Little Big Girl

     We're a week away from being 8 months old. There are so many smiles from this little girl that I can barely contain my love for her. Every day, I see so much growing up in her.
     She loves to stand and crawl. If there is something she wants and isn't supposed to have, she can crawl super fast. She recently has started to growl at everything - mostly the kitties. She's even taken a few steps while holding onto fingers or a laundry basket.
     Yesterday morning, we had a lovely play date with a friend that moved to Ottawa. Kaelynn played with a most adorable 11 month old girl. Daddy was even social, and this was his first time watching his daughter interact with other babies. "She's a good little player", he said after everyone was gone home. During the visit, we received a walking toy. She loves it. She plays with the knobs and spinners on the front, even if she still is too short to walk with it (that's what laundry baskets are for).
     Speaking of laundry baskets, they are the best baby toy ever. They make boats for when they decide the floor is lava and don't want to be put down. They are walking tools. Flip them on the side and they are caves. Place a blanket under the meshy part and the child is confused and determined to get the fabric. Plus, they are awesome for bath time, when you don't want to worry about your kid falling over or toys escaping.

     Hallowe'en is coming up and mommy loves dressing up and making things. I got crafty and made her 2 costumes. She will be a Moogle and a mermaid. I purchased an H&M suit and added my own details of wings, larger ears and a pom pom. I crocheted the mermaid costume (tail, bra, netting hat with starfish). For her 8 month photos, she is going to be fully dressed up.
     With Hallowe'en approaching as well, we have a move coming and are looking for some place to go.

Sept 21st, her grandpa John passed away from cancer. We are looking for some place to house us 3, sister in law and their dads BFF (who is basically family). We've already started packing yesterday, until we ran out of boxes. Kaelynn slept the whole time. We'll see how the rest of packing goes. 

Personality in Pictures

Play date pictures

      The fabulous Allie over at Dear Darling Baby took some snaps of Kaelynn while having a play date at the park. My little girl is full of personality.

5 Months Old

     Five months already. Pretty soon she is going to be all grown up, but I won't think like that.
Kaelynn is getting to be such a big girl. Even in her 5 month Mommy picture, she looks big.

     She is increasingly becoming more vocal & more personality is growing. She has become WAY more interested in food, but I'm waiting. She's getting to the staring/grabbing/angry/feed me too stage. As her Aunt Sarah said on Thursday (while eating Menchie's), "she's making me feel bad". She's been playing with her new Munchkin spoons, and sometimes even gets the right end in her mouth. She hates when it's empty, so when it's time for homeopathic allergy "meds", I place a small bit on her spoon.

     Her sleep has definately changed in the last little while. Recently, she has been trying to roll from her back to her front, and this has carried over into sleep. I lay her on her back to sleep, and she will roll over half way, wake herself up and have a freak out. She's also got the skills now to pivot herself. I place her in the bed facing in one direction, and in a few minutes she will be the farthest thing away from the first position.
     For the past 2 nights, I have brought back the bassinet and she's been in there. She JUST fits. Lastnight, she was in there until 4am, but then from 4-9am, she was in bed because she didn't want to be in her own bed/or tired me didn't wait long enough to put her down.

 

 

     She's become to get more interested in her toys. I was at Toys R Us picking her friend up a birthday gift, and of course we had to walk out with something for her. I got her an OBall. She loves it. I also got her a rattle a few days ago, and she's just getting into that too - with lots of head smackings.

 

     As in the previous Torticollis post, she now is able to sit by hersel unassisted for a little bit. She is even able to sit up, and not in a tripod position. I am always close by, but it makes me happy - even if sometimes she almost topples over on top of Bandit.

     There are the beginnings of tooth nubs in her gums too. Tiny teeth for a tiny baby. Yet, they cause her big stress. I feel so bad that I can't really do anything to help her. She doesn't like her teething toys, she spits out fingers now, teething homeopathic liquid doesn't seem to help. I am so glad that adults don't remember teething.

