Creation

My baby quivers inside my belly

and my world stops.

Around me, clouded and fuzzy,

Computers whirr,

Errand boys run,

Telephones ring.

Hustling and bustling,

the office carries on.

But I sit,

seat pushed back

from my desk

with my hand on the future.

-Marlene Anne Bumgarner (Mother Poet)

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from: Mothering Magazine's Having a Baby, Naturally by Peggy O'Mara

Large and Lovely

Now I know my body

Is really a vessel,

Able to transform itself

At the service of life,

Able to stretch big

With life,

To swell small breasts

Large with milk,

To grow narrow pelvis

Open for birth,

To reach open arms

Out for comfort.

-Peggy O'Mara

19 Weeks

19 Week Belly Shot

The view from above, looking down (I cannot see my feet anymore)

19 Weeks
Taken from babycenter.com

Your baby measures about 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she already has 6 million eggs in her ovaries. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. He may be able to hear you as you talk. Research shows that he's learning to distinguish your voice from others, and he'll soon show a preference for it.
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Not much to report, other than I really am starting to feel this baby move about more often. Not every day yet, but sometimes I feel this baby about three times a day! I love this part of pregnancy that is for sure. I know this is the middle trimester, which is typically called the "honeymoon trimester" but I still feel really tired, and I still gag every time I brush my teeth. I still am affected by strong smells like body odour, cigarette smells and poop! Diapers still make me gag. I usually change diapers on my bedroom floor, but that is not going to happen for much longer. I am finding it difficult to get up from the floor already. I am experiencing Braxton Hicks at times already (oh uterus, how you practice earlier and earlier each time helping this uterus to do the "job" ONE more time!!) I remember when I was pregnant with Cameron I never felt one at all. And then, with each successive pregnancy they got stronger! I will expect the same thing again this time. Except this time earlier than I can remember!

I am feeling very happy and content this time around, and I am thankful for a healthy baby inside of me, I am thankful for the love and support of my family and friends. Especially to my dear hubby Cliff who helps me in so many ways. I love the way he rubs my belly, and tells me how big it is getting! I know he is getting excited about this baby too as he can see the growth of my belly. He keeps asking me when he will be able to feel this baby move. I keep telling him soon, hunny really soon!

I cannot believe that in one week I have reached the half way mark already! I just feel like I found out. I guess because my life is very busy with my 5, and my hubby and life. I just want to take a bit of time to bond with this baby, and to enjoy this feeling for one last time. I know before I know it, school will be back in session, we will have birthdays and Thanksgiving and then Christmas prep! And then, baby will arrive. I know this time around I will really miss this so I will savour this time. Enjoy this pregnancy. Enjoy my life and take the time to feel this baby as I know I will miss that wonderful feeling the most.

We have been chatting about a vasectomy date for Cliff. Working on the details. Hopefully very soon. As you all know we are a very fertile couple and for that we are grateful. BUT, we don't want to have a seventh baby. This is my seventh pregnancy, I have been pregnant, breastfeeding and doing diapers for almost eight years now! It will be a decade dedicated to my babies after I finish breastfeeding and diapering this baby.

I have a hard time believing that I am having my sixth child. I would have never chosen this path for myself, but I am truly amazed at how wonderfully my life has turned out! My sister April said the other day on the phone that we are so lucky to be able to see six individual kids, and have the chance to see how all of the kids can look as siblings! I am just excited to watch them grow up now!

This ultrasound was analyzed by my friend Hope, who forwarded this photo to me yesterday! Thanks Hope!

Thank goodness there is only ONE badger in there!

And, I hope this badger does get some blue eyes!!

A phone call this evening...

I received a wonderful phone call this evening at 7:30 pm from my Doctor himself. He said he was going through a whole bunch of paper work on his desk, and he saw my ultrasound results already. He was happy to share with me that our baby is VERY healthy and growing right on schedule! The dates are right and everything! He wanted me to know that before my appointment so that I would not worry for another couple of weeks! I just love my doctor! I feel that he goes above and beyond for me. I love that.

I said to him on the phone, oh good! I can send Cliff for his surgery now...and he said? Why now? You mean there won't be a CHANCE of number seven? And, I told him NO WAY!! He is sad!

I thanked him for calling me, and he said he was surprised to hear that I was not nervous when the phone rang tonight from the office. I just knew everything will be OK this time around!

So, that is our good news tonight! I feel soooooo excited for November! I am so excited to meet this little baby!

It's a BABY!

Here are the first glimpses of our sweet baby number six!

Will it be a boy or a girl??

Ultrasound was done this afternoon, and Cliff was able to make it. She was a really nice tech, and she said we had a very uncooperative baby! I had to roll on both sides as baby wouldn't move around enough. I told her, and Cliff that this baby truly will fit in very nicely then! We saw the spine, the two parts of the brain, the ribs and the umbilical cord! And sweet little legs and feet!

Well, it's a baby in there! And during the scan when Cliff was there, she called the baby "he!" I wouldn't get too excited people!! I know a lot of you out there are rooting for a boy, but I still say girl! She probably calls every baby "he" when doing her scans. Anyways, we didn't want to find out the gender, just the health of the baby. I am just happy there is one baby in there. I will have the results of this (long) scan in couple of weeks at my next doctors appointment.

It was a very exciting day for us all, and I cannot wait to show the scan photos to the kids on Friday afternoon when they get back from camping with Aunty Amy and Uncle Tyler!

Ultrasound Appointment today!

Today I go get to get an "inside" look of the baby growing within. I am 18 weeks 3/7 days today.
I always love to have the "sneak peek" and just hope and pray for a great ultrasound appointment and results! I know this is a totally different pregnancy and I am thankful that this one has gone rather smoothly.

And no, I will NOT be finding out the sex. I just LOVE the surprise at the end of a hard nine, well make that ten months of pregnancy. There is no greater surprise in life to me! I am not so much about the sex of the baby, but much more about the health of the baby. It has been that way for each and every one of my pregnancies! Boy or Girl, this baby will be loved!

I am hoping my hubby can join me, but we will see. I will be sure to post a photo when I have one in my hot little hands!

Later Baby!