Bienvenue Simone Helen!

Ok, I've logged onto Blogger 4 times over the last 5 weeks to post an update, and each time as I typed my password, the cries from the baby monitor interrupted any progress I could make. But I'm learning very quickly that life with a baby is filled with interruptions...and messy kitchens and cluttered living rooms and absolutely no more time for myself. I can guarantee this post will have several grammar errors and spelling mistakes, simply because I must type very fast and post before the interruption occurs again!

But how could I get upset with this gorgeous face?? My cousin Christy was over a couple weekends ago to take some photos of our precious girl, and I'm pleased as punch how they all turned out!

What a whirlwind we have been caught up in over the last month! I've never experienced quite an emotional roller coaster since Simone has arrived. We took heed of all the warnings that life with baby would be difficult to adjust to but, wow, I had no idea it would be THIS difficult. The hormonal changes, the recovery from surgery and labour, the sleep deprivation, the constant crying...and then more crying, and let's not forget the incredible challenge that breastfeeding presents. I had no idea it could be so unnatural - breastfeeding is definitely a learned skill. I have now learned it is NOT as easy as those moms at the mall make it look. But one other valuable lesson I have learned is that this period of adjustment is temporary and since we got back from the hospital each week has been a vast improvement from the last and this has made me hopeful! I am certainly looking forward to Simone sleeping 5 hours in one go and I'm even more anxious to see her smile and respond to us. Right now I wonder if she sees me as more than her milk factory and nappy changer - hmm... probably not.

But so far, there have been many magical moments. I still can't get over the enormous amount of love and protectiveness that continues to grow within me each time I see her. When I watch her feeding I try to imprint her beautiful face in my memory...already she has changed so much and I hope I can always remember her sweet newborn smell. She is beautiful and I feel incredibly lucky to have her as my own. She is most definitely a gift that I hope I never take for granted....even when she cries for 3 hours straight and is completely inconsolable. These are challenging times, but the face of an innocent baby puts it all into perspective. Now if I can just figure out how to put my baby to sleep in less than 45 minutes, that would make a world of difference!

A Star is Born!

We are home with our new baby girl Simone Helen! She was born last Saturday, July 14th at 9am - healthy, happy and ready to take on the world! After a very LONG labour she decided that she didn't want to come through my pelvis and we ended up in the OR for a C-section. We're home now and happy to be recovering in familiar surroundings.

You can check out more pictures here and when I have some more time, I'll write more about this whole experience that has completely turned our lives upside down!

The Return of the Nesting Instinct

I've had a very productive week :) No sign of a baby yet, but I was struck with short bursts of energy and a sudden realization of "Omigosh, if I don't get to this NOW, it will NEVER get done!"...This nesting instinct has come and gone over the last month or so, but this week it hit me with new level of urgency. I suppose this means that labour could begin at any moment. My due date is actually July 17th, so theoretically I have 10 days to go, but everyday I wake up wondering if today will be the day. Half the time I'm completely nervous to go through the unknowns of labour and the even more frightening prospect of taking care of another person, but the other half of the time I'm so incredibly uncomfortable and ready to get this extra weight off my body that I want labour to start this very instant! Perhaps in a couple more days I will only think the latter thought...or so I hope!

Well, these "bursts" of energy don't exactly last long, so I've been trying to make the most of them. Besides cleaning all the kitchen cupboards, filing away stacks of documents and bills, and reorganizing all the closets again, I've finally got the nursery in order...check it out!

Here is the welcome wagon anxiously awaiting the new arrival!

And the quilt that I finally got around to finishing and binding - geez, that project took way too long to complete!

I even had some extra fabric to whip up this pillow and I also knit up my first little stuffy just for baby. The elephant blanket was a gift from my parents - I love this crib set. It's from Target, designed by Amy Coe.

Well, that's it for now. I suppose I will have another week of projects ahead of me to post for you again...unless I am busy trying to induce labour on my own or I become so fatigued that I can no longer get off the couch OR even better, I go into labour. But, hey, let's not jinx anything :)

Counting days

Ok folks...I'm in the homestretch now. And honestly, I am amazed that I have the energy to sit here and make a blog entry. Lately it seems to take everything in me just to shift positions on the couch - not to mention get up and walk to the bathroom. The computer is a major stretch for me right now! My belly is something to behold - I am in awe at the size it has become and somewhat freaked out to think how this watermelon is going to get out. I read in one of my preggo books that a woman isn't fully pregnant until her belly has corners - ie. the baby's elbows, feet, fists, poking out. I never understood that until the last couple weeks when the alien movements became visible from the outside. We are thinking there may be an alien in there! Yikes!

I'm so relieved that work is done and I'm officially on mat leave - I have been off one week so far and it has been exactly what I needed. Napping, resting, eating and watching movies have been the main events of my daily routine now. Already I miss all my co-workers and the social part of my job. But I don't miss hiding my dozing eyes or fighting to comprehend my colleague's explanations. My brain has completely gone in the last month or so...I really do hope it returns eventually.

