The Waiting Womb

Little girl getting BIGGER

2008-07-04T21:08:00.001+10:00

Wow time flies and Aaleaya is growing up so fast its time I start blogging a little more regularly! She is a talented walker/ runner now! When she wants to get somewhere she is there! We've had some rainy and windy days lately so when the opportunity come up to try get out the door she is up for it!!

About 3 weeks ago she started going to day care, she was not a fan at all in the beginning but she is warming to it and I cant believe how much I can get done in a day with no kids!!!!!!!

She has a great vocabulary at the moment, we can imitate a cow, a fish (and attempt to say fish while spitting, iiissshshhhhh !!!!!!!) lion, cat, dog ... she loves meow but cant get her mouth around it... and of course her favourite word and food "NNAanna" everything in banana!!!

I will add some pics of Aaleayas birthday party also as I didn’t add them in the last post! oops very slack!

I will leave you with pictures and will have to update again soon so I remember things to update you all on!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY GORGEOUS GIRL xx

2008-05-22T21:32:00.006+10:00

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday dear Aaleaya

Happy Birthday to you xxxx

What a year, I have enjoyed it so much and really tried my best at taking time to enjoy it knowing too well how quickly it goes.
Aaleaya was very spoilt and had a huge day! here are some of the past few months seeing I have been so slack!!

Merry First Christmas Sugar....

2007-12-26T15:14:00.000+11:00

Well we are indoors today after the second day in a row hitting over 40 degrees we are staying clear of the heat!! The poor air conditioner is working overtime!

We had a hectic but all the same great lead up to Christmas with loads of social occasions to catch up with everyone before the big day! We went and saw Santa at Myer and Kai was quite willing to talk to Santa this year which was great so we were able to get a picture!

We had a magical Christmas Kaitiaki was at a fantastic age to really get into it and I am sure that will just get better each year.!! Aaleaya had no idea what was going on apart from the fact that her day had turned on its head and she wasn't getting much sleep but loads of attention and goodies which were wrapped in her newest favorite thing ..... crunching crinkly paper!!!!

On Monday night we were to see the houses where they are all decorated with lights .. they were, as usual absolutely amazing and Aaleaya and Tiaki were both loving the houses and various lights !!

On the way home Kaitiaki crashed out in the backseat and had to be carried to bed he was that tired! In the morning he came into bed for a cuddle then we all got up to see if Santa had been! Aaleaya was very lucky and got loads of goodies just like her bro and both got a stocking filled with little bits and pieces!

We then gathered up all our supplies for the day and headed to Pa's house for lunch!

It was just a fabulous day and the yummy lunch was so great. Pork, Chicken, Ham, Roast vegies, beans, carrots, gravies, sauces yum yum yum. Desserts were my area and we had Plum Pudding, Choc Ripple Cake, Sponge cake and shortbreads. The kids had Jelly with a frog in it which Kai made and they looked great red and green yummo!!

We then exchanged presents and the kids got loads of fun gifts, Aaleaya got a gorgeous teddie from Shaun and Em and some books also from Dad and Maz.

After settling our food for a little while we headed up to mums for the afternoon/evening. Once we arrived we opened yet more prezzies and then sat back and relaxed for a little while then had some lovely salad and cold meat yummbo!! Aaleaya chomped away on her first chicken bone while I ate my dinner and she was loving it! We left there after Dinner and headed home for a well earned sleep!!

Aaleaya's solids are going well .. we have tried a heap of different foods. Stand out favorites at the moment are Pumpkin (still), Banana, we tried Mango the other week which was a winner and yogurt is the new banana!!!!

AAhhemmmm

2007-11-21T21:56:00.000+11:00

Okay so off the topic of AJ just for this post hehe!!! Although I will be back tomorrow with a 6 month birthday post !!!!!
My sister is having a re-opening of the ColorLineDesign Store. She's been busy busy on the buzz for a new Designer to join her team and I hear the task has been enjoyable and the announcement is near! Another announcement this week at the FORUM is that there is a new welcome kit that you will receive upon registering with CLD.. Here's a preview for you ...

Video/Photo post!!!

2007-11-18T11:00:00.000+11:00

Well just passing by and thought I would upload some videos and photos.. Solids are going down well .. hooray!! We are camped out at home today waiting for Chrisco to arrive!!! Well here are some pics and vids!!

On Thursday Lynne and I got all arty and made our girls a gorgeous canvas with ribbons and painted their names came our really well ..!!

Here is the load os vegies I steamed up for my lil Pumpkin, they all later got mashed and stored in the freezer!!

Yay Chrisco finally arrived!!!!!!! Kai was most impressed!!! hehe He loves the little gifts you get inside!!! haha Here is all the dry stuff + the full freezer!!! haha (notice loads of ice cubes on the top shelf oh and excuse the placenta at the bottom of the freezer!!! bbaaahahahahah)

5 and a half months!!

2007-11-08T21:40:00.000+11:00

Well we have ventured into unchartered territory!! AJ had her first solids on Sunday! AND she loved it!! after working out what it is she had to do with what was in her mouth she is now up to day 4 and we are going great guns! We are going to give some yummy pumpkin a go on the weekend!! Yay.. She is now getting excited when she see's her bowl and spoon come out!! So, now it begins!

Now that AJ has mastered the roll, I am finding that I put her on the mat for a kick and I can walk out of the room and come back and she is so not where I left her! Although sometimes she has short term memory loss and gets stuck on her tummy and doesnt know how to get back hehe!!

Aaleaya just loves Kai to pieces as does Kai!! She just adores him and she strains so much to catch him if she sees or hears him!! I find him talking to her heaps and doing 'this little piggy' and also plays the wheels on the bus with her which she is more into now that she can respond to the game!!! I am really enjoying watching their relationship grow, even since she was first born Kai has had 'something' with her hands and feet and every night when we say goodnight he has to grab her feet or hand for a quick goodnight kiss!! Makes me all warm inside!! heheHe still likes to bring her out in the morning although she is getting a little bit heavy so I am not sure how much longer it can go on for!!

I picked up the hand and foot sculpture I had done for AJ, I will have to get a picture when it is finally mounted on the wall onder Kai's!! They look so lovely.

Also did some more pictures at the bottom of this post!! We set up a little studio at home!! hehe

Enjoy have a great weekend all.. xx

5 months on Monday...

2007-10-20T18:28:00.001+10:00

aww my lil girl is growing and I am loving watching every moment of it!!

AJ has conquered how to roll she did it for the first time yesterday as you can see on a video at my facebook so cute!!

Also starting to giggle up a storm!! We had our 4 months review a couple of weeks ago and at the MCHN and she was 7 kgs !!! No wonder she is getting heavier and heavier!!

Babies babies!! ... Uncle Paul and Auntie Lisa had their bubba boy last week little Liam, looking forward to meeting my little cousin!!! Today we went and visited Bree in hospital after she had bubs yesterday, he is such a cutie as the pics below show!! hehe The one of Mason and Aaleaya just blows me away ... she was smaller than he is oh my goodness!! just 5 months ago. awww Couldn't help myself and had to snap away!!!

Our newest toy for the moment is a Jumperoo my latest bargain on ebay!! hehe AJ just loves it and gets right into it!!!! She bounces for ages!!!!!!

Everything else is going along nicely Aaleaya is sleeping like a baby!! hehe Just like her Bro !! goes down at 8pm and most mornings we are lucky if we see her before 9am !! then she is tired again by 10.30 - 11 .. sometimes I ask myself how can that be!! On Tuesday we are going to an 'Introducing Solids' class!! It will be good as I am looking forward to staring her in about 3 or so weeks.

Here are just a few pics to leave you with.. Hugs and Dribbles xx

STELLA's NEWEST FAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aaleaya and Luca!!! aww

Our group signature!!!!

2007-09-04T21:32:00.000+10:00

14 weeks today... awwww

2007-08-28T20:55:00.000+10:00

14 weeks young!!! My lil pops blows me away each day.. In 14 weeks she has gone from a totally helpless newborn to holding her head right up when on her tummy, so close to rolling over, chatting away to herself, watching her brother walk/run and dance (sometimes all at once!) around the room, give mummy loads of gummy smiles and the list goes on. What a delight she is. Kai and I spend so much of our day at home chatting away and watching and waiting for Aaleaya to do something else!!! hehehe and we love it!!

Tomorrow we go to the Maternal Child Health Nurse (MCHN) so I will be interested to see how much she has put on I thinks its been a month since we have been. I hopped on the scales with her last night and I think she weighed around 6.6 kgs... I had a look in Kai's book and he weighed that much at 10 week!!!! omg!!!! hehe he was a porker!!!

After the MCHN we are going to Sorrento for mums group catch up, last week we were in Sorrento also and it was such a nice day we ended up going for a walk out to the back beach and back. Considering I ate Banana Pancakes it was a good move!

Aaleaya has slotted right into quite a routine!!! She is having 2 x 2.5 - 3 hour sleeps during the day and I have been expressing and she has a top up bottle b4 bed and then goes down from 8-7am and wakes once during the night. During her wake times she is loving her play gym.. she stays under there for ages no nappy and loves it!!! Here she is watching a babies DVD!! hehe

She has finally learnt how to settle herself to sleep and re-settle during her sleep. hooray!! I just am learning to LEAVE her to it!!! hehe and the little miss social butterfly needs to learn how to do it out and about!!!