 



    ...and now for a touch of cute...I love making cute lil baby leg warmers now, pity it's Summer time.

4 month doctors visit

 

     Yesterday was Kaelynn's 4 month check up/shots. In 2 months, I think she has gained a lot.

At 2 months she was 8.95lbs (4.06kg)/21.5in (54.5cm) and yesterday she was 11.81lbs (5.36kg)/23in(60cm). She took her oral medicine no problem and was a happy go lucky baby this time around. No banshee screams until her needles, which she took like a champ.

     She has diaper rash, but it's clearing up and the doctor said that it's not as bad as it could be (I know this because I Google Imaged it). We also think that she could have seasonal allergies like her daddy. She claws at her face on high pollen days, so we were told to give her saline tear drops (the red eye drops are the vaso-constrictors) - easier said than done.

     By the time her appointment was over, she was not impressed. I hit her up with a shot of Camilla to try to help. We had other places to go.



      After making a quick stop to Canadian Tire to pick up English instructions for our Baby Bullet (they were just going to photocopy the whole book, thankfully the guy just  gave it to me or I would have flipped), we went to Montana's for a day late Father's day with my dad. From there it was picture time!
     We went to get her Milestone's picture done at Sears. The lovely Tiffany provided Kaelynn with a new outfit for her pictures. Above are some of the outtakes I took a picture of. She only had one mini melt down. The picture I chose is most adorable, I can't wait to get it in a few weeks.

     This past Sunday was Jake's first Father's day. He got the whole day to do what he wanted -play Xbox and play with baby. I made him French toast dumplings for breakfast and then we had lasagna for dinner. After dinner, we took a walk downtown for some sort of dessert. We chose to go to McCafe for their new frappe drinks. The Vanilla Chai one is amazing.

      Today I have an angry girl. Grunting, crying when put down, fingers jammed in her mouth. The only thing to stop her is boobs, but she can't be latched on all day Feeling her head, she feels kind of warm, probably from her shots - cool bath time & snuggles- then Mama needs to clean, laundry, get the diaper bag ready for swim tomorrow.

Miss Rollie's Update

Picture from our Picnic

 

     Lastnight was hard. Kaelynn went to bed, but it wasn't easy. In the end, we slept on the couch again. From 8:30pm, she was up every hour. Around 11, I decided to give up on putting her to bed and got cozy on CouchTopia. She quieted right down and went to sleep. Until, she was sleeping and let out the creepiest cry/scream I have ever heard from her. She sounded like a cat being stepped on. Thankfully, she only did it once, but it freaked me out.

 

     Thursday, she had her second physio appointment. Things are looking good. She is still tight when it comes to turning her neck, but she is doing it more often. We learned a new hold for her neckercise. I hold her and pin her shoulders with my elbow, I have to try to convince her to look right and than finish the rotation of her neck. For her left side, same hold. I tilt her and make her ear go to her shoulder. For the baby's righting movements, her left side tries to right to the center when tilted, but when it's her left, she just dangles. Work those baby muscles!

 

     Speaking of working her muscles; yesterday while Daddy was at the dentist, Kaelynn decided she wanted to roll over again. This time, I was able to take pictures because the electronics were cooperating.

    

 

    

A rolling good time

      At 3 months and 1 day, Kaelynn rolled over from tummy to back. I admit it. I cried. It was a total shock. I placed her down on her Baby Einstein mat and looked away for one second, literally, to get a drink. I look over and she's on her side, squirming. I left her turtling for about 5-10 minutes, cheering her on. Her left arm was stuck under her for the majority of the time, but it was worth it. She rolled over and was a grumpy, accomplished baby. I had happy tears!

 

 

     I am sure neckercise is helping, even if she dislikes it. Thankfully, she is only screaming half the time now. I took picture proof that she can look to the right with her whole head, instead of cheating like she usually does. She has become a pro at using just her eyes or wiggling her body to look at something right.

