Too Early for Countdown?

It might be too early for a countdown. We have about 67 days until we meet this little guy if everything stays on schedule. I have about 35 working days left at the office. Then I will be taking two weeks of vacation before welcoming our son.

Again if all things stay on schedule. I could say that any child of mine would most likely come early - because our family epitomozies that being "on time" is actually late and that early is the only option in life. But then you need to mix my genes with my husband's genes who....let's just say is not as "on time" as he could be. Now he's definitely gotten a lot better in the few years we've been together. I've definitely brought him around to the side of thinking that believes that lateness is disrespectful to the people you're meeting or the appointment you're supposed to be at and that our time is just as precious as theirs so we should respect that. So that being said, this little man knows what family he's going to grow up in, so he should start off on the right foot....a few days or a week early would be great...but not too early - he needs time to get big and strong...(but not too big!)

But that all being said, I am definitely on a countdown watch. I am getting excited to meet this guy so far it's been a long 30 weeks and I hope the next two months go by really fast.

So let the countdown begin!

Nurser-iffic!

Yesterday our daddy-to-be painted our son's nursery. It's not finished yet as we have some decorative touches to add to the room - but the colours are done and the furniture is all set up. We definitely went back and forth on what to paint and what tones/shades to paint once we selected our final colours.

Poor S wasn't sure if I'd like it or not as he painted while I was at work, so I was definitely apprehensive about what it would look like. Our chosen colour scheme? Brown and blue. By the time I got into the room to see it, I was very surprised! I think it looks quite nice! Yes - it isn't 100% exactly as I thought it'd be, I thought the brown the would be much deeper/richer....but all-in-all it's a pretty snazzy room. The husband has NEVER painted! It's like he's lived under a rock....but for a first time painter - he's done very, very well! I love it. We love it.

Here are some pics for you!

An overview shot of the room....looks smaller than it is! 

The crib...looks ready for our son...

A cozy chair for rocking/feeding and of course the much needed change-table

Can't see the colours here, but good light coming in from the window....a great place for baby boy to grow up!

The blue and brown look really good together and for some reason the pictures make the nursery look much smaller than it is - probably because I've cornered the dresser or something...but once we add some fun bits to the walls and get some great curtains (maybe a habs pillow or two....) it will look fantastic!

Thankful Part Deux.....

 

The hubby and I...on a beautiful Thanksgiving weekend.....! 

Another belly shot!

Time for Thanks.....

Thanksgiving has come and gone and I have many things to be thankful for:

• A wonderful and amazing husband who is not only my partner in crime, but my best friend and who I know will make an excellent father.
• And he does laundry!
• A healthy and loving family - I am truly blessed to have such wonderful parents and siblings that mean so much to me and have shaped a large part of who I am.
• Nieces and a nephew who think we are the bee's knees -  both S and I enjoy being so close to a few of them and wish we had them all close by.
• A new niece on the way! We will be welcoming a new addition in March as S's sister is also pregnant and we all couldn't be more happier for her and her husband.
• Aside from a few bumps in the road, a healthy pregnancy and a little guy who I already adore and who has stolen my heart.
• Days off that allow me to rest because I've grown to an uncomfortable size and with 10 weeks to go...I'm bound to just get bigger!
• A job I actually like and am invested in and will probably miss it as I will be on maternity leave for the full-year. 
• An extended family of in-laws that just add more love and support to my life. 

While there are many more things in life that I am thankful for, these are just but a few. I was hoping to write a much longer post, but today was a difficult day. I was feeling uncomfortable and exhausted and under the weather. S was once again a true gem as he took care of me and did his best to make me feel comfortable with back rubs and water and time to myself. (Although he probably enjoyed the afternoon to himself as well!) And I am of course thankful that he wrote such beautiful things about me, it really brightened my day and gave me the pick-me-up that I needed. S always makes me feel so appreciated and I hope he feels the same in return.

I hope this reminds us all to be thankful for what we have and not focus so much on what we don't.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Knowing What You've Got

So this is officially my second post on the blog, which some would say is a shamefully low number. And really, I guess it is. It's not that I don't care about it; it has become a wonderful record of our first pregnancy and potentially a very neat piece of history we can one day share with our son. Rather I think that I occasionally think to myself that my better half is more suited to these things and I'll leave it to her to document our journey. I take it for granted that she'll do it. I take her for granted that she'll do it.

