Click here to vote on a name for our little one! We're struggling to agree on any of them.

Feb.27/08

I had an appoitment with the Midwives yesterday, and after doing an internal, said the same thing as last time, I've made progress, it could happen any time now. I have officially had my bloody show though! She tried to do a sweep and strech of my membranes, but she could only get one finger in (it is usually done with two), so she did what she could with one. In addition, she gave the go ahead with castor oil (which I was SHOCKED about... I definatly was expecting her to say no... but she said it does work with a lot of women, and she's never had any woman have problems!). Anyways... neither of them worked... but omg...I have never experienced anything like the castor oil before in my life! I know this is probably TMI... but I swear I lost 10 pounds yesterday! ... if not more! Oh well.. at least I've tried it... and everything else suggested lol. The midwife set up a date for me to have a final ultrasound, and then be induced (March 11), but hopefully it won't come to that. She said that they rarely have to induce, most women have their first babies between 40-41 weeks (which is this upcoming week for me!)... fingers crossed.. again!

update: Lost my mucus plug! I thought i'd lost it a couple weeks ago, but that must have been just part of it.... this was Definatly my mucus plug!

Feb.24/08

My fiance and I went to the Science Center today. I'd been there when I was younger, and remember it being really interesting, and he'd never been, so we thought it'd be a nice change from mall walking. It is definatly for children lol. I should have checked online about it, rather then go on and on to my fiance about how much he'll love it.... I can't see him letting this one go for a while lol. We had a good time regardless, goofing around and trying to avoid getting knocked over by the kids everywhere lol. It was a nice switch up from malls however. I had a really intense pain on my right side before we left, that came and went all day, along with contractions, but I figured it wasn't anything to worry about, since the baby had been active, and there was no pattern to the contractions. I called the midwife just to make sure that it wasn't a sign of anything bad happening, and she told me that unless it got worse, take it easy, and it was probably the baby on a nerve or something. This baby is getting SO big... that was probably the case. My skin is starting to actually hurt in some places its been streched so much! I'm kind of worried at how much she's going to weigh! The last ultrasound we had almost a month ago put her at 7 pounds.... add to that the 1 pound a week they're supposed to gain... thats 10+ pounds!!! Come on small one.... help break mommy's water!! lol

Feb.21/08

I am BEYOND frustrated! Getting braxton hicks for the past month was fine, because I knew that they were fake, and so I didn't get my hopes up. Having real contractions is just terrible! I went to the midwives yesterday, where she confirmed I've been having contractions the past couple days, and told me that it could be early labour.. which can last a couple days. I had been thinking this anyways, but having her tell me that, I was so excited! She gave me the rundown on what to do/what to take when the contractions become beyond uncomfortable, told me she was on call this weekend, and I would more then likely be seeing her, fingers crossed. So I did what she told me to, went back to the stupid mall, and walked around all night. I also went on the ball when I got home, which brought on instant contractions.... which continued throughout the night! I started getting painful contractions around 4am this morning, that seemed to be getting closer together, so my fiance decided to stay home from work, because he doesn't want to miss anything (the job their working on is 2 1/2 hours away... so he's been calling everyday for updates on anything, just to make sure he doesn't miss out...which is adorable lol... as well as frustrating giving him the big NO). Anyways, I took some gravol and tylenol, as recommended by the midwives, and went to bed (I had been up all night b/c of the pain). My fiance woke me up at 8, and I was still having strong contractions, but was also still out of it from the gravol, so I went back to sleep.... excited! Then, when I finally woke up at 10... they were gone! Come on!

I was so bummed...my plan was to stay in bed sulking all day... and give up on mall walks/everything else I've been doing, but my fiance took over in a positive supportive mode, and dragged me out of bed. He must be just as frustrated as I am, but he's doing a very good job in hiding it. He drew me a bath (w/ clary sage oil in it lol)... made me some tea (red leaf rasberry tea haha)... and then proceeded to drag me to the mall....(where he ended up buying a "better ball" (mine is not regulation size haha). I know that she's going to come when she's ready... but these false alarms are just crap!

Feb.18/08

We went to the auto show in T.O today... I had contractions pretty much all day, with no pattern. It was great to get out, and it not be to another mall! lol....We did find a car that we are probably going to get though... exciting!! A Hyundai Tucsan... we were looking for a good cheap on gas car... its an SUV, which we weren't going to get for a couple years, but it is 4 wheel drive, and so its def. a safer option to go with considering the amount of driving I'm going to be doing back and forth to school this upcoming year. I'm glad we finally semi-decided on one tho!

