MOVED

So, I'm now using wordpress and you can catch up with my new blog here:

www.aliofish.com.

:)

28+ weeks (aka 7 months)

"By this week, your baby weighs nearly 2.3 pounds/ a little over 1 kilograms and may measure 14.8 inches/ 38 centimetres from top to toe. At about this time, your baby can open his eyes and turn his head in utero if he notices a continuous, bright light shining from the outside. His fat layers are forming and his fingernails appear."
-babycentre

In other news, we took possession of the house today. WE OWN A HOUSE! AHHH.

And, Ian set me up on WordPress, so this blog is moving. The new one is not totally finished "design-wise" but everything else is good to go.

You can check it out at www.aliofish.com.

Yay, Canada!

In less than 2 days, if all goes well, Ian and I will be the proud owners of a house! It is scary and exciting all at the same time! Our meeting with the notary is pretty early on Thursday, and after that, well, home sweet home it is...ok, work first, then home sweet home.

We aren't going to move in right away, as there is some painting and other minor work that needs to get done, but we should be in the house by the end of the month. I am surprisingly pumped about doing the baby's room. I guess it must be the "nesting" instinct kicking in, but I am looking forward to designing it and putting the design into action.

We have some original artwork from an illustrator who did the art for one of the kids books I worked on back at Lobster Press. I think it'll be fun to work that into the baby room design.

Otherwise, we have to figure out where the rest of our art is going to go. And all the books. We've been tossing around the idea of custom bookshelves in the living/dining area. Alternately, we might just fill up one of the rooms with books -- like a library.

Canada Day used to be one of my favourite days of the year. In Mo West, there's a parade and a party at one of the local parks. It was always a ton of fun, that ended with fireworks over the pool. When you were "cool" enough to be a lifeguard, you got to watch the fireworks from the pool deck (and of course risk having shards of fireworks fall on you).

It's just not the same when you don't live in a small community like Mo West.

no diabetes here

I took the glucose test today during my monthly checkup. Basically it consists of drinking a large glass of a liquid that tastes like Orange Crush but is of slightly thicker consistency. It isn't as disgusting as I thought it was going to be (I was picturing the barium Hagar has to drink in the Stone Angel). Anyway, turns out I do not have gestational diabetes. Hurray!

Now I can celebrate my 31st birthday in style, and have cake.

27+ weeks

"Your baby now weighs nearly 2 pounds/ 875 grams and measures 14.5 inches/ 36.6 centimetres from head to toe. Her eyes open and close, she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals and she may suck a finger or thumb.

Sweet dreams, little baby! Some experts believe that babies begin to dream by the 28th week. What do they dream about? No one knows for certain but the brain is active this week as well. The characteristic grooves on the brain's surface start to appear and more brain tissue develops.

Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of the hiccups, which are common this week and throughout the pregnancy."

-babycentre

So I apparently am in the start of the third trimester. Yikes!

heeelarious

A friend sent this link.

Every girl dreams of outfitting their baby in cute high-heeled shoes, right? Especially those girls who hate high heels and prefer cleats, right?

Seriously, who comes up with these ideas?

house pics

As promised, here are a few more pics of the new house. We headed over on Sat am to take some more pics so we could do some planning.


Living/Dining area



Entryway



Stained glass in baby's room



Upstairs bathroom & stained glass window

26+ weeks

"Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he is about 14 inches/35.6 centimetres. He weighs a little more than 1.6 pounds/ 760 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born."

The time seems to be just flying by. Just a few months ago, September seemed so far away. And yet -- it's already on the later side of June. How'd that happen?

On Sunday afternoon Ian and I went to the mountain. I walked up to the stairs and did three sets, while he ran and met me at the stairs. Climbing stairs are much harder with extra weight! On Tuesday I did about a 25 minute walk and yesterday I walked home from work, so things are still feeling good on the exercise front.

We're aiming to go to the house either tonight or on the weekend so we can take pics, measurements, etc. Pictures will be forthcoming.

stoopider?

Ian sent me an article from The Atlantic magazine (online, of course) that asks some interesting questions about reading and the way that we process information in the...information age? The article is called "Is Google Making Us Stupid."

