Coloring Outside the Lines

UPDATE

2011-04-10T08:22:00.003-02:30

It has been forever since I have updated on here. Nobody probably even comes here anymore, but I thought I would post an update anyway. Things are so busy when you have three baby girls and having two toddlers at the same time is not as easy as one would think. I will tell you a secret . . . Did you know that toddlers get cranky?!? I KNOW, I would never have guess either. LOL, just kidding. My precious girls are as sweet as ever, but my middle girl is really feeling her two years these days. Changes are afoot at our house and I guess that is playing havoc with her sense of well-being.

We are moving again. Back to St. John's. But I am glad to be going back. There is more available there for our girls.

Homeschooling is going well. I am planning for next year. The plan is to move to a Waldorf-style curriculum for next year. It is a very creative, hands-on approach to learning and I really feel that my girl will thrive in that type of learning environment.

2010-11-21T20:45:00.001-03:30

Moved and settled in our new home. We are so incredibly happy here, I have no words. We felt like we were home as soon as we set down our boxes.

There are some pics on Family Fotos.

Five Months Old!!

2010-05-30T08:52:00.002-02:30

Baby Girl is already 5 months old! We did photoshoot in our living room. I like the pink background I decided to go with this time.

For the rest of the photoshoot, head on over to Family Fotos and check out our May 2o1o post!

Comparisons

2010-05-30T08:44:00.003-02:30

Here are some pics of each of the girls who made me a mother (these were taken when each of them was a baby:

Big Girl

Little Girl

Baby Girl

Here is Little Girl and Big Girl with their babies

Pics of Big Girl in her nightdress and a layout about that nightdress these were taken somewhere around 2004.

For a LOT more pics, head on over to Family Fotos!

Three Months Old

2010-03-27T18:17:00.000-02:30

I took her three month pics today.

Friday Five

2010-03-26T10:05:00.001-02:30

Big Girl loves to build forts out of blankets. She has great fun building them and then inviting her sister into them too. They play, have picnics, and watch the house from there. It is very cute.

Big Girl loves to do dance or exercise videos for her gym classes. And it is too cute when Little Girl joins in the fun.

Little Girl has fun playing with a teddy Big Girl has had since she was about this age too. I caught her on camera as she was pretending to blow raspberry's on the teddy's belly.

I think I am slightly obsessed with pics of sleeping babies. I just can't help myself. I keep taking pics of sleeping Baby Girl whenever I can.

I can't wait to go to my first homeschool conventions in Gander in May. It is so exciting to know that I am going to meet other homeschoolers, some of whom homeschool special needs kids like Big Girl!!

First Walk of Spring

2010-03-25T10:02:00.001-02:30

It was a nice day the other day and we decided it was a good idea to get everyone out of the house. I was inspired by this to decide that Big Girl and I are going to be working on a Nature Notebook as part of our homeschooling. She was really excited by the idea. We also decided that we will be going on a picnic here in the near future. Click over to Family Fotos to see pictures of our first walk of Spring:

Comfy Homeschooling

2010-03-24T09:59:00.000-02:30

Too much fun

2010-03-18T10:09:00.000-02:30

Homeschooling is going really well. She is just so happy. She ended the day saying, "I love school mommy!" So different than when she was in Public school. One thing I have realized is that she has lost a lot of what she knew when she was being homeschooled before and she has to regain the patience she has lost too, but she is working at it and enjoying it. And that is sooo much better. She asked to do dance shows she saw on cable for Gym class. I decided that was a great idea and dvr'd them and we did them together. Little Girl sat on the floor watching finishing her chicken strips. Then she started sitting with her chicken strips in hand and doing some of the motions from the show. Then she got up, laughed hysterically at our dancing and joined in. You have not lived until you have seen a 19 month old and an 8 year old trying to practice belly dancing! I stood behind them, trying hard to stifle my laughter as I watched Big Girl's spastic version of a Belly roll. It was a lot of fun. We are trying one called, "The Barefoot dancer" tomorrow.

Little Girl

2010-02-25T23:59:00.000-03:30

I have to share about Little Girl. She is just sooo squishously cute these days. She loves books of all sorts and sits down at 18 months old and turns the pages carefully and looks at them. She is mischievous and funny. She climbs into anything she can see and squishes into anything she can. She is determined and if she sees you putting down something she is not allowed to have she comes stompin' charging across the floor on her chubby little legs to get that item before you have a chance to pick it up. She is a problem solver and if she can't get something, she is likely to pull a chair up to it to try to get it or to find some other method that you hadn't thought of. She is just too darned smart for MY own good. She is so happy and bubbly that just being near her puts me in a good mood. She is very very precious and at times seems old beyond her years (or rather her year and a half LOL).

Sisters

2010-02-21T16:16:00.000-03:30

One thing I am really loving lately is the relationship that has developed between my two oldest girls. They are so cute playing together, eating together, and even watching cartoons together. It is really sweet. They adore each other and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Little Girl

2010-02-20T16:18:00.000-03:30

Have I mentioned how much Little Girl adores her Grandfather? It is so cute. She sees Grandpa coming and she comes running, pushing past any other visitors who may be there. She only has eyes for him. She sees him in the yard and she stands at the window watching, calling out to him, and waving.

Here are some pics of her excitedly looking out the window at her Grandfather (you can't tell, but she is yelling out to him here):

Cabin in the Woods

2010-02-19T16:43:00.000-03:30

Have I described (what could be loosely described as) my neighborhood to you? Well let me do so now. My backyard has a balcony, a shed, a firepit and a forest . . . yes a forest! My front yard has at least a dozen trees and across the road is more trees. I have a neighbor on one side and a neighbor across the street and then no one for as far as you can see on my other side. There are about 5 houses that I can see from the end of my driveway and that is it. My house had wooden siding and it really feels like I am living in a cabin in the woods. I LOVE it. I love looking out at the snow on the trees (as long as I am nice and warm inside). I love the idea of my kids being so far from everyone as they play.

Big Girl Ambitions

2010-02-18T16:44:00.000-03:30

Big Girl, Daddy and I were watching a movie and it inspired a discussion about how the girl's mother was wrong and she should let her daughter grow up to be whatever she wants to be when she grows up. We said that girls can like whatever they want to and if they like cars they can grow up to be mechanics or race car drivers and if they want to like Princess's and Dolly's that is okay too. Big Girl declared that she loved singing so she was going to grow up and be a singer . . . well that and a doctor. Hmmm . . . the world's first singing doctor . . . sounds good. I think I can go along with that. LOL

Scrapbook Layouts

2010-02-17T16:34:00.000-03:30

28 Weeks - 7 months - LAST TRIMESTER!

2009-10-18T10:13:00.000-02:30

Well, it seems no one can agree when the third trimester starts, but no matter when they say it starts, everyone agrees that by the time you are 28 weeks pregnant, you are there. And HERE I AM!!! I made it. There has been so much going on this pregnancy that it is just flying by. Circumstances being what they are, we had no option but to move across the province while I am in my third trimester, but even I agree that it seems a little crazy. I am exhausted already.