Feb.16/08

After my last appoitment with the midwives, where I got the go ahead at trying some of the more natural induction methods, my fiance and I have been busy trying EVERYTHING suggested.. with no luck. We've been having sex (def. not complaining!), a TON of mall walking (its too cold to walk outside... although I don't recommend mall walking.. we've ended up buying SO many more baby clothes that she definatly doesn't need lol), Evening primrose oil, clary sage oil, accupressure, red rasberry leaf tea (which I plan to continue after the birth as well... I wish I had taken this throughout the whole pregnancy), pinapple (although not near the 8 a day they recommend you eat), eggplant, spicy food... even nipple stimulation! AND NOTHING! Its not that I thought any of these would work as an actual labour induction, I was just hoping that my body was ahead of schedule and they would kick start it into labour. My midwife said that if your body is close to being ready for labour, some of the suggestions she gave may help speed it along (ie. soften the cervix faster, help with effacement, etc.) As far as the contractions they all claim to start, they do cause slight contractions, but your body will only continue them into actual real labour if its ready. The benefit of the contractions they provide is that they help prepare your body for labour, they just don't guarentee the onset of labour. Your body will do that naturally... unfort lol. I'm going to continue with the long walks, sex, most of what I've been doing... hopefully the day is near. As much as I want my baby to come...I will miss being able to feel her, and see her move across my stomach... and the hiccups... I just love the hiccups. We're going to the science center on Sunday.... a WHOLE day of walking... I wouldn't mind my water breaking there at all! Make it a little more memorable! (update... postponed until next weekend...snow storm)

Feb.10/08

Yesterday, my fiance and I were walking around a couple malls ALL day, getting last minute baby clothes we definatly don't need, but really just trying to enduce. I hadn't had any contractions, but when I went to the washroom at the mall, I did notice that when I wiped, it was all orange, and in the toilet was orange as well. The baby was moving a lot, and my midwives had told me that unless its bright red, not to worry about any blood, in small doses that is. Anyways, I chalked it up to my cervix getting ready, and we went out for a nice dinner. We were both finishing up our meals, talking about how bummed we were that nothing happened, and I had to go to the bathroom. After I'd gone, I passed wind, and all of the sudden, had a gush of fluid pour out. At first I thought it was impossible for my water to have broken in such a perfect place (on the toilet), but then followed contractions!! I was SO excited! My fiance and I cancelled our plans to go to a movie, and instead went home, repacked everything for the hospital, rented movies/seasons of The Office, and then hit the drug store to do some more walking to see if the contractions stayed or went away (I was told that in order to tell if they're real, you should do some form of excercise, if they stay, they're real, if not, they're just braxton hicks/false labour). They stayed! There was no pattern however, so we both managed to fall asleep, for about three hours.

When we woke up today, my contractions had slowed, almost to a hault, and the ones I was getting were minimal, nothing compared to last night. I called the midwife when it hit the 12 hour mark (from when i thought my water had broken), and she thought it was a good idea to do an internal, and see if my water had actually broken. She asked if I had been having any leaking since, and once I had told her I hadn't really, she said that although it might have been my water, it most likely wasn't, because that is a true indicator of your water breaking. My fiance, still optimistic, packed up the truck, and was SO excited of the thought that our little girl was on her way. I was the pessimist, and figured that it couldn't be it, especially since my contractions had pretty much stopped. After we got to the hospital, the midwife confirmed my belief, and it was actually a gush of mucus, which can often be followed by contractions. She said that I did likely have my bloody show however (some good news), and the baby was in the -2 position, we were 2 cm. dialated, but only 20% effaced. It was too good to be true! This little one is just to comfy in there!

Feb.8/08

Everythings ok with the baby! I ended up waking my fiance up the night before last because I hadn't felt the baby move in a while, and all he had to do was talk to my stomach, and she started moving a ton... he seriously has the magic touch... any time she hasn't moved a lot, he'll talk to her, and she starts moving! Anyways, he then told me that he wasn't planning on going to work the next day, and was coming to the ultrasound with me, which was a HUGE relief! All was well with the ultrasound tho, the baby scored 8/8 on the biofeedback (I think thats what they called it).... thank god! Last night/early this morning I was getting pretty strong contractions, with no pattern, but non the less, I was excited, as was my fiance. I had lower back pain, and the baby was moving a TON... but they've slowed down a lot, so I think it was just false labour. It definatly wasn't/isn't braxton hicks tho. Who knows, maybe I'll end up having her in the next couple days! Fingers crossed on that one!

