40 Weeks (and STILL no baby)

There are so many different websites or apps that have weekly statistic updates on how big your baby is, or what exactly your baby can do each week, and I've subscribed to a few of them on facebook or by email, and I've read many of them, but the last few weeks I haven't read them at all.

Then this afternoon, I was checking my email, and by accident I clicked "next" or something, and one of these updates opened. What did it say?

"Welcome to the world, little one!"

And the evil angry pregnant monster who seems to be creeping up more and more regularly snarled at the computer,

"My baby isn't here yet!"

And while there is a large part of me (a very UNCOMFORTABLY large part of me) wishing that this baby would just magically appear outside my womb without any pain or hard work, I know that this baby is safe and healthy and will come whenever the time is right, even if my calendar says it's "late".

And I'm reminded that there have been so many blessings throughout this pregnancy, so I should focus on the things I'm grateful for, and stop thinking only about all the things I'm looking forward to being done with.




Here is a list (no particular order) of things I can be grateful for:

-This baby is full term. In the past few months, a few friends have had pregnancies end a lot earlier than expected. Some had healthy babies who were born much earlier than expected, but some had babies who didn't make it. I cannot complain about a healthy baby who is still living, even if it means I might wait longer than the normal 40 weeks to meet this little one.

-This pregnancy I haven't had any complications. With Monkey I was hospitalized for 4 nights with a severe infection that caused my face and eyes to swell so that I lost my ability to see for a few days. This time, the only swelling has been my feet, and even then, it's not anything more than a discomfort.

-This pregnancy I've been able to stay active and eat healthy, leading to a much lower weight gain than my first (I've gained less than half this time what I gained with my first)

-I have had amazing, consistent, supportive medical care all the way through this pregnancy, unlike the disjointed and sporadic medical care I had with Monkey, missing the first 4 months because I was overseas, and then being shipped around to 3 other doctors before he was born.

-I have been able to clean, organize, and even decorate my home for the arrival of this little one, unlike the last pregnancy when I didn't even have a place to call a home until 6 weeks before Monkey arrived.

-I have fantastic and supportive friends and family who are celebrating this little one already, and who already are thankful for the blessing we are soon to welcome to this world.

We are such a blessed family, I can't complain when I have so many things to be thankful for. And I'm thankful especially as this weekend approaches (Canadian Thanksgiving) for the many blessings that we have on top of this new baby.

There is still hope that we can meet the baby soon, but I know that God's timing is perfect, and whenever our little one arrives will be the perfect time.

~A

What a Baby Actually NEEDS

In these last couple weeks before Baby 2 comes, I've still got a HUGE list of things I'd like to do.

We've had a very productive week and most of the essential things are done.

I've been working on a NEED vs. WANT list for baby, and I've got 4 things I can think of that are actual needs, and everything else is just icing.

NEEDS for Baby 2:

1. Place for baby to sleep - - - - - - - - -CHECK! we put together the crib last night.

2. Something for baby to wear - - - - - CHECK! all the neutral items we own for babies under 6 months have been washed and dried and were nicely folded until Monkey's nap this afternoon.

3. A carseat for baby - - - - - - - - - - - (almost) CHECK! this is a gift from my parents, and is still living at their house. They have a pink cover for the carrier carseat, but we have a yellow cover here, so we're set boy or girl...

4. Diapers and wipes for baby - - - - - CHECK! I've got some cloth (some pre-folds, some all-in-ones...) and I've got a closet full of bags of disposable diapers which I'm sure we'll go through as well (I found some great deals on diapers, which combined with coupons to really nice prices)

WANTS for Baby 2:

1. A seat for baby - - - - - - - - - - - - - CHECK! (three times over) we found a brand new Exersaucer for 5 dollars that is staying with my parents. We also have a Bumbo seat that has been used by a friend for the past year, and we have a bouncy musical chair that vibrates (also $5, this time at a yard sale).

2. A basinette or playpen - - - - - - - - - CHECK! (on both items) we were given the playpen for Monkey's first Christmas, and we were given a Moses basket from Hubby's Aunt and got to bring it home when we visited a couple weeks ago.

3. A carrier - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -CHECK! We have a Snugglie (sp?) that we got back when Monkey was an infant, as well as one I picked up this summer from kijiji. I would love a wrap carrier, so that's on my "dream gift" list, but I'll be fine with what we have (that's why these are WANTS)

4. Toys/blankets/stuffed creatures - - - -These are items that we don't actually WANT (or need), but we have more than enough and have been trying to give them away since Monkey was born. I think the "go-to" gift for a baby when you don't know what to get is a stuffed toy or a blanket.