But we are doing okay. So far I have gained less than 10 pounds, my blood sugar is okay and there has been no signs of high blood pressure yet. So none of my previous complications have raised their ugly heads yet. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Every evening, I sit quietly and feel the baby moving and kicking inside me. I love it. It feels like our little mommy-baby bonding time. It is a lovely feeling that I will miss when it is gone.

Your pregnancy: 28 weeks

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. Also, if your glucose screening test result was high and you haven't yet had follow-up testing, you'll soon be given the 3-hour glucose tolerance test. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth.)

Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS.

Updates on us

2009-10-14T22:39:00.003-02:30

y There are lots of little things going on in our world. Things that are keeping us really busy. So I thought I would do a quick little post with all the updates I could think of:

Homeschooling is going well. Big Girl will stop her work every day and hug me and tells me I am "the bestest mommy ever". Which tells me she is enjoying it.
Cloth diapering is going easier than I expected. I do one load of diapers a day and it is easy to keep up on and her room smells better than it did with disposables.
I am will be 28 weeks pregnant on Sunday and that will put me in my third trimester. I am feeling good. So far my blood sugars are perfect and my blood pressure hasn't gone up. I have only gained 9 lbs. I feel my little one kicking me all the time and Daddy has even felt her at this point.
The plans for our move are going well. We got a great deal on a house to rent. We will be living in Loch Leven and I am so glad to be getting out of the city and so many close neighbours. I love that I will be living close to my Mother-in-law. She is a wonderful lady and I love her dearly.
I posted some pics on the Family Foto Album. Some are of Little Girl walking around the room.

Reason I Homeschool

2009-10-05T21:35:00.002-02:30

I saw this video and was really touched by it. It helped me to remember that even when I am having a rough day, I am doing the right thing by homeschooling my special girl.

24 Weeks (6 months)

2009-09-21T09:46:00.001-02:30

I am 6 months pregnant now. I am feeling pretty good. I mean, I have the normal pregnancy stuff, my back and me knees are sore, but I am coming to a routine regarding homeschooling, taking care of Baby Girl and taking care of the house. My belly is getting huge as you can tell in the pregnancy layout in the scrapbook layouts I have published in Family Fotos (that one pregnancy pic was taking today). I am feeling lots of movement now and I LOVE every minute of it.

Fetal development - 24 weeks pregnant

Your fetus weighs more than 1.3 pounds/ 600 grams. Though she still has little body fat and her skin is thin and fragile, she's now well-proportioned. Her brain is growing rapidly, and she is starting to fill the space in your uterus. From crown to heel she could measure 11.8 inches / 30 centimetres. If you went into labour at this time, however, many obstetricians and midwives would make every effort to halt the progress of premature labour to enable your baby to continue maturing.

You may be noticing faint, red or brown streaks known as striae or stretch marks on your abdomen, hips and breasts. While creams won't erase them, wearing a supportive bra may help prevent or minimize them on your breasts. They are very common at this stage of the pregnancy -- about 90 per cent of women get them. After you've given birth, the reddish or brown pigmentation in the stretch marks gradually fades, and the streaks become lighter than the surrounding skin.

Also, your eyes may be light-sensitive and may feel gritty and dry. This is a perfectly normal pregnancy symptom known as 'dry-eye'. To ease your discomfort, use an "artificial tears" solution to add moisture.

First Day of Homeschool

2009-08-25T14:44:00.000-02:30

So we had our first day of homeschool yesterday and it went really well. We mostly had a fun day of celebration and preparation yesterday and really got to work today. Big Girl had a lot of fun and is still really excited about the whole endeavor.

We started out by making pancakes. For fun, we put some chocolate syrup and some chocolate chips into them.

Then we made our Grade Two sign. She decorated it and we used it with our pictures and then hung it up on our school wall.

While we schooled, Baby Girl mostly enjoyed munching on pancakes and then went down for a nap for the rest of the morning. It was really convenient.

We sat down and decided on the rules we thought that our homeschool should have. Mostly, she dictated and I wrote them out for her.

We took Big Girl height and made a note of it so that we can compare it to the end of the year to see how much she grew over the course of the year.

We took some first day of school pics. It was windy and chilly as we had had a tropical storm the night before. But she braved the wind and stood there in her favorite color to get her pics taken.

You can just see how excited she is to be homeschooling in these ones.

Then we made a poster collage of things she wants to learn about this year.

And here is our homeschool wall. I think we have a good start to it and we will continue to add to it as the year goes by.

Our Ultrasound Appointment

2009-08-12T12:36:00.004-02:30

We are back from our U/S today. The baby is healthy, happy and measuring 18 weeks exactly. Big Girl and Little Girl were there to see the U/S too and Big Girl was excited to see the baby. The Tech didn't get a great look, but she said that if she had to guess she would guess that this is a baby girl. So Little Girl will be sharing a room with her baby sister. I am so happy for my Little Girl. I was two years older than my younger sister, we always shared a room, and we were always really close. I would love that for my girls.

I love that I knew where the baby was. I have been feeling her all up and down the right side of my belly. And when the tech did the U/S, she was exactly where I have been feeling her. When I asked the tech if she saw the heartbeat and she said yes, I cried. I was just so scared that something was wrong with my baby. I am so relieved. My baby really is in there. She is okay, she is healthy, and she has been trying to let me know. I can breathe now, I can feel free to connect with her now, I can love her now.

Check out Family fotos for some Ultrasound pics.

17 Weeks!

2009-08-02T21:38:00.000-02:30

I am 17 weeks today. I have felt the baby move a few times lately. I am feeling pretty well most of the time. I am exhausted a lot, I only sometimes get nauseas nowadays, but my headaches still kick my butt. I wish they would go away sometimes soon.

About the baby:
Your baby is now nearly 5.5 inches/ 13 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs approximately 5 ounces/ 140 grams. Her skeleton is mostly rubbery cartilage, which will harden later. A protective substance called myelin slowly begins to wrap around the spinal cord.

With the help of a special stethoscope, you can now hear your baby's heartbeat. There's almost nothing more comforting or exciting than hearing your baby's heartbeat galloping along. On days when you're worried about how your pregnancy is progressing, hearing the heartbeat lets you know that your baby's developing and growing. For times when boredom strikes and you feel as if you'll be pregnant forever, it can be a pleasant reminder of what will come at the end of 40 weeks of waiting.

Your growing uterus has shifted your centre of gravity and you've probably been feeling a bit off-kilter. Be careful and wear low-heeled shoes.

If you haven't had an amniocentesis yet and plan to, this week is a good time. One perk: You'll get a long look at your baby through the ultrasound scan used during this procedure.

woohoo

2009-07-25T14:23:00.001-02:30

Little Girl just said "mom" for the first time. She was playing on the floor, making a mess as usual, and she bumped her head and started crying and she was looking at me and saying, "Mom . . . Mom . . . Mom . . . Mom". I got my camera phone and I even got it recorded! Now I was ranked after bottle, dad, and ball but I don't care. She finally said, "Mom"!

