Oh My Belly!

There seem to be days where I can literally feel it growing. It's like...well...like a lot of stretching, some pressure on my organs and stomach and typically leads me to feeling pretty crappy for the duration of the day. Well, today is one of those days.

I woke up feeling like I was getting a cold - stuffy nose (thanks to the increased blood flow and mucus production), scratchy throat, flip-floppy stomach. After downing some Shreddies to make me feel less nauseous, I got my butt out of bed and got ready for work.

Wowzah! I looked in the mirror and thought "hey...it didn't look like this yesterday!" I looked down and could actually see my belly before my boobs, which for those of you who know me...that's a pretty big deal with these honkers! Even C commented on my basketball this morning, which looks even more pronounced in my maternity shirt and given that I've lost so much weight in my hips, thighs and butt (woohoo!)

Baby boy is getting so big, and during the day usually sits down in my lower abdomen. At night, he scoots up into my rib cage to play the drums or practice his field goal kicks. For the next few weeks, his growth should slow a little and he'll be about the size of a papaya until about Valentine's Day. He's getting into a good sleep cycle, however sleeps during the day and is most active when I'm trying to get to sleep at night. He'll be reacting to outside noises more and more, which means Daddy better brush up on his character voices for story time!

While you can't see the full basketball effect in my profile picture this week, it certainly is sitting higher than ever before and I'm sure that by next week at this time...will be like a little beach ball!

Saturday Morning Hockey

*yawn* Saturday morning was certainly an early one as I trucked down to Woodstock to watch T play goalie for the first time ever.

The alarm sounded at 6am and I finally rolled my butt out of bed at around 6:20, got ready and hit the dusty trail to make it to Woodstock by 7:45. It got me thinking...am I really cut out to be the mom of a little boy?!

T did very well, even though his team didn't "win" and he came off the ice rather frustrated that he wasn't able to stop every goal. His Grandma, Grandpa, Godmama's boyfriend and I all reminded him that practice makes perfect...but he quickly said that he'd rather score the goals than stop them. He's such a cutie.

The early morning definitely got me rethinking this whole hockey mom thing. I mean, yes absolutely I would love for him to play hockey and whatnot...but maybe that will be a bonding activity for Daddy! Haha...I really enjoy my sleeping in - even if it's only for an extra 20 minutes! Maybe Daddy can take him to hockey, and I can prepare a special breakfast for when the boys come home!

Thank goodness we still have 6 years until we get to that point! I know C would love for him to get involved with golf, and that he has aspirations of Bug making it to the NFL as a kicker (so that he's least likely to get hurt of course). I mentioned that I'd like him to take drumming lessons, and C isn't so sure about all of the noise that will create!

Plus, he says that guitarists are the ones that get all the chicks! Oh the hopes and dreams we have for our kids!

Presents from Mommy!

I think it's setting in...we're having a BOY! I guess after months and months of thinking that Bug was a girl, we were a little unprepared for the news of our son. It's setting in now, and we're both thrilled!

Last night, we went shopping at Babies R' Us to celebrate and checkout all of the new gear collections that are on the market for this season. There so much to choose from, and while we're keeping gear gender neutral (just in case we have any more kids...), looking for boys clothes and toys was alot of fun. From sneakers and socks to onesies and blankets, everything is just so handsome! There was a super cute golf themed section of clothing, which would be perfect for Bug when he goes golfing with Daddy!

Alas, C wouldn't allow me to buy anything other than a book so we settled on the New Treasury of Curious George.

Our next stop was Chapters, of course for books, but I wanted to check out their baby section for keepsakes and whatnot as well. Nothing to write home about, however I did look at the Robeez display. Everything was for girls! Oh well, "mental note to go on their website later" I thought. We ended up taking home the Mr. Men collection, Mortimer and Green Eggs and Ham.

I couldn't wait to get onto the Robeez site today to check out their boy selections. Oh my! The sales! The selections! Everything is just so cute, how could I not buy these


They saw "Rookie" on the right foot with the baseball and bat, and "League" on the left with a baseball glove!


Then, I stumbled across these and knew that our sons life would not be complete without them


And of course, with getting two pairs...the shipping was free! Mommy loves you Bug, and your feet are going to be super cute at all times!

The Wait is Over!!

No more waiting to listen to the voicemail!! Woohoo!!

We listened to it last night at 5pm, and I have never heard more beautiful words in my life!