This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it goes to show how easily things pile up when there's a baby on the way. There are so many lists out there that have all kinds of extra things listed as "NEEDS" but really you don't need them. Other things I can think of include:

-Breast Pump... This could be moved to the NEED list if you are a mother who has to go back to work before Baby is weaned. I am fortunate to be staying home with the kids this time, so I will not need this item, but it is very important.

-Baby monitor....we have a 2 bedroom apartment... if the baby is crying you can hear it at the other end of our floor.

-Wipe warmer or bottle warmer... these are for the pampered baby... I never even considered getting one

-Matching bed spread set with bumper pads, curtains, sheets.... your baby will not die if he's got uncoordinated sheets... and usually if you get an expensive set, that's the set that will be ruined by explosive poop or vomit... stick with something that will keep baby warm and that fits your budget.

-SHOES for babies... while these are ridiculously cute, they serve NO purpose, so they are not at all essential.

-Mobiles... once again, it's cute, but not essential. When you're changing baby's diaper, the funny faces you make trying to hold your breath and not breathe in the poop smell will be entertaining enough to keep your baby's attention. It's actually better for the baby to look at your face than at some expensive plastic floating object... save the money and invest in your time instead.

-Swings/Jolly Jumpers... these are very useful for some "Me" time, but they are not NEEDS, especially in our case when we already have a vibrating chair, an exersaucer, AND a Bumbo...

-High chairs.... For the first 6 months of your baby's life, she doesn't even need to TRY solid food, so getting one of these chairs before a daily meal time is common will waste your money and your space. If you have a bouncy chair (or a Bumbo) these can be used instead of a high chair, and if you want to save even more space, try the chair that attatches to the table and folds up when dinner is done.

-A changing table... Not an essential piece of furniture. A baby can be changed on any solid surface (couch, the floor, counters, dressers...) and after baby is out of diapers, you can keep all the other surfaces for their intended purposes. We used a dresser when we didn't use the floor, and now it's still as useful as it was before Monkey came along. A very helpful thing might be a changing PAD, but you can always use receiving blankets or towels if you don't have a changing pad.




A baby does not need to break your budget. People who say babies cost thousands of dollars in their first year are insane. It is absolutely possible to spend your entire years salary to have the "perfect" supplies for your baby, but it is also very possible to stick to a budget of only a few hundred dollars and not compromise your baby's safety, and still have all the essentials.



The number one thing a baby needs is love, and as far as I know, you shouldn't have to spend a penny on that. Love your baby, and that will make up for any no-name, or second hand, or mismatched anything in their life...



~A

What I'm Loving: Nesting Edition

It's been months (not sure how many) since I posted a WILW, but I think I've been missing the weekly dose of focusing on things I'm thankful for instead of focusing on things I'd like to change.

I'm loving so many things, these are just a few:

{one}

I'm loving...

...how cute all these tiny little sleepers and onesies are! I forgot someone could be so small. I've washed all the neutral clothes we have that are any size under 6 months. We're waiting on our dresser from my parents place, and we're picking up a "moses basket" and our car seat this weekend!

{two}

I'm loving...

...the suspense of not knowing if this baby is a boy or girl! It's a little nerve-wracking, and there are a few details that really make me second-guess myself on this choice (like the birth announcement, and the 'coming home' outfit) but I think the suspense makes me excited for labour!

{three}

I'm loving...

...nap time! I'm becoming more and more doubtful that Monkey will keep up with naps in the fall, but as for these past few weeks that I've been home, naps have happened most days. I'm enjoying them as much as I can right now, and I've even had a few myself while Monkey sleeps! It's been great!

{four}

I'm loving...

...completing projects that I've had on the go for months, or even years.

I've finished 2 large crochet blankets, one that I started before Monkey was 6 months, and the other probably 18+ months ago. I've also been able to make progress on Monkey's scrapbook (which I'm sure I'll never touch again once baby #2 shows up).

I'm also really loving being able to start new projects. Today I made new crayons out of melting old broken crayons for just a couple minutes in the oven.

Here they are straight out of the oven:

And here's the final product! I love that the green ones look camouflage. I hope Monkey has lots of fun with these, and they were super easy to make, so I'm sure I'll be doing this again.

{five}

I'm loving...

...that this is the first year that nobody in our house is preparing to go back to school. It's strange for me to see the "Back to School" Sales and to know that I'm not going to need any of that stuff. At the same time, I'm thrilled that I get to spend my whole energy focusing on being a mom this year. The past almost 3 years of being a mom I've also been a full-time student, so the concept of being able to focus on only the mom side without having to think about the school or work side of life is nice for a change. (And I know my time will very quickly be filled up once there are 2 kids, not just one)

{six}

I'm loving...