I Just Felt the baby!!!

2009-07-24T11:16:00.000-02:30

I have been really stressed because I haven't heard the baby's heartbeat yet and I can't see the baby on an Ultrasound until August 12 and I am scared something will be wrong (paranoia due to previous mc) Anyway . . . . I JUST FELT THE BABY!!!! I am so excited. It was very definite, no mistaking it!

I am so happy. It was only one movement but it was a sign that there is definitely someone in there moving around and making his/her presence known. Now if the baby could just keep it up on a regular basis until August 12, I may survive this thing after all!

One Year Old

2009-07-23T18:47:00.002-02:30

Little Girl is one year old today. She has been a wonderful addition to our family. I love how giggly and happy she is. She has a very sweet personality.

So I decided to share some pics from each month of the last year.

Eleven Months Old

2009-06-28T14:39:00.002-02:30

Little Girl is Eleven months old now! I can't believe it. Time has really flown by. She is such a joy to have in our lives, so full of giggles and smiles. I am so grateful for her.

To see more pics, go over to the Family Fotos blog

10 Month Photoshoot

2009-06-01T10:21:00.003-02:30

Finally sharing my 10 Month Photoshoot of Little Girl. She was tired and the batteries on the camera were almost dead, but I think I got one or two nice shots in there. I think they show a lot of her personality even if they aren't quite the way I would have liked them. To see them, head on over to the Family Fotos Blog.

We did it!!!

2009-05-09T07:20:00.000-02:30

I am pregnant! I took the test and before both lines came up at once in seconds! I am so excited and thrilled and happy and speechless! OMG, we did it and it didn't take five years this time!

I already am experiencing morning sickness. Which is surprising because I have never had it this early in my previous pregnancies. I like that because is means my hormones are strong and working their mojo.

Park Play

2009-04-28T14:57:00.003-02:30

We all went to the park yesterday. It was fun. I of course took lots of pics as I always do on our first park day of Spring. Daddy brought bubbles and they were a huge hit. We brought the puppy and Little Girl, both of whom mostly sat quietly and watched the excitement from the sidelines.

If you want to see pics of our adventure, head on over to Family Fotos!

Pics and Scrapbook Layouts!

2009-04-26T10:28:00.004-02:30

I am getting my scrapbooking mojo back. My first project is to do one layout for every month of Little Girl's life for her first year. Other projects I have in mind are: one of her and Big Girl together, Various Layouts of Big Girl as I come across great pics. First I am working on Little Girl's first nine months. Here is my start:

I also did a quick photoshoot this morning with Little Girl as she turned nine months old this week. She had just woken up and was hungry but I got some pretty good pics anyway. Head over to Family Fotos to check out the pics!

When my big girl was my little girl's age

2009-04-12T22:38:00.004-02:30

Recently, I found some old pics and I had to share. This one in particular stood out to me. It is Big Girl at the age that Baby Girl was last month.

And here is Baby Girl last month at the same age (You can't tell, but Baby Girl is MUCH bigger. She weighs more now than Big Girl did at 1 year!):

There are more pics in Family Fotos! So pop on over for a visit.

The Nightdress

2009-04-12T22:34:00.001-02:30

I remember this nightdress. It was so special to me and putting it away after Big Girl outgrew it was a sad day for me. I put it away, but I couldn't get rid of it. I just couldn't. But now I get to pass it down to Baby Girl. I can look at her and see how cute she is in it and remember.

One a side note, I noticed that Big Girl was 2 years old when she first wore it. In the pictures below she is three years old and wearing it. Baby Girl is wearing it at 8 1/2 months old! They are two such different girls!

Conversations with a seven year old

2009-03-22T20:32:00.003-02:30

Big Girl: Mommy, J* revealed my secret. (she actually used the word revealed!)
Me: Oh? What secret was that?

Big Girl: That I love M*, I mean I want to kiss him love him.
Me:(thinking, I will NOT laugh. I will NOT laugh) Oh dear, that wasn't very nice.
Big Girl: I know I think so too. The kids all laugh

On a side note, I remember being in grade one and saying I loved every boy that was my friend. I guess I was just experimenting with the fact that there are different kinds of love. Whenever I have conversations like this with Princess Belle, it brings back all those memories.
__________________

This morning, I was laying in bed, sleeping peacefully and I heard a knock at my door. I groaned. Big Girl knows that knocking on my door wakes up Baby Girl and isn't allowed. She knows that on weekend mornings, she can turn on the television in her room that only has access to kids shows. So I just say, "Go to your room and I will come in a minute to see what you want." She knocked again. I am officially grouchy.

I get up, put on my housecoat and open the door, ready to tell her to go to her room and wait for us to get up. She smiles at me, hands me a glass of Apple Juice and a banana and says, "Happy Birthday Mommy!" (clearly unconcerned that my birthday was 2 days ago and not today.)

My heart melts. I give her a hug, take my apple juice and my banana, give her a kiss, usher her to her room letting her know how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness. (silently deciding to ignore the fact that after one disaster too many, she is not allowed in the kitchen when we are not up yet, she is so sweet and loving.)

I walked back into my room to attempt to get a little more sleep (in vain as it turns out as she did indeed wake up her sister LOL), looking at Daddy, holding up the banana and the apple juice and smile, saying, "How could you get mad at this?"
_________________

Just a note, there are more pics on Family Fotos!

LOTSA PICS!

2009-03-10T22:37:00.002-02:30

If you want to see some updated pics, head on over to Family Fotos!

Big Girl's New Cut

2009-02-18T16:13:00.001-03:30

We decided to give Big Girl a pixie cut so that I wouldn't have to fight with her in the mornings about brushing it. We had been discussing it with her and she agreed that short hair sounded better than brushing through the knots.

I went in with her and got the same cut so that she would feel like it was a mommy and me moment. When we had it done, we walked hand in hand through the store and she was so excited telling everyone we were the short hair family now.

Well, I did everything I could to make Big Girl feel pretty and feminine for school. Before she left we discussed what the boys and girls may say about her new hair, that she and I had the same cut and she knew that I didn't look like a boy and how she looked like the pictures of the pretty ladies I showed her on the computer and how she is just too pretty to ever look like a boy, and how I thought that the new haircut made her neck look lovely and long and how it made her eyes look beautiful. I took pics of her to let her know I thought she was super pretty today.

Dancing with Daddy

2009-02-16T16:05:00.000-03:30

It was a moment caught unawares, Daddy was dancing with Baby Girl and suddenly I was there, camera in hand, intruding on their moment. I couldn't help it. They were just so sweet and loving and I had to capture it for us to enjoy in the future when she is going full tilt and no amount of reprimands will slow her down. I had to capture a few minutes of slow dancing in the living room with daddy, just Daddy, Baby Girl and a whole lot of love.