The author's discussion of "deep reading" is what interested me most. Here are a few relevant passages:

"My mind isn’t going—so far as I can tell—but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the way I used to think. I can feel it most strongly when I’m reading. Immersing myself in a book or a lengthy article used to be easy. My mind would get caught up in the narrative or the turns of the argument, and I’d spend hours strolling through long stretches of prose. That’s rarely the case anymore. Now my concentration often starts to drift after two or three pages. I get fidgety, lose the thread, begin looking for something else to do. I feel as if I’m always dragging my wayward brain back to the text. The deep reading that used to come naturally has become a struggle."

(Given that his article is more than a few pages long, I found his commentary above amusing because it got me to thinking that if most people are like the author, they are likely to lose interest or focus before the end of the article).

"The kind of deep reading that a sequence of printed pages promotes is valuable not just for the knowledge we acquire from the author’s words but for the intellectual vibrations those words set off within our own minds. In the quiet spaces opened up by the sustained, undistracted reading of a book, or by any other act of contemplation, for that matter, we make our own associations, draw our own inferences and analogies, foster our own ideas. Deep reading, as Maryanne Wolf argues, is indistinguishable from deep thinking. If we lose those quiet spaces, or fill them up with “content,” we will sacrifice something important not only in our selves but in our culture."

Hm.

I definitely find myself skimming online articles, particularly if they are on the longer side and I am not "hooked" right from the first paragraph. Since I spend practically my entire day reading articles, I suppose this is not surprising. However, I do have to say that my "deep reading" skills are still intact. I am still able to lose myself in a book and read for hours at a time without getting distracted. I'm sure the medium (book vs. computer screen) plays a role.

25+ weeks

"The baby now weighs nearly 1.5 pounds / 660 grams and is approximately 13.5 inches/ 35 centimetres long from crown to heel. He makes breathing movements but has no air in his lungs yet. At 26 weeks, fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working."
-babycentre

Last night she was pretty active, bouncing while Ian was talking to her. It was quite amusing!

times they are a changin'

How depressing is the news that they need to update some of our favourite characters and cartoons from the 80s to appeal to "modern" children. Poor TMNT, the care bears and every girl's favourite, strawberry shortcake.

Here's a short excerpt:

"On top of her new toy line, Strawberry Shortcake is getting a new computer-animated movie and a new TV series, starting next year. This time, in keeping with contemporary nutritional concerns, the franchise will downplay the sugary dessert theme and move, as Mr. Conrad put it, “fruit-forward.”

“It’s also about creating a cohesive line,” Mr. Conrad said. “We’re downplaying characters that were part of Strawberry’s world but who didn’t immediately shout out fruit.”

In related news, apparently the Sweet Valley High twins have now dropped from a size 6 to a size 4.

step two three four

It ended up being really hot today in Montreal (with a big thunderstorm after lunch that had such high winds it apparently knocked over some trucks on the Champlain bridge!). I decided to walk to work instead of walking home, since it is generally cooler in the mornings.

Once 6 pm came around, however, I was still feeling restless so I met up with a friend and we walked up to Beaver Lake and back with the dog. It was still pretty warm, but it started raining ever so slightly about 1/2 way through the walk which kept us (and the dog) pretty cool.

Overall I figure I walked approximately 12 km today. I definitely needed it after all the stressful running around last week where I neglected to do much exercise (ok, I didn't really have time).

There is now a "vendu" sign on our house!!!

new home

So, we managed to pull it off and buy a new house in the last 10 days. It is not an easy or stress-free process, that is for sure. So now all that's left is to sell our condo and move. Not that either of those things are likely to be stress-free, but, maybe they will be less rushed that the - make an offer- get bank assessor to examine house and condo - find an inspector - have house inspected within 7 days of offer - secure mortgage within 10 days of offer - sign a million documents - process.

We escaped up north on Sat, while our agent showed the condo and we got a chance to relax a little and destress. The baby got her first swim in a lake, which she seemed to enjoy (no surprise there, since Ian and I spent many years swimming competitively).

