Baby update - 17 weeks

I just had my monthly midwife appointment and all is well. I'll be 17 weeks along tomorrow! I still have only gained three lbs and baby is nestled quite comfortably in my pelvis still, hence the lack of “pop.” Soon enough it will come, and I bet I’ll be complaining that nothing fits! All my lab results came back fine (no STDs, HIV, iron is good, etc.) - woot! Baby’s heart rate is now at 136 which is good. The only hiccup is that I tested positive for Group B Strep so I’m on a week-long cycle of antibiotics for that to prevent kidney infection. If it persists and reappears near labour, I’ll have to have a penicillin drip during delivery to prevent the transfer from me to babe.

I keep forgetting I’m pregnant; I haven’t popped yet but most of my symptoms have settled. My two friends who are due the same week as me have popped big time, but they are both much shorter and must not have as much room for baby in their smaller torsos. Hopefully as the baby doubles up to the size of a cantaloupe in the next three weeks, it will peek over my pelvic bone in time for Wayne to see it when I go to visit again at the end of April.

Hearing that heartbeat every month is a real relief, too. It makes me remember my body is working and doing what it’s supposed to do.

Spring beauty

Thanks to Shawna's detective work, I took her advice and I just picked up Quo's Total Perfection Face Primer last night and it makes my face feel like silk! Love it.



I also bought Quo's illuminating concealer for under my eyes in shade #01 - works like a charm. It's hard to find concealer sticks that don't have yellow undertones for my pink, British skin, so this super light tone was a real blessing.

Last week, realizing I was out of my beloved Lip Venom (I'm not a lipstick person - I prefer to just plump what I got!), but not willing to make a trip over the bridge to a specialty store to pick it up, I settled for Rimmel's Volume Booster Liquid. It does a great job, has a bit of a punch after about 5 minutes of wear and makes my lips look yummy (Wayne would approve!). But even though it claims to last up to 6 hours, don't plan to eat or drink in that time. It comes right off and loses its plumping effect. While not as effective as the Venom, it does the temporary trick.

I saw a good makeup tip on Jay Manuel's show Style Her Famous the other day to help achieve a dewy, less caked-on look for foundation: before applying, spritz your face with water from a spray bottle. I tried it and not only did it even out my foundation application, it really set my foundation and it didn't move or melt ALL DAY!

Moving on

So I have regretfully had to start a new book. The Book of Negroes was lent to me by a former co-worker whose book club loved it, and I must admit that the first pages I've read are mightily compelling. I wanted to start reading the stack of military books I have accumulated, but getting on the plane to go see Wayne this weekend was not the appropriate time for me to read about battles in Afghanistan. I think I am on a fiction kick, which usually means I would rather read about someone else's life than deal with my own (hello, Twilight). But hey, we all go through phases.

I say "regretfully" had to start a new book because I honestly feel like I'm cheating on Edward and Bella by letting them go and reading a new story that takes place on the other side of the world (or at least, it begins there). I don't think I have ever been so wrapped up by a story like I was with Twilight. Except maybe in the life of Delores Price in She's Come Undone, which I should really reread because I don't remember a lot about it now. It's odd how a series of books which really aren't terribly well written can consume one's mind! I have to say that while reading the books, I found myself unfairly comparing Edward's sense romanticism and perfection to Wayne's...well, everything. While in real life, no one is perfect, Edward's only downfall is that he will live forever. Pooh! So if you have not read these books yet and you are married, beware of the "seduction of the ideal man." I was a bit miffed at the "happy ending," but had to remind myself that it is geared toward teens and the tortured soul aspect of a deeper character would need to be saved for a deeper book.

Hopefully, The Book of Negroes will provide more substance.

Aha!

Just before seeing the Twilight movie the other night, the girls and I were talking about which characters we most wanted to see portrayed by actors and which we think we're most like (or at least, would like to consider ourselves most like!). They both said Alice, while I thought immediately of Esme, who has a hospitality streak and elegance and compassion that I will likely never live up to. But I have been drawn to her throughout the series (which I've now finished - waahhh!) and wish she had more major roles in some scenes.

I stumbled across TwilightersAnonymous.com and took their quiz to see who I'm most like:


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

Lo' and behold, it's Esme. Yay! And really, I answered the questions honestly! Here's what her description says:

You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

I don't know if that last sentence is 100 % true, but it's something to strive for anyway.

Prayer request

I'm listing myself on a flight to go to Fredericton, NB, for a short but much-needed weekend with my hunky hubby. I'm trying to get on a red-eye flight Thursday night to Toronto/Ottawa/Montreal with a connection to Fredericton/Moncton. But it is spring break (I forgot) and the flights are very full. And my priority level for flying standby is very low. :(

Please pray I would get on one of these flights! We REALLY don't want to wait another 7 weeks before we can see each other again! It's already been 8 and it's been really tough, especially with these hormones.

I am proud to say Wayne got 92% on his range orders homework, an assignment he was so upset that he didn't know how to do. The grace of God gets him through every time - when will he learn?!

Pray the snow away?

Okay, I LOVE snow. I love winter. Being a West Coaster-er my entire life brings the hope of a white Christmas every year, though it's not often we get one that's anything other than slushy and grey. The past two years have been the only recent exceptions I can recall...except that one winter in the early '90s where we had about three feet of snow.

But snowing on March 9? C'mon. Four years ago this Thursday, my dear friends Danielle and Jordan tied the knot. I specifically remember it being SEVENTEEN degrees that day!!! A fluke? Yes. Enough to get my hopes up every March for sunshine and flowers? You bet. We didn't even need our shawls that day!

But nooooo...not this year.