Conversations at our house

2009-02-13T16:03:00.000-03:30

Here is a conversation that I had last night with Big Girl. I have to say, it made me so happy! (and it made me laugh)

Big Girl: Mommy did your belly get smaller?

Me: What do you mean?

Big Girl: Well, before you looked like you still had a baby in your belly, but you don't anymore. Now you just look like Mommy.

Me: (in my head I am dancing a little jig and yelling woohoo at the top of my lungs) Well I probably did lose some weight in my belly.

Big Girl: okay (runs off to play)

Me: What is her allowance? I need to double it.

Daddy: Mommy, she doesn't get an allowance. Double nothing is still nothing.

Me: Its a deal!

Daddy: Mommy that is not very nice (laughing)

Big Victories in a Little World

2009-02-10T16:01:00.000-03:30

Baby Girl is continuing on her quest to take over her little world. She is changing every day. Last night, while we were watching television, she was on the floor in front of us. We realized she seemed to be repeating something over and over and looking at us. She was very clearly looking at us and saying, "Baba, Baba, Baba" We stopped and looked at her, wondering to ourselves if she was just practicing her sounds or if she was trying to tell us something. I stood up and looked at her and she repeated just once to me, "Baba!" Just to test our theory, I walked into the kitchen and fetched a bottle and held it out at her. She looked at the bottle, smiled at me and repeated victoriously, "Baba!" I picked her up and she began to drink furiously. So my babies first word is baba (bottle). Too funny. It makes sense, she is a voracious eater and seeing as how her belly is the most important thing in her world as far as I can tell, I can see how her first word would have to do with that. She will work on Mama and Dada later. LOL

This morning she was laying on the floor and she flipped over on to her belly. I watched her, waiting for her to do as she usually does which is work really hard to flip back over, get frustrated and then cry. But as I watched, I realized she wasn't giving up. She worked and worked. Then she would lay her head down and rest before lifting it back up to try again. And lo and behold she flipped herself back over. When she did her little face was filled with joy and pride. She was so excited with herself for doing it. I, of course, took pictures of the whole thing.

Now That's Entertainment!

2009-02-08T15:58:00.000-03:30

It is funny how one little person can enthrall two grown people and wrap their hearts around her little fingers.

Last night, Baby Girl was practicing her rolling over. She was laying on the floor and she kept rolling over onto her little belly. Then she would wiggle and squirm and try desperately to roll back over onto her back. Every time she got upset, Daddy or I would get down, show her where to put her arms and legs and help her roll over. After we showed her, she would flip right back over and we could see her trying to put her arms and legs where we showed her. It was so cute. We watched her work so hard, working her little arms and legs. (Btw, the way she was working her legs, was amazingly close to crawling!)

And after a long while of us watching her and helping her, I sat back and thought about how entertained we were by her. Here we had a show on television paused for over 1/2 hour so that we watch our baby try to roll onto her back. LOL

She seems to be growing and changing so fast lately. She is doing so many things so much better than she used to: sitting up to eat, grasping her toys, trying to find and grabbing her toys, rolling over, etc. She is giggly and happy and drooly and squishy and snuggly and she is about the sweetest, baby I have ever seen.

Love

2009-02-06T15:52:00.000-03:30

I feel like these days, my life is filled with love.

Whenever I lay in bed next to Daddy, or sit together and watch shows in the evening. I know how lucky I am to have someone in my life that I love so much and that loves me back. There is a security in that, in knowing him so well, and in him knowing me.

Whenever I hold Baby Girl, I remember 5 long years of trying to get her. I remember how fast time flies by and know that she will not be a baby nearly long enough for me. Every time I pick her up, I put my cheek against her head and try to soak up the feel of her, the smell of her, the sound of her breathing. I try to imprint the feeling of her in my memory for those days when she is running full tilt and I long to hold her close but can't catch her for a cuddle. She is so sweet and cuddly and snuggly. When I look at her beautiful brown eyes, all wet with tears, smiling at me because I came to rescue her from her crib, I smile from my soul. She is such a treasure. I am constantly aware of how much I wanted her, how long I waited for her, and I am overwhelmed by the depth of the love I feel for her deep in my soul. She is a prescious treasure I had to work to get, that I had given up on getting. I know how lucky I am that I get to love her.

Whenever I go into my big girl, Big Girl's room to wake her up in the morning, I look at how beautiful she is growing to be. She is tall, slender, with huge brown eyes and she loves nothing more than to get lots of hugs and cuddles. She is a little love sponge that just soaks up all the love you can pour into her and glows in the light of it. I love the feeling of her little hand in mine as we trudge down the stairs in the morning, to face the day together. I love how hard she works to do her reading homework, and the joy she takes in the stories. I love how she is always willing to drop what she is doing to come and give you a big hug and kiss.

She has imaginary friends. They haven't been around as much since her sister was born, and they have been reduced from four to just one, but she has one there just the same. Daddy called Big Girl into the living room the other day and this is how the conversation went:

Daddy: "Who is Margaret?"
Big Girl: My best friend.
Daddy: Who is Jasmine?
Big Girl: My best friend.
Daddy: Who are Alex and Matthew
Big Girl: My best friends.
Daddy: So if you have so many friends in real life, why do you need to have an imaginary friend?
Big Girl: Well, I play with them when I am outside, at school, or at the center, but when I am up in my room, I have nobody to play with and to talk to. If I had no imaginary friends, I would just be in my room talking to myself and Daddy that would be just silly!
Daddy: Uumm . . . Okay then.

How can you not love a little mind that come up with logic like that?

Time flies by

2009-01-28T09:25:00.002-03:30

Well, Big girl turned SEVEN yesterday. I don't know where the time goes. She has brought me sunshine and happiness for for seven full years now. She is truly the sweetest, kindest, most tender and caring child I have ever seen. I am so lucky to be her mom.

Baby girl turned six months old on the 22nd. She is a full half a year now. It seems like just yesterday she was newly born. If you pop over to Family Fotos, I have have posted our six month photo shoot.

Baby Girls appointment

2009-01-08T12:49:00.002-03:30

Baby Girl went to get some shots yesterday. She got weighed and measured as well.

She was 17 lbs, her head was 18.11 inches and she was 25.59 inches long. She is 17 pounds, and that is at the 81th percentile for weight. She is is 25.5 inches, and that is at the 55th percentile for height. And she has a head circumference of 18.11 inches, and that is at greater than the 97th percentile for head circumference. (LOL, I can tell she has a big head when I put her clothes on. Let's hope she isn't forever cursed with a big head like Mommy)

She did well for her shots (better than Mommy who hates making her Baby Girl cry) and was fussy last night but overall wasn't too bad. She is a little late getting her shots because the nurse and I had some troubles matching up our schedule over Christmas, but she has them now and we are back on track.

