this morning i woke up to discover...

... there is a little bum pressing up against the right side of my ribcage. A little uncomfortable, but very, very cool.

that's all.

last week of work...

This is my last week of work! I can hardly believe it. Originally I was supposed to work one more week, but I changed the plan last Thursday. Between bad weather, bad commuting, heartburn, and just generally wanting to be at home, it was the right decision. Ultimately an extra week at the end is not going to make a huge difference (especially because things will be very different a year from now at our company), but right now the time is valuable.

I'm very excited but I'll also miss people. It's very strange because I've been at my company for a quite a while, longer than most, and I actually enjoy many things about my job... those who know me understand that's no small thing! But, I'm really ready for the change. I'm looking forward to getting last minute things done, visiting with friends, and RELAXING - napping when I need to, knitting, flipping through magazines, yoga, whatever I want! I plan to go to the pool more too. Swimming gently through the water takes all the weight and pressure off, and I can do stretches in the shallow end. I highly recommend it for all expecting moms!

So the hospital bag didn't exactly get packed this weekend, but I did start by buying boxes of pads (ugh) and laying out some items beside the bag. Then I ran into a lot of questions (i.e., 'outfit for the baby to come home in' - a sleeper? An actual outfit? And where do I buy those little baby mitts so she doesn't scratch her face?) I'm too tired tonight after staying up to watch ALL of the Oscars last night... so I'll do it this week or on the weekend.

A good friend of ours who's a photographer is taking maternity photos of me this weekend, I can't wait! We've been looking at samples to pick out poses and overall style, it's going to be a great keepsake. I'll post some here when we get them.

Tonight I had pre-natal massage after work. It's getting increasingly comical to position myself on the pregnancy pillow! I need to squirm up onto the table, get onto all fours, and then ungracefully plop down with my belly dropped in the opening (without mashing my boobs on the wrong part of the pillow.) Flipping over to my back is also decidedly ungraceful, but really, with what's to come, why bother being shy?! My therapist is also a friend, and today she massaged my belly for the first time. Sweet Pea was very chilled out and zen about the whole experience. She was quiet, and shifted slightly in response to having some more space encouraged for her in hotel belly. Now that we're home, however, she's wiggling about - yay, more room in here!

35 weeks: nesting and braxton hicks

Nesting has fully kicked in! I feel an overwhelming urge to do things like tackle a reorganization of our linen closet, knit baby clothes, make Rice Krispie squares, bake cookies, clear any clutter, and generally get the house sparkling. It’s bizarre how these bursts of energy or inspiration can come over me some days, and other days there’s just no moving me! I can’t wait until I’m finished work to actually do all of these things. Speaking of which… that might be a little early, like I originally planned… more on that later!

I think I’ve been feeling some sporadic Braxton Hicks in the past few days, I had been wondering when it would begin. I’ll ask my doc next week to be sure, but it’s not painful – almost like a mild period cramp that lasts a few minutes and then goes away (with no pattern or increasing intensity or pain). I read that it would feel like a tightening in the uterus… maybe not the word I would have used, but sounds like the same thing. I’ve only had it early in the morning so far. Apparently if you’re thirsty or hungry that can bring it on, which makes sense.

This weekend I’m packing a hospital bag and completing our hospital birth plan. I’ve heard of too many people who were caught with nothing packed and tossed a few things into a grocery bag. I’m still the girl who had to finish her essays a few days early in school to ward off panic, so I’m surprised I’ve waited until 35 weeks!

Pregnancy tip: A TV in the bedroom is essential at this point. We moved one in about two weeks ago so I could relax in the evening, and it wouldn’t matter if I fell asleep while watching TV. It’s the best!

pancakes and cravings

I’m finally starting to feel better, and though yesterday I still had heartburn late in the day, for the time in nearly two weeks I was excited about food again! To celebrate, yesterday I had some cupcakes from The Cupcake Shoppe, leftover from a birthday dinner this weekend. These flavours are absolutely divine… "Eh?" (vanilla butter cake with maple buttercream) and "James Brown" (chocolate buttermilk cake with chocolate buttercream).