I have been good I am back at Weight Watchers yay, I have been walking every day sometimes twice!! Yesterday I had a HUGE spring clean (a lil early!!) in the kitchen, I pretty much cleared everything and got my Enjo gear working a treat!! Then went and did a big healthy grocery shop!!! Kai has enjoyed the walks too I have been walking him to creche and then I walk to get him in the afternoons it is great.. Tis a bit of a slow walk home but he enjoys it as much as I do!!

On the 10th we are going to have Aaleaya's hands and feet set in a mould to be framed, Kai had one when he was a bubs so wanted to get Aaleayas done at the same age...Will b looking forward to getting that back..

I got a new pram last week after doing loads of research I decided on the Phil & Ted's Sports Buggy and it is perfect, so easy to push and no way near as bulky as the Valco was I am in pram heaven!!!!

Aaleaya got a special prezzie today from Nana Junie there is a pic below .. its the most gorgeous carousel just beautiful and soo girly!! It is a wind up one and plays a tune. awww Lucky lil pop.

Well thats all for now just off to tidy up and tuck away into bed.!! Nite Nite!

11 weeks tomorrow

2007-08-06T16:46:00.000+10:00

So we are slowly slotting into a routine!!! The nights are quite good Aaleaya knows that it is night time and if she wakes for a feed it is usually about 3-4am and then she will wake about 7-8am and then go back to sleep in my bed for about an hour in that time I can have brekkie and shower and get Kai semi organised!! During the day we are up in the air some of the time still !! Depends what needs doing but she has a great afternoon sleep usually from 1 till about 4-5ish.

At the moment I am totally in love with changing her nappy!!! I know sounds strange but she loves a nappy free kick and we have such a great chat while she kicks and gets soo excited!! I will have to catch a video of it!!

We just had Nanny Rea and Pa Rich over from N.Z it was a lovely visit but as usual went too quick!! I was thinking last night, as much as I shouldn't think too much into it!!! what a huge task taking 2 little people to New Zealand when we go next !!!! whew .. what a difference from the days when we packed just ourselves up to go!! hehe

On Thursday we went along to mums group, we are now gathering at pubs (haha sounds great) and cafes I am sure we will have them all worked out before long and know where it is easier and nicer to go with babes in tow!!

On Tuesday we went for a walk with Lynne and baby Luke (who isn't that much of a baby anymore:-( ) to the plaza from our house, wow it was so nice to be out walking again I feel like I have the bug back. On Wednesday morning Kai wanted to walk to creche so we got out the pram and off we went it was quite nice. Unfortunately we haven't caught a nice morning again. Looking forward to the nicer weather and look out Lynne we'll be doing our huge walks again!!!

Aaleaya FINALLY has found her thumb!!! and sometimes can soothe herself with it, U'd think she would like a dummy but NOOO!!! What else, oh she has taken to Kaitiakis old cot comforter!! There is a pic below, she loves it, bundle her up and she will sleep anywhere!!!! Little monkey!! We bought a new car seat which is fab as soon enought she will be out of her capsule I put her in for a pic!! she looked soo tiny!!! hehe

Well thats all for now...

AND

huge Congratulations to Emily and Johnny on the arrival of Kellie Grace ... all these Girls!!! xx

My little bubba is 9 weeks already!!

2007-07-25T22:55:00.000+10:00

Thats right 9 weeks!!!! We have been enjoying our days at home in front of the heater in our recent cold weather. there is nothing better than sitting and staring at a newborn all day!! hehe!! Where does my day go!!? We have been having some great nights sleep anything from 6 - 8 hours.. some night a feed in between.. but all good. She had her first sleep in her big girls cot today and did well..... She looked tiny in there!!! awwww!!

Mainly going to fill this post with pictures as I am having a baby brain moment and have not too much to report...!!!
Kaitiaki is the BEST big brother and is celebrating his 4th OMG 4th birthday tomorrow !!! He absolutely loves and adores his little sister and is her interpreter!!! He tells me she has a sore tummy or she is hungry or has a dirty nappy!! hehe
At the moment we have Nanny Rea and Pa Rich over from New Zealand and Kai is loving it, Aaleaya is getting loads of catch up cuddles and kisses too!!!

Off to the health centre tomorrow to see how much bubs has grown and we have our last mums group catch up before branching out on our own... it is a great group but quite a big one so at times it is hard to get to know everyone in the short time we are there.... Last week we did CPR which was fab to do a refresher!!

CONGRATULATIONS to friends Stacey and Jon on the arrival of Storm Kuini on the 6th of July and also blogger Hayley and Adam on the birth of their daughter Miette Grace..
GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS!!!!!!!

Here are some pics to soak up..... be back soon.. and will update Kai's blog with birthday boys pics, after his party on Saturday. xx

Aaleaya is 4 weeks old today!!

2007-06-19T16:11:00.000+10:00

Wow that has flown, but at the same time I have made myself slow down and really enjoy the first weeks. Mainly the reason for my absence!! I have been passing by blogs but just not always commenting.!!

Aaleaya has been doing really well and my wound has healed well after a small set back with an infection it has all cleared now and we are on track..!

Our massive June month full of birthdays has kept us busy being visited for my b'day and visiting all the other Gemini's!!!

Aaleaya is feeding really well and we went to the health nurse last week and she weighed in at 10 lb / 4.5 kgs!!! whew!! I really enjoy getting weighed as it makes it all the more rewarding I think as with breastfeeding I feel like I am still growing her if that makes sense!!!

Kaitiaki is such a loving and awesome big brother and son. He is so in love with Aaleaya and will want to do anything to help. He has dealt with it all so well.

Yesterday Aaleaya and I went and saw Rachael and Luca who was born on the same day, it was lovely to get out and have a cuppa with her, although we both decided we are vauge which is all normal 'baby brain'!!! At least we understand each other!! hehe

Today we had Stacey and Braedyn over which was lovely Kaitiaki was wrapped to have someone to play with as the weather hasn't been outdoors weather at all.. Stacey made a lovely chocolate cake for us which went down well !! And she unpacked and re-stacked my dishwasher, *thanks Stace* what a gem.

Tomorrow I have home help out to clean the house and Bree is going to pick Kai up for creche which is a big help, I am not SUPPOSED !! to be driving for 6 weeks due to the c/section but I have driven here and there no too far, mainly to work to pick up stuff to do at home..

We are getting excited about Nanny Rea and Pa Rich coming over from NZ in 4 weeks for tiaki's birthday and to meet the new addition!!

Well for now I will add some pics and be back for a better update soon and on Tiaki's blog soon too!!!

2 weeks

3 weeks

3 weeks
today @ 4 weeks

It's a GIRL ...!!!!

2007-06-01T20:44:00.000+10:00

Aaleaya Janet Kahikatea Newth...

My birth story starts 10 days overdue, on the Monday I found myself at the obstetricians as the I saw him at my 40 week appt and he had booked me in for an induction the following Saturday making me 14 days over.
Upon having the weekend to ponder this I became very uptight and 3 stretch and sweeps later there was progress but not a lot. I thought about it more and more as with Kai he was almost 2 weeks over and had pre-eclampsia and I was induced went through 6 hours of labour to fully dilated but due to fetal distress and my heart rate going through the roof they decided on an emergency c-section. It was all very scary and everything was happening so quickly we barely had time to think about anything.
This time I didn’t want to go through that or chance going through that again it was traumatic and I felt totally robbed of the ‘birth experience’.
So I told the OB I wasn’t prepared to go through with the induction and that I would prefer to be booked for a c-section and hopefully with the stress and pressure off I may go into natural labour over the course of the next couple of days. He had tried to ring the hospital to organise the c-section and wasn’t able to speak to the lady so sent me home and said he would ring with the details but didn’t think it would be possible before the end of the week …. Once I got home there was a call from the hospital and the lady was lovely and said, as the words rang through my ears for hours later as it all sunk in .. ‘the only place we have available is in the morning I’m afraid’!!!
I freaked and Massey said my face dropped!!! So that was it we were off to pre-op straight to the hospital and have blood tests etc. We were told to be back at 7am and I was first off!! We went to Mum and Ron’s when we left Kai and had explained the whole process of where we were going etc. He was quite excited.
The whole process was a lot nicer and calmer than with Kai. The theatre staff were lovely as they were getting me ready for the spinal block we were all chatting away and it was a really nice atmosphere. Time for the spinal ….. it took 4 goes until she got it right and it was quite painful… I then got wheeled into theatre and Massey sat beside me. We had made it clear we didn’t want to be told the sex rather see for ourselves.
After what seemed like an eternity Mass and I were talking away and talking to the staff, taking photos etc and then the tugging began…. Then there was a wail and bubs was shown to us, the cord was in the way so it was quite hard to determine the sex although finally we were sure it was a GIRL our perfect Aaleaya Janet Kahikatea Newth .. Massey was called over to cut the cord which he described as cutting someone’s finger!!! She was bought over to me and I got to touch her. Massey was holding her as they were closing me up and I was pretty much just gazing in amazement!!!!. The smells and sounds all came back to me as I was laying there (yuk!!)

