Christmas

Merry Christmas!

On Christmas eve Phil, Rosie and I brought hot chocolates and snacks, and drove around Peterborough looking at Christmas lights. We also drove out into the countryside a little to peek at a house we might rent. :S

Since Rosie is so young, did presents on Christmas morning this year.... I got a couple of presents and called them "From Micah" for Phil's dad, and for Phil <3 This is the last Christmas we will spend without knowing our son! :D so nice to think of that.

I miss my family and friends a lot.

Rosie charmed everyone at a big family gathering in Pickering, she was such a trooper. Got some great pix of her dressed in her Indian outfit that Aunty Elly gave her last Christmas.... gotta put some on FB.

Of course, I missed like a thousand great photo ops throughout the day, cuz I was too lazy to have the camera out, but it's OK, we have a more intimate family do happening on Wednesday. We'll take our Christmas family picture then, along with a whole bunch of cute Rosie and Dani pictures!

I'm sitting and watching my belly shiver as Micah kicks and stretches, he's such a sweetheart. I don't know if I've gotten more used to his movement and notice it less, or if he's calmed down some in the last month. I remember feeling him all the time when I first could, but lately it seems like he's pretty laid back. Nothing to worry about, he still has bursts of energy and is awake at relatively predictable times of day, but he's not he crazy gymnast he once was. I guess getting older and heavier will do that to ya, sure did it to me! ;)

Looking forward to in 2012:

SETTING UP MY OWN HOUSE!
Holding my son
Fostering
Getting a kitten
Having some chickens/ducks/quail for eggs and eating
Having some rabbits for eating
maybe *MAYBE* (still undecided) getting a dog if the perfect one comes up for free at the perfect time. Rosie would love that so much! *I wants a beagle!
Whatever God brings, in His time, in His way.... it'll be awesome to see!

SPD

I seem to be having lots of pelvic pain.... it feels like it did in the last few weeks with Rosie, only worse. I could hardly walk last night, although there was good reason for that. lol.

Yesterday I went for a walk with Rosie to the play group, and while there did a lot of crouching, sitting on the floor, and sitting on small chairs. Then in the afternoon I met up with a lady in the walmart parking lot (from the Peterborough Buy and Sell groups) to buy some Marble Works for later. I'd forgotten to bring money, of course, so I ended up grabbing Rosie and running into Walmart... it took forever to get to a till cuz it was so busy, and I didn't dare put her down, cuz she'd take off or take things from the shelves, so it felt like I was carrying her for 1/2 hour. I think it was actually about 15 minutes.

Then we stopped at the dollar store to get a toy for Rosie's cousin for Christmas. I had to park far away, but Rosie walked in holding my hand so it wasn't a big deal.

After getting the toy and wandering through the store a little with Rosie in the buggy, we headed to the till. Once in line I realized I had no purse. :S We left the toy near the shelf, put the buggy back, and headed for the car. Rosie walked there, but I carried her back once we had the purse so it would be faster. Waited in line (she stood very well with me, thank God) and when we got to the till I realized my wallet was out of my purse, and actually back in the car.

This time I carried Rosie both ways (she was crying by now cuz we had to leave the toys behind again) and we finally bought them. Me being me, I had to stop at a nearby thrift store, but Rose did well walking, so we were OK.

I got home, a little sore, but didn't think much of it. After sitting for dinner though, I could hardly stand, and hardly walk. It sucked!

I've done a little research, and there's a condition called SPD (Symphysis pubis dysfunction) that affects up to 25% of pregnant women at least a little... it seems I'm developing that... *sigh*... have to stop carrying my little one... that'll be hard, I love carting her around with me!

Also, some say it's worse if your baby's bigger, so I'm wondering if Micah's big already.... Rosie wasn't very big at birth, so it'll be interesting to see the difference.

I'm so excited for this little guy, but there's still over 3 months to go... hoping I won't spend them in excruciating pain!

Doctor's visit 24 wks

My doctor here is hilarious. I'm sure a lot of other people would hate him, but it actually makes me feel empowered. lol.