     She has been showing more interest in her toys now. I am making sure she has a different one to hold and touch, so she can get her tactile senses up and running. Yesterday, a friend and I took Kaelynn out to Lemoine's point for a picnic. She got more sights and sounds into her, and even laid in a bed of dandelions (a dumb thing to do as I had to OxyClean her clothing).

 

     She's been sleeping good lately. Her bedtime schedule is (bath sometimes), bed time diaper, lotion, neckercise, feeding, sleeping on me until she's really out, place her in her bassinet with her mobile and night light, and walk away. She's in bed between 8-930pm every night and usually sleeps until 1 or 2 am. From there, we go to the couch to feed her because it's more comfortable for me...but then I usually fall asleep with her in my arms.

     Kaelynn is all cozy in her bouncy chair with hiccups, sucking on her hands. I am going to take this opportunity to take the clear polish off my newly cut claws, and work on my cuticles. We have to get her ready to go out and pick up her Birth Tree. Huzzah! She's getting a lemon tree! <3
     I was looking online lastnight for a family ring and dear lord, those things are pricy. My current ring was $80 incl taxes. The rings I saw were about $180...*shock face*

Ultrasounds

 

     Today Kaelynn had the ultrasound of her throat & hips. A 9:30am appointment- early for us.

     We get there and I am thankful that the tech had a student for 2 reasons. 1, she explained everything she was doing and everything on screen. 2, there were extra hands to hold Kaelynn's leg how it had to be, while I tried to keep her calm.

     All in all, it was a good appointment and everything was good. She was called "the perfect patient" at the end of it. Her hips were at 70% angles, and anything over 60% is good. Her sternocleoidmastoid on the left side of her neck was perfectly straight, the right side was just a jumbled mess -but we're stretching it multiple times daily.

     The tech was a 40+ year old woman & she was really impressed with the cloth diapers, we had a discussion. When she had babies, she cloth diapered. Only at that age, hers were velcro and she put plastic covers over them- mine were pocket snappies. She liked the plain blue one she had on, but was even more excited when she saw the polka dot AMP diaper I brought out to change her into & the spare cow print AMP in my bag. I am sure the student tech was wondering why we were so excited.

 

     Afterwards, we went to Neil's Flowers in Sydenham on the hunt for a citrus tree for my baby. I am seriously into having a birth tree for her. They called the distributor & couldn't get orange trees, so I will be getting a mini lemon or lime tree. He told me the price and it seemed reasonable - under $100 by far.

 

     McDonald's was for lunch. It's McHappy day. We even brought Jake a Big Mac, half my fries & an iced coffee. It's not healthy, but the money goes to a good cause (we stayed at RMH when CHEO fixed my lil bro's lazy eye when he was a baby).

 

     Baby is nursing & im going to attempt to paint my toes when she's milk drunk. Mother's Day is this Sunday. It will be my first, so then I will post my handmade presents. Kae and I have plans to go to the market at the Memorial Centre since it's the opening day of the season. YAY!!

 

*****

     Off topic of the ultrasound, yesterday we went to the mall to have her 3 month pictures taken by a friend that works at Sears. We took the bus as I don't drive, so it's nothing new for us to be on the bus.

The A/C was up high and the driver was driving crazy. I always stand so people who need to can sit at the foot of the stroller (I brought the stroller because I was going to pick up 8L of chocolate milk for $8 on the way home), I had to hang on for dear life going around corners.
    Kae and another young baby, 6 months or younger, started to cry about half way to the mall. Both of us mothers were trying to calm our kids, because we know a crying baby isn't all that pleasant for anyone. The driver,not so politely, basically told us to "quiet the babies".

     The one mother took her kid out of his stroller, which to me seemed unsafe. I stuck my finger in Kae's mouth.

     Once I got to the mall, I called in a complaint. It's not like she's 6 and understands what "quiet" means or is older and swearing up a storm...they are BABIES.

