7(39 weeks) and 6

     My due date in theory is just around the corner, so how about a naked belly picture?
Today it's a two for one blog. Yesterday was semi busy and I just didn't get around to it.

7
     My day started off with breakfast and dishes. Exciting, I know. A friend and her little girl came over to visit for lunch. I was dropped off at my moms house where I visited for a bit. I brought my brother his belated bday scarf and make him a cheesecake.
Afterwards, I came home and finished washing the clothes that were donated to us. Then, was dinner and watching crappy TV before bed.
     It doesn't seem like alot, but between pleasant visiting and waiting for the washer/dryer

6 Valentine's Day
     Today has been interesting. I folded and put away the baby clothes. Good thing she has lots, but the problem is space. They're all nice and sealed in the bedroom closet. I did dishes and laundry. It was/is also the first day of contractions.
     I've not really felt anything strong, but today was like someone just kicked me down the stairs and stomped on my back. When people compare them to period cramps, I have nothing to really base them against because I usually never got them. It feels like everything in my front is all twisted and my back feels like when you have to take a large BM. I am peeing so much. I've had them since about 230 and now its almost 630.  I am still able to walk and breathe and talk, which is a good thing - meaning not REAL labour yet.
     I even tried to take a bath, but Bandit would have none of it. She kept walking along the edge of the tub and fell back legs in. She ran away.  Came back and repeat. When she came back again, she was rubbing her tail against me and pawing for attention, yet freaked out when I went to pick her up. I was never scared of her totally freaking out and scratching me. She's now sitting on my yoga ball while I write this from the chair. She loves me. I have spent the majority of the afternoon walking and bouncing trying to find some relief. At least lil K is kicking harder. I can imagine her screaming "let me out", well, if babies could scream in words.
     The Raynaud's in my right arm has been acting up today too. I have no idea how to describe it. It feels like when you smack your limb off something and twist your elbow and wrist. Basically, this whole day has made me want to float in a warm ocean.

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"

9 days

     I am sitting here drinking some coconut water with icecubes and I feel like I've never drank anything so delicious. I have decided that I am going to post once a day until she shows up - since I now don't have work.
    
     This morning was a doctor's appointment. I am still 214 lbs. Yay.Here I was expecting to gain about 2 more pounds. The resident confirmed that she's not dropped yet, but her heart beat is good. I had my first membrane sweep and I am 3cm dilated.

"If she doesn't come in the next 9 days, it should be very simple to get things started. It seems favourable."

 

     My next doctors appointment was scheduled for this Thursday, but it was decided that was just too close together. So, my next one is now the 21st, the day after I should deliver.

 

     Afterwards, I went to the library and picked up 2 books while waiting for my mom. We hopped a bus and went to see about filing for maternity EI. I figured if I went in person, I would actually talk to a person. Nope. It's basically still sitting at a computer. I could have done that at home with my mom helping me anyway. Now, onto the waiting period. Waiting for my letter to see if I get it/ the 2 week waiting period.

     We left and went to the Dollarama so I could see if they had a smallish garbage can with a lid. No go. I hate how they used to have things and it gets switched around all the time. I was also looking for a mesh storage hanger thing to hold diapers (I have an old one holding diapers, and picked up a canvas tote. I still feel like there is no room for the inserts). Friday, is Jake's day off and apparently they are doing one last dump run, so I was thinking of sending him to Wal-Mart or CanTire to get something suitable. Next stop, Food Basics to see if they had any Aloe Juice. The food gods were with me, they had one lone bottle, and on sale. MINE! I also got Jake 4 Monsters for cheap.

     We bussed back downtown and went out for a cheap lunch. We parted ways and I went to the other Food Basics downtown. I picked up icecream and cinnamon rolls. Yum yum!

     

     Since I've been home, I've putter cleaned the livingroom, did some dishes, and "made" a coat rack. We had a spare piece of 2x4 and I had 6 hooks. I nailed a piece of camo fabric around the wood and hammered the nails in place. Voila: coat rack. I am watching Fringe on Netflix and am going to paint my belly cast white.

 

     More adventures tomorrow!

 

Blurbs from the boyfriend:

"Have you put a plastic sheet or towel on the bed yet incase your water breaks?"

"No?"

"Then, you're buying a whole new mattress. I don't care what you think..that stuff is NOT water"





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).

37 plus 3 days

     This picture was 37 weeks, and this blog is 37+3.
    