First Solid Food

2009-01-06T11:27:00.000-03:30

Baby girl had her first solid food yesterday at 5 1/2 months old. It was two weeks early but she really seems to need it. She did amazing! She loved it and once she figured out how to get her tongue out of the way, she gobbled it down. I am so proud of her. She is growing much too fast! While I was feeding her in from school walked Big Girl. She wanted to help feed Baby Girl so, of course, I had to get pics.

Two teeth!

2009-01-05T12:33:00.001-03:30

Baby Girl has two teeth!! She was chewing on my fingers on December 30th and I realized I was feeling two teeth. They have just cut through and they are a little hard to see, but if you click on it and look closely you can just see there are two teeth on the bottom in the middle. She is still her happy babbly self. I am impressed with how well she is handling it.

Our little family.

2009-01-05T12:09:00.003-03:30

Daddy and I have been enjoying our family. Our girls are both beautiful and bring so much joy to our lives. And even though it took us 5 years to add Baby girl to our family, she is even more special than I could have known. Big Girl is such an amazing big sister and takes great joy in helping Mommy out.

When I was in the hospital having Baby Girl, I got to talking to a doctor about how long it took for us to bring her into our lives. And after a few questions, the doctor said that she felt, I had PCOS. I haven't been tested but after reading about PCOS and all it symptoms, I do feel that she is right. The more I read, the more it feels like I am reading a manual about my body and so many things about it make so much more sense; my troubles getting pregnant, my irregular cycle, my weight, my blood sugar issues, the way my hair is thinnning out in the front, my blood pressure issues, fatigue, those weird little skin tages that keep appearing, those nasty hairs I shave off of my neck and pretend they were never there. These are all signs and symptoms of PCOS. It is such a relief to see it there in black and white. A lot of the symptoms have to do with the way my body does not process carbohydrates properly, it messes with sugar levels, hormones, causes strong sugar cravings and weight issues.

One thing about PCOS is that it does make it difficult to get pregnant, but eating a diet low in carbohydrates and losing just a little weight will help with that. With PCOS weight loss is difficult, but with dedication it is possible. So that is what I am going to do.

Daddy and I have talked about it and we would like to have another baby. We want to add one last addition to our family. We feel that if I can lose this baby weight and get back to my prepregnancy weight, this is possible. And even if I have difficult pregnancies, I recover very quickly after I have my beautiful little baby. I have always wanted to have three children and since we are so happy with our little family, we are going to try for that.

Now given my age and the difficulties we have getting pregnant, we are trying right away.

Introducing Baby Girl!

2008-12-11T23:49:00.002-03:30

Maggie Moments

2008-12-11T14:12:00.004-03:30

As I hold you in my arms tonight, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of wonder. I am constantly amazed that you are actually here, in my arms, smiling at me, giggling at me, filling our loving house with even more love. I am so blessed to have you and your sister. Every day as I start my day, I look forward to seeing your beautiful smile, to holding your sisters little hand, to cuddling you on the couch, to reading stories with your sister. When I look at you, I know why I was put on this earth . . . to love my girls. I was meant to be your mommy. I am good at it and it is truly the most fulfilling thing I have ever done.

I love so many little things about each and every day with you:

beautiful morning grins as I walk into your bedroom
great big sloppy kisses
a little head snuggling into my neck
the feeling of your little body in my arms
batting your long eyelashes over your beautiful eyes as you smile at me
giggles as I tickle you while I get you dressed
the angelic sense of peace as you sleep in my arms
the way you light up when your daddy or your sister look at you
how much more love you have brought to our family

All of those things only add to the little moments I get to share with your sister and that one day I will share with you both:

Having your sister read me stories in the morning, being so proud that she can do it
making cookies together in the kitchen
holding her hand in the morning as we walk together downstairs to face the day
having her run back to the door after she has left because she forgot to give me a kiss goodbye
how proud she is when she makes us proud
waking up to her voice singing in her bedroom
how heartbroken she is when she thinks she has hurt someone
how she is such a tomboy, gathering up snails to play house with them with on the step.
how she is such a girly girl, dressing up in princess dresses and tiara's coming down to show us each new outfit
how the best thing she could think of ever doing is cuddling with daddy on the couch, eating popcorn and watching movies and how after telling us that, we have made that a part of every weekend.

I am so happy with my life. I have a man who loves me, supports me, understands me and means the world to me. I have two beautiful girls who are so happy and gentle and who fill my house with joy and love. Life has truly given me more than I could have ever asked for.

Blowing Raspberries

2008-12-08T19:22:00.000-03:30

Baby Girl is taking turns with daddy blowing raspberries at each other. It is the cutest thing and she is so happy. She definitely has daddy wrapped around her tiny little finger. It makes me smile. I love the way his face lights up when he looks at her and she gives him body shaking grins. She adores him. Every time he talks to me and she is in my arms, she just gets beside herself silly with excitement because she thinks he is talking to her. Hmmm . . . all that love. It kinda makes everything right with the world doesn't it?

The Mom Song

2008-12-07T16:29:00.001-03:30

To make you smile:

The Mom Song from Northland Video on Vimeo.

Baby's first Overalls!

2008-12-03T20:14:00.001-03:30

There are more new pics over at Family Fotos!

Baby Girl

2008-11-28T21:05:00.003-03:30

I love Baby Girl's hands they are so expressive. Even in her sleep, the first sign that something is bothering her is that she opens up her little fingers like she is going to give someone a high five and as she settles down the fingers close back up and the hand drops down. When she grins she either makes tight little fists or she clasps them together like she is trying to pray.

Big Girl Notes

2008-11-28T21:02:00.004-03:30

Big Girl was sitting studiously writing in the living room behind the chair yesterday. She came over with an envelope and handed me this note that she had written by sounding out the words.

In case you can't read her writing, it says, "I love you because you are the best!" Isn't that the sweetest thing! My heart overflows.

Four Months Old

2008-11-23T15:06:00.000-03:30

We had our monthly photo shoot with her little Froggie yesterday. She was adorable, if a little cranky and hard to get to smile.

How alike are my girls!

2008-11-22T06:00:00.000-03:30

She did it!!

2008-11-21T22:54:00.000-03:30

My baby girl rolled over for the FIRST TIME! AND I got on camera. Or rather I got the result! I was so proud I cried!

Well, they fixed it

2008-11-07T18:40:00.004-03:30

They fixed the fridge. It was three days before I could use it and I lost a lot of food, but at least we have a fridge again.

Big Girl is standing beside me, feeling her sister. It is really sweet. She just decided that she looked hungry, so she is feeding her.

Big Girl has taken to dressing up in her room. She comes down in the cutest little outfits. It is really sweet. Lately she has taken to being a Princess. Just the other day, she came down as a Cinderella riding a dragon. LOL

I am attempting to put Baby Girl to sleep without being swaddled tonight. It will probably be a long night, but she is getting too big for her swaddling blanket and she makes me nervous. She is growing like crazy! She is already wearing 6 - 9 month clothing!!