Happy 2 Months

  

 

     Congrats kiddo! We have kept you alive for two months! Today is your 2 month birthday and you get a fox hat.

    

     Lately, she has been getting a bad case of the Angries and Screamies. I have no idea what to do. It seems like everything we try to do does not work. She's clean and dry. She's not cold or hot. She's been burped. She's been cuddled. She had a bath. She has been bounced. She's been fed. Nothing but screaming. The best part is it comes out of nowhere. There's nothing I can do sometimes but just to put her down and still hold her hand. I am hoping it's a growth spurt. Otherwise, she's a freakishly happy baby. I think it's because she's not napping. She will be awake and just stare, she's even been awake on bus/stroller rides now. Her poor eyes are getting baggy, puffy, and red.

 

     Yesterday, we went to a consignment sale and picked up a Snugli so Daddy can wear her. She doesn't like it yet, because her legs dangle instead of folded in, like with her wrap. With use, I hope she likes it. While there, I noticed a lack of baby hats at the booths. I know baby hats are all over the place, but I would like to think that I could be able to make some extra money by selling some hats. If I could make at least one a day, then by the end of the year, I should have lots. A whole army of hats is my goal. Now, I am seriously wondering if people will buy them.

 

 

     On Thursday, she goes in for her 2 month doctors appointment. I am worried about her height and weight. Hopefully, they look at her neck lump, since her ultrasound is a month away still.

 

     She is a lover of Bath Time, even Emergency Bath Time. She is starting to drool lots. She is starting to become Mrs. Grabbyhands and interested in everything. She is starting to fit in her cloth diapers better, even if some of them have giant leg gaps still. She has super neck control. She is still hating Tummy Time and has not rolled herself over. She won't burp if you try, but leave her alone & she's like a trucker. She's going to be super independant like her mama.

 

 

Blurbs from the Boyfriend

"She's moody because she's a girl. She's just practicing to be a woman"

 





Hats off to you Kid

     Yesterday, I was invited to a Parent/Infant/Toddler group. It was 3 blocks from my house so I decided to go. The woman that invited me was a friend of my boyfriend's in highschool. On a whim I Friended her on Facebook and she invited us out to play. It was awkward. Apparently there are usually more babies there, but due to the weather it was mostly 8 month olds. It was a strange expericence. At Mother's Circle, we sit and talk about topics. At this PIT group, they started off by singing interactive songs with the child and then drinking tea while the toddlers toddled about. Kaelynn just sat on my lap watching and being curious. I didnt sing because I didn't know the words. Eventually, she got really fussy and upset. *sad*. The group runs every Wednesday 2-330. I don't know if I want to go back, I might have to push myself to, to make friends.

     Yesterday, I also picked up my crochet hook. First time in a long while. I started off making a Yoda hat and then a boobie beanie and then a bonnet. The sizing is for a 6 month, but they mostly fit, and she will grow into them. Better things be too big than too small. I posted the pictures up on Facebook and a friend's sister wants an adult Yoda hat. I started on that this morning and the base is almost finished. I had to improvise the sizing, I doubled it. Hopefully it works. The yarn is stretchy though.

     Bed time has gotten so much better. We have been putting her in her bed awake and turning on s mobile. She watches it until she falls asleep. When it's feeding time, we go to CouchTopia and fall asleep together. She is currently dozey as I blog - cooing and randomly crying in her sleep. Her arm is up in the air, and I want to make her a WonderWoman hat.

     It's lunch time (homemade mac n cheese with salsa). Then time to vaccum and finish the hat. Making baby hats seems to be addicting. I have so many ideas in my head - and I don't like to wear hats.

Easter Weekend

     This past weekend was Kaelynn's first Easter.

          Friday
     Friday, Jake had the day off. Jake's mom, her husband, and his sister came over in the afternoon and visited with us for a bit. It was Jake's mom & her husband's first time meeting the baby. She was loved, of course. Around 330, we went to Jake's dads house for Easter dinner. Kaelynn got to meet the dogs too. 