It looks like you'll be buying blue, you're having a BOY!

It was like music to our ears, and while we were both incredibly shocked, I was so overcome by the anticipation and whatnot that I immediately started crying...and couldn't stop for about 45 minutes or so.

Everyone is very excited, and it was very cute last night for C to say goodnight to his son.

I think the best part of telling people last night was telling Bug's Godmama. She was so excited and put her son, T, on the phone. He's excited to have a little friend, and thinks we should name him Indiana Jones. Oh my! The things that kids say!

Tonight we're off for a little celebration date at Babies R' Us. I'd like to find some cute "boy" things for our maternity pictures at the end of March. We're going to borrow T's hockey skates for the day, and surely C will want a little football thrown in there somehow. We've already got tonnes of elephants to work with, but I want to see what else we can find. Maybe a little train? Some cars? Or a loader in honour of Poppa? We shall see! Either way, lots of fun will be had by two very proud and excited parents this evening at Babies R' Us!

Here's the 20week bump!

Week 21...

As I sit and wait for the call from our doctor's office, which I will let promptly go to voicemail so that C and I can hear the news together, I'm a little astounded that we're getting into week 21.

If you had of asked me 5 months ago if I thought that we would be happily pregnant with a healthy baby on January 19, 2010...I would have told you that you were crazy. I would have told you that there was no way my body was going to cooperate with the whole pregnancy thing. I would have told you that it's insane to think that me...the little ball of stress that I tend to be...would do well with being pregnant.

Well, 5 months later...we very clearly are very pregnant with a rather big baby! For you loyal readers who know how difficult it's been for us, I needn't remind you of the grossness I've experienced in these 5 short months.

I can only imagine what the next 4-5 months hold for us. I'm pretty convinced that this baby will be born early....I simply think it's going to run out of room! It's already the length of a large carrot/banana and is practising its ninja ways on a daily basis. It has eyebrows and their eyelids are present now as well.

I think the next milestone for me, aside from listening to the all important voicemail from our doctor, will be when my belly pops. It's going to happen any day now. I tried to poke around my belly button at lunchtime today, and...well...it's barely even there! My belly is getting itchy, so the skin is stretching...giving me lovely battle-scars...so...any day now!!

www.icantstopbuyingbabystuff.com

As I'm sure it is for most new Mom's and Mom-to-be's, I just can't seem to resist baby gear! Be it pj's for me with elephants on them because they will match with the nursery or lullaby CD's or whatever other interesting and trendy gear I find at Babies R' Us. Really...did I need pj's that would match the nursery...of course! C on the other hand....doesn't seem to think so!

I sent him a text message a couple of weeks ago when I was excited about the Beatles lullaby's and all he responded with was www.icantstopbuyingbabystuff.com It just made me giggle because it's so true! Every time I see a book, for example, that my parents used to read to me when I was little or anything Montreal Canadiens...I just have to pick it up! Of course we'll need all of those things in the future!!

C's friends were over, as per usual, to watch football yesterday and told me that they were reading one of our books and remembering their childhoods. I thought it was really cute, and told them that anytime they want to give the baby a gift, please please give books! There will be no shortage of books at the Szem household, and they will always be welcome, and displayed proudly on the top of Bug's dresser.

The story of choice yesterday?



We've yet to read it to Bug, as we were concentrating on Curious George, but perhaps it will be the story for this evening.

For now, my mind is set on getting the call from our doctor's office with the results of our ultrasound on Friday. I called them this morning and let them know that we would like to know, and at C's request, I'll let that return call go to voicemail so that we can hear the results together. It's been nearly 2.5 hours since I called...and the anticipation is mounting!

Team....Baby?

Yes folks...it's true. Team Baby...

*sigh* We had really hoped to find out today, however the ultrasound technician that we had said that she wouldn't be able to tell us and that the radiologist would have to read the results from all of the pictures and would send said results to our doctor. She said that we would have to ask our doctor for the results, if we wanted to know the gender.

A little disappointing, but the appointment itself went very well. Bug has grown...alot, and his/her feet are up in my rib cage right now, head pointing down. He/she was squirming the entire time, kicking when the Tech would move the wand to a new spot - apparently Bug doesn't like being poked and prodded!

My favourite moment, was when she got a good profile and was explaining the different features and whatnot. I started commenting on everything, and Bug turned his/her little face up toward me, and waved!! It was so cute - I wish we had of gotten a video of it!