I’ve also been very vulnerable to the power of suggestion throughout my pregnancy… for instance, those annoying new Wendy’s radio commercials make me instantly want a baked potato smothered with broccoli and cheese. So, after reading about this Mushroom Noodle Soup, I waddled over to get my own for lunch yesterday. And today? It’s Pancake Tuesday, so of course now I’m planning to make us pancakes for dinner! I’m probably going with this recipe, but I think I’ll use chocolate chips in some… with maple syrup and my own blueberry sauce drizzled on top:

1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen wild blueberries
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1/2 a lemon
Combine in saucepan and simmer for about 5 minutes.

I may also treat myself to a new find from Starbucks… their Cinnamon Dolce latte. This concoction is sweet milky goodness with just the right amount of cinnamon and sprinkles… and brown sugar, no less… I skip the whipped cream and order it decaf of course!

34 weeks

At my 34 week checkup I learned that the baby now has her head down! She is definitely getting bigger in hotel belly. She might be moving less because there is less room, but I feel every movement so I haven't noticed any slow down yet. I feel stretching, wiggling, hiccups, her back/bum pressing just under my ribs, and when she isn't being shy with lots of people around (like at the baby shower!), there are lots of protruding body parts! Her lungs have developed by this stage, so it's a relief to know that from this point babies born early are strong and have few complications - not that we're ready for an early arrival!!

According to the Chinese lunar calendar our baby will be born in the year of the golden pig, just like her Grandma was. Supposedly she will be easygoing, hardworking, enjoy the finer things in life, and be prosperous. Sounds like a good fortune to me!

This has been my first tough week. I really feel like the countdown to finishing work is on! Between the 3 hours + a day of commuting lately, snow, sub-arctic temperatures and wind that I can't breathe in, a stubborn cold, and - the worst - terrible heartburn, it has just been a bit much. Plus, I've been preoccupied with horrible news this week from our hometown and people we know.

If only the heartburn would let up (it's connected to my cold, which always happens to me - pregnant or not!) then I'll feel better... With three weeks of work to go, I'm very ready for some downtime before Sweet Pea makes her grand entrance to the world!

shower!

I'm snowed in today at home, so I finally had a chance to upload pics from my baby shower this weekend! This is one of the few photos where my crazy roots aren't too trashingly obvious, and my nose isn't as pink from the cold I've had (with terrible heartburn) for a week now!

It was a lot of fun to see everyone, and there were a whole lot of people! I was completely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. So many cute gifts for her... she will be very well dressed and cozy in all of her new clothes and handmade blankets. And, she had better be a girl, because we got a lot of pink! We got a lot of gear too, and most suprisingly, a video camera from dad-in-law that nobody knew about. The girls did a great job planning it, and I was thrilled to arrive and see two big trays of... cupcakes!

I might be writing thank you cards for the rest of my life, so until you get yours, thank you so much. Our baby is very lucky to have all of you and we're excited to introduce her.

baby crafting

Feeling much better emotionally, although I've been home sick for the past few days with a virus/sore throat. I got checked out yesterday to make sure it wasn't anything serious, and it's not... I was just prescribed lots of rest and fluids. Am feeling better today, though I just got a phone call that an already expensive regular car servicing now has a $600 repair tacked onto it that we can't afford. Why do these things always happen right before major, expensive life events?? A similar thing happened right before our wedding too. Ugh.

Anyway, some pics of recent projects for the baby... a fabric wall hanging (I know the lines aren't all perfectly straight, I wanted a more hand-made look!) and a knit kitty that will rock out the nursery and toy box. I made a similar kitty as a gift before, and used some Irish worsted wool from other projects to make this one in a different colour scheme. Here's the pattern from Knitty.