       Saturday
     Jake worked Saturday morning, but in the late afternoon, we were picked up and went to get him from work. We were on our way to Jake's aunts house for Easter dinner. We got to see everyone from his side, basically. I even made her a cute tutu as an Easter outfit. The whole night I was basically baby-less. Every time she would chirp or scream, I twitched- even though I knew she was in good hands. It was good for her to socialize with other people and to get used to being held by others.
     That morning, Kaelynn and I made devilled eggs for the first time ever. We even did the dyed eggs that I found on Pintrest. They turned out delicious. For the yolks, I had mayo, dijon, hot sauce, salt/pepper, and some dill. I topped with paprika. YumYum! I might have to use the same seasoning when I make egg salad sandwiches.

         Sunday
    Sunday, Jake and I just chilled around the house. Kaelynn and I even took a nap. It was very uneventful and lovely.

       Monday
     Jake went to work and in the afternoon, Kaelynn and I went shopping with Jake's family. We went to Wal-Mart and Toys R Us with his sister, mom and her husband. It was fun. We had his sister over for dinner, she had to wait around town for a bus back to her city anyway.

       Tuesday
     Yesterday, Kaelynn got to meet her uncle Eric and his girlfriend. We went over to mom's house and visited for a bit. I was afraid that my brother would be super awkward around a baby, nope. I gave her to him to hold while getting ready and he was fine. After, mom and I went back to Toys R Us, because I am a moron. I was looking for a new breastshield for my pump and thought they didn't have them. Turns out, they did. We had time to spare and had to walk back to the mall anyway to get a bus home. I picked up 2 pairs of sunglasses and then we were on our way home.
     The bus ride home was alright until we hit downtown. Apparently, my stroller was on someones wheelchair side. He likes to have a certain side. The woman was like "Someone is on HIS SIDE". I was like "I can move..." so I did. She didn't have to be rude. Then, while waiting around, the driver informed me that someone with a walker was coming on and I had to figure out how to fold up the stroller. Stroller folded, diaper bag full of the small things I bought, baby in her carseat on a seat and me holding her still, stroller base held in place by my feet. Success? The older woman with the walker could also have folded it up, but instead chose to keep it open and stand beside it. She could have sat beside me with it folded, which would have been easier and make more sense. Or at least to me it made more sense.

     Today, I emergency bathed the baby and now she's sleeping on the floor. We're doing okay with sleep training. She will cry for about 20-30 mins and then sleep for about 2 hours. Then I take her to the livingroom to feed her (where I usually fall asleep) and if I wake in time, I attempt to put her back in her bassinet. We're getting there. Jake doesn't want a toddler sleeping in the bed with us all the time.
     I was also going to start planting the seeds I started in burritos, but the potting soil I have in the house has dried out. Also, I put one tomato seedling in the egg carton and I think the root is too long. Oops.
    We're going onto lunch time. I am going to move the baby from the floor (failed tummy time) to her bed, and in 30 mins she eats. So, I can eat in between. I also have to transfer and delete pics from my ipod. I'm running out of space. I wish they had space for a memory card.

Going for Walkies

     Yesterday, I attempted to cloth diaper Kaelynn. Fail. It was an attempt anyway. I was posting my attempts on Facebook, and some lovely friends helped me. I even went for coffee and Cris showed me how to use the Kawaii diapers (the majority of what I have). We then went for a walk up to Go Green Baby so she could pick up a super hero diaper for her child's Easter present. She then flaunted the pictures of my attempts. I am man enough to know when I need help. Today, she is all cloth to see how she likes it. So far, we've had a poosplosion, but no leaks- she just needed a bath.

