire collection of Jillian Jiggs stories. My mom has managed to track down one of my favourite books called Jenny Greenteeth, about a water witch who lived in the Toronto Beaches area. I can't even recall how many times I made her read it to me. We couldn't find any copies locally, since the book was only released once, back in 1985, but we managed to find a gently used copy and its currently being shipped in from Alberta.
24 weeks!
The baby is officially viable! She now weighs over 1 pound and is larger than an ear of corn. Only a few more weeks to go until the start of the third trimester!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Hippy Chick
Another relatively new symptom I'm experiencing is hip soreness. This past week I've woken up in the middle of the night a few times barely able to roll over because my hips are aching so badly and in the morning when I finally get my tired body out of bed I cant help but have that oh so classic pregnancy waddle for the first few minutes until everything lines back up where its suppose to be.
Once again, its those crazy hormones that I can blame for my aches and pains. According to babycentre.ca "Hormonal changes cause the ligaments in your hips to stretch and the cartilage to soften, which can lead to soreness when you’re sleeping on your side at night." Given that pregnant women cant sleep on their tummies or backs, looks like I have a few months of achy joints ahead of me.
I've found that after a long day of sitting, or even driving, my hips just ache in pain so I'm having a lot more baths these days. The AquaFit Classes I attend weekly have also helped because being in the pool allows all the baby weight to be lifted off my joints and I get a good 45 minutes of stretching. The only draw back is getting back out of the pool, when gravity sets back in and you feel even heavier then you did before. It really makes me understand why some women would opt to have water births!
Once again, its those crazy hormones that I can blame for my aches and pains. According to babycentre.ca "Hormonal changes cause the ligaments in your hips to stretch and the cartilage to soften, which can lead to soreness when you’re sleeping on your side at night." Given that pregnant women cant sleep on their tummies or backs, looks like I have a few months of achy joints ahead of me.
I've found that after a long day of sitting, or even driving, my hips just ache in pain so I'm having a lot more baths these days. The AquaFit Classes I attend weekly have also helped because being in the pool allows all the baby weight to be lifted off my joints and I get a good 45 minutes of stretching. The only draw back is getting back out of the pool, when gravity sets back in and you feel even heavier then you did before. It really makes me understand why some women would opt to have water births!
To lather or not to lather?
Well into my 23rd week of pregnancy, all of the symptoms normally experienced late in pregnancy are creeping up on me.
With the baby belly becoming more and more firm as each day goes by, I finally experienced my first pregnancy related stretch marks. Now I'm no stranger to those little red lines, as puberty attacked me well back in my teens. I seemingly went from no curves to having hips overnight so for a long time my hip area looked as though I was clawed by a bear. Fast forward a few years down the road and all those red lines faded into little silver ones that are barely noticeable, so I'm not entirely worried about the pregnancy related ones because there isn't really any way to avoid them.
After hearing all the commercials and other pregnant women rave about certain creams that help avoid stretch marks, I mentioned it to my OB and once again, did my own research online. At the end of the day the only way you can avoid getting stretch marks is if your mother didn't get stretch marks and her mother didn't get stretch marks.... moral of my story is, I'm getting stretch marks whether I rub every lotion in the world on me or not. I'm just going to think of them as a badge of honour to this remarkable journey my body is taking, and besides, they'll fade eventually anyways.
With the baby belly becoming more and more firm as each day goes by, I finally experienced my first pregnancy related stretch marks. Now I'm no stranger to those little red lines, as puberty attacked me well back in my teens. I seemingly went from no curves to having hips overnight so for a long time my hip area looked as though I was clawed by a bear. Fast forward a few years down the road and all those red lines faded into little silver ones that are barely noticeable, so I'm not entirely worried about the pregnancy related ones because there isn't really any way to avoid them.
After hearing all the commercials and other pregnant women rave about certain creams that help avoid stretch marks, I mentioned it to my OB and once again, did my own research online. At the end of the day the only way you can avoid getting stretch marks is if your mother didn't get stretch marks and her mother didn't get stretch marks.... moral of my story is, I'm getting stretch marks whether I rub every lotion in the world on me or not. I'm just going to think of them as a badge of honour to this remarkable journey my body is taking, and besides, they'll fade eventually anyways.
Welcome to the world Sara!
I'm pleased to announce the arrival of our new niece. My sister-in-law Dawna welcomed her 7th child to the world on Monday October 4th, a baby girl named Sara Elizabeth. I've only seen pictures so far, but hope to get out to Calgary to meet her soon :)
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