3rd June, 2007 - 6 weeks 3 days.

Hi, My name is Claire and I am 6 and a half weeks pregnant! I found out 2 weeks ago and even though my husband and I have been trying for 6 months....it was still a shock.....but an exciting shock! We told all of our family last weekend, they were over the moon, especially the Grandmothers-to-be! I am feeling very blessed to be pregnant but extremely worried aswell (and I'm not usually a big stresser!). I'm just worried because it is still early days! My blood tests and urine checks have all been fine so far. I'm being very consious about what I eat and drink.....almost too paranoid, i think! Morning sickness kicked in during the week. I wake up every morning feeling really queezy! I start to feel better as the day progresses. But Oh My Gosh.....I can not stop eating! I am so hungry all the time!!

My stomach has started to swell already....my clothes are already fitting a little tighter!

My 1st scan is in about 6 weeks (the 12 week mark!). I can't wait to have the scan! I can't wait to see our little baby on the screen.....and to get the ok from the doc with how the baby is developing!

Keep in touch as I will add to this on-line journal regularly. Bye for now!

From Claire, Chris and Pea xxx. (That's what we're calling the baby for now beacuse it is soooooo small!!) (And we don't want to reveal our chosen baby names until the birth!)

4th June, 2007- 6weeks 4 days.

Argh...I have been so sick today!

So much for morning sickness...more like all day sickness!!

I woke up feeling queezy and it didn't go until about 1pm and then returned at 5pm. I felt so sick that I couldn't eveneat the delicious dinner I made. The smell made me want to be sick. I had to give it to Chris and clean up the kitchen straight away to get rid of the cooking smell. And then the only thing I could stomach was baked beans on toast! Ahhh!!!

I hope this passes soon. I can't imagine feeling this sickly everyday for months!

I've tried a few remedies....dried biscuits in the morning, ginger drinks, herbal tea etc, but nothing seems to have worked so far! My friend Jacqui, who has had 2 kids, recommended eating Jatz biscuits during the day! I might give that a try...especially at work. I can snack on them while teaching when I get the hunger sick pains!

Anyway, enough from me.

Talk soon xoxox.

12th June 2007 - 7 weeks 5 days.

Wow...I can't believe I'm just about to enter week 8! Time has flown past pretty quick already! Nearly through the 1st Trimester. I have a prenatal doctor appointment in 2 weeks and thats when the doc is going to give me a referral for our 1st scan. We're going to get the scan during week 12 or 13.....I can't wait!!

I've been feeling quite sick during the last couple of weeks. Today was probably the best I've felt for a while....but I hit a wall when I got home from work. I just felt really queezy and tired.

Cooking has been a bit of a no-go for me at the moment. Handling raw meat makes me feel so sick and most cooking smells make my stomach turn! I still love food but if I've smelt it cook....I don't feel like eating it. It's so funny how much my senses have changed! Usually I cook and eat anything! And usually I love the smell of cooking...but not at the moment! It's driving me mad and it must be annoying Chris....I've become so picky. I've been sticking to really simple dinners...like really plain pastas, spaghetti on toast or garlic and cheese pizza bread!

My brother, Wez, his wife Bronwyn and my 1yr old Newphew/Godson, Hunter came to visit from Canberra over the weekend. It was Wez's 30th birthday. I felt really bad because we didn't end up properly celebrating it with him. He had planned a night out at a restaurant but I have just been so sick that couldn't see myself being much fun. But we got to see them a few times over the weekend and they came to stay on Monday night. It was great to have them. Hunter is so adorable. He is such a good baby. He has the most amazing, bright, cheeky personality. I'm really looking forward to when our little bub is out into the big wide world and having family get togethers with all the cousins (Hunter 1, Cooper 18months, Elina 17months and Ava 5).

Well...as you can see from my pie graph, apparently there's a HUGE chance we're having a girl. The Chinese lunar calender also said we're having a girl and my brother said that he doesn't know anyone who that has been wrong for yet....but we'll find out at the 20 week scan!!

See ya next time,

Claire and Pea xoxox.

29th June, 2007 - 10 weeks 1 days.

Yay....I reached week 10 yesterday! It was Chris's birthday yesterday too. I wasn't feeling very good at all. I'm still feeling so queezy most of the time and I have really bad sinus at the moment (and of course, can't take anything!). I felt a little bad for Chris, because I usually make such a big deal out of birthdays but I'm just feeling so yuck and tired and flat all the time lately. I really can't wait to be out of the 1st Trimester.....not long to go!