Great. Just Great.

2008-11-02T13:02:00.001-03:30

So we just finishing stocking up good on groceries. I was feeling really proud of how I had done. I mean, we are broke until the 15th but at least our fridge was full. I even got to the farm to get fresh vegetables. NOW OUR FRIDGE BROKE!! Some time over the weekend, it went out without us knowing. In the middle of the night, I went to get a formula for my baby and I noticed that the fridge smelled terrible, and when I stuck my hand in, I noticed that everything was warm! So here I am throwing away milk and vegetables and mayonaise and waiting for the rest to go bad, most of it bought just two days ago. The landlord can't come and replace our fridge until tomorrow some time, so here I sit with my hands tied watching my groceries go bad, knowing I can't replace it for two full weeks. No milk for my girl. No veggies for supper. This really sucks a lot!!

Update

2008-10-27T18:22:00.003-02:30

Nothing too exciting is happening in our world at the moment. Baby girl is as sweet and wonderful as ever and growing like crazy. I swear, I go to bed and she grows 3 inches before I wake! Big girl is doing well in school and really enjoying the year so far. We really like her teacher and that helps a lot.

We bought a video camera on the weekend so as soon as we can figure out how to upload the videos, and get the proper drivers, we may have videos of the girls to share.

We are proud of Big for one thing this weekend. She gave up her bib! She is now a big girl who doesn't suck her thumb with her bib when she goes to sleep! I am so proud of her for that!! On Friday night before going to bed, she came downstairs and said to me, "Mommy, I don't think I need this anymore. It smells stale." And she just handed me her bib! She decided that she wasn't going to sleep with her bib anymore! She has been sucking her thumb with this bib since she was 6 months old and she is now SIX! I am so proud of her for being brave enough to give it up. She is growing in leaps and bounds these days and this is one more step on the road to being a big girl.

Update

2008-10-07T09:33:00.003-02:30

We are doing well here. Baby Girl is sweet as ever and has slept 7 - 8 hours for three of the last four nights. It is getting cold here and Big Girl had to wear her winter jacket to school the last few days. She is getting so tall these days as is Baby girl. I have two tall tall girls. We got Baby Girl measured and weighed on Friday. She is now in the 60th percentile for weight and she was only in the 28th percentile a month ago. She has gone from 73rd percentile for height to the 80th percentile. So, she is 11 lbs, 7 oz and 23.6 inches long. She is very active for her age. She babbles all the time now and giggles. I love to watch her eyes light up when I talk to her.

More pics are on Family Fotos.

Scrapbook Layout

2008-09-29T11:35:00.003-02:30

Click to enlarge:

Journalling reads:
Through the years,
you have held my
hand and guided me
through the world.
You always made me
feel safe and loved.
Please know that
even as I let go of
your hand and
venture into this
world alone, I will
always be
Daddy's Girl

Two Months

2008-09-26T21:02:00.004-02:30

Baby Girl is doing amazingly well. She turned 2 months on the 22nd of this month and I grow more in love with her every day. She slept 8 hours last night and it felt like a little vacation. I swear, I just felt so great to get some extra sleep. She is loving bath time. She laughs and splashes and has a great time. Big Girl loves to watch her have her bath and help wash her.

I am in love with her eyes. She is just so sweet and peaceful and her eyelashes look so sweet as they rest against her cheeks.

Family Fotos is updated

2008-09-19T17:00:00.001-02:30

Hop on over to Family Fotos to see some more pictures:

Eight Weeks Old

2008-09-17T10:55:00.001-02:30

First time in a swing

2008-09-14T19:57:00.000-02:30

Here she is for the first time in her swing. She was so cute first when I put her in there, turning her head this way and that trying to figure the whole thing out. After she woke up I put a blanket next to her for her to lean her head on, and then of course, I took more pics. LOL

Big Girl Funny

2008-09-11T12:54:00.002-02:30

Big Girl is so funny these days. She came down the stairs the other day and asked me, "Mommy, in order for you to have a baby you have to have a seed in there right?"

Deciding it was too late to continue the same explanation I have been trying to get her to understand since I got pregnant with her sister, I took the easy way out. "Yes, that's right."

She nodded her head knowingly, "Okay, then I am never going to swallow a seed because I don't want to have a baby."She stated. "They're too much work. She flung over her shoulder as she went back into her room."

Which reminds me, she has this habit of continuing to talk away as she walks back into her room. Most of the time we have no idea what she is saying, if she wants us to know, or if she is even talking to us.

Another cute thing is that she is convinced that the baby monitor is a two way radio. When she notices that the baby monitor is on and that the baby is upstairs, she will lean over, put her mouth up to the speaker and talk to her sister. She says things like, "Hi baby, I love you baby." and all sorts of things like that. She really is very sweet.

Scrapbook Layout

2008-09-10T11:45:00.003-02:30

We are doing well over at our neck of the woods. Big Girl is doing amazingly well in First Grade so far. She looks so sweet walking up to the bus stop in her cute little outfits and her backpack. I am proud of her.

Baby girl is incredible sweet. She has a little fussy time each evening and she keeps me busy but she is a doll and I find myself overwhelmed with love for her when we cuddle in the evenings. She is just so pleasant and sweet and cuddly. I don't know how I got so lucky as to have two such great girls.

Funny Girl

2008-09-07T16:46:00.001-02:30

Big girl has taken to a new habit that makes me laugh. I try to be firm, but inside I think she is just funny. Every night, I send her to bed with her jammies or her nightie on and tuck her into bed. She is appropriately dressed and comfy. When she comes down later inevitable to ask for a snack, drink, story, hug, or whatever other thing she can dream up of to get out of the room, I am surprised. I look at her and say, "Oh no! We have theives!" She looks at me confused, "We do? Why?" And I look at her putting a look of concern over my internal grin. "I hate to tell you this but they stole your clothes (or your pants depending on how much clothing she has left). Then she looks at me and grins, "No mommy! I got hot, I took them off."

Of course you did. Don't all kids get undressed the second their door is closed? No? You mean it is just mine? Oh well, crazy mommy gets crazy kids, I should have known.

On a side note, Baby girl apparently is in the 78% for height and 28% for weight. So just like her big sister she is tall and slender. Go figure. How did a short, chubby mommy get two tall, slender kids? I have no idea, but they are mine, I swear! I have the scar to prove it! LOL

First Day of School

2008-09-04T10:29:00.002-02:30

Big Girl started her first day of Grade One yesterday. She did well. She was under the impression that there would be toys though. When she found out there wouldn't be, she said, "Well . . . it is okay that there isn't a lot of toys as long as we don't have to sit still and do our work allll the time." . . . . I think she handled the news that there was more work in Grade one very well.

She was was at the bus stop today and then came all the way home from the bus stop to tell me good-bye again. I said good-bye and then asked her if she needed a hug. She said yes. So I hugged her and sent her off to school. Silly girl.