Here's one of the main reasons I fell in love with the house. It's the north- (using Montreal orientation) facing window on the staircase:

24+ weeks (6 months)

"Your fetus weighs more than 1.3 pounds/ 600 grams. Though she still has little body fat and her skin is thin and fragile, she's now well-proportioned. Her brain is growing rapidly, and she is starting to fill the space in your uterus. From crown to heel she could measure 11.8 inches / 30 centimetres."
-babycentre

good times

So, here is the Traf contingent representing at the wedding we went to this past weekend. This doesn't give the best idea of how pregnant I look, but you can tell there's something going on with my body that isn't standard operating procedure!

I've known the bride since we lived on the same street when we were 2 years old. We also used to play soccer against each other each Saturday after I moved towns, and then ended up at high school and CEGEP together. The man she married is a real gem, and I couldn't be happier for the two of them!

Congrats Kate!

Ferme Morgan

On the weekend, Ian and I headed up north for a wedding at Gray Rocks, which was very enjoyable despite the rainy weather. We decided to drive home by a different route so we could stop in at Morgan Farms.

I'm in the midst of reading the Omnivore's Dilemma, and it is really making me think about eating meat that you get at the supermarket. Ian and I don't eat a lot of meat regularly, and if we do we try to buy it from the market at Jean-Talon. However, after reading this book, it really makes you think twice about where your meat comes from and if you really want to be supporting the type of system used to farm beef in North America on an industrial scale.

So, Morgan Farms is an organic farm but not only that, their animals are grass-fed for the most part, rather than grain-fed. A lot of "big organic" still uses feedlots and gives their animals "organic" corn as food. Anyway, we bought a bunch of meat to put in the freezer and I figure it'll last us two or three weeks. Best of all, Morgan Farms delivers once a week to three locations in Montreal, so you can call up an order and they'll bring it to you in the city.

These types of things really start to matter when you are considering bringing a new life into the world. I don't really want this new baby to have to eat meat that has been pumped full of antibiotics so it won't get sick because it's crammed in with thousands of other animals in too-tight cages.

It's more expensive than supermarket meat, that's for sure. But, for now it is a price I am willing to pay.

23+ weeks

One week to go until six months.... More people have asked to touch/pat my stomach, so I am going to guess that I look more pregnant than fat now.

Going to my next dr.'s appt tomorrow. Nothing special about this one, so I am hoping that maybe, just maybe, I'll be in and out in less than 3.5 hours.

"Your baby now weighs a little over one pound/ 500 grams and measures about 11.4 inches/ 29 centimetres from crown to heel. Her hearing is well established and she can make out a distorted version of your voice, the beating of your heart and your stomach rumblings. Loud noises often heard in utero, such as the barking of a dog next door or the roar of a vacuum cleaner, probably won't bother your child when she hears them outside the womb. In addition to advances in your baby's hearing, her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. She's swallowing but she normally won't pass her first stool (called meconium) until after birth."
-babycentre

pregnant in look and feel

I am finally looking pregnant, more than I just look like I'm carrying some extra weight around (at least that's what friends have been saying, so I'm going to go with it). Finally! Plus, I can feel the baby moving around pretty regularly now. So far I've been lucky that this has not really been a "night-active" baby that keeps me awake. And believe it or not, I'm still able to sleep on my stomach (albeit in a modified form) for some of the night, so I am currently well rested at this point of 5 1/2 months.

This weekend we looked at houses, and found one we really liked. Of course it's somewhat out of our price range, so we'll have to figure out what to do about that. It's a nice, old house with hardwood floors, trim and stained glass windows. *Sigh*

I also drove to Burlington to cheer on the ladies running in the relay marathon. We decided I shouldn't be included a few months back when we weren't sure if I'd still be running at this point. But I definitely could have competed, at least in the shortest leg (5 km) of the relay, which took place early enough for it to be cool enough for me to run. I think the team had a lot of fun, so I am definitely eager to do it next year.

Found some jeans that still fit (clearly they were too big before, but I haven't had time to have the waist taken in, so now they fit -- at least for the next week or so), and otherwise I've moved to elasticized skirts for the most part. Comfy.