...supportive family and friends. We're making a trip this weekend to go see some amazing friends, and I'm thrilled to be (a) going on vacation, and (b) seeing great people I've missed for months. (Not to mention, we need to make sure Monkey doesn't forget his betrothed...)

{seven}

I'm loving...

...my husband. Sometimes the love is easier, and sometimes I need to really focus on choosing to love, but He's mine for the rest of my life, and I'm so glad that he's in my life.

Go over to Jamie's to see what she and (many) others are thankful for today!

~A

Choosing a Name (from 100,001 to one...)

Is there any more difficult decision to make about a baby than its name?

I'm not sure there is, and I'm really not sure why it's so much harder this time than it was with our first child. We had 3 names chosen (first and middle) and we went with the one we like the most...

This time around, I could almost write my own baby name book with all the choices I've "narrowed down" from the dozen name books I've gone through so far (not joking).

Some strategies used to choose a name:

-Go with a family name: grandparent, favourite aunt, deceased relative of importance
(now my grandmother was Gertrude... is that a good baby name?)

-Choose names that sound similar/have the same ethnicity
(Irish names: Briana, Fiona, Ciara, Colin, Teagan, Quinn)

-Choose a name starting with the same letter as that of your first child
(Conroy, Chandler, Carl, Cora, Camila, Camryn)

-Look for a name with a nice meaning: son of... strong warrior, blessed by God... and so on

(Isabella means "Consecrated to God", but there will be about 6 of them in her class because of Twilight)

-Flip open the book and point to the first name on whatever page you flip to...

(Nazahah? Vandani? Ladislas? Kirabi? this doesn't seem to be working very well)

None of these strategies have helped us much. I'm sure my list is a few hundred names long (and still growing), and there's still nothing that we LOVE or that jumps out to us. I'm not worried yet, but with only 6 weeks to go (I'm 34 weeks along now!) the "deadline" is fast approaching.

I'd love to say that asking for help from family has been useful, but the feedback I've gotten from my mom consists of name suggestions that I've deliberately removed, or the comment "Why on EARTH would you name your child THAT?"

Any suggestions? Name ideas might be nice, but ideas on how to cut down my list would be even nicer.

Right now we're just calling the baby "fetus" because we don't know if it's a boy or girl, but I'm not sure that name would stick very well after he or she is born.

Any tips or tricks would be great, thanks!

~A

Friday Wanderings

Here are a few articles that I've read and really found useful or entertaining:

Ways to Bless a New Mom (from Jessica of Life As Mom)

Also from Life As Mom, Shopping for Clothing that Works

How to Eat at Home to Save Money (a great article for my family! I love saving money!)

and from Giving Up on Perfect: 10 Tools That Make Social Media Easier




These past few weeks have been rough for the hubby and me. I'm trying to work things out so that I can start sharing my story, but at this point it's a little too tender.

There is a song that has been an amazing help to me called Strong Enough, by Matthew West.
part of the lyrics say:

"I know I'm not strong enough to be
everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
for the both of us."

That has been my prayer over and over again. Times when I'm having a lot of trouble, I'll turn on the radio, and this song has been repeated to me.

One Bible verse I read also says the same message.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

This time is tough, but I believe that by relying on the strength I have in Christ, and not on my own strength, I will get through it.


On a positive note, our baby is now at 31 weeks, and we are so close to meeting him or her. My midwife says the baby is "not allowed" to come out before 37 weeks, so I've still got 6 more weeks (at least) of waiting.
We are no closer to any names, although Monkey's selections of "Cookies" and "Candies" are definitely on our "NEVER!" list...

We have a place for the baby to sleep, and a carseat, we also have diapers and wipes enough to last a few months, so as long as this baby weighs more than 5 pounds and is healthy, we will be set for all the baby's physical needs...
As for being mentally prepared, I don't think anyone is ever 100% ready, and I know that even if this baby is born after 40 weeks, I'll still need to rely on God for strength, so whenever God's time is for this baby to come, I'll trust that it's the RIGHT time...

Until next time,
~A

WILW: Mom's Week!

Mother's Day to me has always been right around my mom's birthday (May 12) and since it was so early this year, I guess I got distracted and missed celebrating my own mother.

So this weekend is my planned celebration with my mom.

I'm loving so much about this weekend, and I'm just really excited it's finally so close!

I'm linking up with Jamie, so head over here and see what others are loving this week!

{one}

I'm loving the plans with my mom: Dinner at a nice restaurant, a concert, and then a girl's night out in a hotel!

