38 Weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I have vowed to never weigh myself again...I feel massive...

Stretch marks? None. Just have to make it through the next 2-4 weeks and then delivery. I feel like that is asking a lot.

Sleep: I have been sleeping well again!

Best moment this week: Long walks while soaking up some vitamin D!

Movement: We can feel "stuff" better and better all the time. I felt the top his head wiggling around and got freaked out when he "ducked" and my thumb slipped over the roundness of the top of his head. It was pretty cool :) I've also been pretty lop sided lately and can almost grasp baby bum poking out right underneath my ribs.

I'm also kind of scared that I am going to have the biggest baby of all time. That we'll be in the Guiness Book of World Records. My stomach is hard top to bottom and side to side. I'm praying that isn't all baby...hopefully it's some of the accessories that come with it!

Food cravings: Water and now...milk! Lots of both!

Labor Signs: Always have labour signs. It was entertaining last week, now it's just a tease.

Belly Button in or out? Even with the rest of my tummy...I'm quite rounded.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

What I miss: When people didn't assume that everything I say, eat, or do has something to do with pregnancy. I'm convinced (from some research articles and other reading) that the pressure that people put on pregnant women doesn't help and may prolong their labour and effect how they interpret and cope with pain...I know people are excited...and we are too! But I really didn't think it would start at 36 weeks. We are excited and like to talk about it...but not everything has to do with babies...we've been watching movies lately too ;)

This also played a great factor in me deciding to have a water birth at home. I'm not the type who really likes being the centre of attention, I put enough pressure on myself that I prefer to handle things by myself, and I get incredibly overwhelmed with outside environmental factors...especially when there is a hundred things going on at once and no one is filling me in. Maybe it's the controlling part of me shining through but it's what I need. I have to understand and respect what I need in order to make sure my baby is born unstressed and healthy. I really do feel that privacy is my best option in getting all this done the healthiest way possible...for both of us :) Luckily my body clearly agrees with what I need so far and has kept us healthy this whole time :) I'm surprised at all the people that have been incredibly supportive in helping me find the peace and relaxation that I need. Even the mom's that were informed they would be called right AFTER the baby is born lol. Let's not turn a home birth into a 24 hour+ event lol. Work with me people!

What I am looking forward to: Having a baby!

Weekly Wisdom: Practice, practice, practice! I was starting to get the days of being exciting and then a day of being nervous. I feel so much better now that we have been practicing our chosen coping techniques. Whatever they are...practice them! Nanny McPhee suggested applying some pain while practicing. She said to try ice cubes behind my ears, on my wrists, and in my hands for one to two minutes at a time...basically mimicking the duration of contractions and the rest period in between. Of course it doesn't hurt as bad, but if I can block out the burning, freezing sensation, it gives me confidence that I can handle something greater one breath and coping technique at a time. No matter how or where this baby enters the world...it's gonna hurt. So I'm glad that I'm making my worries work for me!

Milestones: Having some "nesting" freak outs. I went to Walmart and bought ALL of their 0-3 month sized pants because I thought we didn't have enough. We did.

Getting up at 7am on a Sunday because I HAD to do the laundry.

The Tree of Life

Alright, we have now seen 4/9 Best Picture movies. We watched The Tree of Life last night. We really did not know what to expect since the movie reviews either give it a 1/10 or a 10/10. Kind of like this year's Black Swan...which I strongly disliked...I felt like Black Swan was the pretentious person's teenage thriller movie. Boring...I mean really...was anything in that movie that surprising? or thrilling? We spent the whole movie waiting for something to happen. Have none of you seen crazy before? Or two girls kissing? I want to be entertained at the movies, show me something controversial...or at least a great story with all the required elements! Remember those from high school english?

Anyway, this movie was better! Brad Pitt can act in any role in any story and do a great job...so I'm going to focus on the story. It is about a man reflecting on his childhood and the conflict he faces with his father all while questioning the origins of life and the existence of faith. Easy enough. I enjoyed the 1.5 hours of the actual story and acting in this movie. Very well done!

Did I need the 45 minute random IMAX-esque scenes (although they were pretty to look at) to "assist me" in understanding the questioning of life, faith, and existence...not really. Maybe I'm just smarter than the rest...but I don't think so. Once again, pretentious and condescending. A director trying to make himself feel smarter than the rest of us by adding so called "symbolism and meaning" to an easy plot. But maybe he was feeling dumb and needed the ego boost. I hope he feels better now.

I would give it a 5/10. There is a reason not all movies have a random IMAX clip in them.

Now to see Hugo, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (which seems to have the same plot as Hugo from the trailer? Father's die...keys are left behind...), The Artist, The Descendants, and War Horse. Actually, I probably won't see War Horse...I can't handle the animal movies...it really just means that I'm guaranteed to cry.

Loved these two!

Robert saw this movie in the theatre when it was released and told me that it is one of his favourite movies! It was added to our on demand movies the other day so we rented it. It's soooo good!! It's pretty rare that Robert has anything to say about movies. If it got his vote, I knew it had to be a great one :)

Exciting News for a Poncho Dog!

Okay, I just went to Walmart to finish shopping for home birth supplies and hospital bag supplies (just in case). I needed some wee pads for myself....yes...myself. While in the pet department I found the perfect toys for Poncho!!

It has been a never ending search for the past 8 years to find appropriate sized toys for Poncho that are just as indestructible as the big dog toys. Well, today ended the search.

