Well, I am exhausted and worn right out but I haven't updated in a while!

Thursday night we had our third prenatal class!  It was pretty good...she showed us another video of the different part of labour and delivery and what your body goes through as well as what the baby does during each stage.  She went over different things to help make the labour easier like a labour ball, a labour bar, walking, medication, etc...I think I changed my mind a bit about the experience, I am not more terrified than I was previously but I think I am with reality now.  I know a lot better what to expect and I hope things go well!  I was planning to get an epidural right away but I think now I will be OK to labour at home for a little while if that is the plan Peanut has for us.  Then once we get to the hospital and I can't deal with the pain anymore (I am not good with pain I don't think) then I can get the epidural, but I might as well go through some of the experience, right?  She talked all about the different medication options and how they work...I am a little more comfortable with that now.  She also talked about different things that we may not think about that we need to get for after the baby is born, it isn't all very lovely stuff so I won't go into detail.  It was a great class though!  This week she will talk about Fatherhood and how the husband/wife will change once the baby comes.  Should be good!

Friday morning at 8AM Mom, Cathy and I were on the road on our way to Michigan for the weekend!  We shopped Friday until we couldn't feel our feet anymore and finally went for some dinner at TGI Fridays at like 9.  Then on Saturday we got up and did it all over again!  We were all really struggling to get around by the end of Saturday!  Today we didn't do as much shopping, but we did stop at a few stores!

I got some great new maternity clothes!  I got black capris for work that are super nice, a bunch of t-shirts since I had a whopping...2!  I got some shirts that I can wear to work or on weekends/weeknights, some black sweatpant capris that I was looking for and 3 pairs of shoes!  I got a great red pair of sandels for the summer that have some support, I got them from KMart for $11.00 as well as a pair of black sandels that I needed from Meijers and black dress shoes for work.  (I walk on my heels now and the heels of my shoes are all toast so I couldn't wear them anymore!)  I also got a really great pillow that has a high back and 2 little supports on the side so when I am sitting on the couch I can lean on it and it is supportive.  We learned at our prenatal class we can't lay flat on our back so this will be good to help me not do that!  I also got a birthing ball (exercise ball) from Target.  Our teacher said they are great during pregnancy to help keep your body loose and it is comfortable after a long day.  Then during labour it is really helpful so I grabbed one at Target!  I got a bunch of stuff for Bro, video game, new controller, DVD, t-shirts, etc...he said it was like Christmas when I got home!  I am not sure he was even excited to see me, he just wanted to see what I got for him!  LOL! 

We got a few things for the baby, I got some great little socks with rattles on them so when Peanut is kicking around they will rattle.  I also got some cute onesies.  Carter's was having a huge sale and a bunch of stuff was 70% off!  Mom got some stuff that "I didn't see" for gifts and she got bedding at Babies R Us to put her crib together for when we stay over or she is babysitting.  It is going to look fabulous!  Babies R Us is the most amazing store!  I couldn't believe all the great stuff they had, I wish we had one here!

Mom (Nana Princess as she would like to be called ) was really anxious to feel Peanut kick.  Friday and Saturday I was so worn out I think that Peanut was too!  S/he wasn't doing much moving around.  This morning we were laying in bed and I showed Mom where to put her hand...she felt about 5 or 6 really good kicks and was so excited!  It was so funny!  Then we called Cathy over and she felt the baby kick too!  I like it that other people can feel our baby kicking too...it means Peanut is getting bigger and stronger every day!

Well, I think that is all the news I have for now, thanks for checking the blog and sorry for not putting anything up for a little while...have a great week everyone!

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

First of all, does anyone know how to avoid the delivery of the baby and I can just PLEASANTLY go from pregnancy to motherhood?  We watched 2 videos in class last night and I think Brodie and I have been brought to reality!  I knew it wasn't going to be FABULOUS but come on!  It is nasty!!!  The videos they showed us were to make us realize we need to keep an open mind and you may need to change your birth plan in a split second!  The first woman said "I wanted an epidural in the car on the way to the hospital" but she decided to stick it out for a bit.  Then when she decided she was ready the Dr. checked her and she was at 8 cm.  The Dr. went to get the anesthesiologist (sp?) and by the time he got back she was pushing the baby out!  The second lady wanted to go with no meds and she had both a shot in her hip and an epidural (and somehow still pushed the baby out while on her knees on the end of the bed!  LOL!).  It was a good reality to make us remember things change and the baby is in control.

I did change my mind about one thing though...I thought I was going to ask for an epidural right when I got to the hospital but I kept wondering about how much fun it will be to be stuck in bed for 36 hours and not move!  That can't be fun!  So, I think I will tough it out for a bit and try some of the different techniques we learned last night.  She had us on the floor with our partner doing different things and she taught us 3 different ideas to use for labour with more ideas to come next week!  She also showed us lots of different ways to use the big exercise balls when it comes to labour.  She says they are also great for during pregnancy when everything starts to feel squished.  It helps to open your body right up and it is great for opening your pelvis when the time comes!  Good to know!  I may need to get a big ball!  LOL!