     One more week of work and the nursery/house is coming together. Jake and his friend did a dump run yesterday. The couch we've been using for plopping and dropping is gone. I got a rocking chair from my mom and I put it together. The crib is put together.The picture mirrors are near it and the mobile (sans batteries) is up. There is a desk in the room that is green and burgandy and has ducks all over it. It had stuff in the drawers, but they're now empty. I'm hoping we're keeping it as a "dresser" and I can get to paint it brown. Yes, brown! The crib is brown, the rocking chair is brown, and this way everything will match - and not look so ghetto poor. (She's a baby and wont notice, but I want her to still have nice things that are managable with our budget).
    
     Thursday I was at work and my phone rang while I wasn't around. It was the doctors. They didn't leave a message. This always freaks me out. I called them back and it was just a mix up with my appointments. They thought it was that day, but it was on Monday. Then again on the following Monday. Thankfully, this Monday I don't have to go to work afterwards. The freaking out about being late was no fun at all. Plus, my boss will be there with 2 new girls training, and the other woman that works there. There would be five of us in a tiny kitchen...so, I get the day off. The boys will be doing another dump run apparently, so I will help organize and stuff.

     In about 20 minutes, my dad is coming to get me and we will get my Christmas present from him. Clothes for K. Plus, I need to go pick up a gender neutral messenger bag for a diaper bag -something Jake can feel comfortable carrying around. I was going to look around and see about more "older" kid clothing. My coworkers baby is under a month old and is already out of 0-3mths clothing (and thats about all the onesies I have). Yes, every kid grows differently, but I don't want a naked baby in February.

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).
    

    

35 Weeks

         On Sunday, we took a pre-natal tour of the hospital. It was basically "this is the rooms" "this is what to expect" "this is what you should pack". Basic things that help alot.

           Yesterday was  my 35 week appointment. Everything looks good and I am measuring where I am supposed to. They say its the Home Stretch, but it's been going slowly. It probably doesn't help that I have that count down and my count down of "days worked" left. In the mail, I have recieved my Nestle baby package. It contained a diaper bag, new born diapers I am taking to the hospital, a bottle, and even though I plan to breastfeed, formula and glass prefilled formula bottles for the hospital. I really like the glass formula bottles.

          In some of of the baby clothes I have, there was a white onesie that had a giant yellow stain on it. For the past 2 days, I have been attempting to embroider a fairy over top of it. It's not amazing, but it's my first time doing it. I say it doesn't look too bad it you look at it from far away.

     
                  2 of the 3 kitties have colds. This pains me. I can't really do anything for them. Sneezing and watery eyes. I have to keep wiping Bandit's eyes. My poor baby girl.

                   Lastnight, I put together collages of my "Growth of a baby" from week 19-35. I might have gained about 20? pounds (I am seriously not sure) but the bump looks huge. The last picture is the last ultrasound I will get, week 18.

 

 

Blurbs from the boyfriend:

"As much as I say I'm not going to, I have a feeling I will probably spoil K"

 

"It's ok K! Your mommy's hard stomach will protect you!"

34 weeks

 

 

     34weeks and counting. 6 weeks left to go. 1 more month left of work.

 

     My work shirt is still able to button up, but just barely.

     I am working on a crocheted baby blanket, I've been off and on working on it. I was all gung-ho, and then I slowed down. I am now working on a viking hat and beard, to trade for maternity pictures next month.

 

     We're slowly getting the bedroom in order. We sold a desk. 2 desks to go. One is really old and needs to get broken down to go to the dump. Infact, we have a lot of things that need a dump run. Whoohoo. We're getting there, organized that is.

 

     Time to put laundry away and get to work on the crocheting..so then I can start on the embroidery! I am like an old timey woman! 

 

 

 

 

Feet on my feet

     Not too bad a job for 33 weeks pregnant,if I do say so myself. I decided it was time to change from red polish from my pedicure in November to something different. Challenging myself, I thought to try baby foot prints. The blue might not be super perfect, but it's winter and almost no one will see my feet (and it comes off my skin in the shower anyway)

     I was told that I am getting the fat face of pregnancy and am looking tired. I'd have to agree. Plus, my hair is going crazy!
     A friend of mine who is unable to go to my baby shower showed up yesterday to drop off presents. In with the lovely gifts, there was skin care stuff for me. Hello moisturizers and eye cream. The morning of my baby shower, my boss is coming over to cut and style my hair. She's also a hair stylist.

     Friday morning I had a freak out. I could not get my ring off. I dislike the feeling of being trapped, and I felt TRAPPED. I spent about 15 minutes rubbing lotion on my finger, trying to get it over my knuckle. Success..sadly, I am not going to put it back on. I fear that it would have to get cut off.

     Time to be useless and work on my baby blanket instead of doing dishes. I can do them tomorrow.