We were then off to recovery, this was the part that affected me most with Kai, being separated so I was shocked to hear they were allowing my request to take bubs into recovery with me AND Massey was allowed also.
It was fantastic as Aaleaya was on the breast within 30 minutes of birth and we had skin to skin contact. I was then transferred up to the ward with Aaleaya still with me skin to skin.
I was a little whacked out but thrilled to pieces, we decided to wait till I had some movement in my legs back before getting mum to bring Kai in so rang all the relo’s to spread the news. Once Kai arrived he was in awe of his new sister and couldn’t believe all her hair!
After being so determined to have a natural delivery I was still really happy with the outcome as I felt I had been able to make the decisions about what I wanted.
She was weighed in at 8lb7oz Huge compared to Kai!!
Later that morning I found out Rachel, a friend I met on a birth forum had birthed her little girl just an hour after Aaleaya arrived!!! So we had a hospital stay together!! Although with so much going on we need a catch up coffee to talk babies (hey there Rachel have to catch up soon!!!)!!
So born on Tuesday 22nd May, my ‘just’ Gemini is just perfect. I left hospital on Saturday and have been enjoying baby daze. Aaleaya is feeding and sleeping perfectly, we have the health nurse out tomorrow so will be interested to see how much weight she has put on.
Well that’s my rather long winded birth story.
WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY AALEAYA xx

Welcome to the World ...

2007-05-23T15:17:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone!!! :)

This is Kellie, Mel's older and wiser sister ... NOT , lol

I am posting here for Mel today because she is in hospital with a beautiful bundle of joy.

Introducing ...

Aaleaya Janet Kahikatea

Arrived by c-section at 8.50am

22 May 2007

8lb 7oz

This is the photo I received yesterday morning sent from Mel's mobile phone ... gotta love technology hey, lol

Just look how adorable she is awwwwwwwwwwwwww....

Melissa looks fantastic, Massey is pleased as punch with his beautiful baby daughter and Kaitiaki is one very proud and gentle big brother.

Melissa had Aaleaya at Frankston hospital and they both arrived at Rosebud Hosiptal today.

I have just come back from my first official cuddle and grabbed some more pics ...

40 weeks 4 days

2007-05-16T20:41:00.000+10:00

Well I'm hanging in there JUST!!!
Bubs is in no great hurry to make his/her appearance!!
I am going to see the Obstetricican in the morning and from there we will decide to go for induction or another c-section if labour wouldn't be favourable.
I am starting to get the whinges at the moment too!!! Everything hurts and I am having trouble sleeping!! I was up from 4.30am this morning, unable to sleep.. for no particular reason just bright eyed and no chance of going back to sleep..
Well just a quick update for the moment .. I will try and get back on tomorrow afternoon and post the outcome at the Ob's.

40 weeks today!!

2007-05-12T21:09:00.000+10:00

Well today is my due date and i would be alot more dissapointed if I thought nothing was going on, but on Thursday night i was awake quite a bit with regular cramping throughout the night and made myself sleep!!! I went and saw the Obstetrician on Thursday also and he was happy with how things were travelling had a bit of a prod bubs has dropped and is engaged and then said if your still around next week he wants to see me in regards to induction or c-section.. Then yesterday bubs movements were down alot considering the normal kicks and painful movements, I rang the hospital and they had me go in for monitoring. All was well and bubs was happily beating a storm on the machine!!!! She did a urine sample and found some traces of protein, she was very dissapointed no one had been monitoring it closely considering I had Pre-eclampsia with Kai.

Then last night I had quite a substantial show so today I have stayed in pretty much hibernating and waiting for something to happen!!! I went for a big walk up a hill with heaps of steps so that was good in the hope it may get things going!!! Tonight I have had the cramping still and just had another substantial show so things are a happening and just a matter of time!!

Not too much else going on just feel like crawling under a rock till things progress and have a feeling I just feel like being at home!!! I am sure once I have had bubs I will not want to be here much as I will be sick of it!!

To all the mummies out there, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY tomorrow, I was hopeing to have a special day tomorrow with an arrival so fingers crossed!!!!! What could be a better gift!!!!

My sister came and took some pictures last night of us and they came out fab here are a couple I have played with so far...

Take care all ....

39 weeks 3 days

2007-05-08T16:14:00.000+10:00

STILL WAITING!!!!

Not much has been going on still have heartburn and I am told I have dropped!!! Thankfully i am going to have my waxing done tomorrow as I think my hormones have done a 360 last time I extended my appointment out a further week and my eyebrows really were not that bad at all and this week I am desperate to make my normal 3 week appointment!!! I couldn't possibly have photos with my new bubs with brows like this!!! hahaha j/k

So I am not going to hold my breath my due date is Saturday and Kaitiaki being 2 weeks over I just have to be patient ... yeah right!!! I have an appointment to see the midwife tomorrow and then I see my OB on Thursday so hopefully it may shed some light on what is happening if anything...

Well I will keep you posted if anything comes about!!!!

37 weeks 4 days (16 days to go!!)

2007-04-25T19:13:00.000+10:00

Ok so I am counting down!!!!

Couple of things first, Had a lazed Anzac Day nothing too stressful!! Although we did remember and stop for those who fought for our country.

Also a HUGE congratualtions to Shontie on the birth of their beautiful baby boy a couple of weeks early, hanging to hear the birth story!!

Also with just over 2 weeks to go if you are interested in getting a guess in as to what sex, size etc the baby is go here

So I THINK!! all things are organised, Kai is organised for somewhere to go, originally I was thinking to get mum to met us at the hospital which is rather closer to them but on second thoughts I don't know how Kai would cope in the car with me for 40+ minutes labouring!!!! So my gorgeous girlfriends Bree and Lynne have put their hands up for a possible call through the night to come and get him!!!!!!!!!!

The cot is set up and the capsule is in the car!!! I have finally opened the nappy disposal unit and a bag of nappies OMG they are tiny tiny!!! and from memory they actually swam on Kai for a couple of weeks till he packed the weight on!!!!

I couldnt help myself again in Pumpkin Patch and had to get another unisex outfit!!!! I am thinking by the time we know the gender I am going to be well and truely over unisex stuff!!! It is all getting so exciting and I am mostly excited to find out if it is a boy or girl!!!! We have FINALLY chosen a name and like Kaitiaki it is a unisex name but I think I will wait to reveal it I am big on suspence huh!!! hehe

Not much else going on, still got an active baby and loads of braxton hicks this is my belly as of today 37 + weeks....

FACTS

Fetal size: crown-rump 35 cm (14 inches), crown-toe 47cm (21 inches). Fetal weight: 3.1 kg (6.8 pounds).

Your baby's head is now cradled in your pelvic cavity -- surrounded and protected by your pelvic bones. This position clears some much-needed space for her growing legs and buttocks.

Many babies now have a full head of hair, with locks maybe around one inch / 2.5 centimetres long. But don't be surprised if her hair isn't the same colour as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes taken aback when their children are born with bright red or blond hair, and fair-haired couples likewise can produce babies with dark hair. And then, of course, some babies don't have any hair at all.

Speaking of hair, most of the downy coat of lanugo that covered your baby from 26 weeks has disappeared, and so has most of the vernix caseosa, the whitish substance that also covers her. Your baby will swallow her lanugo and exterior coating, along with other secretions, and store them in her bowels. These will become your infant's first bowel movement, a blackish waste called meconium.

36 weeks

2007-04-14T19:15:00.000+10:00

4 weeks to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I could just sleep through the next 4 weeks!!!! Although sleep itself is a difficult manoeuvre at the moment! I am still suffering some insomnia but I think it is all preparation!! The reminder of sleep deprivation is all coming back to me!!! Thankfully Kai was a gem of a baby and slept through by about 6 - 8 weeks but who knows what will be this time!! I have my swaddling cloths ready though, I know that much! This little bubs is all arms and legs so he/she will be getting wrapped like poor Kai was at sleep time! I say poor Kai but he ended up loving being wrapped and slept so well and still does!!

We had a great Easter as you will see at Kaitiaki blog we had a yummy Hangi that Mass did it was delish.

I am generally feeling well, the past couple of days have had a cloudy feeling come over me and thought my blood pressure must be low. I went to Nans as she has a monitor and it came up relatively normal. I have been 130/75 and today it was 114/68 so I don't know really how much of a drop would affect me but seem to have come good this arvo.

I am told I have really popped out now I feel like I don't have a spine anymore as I feel as though I just cannot stand straight as much as I try! I am almost over it now though and know the last 6 weeks are the drag so thankfully almost halfway through it!! haha

Thanks Jules for your suggestion I am onto the Raspberry Leaf Tea and got the Bach Flower packed ready to go. I took Arnica tabs after my c-section with Kaitiaki and I think it really helped and I was satisfied just to have panadine for pain relief rather than morphine, which I wasn't keen on at all. So I must get down to the health shop and get some more.

So the bags are packed yay, that makes me feel a bit better and I am going to put the capsule in the car tomorrow as the midwife keeps reminding me about!! Because I am transferring back to Rosebud as quickly as I can (they say the earliest is 4 hours) I have to have the seat in the car ready to go!!!