She also gave us some ideas as to what our birth plan can look like and some thing we should pack for the hospital that we didn't think of!  It was a great class, I really enjoyed it!

After we got home from class, Brodie was rubbing my belly and he got this gross look on his face and said "WHAT IS THAT?!".  I rubbed it and yeah it felt really weird!  It felt like an adult finger (from the size of it) so it may have been the side of a hand or foot?  He kept rubbing that spot and the baby took back whatever Bro was rubbing...it was so funny, he looked so grossed out!  I can only imagine it is going to get crazier from here on out!

I hope you all have a fun and safe May 24 weekend!  We are off to Grand Bend tonight and maybe some Fireworks with Melissa, Ronnie and Hailey (Bro's god daughter) on Sunday night.

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

Good morning everyone!

This morning I was laying in bed trying to drag my lazy butt out of bed when I got KARATE KICKED!  That is what it felt like!  The kick was right below by belly button which is higher than normal so I thought I would check it out since normally I can't see the part of my belly where Peanut is kicking!

Then, THUMP I got kicked again and my stomach moved!  I saw it go up then back down!  Then again!  It was so funny I laughed and Peanut stopped kicking...this baby better get used to lauging cause right now s/he doesn't seem to like it!  Everytime I laugh the kicks stop!  But it is funny everytime so I can't help but laugh!  LOL!

I just wanted to share that quick story because it was funny!  I told Brodie tonight we are going to lay in bed so maybe he can see it too! 

Well, have a super day everyone!

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

Happy Monday!

I have tried to make this entry twice before now but my computer just doesn't seem to want to tell you all about our class!  LOL!  We had our first prenatal class on Thursday night and it was actually sort of fun!  Our teacher was away so we had a substitute.  She was a very nice lady and within minutes her and Brodie were talking hockey!  LOL! 

First we had to go around the room and introduce ourselves with our names, how far along we are and what hospital we are going to.  There were 8 couples in the class and only 2 of us are going to Vic hospital.  Everyone else is going to St. Joe's!  Lucky for us!  There are 2 of us at 24 weeks (25 tomorrow) and one girl is 34 weeks!  Everyone else is in between...When the girl at 34 weeks introduced herself, I realized I knew her from when we were kids!  She is my Aunt's friend's Neice and we played together when we were little!  Funny eh?

Then she split the class into 2 groups, Moms and Dads...first of all I must say it was a little strange to be called a Mom!  She gave us lots of questions and we needed to have group discussions...some questions were:  Positive changes during pregnancy, Negative changes during pregnancy, Things to look forward to Postpartum, etc...it was funny to see the different answers from the Moms and Dads but it was also really nice to see how the Dads felt in their heart...they had some answers that made the Moms a little sappy :)

Then we did a breathing exercise and a relaxation exercise.  All the Moms and Dads had to do the exercises so the Dads know what to expect in the labour room...she gave us some good ideas and we have to practice at home on our own.

Then one of the Dads was volunteered by his wife to put on the Empathy belly.  It is a big belly consisting of 2 15 lb canon balls (1 in each breast) and the belly is filled with water.  She asked the Dad to sit on a chair, pick up a pen off the floor and get into the bed she had made on the floor.  It was funny, when he finally got into bed and comfy, she said "Oh no!  You have to pee now!" and she made him get back up!  While he was down she demonstrated all the places where you need to put pillows for proper support...so you need 1-2 behind your head, 1 between your knees and 1 under your belly when you sleep on your side (you are supossed to sleep on your left side for max blood flow to the baby and the placenta).  A body pillow also works for between the knees and under the belly!

So, that was our first class, it was fun!

Then on Saturday we went to Delhi for a visit with Brodie's family and visited with Deb for Mother's Day.  She got me some beautiful earrings for Mother's Day (Thanks Deb I love them!  I am still wearing them!)  Then Saturday night I was out back picking dandilions out of the yard and Brodie gave me a Mother's Day present!  I am so lucky to have him, he is such a great man!  He gave me one of those things your hose goes on so you can wind it up and keep it all neat and tidy...I was so excited!  Last year I quit watering the garden because the hose was such a pain!  Then yesterday Mom and I went shopping at 2 different nurseries...we went to Canandales in St. Thomas and it was so cool!  I got 3 boxwoods to separate my garden from the neighbour and a bunch of pretty flowers to put in a big planter I got a few weeks ago.  Mom is coming over tomorrow night to help me plant everything!  I am excited to see it all done!

Well, I hope all the Mom's had a great Mother's Day!  You all deserve it!

Have a great week, I hope to post pics tomorrow of our 25 week bump and another prenatal class on Thursday!  Stay tuned!

Also, I updated the pregnancy reflections for this month...you're welcome Kyla!  LOL!

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