We've booked our 1st scan for the 20th July. I'll be in my 13th week then! I am so excited about having the scan and seeing our little baby!!!

I'm going to Canberra tomorrow for a week (eeks...it'll be cold). I'm going with my Mum and we're babysitting my 14month old nephew Hunter for the week while my Sister-in-law is away on work travel. My brother (Hunter's daddy) will be there but he works full-time so Mum and I were more than happy to come and help! (And perfect timing as I'm on holidays this week!) I hope I'm ok on the plane....I'm a little worried about being sick!!) I threw up this week at the bank....it was so embarrassing. I didn't see it coming, I just got really hot and dizzy and then.......YUCK!

Anyways, enough from me. Hopefully next time I write....I'm feeling great and I can stop whining about how sick I feel!!

Love Claire and Pea xoxoxox.

Hunter & I in the snow - Thredbo, NSW, Australia.

18th July 2007- 12 weeks 6 days.

This is my 13th week belly. Yay...I gained nearly 3kg and my belly is now looking like a little pregnant podge! I actually feel pregnant now!!

20th July 2007 - 13 weeks 1 day.

We had the 1st scan today. Here is our little bub at the 13 weeks old (sorry the photo isn't very good quality). Having the scan was the most amazing thing I have ever done or seen. Still no idea if it's a boy or girl...but dying to know! During the scan I had feelings that it was a boy but now when I look closely at the scan pictures, I get feelings it's a girl!! The heart beat was 140BPM and everything looked normal and healthy! It was actually a bit emotional looking up at the screen and seeing this perfect little thing inside of me. Chris got a little teary too! The baby definitely takes after it's daddy though...it was very hypo! Constantly moving around....doing flips and rolls and kicking around! I was in complete awe at our little miracle! I'm so in love with it already!

Until next time,

Claire xoxox.

2nd August 2007 - 15 weeks.

I'm 15 weeks today and feeling great! I've had the flu for the past couple of weeks but that's cleared up....finally! My morning sickness has also gone....YAY! I forgot how nice it feels to get through the day without feeling so sick and gagging at every smell! I still get very hungry all the time but I've got my normal appetite back so I can actually eat normal food again! No weird cravings yet.....but I've been eating a lot of cereal (but I've always been a cereal addict!). Now that the morning sickness has gone, I've got a lot more energy back. I'm able to do everyday household chores when I get home from work and I am able to cook dinner again! So overall, I'm feeling great! I'm really enjoying being pregnant now......I also have a big belly which I'm also starting to really enjoy! We've booked the 18 week scan for the 23rd August (3days before my birthday). I'm hoping the baby will be co-operating during the scan so we can see the sex!!

Love Claire xo.

This is my nephew, Cooper C Norris. (He's so cute!!) He lives in Kansas, USA. My brother was transfered there with the army. They are moving back to Australia at the end of 2008. Cooper will be almost 3 by then and our little bub will be almost 1. I can't wait for the cousins to meet!!

25th August 2007 - 18 weeks 2 Days.

Well I didn't end up having the scan on Thursday because the X-Ray place accidentally double booked my time slot. So we are having the scan next Wednesday 29th Aug. I was so disappointed when I found out because I was counting down the days until we saw our little bub again and I'm dying to find out it's gender!! Oh well....only a few more days to wait now.

I've been feeling really great! I'm loving life without morning sickness! I have all my energy back and a normal appetite again. I had my monthly checkup yesterday at my doctor's. All is fine! I've gained 7.5 kg in total but the doc said that was fine! The baby's heart beat was 150BPM and my blood pressure was fine!

It's my birthday tomorrow...the big 25! I had a b'day dinner last night with my family and Chris's family. We're off to my best friend's party tonight - Mexican Theme! Should be a fun night!

I'll post again on Wednesday....with hopefully news of the sex!

29th August 2007 - 18weeks 6days.

We had our 18week scan this morning and I'm over the moon to say......

She (ahh, it feels so good to be able to say that instead of saying It) was moving around so much. All of her body parts and organs were perfect and she is growing right on track! I really didn't mind if we had a boy or girl...I'm just so happy to finally know! I can't wait to start decorating her room now!
The only issue detected was that the placenta was still sitting quite low. I'll have to have another scan in the 3rd trimester to see if it has moved upwards...if not, I'll have to have a c-section because the birth canal will be blocked but the Sonographer said not to worry...it was common!
Chris and I feel so so blessed. I am so happy!
(I went straight to the shops after the scan and bought a little pink outfit, pink shoes and a Daddy's Little Girl body suit to give Chris on Father's Day.....so cute!)