Feb.6/08

I had an appoit. w/ the midwives today, and after mentioning to the them that the baby hasn't been moving too much, they want to send me for an emergency ultrasound tomorrow to see if the baby is ok. I hadn't been worrying about her movement at all, because I just wrote it off as there isn't as much room in there... but apparently that isn't how it should be. I've been feeling her every night, when she gets the hiccups, but other then that, not too much. Her heart rate was strong today though, so thats a good sign. Anyways, I'm in panic mode now (its like 2am), because I have to go to the appoit. by myself, and I'm just worried that I'll find out something and be there alone. The midwife made sure to book me literally around the corner from the hospital we're registered at just incase they need to do an emergency delivery. Its my own fault that I'm going alone, I should have spoken up so that my fiance could have taken it off work, but now its too late for him to call in, so it looks like its just how its going to be. I hope everythings ok with the baby.

Feb.5/08

I had another embarassing moment yesterday... and since this has taken over as my prego journal, I thought I'd post it. I took my kitten to the vet yesterday to get her shots (she's over 9 months now, so she's not this tiny little thing, but she's so gentle and affectionate, I can't help but still think of her as one). Anyways, I had her cage beside me on the couch in the waiting room, and she was just lying down in it looking around, and this HUGE dog comes in (brown skinny version of a newfoundlander... I dont' kno what kind... just massive though). All was fine, the dog was friendly, and I was talking to the owner about the nature of the dog, is it good with kids, etc. etc. (i want a puppy so badly haha), when this rotweiler comes in.. and the two of them went psycho! They were barking and visciously trying to attack each other, and I look down at the cat carrier, and my poor kitten is pinned to the side of the cage close to me... and the whole cage is shaking. What did I do... I started BAWLING! What the hell! It was all older women in there, and after the dogs were seperated, were telling me about stories when they were pregnant, so it wasn't too bad... but how hilarious is that! I was OVERWHELMED with emotion, I felt SO bad for the cat that I just broke down haha.

The Mobile, lamp, and growth chart for the baby's room got here today!!! Just a few more small wall decorations, and it'll b completely finished!!

Feb.4/08

So this weekend was filled with Braxton Hicks, and pelvic pain, both of which are welcomed, and taken as steps getting me closer to labour! My fiance has turned into this adorable man on a mission...that being, having the baby ASAP! lol.... This weekend, we were supposed to go to Niagara Falls, but because of the weather, rebooked it for next weekend. Instead, Sat. he wakes me up early to go to the movie store, we rented a bunch of movies, and lay in bed all morning/early afternoon.... a plan I find out is so I can rest up for what he has planned later that night. We then went to this MASSIVE mall, and walked around there for about 4 hours (I have to be eased into this slowly... because I've been on limited activity for my pregnancy... so overdoing it is DEFINATLY not what he's intending). Then yesterday, he wakes me up early again, and wisks me off to this huge flea market, which again took about 4 hours to get through. I thought it was cute, since he isn't a huge fan of big crowds. Add to this the constant wanting to get intimate (to put it nicely), and the encouragement to take the stairs whenever we go anywhere, its like a switch went off as soon as we hit 37 weeks, and his mission has been layed out. Other then that... nothing too exciting this weekend. We washed ALL the clothes, folded and organized them... I feel such a sense of accomplishement lol. I had a very uncomfortable pain last night in my backside (in addition to the backpain)... the fact that I haven't had consistant contractions, I'm not worrying about that, I have an appoit. with the Midwives wed... so it'll be brought up then! We're going to the fire deparement tonight to have them show us how to properly install the carseat...apparently 80% of people that follow the instructions still do it incorrectly! It was the fiance's suggestion...which again...I found impressive!

Update: Firefighters in our area aren't actually trained to install car seats, which we found out tonight! Since they all had kids tho, they showed us how to anyways! haha.... I wish I had had my camera there, or cell phone at least to take pics... it was the most priceless event! Two firefighters and my fiance all piled in the back of the truck(which is surrounded by four HUGE fire trucks) trying to figure out what to do! I couldnt' help but stand there and laugh... and try and look as pretty as I could in my purple valour maternity sweatpants haha.

