Happy Canada Day!

This morning I picked up Jake (my step-brother) and we headed to Dad & Jo's trailer for the day (Brodie had to work since he had yesterday off).  When we got there Dad was out fishing with Uncle Don so we played cribbage until they got back.  Then Dad, Jo, Jake and I headed out into the bay.  We took the tube so Jake and Jo could go tubing, but the water was way too cold!  We ended up just hanging out in the bay chatting.  I wore my new bathing suit but I didn't get swimming because of the water temperature...I didn't want to put Peanut into shock!  LOL!  Dad drove the boat slow for me so there wasn't too much jiggling and warned me before any decent waves.  It was a good day but I am so tired now!  I had a craving for perch so Dad gave me a bag of it and I cooked it for dinner tonight.  It was delicious!

Well, just thought I would share Peanut's first boat ride with everyone!  It was a beautiful day and we had lots of snacks!  It was perfect!

Have a great week everyone!

Love Stacey, Brodie and Peanut
              x's n o's

Well, today is the first day I can remember that I have felt like this...I feel like a whale!  I am not sure how Peanut is positioned, but I am not a big fan!  LOL!  I hope s/he moves soon!  Ever since I woke up this morning, it has felt like I either gained another baby or ate an animal!  I couldn't barely bend over to pick up something off the floor this AM, my clothes don't fit properly, I have started to waddle, and I am having trouble sitting down.  Yesterday I was fine!  It just happened this morning!  Peanut must have had a growth spurt!  That is Ok though...I still think I am having a great pregnancy and have been very lucky and happy through the whole thing!  I am having fun with Peanut's movements these days, there are just so many of them!  Brodie is feeling the baby more and more each day and now we are trying to get my Brother to feel Peanut...still no luck with Deb though!  She must calm the baby down, because s/he just sleeps when we visit her!

I just got back from the Dr. and everything is tip top!  BP was good, heart rate was 148, and gained another 4 lbs!  I am not sure why I write my weight in my blog, I guess because then people won't be shocked when I have a 20 lb baby!  LOL!  I keep telling Brodie that is why I gain so much weight, our baby is going to be the size of a toddler!  LOL!  So, I go back to the Dr. in another 2 weeks...just keep doing what I am doing until then they said!

We had a good weekend, very busy though!  Friday we went to Applebee's for dinner...mmm...Applebee's!  I love their Oriental Chicken Wrap and Brodie had some really good shrimp I kept picking off his plate.  It was delicious!  Then we shopped for a little bit and I got another pair of sweatpant capris.  They were on sale at Thyme for $19.00 and I love them!  I have been living in them since Friday!  Saturday we went for a visit with Greg & Deb (again no kicking) and then off to Dad's trailer for Kevin, Jess & Jo's birthdays.  It was fun!  Jo didn't know Dad had a surprise party planned!  We got to see lots of family which was great!  Then when we got home we sat on our deck and watched fireworks that other people we setting off in their backyards.  There was one place that did an amazing job, we watched them for like 10 mins and they were steady the whole time!  It was cool!  Sunday we went to Dino's for breakfast...that was so good!  Then we went shopping in London and back to visit with Greg & Deb (and again...no kicking!).  Then back home for some R&R because we were absolutely wiped! 

Brodie has today off for the holiday and I get tomorrow off.  I am going to Long Point to spend the day with Dad & Jo (I am so excited!!!)!  I am taking my new bathing suit in hopes that the lake will be like glass and we can go for a ride on the boat and go swimming!  I really need to get some use out of my bathing suit!  I didn't go through the embarassment of trying them all on, to not wear it!  LOL!  So, tomorrow should be fun!  If it isn't flat on the lake maybe we will just go to the beach or swim in the pool at the park.  Who knows!

Well, Happy Canada Day!  Have a fabulous holiday everyone!

Love Stacey, Brodie & Peanut
             x's n o's

Well, last night was our breastfeeding class through the Health Unit.  I had to go from work (I snuck out 15 mins early) back to Ingersoll (about 20 mins), get dinner and gas, pick up Brodie (who was showering and shaving) and get to downtown London by 6:15 since the class started at 6:30.  It was quite a feat, but we made it!  When the class started, we had to go around and introduce ourselves by saying our names, hospital we are going to and when we are due.  It was very interesting to hear all the Ladies due dates and see how big their belly was!  So many different shapes and sizes!  It was cool.  There were also 2 other couples from our Prenatal class there...that was fun to see how they have grown in a couple weeks. 

Then they split us up into 3 small groups to see what questions we have about breastfeeding and what we wanted to know by the end of the class.  There were so many good questions!  We then watched a DVD showing us different techniques, babies feeding and how it should look (to make sure they are getting lots of milk and not hurting you).  Then they went on to talk about Dad's role during feedings like getting Mom water, getting pillows and where they should go, giving Mom lots of support, etc...After the DVD we got our dolls and pillows out.  Brodie said it was his job to give me my pillow so he threw it at me and grabbed the doll by her hair and threw her on the pillow.  I told him he did a great job and it going to be such a good Dad :)  We learned the Cross Cradle hold which is the regular feeding position and the Football hold which is where the baby lays along your side with his/her feet at your back.  That one wasn't as comfortable.  They just told us to make sure the ear, shoulder and hip are all lined up.  They gave us so many tips and tricks I am not sure how we will remember them all!

