August 31st 2007

Well, today is the last day of my second trimester (ever), and the last day of August as well. Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will be starting my final third trimester (ever) and it will also be September 1st! Imagine that! Wow, how time flies by!

We are getting there, and last night Cliff was able to feel the baby give some big moves and kicks. He enjoyed that! So did I.

9 years almost to the day...

I was thinking back to when we first conceived our first baby. (that would be Cameron) My lmp was November 12, 1998. And we conceived him around the 26th of November, 1998. And, for this last baby will be born right around that same time frame, except 9 years later!

I am due December 1st. But there has been talk of delivering a week or so early (IF I am favourable like I have been in the past couple of deliveries.) Wouldn't that be wild if we delivered on the same day, or a couple of days off from that first conception? Wow. That would truly be an ending, to a truly wonderful beginning to my journey to motherhood almost 10 years ago.

By the time I stop breastfeeding this little baby in my belly (next year around November 2008) will be a decade of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding under my belt. Wow!

Mom and Baby Needs Checklist

Baby Care Products
•Aveno baby shampoo/body wash combo
•Vaseline (have)
•baby nail clippers or safety scissors (have)
•Ivory Snow/Washing Soda for Laundry Layette
•diaper pail (perhaps Diaper Champ)
•newborn diapers Pampers Swaddlers (several bags needed and perhaps 1 bag of size 1's )
•baby washcloths (have some, need new ones depending on the sex of the baby)
•gowns/newborn sleepers (4-6) Will go out and buy 3 brand new newborn sleepers: Pink,Blue and Green! I think they will need to be pink
•receiving blankets (4-6) (I have a ton of pink ones, and Mom has the boy ones still I believe)
•newborn cap (1-2) See if I have any left?
•hooded bath towels and wash cloths - Definitely need these, as I gave all of mine away because I wasn't having any more babies. Perhaps can be bought after baby is here! Go gender specific?!
•4-6 all-in-ones (see if I have any white newborn ones left in the bin? Maybe April has them?)

Baby Gear
•baby carrier (sling and/or Baby Bjorn) Look into a sling for the winter. I have my Bjorn
•infant seat (have to bring it to the hospital!) Will get the infant seat from Sears on a Baby Days sale
•bouncer seat (Kidwap or Craigslist)
•diaper bag (Have, but pack to suit newborn and other gals!)

Furniture and Accessories
•bassinet/crib Need to buy one more crib...wait to see what sex we have. Need that bassinet ASAP from Sears or Toys r Us
•mattress (packed away)
•new pack and play for family room (get from Sears on Baby Days sale)

Nursing Necessities
•nursing pillow - have my nice one packed away
•disposable nursing pads - Get Lansinoh - Need
•sports-bottle for much-needed water - Be sure to pack to the hospital

New Mom Care
•big box of extra-long maxi pads - Going to get Kotex overnights (thanks Kidswap friends!!)
•another box of smaller pads for later after the flow cuts down
•nursing nightgown or comfy cotton pajamas - I will definitely need something here!! Nude won't cut it lol!
•Nursing tank tops! From Thyme or Motherhood
•nursing bras (go to lingerie store one month before babe is due, so around November 1st)
•Tucks x 2 boxes!!

Other Good Ideas/Purchases
•cook and freeze meals for when baby is first here (want at least 5 days of freezer meals!)
•Arrange for pregnancy photos around week 37
•dig out suitcase and start packing (remember folder)
•hand print kit (bought this weekend)
•newspaper for the day baby is born (Mom usually does)
•Christmas ornament (Mom already bought!)
•big Rubbermaid container for memories - Need
•Purchase baby book and calendar - Either Babys World or Bug a Boo or even Hallmark...just need the right one
•memory box small from Toys r Us - Gender specific as per usual!

Things I have noticed this past week and today:

• Well, for one swelling. From my toes, ankle and up to my knees
• More braxton hicks, and very strong this morning (they get stronger with each pregnancy I have found)
• Veins are bulging and throbby and achy. I am now developing veins on my left leg too.
• Still feel sick in the morning
• Heartburn
• Getting up to pee in the middle of the night
• I can see my belly moving from the outside when baby is moving! Hopefully Cliff will feel some more movements soon! Every time he tries, baby stops moving!

Some more facinating stats!

