Oh Baby, did we get some equipment!

1. Baby Jogger City Elite Stroller


Absolutely love this jogger stroller and it blows the Phil and Ted out of the water!! It has more bells and whistles than I have ever seen! We bought the sand/beige colour.

2. Baby Jogger City Elite Stroller Attachment for 2nd child


This is the attachment that we will buy when Baby Smith #2 comes (most likely another boy!). It easily fits 2 large toddlers or an infant and a toddler. I love the seat and how it sits in front and not close to the ground like the Phil & Ted. Still lots of storage space underneath the stroller at all times!


3. Bel Air Jolly Jumper Cradle



Absolutely love this cradle and can't wait for Baby Boy Smith to sleep in it for naps and at night (fingers crossed that he sleeps!)


4. Graco Snugride 32 Car Seat



Love this car seat as he will be able to use it to 32lbs and 32", unlike other infant seats which are only good until 20-22lbs.

People have also been asking what our Bugaboo stroller looks like so here it is:



Its a wonderful stroller that also turns on a dime and very easy to maneouver. We also have a running board (skate board like) that attaches to the stroller for larger children.

Our wonderful crib was put together by dear husband and he was very patient while he put it together!



Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a cute rug that has roads on it to drive cars and city towers surrounding it!

Here's Our Latest Ultrasound Pics!

Here's Baby Boy Smith at our latest ultrasound. Still measuring as 20 weeks at the time of the ultrasound, but I think only 19. Notice he is sucking his thumb in some of the pics below!

We Found Our Doula!!

It was love at first sight, well for me anyways, can't speak for hubby! Well, may not of been love at first sight, but definitely was "you are the one for us" at first sight!

After a few weeks of putting together a list of names and looking online to see whose profiles interested us I called a few local Doula's. To be completely honest if they didn't have a website and I couldn't do some sort of inital screening online with their expertise, views and experiene they didn't make the first list cut.

Then it was to compile a list of questions that we could ask our Doula's. I wasn't really sure what to ask but compiled some questions I had, plus various doula sites had recommended questions to ask your potential Doula.

We met first with Anna, the one that won our hearts, and were impressed with how calm yet energetic she was at the same time, how comfortbale I felt and seemed to click with her personality and her experience both as a mother (4 of her own children) plus the various births she had assisted mothers and their partners with.

When we left the interview with Anna I knew in the back of my mind that she was the one for us, however felt that we should do our due diligence and speak to some others.

Doula #2 came to our house the next day and our meeting lasted no more than 20 minutes. Our questions were answered thoroughly and she was very qualified but our personalities did not seem to click the same as with Anna. I had a few other Doula's we were going to possibly meet later that week but I went with my first instinct and booked Anna before she got booked for another birth!

A huge relief for us is that I am also familiar with Anna's back up Doula. She works with Anna as a massage therapist and Doula and also works at Elgin Massage therapy where I taught yoga for a while. Andrea is fantastic and should anything happen and Anna not be able to make the birth we are completely at ease with Andrea.

Oh and did I mention Anna and Andrea are pre and post natal massage therapists extraordinaire's!!!

So we have found our lady, well ladies, and am a little more at ease of the possiblity of having a natural birth. I also didn't want the pressure to be on Adam to be there 110% for me at all times as we both have never experienced the birthing experience and who knows how we will feel when the time comes!! It's also important for him to be able to take breaks, get food, etc. without feeling guilty for leaving.

So I am currently seeing Anna and Andrea regulary for my massages and look forward to getting to know them more!

~A

Baby Registry is Finished

We finally have registered, as we have already been getting questions of what we would like or need. We have plenty of things already and wanted to make sure that we don't get duplicates. We also don't want to have things that are not a necessity at this time to keep some open space!

We have registered at Babies R Us (www.babiesrus.ca) and at Fab Baby Gear in Ottawa (www.fabbabygear.com).

The only things not on our registry currently are a crib which we are planning to purchase from IKEA, as well as possibly purchasing a single chariot stroller or a Phil & Ted for the colder winter months as the tires will move more effeciently in the snow.

Our two bedrooms are being painted as we speak and we are excited to have them done finally, by a great painter. We will then be able to get things organized in the bedrooms and figure out what we are going to put where!

On another note we sold our futon and couch and purchased a fantastic new sectional sofa. We absolutely love it and have been enjoying how comfy it is!

Possibly Ahead of Schedule

So it looks like Baby Smith may be a week ahead of schedule according to its growth so far!