1001 books

I like lists. I like making them, and then I like crossing things off. I think love of lists was developed early on in high school when using your agenda to keep track of everything was key. Everyone used different colour pens, highlighters, etc. to keep track of assignments and activities, and there was nothing better than crossing things out once they were done.

Anyway, the NYTimes had an article about a book called 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. What better list for me than that? Plus, since I'm a lit major and on a good week get through two or three books, I should be well ahead of the game, right?

Wrong. I've only read about 250 of the books on this list (even though some are really short stories or long poems). Pretty shameful, really. I better get crackin'.

I was pleased to see Carol Shields, Ford Maddox Ford, Douglas Adams and Mikhail Bulgakov on the list, for example, but there's only 1 Agatha Christie and other must reads such as Lamb, by Christopher Moore, the Diary of Anne Frank, are missing.

Here's the list.

Here's the NYTimes article.

Happy reading!

midnight train

If you know anything about the Fischer family, you know we all can sing Gladys Knight songs in our sleep, particularly "Midnight Train to Georgia." So, it is only fitting that my cousin sent along this YouTube video with a little parody of the "Pips."

22+ weeks

"The baby now weighs almost one pound / 430 grams, measures nearly 11 inches/ just over 27 centimetres long from crown to heel, and is proportioned like a newborn, albeit a thinner version since her baby fat hasn't yet developed. Although she's getting heavier every day, her skin still appears wrinkled because she needs to gain more weight. The lips are distinct and the eyes are formed, though the iris (the coloured part of the eye) still lacks pigment. The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. Even this early, the first signs of teeth appear in the form of tooth buds beneath the gum line."
-babycentre

memories of Step Up

My dad & brother are planning to climb Kilimanjaro this summer, and have started training by climbing stairs on the mountain. On Sunday, Ian and I jogged up from the monument to the stairs to meet them. We did 5 sets (to the top and back down), and now my calves are reminding me why doing Step Up always hurts so much.

We've finally started house hunting, and are excited at the prospect of actually moving into a house rather than a condo. But, there is plenty of work ahead of us before the transition is complete. Most importantly, we need to decide where we want to be. It's pretty hard to conceive of giving up our current neighbourhood, so close to everything either walking or a short drive/metro trip away.

slow like tortoise

Went for a run yesterday on the mountain. Then again, calling it a "run" would be a stretch. I was damn slow. But, I didn't get winded or feel like I was going to pass out, so I guess that is good. Did a slightly shortened version of the typical run, so ended up going about 7 km in total.

I got passed by a lot of people, and usually when you get passed it makes you want to run faster. But, first I had to adhere to my brother's rule of running etiquette ie: you can't pass people who pass you unless they stop or slow down (read: you should have been running faster if you didn't want to get beaten). Secondly, since I am supposed to be able to run & talk at the same time, I have to maintain a pace where I can still sing.

Luckily, I have some good tunes on the mp3 player at this moment. In particular, I am enjoying the few show tunes I have from Avenue Q. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. It's one of my favourite Broadway plays! How can you not love a show that has one of its songs titled "The Internet is for Porn."

Happy Friday!

21+ weeks

"The fetus now weighs about three-quarters of a pound/ 360 grams. Up until now she has been measured from crown to rump but from this point on the measurement will be from crown to heel. And from crown to heel she is approximately 10.5 inches/ 27 centimetres long. The eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed and the fingernails cover the fingertips.

Your baby can now hear your conversations. If you talk, read, or sing to your baby, expect her to hear you. Some studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero. If you want to try, pick a book now and read it out loud. Make sure you won't mind reading it over and over once the baby is here. It may be your baby's favourite bedtime story for a long time after birth."
-babycentre

Mother's Day

We visited with some old friends on Saturday who are about to have their fourth child. We love visiting these friends in part because they always include their kids in the socializing. Ian and I each got to read one of the kids their bedtime story, and we all enjoyed watching some of the "Princess Bride." How can you not love a family that watches the best movie of all time together?

Today we took our moms to a casual brunch and a stroll around Parc Lafontaine with all their kids. It was fun and relaxing. On a whim, we also popped in to visit another family that had a child not too long ago, so we could get our cute-baby fix for the day.

Happy Mother's Day to all moms & moms-to-be. I got lots of well-wishes today, even though I'm not officially a "mom" yet.