Our birth plan is all done I gave a couple of copies to the midwife last week as I have some alternate options I want such as minimal fetal monitoring and VE's also I don't want a managed 3rd stage I want to birth the placenta naturally without the routine syntocinon injection. Obviously I wont put the baby or myself in any danger but I really want my body to facilitate the birth not drugs and artificial hormones. (at least be given the opportunity to anyways!)

Here is a grea guide I have been going over a lot I got it from A Labour Of Love website .. which is by the author of the book I love to read!! Check it out!!

http://www.alabouroflove.com.au/loveimages/CALM%20CHART.pdf

Only 2 weeks till Bree and I go and see PINK in concert!!! yay... Bree will be 16 weeks I think??!! and I will be 38 weeks!!! oh dear!!! Should be all good, hope bubs enjoys it!! hehe

Well that's it...

Here are a cpl of pics as I have given the camera rest over the past cpl of weeks...

This is my latest phase, I wouldn't say I have had craving but phases and the past couple of weeks it is fish and salad!!!

Here are the drawers filling up!!! There is a bit of pink and a bit of blue in there!!! Bree and I are off to Frankston shopping tomorrow and my famous last words 'I don't really need anything' will wear thin when I walk into Pumpkin Patch I am sure!!!!

And here is one of the change table filling up with supplies!!!

FACTS

Your baby has grown to be about 48 cm long (or 18.9 inches) and weighs approximately 2,850 grams (2.85 kg or 6lb 5 oz).

Your baby is now in normal proportions. Up until about 36 weeks their head size is larger than their belly size, but at 36 weeks this equalises and from now on, their belly grows larger than their head! At 36 to 37 weeks your baby's lungs are fully mature.

34 weeks

2007-03-31T18:51:00.001+10:00

Wow time is flying, although I am waiting for the dreaded dragging last 5 weeks!!! I think it is because you get asked at least once a day 'how much longer do you have to go?'!!

Today we went and had a tour of the hospital where I will birth. It was fairly basic not that there is much there to sell you about!! I was interested to learn they have a bath, not that they do water births but it is more a comfort thing. Sounds nice to me!!

I have written up my Birth Plan and I think it is complete!! Just some minor adjustments to make after the tour today made me re-think my wording!!!!

I have generally been well I am told I am popping out now!! About time!! lol Bubs is in the move still. Yesterday I had a boost juice and it was quite cold which I think bubs wasn't that impressed about!!! There was loads of squirming and massive kicks up in the rips to the point I almost had to pull over the car!

Little rat... the consensus so far has been a girl, Mum is dead set it is a girl!! I am not 100% either way yet.. i was edging towards a boy in the beginning but now I am just neutral !! Cannot make the call yet. When I had Kai I made the call in theatre during my c-section just seconds before they got him out!!! and .... I was right. Massey had Kaitiaki suss from the beginning it was a boy all along! This one he is sure is a boy too so only time will tell!

Yesterday we held the rally at Frankston Hospital it made state and local media which was a bonus. Unfortunately the weather wasn't fab but I thought the turn out was good considering. It was a bit of a shame more people didn't get behind it but there will be more opportunities as we are not going to let down.!!!!!!!

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21477456-2862,00.html

I was interview and aired on channel 9 news last night and Kai was stoked to see mummy on TV!!! lol He thought it was great!!

Not a great deal else going on the midwives have been happy over the last couple of appointments.

The baby's room is coming a long, I got the change table back I lent to my Auntie and Uncle and also got a better bassinet stand for the bassinet, much more sturdy as I was using the bath stand and it was too high but also allowed the bassinet to move if you pulled it. We got it at a garage sale around the corner for $5 .. what a bargain!!

I got a great rug on eBay for the room also which will make a great difference in winter to the floorboards.

Just been gathering some supplies, I have got 2 lots of huggies boxes when they were on special and wipes etc. I think I am almost organise, oh except when i go into Pumpkin Patch and I NEED this and that!!! lol

I am trying really hard to wait until after bubs is born as then I can get boyish or more girly things!!!!

I saw the new Avent steriliser in the chemists' catalogue it takes more bottles and less time than the one I had for Kai.. I am planning on breastfeeding but it does the breast pump also and it was $79 on sale for $39. I went in locally but they said they weren't getting any in. So I rang another chemist a wee drive away and they had them and saved one for me yay!! Mum went and got it for me during the week and it is a ripper. It comes with 2 bottles, teats and a dummy awwwww!!

This is my new Nappy Bag I am just in the process of packing it for hospital... such a tough task and my bag isn't even started yet as I need some of the clothes as not a great deal is fitting me at the moment!!!!

Stella has been in disgrace lately she has been up to really puppy mischief. Last week I bought a Zoo Pillow from a second hand baby shop quite cheap, I was in a hurry and popped in home put it on the couch and raced out the door. I got home about 15 minutes later and she had got her paws on it, she tore it open and there was filling everywhere. Luckily she had just ripped under the ear and ripped it open at the seams .... whew was still a mess with 2 bags of filling.!!! Mum, the sewer extraordinaire fixed it like new for my so it is sitting nice and high at the moment. Then on Thursday night I was having an Enjo party and guests where arriving at 7pm, I was making a dip and realised I forgot an ingredient it was about 2 hours till guests started arriving so I shot down the supermarket quickly with Kai. And knowing her track record of late told Stella 'don't you get anything' hmmm should have known better ...... This is what we came home to ..................................................................

She trashed my belly bag ... my pregnancy bean bag with the hole in the middle so I can lay on my belly.... hence we are not friends at the moment and when I go out she is outside or in the laundry if it is raining!!! She also got a whole 8 pack of toilet paper in among all the beans. And YES I am still finding all the beans coming out the woodwork after I thought I got them all!!!! ahhhh It took so long to clean them all up and the poor Dyson got a real work out with all the beans grrrrrrr Little Shit... It is her 1st birthday next week - 3rd April and at this rate she will not make it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So thats it not long to go now yay on the home stretch I have had a Doula offer to come to he birth so if I still cant find anyone I will take her up on it, she lives about 40 mins from the hospital so I could just meet her there.

FACTS

Your baby has grown to be about 46 cm long (18.1inches) and approximately 2,350 grams in weight (2.35 kg or 5lb 3oz).

During the next 6 weeks or so, your baby's main task is to gain weight and grow a little larger, as well as build up their immune system, which is obtained from you passing blood antibodies through the placenta.

Many women start to notice a tingling sensation or numbness in the pelvic region or pain as they walk. This may be caused by the pelvic joints loosening, ready for labour.

Rally against Rosebud Maternity Closure

2007-03-21T17:39:00.000+11:00

32 weeks 1 days

2007-03-17T18:48:00.000+11:00

okay been slack at posting again!!! Can you beleive 7+ weeks to go OMG!!!!!

So I've just been cruising along nicely again the insomnia seems to have calmed down a little bit although Kai and I had a sleep this afternoon so hopefully that wont affect me too much! The indigestion is still around and is showing no signs of disappearing!

Last Friday I read news about the Rosbud Hospital closing their Midwifery lead care unit which was a real blow being only a couple of minutes from my house. As much as I was not 'aloud' to birth there because I am having a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Ceasarean) I was going to transfer back there as soon as I have had bubs, just as I did when Kai was born. I feel you the relief I felt when I arrived back at Rosebud was amazing! I wont go into the horror stories or Frankston but I do realise that most of the staff are totally under pressure and it is such a medical model of care they only can offer what they know and the hospital offers.

I could go on and on about this but will get to the point!! After reading about it again in the local papers this week http://www.morningtonpeninsulaleader.com.au/article/2007/03/09/11358_mlv_news.html

and talking to other expecting mothers and past patients at Rosebud the overall consensus is that the decision is quite dangerous and making women, up to an hour or more away 50+kms in flowing traffic and closing the unit in just 4 weeks. I feel that a first time mum being put in such a situation where she has had the care of Rosebud throughout and now being told that in as little at 5 weeks expect to birth in a completely different environment is really sad and must be terrifying. As I say I could go on and on.

I have since been in touch with some wonderful women who I discovered at the Maternity Coalition and they are being extremely helpful in setting up and supporting some lobbing and generally getting the word out as consumers we disagree with the move and more so if the government wont realise the dangers that it is imperative that the Rosebud Hospital Midwife Lead care continues with the Frankston Medical Model as is being proposed.

So I will keep the details coming on here and if anyone is interested let me know and I can get in touch with you regarding details etc.

I am sure this is going to keep me busy for a little while, I feel quite passionate about it and also as a Doula it is important for me to keep birth as natural as possible and if this is done at a hospital where some women feel more comfortable the midwife lead approach as opposed to the medical model is the one to fight for.

Here are some pics of the babys room as it pregresses!!! Quite funny when I was pregnant with Kaitiaki, I think the entire room was organised and ready to go!! This time I am quite calm about not being entirely organised. Also I think because we decided bubs will be in the bassinett in our room for a little while so the nursery doesnt have to be entirely finished. I have to go and pick up the layby which has the cot and didnt realise until today that it was actually due to be collected and completed today... oopss better get onto it!!