So...the wait continues! Stay tuned!

New Additions to the Blog!

For your listening pleasure, I've created a 25 song playlist that will play automatically when you open the blog. Don't be startled by the music! They're some of our favourite songs and musicians - along with a few sappy ones that make me think of the baby and of my hubby.

As I anxiously await 11:30est, I thought that I would post my 19wk2d bump picture.

It still has the "B" shape, but it seems to be smoothing out a little more everyday. It's weird that all of my organs are up so high, making it more and more difficult to keep food down - or really eat a full, proper meal. Still fitting into my pre-pregnancy work pants, though the maternity ones are much more comfy and roomy.

Anyhow! There you have it - my ever growing bump. In just two short hours, we'll know what's inside!! It's like Christmas!

Getting Anxious

Well...at this time tomorrow we will know if Bug is a boy or a girl. The thought of that is somewhat overwhelming, and hugely exciting. At least we'll have the next 20ish weeks to prepare ourselves for the biggest, and most wonderful, change that we'll ever experience as a family.

It did get me thinking - what are my hopes and dreams for our children? (I write this as he/she is busily kicking my right hip, clearly responding to the Coldplay that is playing right now) If we have a son, are my hopes and dreams different than if we have a daughter?

If Bug is a boy, I hope that they have a love of the arts and music. I dream of painting on canvas with them when they're little, making masterpieces that will surely adorn the walls of our home. I hope that he loves animals, likes to lie on the grass watching the clouds and continues to love story time with Daddy. I hope that he is kind, and loving, and cares about everyone who already loves him.

If Bug is a girl, I hope that she loves hockey as much as her Mommy and Daddy do. I dream of cold winter days, snuggled up under blankets, reading books together. I hope that she loves to sing like her Grandma Dale, can rough house with the boys and stands up for herself when they eventually make fun of her. I hope that she is kind, and loving, and cares about everyone who already loves her.

I hope that they are kind to their future brothers/sisters. I hope they know in the bottom of their hearts, that we will love them forever, no matter how many temper tantrums they throw or curfews they brake or strange boys they bring home to get approval from their Dad.

I hope they are happy, and find something that they are passionate about. I hope that they chase their dreams and know that it's okay to fail. I hope that they will always want a little snuggle when they are little, and thatthey will think it okay to hug them when we're excited and proud of them.

I hope they feel loved - at every moment of everyday.

Who Gets Morning Sickness in Week 20!?

Me - that's who! I am not thrilled about it either, and while it isn't nearly as severe as it was between 6-14weeks, it's still pretty brutal. Bug must be going through a growth spurt, which means extra hormones and a few days of throwing up for me! Oh well, c'est la vie!

Last night, I popped in my prenatal yoga DVD. It was pretty fun actually, and even though I'm not as flexible as I used to be, I really enjoyed it. There were around 10 other women doing the poses with the very pregnant instructor, which was comforting.

The Downward Dog pose always used to be my favourite, usually going from Sun Salutation into Cobra and then into Downward Dog, however...with a belly...not so much! The standing Triangle poses were great, and the sitting hip stretches were amazing! My joints felt fantastic afterward, and then came the squats....oh the squats.

The instructor did them at three different intervals, which was fine and I was happy that I could actually manage to do all three. However, while you're breathing you're supposed to be flexing the muscles on the pelvic floor (kegels) and squatting at the same time. Holy mama! It's hard! But I supposed it's preparing your body for child birth, and is something that every woman should do to strengthen those muscles. So, I shall keep practising!

It was interesting though, because I slept much better last night with fewer interruptions (aside from Bug rolling over at one point and nudging my bladder) and I didn't throw up this morning either! Things are looking up!!

Patch...Wait...Sand...Repeat

Nursery preparations are underway! I puttied up all of the holes on Monday night, sanded them down last night and reputtied any that weren't quite smooth or where the plaster had shrunk a little. There are about 20 holes in the walls from where the previous owners had art and hooks hung for their son...20! That's crazy! He was only 2 or 3!

While I was puttying, I put the CD player on with the new lullaby CD's that arrived yesterday from Amazon.com



The music is just fantastic - all melodic with a xylophone and whatnot, and it was really nice to be able to sing along while Bug kicked away in my belly. It certainly will come in handy at naptime and bedtime - and I'm sure will quickly become a favourite (we also got the 2nd Volume so that we have as much Beatles music as possible.)