I'll explain. I've been to see him three times now. No single visit has lasted more than 5 minutes. I think today's visit was about 2 1/2, maybe 3 minutes.

He doesn't say much, he's to the point, and he does nothing extraneous. For instance, my other pregnant visits to a doctor usually started with some vague and casual chitchat, they would use the little wheel thingy to confirm my timing, and then ask me how I was feeling. Then, they'd listen to the baby, watching the clock while timing the heartbeat, and I think it took almost a full minute each time. Generally afterwards they'd say a few more things, or we'd wrap up a conversation, they would tell me what the heartbeat was at and what it means for me, as well as mention that I had good Blood Pressure (which was generally taken before the heartbeat... left that part out) then they'd ask if I had any questions, appearing quite interested, and leave with a couple more casual statements.

Our visit today:

Dr. walks in, asks how I'm feeling. I say good. He takes my BP, I make conversation (I'd heard he was called to a delivery last night) he returns it in a relatively friendly, but disinterested manner without elaborating. As soon as the BP is done he asks me to lie down, and listens to the heartbeat for what seems to be 10-20 seconds, mumbles a number, says "good" and tells me to see him in 4 weeks, and that I should get the form from the secretary to have my blood tests, and that should happen in 3 weeks. Pauses briefly at the door, "Any questions?" Gives me a smile, and leaves.

2, maybe 3 minutes tops.

Why does this make me feel empowered/liberated? I explained it to Phil on our way home from our first appointment, when he was wondering why I didn't want to find another Dr who was more personable or at least more interested in his profession. (First of all, don't get me wrong, this Dr. is a very nice man. He smiles, he answers any question I have, it's just everything is fast fast fast.)

I feel liberated cuz I don't feel that I owe him anything. If he wants me to be induced and I don't want to, I feel like I can say no. He hasn't taken much interest, so I don't have to feel guilty not following his advice... if that makes any sense at all.

Well, whether it does or doesn't, it works for me :)

so, I guess all is good. I gained 3 1/2 or 4 pounds, according to the scale. I'm kinda relieved to see my first weight gain... altho I don't want it to go crazy.

Micah is healthy, and I'll see my dr. (briefly) in 4 weeks time. lol.

Christmas is coming

I decorated the tree last night. I'd put it up a few days ago while Rosie was napping.... it's always a sound practice to leave the tree up un-decorated until I discover how the kid and the cat are planning to interact with it. Rosie was completely uninterested, although now the decorations and lights have caught her eye. However, so far this morning she's been obedient to the "look don't touch" rule, and I made sure to put most of her favorites out of her reach. For instance, I have a gingerbread cookie made from fun foam that a student gave me last year, Rosie insisted on biting it the moment she saw it, so it's not even on the tree, just to make things easier.

There's something soothing to my soul to be sitting beside a lit Christmas tree. Surprisingly, decorating it was very difficult. I didn't know why at the time, but looking back I know it's because this is the first tree I've done without my friends or family. Phil was on the couch on the computer, so I guess family was there, but for the last few years I've been blessed to share Christmas with those most dear to me. The set-up always happened with my roommates, and last year we had Christmas in Campbell River with my mom and brothers.

I know there will be dear times here, and the people here are dear to me, if less traditionally so than my own family and friends.... but I'm guessing that missing the others was my reason for feeling so blue throughout the decorating process.

Something funny happened yesterday... I was walking and one of the floorboards in the living room cracked under me..... all I could think was "Micah, your momma's so fat...."

The funny thing is I still don't know if I've gained any weight yet... but I think I have. lol. The floorboards sure seem to think so. I have an appointment on Tuesday, so we'll see then how we've been progressing. My belly sure is big! I have to get Phil to take a belly shot of me later. Micah's grown like a weed! 24 weeks today.

and almost Christmas! Still no snow, highs of 9 and 5, etc... they keep saying "December will be full of snow, but not yet." Boasters. So far this winter has been exactly like BC. Phil was saying "At least we don't miss the weather!"

Boo. I wanted snow.