She showed us 3 different positions to burp your baby and then went into breast pumps.  She passed them around the room and I broke one of them...woops!  I thought the guy beside me had it but I guess not and down it went!  I felt bad but she put it back together!  The teacher's had very strong opinions about the pumps and when asked which is best they said "none".  They basically feel that unless your baby will not latch, there is no reason to use a pump.  I feel differently though.  I think feeding time is an important bonding time for the baby and the parents so Brodie plans to also try to feed the baby.  Not right at first because we don't want to confuse our baby with bottles and breastfeeding, but after a while (it is recommended to wait until about 4-6 weeks) it would be nice for him to be able to give his baby a bottle.  I don't see anything wrong with that, I think it would help them to bond!  So, I don't agree with the teachers on this one.  Plus, they were a little crazy! 

Brodie and I both couldn't stand the one teacher, she was dreadful!  The other teacher was ok, she just was VERY opinionated!  Oh well, it is her job...right?

So, I think that is everything for now...still no luck with getting Peanut to move when we visit Deb.  Tuesday I drank a whole bottle of OJ but it just made me have to pee and the baby didn't do anything!  Tonight I plan to try a coke slush (my favourite) from Mac's to see if it will work!

Not sure if I mentioned earlier this week, but my rings are now off :(  I was very sad to take them off since I never do!  But, I didn't want to have to cut them off and they were getting too tight!  I took them off Monday and there are still marks on my fingers from them!  I think I did the right thing, but my hands look so boring now!

Last but not least I think I have my first real complaint about pregnancy...I am allowed to complain a little now that I am getting to the end!  I can't sleep!  It doesn't take me long to get to sleep at night because I am so tired all the time, but I wake up frequently and once I am awake, I cannot get back to sleep.  Last night I woke up to go to the washroom and realized I was SO HOT!!!  The window was open but there was no breeze or anything.  I went to the washroom and realized I was sweating bad!  Nasty!  So, I turned on the AC and shut the window and couldn't get back to sleep for about another 40 minutes.  It was 3:30 when I woke up so I was exhausted!  I had the same problem yesterday.  Someone called our house at 5:30 AM and it was the wrong #.  When I tried to go back to sleep, no luck!  It is a little frustrating, but I think it is nature's way of preparing me?

I should also mention that for those of you who don't know, when your baby gets bigger you get heartburn all the time.  Tuesday I had it for a constant 6 hours just at work then for most of the evening.  When I get home I drink some milk, but Tuesday I drank a whole bag of milk before dinner!  LOL!  Tums don't work but milk seems to for a little bit.

I hope everyone has a fantastic long weekend!  Brodie has Monday off but I get Tuesday off...my next Dr. appt is Monday

Love Stacey, Brodie & Peanut
                   x's n o's

Well, another weekend is over.  We had a busy but nice weekend.  Friday night we went to visit with Brodie's Mom and Dad.  It was a quick visit as other people showed up so we left to let them visit.  We went to Jack Astor's for dinner (Bro loves it there) and I had one of the best dinners I have ever had!  He got his usual favourite and got food poisoning!  Poor guy!  He was up sick all night but as Saturday went on, he got better and even used his new Weed Eater for the first time!  Yes, there are trenches around the garden and sidewalk again, but that is ok he had fun with it!  LOL!  I got my hair all cut off because I was ready to shave my head!  My hair is so thick and was getting long again that it felt like 100 degrees all the time!  So, I went to Yogi and she gave me a good cut!  I feel a little better now!  Yay!  Then Melissa, Ronnie and Hailey (Bro's God Daughter, she's 2 1/2) came over for a visit to watch UFC Saturday night.  Hailey was absolutely adorable!  We were explaining to her that she can talk, sing or tell stories to Peanut and when the baby is born s/he will know her voice.  So, she put her face up to my belly and said "What are you doing Peanut" and "Are you sleeping Peanut" and then we sang Itsy Bitsy Spider.  She wanted to touch the baby too, so I told her she could rub my belly she just had to be gentle.  She was a very good listener when it came to not hurting the baby so she GENTLY rubbed my belly.  It was so cute, I can't wait for more days like that! 

Yesterday we went back for another visit with Greg & Deb.  There were lots and lots of visitors but we had a great visit with her!  I chugged a diet coke in hopes that Peanut would get a little active so Deb could feel her Grandbaby kicking, but Peanut didn't move at all!  If anyone has any ideas, please feel free to share them with me!  I am going to try OJ or a Coke slushie next time I go.  I have heard caffeine, sugar or something cold.  I am willing to try different foods/drinks (I am not one to turn down food) so please let me know if anyone has any ideas!

Yesterday I also got Guitar Hero for my Nintendo DS and it is pretty fun!  I was excited even more because I didn't know when you trade in 3 games you get Guitar Hero for free (I had 4 games to trade in) so I didn't have to pay 1 penny!  LOL!  I also got a limited edition collector's harmonica...Not sure what to do with that, I can't play the harmonica!  Who can, really?  Brodie says he is a harmonica master but I don't believe him...LOL!

I guess my only other update is sort of a sad one.  I think I have to take off my rings soon.  I noticed this morning they are getting tighter and I don't want to have to cut them off!  I think I will go at lunch to see if I can find a chain to put them on so I can still wear them.  I am very sad to take them off!  I wear my engagement ring, wedding ring, ring from my Mom with my birthstone for my 18th bday and a ring from my Dad with an S on it for being a bridesmaid in their wedding.  I NEVER take off my rings, I wear them in the shower, to bed, everywhere!  But, I don't want them cut off!  Oh well, I will put them on a chain and we will be ok!

Well, our system just came back up so I guess I should go get some work done.  I will do another update soon, please let me know any ideas for getting Peanut moving!  Thanks everyone :)

Love:  Stacey, Brodie & Peanut
                  x's n o's