 

 

     Today, she is wearing her cow print AMP diapers, after Cris told me how to use all the snaps on the front.
     After Go Green Baby, we went to the Dollar Store & huzzah! I walked away without buying anything. However, I did go into The Rocking Horse and found out that the toy store had Piggy Paint. I picked up a light pink, so it would be less noticable. I did her toes today & you cant even tell she has polish on *sad*. My dad then got me and we went to Canadian Tire for ant killing stuff (stupid bugs in my bathroom) and then Play & Learn so I could see if they had a specific Easter present for a friend of mine's daughter. They did! Huzzah! We went to the Tim Hortons by Jake's work and I told him to come over & we could give him a ride home.

     Easter is this weekend and I wanted to get Kaelynn something for Easter, but then I remembered she is a baby and wouldn't even notice -her nailpolish can count as her present. I did however make her a tutu to wear to Easter dinner in Harrowsmith with Jake's family.

 

     This afternoon we went on another adventure so she could meet her in utero friend Finn. We went for a walk to the dog park to meet up with my old co-worker and her son (about a month ahead of Kaelynn). We sat talking (in some hail) while her dog ran around like a psycho. Due to it being coldish outside, we walked to Tim Hortons and took the babes out of their stroller seats. It was time to say good bye just in time for the bus to take us home. I was going to ride the bus the whole way home, but instead got off downtown and decided to walk. When I was less than a block away from my house, I saw the bus pass me. I would have been no farther ahead & this way I got some extra exercise. C'mon baby weight, I need you off me...even if now it's just Annie weight (since I am thr same size/shape pre pregnancy, but it would be nice to be skinny for once).

8 days

     I am finally sitting down with some tea and my Bandit. Today has been pleasant and rough.

    Around 930am, I was picked up by Cris and her fiance (and their adorable 6mth boy). We went out for a belated baby shower thing. Drinks at Starbucks first. We sat around chatting and drinking. Then we went to Go Green Baby. I got to pick out my present. I hate doing that because I am never sure what I want or need. I am always "give me something and I will be happy". I picked out a Bummis prefold set. It came with 3 prefolds and one cover with flowers on it. These are my first prefolds, as my other diapers are All In Ones or Pockets. I came home around 1130. It wasn't long enough out, but I had to come home because I was expecting someone.

     Mike, a friend of Jake/his dad/and I, dropped off some baby clothes and stuff that he had. One huge diaper box, a medium sized bag, and a garbage bag full. They had a wide range of clothing sizes in them, as well as some crib sheets. For a little girl that is not born yet, she has A LOT of clothes. I have some of her older month clothes put away in a clear plastic storage bag, looks like I will have to get another one from the dollar store.

     After I was done sorting clothes and had my diapers in the wash, I decided to call OSAP. I was told to call in February, and since I applied for EI yesterday I figured I would call them now (incase she comes late). Apparently, I have to call again after I have the baby. However, say I have her in March. A payment would come out of my bank, and if I didn't have the money I would be screwed. I managed to get it so I would only pay the interest instead of the payment (I guess they want money). The downside of that is even though I HAVE to pay something, the money does not go towards the principal. Either way, come March I have to call them to tell them our household has increased while the money has decreased. They will figure it out then, and my account will also be put back to principal payment vs interest. I really dislike how the woman on the phone at first was like "you're already have a repayment plan". Yes, but some of us don't have money coming out of our ears.

     The good news is, I called my cellphone company to see how much longer I had on contract. Apparently, my phone and my moms phone are no longer on contract, so if I have to cancel to save money, I won't have to fork out a bajillion dollars to cancel. That made me happy. It even made me happy when the woman was like "do you want to talk to someone in customer service about cancelling?" and was totally understanding when I said I was just inquiring incase I needed to. I would have to give 30 days, like most things, but that will let me know how screwed/unscrewed I would be.

     Basically, after those phone calls, I felt like doing nothing. OSAP phone calls usually make me cry and feel like a major whiner. I know everyone has money issues, but I like to do everything myself. I like to feel independant. I also hate how now everything mixes in Jake's finances. It's my money vs his money vs our money. My money is my debts and when I want to buy something. His money is his debts and if he wants to buy something. Our money is the money I give him for rent/bills etc that balances out things WE need to live. It's complicated, but it has worked for us. There's never any fighting about "YOU BOUGHT WHAT?!"