I am doing some research on getting a belly cast done, I have seen some fantastic insirational ones. I am into getting one done and then scrapbooking some black and white pictures onto it, which is one I have seen and it was very effective.

I am still catching up on blogs and comment when I get a chance..

Also I have had a go at digital scrapbooking and here is my first attempt....

My sister helped me get into it she has opened a website if there are interested digital scrappers lurking go and check it out Colorline Design

okay and at 32 weeks this is where the bubba and I are at....

FACTS

Your baby is about 44 cm long (17.25 inches) and approximately 1,900 grams in weight (1.9 kg or 4lb 3 oz).

Your baby's sucking and swallowing action (required to drink milk) fully coordinates between 32 to 34 weeks.

Some babies have a head of hair already, others have only a few wisps. Thick hair at birth doesn't necessarily mean thick hair later on but children with fine hair in childhood usually have thinner hair in adulthood.

You're probably gaining a pound/ 450 grams a week, largely because your baby is likely to gain more than half his birthweight during the seven weeks before delivery.

29 weeks 3 days

2007-02-27T21:08:00.000+11:00

Whew ok so its been a lil while between posts!!!!

Since i posted last time the boys came back from New Zealand and the update is on Kaitiaki's blog..

I have had a couple of appointments with my midwife also since my last post and all is going well I am measuring correct and I am stoked that so far I have only gained 13 kgs considering the 30+kg gain I had with Kaitiaki. I am in the process of cancelling my gym membership and looking around at a new gym for once I have had bubs as my current gym is stopping their childcare facility. So that is my new mission over the coming months!!!

Still suffering terrible heartburn / indigestion but just dealing with it now. I have to make sure I take my Rennie where ever I go!!!! My newest symptom I am suffering from is Insomnia, I have never in my life not been able to sleep. I am one of those people who, when my head hits the pillow it is only a matter of minutes before I am in dream world!!! Over the past probably 3 weeks I have been suffering terribly.. I toss and turned until 4am yesterday morning and last night was better at falling asleep but then woke up at 3 am and really struggled to get back to sleep. Apart from the fact that I am just getting more and more uncomfortable lack of sleep already is driving me crazy!!!!!!

I have started to pack the baby's bag for hospital and a few things in my bag like my oils and massage stuff, music etc. I can't believe its only a matter of 10weeks omg!!!!! And 8 weeks till I go see PINK in concert!!! Now that is going to be interesting!!!! hehe

I got a lovely necklace from Mass for Valentines which he got me while in NZ. And speaking of necklaces I finally got my hands on a Mexican Bola Chime necklace which arrived yesterday. It is lovely and worn low it apparently soothes the baby and even when it is born can be worn higher and be soothing to the baby during feeding etc.. such a nice idea I think. I also re-newed my Australian Breastfeeding Association membership which is a great resource during the initial feeding days and throughout really!!

I breastfed Tiaki for 10 months and hope to breastfeed this one with no dramas (fingers-crossed!!) With Kai I suffered a terrible case of mastitis and also a long episode of cracked nipples but I was determined so persevered through it... I pray I don't get either again!!!!

That's about it for now, here is a pic I took just before of my belly!!! The camera was running out of battery so it was a quick one!!!

FACTS

Your baby now weighs around 2.5 pounds / 1.1 kilograms and measures about 15 inches / 38 centimetres from head to toe.

Your baby's head is getting bigger, and brain growth is very rapid at this time. Nearly all babies react to sound by 30 weeks.

Your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during the third trimester. You'll need plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and calcium (about 200 milligrams is deposited in your baby's skeleton every day), so eat foods rich in these nutrients. The skeleton hardens even more and the brain, muscles, and lungs continue to mature.

Take care all xx

27 weeks 1 day

2007-02-11T19:44:00.000+11:00

Firstly I was tagged last week by the lovely Jules, so here tis
Tagged
Four things about me:

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Receptionist
2. Kitchen Hand
3. Graphic Design
4. Stock Control

B) Four movies I would watch over and over:
1. Happy Feet
2. Harry Potter
3. ET
4. Bridget Jones' Diary

C) Four places I have lived:
1. Rosebud
2. Rye
3. Tootgarook
4. Rosebud West!!

D) Four favourite TV shows:
1. Greys Anatomy
2. Desperate Housewives
3. Home and Away
4. House

E) Four of my favourite foods:
1. Bananas
2. Roast Lamb
3. Cheese
4. Hot Dogs

F) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. With my boys in Whakatane (NZ)
2. Snuggeled in bed!
3. On a sunny remote beach soaking it up!
4. Being pampered at a day spa!!!

G) Four friends I think/hope will respond:
1. Emily
2. Shontie
3. Hayley
4. Kell

Okay, so been a lil bit since I updated!
Last Friday I had Lynne and Vicki over for lunch we had a great afternoon gassbagging and catchin up.. These girls are among a few of our Mothers Group and as difficult as it is at times to all get together we manage on the odd occasion to organise lunch where we are able to catch up and talk the girly/motherly things!!
On Saturday Kaitiaki had his first swimming lesson, he loved it and was just a lil natural.!
On Sunday morning, not long after we got up we got the terrible news that Mass' Nan had passed away. She had been unwell but doesnt make the news any easier. So the rest of the day was quite a blur and I booked flights for Mass and Kai to head back to New Zealand the following day. I spent the rest of the day washing and organising Kais bag. i then realised that I didn't have an Epi-pen for Kai as he is anaphalactic so was quite important for him to have one with him at all times. I rang the chemist but without a script I had to pay full price for one ($90) but better him to have it and then I wouldn't worry so much!!!!
Their flight left at 8.10am so had to get there early early for check in.. Kai was so excited and I am sure he thought the minute he got there he would be off on the plane but we had time to spare so got some brekkie and coffee.
It was so sad to say goodbye I have never been away from Kai for so long so the first night was terrible and I was a mess but I am getting better! I have been and had my eyebrows done and then went and had a facial on Friday, which was heaven!
Last night Lynne and I went out for dinner at a local Pancake Place which was yum yum yum, then we went to the movies and saw 'Little Children' it was a good film but quite intense to watch!!!

My tummy is growing although at this stage I dont feel as big as I was with Kai... I am measuring all good though so happy with that. I have to go have my glucose test which I think I will do on Tuesday. I have been chatting with a girl from a forum which I frequent and we have since started chatting on msn. We have made a time to meet up since we are so local to one another so I am looking forward to that on Tuseday.
Not too much else planned for the week Tuesday night is the big night ... I get to squeeze my boy again!! Missing him sooo much!

Still getting some fluid retention and heartburn but cant complain too much!!!

FACTS
My baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds/ 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches/ 36.6 centimetres from head to toe.

The babys eyes open and close, s/he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and s/he may suck a finger or thumb.

Your baby is now developing their immune system, as natural antibodies pass from your blood stream to them through the placenta.

25 weeks 4 days

2007-01-31T10:19:00.000+11:00

Just been traveling along nicely here!! Bump is definitely getting bigger and bigger!! So Kai keeps telling me 'You have a fat puku mummy', thanks my darling Tiaki!!! He is keen for my tummy to get bigger and bigger because as I have explained to him when it gets REALLY big the baby will be ready to come out for lots of cuddles.!! He says 'good morning' to my tummy most mornings and is happy to have a chat with it!! So adorable. i am loving his age and understanding about it all, it is like he is bonding and building a connection already! He was talking about the baby eating the other day so the discussion about babies having no teeth and little stomach's began and progressed to the whole breastfeeding talk. I think I will get a book about it all, I have seen some great ones through the Australian Breastfeeding Assoc so I will get onto all that soon.
I have my next appointment with the midwife next week where I will get my pathology slip for my glucose test, not looking forward to that, although this time I am not sick so it may not be quite so bad.!
I go to pick up the baby capsule tonight which will be good and last week I put a cot on lay by. Thankfully with the bassinet there is no great hurry for that. Also at some stage will think about getting a car seat organised.

I have been having a slightly queasy feeling over the past couple of days, I am thinking it could be the banana on my cereal in the morning really not sure but I wish it would go away!!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Emily and Johnny on the announcement of your pregnancy. Wishing you all the very best for the following 8 or so months. Enjoy.

Thats about all for now ...

24 weeks 3 days

2007-01-23T19:41:00.000+11:00

Had a busy busy week this week!!! as usual!!

Mum and Ron arrived back from Tasmania on Monday so we went to Nans on Tuesday (where they are living at the moment) for dinner, we had yummy as food as normal Nan made a banquet!!!! It was delish!!! The kids had a ball, Kai's cousins Josh and Lill were there too and so they enjoyed themselves!!

We have had a few visits from them and it has been great to be able to also just pop in and see them!!!

My belly is getting bigger and bigger by the day and over the past hour that I have been at the computer the baby is kicking up a storm to the point I feel quite queasy!!!

I won a capsule on ebay which I am excited about!! I never had one with Kai but I think that it will be much easier when I am getting Kai in and out the car etc and it wont disturb the baby, it also doubles as a rocker/carrier so I think it will hopefully be quite useful!!!!