We're seeing Rainer Hersch, who is a British/German comedian and conductor. I'm looking forward to having an awesome time with my mom as we enjoy his show from BOX SEATS!

{two}

I'm loving the amazing gift my mom and sister gave me of a clean kitchen/living room/Monkey's room... We were so encouraged with their help cleaning that I cleaned the bathroom, and we started organizing our bedroom...

{three}

I'm loving the job fair that's happening this afternoon, and the possibility that I might find a job!

{four}

I'm loving the plants I got last week at the farmer's market, and on mother's day. I'm Also loving the amazing sunshine we've been having, and how I've had my plants outside overnight for 3 nights now, and they're growing!

Planters, some herbs, some tomato sprouts (which all died, so I bought tomato plants), and soil.

Herbs on the left (chives, chocolate mint, lemon thyme, and parsley).

Tomato sprouts in the round green containers.

Seeds I'd like to plant on the right (it's still to early for some)

{five}

I'm loving these new jeans from Old Navy (and that I got them on clearance for $16 instead of the regular price of $42)

The last pair of maternity jeans I got (I think from Thyme Maternity) ripped last week, so I needed new ones, and these are really comfy and have a lot of room for baby to grow!

I don't think this is the exact picture, but they're dark wash, low rise, boot-cut jeans... and they're on clearance so I couldn't find them on the old navy website.

BUT if you do shop right now, orders of $50 or more have free shipping! And they always have great sales. I LOVE Old Navy.

{six}

I'm loving that we get to see our little bean this Friday! Hubby didn't get to see any ultrasounds with Monkey, so he really wanted to come to this one.

I can't believe I'm 19 weeks along already!

The baby has been moving a bit. He/She is a night hawk just like Monkey, so I can usually feel kicks before I head to bed. Hubby hasn't felt any yet, but hopefully he will soon!

{seven}

And OF COURSE I'm loving my amazing Hubby, and my cute, trouble-making Monkey...

What are you loving this week?

~A

~Sixteen Weeks!~

So I WISH that 16 weeks meant I am exactly 4 months along, but then I would end up being pregnant for 10 months, so I'll just stick with the week count... only 24 more weeks to go!

I'm sorry I haven't been posting weekly updates, I started a couple, but with school and exams monopolizing most of my time, I haven't had much time for this blog...

Pregnancy Highlights this week:

How far along are you?

16 weeks

Size of Baby S:

The baby is the size of an avocado!

Total weight gain:

I haven't checked this week, but last week I was still down .5 lb from when we found out!

Maternity/Regular Clothes:

I can still fit into regular clothes, but my chef pants for school are getting too tight to sit down in with the button done up.

I would try the elastic trick, but I've only got one week left, so I'll just deal with the discomfort.

Gender:

We're not finding out. I want to, but if I find out, Hubby will know within minutes, and he doesn't want to know.

Movement:

There are butterflies in there!

I've felt a few slight movements. I've been really attentive, waiting to feel what I remember, and the first few times, I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but I've felt little flutterings!

Sleep:

I like to sleep on my belly, and with Monkey, I was able to do that until at least the half way mark before it became uncomfortable. It's already been uncomfortable for a few weeks, so I've been sleeping on my side.

I sleep well, with a few strange dreams, but I am woken up quite early with the need to run to the bathroom... I guess even without weight gain, I've already got pressure on my bladder from this little one.

What I miss:

Staying up all day without wanting to take a nap.

I was told that the tiredness would go away, but I guess that running after a 2-year old is tiring me out.

I'm trying to cut down on coffee and tea, because while I don't have a problem with having a few cups (I'm not super strict on what to/what not to eat), I don't want to rely on caffeine to keep my energy up

Cravings:

I'm still craving salty foods. I went out to get dropjes (dutch salted licorice) this week so I could get my fix.

I've been really wanting chicken wings, which are not the best health-wise, but at least I'm eating chicken again!

Symptoms:

I've still got some nausea with a few foods, but for the most part it's gone.

I haven't had much acid reflux, just a bit when I do a lot of bending, or wear really tight waisted pants.

My hands are super dry, and unfortunately I haven't been able to find any of the three bottles of my favourite kind is Aveeno. The lotion is thick, but not greasy, and it doesn't have scents that make my skin break out. I've been using it for years, and it is one of my MUST HAVES for my own personal pregnancy list.

Best Moment of this Week:

When I wake up in the morning, and my baby belly is recognizable as pregnancy, and not just too many treats...

Also, I was finally able to schedule an appointment with the doctor at the clinic who will be following the rest of my pregnancy!