Happy Father's Day to all the daddies and grand-daddies out there!
We had a great day! Chris received a few presents from our little bub. We then went down to my Mum and Dad's house and went out on my Grandpop's boat for the day. It was beautiful and warm....so glad that winter is finally over! We anchored in at Stradbroke Island for coffee and then we got Fish'n'Chips at Paradise Point.
On the way home, we stopped into visit Chris's Mum and Dad and ended up staying there for a few hours!
Home now and getting ready for another busy week.
Here's a pic from today:

Photos Above: (Left) Monica and I having a laugh at my belly! (Right) Chris and I on the dance floor!

These photos were taken at Monica's (my best friend) 25th Birthday Party on the 25th of August 2007. I was 18weeks pregnant then. It was a Mexican Fiesta party and we had a ball. I thought I would feel a little funny not being able to drink (there was heaps of free cocktails and vodka frozen slushy drinks) but I was fine (there was Mexican bottles of water :-) so I enjoyed them for the night!) and we had the best night. Chris and I were still dancing at 2am. My feet were aching from being in heels but apart from that I felt great!

Wow....what an experience!
My original due date was Jan 24th but one of the scans (the 20 week scan) said my due date was Jan 25th. I (along with most of my family) thought that I'd go into labour much earlier than that. I had my bets on the 11th of Jan and Chris had his on the 9th of Jan...anyway, those dates came and went and before I knew it I was 40weeks pregnant on the 24th of Jan. By now I was totally over being pregnant and just dying to meet my little girl and begin our new chapter of life!
The hospital booked me in for an induction for Sunday 3rd of Feb....that seemed like forever away - I was wishing that I would go into labour naturally before that date!
So here goes....
On Thursday the 24th, I went to my weekly doctor appointment and had my due date check-up. All was fine with me and bub and I had no early labour symptoms at all, so I made another pregnancy doc appointment for the following week :-( Then that afternoon when I was relaxing at home, I started to get mild contractions. I decided to time them on my laptop (on the contractions master website) and they were all over the place - 9mins apart then 15mins apart etc. Then they disappeared for a couple of hours so I had a nap watching telly. When Chris got home I told him I was having some contractions during the day but that I thought they were just false labour or Braxton Hicks because of their inconsistency. We walked up to the local Thai restaurant for dinner and throughout the whole meal I was having contractions 6-9 mins apart (slightly painful - like a dull period pain) but once we got home and I relaxed on the couch - they seemed to go away again, so I went to bed and actually had one of the best night's sleep I'd had in ages - I didn't feel any contractions during the night! I woke up at 4am - very awake and hungry, so I got up and had some orange juice and watched tv (a birthing show on the discovery channel...hehe) for about 45mins and then went back to bed. Just as I was drifting off into sleep again (about 5:30am) I felt & heard a POP in my lower tummy. I thought the baby had given me a big almighty kick but then I had a really hard/sharp pain which made me sit up. Then I realised my waters had broken! I said to Chris "Ahh...I think my waters have broken.." and then a gush of water ran down my legs so I waddled to the loo! Chris jumped up and was straight in the shower! 10mins later we were in the car and on our way to hospital. Luckily my bags were already packed and in the car - all I had to do was put on some clothes!
On the way to hospital I had contractions every 3-4 minutes. Chris asked me what they felt like - the best way I could explain them was: it felt like someone was grabbing my tummy muscles and twisting them! We arrived at the hospital and had to go through the Emergency Department because the Maternity section was shut. Straight away I was taken into my Birthing Suite and hooked up to a machine that monitored the baby's heart beat and my contractions. My contractions were coming every 3mins and lasting for 40 seconds. I was really uncomfortable lying down - my back was killing! I had to ask to get off the machine after about 40mins so I could roll over or stand up! Because my contractions were so short (40secs) the midwife said that I still had a long way to go. The contractions were getting worse and worse each time - excruciating actually - the most pain I've ever experienced in my life. They were coming hard and fast - I hardly had time to recover in between. Chris was great! He was massaging my back and putting cold washers on my face and neck and telling me to squeeze his hand and inflict the pain onto him :-) A doctor came and did an internal check - he said I was only 3cm dialated - he then pulled the midwife aside to talk to her! She then told Chris and I that the doctor has predicted a very long labour as he thinks I'll only dialte 1cm per hour due to my short contractions! They (along with me) started to doubt my goal to have a drug-free labour as we were all expecting a very long day ahead! The doc had also suggested to put a drip into me and inject an inducing substance that would get things going quicker. I had a big decision to make - did I want to get the drip and then maybe some pain relief (pethadine was on offer). I agreed to have the drip and then maybe have some pain relief so I could sleep! While they prepared that - I had a shower - that decreased the pain very slightly - having the hot water on my back took the edge off the contractions so I stayed in for about 15mins!
When I got out, they inserted a drip into my hand but before they had a chance to inject anything in - the midwife decided to do another internal check because of the pain she could see I was in and I told her I was starting to get an urge to push! She looked in and then said "Oh dear - I can see a head. We're having this baby now!" She started to glove up and get everything ready! Wow...what a crazy situation! I was just accepting the fact that I would be in labour for a very long time & would need drugs and now I'm being told to push...Ahhh! I had a few puffs of gas but I didn't feel that it was doing anything so I dumped that and focussed on breathing and relaxing...haaa!
So...the contractions were still coming every 3mins and still only last about 45secs so I didn't get much time to push each time. Chris was still wiping me down with a cold washer and being so supportive! After about an hour (maybe an hour & half) of extreme pushing - Ella Louise was born at 11:31am - only a total of 6 hours from when my waters broke! It was such a wonderful yet surreal experience! I was too exhausted to laugh or cry! After a few seconds, Ella started to scream and they put her up on my chest. She stopped crying & just laid on me completely relaxed! Chris cut the cord - it was so special to see how emotional he was - he was already besotted with this perfect little girl! That next hour is a bit of a blur - I think I spent the whole time just starring at Ella. But in that hour I breast fed her, I was stitched up by the doctor, I was given a needle that made the placenta come out & Ella was checked out, weighed and dressed. She was a whopping 8 pounds 2 ounces (3.69kg) and 56cm long with a head circumference of 36cm. My parents and Chris's parents then arrived and I was able to have a shower...ahhhh...I felt pretty gross by this stage :-)
A couple of hours later, we were in our ward bed and the vistitors started coming! I stayed in hospital for 2 nights. The hospital was great and so were the staff but I was just dying to get home to be with Chris and Ella.