Big Girl is in love with helping with her sister. So much so that she over does it sometimes, "helping" when the baby is sleeping and such. But she is so good-hearted and loving that I just explain that she has to wait until the baby is awake to help.

Click the pic below to view see more pics of her first day of school in our Family Foto Album

First Bath in the tub

2008-09-04T10:22:00.004-02:30

Baby Girl had her first bath the other day. (she had been having sponge baths as I was waiting for the thing you put in baths for newborns.) I decided to put a towel in the tub and fold it up to make a basis for her to lie in the tub. It worked really well. She didn't cry at all. Not even a little bit! I was impressed.

I also took Baby Girl in to get checked out and to get a shot yesterday. She measured in the 73rd percentile for height and 28th percentile for weight. She has gained 2 lbs 2 oz in the last few weeks. She is doing so well. I am loving it. She hardly cried when she got her needle. She weighs 10bls 5 oz now and she was 6 weeks yesterday.

I found it funny that they said she was in the 28th percentile for weight. She seems so big compared to Big Girl. It is effected by her being very tall for her age but she just seems so cute and pudgy to me. I guess that is what comes from having a 4 lb 12 oz baby first.

Click the pic below to view see more pics of her first bath in our Family Foto Album

Big Girl Funny

2008-09-01T10:00:00.002-02:30

We were on the bus going to visit relatives and Big Girl was looking out the window. We passed by the local CBC building with their big Satellite in the front of their building. She looked at Daddy and said, "Daddy, I know what that is used for." Daddy smiled and asked, "Oh yeah? What is that for?" She looked at him triumphantly and answered. "It is for listening for aliens in outer space. Can we go in there?" Daddy trying hard not to laugh out loud answered, "No, we can't go in there, the doors are locked to keep the aliens out." Big Girl nodded her head knowingly and agreed that probably was a good idea.

New Addition!!!

2008-08-31T20:38:00.001-02:30

I created a family photo album to share pics and to store older pics. That way family and friends who feel so inclined can pop over and view pics of us from the past and present any time they want to. The pics go back as far as when Daddy and I got together. I have added it to my nav-bar under the header at the top of the page.

Click the pic below to view the Family Foto Album

Sweet Big Girl

2008-08-30T10:04:00.000-02:30

Big Girl was watching me get Baby girl ready for a bottle and she asked, "Mommy can I feed her?" I agreed that she could and we set her up on the couch. Snuggling her into the corner of the couch, placing a pillow in her lap and then placing Baby Girl and the bottle securely in her lap. Big Girl was thrilled to be feeding her sister and asked me if she could keep holding the baby after she finished her bottle. I said she could for a little while as long as the baby wasn't fussy. After the baby was done drinking her bottle, Big Girl sat there sweetly singing, "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." to her sister until the baby fell asleep. It was truly one of the sweetest moments I have seen in a long time.

Baby Girl

2008-08-26T09:40:00.015-02:30

Sweet Sisters

2008-08-25T16:17:00.002-02:30

One Month Old-yesterday!

2008-08-23T17:58:00.000-02:30

Baby Girl turned one month old yesterday. It is so hard to believe that so much time has gone by already. She is truly a wonderful baby, I couldn't ask for an easier, more pleasant child. As she snuggles down into my arms and sighs and then smiles in her sleep, I feel my heart could get no more full. Big Girl hears her cry and then sings to her and then Baby Girl will stop crying and watches her big sister intently. Just one month old and she hold my heart in the her tiny little hand. I watch her sleep and I know I could get no happier then just right now.

Scrapbook Layout

2008-08-22T17:56:00.000-02:30

This is about the birth of Baby Girl in July, we ttc for 5 1/2 years before we were finally able to have her.

Four Weeks Old!!

2008-08-20T12:27:00.006-02:30

Todays photoshoot

2008-08-14T17:01:00.006-02:30

Three Weeks Old

2008-08-13T12:50:00.003-02:30

Baby Girl

2008-08-11T13:37:00.002-02:30

Does she know that she is only 2 1/2 WEEKS OLD??

2008-08-10T17:38:00.000-02:30

Baby Girl turned over yesterday!! TWICE!! WHILE SWADDLED!! She has figured out that if she kicks one leg and not the other she leverages herself and tips over. She makes me nervous so now we are teaching her to sleep without being swaddled. I don't want her flipping around in there with a blanket wrapped around her. She is doing pretty good now. This morning, she wasn't impressed but this afternoon, she is sleeping away quite happily as you can see in the pic below I just took.

Did you notice the fact that her stuffed toys have mysteriously crept up and cuddled her in her sleep? Strangely, that seems to happen every time Big Girl walks by and sees her sister sleeping in the bassinet in the living room.

Big Girl and Baby Girl

2008-08-08T11:38:00.001-02:30

Baby Girl

2008-08-06T14:07:00.004-02:30

Sisterly love

2008-08-03T10:13:00.001-02:30

1st Doctor's appointment

2008-08-01T19:27:00.001-02:30

Well little Baby Girl had her first doctor's appointment today. She did fabulously. She has grown 2 centimeters in the last week and she has surpassed her birth weight by 2 ounces. She checked out great.

I did okay. My blood pressure still is up and we increased my medication to compensate.

Sleepy Girl

2008-07-30T14:11:00.001-02:30

I have never met a baby who could sleep so soundly once she was truly asleep. She is truly impossible to wake up unless she is ready to wake up. I tried to wake her yesterday to get her to eat because she was sleeping just so much long all day long. Waking her up took some work let me tell you. I tried jiggling her, changing her diaper, taking her outside in the cool breeze, tickling her, and everything else I could think of, and she just slept through it all. I sincerely doubt you will ever hear the phrase, "Sssshhh don't wake the baby." being uttered in this house.

I am proud to say that today she has been waking up to eat much more often. Makes this mommy very happy let me tell you. LOL

One week old!

2008-07-29T14:08:00.000-02:30

SEVEN WHOLE HOURS

2008-07-27T08:58:00.000-02:30

Baby girl slept SEVEN WHOLE HOURS in a row last night!! I went in and woke her up at that point. I figured with the way she usually eats she had to be starving. Besides, I was getting a little worried being the paranoid mommy that I am. And to top it off, I went in and picked her up, carried her downstairs, got her bottle and her diaper and sat down and unswaddled her and had to WAKE HER UP!!! We spent a lovely hour together having her breakfast, changing her diaper and cuddling. It was so nice and now she is back there sleeping peacefully again. I am such a lucky mommy!

My Girls

2008-07-26T10:25:00.001-02:30

Finally Home!!

2008-07-26T08:30:00.012-02:30

I am finally home and exhausted. I just thought I would take a minute and post a few pics. She is an absolute dream. She is quiet and pleasant and so easy. She slept about 5 hours in a row last night, her first night home!!