20+ weeks (aka 5 months)

"Your baby measures about 6.5 inches/ 16.5 centimetres from crown to rump and is steadily gaining weight. A whitish coat of a slick, fatty substance called vernix caseosa begins to cover your baby and protects the skin during its long immersion in amniotic fluid. It also eases delivery. The baby's swallowing more this week, good practice for the digestive system."
-babycentre

I went to a different prenatal yoga class last night. This one had much less action and much more "let's discuss what it is like to be pregnant." It was really interesting and almost comforting to be in a room full of pregnant ladies all wanting to ask and answer questions, etc. It was a very welcoming environment (even if I was the only Anglo) and the teacher was really nice. We probably only did about 20-30 minutes of yoga postures, and none that were at all taxing. But several of the women there were 30 weeks+, so I guess it makes sense.

Since I don't have many friends who are pregnant right now (except a few who don't live in this country), it was enjoyable to be able to hear these women talk about their pregnancies. Everyone was on their first pregnancy too, which was cool.

I am tempted to continue going just for the camaraderie. I'll definitely have to find something else to do exercise-wise, though.

prenatal yoga

I went to my first prenatal yoga class last night. It was a pretty small class, maybe 7 women. There was one other woman who was probably between 4-5 months and everyone else was quite pregnant (looking, at least). I was not really sure what to expect, but it was surprisingly enjoyable. It definitely wasn't physically challenging in the way the classes I usually take are...but it was nice to get a stretch and time to relax. The owner of the studio is due next week, so we chatted a bit about being pregnant and active. The most enjoyable aspect of the class was being able to chat with other pregnant ladies.

The teacher was a substitute, and next week they go back to the regular prenatal yoga instructor. Apparently the regular teacher does a lot of exercises focused on breathing and holding things for a long time in order to get used to pushing through the pain of childbirth. Sounds intriguing, so I am definitely going to go back next time.

more on breastfeeding

Here's a study that says your kid will have a higher IQ if you breastfeed. Of course the study doesn't specify why this occurs. Furthermore, isn't measuring intelligence using IQ testing on the way out?

Last night I walked home from work again. It's actually a pretty nice walk, despite the traffic on some of the major streets. Plus the weather was gorgeous. It is about time we had some consistently nice, warm temperatures. It's MAY, after all! How am I supposed to fill myself up with ice cream if it is too cold to eat ice cream?

athletes and pregnancy

A friend sent me some links about athletes and pregnancy. Awesome.

Link 1

Link 2

ultrasound

We got to see the little peanut again at the ultrasound on Friday. This time you could see how much more developed she is (compared with the 12-week ultrasound). Everything is fine, according to the technician. It was really cool to see all the little fingers and toes and bones and four separate sections of the heart. They really check everything carefully, making sure all the bones and organs etc., are where they are supposed to be. It is pretty unbelievable that technology allows you such clear pictures of the bebe.

In other news, I went running on Sat after a week hiatus (primarily because Ian was away and as such I have less time to do extra curricular activities -- not because I was slacking off). It felt good. It was a little drizzly outside so it was the perfect temperature for me to run. I am definitely finding that I overheat, or at least heat up, much faster these days if the temp is +20C.

And, we don't have any names picked out yet, in case you were wondering.

breastfeeding

One of the questions I seem to get frequently, especially from those who are already parents, is whether I plan to breastfeed this little peanut. My instinctive response is "yes, of course." People obviously have different opinions on the matter, but it just seems like it is part of the natural process of being a mother to me. At the least, I want to try it and hope that all goes well.

However, an article in the NYT made me think a little harder about this question. Living in Quebec, I take for granted that if I want to take a year off work without consequences (except only getting paid 1/2 my salary), I can. And I am guaranteed my job back. So if I want to breastfeed for 6 months+, theoretically I should be able to without having to worry about whether I need to pump at work in the middle of a meeting, or if my baby is getting too used to the bottle, or other related concerns.

In the US, however, maternity leave is much shorter and I am not sure everyone is guaranteed leave. So this article amused me because basically it is saying that while more women in the US are breastfeeding in the first months, more can be done to encourage women to continue breastfeeding. Uh, guys? How about extending maternity leave! This might allow women to at least have the option to continue breastfeeding!!!