Daddy's Little Girl! Play time with Mummy!

6th February 2008.

Wow...I can't believe Ella is already 1 and half weeks old. She is an absolute dream and I am totally loving being a Mummy...the good times and the 'challenging' times!
I'm constantly learning & I've been very lucky that Ella is quite patient with me...hehehe.
Chris had 1 week off work and it was wonderful to have him home. He was such a great help and it was just nice sharing all those 'first' special moments with him. He's been back at work this week and Ella and I have been doing pretty well. I even got a chance to do some vacuuming and cleaning today so that was a good feeling! I'm still finding breastfeeding very challenging. I'm expressing whenever I get the chance and feeding her that as a top-up because she just isn't drinking enough from the boob alone!
Anyways, I better go...Ella is due to wake up soon!



My Precious Angel...

9th of March 2008

Ella is now 6 weeks old & everyday with her is amazing. She is such a joy! Overall, she is a really good baby. She only cries when there is a good reason - hungry, tired, wet nappy etc. And even then, she'll only cry for a little while - nothing hysterical. I hope that never changes & I hope she continues being such a calm baby.
I gave up on breastfeeding about 3 weeks ago. It just wasn't working for Ella and I and it was stressing me out big time. She was hungry ALL THE TIME because she just wasn't drinking properly from the boob therefore not getting enough. Since we introduced the formula things have been fantastic! She now feeds every 3-4hours and I'm not stressed or anxious anymore. I was really sad that my plan to breastfeed didn't workout but I'm ok with it all now. Ella is gaining weight & she is happy & healthy so that makes me extremely happy! She now weighs 4.53kg & she is really filling out in the face & legs!
I love watching her play. She has started to smile heaps now & she's started 'talking'...well babbling and making sounds :-)
She fascinates me. I'm so in love with her and couldn't be happier!
We went out last night to a restaurant at the Gold Coast for Chris's Pa's 80th Birthday. Ella was perfect all night. She didn't whine or cry at all. She hardly slept though because it was noisy and busy and everyone wanted to cuddle her and talk to her! But she has slept most of today to make up for it. She has only woken every 3hours today to feed and then straight back to sleep. Normally she'll stay awake for a couple of hours to play!
Chris is the perfect husband & Daddy. Even though he works full-time, he'll still come out to the lounge some nights when I'm up feeding Ella and keep me company, and he's still helping out with the cooking. He went grocery shopping this morning coz he knows how hard it is for me to do it with Ella & the pram!
I'm feeling very lucky & happy at the moment!!