On Saturday morning we took Blake to the airport he was back to Christchurch to spend time with his Nan before he goes back to his mum in Whakatane. It was a really early start we were up at about 4.30am I think it was and it took me the entire weekend to recover from it!!!! All afternoon on Saturday I was in and out of sleep and Kai was the opposite he was charged all day!!! Sunday we didn't do too much either I went to gym for a while and Kai went with Mass and they got Ant Bully so he watched that, and explained the whole movie to me later!!!

Yesterday I worked and today we havent done too much, moved the computer out of the spare room so I am now in Kais playroom on the computer which I think is much better and Kai enjoys gasbagging away to me while he is playing!!!

I am organising my business stuff for my Doula Support Business getting a website designed etc, which is a whole new world but I must say keeping a blog has taught me a few things about scripts and stuff so will just carry on!!!! I have finally decided on a business name so have got my ABN and I am hopeing to get stuck right into the business after bubs and really get it out there and advertise. The midwife I see at the hospital is interested in the postnatal side of it and wants some pamphlets and business cards so with their feeding and sleep clinic down there hopefully it will gather some business.

I heard from the lady whom I was hopeing could be my doula although when I spoke to her a couple of months ago she wasnt' taking any clients ... I was thrilled to get a message the other day to say she is back on board and I am going to have a meeting with her in the next few weeks to discuss things!!! Such exciting news. I think the support would be fantastic especially considering I am trying for a VBAC in a rather hostile hospital setting and she is also an independant midwife so I will have great confidence in her ability to support and encourge me in my decisions.

Not too much else to report I have my next visit with the midwife on the the 7th of February. Thankfully with this cooler weather my ankles have returned to me!!!

The other night I felt the baby had hiccups it was quite funny and gave me the giggles in the end. I am sure Kai probably did it in the womb also but this was quite deffinate and rythmic!!! Very cute.!!!

FACTS

The baby weighs more than 600 grams. Though he/she still has little body fat and his/her skin is thin and fragile, he's/she's now well-proportioned. The brain is growing rapidly, and he/she is starting to fill the space in your uterus. From crown to heel s/he could measure 30 centimetres.

23 weeks today!

2007-01-13T23:05:00.000+11:00

Firstly want to congratulate Pauline who was going in to have her baby yesterday, I was thinking of you and looking forwad to the news!!..

So 23 weeks with 17 to go 'Oh My God'!! How quickly this pregnancy has gone is blowing me away!!!! I have been feeling fine but the fluid retention gets me when it heats up and by the end of the night my glamourus feet turn from unflattering to unnoticable!! I don't like feet at the best of times so to see them in this state definately keeps me indoors!!!!!!! Oh my poor feet!!!! Thankfully now the weather has cooled down for a couple of days they seem to be much better, until Tuesday I suppose when is it due to heat up again!!

On Saturday night my sister helped me out online to get a new header sorted for the blog. She is right into digital scrapbooking so hepled me in photoshop. I was wrapped with the end result this is the first as you can see on Kai's blog

and here is the one I completed for this blog... both I am wrapped with for a first go!!!!

I started back at work on Monday which was a bit of a drag but got into it as I knew I had wuite a big job to return to and get done pretty much in a day. After hounding the customer for the last bits to complete the job they came in at 3.30pm (I finish at 4pm) and dropped them off. So I had to save all the work and prepare to finish it at home. Only trouble was my software was up the putt so took till 10pm that night till I even had that worked out and started the changes to the job... By the time I got it finished it was 3am and my eyes were hanging out my head!!! Thankfully Kai and Blake stayed with Mass so I was able to get a sleep in till about 9.30am.!! I was still tired and my feet were still a bit swollen even after a sleep!! Thankfully that was all done for another year.

I went to see the midwife on Wednesday and was showing her my very swollen feet, she suggested Magnesium as I am getting leg cramps also... so I am back on the pregnancy tablets again which I had to stop for a while as they stopped my insides from working !!!! My they seem to be keeping the fluid at bay as much as they are still binding me up terribly!! The joys of pregnancy!! Overall the midwife was happy and gave my feet a massage to try and stimulate the fluid to move!!!! I go back on the 7th of Feb when I will get my pathology form to have my gloucose test (yukkk) and then again for a 28 week checkup on the 20th of Feb. From then I will be seeing them fortnightly and then the OB at 34 weeks...

Bubs is still extreamly active in the afternoon/evening!!! I am getting the odd afternoon sleep in when I can, thankfully Kai still has an afternoon sleep so I am able to get one too!!!

He is enjoying his cousin still being here .. tonight Blake has gone to see some other relos up the city way so didn't take Kai long to realise that he wasn't around this morning!!! I am sure Kai will be wrapped to have him back tomorrow!!!

As you can read on Kai's blog yesterday we went to the Fort at Point Nepean, that was quite tireing but I am glad I went and got some fresh air!!! It was a lovely trip out on the tractor and then we walked around quite a bit so got some good exercise in!!

FACTS

Your baby has grown to be about 28 cm long from head to toe (or 11.2 inches) and approximately 600 grams in weight (1 lb 5 oz).

Many women notice that their baby tends to be noticeably more active when they are resting, perhaps because when a pregnant woman is active, her body naturally 'rocks' her baby to sleep. Your baby now has definite sleep and wake patterns (although they may sleep up to 95% of the time) and now have REM (or rapid eye movement), which indicates they may be dreaming!

Although the lungs will stay scrunched up until the moment of birth, your baby is now practising breathing movements. That first breath of air will expand the lungs and push the heart over to the left side of the chest.

22 weeks 3 days

2007-01-09T23:25:00.000+11:00

Hope you all had great New Year celebrations.
Whew where have the days gone...!! I have been busy busy designing the new blog header for here and Kai's blog so has kept me busy thats for sure.. Thanks Kell for your help!!!
I am still catching up on blogs as much as I can and will be back tomorrow to post my happenings!! I am off to the the midwife in the morning which can't come quick enough as I am suffering severe fluid retention so really want to get it checked out as this lead to the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia last pregnancy so want to rule it out at least for the moment!!!!

HEAPS of movements and also getting Braxton Hicks which I never had with Kai but I know all about them this time!!!!

Shall be back tomorrow!!!

21 weeks

2006-12-30T23:23:00.000+11:00

Hot and Bothered!!! Thats what I am feeling at the moment!!!
Today we went to the beach and I did apply sunscreen but didn't re-apply!! oops So I am sore and sorry for myself tonight particularily my poor red legs!! Nan and I always winge away that we never get any sun on our legs... well I think I have got enough sun for both of us to last a long time!

ALSO a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Ash and John for the arrival of their baby girl Molly Grace .. such a cutie

On Thursday morning we went to the airport to pick up Blake, Kai was very excited and didn't even have a sleep on the way there after being woken up at 5.30 am!!! We had McDonalds at the airport for breakfast and then went to the arrivals to wait for Blake. He came out with an airline lady and we signed for him and made our way back to the car..... Not long into the ride home they were both fast asleep and slept till we got all the way home!! That night we went to the carnival which you can read more about on Kaitiaki's blog. The boys had loads of fun and were absolutely buggered by the time we got home.

So I am 5 months along now and I must say that has FLOWN ... with Kai it took forever to get to half way!! But I think being the second I am obviously more occupied with Kai and everything else so as much as I am enjoying it I am sad that it is flying by so quickly..

Well I will be back in the New Year for another post!! Have a great one all!!!!

20 weeks 3 days

2006-12-26T21:00:00.000+11:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone out there in blogland!!!

We had a great day yesterday spent with great family and food!!! I ate far too much as usual on Christmas day but sat down to a lovely meal tonight!! I just felt like bangers and mash so thats just what we had made on the new George Foreman Grill. Just yummo have a look!!!!!

Yesterday was great to see all the family, I spent the last few days cooking and baking so it was nice to see it all be enjoyed. Dad had the meat on before I got there in the morning but Massey made the stuffing yummooo and then I got to peeling the vegies and getting them on. After a big feast we did pressies and then I started decorating the cakes I had made, Tiramisu, Choc Ripple cake Truffles, shortbreads and Christmas pudding mmmmummmm.!! Here is the Tiramisu which was yummo.!!

At the moment this baby is still very active for about 2 hours around 6-8 or 9 at night!!! It is just amazing as I don't remember so much activity with Kai he was just a kick here and a kick there!!!! But all through the day it is pretty much quiet!

Well that is about all for now the past few days have really taken it out of me and I am going to have an early one!!!! Finally here is a pic of the belly just tonight!!!! At 20weeks 3 days!!!!

Facts

Baby is 17cm long crown to rump, and weighs about 310 grams.

The baby can hear and recognize the mother's voice.

The toenails and fingernails are growing.

Baby can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during their development stages often are calming after birth.

20 weeks today!

2006-12-23T21:51:00.000+11:00

Wow time has flown..!!

Finished up work this week for a couple of weeks. Went out for lunch with work it was the best meal I have eaten out for a long time it was really yummo which'd I'd taken my camera coz the presentation spoke for itself. It was a Lamb and vegetable pie that was a tall pie surrounded with puff pastry, on a bed of mashed potato roasted vegies on the side.. yummo...