Daddy's job today is to finish sanding the patched holes, wipes down the baseboards and window frame...then start taping the edges! I'm really hoping that come next weekend, the nursery is painted and we can start focusing on refinishing furniture and decorating.

With our Maternity Photo Shoot booked for March 28th...I feel like the pressure is on! I know that it's still 11 weeks away, but I want to make sure that the nursery is perfect so that we can get some great pictures in there. I'll post a link off to the side for our photographer's website - she's such a lovely, caring, compassionate woman with an amazing eye for all things beautiful! Take a moment and check out her work - it's really spectacular!

The New Light Fixture

Much to Daddy's chagrin, I bought a new light fixture at IKEA on Saturday when I was shopping with my friend, A. If only he had of texted me back to let me know he didn't like it very much...oh well! The lamp shade was only $4, and we can get all of the wiring and whatnot from RONA from cheaper than at IKEA.



I really love how each shade is unique since they are handmade, and the soft lighting that it will cast in the room. The texture is fantastic, and matches the artsy feel that I'm going for in the nursery. I don't think it will hang as low as it looks in the picture, maybe about 6" from the ceiling just for some breathing room.

Tonight's task: sanding the puttied holes smooth and getting the baseboards/window frames/ceiling taped up!

Half-way There!

I can't believe that we're already half-way there! It seems like just yesterday that I was coming out of the bathroom bawling my eyes out and screaming "I'm pregnant!!" It definitely doesn't feel like that happened months and months ago, and that this baby is almost done developing!

Sticking with the fruit comparisons, by the end of the week Bug will be about the size of a cantaloupe! That is crazy! The kicks are getting stronger and stronger, and my favourite part of the day is quickly becoming when he/she rolls over in my belly. It makes me giggle every time.

The genitals are fully formed at this point, and we're hoping that the ultrasound technician can get a good shot of them on Friday at our 20 week ultrasound. We were debating whether or not to find out the gender, and have talked about for months on end at this point.

I am terrified that labour will not go well...I mean...our pregnancy has been less than smooth, so what makes me think that labour is going to be a breeze?! I'm scared of an emergency c-section, though whatever is the safest way to get Bug into the real world...that's absolutely fine with me. My pain tolerance leaves something to be desired, and I'm worried that I'll need so many drugs to get through this, that I'll be absolutely out of it when they join us in the delivery room, kicking and screaming. I don't want to be the last one to know, and recognize, what our child is.

C is very practical, and has been racking his brain for all of the practical reasons to not find out. So far, he hasn't been able to come up with any. The nursery is getting underway this week, and the paint is neutral...but if this is a girl...we both want to add some really beautiful, girly elements to the room. We both want to start using their name (though that will be kept secret from everyone until delivery!) and we both want to be able to plan for the changes that come with each gender.

Whether at 20 weeks or 40 weeks, it will still be a surprise to us and our families. The real surprise for our families will be when C walks out to tell them that they can come in and meet "______". It's a moment that they will always remember, and one that I won't change or trade for anything.

Milestone! We have Movement!

We were all snuggled in to enjoy some Season 3 Grey's Anatomy when it happened. C had his hand on my belly since I was feeling crazy movements during the episode we were watching (the one about the 8 1/2 month pregnant lady who falls and breaks her arm, then Addison has to tell her that her baby died...so sad...if you're pregnant, don't watch it!). All of a sudden he looked down at me and said "What the h*ll was that?! I felt that!" and I couldn't stop giggling.

Immediately, I high-fived him and said "you just felt the baby!!" It was so great that he finally could feel Bug moving around in there!!

After story time (last night was Curious George and the Birthday Surprise) I had a little chat with Bug and taught them some funny things about their Poppa. I told them that they probably have already met him in Heaven while we were waiting to be ready for a baby, but that he was a strong man who loved Grandma Dale very much, played the drums very well and was a fantastic goalie. Just then, I felt one...two...three little head butts (or bum nudges) against the palm of my hand. I giggled every time, and the baby responded by head butting me more!

We're starting to get the nursery prepared for paint this week. All of Bug's goodies and Christmas gifts have been moved into another room, and tonight we'll putty up any holes that were left from the previous owners. I'm hoping to get the baseboards and whatnot taped up tomorrow or Saturday so that C and his buddy T can get to painting the Almond Cream next week. Almost 5 months down! Time is really starting to fly!