Here's a picture from last night:




My Beautiful Girl:



23rd April 2008.

Wow....Ella is now 12 weeks & 5 days old! I can't believe how fast this past 3 months has gone. Ella is the most gorgeous little thing I have ever laid my eyes on (hehehe....I'm allowed to be biased!!) I can't get enough of her. I keep saying to Chris that I want to cover her in chocolate topping and eat her for dessert...haaaa!
Ok, on a more serious note - Ella is growing beautifully...actually she is growing so fast. Last time I had her weighed was 3 weeks ago and she was 6.40kg & 62cm. I'm getting her weighed again next week so who knows how big she will be...but I know she has grown A LOT coz she is now wearing 00 clothes (for 6 month olds...haaa!) So she is obviously thriving on the formula and I couldn't be happier. She is healthy and very happy. She is always smiling, giggling, gurgling & cooing. She is actually really noisy with her cute noises. She cracks me up!
She is a very content baby, which I'm thankful for! But she does have her moments..where she is unsettled & grizzly & making a fuss! Actually....about 3 weeks ago, she was very unsettled for about 5 days straight - she was just really grizzly and needy. She wanted to be cuddled all the time and wasn't sleeping very well during the days...making her crankier!! She may have been feeling unwell coz she was also doing big spews after feeds too. But thank goodness....that all stopped and she's back to her normal, chatty, happy self!
Ella and I get out and about most days. We go to Mother's Group every Monday which I love coz they're a really nice bunch of girls and I love talking babies with them! We also go to Mums & Bubs Fitness class every Thursday morning which is fun and Ella loves being outside in the fresh air. Then on the other days we go shopping or visit family or go out with some of our friends from the Mother's Group. Today we went on a picnic at a park with 3 of the girls & their bubs...it was so lovely.
I am so grateful to have Chris as my husband. I feel very lucky that I don't have to go to work this year! I am LOVING being a stay-at-home Mum and I am so blessed that I can enjoy this time with Ella. I'm already dreading going back to work next year :-) I love my job but I love being with Ella a whole lot more!!!! I love talking to her & telling her stories, reading to her, singing her songs, playing with her & teaching her new things! I'm going to miss that next year! Oh well....I'll worry about that when the time comes :-0
Ella isn't sleeping through the night yet. She has her last bottle at about 5pm and then has a bath and is usually in bed by about 6pm-6:30pm. I then feed her at 10pm before I go to bed. It's called a 'dreamfeed' - i feed her without even waking her. Then she wakes about 2-3am for a feed and then is up for the day at about 6am. I'm ok with that routine for now but am looking forward to having a full nights sleep again one day!
So overall.....Ella is great and I am so so happy with life at the moment!



Ella, Chris & I - Family Picnic @ the beach.



Ella - tummy time - 11 weeks old.



Little smile - Easter weekend - my gorgeous girl.

23rd May 2008

Ella is 17weeks old today. She will be 4 months old on Sunday.
Here are some photos from the past month:



Chris, Ella & I - Mother's Day 2008!
It was my 1st Mothers Day & I was very spoilt!!!

(I did write an update here - but the text went missing :-(
I will re-write it soon when I get the chance!)

25th July 2008

Ella turned 6 months today!! She is such a delight! (Of course, she has her moments where she is fussy and grumpy...when she was teething or the few days after her needles, but most of the time she is a happy girl!)
She now has 2 teeth, she is sitting up without support and rolling from back to tummy.
Ella weighs 8.61kg and is 70cm long.
She talks all day long...her favourite word is "oooh" and "bah" and she giggles out loud at anything and everything. Her gorgeous smile makes my day!!
She still isn't sleeping through the night yet.... but her sleep is getting better! I changed her to a different formula in the hope that it fills her up a little more at night. Since having the new formula, she has dropped 1 night feed and is less fussier during the day.
She loves jumping in her Jolly Jumper, bath time, books, walks in the pram and playing with other bubs and kids!
I'm still absolutely loving being a MUM and feeling so very very grateful that I was blessed with such a beautiful little girl....


Ella and Koda the cat. Bath time fun!



Check out my 2 chompers! Having fun at the park.