The Brand: Lil Ruffs

The Logo: A chihuahua with a mohawk...seriously.

Price:$1.97 per toy

The idea: Miniature toys that are just as cool and tough as the ones they make for the big dogs.

Needless to say, Poncho has been spoiled and is currently in the kitchen trying to decide which toy to play with.

Now to find the PERFECT boots...

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I finally caved...I have gained my 20 lbs just like the books told me.

Maternity clothes? Nothing new! Now that I'm off work, I hang out mostly in pj's and t-shirts.

Stretch marks? Still no stretch marks...but for any haters out there...I also did not get the huge boobs that I wanted. And I still have plenty of time for stretch marks...

Sleep: Not good anymore. I consistently wake up with cramping for about 3 hours every night.

Best moment this week: I'm happy that with all the baby stuff going on, I was able to plan a surprise party for Robert's 30th birthday. I really do have a loving, supportive, and appreciative husband. I'm glad that he was celebrated this month before the arrival :)

Movement: No more punching or kicking. More like squished...rolling, and stretching.

Food cravings: I am SO thirsty. I wake up at night parched and crampy :( But Robert is there, ready to offer me a nice cold glass of water :)


Labor Signs: I think it's safe to say that pre labour signs are there. I always thought that as soon as I hit 37 weeks, I'd be trying to get this baby out (even on Friday night). But, I'm okay if he wants to stick around longer :)

Belly Button in or out? Barely in. I have a scar above my belly button that is sticking out more...my belly button will be following shortly.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

What I miss: Nothing

What I am looking forward to: Practicing our coping skills now that I'm not so comfortable :) More yoga...more meditating.

Weekly Wisdom: Have confidence in yourself and just do what you have to do to get it done! It's all about your frame of mind...which takes practice and work!

Milestones: Being 37 weeks! Almost done :) I am really lucky to have had such an easy pregnancy. Everything that has been present has been by the book. i.e. if the book says that I'm 37 weeks and pre labour can start....I will start pre labour the first day of 37 weeks. Or, boobs stop hurting in your second trimester...mine will stop hurting the first day of the second trimester. It has been so good and I have felt energized...even now that sleep is lacking. (Probably will trick me into doing it again...sometime).

35 Weeks!!

How far along? 35 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Don't know, don't care. I do feel a lot better now that the holidays a.k.a. all of December is over. Back into eating a normal balanced diet...not just baking, and back into the exercise...not running around shopping and going to parties.

Maternity clothes? Hello Bravado Nursing Tanks!! Love these...have em in every colour!!

Stretch marks? None...but I'm still sure that they'll come.

Sleep: Holy Charlie Horses!! I experimented yesterday because Nanny McPhee said that they are due to a calcium deficiency. The past couple days I have doubled my calcium pill and started drinking a glass of milk before bed. No charlie horses! I forgot yesterday...and I got charlie horses again last night. So overdosing on calcium it is :)

Best moment this week: I'm done work!! It was bittersweet. I enjoy my job. I enjoy learning something new everyday, and I'm good at it ;) I also have the BEST co workers. This group of friends are so genuine and make me feel fabulous about myself! I can truly be myself around them and the same goes for them. I love their confidence and how comfortable they are being themselves. They support me 100% and I do the same for them. I look up to them so much! They make the job! We had a pizza party, I got another gift, and my friends came to visit me...I even got a couple hugs in there too :) I will miss them over the next 13 months....but I know I'll have way more fun seeing them outside of work! Hello lunches, coffee dates, and of course...shopping!

Movement: Lots! I have a bruised rib. Not from kicking...he just likes to stretch and compress his foot right against my ribs for long periods of time. Although, it eases up when I walk and exercise...go gravity!

Food cravings: Water...love it.

Gender: Okay...so we all know it's a boy lol.

Labor Signs: No...but I do know that my pelvis is moving and his head has dropped...which also means nothing. Ah pregnancy.... everything means something and nothing ;)

Belly Button in or out? In.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

What I miss: My friends from work...but we have lunch plans already in the works :)

What I am looking forward to: Maxin and Relaxin for the next 5 weeks...hopefully.

Weekly Wisdom: Have confidence in yourself and just do what you have to do to get it done! It's all about your frame of mind...which takes practice and work!

Milestones: Ummm....must I mention being done work again?!

Baby Shower!

Last Sunday (January 8th, 2012) was our baby shower!

It was lots of fun and I was fortunate to have two great friends plan the whole thing for me (Josie and Chelsea!) :) It was really awesome to be surrounded by my family and closest friends and to feel all of their support, love and excitement.

Robert and I are still organizing baby clothes into age groups, storing, and testing out toys and baby equipment...which isn't always the easiest to figure out lol. Nothing like being confused setting up a toy for a newborn to make you feel a bit inept lol. But we got it figured!

Anyway, we forgot to take pictures...so imagine SPRINKLES! The theme was "Sprinkled with Love".

That's all for now! I never did post about Christmas...picture busy...packed house...kids up at 30 minute intervals from 11pm to 4am...(I think I was scary enough at 4am because they didn't come out of their rooms again until AFTER me at 7am!) We had lots of fun opening Santa presents and playing with Plasma Cars! Our families came over for more gifts and a potluck...then some boardgames and stories to end the night :) ...and no pictures! One day we will use our fancy camera lol.