19+ weeks

"The fetus measures around 6 inches/ 15 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces/ 240 grams. She has started to swallow amniotic fluid, and her kidneys continue to make urine. Hair on the scalp is sprouting. Sensory development reaches its peak this week. The nerve cells serving each of the senses -- taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch -- are now developing in their specialised areas of the brain. Nerve cell production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. If you're carrying a baby girl, she already has roughly six million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she's born, she'll have about one million."
-babycentre

Ultrasound is tomorrow!

choco-holic

It's funny how you can always find data to support your theories/cravings. Earlier this year, the hot topic was how caffeine increases the risk of miscarriage and no amount is deemed safe. To counteract this, how about an article about how eating dark chocolate is beneficial in pregnancy?

Mmmm.

18+ weeks

"Your baby is twice as big as he was last month but he still weighs only about 190g (6.7oz). Meanwhile, most of the weight you've gained is from amniotic fluid, placenta, and water retention. Although things may seem calm on the surface, your little one is kicking, flexing, reaching, rolling, and even sucking his thumb now. If you haven't felt him move yet, you will in the next few weeks. His hearing is now functioning and he will be listening to your heartbeat."
-babycentre

Can't say I've felt movement yet, but then again, it is hard to know what it feels like the first time around. I read somewhere someone describing it as feeling as though butterfly wings are brushing up against your insides. Poetic, no? Well, I definitely have not felt anything like that yet. Within the next two weeks I should start feeling movement though.

On Earth Day (Tuesday) I decided to walk home. It is 5.2 km, believe it or not, from my office to home, and primarily up hill. It was a beautiful evening though, and I am glad I did it. It makes me think that when I can no longer run I will still be able to enjoy walking.

Ran on the mtn last night, and it was pretty good. We cut a few minutes off our previous time, but that could have been because we skipped out on the last hill in order to run around the lake :) I am definitely finding it harder to breathe & talk and run at my usual pace. Slowing down might be in order in the near future. Or maybe just running on flat?

sunny days

My stomach is actually starting to stick out a little now, although it's still pretty hard to tell I'm pregnant unless you know. Maybe I'll convince Ian to take some photos so you all can judge for yourselves. The 20-week ultrasound is scheduled for next week, so we're getting excited about that!

Went running on Sat with Ian (and by "with" I mean on the same path, not the same pace) and I'm aiming to go tonight as well. The route I now feel like I have to take involves stopping midway (at Beaver Lake) so I can pee. It's pretty funny to have to plan your run around whether you'll be able to make it to the next bathroom.

Ah, the joys of pregnancy!

getting kids to listen

Slate always has interesting articles on a variety of topics and I try to check it out when I can. Today, I found this fascinating explanation about how to get your kids to act in the way in which you want them to act. Obviously this requires patience and might not work in every situation or for every person, but it does provide a neat way to think about how to work on behaviour modification.

Check it out for yourself.

17+ weeks

"Your baby is now nearly 5.5 inches/ 13 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs approximately 5 ounces/ 140 grams. Her skeleton is mostly rubbery cartilage, which will harden later. A protective substance called myelin slowly begins to wrap around the spinal cord."
-babycentre

Went running last night and bumped into my brother and Nave on the path. They had just come from a mammoth run involving the "three peaks" of downtown. Sometimes it's nice to remember that I'm not training for anything (well, except giving birth) and I can just enjoy running because it feels good and is fun. Otherwise I might have been jealous of their challenging adventure!

I might have to go again tonight or tomorrow with all this +20 degree weather we're finally getting.

and so it begins?

On Monday while getting dressed for work, I decided to wear a pair of pants that have been hanging in the closet since they got back from the dry cleaners a few weeks ago (ok, maybe a month ago -- I have a lot of pants). They sit a little higher than most of my other pairs, and sure enough, when I buttoned them up I decided that I would be uncomfortable if I had to sit in them all day. That's right, I might not be busting out yet, but my pants are getting tighter. Baby steps!