Jan.31/08

I had my shower Sat.... and it went well! Most of the people that attended were friends of my moms, with me having my baby at a younger then norm. age....I guess a baby shower is too much to expect my friends to attend. I did have a great time, and got to catch up with an old friend I hadn't seen in years! Exciting news... I FINALLY dropped!!! My fiance and mom noticed it on Sunday Jan.27th (day after the shower), and it was confirmed at my appoitment with the midwives on Monday! The midwives say it can be any time now.... more then likely closer to my due date, but you never know! I've had A LOT of pressure/almost pain in my pelvis, slight lower back pain/ache, as well as the expected have to pee every two seconds that comes with the baby dropping. I'm going to Niagara Falls this weekend, so maybe all the walking there will move things along. I still have a few weeks until my due date, if she doesn't arrive until then... all is well. Something else thats new... now that the room is done, everythings ready for her, bags packed, etc., I have found that I've taken on these little obsessions.... I guess you could say its my form of nesting. For example... I found out that its recommended to use perfume free sensitive skin detergent...not only is EVERYTHING the baby's going to wear/come in contact with now going to be washed, ALL our towels, our clothes, bedding, couch cushions... everything is on the to do list to be washed. We have to take everything to the laundry mat, so its all sitting at the front door waiting to be taken when my fiance comes home (its too heavy for me to lift everything, so he's agreed to go along with my insanity for the sake of preventing another hormonal fit of rage). Another eg. was I noticed that the blinds in the kitchen were filthy (we're renting, and I hadn't noticed the blinds really until one day last week). One thing lead to another, and my fiance came home to ALL the blinds off, me sitting on the bathroom floor scrubbing a set, with about eight all around me ready to be washed. Then there were the bathroom floors, which I noticed once I was sitting on them washing the blinds. All is well tho, at least the place will be SPOTLESS when she arrives, and all this work is tiring me out/keeping me busy! Also: have experienced, finally, the baby hiccupping!! I felt it last week, and she has had them every day since, sometimes a couple times a day! I'm positive she had them before then, but I had just written it off as her moving a lot... I JUST LOVE IT THO! Its so reasurring to feel her have them, and I just feel so lucky to have this little girl inside of me!

Jan.22/08

I started losing my mucus plug yesterday! haha... I was excited about it... one step closer to delivery I guess. The little one still hasn't dropped...she's just too comfy I think. We've got this little game going.. where she likes to jam her little bum into my ribs and cause mommy to try unsuccessfully for hours to try and get comfortable. My mom/aunt sent out the invites for the baby shower for this Sat. really late.. so there have only been a few confirmations so far.. I'm excited for it either way!

Jan.20/08

I posted pics of the baby's room... there are still a few things to be added to it... we're waiting on them to arrive in the mail.. any day now! (lamp, mobile, peg shelf, etc), as well as a few things we're waiting to buy until after my baby shower this saturday! So, after deciding on a name (Beth) the other day.... we've now come up with another one haha! It is now between Elizabeth Margaret... Beth for short, and Charlotte Margaret... Charlie for short! Who knows... I don't think we'll actually know until she arrives! So I'm just waiting for the baby to drop... i'm convinced she's going to arrive early.... which every other pregnant mother on here is convinced of too I'm sure! Anyways... have an appoitment with the midwives tomorrow.. and a baby shower this weekend.... a few things to make this week (35-36) go by faster! Time is just DRAGGING it seems!

Jan.19/08

We finally finished the baby's room last night! It is just gorgeous!! PERFECT really! We also decided on a name for the little one!! We're not telling family and friends until the birth... because too many people express their opinions on names they feel are better lol. Anyways... we've decided on Elizabeth Margaret Coulter... and she'll go by Beth! I just love it! Counting down the days now... I feel like I've been prego for SOOOO long now! I can't wait to meet our little angel!

Jan.4/08

Today I decided to cook my fiance's favorite meal for him, since he has been working so hard, and such long hours the past few days! So I had a few appoitments, and decided to go to the grocery store on my way home to pick up the items I needed. After I got out of the store, I put the bags in the backseat, and got into the passenger seat, and sat there and waited... for well over 2 minutes!... I was by myself! hahaha!!! How hilarious is that! I was so tired from the pregnancy induced insomnia, and out of it almost, which I'm sure was caused from the prego brain I've also been blessed with, that it took me that long to realize I was by myself!