Update

2008-07-02T17:05:00.000-02:30

I went to my doctor's appointment and they said that they are really concerned over my gestational diabetes. My numbers are high and I still have ketones. So, they are admitting me. They want to keep an eye on my sugar, start me on insulin and have me meet with a endocrinologist. On top of that I have blood in my urine that they are concerned about. I am a little freaked out at this point. I wasn't expecting this. I am to be admitted tomorrow or the next day depending on bed availability and hopefully I will only be in there a few days.

35 Weeks Pregnant

2008-07-02T12:08:00.001-02:30

Well, I am 35 Weeks pregnant now. I can't believe it. I am so happy. I have the nursery about ready, my bag packed, and I feel settled. I have a doctor's appointment today. So I will check on my little one and we will discuss my Gestational Diabetes, I guess. I will keep you updated if anything exciting developes.

You are 35 weeks pregnant.

Your baby now weighs over 5.5 pounds and its crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. Your baby's total length is around 20.25 inches at this point. Your uterus is now 6 inches from the bellybutton and the average weight gain is approximately 24 to 29 pounds.

Most pregnant women begin to feel cramped and heavy around this time and often become tired of being pregnant. Some women feel like they do not have to room to breathe or eat. You should eat small, but frequent, meals and rest as often as you can throughout the day. Your cervix will begin to dilate and efface within the next few weeks to make room for your baby's head to emerge from the birth canal. Your cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver your baby.

This week of your pregnancy your baby's fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of his fingers. When your baby is born, his nails may look long and pointy. Your baby is less likely to scratch himself at this point because of the lack of room in the uterus. Fat deposition will still continue and your baby is getting chubbier and rounder. Your baby's shoulders are plump at this point.

The baby begins to develop its own immune system.

The nursery

2008-07-01T17:56:00.006-02:30

I still have to put up the Winnie the Pooh curtains, I am awaiting delivery of my change table, I have to hang up the Winnie the Pooh diaper holder that is currently on the edge of the crib, and I would like to paint the dresser at some point, but mostly I am done. There is a Winnie the Pooh blanket in the crib and Princess helped me put up the decals and I am sure there will be more pictures and such. But if my baby came tomorrow I would be ready.

Random stuff

2008-06-28T17:12:00.002-02:30

I went shopping today to get some groceries and let me tell you, these days dragging this big ole' belly around the grocery store is about as much as I can take before I am DONE for the day. I was standing in line and the lady behind me says, "You must be so exhausted. I am exhausted just looking at you. When I had my daughter, I carried her all out in front like that too." I smiled and we chatted for a moment. It was nice of her to mention it. And truthfully, I don't realize until I go out exactly how huge in front this belly is. All of our mirrors end at my shoulders so when I pass a full-length mirror I get little shock. LOL.

I am almost done the nursery. I have sorted out all the clothes and the clothes for her first three months are in a dresser in her room and the clothes for her to grow into are in a dresser outside her room, sorted out with only one size per drawer. I am very pleased. All the stuff that used to be stored in her room is out. All I have to do is get Daddy to put up the crib and help me put up the curtains and I am done done done! Every time I pass by her nursery, I stop and look inside with a little feeling of satisfaction. It is going to be sweet for her.

Last day of Kindergarten!

2008-06-26T10:25:00.001-02:30

Here is my girl on her first and last day of Kindergarten. She has grown so much!

34 weeks pregnant.

2008-06-25T11:12:00.001-02:30

Well, I am doing pretty well. Maggie is kicking and bumping me. I am tired a lot but still managing to get some things done. My hospital bag is packed and I hope to have the nursery completely done by the end of the week. I will post pics when it is done. Big girl is going to have fun helping me with the finishing touches. I have a breastfeeding clinic tonight and a prenatal class tomorrow night.

You are 34 weeks pregnant.

Your baby's crown-to-rump length this week is approximately 12.8 inches and the total length is around 19.8 inches at this time. Your baby now weighs almost 5 pounds. From your bellybutton, it is about 5.6 inches to the top of your uterus. Measurements of your uterus vary from woman to woman. You should not worry if you do not measure the exact same as your pregnancy friends or family members as long as you are growing appropriately. When your uterus grows and gets larger at an appropriate rate, it shows that your baby is growing well inside of your uterus.

Braxton-Hicks contractions are going to get stronger and more frequent within the next few weeks. Braxton-Hicks contractions feel like a tightening at the top of your uterus that spreads down and then relaxes. Many women mistake Braxton-Hicks contractions for true labor contractions, but this is rarely the case. Braxton-Hicks contractions will diminish if you get up and walk around and they should not be painful.

Your baby's hair continues to get longer and thicker. Your baby's hair color probably is not going to be the same color from birth onwards, so you should expect it to change in color. Your baby is shedding most of lanugo, but the amount of vernix caseosa is increasing. Your baby is taking calcium from you to lay down lots of bone. Continue to take your prenatal vitamins and drink milk to ensure that you receive enough calcium.

If you were to deliver your baby now, it would probably be called a pre-term infant instead of premature. The only difference is in the maturity, particularly lung maturity. A pre-term baby is less likely to need intensive care because its lungs have developed. Doctors can test lung maturity with an amniocentesis that checks levels of surfactant.

The baby now rests on your uterus and is no longer floating.

Fingernails now reach over the finger tips and the baby can scratch itself.

Crib

2008-06-23T18:04:00.001-02:30

I got my crib!!! I am so happy I could cry!!

Another tooth gone!!

2008-06-22T14:42:00.002-02:30

She was in her room playing in her bed before going to sleep and she came running downstairs and told me that she had lost another tooth. I love her big toothy grin as she loses her teeth. She is just so sweet.

Saturday Stuff

2008-06-21T16:28:00.003-02:30

Big girl is keeping me on my toes today. She "tried" to help herself to some milk today. What a mess!! She has been creating crafts with her papers, crayons, glue, and scissors as well. What a mess!!

She is so close to the end of the year. I can't believe she is almost done kindergarten. I am not ready for her to be getting so big.

Her class is going to Bowering park on Tuesday. That will be fun for her. She loves that sort of thing. I hope to go one day this summer and have a picnic with her.

I am doing okay. I am getting used to checking my sugar 7 times a day and watching everything I eat. I can't believe that I only have 6 1/2 weeks left to this pregnancy at most. I will miss my big round belly and feeling my baby in there. Good thing I will have a new little baby to cuddle in my arms, snuggling her into my neck and just loving her to bits.

Kindergarten concert

2008-06-19T13:44:00.001-02:30

Big Girl had her Kindergarten concert and graduation ceremony yesterday.

It was about the cutest thing I have ever seen. I was so proud of her. She waved at me and blew me kisses at the end of every song. And she did each performance looking directly at me to make sure I saw her. (I about died laughing when she asked to go pee in the middle of the show. LOL)

When they showed a slide show of the year at the end, I cried. A lot. It was sweet to see how much she has grown in the last year. I can't believe she isn't my baby anymore. She will never be this little again.