So I look at their wedding pictures and wish for a warmer tomorrow. At least Dora loves the snow.



Happy almost anniversary, you two!

Can you see anything?

Why is my blog blank? I'm posting this to give the program a nudge.

Food, glorious food!

Those of you who know me well know I don't "do" musicals (other than Phantom). I find them uncomfortable to watch and beyond cheesy - I actually get embarrassed for the performers: NO ONE sings and dances through real life! Blech. The song "Favourite Things" from The Sound of Music is one of my least favourite things...(sorry, Julie).

Anyway, this morning as I STARED at my bread in the toaster, willing it to toast faster, it was like watching paint dry, I was so hungry. It seems all I've done since I've been knocked up is EAT or THINK ABOUT EATING! Yet, I haven't gained a pound - all I want is carbs and protein, and I sometimes force myself to choke down salads and veggies. I don't even like chocolate anymore (huh?). I suppose my belly is growing inside, but I think I haven't gained weight because I'm eating what I want, not what I should eat...because I'd rather not gag at the table, thankyouverymuch.

When the toast popped up, and I slathered once piece with cream cheese, the other with raspberry jam, put them together and took my first bite, I was in heaven. Then, the song "Food, glorious food!" from Oliver Twist came to mind and I was delirious with epicurean joy. I even had to look it up online to watch it while I ate - and now I am satisfied.



(It may serve to mention that I know this song only because our elementary school performed it in 1987, the year I was in kindergarten. I was a mouse - I don't remember what we were supposed to do, but I remember my one-piece unitard being to difficult for me to remove on my own during the bathroom break, so I held it...and promptly peed on stage. Thankfully, I was always one of the tallest, and therefore, stuck at the back. No one knew but my neighbours on either side...and the poor teacher who pulled off stage and took me to the bathroom to clean me up as I wailed in embarrassment. God bless Mrs. Meyer!)

Wayner update

Wayne twirling a glowstick in the field - apparently starting a glowstick rave. Nice.




Wayne learning how to use his new machine gun this week - fun?

Bargains

Well I am successfully entering the world of parenting with a thrifty mindset! Of the few things I've bought so far, I've not paid full price for a SINGLE ONE! If you are in the same boat as me, check out Babyguru.ca. It is a store in Ontario going out of business and have some pretty nice sales going on right now. From them, I have purchased (all brand new!) a JJ Cole BundleMe for $25, a Bumbo BabySitter for $32.97, and a JJ Cole Diaper Bag "System" for $41.97! All these things are available in stores here but even with the $17 shipping, I'm still saving a wad o' cash. I'm so proud of myself! I LOVE that diaper bag!

A co-worker and his wife also sold me their gently used Arm's Reach Mini Co-Sleeper at a fair price and highly recommend it for the first few months. This means I won't have to get out of bed for nighttime feedings - wahoo! It harnesses right to the bed so it will never topple, and even has storage pockets and a section for linens and diapers. This lovely couple also threw in some unused baby socks, an awesome Joe Fresh snowsuit their kiddo wore once, and a beautiful Baby Gap cable knit sweater one-piece in a toffee colour. I am so blessed.

Beyond that, Julie and her hubby have decided to bless me with the Fisher-Price Baby Glider, a gift someone in their church blessed them with for Piper (who wasn't the biggest fan). Once I am done with this piece, I will definitely "pay it forward."

Of course, my mom has a lot of things saved up from my brother that will come out of storage during spring cleaning - hopefully a lot of unisex Osh Kosh outfits from the '90s will make an appearance. It'll be cool to see what's in there.

Now, I'm on to looking at big ticket items like crib/change table sets and stroller/car seat sets. Elyshia, a new blog friend, has just posted about her own stroller dilemma and her friends commented with some great advice. But for those of you who read this and have babes, please leave me your product reviews, pros and cons, on here. There's so much to research that I'd much rather go based on the recommendations of people I know and trust than consumer magazines and such.

Thanks!

A new day

...be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
-Hebrews 13:5b

This morning, Dora and I went for an extra-long (1 hour) walk through Clayton Heights. Even though I had only 7 hours of sleep, getting up wasn't so tough today for some reason, and we were out the door by 5:55 am. The weather was reasonable and it seemed to be lighter than usual. The birds were singing (or was it bats chirping?) - either way, it sounded spring-y to me. I wasn't hungry or cranky and Dora wasn't yanking my arm off - all in all it was a great stroll. I even decided to detour past Clayton Crossing to see if Starbucks was open. Little did I know, they open at 5 am (score!) and I treated myself to a chai tea and a lemon cranberry scone. Yum. Today's walk really gave me a chance to praise the Lord and thank Him for His goodness. While Wayne and I both seem to be a in a funk right now (missing each other and frustrated by the time difference that doesn't give us a lot of time to connect when neither of us is around a bunch of people), praying for him and our relationship this morning really made me see how blessed we really are and how the little bit of extra effort it takes to make sure we connect regularly, even if one of us has to sacrifice 20 minutes of sleep at either end of the day, is worth it. It will mean the difference between a strong marriage and a resentful one.

If your significant other is at home with you and not on the other side of the country (or working completely opposite shifts from you!), regularly sit down together in private, without the tv or radio on or the kids around, to listen to one another's fears and dreams and frustrations and thoughts. Sometimes, I don't even know how I feel until I've "thought through it out loud" with Wayne. Sometimes this involves crying and yelling and apologies and being put in your place. But that's okay. Because being honest with each other, even if the timing seems off or selfish, really does pay off in the end, and you'll both be better for it. When "they say" marriage is WORK, they're not kidding around. This is serious stuff. Taking it lightly is not an option.

I love you, Wayne.