     I feel like I should do something. Maybe fold laundry? Maybe restart my brothers belated birthday present? Probably restarting the present. I feel mildly crampy.

My diaper storage for 38 diapers and inserts at the top of the tent.

 

Blurbs From The Boyfriend

*At bed time*

"Hey! You in there. Stop having a party and going WHOOOWHOOOWHOO. Sleep!"

"That's what she's saying to you. Especially when you jiggle her all about, waking her up"

38 Weeks (almost)

     Tomorrow is 38 weeks, so I thought I would post now since I had a doctors appointment yesterday. Weight: 214lbs. Everything went well, except I was 2 days too soon for a membrane sweep. I have a feeling I will go over and not deliver on February 20th because it feels like nothing has happened yet. She's not even engaged yet. Maybe she's like me and stubborn (which I think because she doesn't kick when others want to feel her). Everything else seems good. She's measuring to term and her heart beat is good. The one thing I am worried about is she will actually be a he. I know I need to trust my gut that said she was a she (and the ultrasound), but it's hard.

     On Sunday afternoon, Cezar, came over and helped me make a belly cast. I had to pick up some more plaster and re-enforce it yesterday in spots (since I had the day off). It needs to possibly be sanded and definately painted. I wish I had painting skills. I have no idea what I want to put on it. I saw some neat ideas on Pintrest. I really liked a zebra print one (she has so much zebra clothing) and there was one that was painted white and just had simple stenciled flowers on it. I want her name, date, weight, etc on it too, but nothing too flashy. I really disliked the casts that had everyone at the baby shower sign it or the information right in the centre.

 

     Saturday, I went out with my dad and he got me belated baby/Christmas presents. I had no idea what I wanted for Christmas, so we just went clothes shopping. I managed to snag a $30 diaper bag for $16. Excellent.

 

     When it comes to her movements, she's been mostly squirmy and hiccupy. Kicking, not so much due to lack of room. She's currently squirming as I write this...or it could be from my Dr. Pepper/yelling at the cats. I have found out she does not like loud noises (ie: if I drop dishes at work or Jake coughs/sneezes). There are random thumps and gurgles down below that I feel and have no idea what's going on. I just pretend she's belching like Barney Gumble. No more BHs, unless I no longer feel them and they happen at work when I'm up and running around. I feel some back contractions when I lay down and go to sleep, no matter what side I sleep on.

 

    I have only 3 more days of work, Friday. Then I plan to focus on organizing the house and her room. The crib is built, and the clothes she will be wearing the most are put in the dresser. Her knit clothes are put in the 3 tiered plastic drawers and her 12-18mth clothes are all put away in a clear storage bag. Her diapers/inserts need to be washed and in a home of some sorts and I need to pick up a container from the Dollarrama to hold her wetbag. The TV in the bedroom needs to be moved and the crib needs to be placed in our room (Yea, I gotta measure that). Is it bad I was thinking of putting the TV in the nursery (swapping it out with the crib), so I will have something to do? Even if I can watch the TV in the livingroom as I nurse etc?? We'll see, since Jake needs to do another dump run at some point. (And as I type this, him and Aaron come through the door with 2 boxes of yarn for me and start to head to the basement to organize and pitch/ditch. I locked all 3 cats up, after fighting with Vodka. Apparently, he knows if a cat goes in the bedroom and the door gets closed, he has to run).

 

     Tiffany put up pictures from the baby shower. I went through and picked some of my favourites from the baby shower, better than putting up all 80something.

 

 

     And since I now have 2 boxes of yarn in my livingroom and a bolt of camo fabric, time to go snoopy...and here I was wondering where I would get $100 to buy the yarn from one of his coworkers. (And I've spent almost an hour writting this rambling).