I have some new wool to knit the clothes I found patterns for, but I'm also very tempted by using fabric I have stashed away to make this initial pillow!

emotional rollercoaster

Last night consisted of two emotional and hormonally-fueled crying sessions. The first was prompted by confessing to Ian how I've been feeling this past week or so, which is largely freaked out/scared/nervous about both labour and what life will be like as a brand new mom. I have felt guilty enough about feeling this way, but compounding it is the fact that everywhere I turn, people are telling me how excited and happy I must be. Of course I am, and of course I appreciate why they are saying that, but trust me... when you are having an emotional day and you can't smile back with 100% conviction, the guilt meter goes through the roof. I feel our innocent little baby wiggling around in my belly, who will just need me and be clueless of me being anything but her mom, and I feel like a horrible person for dwelling on anything less.

I got about four words into telling Ian this, and the tears came flooding out. It was a blubbering, 'I'm a bad mom already!!' kind of scene. He made me feel much better and assured me that there is nothing wrong with me, so I do feel better today.
The second crying session of the night? We watched 'Barnyard' (yes, the cartoon), and one sad scene involves a parent and child... with Peter Gabriel's 'Father, Son' playing in the background, no less... too much!!

On different note... here's another CD that looks promising called For the Kids. I found it by Googling lyrics to The Rainbow Connection, which I plan to sing to her when out of range of the baby monitor! It's covered by Sarah McLachlan on this CD. There are also fun tracks by the Barenaked Ladies (La, La, La, Lemon!) and Cake, plus a more questionable one by Tom Waits...

32 weeks and what i didn't expect about expecting

Ian actually snapped this pic of my belly at 31 weeks, and I swear I have grown since then! At this week's checkup I learned that the baby is currrently in breech position, but that there's still plenty of time for her to move into a head-down position. At least now I know what body parts are what when she's on the move -- the latest is pressing feet/knees or head up against my uterus like she's stretching or doing yoga.

There are plenty of physical things I never knew about pregnancy. Here are just a few of the things I've experienced:

1. If you hate to shave your legs, get pregnant. Beginning at about the 5 month mark, the hair on my legs virtually stopped growing. I only shave about once a month!

2. Breathlessness. I get out of breath very easily, with everything pushing up against my diaphragm and lungs, which has increased until the baby drops some more. Some days I sound like that Stevie kid from Malcolm in the Middle when I talk, taking deep breaths in between words!

3. Perpetual sniffles. There is now a Kleenex box in almost every room of the house.

4. Clumsiness. I drop things constantly, which is a cruel irony when you're pregnant... it's very difficult (and frustrating) to try and pick things up off the floor! I need some long handled tongs or a pick!

5. Underwire bras are evil. With organs shifted and a baby pressing up against my ribs, sometimes it's all I can do to keep from going crazy when wearing an underwire bra. Ian has found them on the bannister, draped over tables, wherever I happen to be when I finally have had enough and rip it off.

6. Insulation and itchiness. A benefit of being pregnant during the winter is having a built-in heater. I get overheated really easily in places like malls, the office, etc. And what else happens when I get hot? My belly itches! (BTW - the Body Shop's Body Butter in Cocoa Butter is heavenly for this)

7. Naps are wonderful. I'm getting tired again now, particularly in the evening like I was in my first trimester. I'm off to take a nap now!

Snoogle pillow update... so far so good! I definitely recommend it. It's no miracle worker, but I've had some significant improvement in my hip pain from sleeping with it. It's giant, shaped like a 'C', and takes up a lot of the bed! The best position I've found is the back to belly -- the long part curves down my back, between my thighs/knees, and is then just wedged under my belly for added support. I've gone from waking up at least every hour to a 3-4 stretch of sleep at first, then every 1-2 hours after that.

rockin' the baby

As many new moms-to-be can attest to, there are lots of questions we ask ourselves in thinking about how to raise a happy, intelligent, productive, well-adjusted little member of the next generation... and one perennial debate seems to be over music. Does exposure to classical music help, in the womb and out? Baby Einstein? Traditional lullabies or contemporary ones? Or, do babies just want to rock out in the nursery?

This article from today's issue of Daily Candy cracks me up. Now you can have the best of both worlds with Full Metal Diaper, which offers crib-friendly instrumental versions of Guns n Roses and Metallica, or St. Elmo's Pacifier with 80s hits by Duran Duran and more.

Read the article here!