Also we both heard the heartbeat on the doppler today, and was very healthy at 155BPM.

Doctor has advised that we maybe not go on our trip over Christmas, as being on such a long plane ride can greatly increase my nausea and not make the trip very fun! So we have postponed indefinitly and dearest husband has told me he will take me shopping in Montreal for some new clothes!

Dear Husband, I am SORRY!

Dear Loving Husband, I am SORRY!

Dear loving husband,

I know the past few months have not been easy for you and you have somehow maintained your cool at all times with me. I appreciate you more than you will ever know and wanted to ensure you knew that I was sorry. Sorry for....

1. Not cleaning a single thing in our home for the past 3 months. You have been so willing to complete all loving lists I have left for you. I do have to say that I think I have been pretty good at not getting upset when its not done to Amanda standard. I have learned to accept that your way is just fine and I appreciate that you take the time to complete the task with love.

2. Making you eat whatever I want to eat, whenever I want to, from wherever I want to. I know you are getting sick of the Lonestar, but maybe just one more time soon we can have fajitas from there? Thanks for the poutine and mozzarella stick breakfasts for two days in a row, and the loads of BBQ chicken sandwiches with your homemade BBQ sauce. I promise, and hope to god soon, that I will want to eat a variety of things. Hey, tonight we had spaghetti, that was a change!

3. Not letting you drink coffee whenever you want to and not letting you drink it out of a regular mug. Thank you for knowing how much the smell bothers me (bother is probably an understatement) and asking before you make a cup. I am happy that your travel mug has become your permanent coffee cup. Boy how I miss coffee, but its smell right now is NASTY!

4. For the hot pink barf buckets that decorate each floor of our house and putting up with hearing my violent sickies because of our little baby growing in my tummy. I know its not pleasant to listen to all morning, afternoon and night!

5. While I am apologizing for bodily functions now may be a good time to apologize for the noises my bowels have been making. I am sorry your pregnant wife as turned into a noise making machine at times. Please do know that when one is constipated due to increased hormones these noises do provide me with a few moments of relief! Don't you want that for your wife?!

6. That I don't like it when you are in a grumpy mood, but its okay when I am. I know, its a double standard. You knew what you were getting into when you married me! I vow to try not to get bothered when you have crappy days and will let you just be in a grump! I know it only happens once or twice a year so I think I can "put up with it" with a loving face!

7. I AM SO SORRY that I told you I wanted to throw your head into a wall. I really don't know what took over my mind and body that night! I know you were just trying to help as you saw I was becoming frustrated but I didn't feel like I needed your help. Then out of nowhere I am sorry that I freaked out and asked why you weren't helping me when I had just turned down your offer. I have no idea what frustrated me enough to tell you that I was mad enough to throw your head through a wall, but I am sorry.


As you know this list could go on and on for a very long time, but I am getting tired of typing. You know it can be hard for me to apologize sometimes, so this is my start.

I love you more today than I did yesterday and love waking up to you every morning.

Love
A

Hospital Etiquette

Listen lady who is putting her nail polish on while I am waiting for my blood work be courteous of those around you. I know you are all dolled up with hair done and make up on while I sit here in sweat pants holding down my toast BUT I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE!!!

I have been visiting here long enough to know that I am not the only patient who is pissed at you right now. Put the stinky stuff away and read a magazine like the rest of us. Because if you don't put it away I will tell the nurse on you.

I know you know it stinks. You keep looking at me as I give you the stare of death with my scarf up over my nose and mouth. You have pissed me off, and its FRIDAY for heavens sakes.

Thankfully they called my name before yours because I was afraid what I may do to you or say next.

Lesson of the day.....do NOT take anything into your doctors, dentist, hospital or even a public bus for that matter where the smell may offend somebody.

Oh yes, and while I am on my rant please don't cut your frickin nails on the bus!

Got the the freakin Swine Shot

So I went yesterday and got the Swine Flu shot. I had flipped back and forth for about a month now. I have never received the regular flu shot and as most of you know don't believe in putting chemical crap in my body. PS this means we will also not be using any chemical soaps and shampoo's, creams, etc on the baby. No Johnson products for us, so please dont buy any. I don't care how good they smell!

I talked to my doctor a few weeks about when the shot first came out. I thought he would say to go and get it but he was hesitant and said not to get the adjuvented shot but to wait for the unadjuvented one. However, he said since I work with close to 100 kids per week at times that it may be better to just get the adjuvented to be sure I didn't get the swine flu. Basically it came down to that there was a high chance I could get the adjuvented shot and something could happen to the baby or I could get severe case of swine and something happen to the baby. We decided to take the chance and wash hands lots, limit the kids classes I was teaching and stay away from public places when possible and wait for the unadjuvented one.