All Boobs and Belly...

or so I've been told! Yesterday marked our 18week/"halfway there!" appointment. Bug is doing really well, has a very active heartbeat and the doctor (not our favourite Dr. Gloria unfortunately, she was busy - but popped in to say hello which I thought was really sweet!) even felt him/her moving around in there.

Their head was over by my left hip, and we picked up the heartbeat over by my right hip. Now, I realize that things are cushioned and whatnot in there, but that's one long baby! Who knew that this little 5'2" Mommy could have a tall baby! haha They must get it from their Daddy!

Then came the weight...I was sure that after Baskin Robbins sundaes, steaks, Key Lime pie, pizza, Bloomin' Onion etc. that were consumed over the holidays that I would at least have packed on a good 5-10lbs. Au contrare! Down another 1.5lbs - so that makes a total of 21.5lbs lost since we found out we were pregnant. The doctor is starting to get concerned, since the baby is so active and I'm getting so tired. He has a feeling that it's taking quite the toll on my body, and that coupled with the weight loss and continued "morning sickness" (no matter if I eat every hour to 2 hours, I still get sick at least once a week)...he mentioned that bed rest may be in my future at some point. Hopefully it doesn't get to that point...but we'll see.

For now, I'm trying to concentrate on the eating and trying to gain some weight. It's incredible to think that even with a growing child in me (and a big one at that), and with boobs that seem ginormous at the moment, I've still managed to weigh less than I did when we got married in 2008. Most definitely, I'm all boobs and belly!

This is from New Years Eve...



And this is the 18wk belly picture - what a difference a week makes!

Bug's First Habs Game

It's become sort of a tradition in our family to go to a Montreal Canadiens game in Florida when we've been going down for Christmas the past few years. This year, I was very excited to go since I would be sporting my "Future Habs Fan" t-shirt (which got us lots of stares, giggles and smiles while walking to the arena) and I was interested to see what Bug's reaction would be.

Well...first and foremost, here is me in my beloved shirt

The view down for me is becoming quite spectacular...

Bug's reaction was what exactly what I had hoped it would be - non stop kicking and wiggling throughout the entire game! Especially when there were loud cheers for the Habs goals and music during the commercial breaks, there was no slowing this baby down! Poppa would be so proud!!

Happy New Year!

I will post later on about our trip to Florida and fun things like Bug's first Montreal Canadiens game, but after reading Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy yesterday afternoon, I thought I would reflect on the past 4 months.

Jenny put so many of the symptoms, grossness and strangeness that I've been going through into perspective. It was hilarious to read, and if you've got some time (it's a short book) and don't mind some of the talk of constipation, hemorrhoids and frequent urges to pee - it's a good book to pick up! There's even some advice for Dad's near the back...like how to not set off your pregnant wife/partner so that you can avoid meeting Psycho Chick.

The past 4 months have definitely not been a cake walk. From the vomiting 5-8 times per day to trips to the hospital for dehydration and other complications...being pregnant is definitely not for the faint of heart. Those close to us have asked me if I would do it over again, knowing what I know now and sensing that my body really truly does not like being pregnant. The answer is absolutely yes. My body can deal for the 9 months that it takes to bring life into this world. My stomach will adjust, my gag reflex will come back (dear God, I hope it comes back!) and there will even come a point where I don't need to eat once every two hours! Life will be better than we ever imagined once this baby is in our world...so how could I not do it all over again?

As we finish up week 18, I'm finding that reality it setting in. We've a nursery to paint, dresser to sand and varnish, crib to purchase and set up....Light fixture to install (hopefully!), showers to go to (eventually), bridal shower to throw for a good friend (wahoo!)....Throw in a Super Bowl party, a few birthday's and Mother's Day and...voila - we're at June!

At almost half-way there, all of the throwing up and trips to the ER seem so much more worth it than they ever did before. By the end of this week, Bug will be the size of a mango (gosh, that sounds yummy!), will be longer than the length of my hand and the sensory development is just crazy this week! The specialized areas of sound, touch, smell, taste, hearing and vision will all be fully developed, and little hairs are even starting to sprout on the top of their head (hopefully to turn into long, dark brown, curly locks like Mommy).

Gosh...half-way there. I guess we should get started on getting things organized!