38 weeks

Weekly e-mail update: He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
How far along?: 38 weeks
How big is baby?: Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek).
Weight gain?: I did not go up in weight this week, I am still holding strong at 26 pounds.
Stretch marks?: Not yet. Lathering up the lotion. There have been a few blood vessels that have popped and my belly button is an outie now.
Maternity clothes?: Bathing suits are a hit this week.
Food cravings?: Fruit popsicles are delicious.
Sleep?: What sleep, I seriously think I am awake 90% of the night which has been making for some long days.
Gender?: We get to meet our son soon.
Exercise?: This week has been hot but I have been determined to get my walk in everyday. The pace has been slower and more uncomfortable, but let's hope it helps this little man out. I have also been working on my kegels, pelvic tilt, squats and the Cobbler Pose.
What's been going on?: I am nearing the end of my pregnancy and I feel like it is going to take forever for his little guy to arrive. I am super uncomfortable, sick of the sleepless nights, sick of the contractions that aren't leading to anything, and I hate the feeling when I bend over to pick something up. Really, doing just about anything lately is uncomfortable...wow I guess I went off on a rant right there. I think the nerves are setting in and I am realizing the not so "fun" stuff of bringing a child into this world. I feel so unprepared this time around. I met with my doctor on Wednesday and things are still on track. Baby boy had a strong heartbeat - Little Miss L. informed the doctor he sounded like a washing machine - and my blood pressure and thyroid are doing just fine. Well, let's see what this weekend brings, maybe a new little bundle into this world? Have a great long weekend everyone!

38 weeks pregnant.

38 week belly.

38 week belly with pregnancy #1.

check it out!

You may remember this post from a while ago announcing that in love with the small things was nominated for the Top 25 Pregnancy Journals over at circle of moms. Well, thank you to all my readers for your support and taking the time to vote because you made it happen! Check it out, we're in the top 25... not too shabby if I do say-so-myself :)

eviction notice

Dear Son,

The time has come, little one, can you please vacate the premises? Mommy has had enough of the heartburn, leg cramps, swollen ankles, sleepless nights, hot flashes, and let's not even mention the fact that I can't shave my legs in the middle of summer! I love feeling you wiggle about in my tummy, but please don't overstay your welcome.  It's more fun out here... I promise.

Love,
Mommy

to do list

Time is running out and the little bean is going to be here before we know it. The hubby and I need to get cracking and check off our to-do-list. Here is what I would like to tackle before the big arrival:

• Buy double stroller
• Pick a name for the little guy
• Buy car seat
• Organize and wash baby clothes
• Finish packing hospital bag
• Find and sterilize bottles ( We bought some for my first pregnancy but Little Miss L. decided she didn't like the bottle and would never take one.)
• Buy a double breast pump
• Cook a few meals I can throw in the freezer
• Finish nursery (carpet, hang pictures)

Fingers crossed we can complete our list soon!!

weekend catch-up

The weekend started off rough. I was looking forward to the hubby arriving home on Friday night - it had been a long week, and I couldn't wait to have some down time with my man. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. The hubby's flight was delayed and then it just so happened the plane broke down. One thing led to another and the hubby missed his connection and was unable to make it home until later in the afternoon on Saturday. 

Well, with the hubby still not home, it was just Little Miss L. and myself. Saturday morning, I stepped outside on the deck to let the dog out and once he had finished, I went to open the patio door to find it was locked. I looked in the window and found Little Miss L. giggling to herself. She had locked the patio door and thought it was the funniest thing. I asked her to unlock it, but she could not figure it out. After a few minutes of trying to coax her then realizing she was unable to do it... the panic started to set in. What was I going to do? The doors were all locked? I did not have a key, and once I looked down and realized that I was still wearing my pajamas I really did not want to go to the neighbours for help. After about 20 minutes, Little Miss L. started to panic as well, she realized after she kept asking me to come inside and I was not able, that something was wrong. So, I started on the hunt. I remembered that I had been cleaning the windows the day before and maybe, just maybe, I had accidentally forgot to lock one when I was finished. I ran as fast as I could to each window with my fingers crossed, and as luck would have it, one was open! I squeezed my preggo body through the window and jumped in. I was in shock, I never leave things unlocked, but for some reason, I was one lucky momma that day. I ran to my baby girl still looking out the patio door for her mom. As soon as she saw me, she wrapped her little arms around me and told me she was sorry. As much as I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, I was just so thankful that nothing had happened.