It sounds terrible but I suppose it's all too easy in any relationship to not fully appreciate what your partner does for you. And when pregnancy comes along and most of the focus shifts to that member who is to come, then perhaps (sadly) it becomes that much easier to lose sight of those things. So, 28 weeks in and entering month number 7, I'd like to take an opportunity to let our readers know, and let our future son to know, why his mom is awesome.

First, my wife is incredibly empathetic. It is one of the qualities which I admire most about her. It manifests itself in ways that make me laugh - like tearing up when watching people on reality shows talk of struggles they have - and ways that make me smile - like never passing someone who is collecting for something without trying to find some change for that person. When I find myself not getting why someone feels the way they do, she understands it intellectually and emotionally. And it's those emotions which will serve her well as we raise our son.

She's very loving. Now calm down.. this is a PG blog here! I mean that she's incredibly warm and caring. Now that doesn't mean that 28 weeks of pregnancy have been rainbows and unicorns for her. That much change to anyone's body is bound to cause a few moments (and truth be told, I've probably caused a few of those moments myself!), but I know how much she loves me and how much she already loves our son. I see it as she talks to him at night and I see it as she arranges his room in the day. Babe, I love you very much and I can't wait for you to get the opportunity to finally hold our baby boy. If the measure of a person is how he or she cares for and about others, then she indeed a great person and I believe will be a great mom.

And then there's all the motherly stuff she already does that doesn't get the attention it deserves. Those that know me probably would have to admit (if forced at gunpoint) that I can occasionally be a little bit lazy around the house. I do my part, and when it strikes me I can be a whirling dervish of cleaning and cooking, but the constant force for keeping the three of us going around the house is most certainly her. So for all the times that she is cooking supper while I'm not paying attention, let me say thank you and thank you on your son's behalf too!

So if there is someone in your life who, when you stop to think about it, you are truly blessed to have, let them know it. I know it, and I wouldn't have anyone else. Our son is already a very lucky boy and I hope that he grows up to appreciate everything about his mom that I do and more.

- devoted husband S

Mr. Hicks & Husband Quirks

Mr. Braxton Hicks has made his appearance. At least I think that’s what it is. Having never experienced this before, I can’t be sure. The doctors and the books all tell me that these type of “hicks” as I like to refer to them can start any time after 16 weeks, but most often after 25 weeks.

And so it begins. It actually feels quite weird. It’s a weird tightening sensation that causes some uncomfortable cramping and then subsides after about 30-60 seconds. I can’t say it’s painful; it’s more annoying and almost sore and seems to pass quite quickly. On the other hand it’s just another one of the many reminders that there is a squiggly, live, human inside of me. And in 12 short weeks he'll make his appearance.

Little man is definitely tiring me out. This past Saturday I'm pretty sure I slept 18 hours. And then went to bed at 9pm and slept until Sunday morning. Life feels exhausting. I can only imagine how it will feel in 6-8 or 10 weeks! The husband and I will take a walk and after about 1/2 an hour I am ready to pack it in and be home with my feet up...I remember all these women saying how exhausting it will get, but I always assumed that while yes, I'd be tired, I didn't think I'd be this tired.

So now we wait, hopefully Mr. Hicks and his partner Braxton stop showing up because just in the span of the day it took me to log onto this site and write up a blog entry, I've probably had 4-6 of these friendly reminders - or as the books like to say "preparing my uterus for labour". I don't really think you can fully prepare my uterus or cervix for the labour process - it doesn't know what its in for....and frankly it's perfectly fine if the whole system needs to wait until the end of December for it all to happen. I was never good at practicing things to begin with...I don't think I need to start now.

Oh and side-rant, the other day the Husband and I were in a store and he began questioning me on the merits of a nursing pillow. You ever have one of those moments when you're looking at your partner and thinking "really?" "Really"? You non-pregnant one, who will never know how fat, gross, heavy and pregnant I feel are questioning me about a $20 nursing pillow and why I just can't hold the baby while breastfeeding? And how maybe, just maybe these are useful little things....?" He just kept saying "I just don't get it....". And he had those big doey eyes that are so darn cute, but yet I couldn't quite convince him of the merits of this item.

And I, who recently vowed to practice patience so that I will be a calm and patient mother, did not punch him in the gut. Now that's love!

And then I put the nursing pillow on the registry. It was a win-win for both of us and I still don't think he gets it.