Another good part of taking an early mat leave is that I have been able to catch up on some crafty projects and work on some illustrations. There were 3 other moms to be in my department at work and we're all due around the same time. Talk about bonding time with the girls! We all had a great time sharing experiences and comparing our bellies. I am the first of us in line, so I guess that means I'll pave the way - unless of course the baby is stubborn and doesn't want to come out on time! I spent some time last week making more bitty booties and doing some quick knitting for each of them. I didn't do nearly as much as I had intended - simply because I am the worst procrastinator and my energy level is in the pits. But here is what I accomplished:
Assuming I won't go into labour next week, here is a rough list of my upcoming activities: pack bag for the hospital, finish ATC for Flossy-p, finish embroidery for Babelfish, wash all baby clothes and re-organize nursery, nap, rest, watch movies, buy nursing bras and a large maternity knit dress/tent to wear around the house (it's supposed to get up to 27 degrees by Thursday - Lord help me!)...maybe I should add a trip to the YMCA pool...

Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments and emails! It's been so fun for me to share my pregnancy experience here. Thank you for all the support!

Big Honkin Belly

Well, I don't normally like to post photos of myself - especially now when I'm feeling so enormous. But I haven't posted anything in such a long time, I thought I should let my blog friends see what I've been up to lately, which really only consists of growing a baby and not a whole lot else.

I'm now at 33 weeks gestation, so only 4 more weeks until my mat leave begins and then the baby can come out anytime after that. (Please, not before!) I'm impatient to finish work so that I can stay home and nap everyday, but I don't think I'm quite ready for the reality of it all. Thank goodness there is 9 months to prepare the mind and body for the pain of childbirth as well as the huge responsibility of bringing another human into this world. It still overwhelms me from time to time, but the excitment of meeting this new person still outweighs all my anxiety. I think we'll get through this just fine, although I must admit, I would be an absolute basket case if it wasn't for the wonderful father-to-be who has doted on me since we learned about our little Cleatus. I am an incredibly lucky woman.

I am still present in the blogsphere, reading up on all my favourite blogs. It's just that I'm usually so exhausted by the end of the day, that commenting regularly just hasn't been possible. But I want you all to know that I am reading up on your posts during my lunch breaks at work and I'm loving all the creativity that is going on around there. You are all inspiring me daily, even if it isn't reflected here on my blog. I hope to join you all again someday soon!

Oscar's Lucky Quilt

On April 4th, my good friends Amanda and Warren welcomed a new human into the world and they named him Oscar! The perfect name for such a perfect little guy. When I went to visit them at the hospital, I was overwhelmed by how tiny he was since I had never seen a baby who was only a day old. It kind of freaked me out to think that in a few months I'd have one of my own, but when I saw how easy Amanda made motherhood look in such a short period, it didn't take long for my nerves to calm down. It's quite amazing to see those motherly instincts kick in so fast.

Last week, I attended a shower for little Oscar. I had been working on a quilt for him over the last couple weeks and managed to get it done in the nick of time. I called it Oscar's lucky quilt because of the red squares and Asian prints. Here is the lucky quilt in all it's glory. Welcome to the world Oscar!



Also, I have got a second wind for making stuff for our own little one and I made a pair of bitty booties. I had found the most unique trim at the salvation army last fall and finally got around to using them. The little balloons go perfect with the felted wool I picked up a couple weeks ago. I really can't wait to see if these actually stay on a baby's feet - I have made a couple pairs for friends, but have no idea if they were actually useful or not. Anyways, I shall soon find out for myself.

Now that the arrival time is getting a bit closer, it is really fun to start accumulating little baby things here and there. I have taken a couple days off so that we can start hunting for the big essentials like car seats and strollers. Hopefully we can stay focused and not come home with a bunch of useless baby gadgets. Eeek. Wish us luck ;)

What is going on?

Well, I am still here. I am the hopeless sporadic blogger now as I am so busy with work and nesting....and growing! It's amazing how important home has become to me in the past couple months. I've reorganized closets and cupboards, cleaned the fridge (although it really needs it again!). We've sorted and purged all sorts of things and driven a carload of junk to the Salvation Army to make space for all things baby. A couple weekends ago we painted our soon to be nursery a honeydew green. It is pretty bright, but I think it looks fresh and happy now that I'm used to it.

And good news! I can knit again :) I've finally finished a little sweater which I started last October! Geez that was difficult. But I think I'm on a role and already have some patterns for stuffies I'd like to make.


I'm also working on another quilt, but that is all I can reveal about it for now since it is a gift for a certain someone and I'm not sure if she would happen to come across this posting...

Oh, and here is a (very blurry) peek at the emerging belly. And let me tell you, it is popping! This week marks my official entrance into the third trimester. It is the final stretch, only three more months until I meet the little boxer growing inside me. I am dying to meet him/her!