After a tiring Saturday, I was hoping to have a relaxing Sunday. I woke up early at 7:00am with contractions! I was a little worried that the time had come and I was totally not prepared. I jumped out of bed and started thinking about all the things that needed to be done. Within two hours, I was able to do two loads of laundry, get dinner ready, finish packing my hospital bag, and a few other odds and ends around the house. By noon, my contractions had died down and I realized that maybe it wasn't quite time yet. The rest of the day I decided to slow down and spend some quality time with my family. Our family of three will soon be a family of four and I want to cherish these moments with our little girl before we will have to share our time with another child. We did just that - enjoyed the sun, a yummy bbq, and a low-key summer afternoon...

Little Miss L. enjoying the sun.

How can you bbq without a cold one?

We love our tomato plant - thank you Nonna and Gumpy!

There is nothing like a bbq in the summer- thanks Biba and Grandma.

Little Miss L. loves green beans. We love love love all the fresh veggies in the summer.

She also is a big fan of corn on the cob.

I randomly catch Little Miss L. seemingly practicing yoga...

Look at this flexibility! 

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend!

37 weeks

Weekly e-mail update: Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labour now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.
How far along?: 37 weeks
How big is baby?:Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard).
Weight gain?: I did not go up in weight this week, I am still holding strong at 26 pounds.
Stretch marks?: Not yet. Lathering up the lotion. There have been a few blood vessels that have popped and my belly button is an outie now.
Maternity clothes?: Sundresses are a life-saver!
Food cravings?: Anything cold. I love love love a cold glass of water... the more ice, the better.
Sleep?: I toss and turn all night long. A solid 4 hours is all I am asking for these days.
Gender?: Boy... boy... boy
Exercise?: This week has been off and on. The weather outside has been unbelievably hot which makes it really hard to breathe. I have been working on a few exercises to ease labour. I will share some of them with you this coming week.
What's been going on?: This week has been a busy one again, the hubby was out of town for a second week in a row which means it was just the little one and I. I love spending quality time with my daughter but I do love having a few minutes to myself. I miss the hubby being home for bath and bed time. This week I have been extremely tired again. I feel huge, I am getting to the point in pregnancy where I just want my son to come into this world. I met with my ob/gyn this week. Everything is on track and looking good. Baby boy is still head down, and heartbeat is still strong. I think the hospital bag is ready to go, only a few more items to add. I have started to kick count, as this little one seems to be lazy. It takes a while for him to finally give in and give me a little something.

37 week belly.

37 week belly - check out the belly button.

37 week belly with pregnancy #1.

big sister in training

Little Miss L. has been preparing for her little brother`s arrival and I must say she is doing a pretty good job. I know the months ahead are going to be tough on her, I can only imagine how she will feel when her mom and dad walk in the door with a new family member. This can be an earth shattering experience for a child -they are used to being mom and dad`s number one because that is the only thing they have known and then one day, out of the blue, a little baby arrives who likes to cry and take up a lot of their mom and dad`s time... it would probably put me in a bad mood too! The hubby and I are determined to keep some normalcy in Little Miss L.`s life but we hope over time she will welcome her brother with open arms and remember how much her mommy and daddy love her. In the meantime, she has been working hard practicing how to feed, change, and hold the baby. I know she is going to be such a good big sister.

Practicing feeding her baby.

She is going to be a caring big sister.

things loved so far this summer

I can't believe my little baby is now 21 months. Time is flying by and I am loving every minute of it. Each day, Little Miss L. never ceases to amaze me. It melts my heart to see her discover something new for the first time or the joy that comes over her face when she tackles a task she has been working on for weeks. This summer has been jammed with lots of exciting activities - here are a few of her favourite things loved this summer...

...wearing summer hats.

...eating fresh blueberries.

...making a mess while eating.

...picking flowers, we might have a gardener on our hands.

...eating fresh peas from the garden.

...picking each pea out one at a time.

...reading quietly by herself.

...playing with her strollers - who needs toys?

...making funny faces.

...drinking out of glass with a straw.

...being a cuddle bug more than ever in the last few months.

push gift?

A push gift seems to be the new rage lately... and what is a push gift you might ask? Well, this gift is a present your hubby gets you for carrying and generally pushing the baby out. There are many people out there who believe momma deserves to be spoiled after putting her body through nine months of crazy changes and delivering that precious child. The trend seems to be jewelry, but others are venturing outside the box and giving gifts such as vacations, furniture to finish off the nursery like a glider or rocking chair, a new bed for mom, television (the men tend to say it will keep us women entertained while feeding the baby but I think it might be on their wish list),spa treatments, and even a new car.