Equipment/Purchases for the Baby:

We've been looking for a carseat, but this week, my mom told us that she wants to buy us one as her present to us. So that's, one less item to worry about!

I've been slowly buying baby clothes for a girl because if we have a boy, we're covered, but we've got next to nothing for a baby girl. So far I've bought some sleepers and onesies for different ages, but I'm hoping to pick up a whole bunch of clothes this summer at yard sales!

~A

~Week Twelve~

Yay! We're through the first trimester!

I've got a date for our anatomy ultrasound, but I still have to wait 5 weeks or so.

Pregnancy Highlights this week:

How far along are you?:

12 weeks and 1 day

Size of Baby S:

The baby is the size of a plum this week

Total Weight Gain/Loss:

-1.5 lbs

Maternity/Regular Clothes:

All my tops are regular clothes, and I still fit my normal clothes, but they're getting tight (especially my chef pants for class)

Gender:

I switch all day long whether I want to know or want to keep it a surprise. Either way we won't be finding out for over a month (if we find out at all).

Movement:

Nothing yet

Sleep:

Aside from last night (when I was up all night with a sick little boy), I've been getting lots of sleep, but it never seems like enough, and I'm still tired throughout the day. I've got more energy than I had a few weeks ago.

What I miss:

Cooking and eating chicken without being sick. Also greasy foods like pizza or anything fried...

Cravings:

Salty foods, like cheeses. This week in class we cooked Calamari, and I ate a whole bunch of that. I also enjoyed tzatziki, feta, and olives... (I'm loving Greek foods right now)

I also really like lemons, salads with spinach, and yogurt with granola.

Symptoms:

I sound like a trucker. Pregnant ladies could win burping contests without even trying...

Nausea with a lot of foods (coffee, greasy foods, most meats).

Acid reflux. I had to start taking Tums this week...

Itchy skin. I need my hand lotion!

I'm constantly thirsty.

Best Moment of this Week:

I had a great doctor's appointment, and they said that I was doing great. I didn't get to hear the heartbeat, because they don't have a doppler, but they were happy with everything else.

The clinic at the school is where I've done all my prenatal care so far, but they were going to refer me to a local family clinic, so hopefully I'll have regular care soon!

We're looking for a crib mattress and a new carseat for the baby, because we have pretty much all the other equipment (stroller, playpen with bassinet and change table, crib, toys, diaper bag...). I'm hoping to find some good deals soon. We're starting to stock up with diapers and wipes so that we won't have too many big purchases when the baby comes.

We're not planning on cloth diapering (although I would LOVE to) because we don't have our own washer and dryer, and I don't think I'll be making 3 trips a week to a laundromat when I've got an infant and a 3-year-old.

~A

~Week Ten~

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along are you?

10 weeks and 3 days

Size of Baby S:

Our little bean is the size of a prune

Total Weight Gain/Loss (Since Positive Pregnancy Test)

-1.3 pounds (crazy!)

Maternity or Regular Clothes:

Almost entirely regular clothes, although I bought a pair of maternity jeans which are SUPER comfortable...

Gender:

Don't know, and don't want to know until we get to meet the baby!

Movement:

Nothing yet, probably by the end of next month.

Sleep:

Good, but I can't sleep on my stomach anymore.

What I miss:

Cooking meat without feeling sick, having energy...

Cravings:

Wraps (specifically with hummus, spinach, onions, tomatoes, tzatziki, and olives), yogurt with oatmeal and fruit, milk, orange juice, tea...

Symptoms:

Nausea when cooking or eating any meat, especially chicken, beef, and seafood.

Almost constant exhaustion.

Dizzy and light-headed.

Dry, itchy skin.

Best Moment of this Week:

When we got to see an ultrasound! (twice) We saw the little heart moving! I'm really excited for the next one when we'll be able to see legs and arms!

~A

Wednesday, I Love You!

As always, I'm linking up to Jamie.

This week I've got a LOT to love!

{one}

Today is Doctor's Appointment #1 with Baby #2!

(32 more weeks!)

{two}

Today is the last day before my last reading week as a post-secondary student!

{three}

Monkey didn't cry at all when we dropped him off at daycare!

{four}

I found a $25 gift card for Tim Hortons on the same week that Roll-Up-The-Rim started! Yay for free coffees! (even if I don't win anything!)

Oh, and I've been able to eat breakfast all week without hating food!

{five}

My amazing husband has been spoiling me by waking up early, doing all the dishes, and basically running the house (as well as paying the bills) so that I can get as much rest as possible to grow this little blueberry.

What are you loving this Wednesday?

~A