I have been baking over the past couple of days getting things ready for Christmas day. On Tuesday night Kai and I made shortbreads and chocolates for is carers at creche. He loved handing them out and getting cuddles!!!!

Last night I made 2 batches of shortbreads after getting home from Frankston doing Christmas shopping with Nan!! Had a late night but got a bit of a sleep in this morning. I then went to the market with my sister and her kids. I got all the vegies for Christmas day except the pumpkin so back down to Coles I went then decided I may aswell get the other last minte food stuff!!!! Cream, Custard, soft drinks etc.... so after starting with a basket I ended up with a trolley!!!

I caught up with Lynne, Olivia and Lynne's mum briefly to give Olivia's gift and Lynne a tub of shortbreads!! Lynne had dropped in Thursday but I missed her

I got home and made some Truffles and then a chocolate ripple cake and then wrapped all the presents as Sunday night we are off to dads to take all the chrissy food goodies !!!!! Then we always go and check out the Christmas lights where the whole street lights up and its quite the walking event as it is sooo busy!!! Tomorrow night I am making a Tiramisu that I got from this months 'Fresh' mag from Safeway. Check it out.... although I am trying it with strawberries.

I have quite an active baby at the moment usually this time each day is the most active, I am really enjoying as I keep saying!!!! I will post a pic soon as I realised I havent actually even taken one yet!!! Time is just getting away from me!!!

This afternoon we went and saw Nan as she is going to my Aunty and Uncles for Christmas so we wont see her... the kids had fun opening presents. Kai got a keyboard with a cool little mic so he has been having fun on that!!!!

Here is a pic os Stella too in her christmas attire!!!!! Kai calls her Jingle Bells!!!!

Well thats all for now ....

Thoughts out to Ashwee who is playing the waiting game for bubs number 1, take care and enjoy.... xx

19 weeks 3 days

2006-12-19T22:58:00.000+11:00

WOW where is this pregnancy going!!!!!

It seems with Kaitiaki I was pregnant for an eternity but I think this one is going so fast which is a real bummer as I am enjoying it particularly with no morning sickness or anything apart from the odd episode of heartburn..!!!

SOOOOOO I had my first scan on Monday and it was amazing well worth the wait. Bubs measured 3 days different from my dates which is no real biggie!! I also got the video with all the 3D scan as well and here is a pic of the muppet..

The hands up near the face is just Kai all over when he was born!!! and bubs is snuggling it's face into the placenta on the left there!! Bubs looks a bit malnourished but I am working on that over the coming weeks!!!

I spoke to a friend from school today who is also pregnant 10 weeks CONGRATS STACE!!! So that is exciting only 9 weeks difference will be nice to have bubs close in age!

I also went for my booking in appointment at the hospital which was a bit brief but next appointment is an ante-natal appt on the 10th of January which will be more in depth I think!!! I am having my ante-natal care at my local hospital although I cant birth there due to being high risk so I will be travelling up to the bigger, over-worked, run off you feet, rushed hospital !!! We are going to go there for a tour in the next few weeks, even though I birthed Kai there, it was never planned and I was admitted very quickly when I got sick so I didn't really know my options and being 41 weeks I didn't really want any other option than the baby OUT!!!!!

I am also going on the notion I have a 42 week pregnancy so I think that will take the pressure off me a bit as the first time round I was set on 40 weeks so when it went by I was very inpatient!!!

Kai is still convinced he has a baby in his belly and it is really hard to talk him around!!! I have explained that mummy's tummy has to get big big and then the baby will be big enough to give cuddles. So every morning he has woken up saying 'Mummy your tummy is big' So adorable!! He was amazed by the video of the ultrasound especially the 3D parts! Took him a little while to click on but he sussed out that is a video of the baby..!! He thinks it is a boy 'bruffa' which I think it may be too... and Massey gets that feeling also!!!! and Massey was right about Kai from day 1 !! hehe we will see !!!!

I have totally gone off coffee from about 3 or more a day to zip, nada, none.. I just dont really want one and no other reason!!! so its been a week and I have had the worst splitting headache for the entire time I wake up with it and go to bed with it.. It has been horrible although a week later I must say it is going away. I am having the odd cup of tea now and then which I am enjoying, very strange!. I am going to try and substitute it with increasing my water intake as I am sure that is much better for bubs and I !!!! Gave up smoking in the last pregnancy and this one looks like it will be coffee!!!!!!! hehehe

Well thats about it for the moment...

Facts:

A protective coating called vernix caseosa begins to form on your baby's skin.

Your uterus has grown well into your abdomen -- the top of it probably reaches your belly button. From now on it will grow at about a centimetre per week.

Fingers and toes have formed and the skin is covered with lanugo.

17 weeks 1 day

2006-12-02T21:31:00.000+11:00

Been keeping busy lately, just seem to fill up time with so much, christmas shopping, cooking, cleaning all the normal stuff just seems like there is more of it lately.
I have had heartburn back I had it with Kaitiaki as well but not till much later in the pregnancy so I am hoping it doesnt get any worse I am carrying Quick Eze around all the time in case!!

Last Sunday was my cousin Lachlan's 1st Birthday how quick a year goes... I was my Aunty's Doula so all the memories of the day come back!! It was just beautiful.

We also went to the Pet and Pony Expo before the party which was great fun Kai has his face painted we took Stella who couldn't get enough of all the dogs, she was wrapped!!

On Monday was Dad's birthday, we stayed for dinner and Kai was again over at the next door neighbours for alot of the time if not in Pa's bus, turning it upsidedown!!!
Tuesday I made our Christmas puddings yummo, was very exciting!!!! They turned out just perfect!!!!

On Wednesday I took the day off as Chrisco was arriving so I was all prepared and had been trying to use up alot of stuff from my cupboard before it came!!!
Here are some shots of the lot!!!

The rest of the week I havent been up to too much just relaxing and also trying to get ready for xmas!! I have promised puddings for a girlfriend also so I will make some more next week and get it to her! We put our Christmas tree up early this year and did it on Sunday Kai was so excited and was such a good helper!!!

Thats about it for the moment... shall be back again in the next week or so for more updates.!!!

Next Appointments:

Hospital/antenatal visit - 14/12/06

Ultrasound - 18/12/06

Facts:

My baby measures nearly 5.5 inches (13cm) from head to buttocks.

My baby weighs about 5 ounces (140 grams).

My baby's skeleton is mostly rubbery cartilage, which will harden later. A protective substance called myelin slowly begins to wrap around the spinal cord.

Your growing uterus has shifted your centre of gravity and you've probably been feeling a bit off-kilter.

16 weeks tomorrow

2006-11-23T22:25:00.000+11:00

Laziness, Pregnancy, Lack of Sleep, Pregnancy, Tiredness, Heartburn, Pregnancy, 3 1/2 year old, Pregancy!!!!!!! ok the first was right it is laziness!!! But !!! all the rest are coming into it too!!! Just no excuse, although all in all I am LOVING this pregnancy and really really enjoying it and getting in touch with it... I called my Doula to be on Monday but unfortunately she is not around in May so have refered me to a couple of other local doulas who I will call soon and organise a time to meet them and see who I feel most connected with. Mass was a little dissapointed that the particular one whom I had talked up so much and had my heart set on was not available but thats life! I am happy she has been able to refer some others.. Apart from that I know quite a few myself so I can always turn to them... Its all happening!!!

So since my last post I have booked into hospital well into both the hospitals as advised by my Ob. I go and see the midwives in 3 weeks and discuss all the normal mambo that goes with the booking in paperwork!! I am still waiting for my medical file from the hospital about Kais arrival into the world!! I am interested to see what REALLY happened!!!!!

Bree and I went out for dinner and a movie the other weekend it was so nice, great to get out without the kids!! a real girly episode!!!! Then we came back and played PS2 for a while then Bree ended up crashing the night..... In the morning we went to a cafe and had bacon and eggs for brekkie!!! yummoooo, something I could never have dreamed of having when pregnant with Kai!!!!!!!

I have been keeping up gym and walking which is really good and if I miss out at all I really feel it!! I dont know how long I will be able to keep one of the classes up (powerbar) the only concer is the periods of laying flat on my back which isnt encouraged as time goes on ... so I will query that lil issue when I see the midwives..
I am enjoying my lil mate, he truely is my little mate. He helps me with watering the vegies, covering over the sandpit, snuggling up to watch tv or read a book!! He is really growing up too quickly and I am so lucky to have my little gem. I am thankful to have had the past 3 and a bit years with him, I realise once the baby arrives he will loose some of the attention he now gets but up until that time I am all his and still will do my entire best when bubs arrives. Mass and I always said we wanted Kai to be toilet trained, have spent a couple of years of quality one on one time with him and for him to really be able to communicate with us and us with him..... All that and more has happened and some sooner than we thought .... he is so excited about his little brother-sister and talks to my belly a lot so I am sure the bond has already begun.

We have a big weekend ahead, I am off with the girls for dinner tomorrow night a bit of a pre xmas get together before the season hits too hard!!! We are going to a kareoke place so it will be interesting!!!!!

I found a link on one of the forums for a fortune teller to predict labour.........