This sort of delivery decadence has been around for centuries but only recently has the tradition caught on in the United States and Canada. In England, diamond rings are given to new moms, and in India, dad is expected to present the mother of his child with gold in some form. I am not sure how I feel about the topic. I see it not as a token for hard labour or anything, but just to commemorate the special occasion of welcoming a new human being into the world. What's your take, ladies and gents? How many of you think it should be expected? How many of you want one? How many of you don't really care? Oh, and hunny, don't worry, I am not looking for anything, just merely talking about the new rage...

The number one gift has been jewelry. 

Rachel Zoe received this gift when she delivered her baby boy in March, 2011.

I do have to say I love love love sentimental gifts like this one.

Mariah Carey received this gift from hubby Nick Cannon when she delivered her twins.

there is a first time for everything

Yesterday was a big day for Little Miss L. She might not know it, but yesterday she completed one of her firsts. As a parent, you are always asking questions like "When I should I start my child on solids? When should I start potty training? or When should my child have their first haircut?" When it came to the topic of cutting Little Miss L.'s hair, the hubby and I were conflicted. As you may have read in this previous post, it was a mighty long time before Little Miss L. had any hair, and to think that we were now considering cutting it made us feel a little guilty. Cutting one's hair for the first time is considered a milestone in my books, and of course, it was important for me to save a lock of Little Miss L.'s hair. I can still remember as a young girl going through my baby book and looking at the first locks I had. It was interesting to see the difference in colour and thickness as I aged.

The hubby and I finally decided to give in. I know some of you out there are all about the mullet look, but it didn't quite look right on my little girl. It was off to visit Aunt Teri, who happens to be a hairdresser. We were not sure what reaction we might receive once our little girl was sitting in the chair. Would she be frightened by the idea? Would she freak out? Would she like the idea because of all the attention she was about to receive? Well, I have to say there was a range of emotions as we went from frightened, to "This is kind of cool!" to "I don't like it" and then finally "This isn't so bad." I thought I was going to have a hard time as well, watching those precious locks fall to the floor, but surprisingly enough, I did just fine. My little girl is growing up fast and has checked off one more milestone.

  Thanks Aunt Teri !

What are you guys planning on doing?

Bye, bye mullet!

Seriously, what is happening right now?

This is taking longer than expected.

Okay, this isn't so bad.

Yeah, I look pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

36 weeks

Weekly e-mail update: He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position.
How far along?: 36 weeks
How big is baby?: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long.
Weight gain?: I have gained 26 pounds thus far.
Stretch marks?: Not yet. Lathering up the lotion. There have been a few blood vessels that have popped and my belly button is an outie now.
Maternity clothes?: I have to say that I have been pretty lucky this pregnancy. I have not purchased any maternity clothing. I only purchased a few things with pregnancy #1 and have been able to re-use this time around. In both of my pregnancies, I was larger in the summer months and was able to wear sun dresses and bathing suits.
Food cravings?: This one really came out of left field but I love love love radishes this week.
Sleep?: I think my body is preparing me for the sleepless nights ahead. I toss and turn, have heartburn all night and let's not mention the leg craps!
Gender?: Can't wait to meet my son.
Exercise?: I have been going for my daily walks, even though it seems to bring on the braxton hicks contractions I still push myself to go.
What's been going on?: This week has been a busy one. The hubby was out of town, so it was just Little Miss L. and myself. Let's say that carrying around a 30 pound toddler is not what my back was hoping for. I happened to pull something back there, and things have not been good since. I definitely have felt extremely tired in the last week or so and I am hoping to pick up some energy somewhere and fast. I met with my ob/gyn this week, and everything is looking good. It is always great to hear the little man's heartbeat and I can't believe I only have a few weeks left before I will be holding him in my arms. We are still on the name hunt. This time around it has been so difficult to find a name that I am really passionate about. I don't want something too popular, but by the same token I do not want something that it too unique either. I think I have been stressing too much because I have been waking up in the middle of the night panicking that my poor boy will arrive and we will have no name. My goal this week was to start packing mine and the hubby's hospital bags but it hasn't happened yet... it is now this weekend's goal.

36 week belly.

36 week belly with pregnancy #1.

enough said...

birthday boy

It seems like just yesterday that my little brother was running around in a diaper - now he is changing his little niece's. I am so proud of the man he is becoming and I could have not asked for a better brother to have by my side. For the last several years, we have been on different continents and only had the chance to see each other a couple times each year. Now we have both moved back home, and I love love love being able to spend time with my little brother again. He now also has one little girl who looks up to him and talks about her uncle non-stop. Enjoy your day and remember how much you are loved. Happy Birthday!!