Monday Appointment

     Today was my 36 week, 5 day appointment. I will always be seeing Resident Useless now. I still think I like the female residents so much better.
     My appointment was at 10am. I was in the room at 10:03am. I was seen at 10:30am. I was just sitting around, listening to the resident and the doctor talk to another woman about blood work needing to be done and how she needs to do pap tests. My appointment only took about 8 minutes, long enough for me to miss my bus to get to work when I wanted to. Heart rate was checked and was fine (RU doesn't give me numbers and turns the machine off quick). I was told about membrane sweeping at 38 weeks to help labour go along if I think I will be over due. My pains were dismissed a regular pregnancy pains (random cramping and feeling like I got boot f'd).  Weight: 212.9lbs. Up one pound.
      I then went to work and it was semi slow. I worked until 5pm and got home around 6. Just the thought/act of doing dishes made me cry. I took a bath and hoped that it would help my sore ankles, nope. Even the Dr.Pepper and Hershey bar didn't really help. I am looking up baking soda free pancake recipes for dinner. I so don't feel like cooking or even being productive. It doesn't help that its snowy/freezing rainy out.

     The baby shower was on Saturday. I got some nice clothes, books, bath supplies. I even got a cute Tinkerbelle onesie/costume. I even won a prize myself by collecting clothes pins for the word BABY. Not as many people showed up that said they would, but I knew that would happen anyway I will post pictures once I get them. One thing I didn't get were hats or a diaper bag. It's time for me to go to the mall. Thankfully, I have a $100 giftcard that I won for the mall and was saving it for things for K. I was looking into making her some hats too. I don't feel like crocheting them because I haven't found a pattern I like/don't have baby yarn (only have acrylic). I was looking at ones to sew, but the patterns online I don't really like either (and I don't have ink for my printer). I feel I could improvise, but I don't want them to be too small. I'll figure something out.

     I am due in about 3 weeks and am hoping to have a belly cast made. Yesterday, I picked up some plaster strips and my friend says she has some in her basement from when she did hers. She's going to come over and help me make a cast. It shall hang on the wall...but how would I like it painted...thats the conundrum.

36

     Only about 4 more weeks left, if on time. Cramps have started, as much as that sucks, it's a good thing. Her movements have been more squirmy than kicking. Some days she moves more than others. On the non-movement days when she's minimal, I get worried. I then feel the need to drug her up with Dr.Pepper, a warm bath, and sometimes a poke and a flashlight. I feel I have been good with the caffiene, so now it's just a stimulant to get her kick'n.

     Saturday afternoon is my baby shower. An update and pictures after that. I can't wait for the party to be over, so I can update with some of the gifts for people I made (they could be reading this).
 My poor cat, Tugger, has a cold. He's the last of the 3 to get sick. He's been a sleepy head and he sneezes funny - it sounds like a zipper. If he;s like the others, it will last a week and then be over and done with. Until then, I feel bad laughing whenever he sneezes.

     Yesterday it was -24*, felt like -35*. Brrr. I am creeping through my Flickr and am determined to pick up photography again.
Feast your eyes on some greenery, to get away from the cold.

    

  
      A badly lit picture of my new hair cut(and no, I don't like to smile -specially when tired) (better pics from the baby shower, etc). My boss at work did it. It's back to my natural colour, with no damaged ombre/bleachy residue on the bottom.
      While she was driving me home from her place, we had to stop off at the mall for the bank. She made a detour to shop and came back with a gift for me/baby K: a onesie with a pink cat on it, pink polka dot pants, a cat hat with ears, and socks to match..<3

     Time to start thinking about something for dinner, Jake is home from work around 10 and it's almost 8:30 now. Plus, I'd like to be in bed early-ish. Tomorrow, I am working 8 hours (definately longer than my 5.5hours that usually kick my butt) and then a trip to the grocery store. Hopefully afterwards, home to just melt into the couch with some kitties and some snacks (or probably an easy to cook dinner).