When the unadjuvented one became available Adam and I agreed that it was not that safe to stand in a 5 hour line up with other high risk people who were possibly already sick. Plus, I hardly have the energy these days to make it through teaching a yoga class or two, let along standing in line for that long. We were also skeptical of what the consequences may be of this shot years down the road. Sure, WHO has deemed it safe, but we don't always trust government regulated industries. We like to go more the natural route.

The Dr. called Friday night and said that he really wanted me to go and get it and that Montfort was having a special clinic yesterday for their pregnant patients. This would mean no line ups, quick and easy and he thought it was important for the safety and well being of myself and the baby. Since we trust this Dr and he has jumped leaps and boudns to help us and gone beyond the call of duty of several times. I was blessed to get him as my Gyn years ago and he is also a leading OB and fertility specialist in Ottawa. When this Dr says jump he is probably the only person my respond back is how high?!

So Adam dropped me off at Montfort and waited outside while I went in. It took longer to fill out the forms (pages of them for gods sakes, for a supposed safe vaccine!!!), got the shot and then they made me wait 15 minutes after. I waited for about 8 and then quietly snuck out. The nurse told me to ice my arm on and off that day and to take tylenol for the next 24 hours to reduce any fever side effects.

Even with the icing my arm is extremely sore today and hurts to lift it. I also took tylenol and still woke up with a fever last night and was sweating. Hoping the arm feels better tomorrow as I teach a Mom & Baby yoga class and a Power class on Tuesday!

In the meantime still washing hands regularly and Purell is a great friend of mine. My hands are all cracked and dry from all of it. The shot is supposed to take approx. 10 days to come in effect and fingers are crossed that because I got the stupid shot I better not get swined!

~A

Ultrasound

You will see the first ultrasound picture was taken around 8:30a.m. with baby being in one position. Notice it took 2 hours, and lots of walking (and pee holding) along with poking and pushing to get the stubborn thing to finally turn around fully to get more measurements. However, we did get to see the baby on the computer screen for quite a long time! It was nice to see as Adam put it "well its confirmed, there is a reason in there why you feel so sick all the time!"

~A

Ultrasound Pic #1 Nov 4/09

Ultrasound Pic #2 Nov 4/09

Successful (but long!) Ultrasound

So we made it to our ultrasound on Wednesday morning. We were to be there at 7:30a.m. with our appointment being at 8a.m. Since I have been regularly going to the Montfort in the morning for appointments and blood work I knew that I did not have to be there 30 minutes earlier as registration never seems to take that long since they have just opened.

I was told to have a full bladder. Ya right. You get a pregnant women, who pees every 60 minutes even when she is not pregnant, to hold her bladder for that long and it can be HELL! Needless to say I knew there was no way I would even get enough water in me to fill the bladder without vomitting it all up. Sure enough, I had my toast and peanut butter waiting for me when I woke up (thanks to my lovely husband who has been jumping leaps and bounds to make sure I am taken care of), took a gravol, my diclectin and then moved onto the water. Before 7a.m. all the water I had drank came right back up, along with the Gravol. Took another gravol and slowly got dressed and we made our way out the door. Have I mentioned that we live almost next door to the hospital? Extremely convenient, especially when you don't want to leave the house until the last minute. Tried to drink water while I registered and then waited until the ultrasound.

We got called in 10 mins later than appointment and I already had to pee! The lady told us that it could take 5 minutes of an hour, depending on whether the baby wanted to cooperate and move to right position for us. Of course, we had a stubborn baby who wanted to stay in one position only which made it hard for her to take the different neck measurements. Adam and I were both relieved to confirm that there was definately a baby growing inside me and that there was indeed a reason for me being so sick! The lady poked and protuded my stomach and had me turn in various positions. She then called in another technician to see if she could get it. Baby would still not flip around so she had us leave and go for a walk. I was starving so we got a bagel and walked around for 15 minutes. Still had to pee and was trying so hard to hold it! Went back to have ultrasound again, and baby still had not moved. Heartbeat was solid at 166BPM. We walked again for another 30 minutes. Well, I walked non stop up and down the halls. I think people thought I was possibly a bit insane, and kept sanitizing my hands whenever I passed a hand sanitizer (no way am I getting that freakin H1N1). Finally went back for 3rd ultrasound and baby had completely flipped around. It was now 10a.m. and she took the final measurements and we were on our way.