What she senses for you
The day you deliver, outside will be rainy. Your baby will arrive in wee hours of the morning .
After a labor lasting approximately 14 hours, your child, a girl, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and will be 19-1/2 inches long. This child will have green eyes and be almost bald.

Facts:
My baby measures nearly 5 inches (12cm) from head to buttocks.
My baby weighs about 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
My baby is covered with a protective soft down to regulate its temperature.
Fat begins to form underneath skin.
Baby hears external voices, sleeps and dreams.
In the next three weeks babe will go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling weight and adding inches to length.

13 weeks 5 days

2006-11-09T09:34:00.000+11:00

Wow what a busy few weeks, I went and saw my GP towards the end of last month he organised my blood tests and my referal to my OB which makes it all even more exciting!!!

On the 25th of last month Sundae and Matt had their bubs 6 weeks early, little baby Ngaira Valentine. We went and saw her the day she was born and after a reather quick labour (just 20 minutes in all) she was doing so well and although being monitored and in a humidity crib she looked fantastic and was resting up.. We went and saw her again on Monday and she is coming along in leaps and bounds, she is in a regular bassinett now, still in the special care unit and getting fed through a tube in the nose but she looks so well and content.. I cant imagine what it is like to leave a baby in the care of a hospital after preparing for birth and taking you special bundle home with you. I really feel for them.

The day after little Ngaira was born I was off to Queensland for my Doula Conference we left on the Thursday and arrived in sunny humid QLD in the afternoon, collected out luggage and headed to the coach which was taking us to our accomodation. After a crazy drive we got to our accomodation and it was BEAUTIFUL!!! Such a nice lil apartment with a self contained kitchen and lovely view of Jupiters Casino across the road!!!

We refreshed ourselves after a long day and decided to hit the shopping centre across the road 'Pacific Fair' whew what a shopping centre..! We had a huge look around but there wasstill so much we could see!!!! So we decided more shopping was on the cards on the Friday as well
!!!

We headed back to the resort and relaxed for the evening!
We got shopping bright and early and was so excited at some of the shops, a HUGE City Surf store which walked through to Billabong and if I was going to get such a big preggie belly i would have been in!!! I also found a nice pair of tankini bathers in the speedo shop (I've never seen so many dedicated bather shops in one shopping centre!!!) After a huge day of shopping we headed back to the resort and change to have a dip in the pool!! After getting a bit hungry we went for a walk to the Oasis shopping area and continued onto the beach it was such a nice night and great atmoshphere. We got there just on dusk and it was gorgeous you could see the glow up the beach from Surfers Paradise and it looked so lovely... We decided to get up early before the start of the conference and check it out!! We got Kebabs for dinner and then headed back to rest our weary feet!!!!

In the morning I headed down to the beach at about 8 am and it was gorgeous, absolutely packed and really really warm..
We then had out conference on Saturday which was a long day of sitting and lovely food!!! Saturday night everyone from the conference we to Jupiter Casino and had dinner at Spinners which was a really lovely meal and the staff who dealt with our cpl of tables did really well keeping up with it all!!!!

On Sunday another huge day of speakers and information overload!!!! I met some awesome people and wrapped that Sarah Buckley spoke and I got a chance to talk with her as I am a real fan of her book, 'Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering' I also met Gaby Targett at last years conference in Melbourne and purchased her book 'Labour of Love' I also sat next to her at dinner and had a great opportunity to talk to her about the VBAC's she had spoken about during her presentation at the conference. So much information to take away and I am so glad I made so many notes over the weekend.!!!!!

We arrived back in Melbourne at 11.40pm and had to collect the car from the parking place. I finally arrived home at 2am to Kai and Massey asleep in bed!!! I moved Kai into his bed and he half woke up saying 'Mummy you came back' with big hugs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last Friday while Bree and I were sitting outside I was walking around the back yard barefooted and stubbed my toe on a stump and OMFG I was in agony and really couldnt put any pressure on my toe... Over the weekend it got so much worse and swelled right up and went black black!!! Ouch it is a lot better now but omg it was sore...

On Saturday Shaun poped in and poked my belly saying 'look at ya belly!!' and then on Sunday Nan called in and said the same... I too feel that I have popped out much faster this time than with Kai and deffintely feeling little movements.

On Monday I went and saw Doug my Ob and he was really happy for me to "Trial My Scar" (as they call it) and attempt a VBAC. He is behind me all the way and I am booking into both local hospitals but unfortunately will have to travel to Frankston as I am classed as 'high risk!!' I got all the results from my blood test and all absolutely normal and no protein in my urine TMI!!! Which is so exciting for me and just the way I want it to stay this time ... fingers cross that I dont get Pre-eclampsia again..!
I have an appointment for my booking in at hospital and also booked in for my 18 week ultrasound on the 18th of December yay!!! All good stuff to look towards!!

On Tuesday (Melbourne Cup Day) Bree and I walked the boys in their prams down to the new plaza and cruzed around having a look and a nice coffee along the way!!!

Today I have Tate while Bree is at work so Kai and Tate are playing with the Thomas tracks and back and forth to the sandpit as it is turning out to be quite a nice day we might have our lunch out there!!!
Thats it for now.. I think I need more regular updates this is a huge post!!! hehe

Facts:
My baby can now grasp the umbilical cord and suck his/her fingers.
Crown to rump, my baby is around 3 and a half inches.
This week my baby can grasp, squint, frown, grimace.

13 weeks 3 days

2006-11-07T21:52:00.000+11:00

Still Growing!!!
Just a quick one I will try and update all the happenings over the past couple of weeks.... and of course update on the Queensland trip!!!
Talk soon xxx

9 weeks 6 days

2006-10-12T21:01:00.000+10:00

Ooppss haven't updated in a little while!!! I am doing well just cruzing along. Nothing huge to report yet still no morning sickness just little feelings of seasickness from time to time. Which suits me just fine!!!!
I have my doctors appointment next Friday when I assume I will get my referals and have to go get blood test and scan. all very exciting. It feels like I have been pregnant for ages already after only knowing for 5 weeks now!!! I know this pregnancy is going to be a long one!!
I have made some great friends on Baby Centre.com it is great to be able to talk with others due the same time. Also all the info on the site I find very helpful.

I am just starting to organise my trip to Queensland coming up in the next couple of weeks as much as it is a conference I will try and get in some relaxing... I've never been away from Kai for so long so will be interesting!!!! I'm sure I will miss him heaps and be glad once I am home again!! All the same I will enjoy it while I can..
I am suffering terrible tiredness!!! I could just lay down and sleep anywhere anytime and most nights dont see past 9.30!!! We went to see Evermore the other weekend and appart from really sore feet from standing I was yawning before they even got on the stage!!!! It was great but just wish I'd got in a cat nap in the arvo and I would have enjoyed it alot more!!!!

Well shall return soon and update again!!! Bye for now....

6 weeks

2006-09-16T20:12:00.000+10:00

Still feeling really good at this stage..
I have had no Morning Sickness as yet thankfully, I have been having little waves of sickness but nothing really.. I am hoping that unlike my first pregnancy I don't get sick.
All is well I have been getting some maternity clothes organised for summer (my worst nightmare being pregnant for our wonderful Aussie Summer) thankfully I wont bear the brunt of the pregnancy in the hottest months.

Today we picked up our pram we bought it second hand as we sold all of Kai's baby things which is a pity but also nice to get new stuff for bubs. Here it is.

It is so easy to menouver and will be great as a bassinett. I am hoping to get Kai and 'skateboard' for the back where he can stand so I can still enjoy my walking with both the both of them on board!
I went out for dinner with the girls from my original mums group, we try and get out at least once a month. It was a lovely meal and as always a great belly laugh.
We spoke about a holiday towards the end of next year and threw ideas about Cairns or Perth. It is an idea that we have bought up a few times but lets make this one happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well that is about all from me for now. I still haven't made an appointment at the doctors but will ring them on Monday and get in.
Take Care xx

5weeks 4days

2006-09-14T15:38:00.000+10:00

Well my first post...
A little about me for those passing by from other blogs...
I am a 26 year old in Melbourne, Australia. I have a boy - Kaitiaki who was 3 in July. A puppy Stella who is a Staffi and just on 6 months old, a cat Tori, who decides every few months to trek back to our old house quite a distance from here and is down to a 5 day trek before I find her there.
We found out last Tuesday with a HPT (home pregnancy test) that we are pregnant. Hooray. Very early days at the moment but still very exciting. Our DS (darling son) now just over 3 it is a great age for him to experience mummies growing belly and the excitement of a new brother or sister.
A lot made sense when I found out as I am not a day napper at all but over the past couple of weeks I have found myself on the couch asleep while the sun was still up!!! Unheard of for me!!
So far I have had no sickness or troubles so fingers crossed as with Kai I had the works and to top it off had pre-eclampsia at the end on total bed rest then induced to finally have and emergency cesarean 7 hours later..
I am also a Doula so looking forward to putting a lot of training into practice for myself. I am hoping for and aiming at a VBAC with absolutely minimal to no intervention unless absolutely necessary.
Well that is my story thus far, I will be booking in to see my doctor sometime next week and get a referral to an OB. So have more info then..
xxx

Just testing the waters...

2006-09-10T22:00:00.000+10:00

testing testing