Trimesters:

I have been through 7 first trimesters
I have been through 6 second trimesters
I have been through almost 6 third trimesters

Breastfeeding:

I breastfed my first until 6 months
I breastfed my second until 12 months
I breastfed my third until 12 months
I breastfed my fourth until 12 months
I breastfed my fifth until 13.5 months (and never used any bottles this time around, we went straight to cup!)

Morning Sickness:

I have had morning sickness with all babies. The easiest time was with my first, my son. I never threw up with him. Just felt tired, and at times sick.

With my daughters:

• Claire I was so sick, and had nausea for weeks on end.
• Carly, I was so sick and throwing up and I considered Diclectin, but then didn't.
• Catie, I was sick, but only a few times but had really bad 24/7 nausea
• Caroline, I was sick a few times, but had the 24/7 nausea
• This baby, I have thrown up four times, and had the 24/7 nausea.
• My morning sickness lasted until about 17/18 weeks with them.

Old Wives Tales:

The heart rate pregnancy old wives tale has worked every time for us, and if it is right again I will be having another girl.

Delivery Stats:

A female doctor delivered my first boy
A male doctor delivered my first girl
A male doctor delivered the rest of my girls
A male doctor will be delivering this baby...I call girl

Glucose Screenings:

I had to take the three hour gestational diabetes test with two out of five babies so far. With Cameron, my first, and Caroline my last pregnancy. I go for my test next week! Time will tell.

Natural Childbirth:

I have had natural childbirths with each of my kids. I have used nitrous oxide right before pushing with all of them. From about 9-10 cms. Pushed out 5 babies with my own will lol.

Labour:

• Cameron: Water broke in a gush, 16 hours total, hard labour; pushed for 2 hours, needed stitching and had some hemorrhaging afterwards
• Claire: Tiny water leak, 11 hours total, hard labour; pushed for 20 mins
• Carly: Tiny water leak, 8 hours total, hard labour pushed through 10 mins
• Catie: Induced, broke my water, 9 hours, hard labour, pushed through 2 contractions
• Caroline: Induced, broke my water, 6 hours, hard labour, could have pushed her head out in one push, stopped and then 1 or 2 contractions she was born

The Kids' Stats:

• Cameron born at 37 weeks (19 days early) 7 lbs. 1 oz.
• Claire born at 36 weeks, 6 lbs. 12 oz.
• Carly, born at 37 weeks (on her brothers original due date, 19 days early too at 6 lbs. 14 oz.
• Catie, born at 39 weeks (day after her Daddy) at 7 lbs. 5 oz.
• Caroline, born at 38 weeks, 7 lb.s 4 oz.

Who was present at the births:

• Cameron: Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Claire, Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Carly, Cliff, my Mom, my Dad, my MIL, Cliff's cousin, my friend and my 2 sisters
• Catie, Cliff and my 2 sisters
• Caroline, Cliff, and my two friends Lisa (with 5, and expecting her 6th like I am) and Louise. Sisters missed the birth. And, there were a lot of nursing staff and students in the room
• Baby C6: Will just be Cliff and I!

Week 26, 14 weeks to go...

Week 26! Baby 6!

Hello Cathy, from BabyCenter Canada
26 Weeks Pregnant

Your baby's becoming more sensitive to sound as the network of nerves in her ears develops. If dad talks to her now, she might learn to recognize his voice. The more she hears it, the more likely she is to find it soothing after she's born.


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Well, I have grown EVERYWHERE from what I can tell in the photo that was taken last night at 2 am! Why at 2 am you ask? Well, Cliff and I went out on a REAL date. Part of our get back out into the real world lol! We went out for a nice dinner, and then we went to see the new Bourne Ultimatum movie which was SOOOO good! We saw the first two movies in that series at home. So, in our quest to be a "couple" as well as parents we have started hiring a babysitter so we can get out a couple of times a month! The kids love the sitter, and we love getting out together on our own.

I tried a pair of jean capri maternity pants on this morning that I purchased at the beginning of my pregnancy, and they fit perfectly then.Today, I couldn't pull them over the top of my bum. I showed Cliff, and I said see: It is a girl in here! He still insists it is a boy. Even though he has called the baby a girl on ONE occasion. He said he can still dream for the next 14 weeks! Usually the big bum equals a girl in my pregnancies! I believe this will hold true again for baby number six.

Anyways, I cannot believe that next week I enter my final trimester. Trimester number three. Somewhere where I will never again venture in my life. I am OK with that.

99 days to go!

I just looked at my crazy baby ticker, and all of a sudden I am in the under 100 days left! Yikes!

I better write up my to-do list for this baby!