We now have 2 very cute, but alien like, pictures of the little babes in tummy and confirmed there are 2 arms, 2 legs, spine, nasal bones formed, etc!

Then it was on to get some blood work. The ladies know me very well at the blood lab now and they took me almost immediately and I was done. For the girl who used to be afraid of needles, I would say I am over that fear now with all the blood drawing and poking I have had the past few months.

Adam and I headed home, where I had a little nap and we spent the day relaxing.

Still feeling like crap but keep reminding myself its for a good cause!

~A

Holy Nausea!

Okay, so I am an active reader, have worked with probably over a hundred pregnant women (on personal basis, or through yoga and fitness classes) and have heard about the yucky 'morning sickness'. LISTEN HERE.....I am telling the world now as most books seem to sugar coat it.....MORNING SICKNESS CAN BE AN ALL DAY EXTREME NAUSEA AND VOMITTING FEST. Mine is extreme enough that I don't function. My doctor has put me on diclectin, started at 3 times per day. This didn't even touch the constant sickies. Problem being I was throwing up before the pills could even be absorbed into my body.

Thankful for Ann Douglas, @themotherofall, and author extraordinaire she contacted me on Twitter and suggested that I contact the Nausea & Vomiting in Pregnancy dept. through Sick Kids in Toronto. They were fantastic help, and informed me that I can take up to 4 gravol per day. Gravol makes me so tired though, on top of the constant fatigue that I have. I am now overly medicated on most days, and still am barely making it through the day.

I am hoping that this ends by week 12, but my Dr. has forewarned me that it is possible to have this throughout rest of pregnancy as a small percentage of women have this.

I am extremely thankful for DH who greets my grumpy face each morning with peanut butter and toast in bed. It has to be all natural peanut butter, not fake salty stuff. Trust me, I know the difference and vocalized that to him one morning when I tasted the change.

My love of coffee has left me. I hope only temporarily. I can't stand the smell, the thought or even see an empty cup of it. That being said I did brave it into the local coffee shop downtown a few times as I got off the bus holding the vomit in until I could get to a toilet. ps. if you ever need to be sick in a public restroom grab newspaper to at least kneel on the floor because bathrooms are filthy!

If you have been to our house lately you may of also seen the hot pink garbage pails that fancy each of our floors. No, we are not redecorating. Do not touch these buckets. They are for me and my sickies only! Don't move them, I need to know were they are in an emergency!

So for those friends who have been calling, tweeting and facebooking don't take it offensively when I don't respond or take weekst to call back. Its not that I don't care, its that this baby has taken over my body and I feel like I constantly have the worse hangover of my life.

Signing off for now as I feel the need for a gravol or two....

~A

Here We Go!

Well it looks like Baby DeGrace Smith may finally be really happening, and dh and I could not be more excited! We found out Tuesday August 25th, and I knew before taking the test that it had happened. Days before dh kept looking at me and asking what was wrong. I kept dropping everything for days, balance as off and I "just felt different". I know you are probably thinking, whatever, you didn't know until the test. But I will tell you that I was off enough (and so freakin eager) that I took the pregnancy test 4 days early and it came out a big YES! I then immediately peed on a second one to show dh to make sure. I didn't tell him I was taking the first one as I thought he may of said stop wasting money on those tests, in agreement with him they are expensive! Okay confession here, I don't actually pee on the stick. I find the whole thing a little challening. I actually peed in one of our porcelain cups that we use in our bathroom. DH was disgusted and even after it went through the dishwasher at least 4 times I don't think we will ever use either of the cups in the bathroom. We just don't know which one as the "pee one". We'll see though, in one of those dark nights of constant breastfeeding and no sleeping and if I am thirsty enough it probably won't really matter. I find it much easier to pee in a larger cup than try to watch and let my stream hit the stick in the right spot. Dídn't want to mess this Big Test up! Both tests were for sure, so I calmly called DH down and he looked and with a big smile said its right, we are having a baby!

Of course I took pictures of the pee stick, thinking ahead of baby books and such. Now I just have to remember to actually pull them off the camera and organize it on the computer. I swear though I will not be one of those people who actually post their pee stick picture on facebook. Somethings are better left for private.

So here we are starting a new journey....

stay posted through our joyful journey, and I am sure there will be bumps along the way!

~Amanda