Today is supposed to be +18. Very exciting, especially for the run I am planning to go on later. I might actually wear shorts instead of the under armor gear and a puffy vest. I am still aiming for 2-3 runs per week, although this'll be the first one of this week. I did yoga on Sunday & Monday, so I'm trying to vary it up a little to keep challenging my body.

So, we have 4 weddings this summer (May, June, July, August). Any recommendations for ways to wear the same dress 4 times even though I'll be bigger each month? Or suggestions about non-maternity wear that I could modify and make it work for wedding attire? I don't think any of the weddings will be formal.

One more win and the Habs move to round two. I'm claiming one of the tix to the second round, since Ian went to the 2nd home game of round one.

Karl

For those of you who know my dad, here's a cute little article about him. I'm surprised the author didn't mention the cows.

more running!

I think I have spring fever. I've been to the mountain to run 3 times so far this week. Good thing, too, since it is supposed to either rain or SNOW today, tomorrow and Sunday. I guess I'll have to find something else to do this weekend.

I'm not a "sleep on my back" person. However, on occasion I will end up on my back in the middle of the night. But, since I've passed the 3-month mark, and my brain "knows" I am not supposed to lie supine for any length of time, if I do happen to roll over onto my back within about 5 minutes I wake up in a panic and rush to adjust my positioning. I find it amazing that even if I'm sleeping, my body just knows that it is not supposed to be in a certain position.

I dread when I will have to give up sleeping on my stomach though. Side sleeping is just not that pleasant.

16+ weeks

"Your baby is now about the size of an avocado (about 5 inches / 11.6 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighing approximately 4 ounces / 100 grams). In the next three weeks he'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his weight and adding inches to his length. The circulatory system and urinary tract are in full working order, and he's inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid through his lungs. "
-babycentre

I'm four months! It seems more "real" than three months, for some reason. I'm still fitting in regular clothes, but now I can foresee a time when I'll have to go and actually try to find some pants that fit over a growing belly. Hopefully I'll be able to push it until 5 months, but, we'll see.

Ran on Sunday through the big, icy puddles because it was just easier than trying to keep my feet dry. And it made me feel like a little kid splashing around, only without the yellow rubber boots. Last night, I went for another run and low and behold, the sun from the past few days did its job! The Mount Royal path was dry, or at least dry enough that you didn't splash freezing cold water all over while running.

Right now running is feeling pretty good. Yoga on Monday felt pretty good as well, so I'm happy to be able to continue to enjoy exercise that I love for now!

yoga!

Now that ultimate is over, I am planning to go back to yoga at the gym (the class I like --and can make it to-- is on Mondays, same as indoor ultimate). I'm excited to get back into it, although I am interested to see what positions my body no longer feels comfortable doing.

This whole "you aren't supposed to lie in a supine position after 3 months" could limit what I can do in the class. Luckily I will probably be able to figure out some variations that work just as well.

I'm also looking into some prenatal yoga options, but I'm not super thrilled with the concept. I like my yoga to be tough, or at least somewhat challenging, and while I might want a relaxing class at month 7, right now I'm not really keen on it. So, prenatal yoga classes might just have to wait.

In other news, spring appears to finally have decided to show up in Montreal, so I'm aiming to run 2-3 times per week outside. I might have to downgrade from running on the mountain when I get too big, but right now it feels good.

ecoist

Although I cannot claim to be a fashion trendsetter in any sense, I do have a purse that lots of people have asked me about. It's made of soda tabs. That's right, the whole thing is put together with recycled tabs from soda cans. I received it as a gift from my Dad, who is a pro unique-gift shopper. It helps to have all those handcraft markets in NYC at the holidays!

In any event, since so many people have been asking about the purse when I carry it around, I thought I'd do a little research and see if I couldn't find any info on it. Sure enough, the company that makes them has a website. They're the same company that makes the candy-wrapper purses too. Furthermore, they plant a tree for every bag you buy.

Now, I wonder if they make diaper bags?

ecoist.com

wannabe

You know the guy who skis in the jeans tucked into or over the ski boots, the wide open too-big jacket and sunglasses -- who has no concept what his poles are for? I think I passed the running equivalent today while out for a jog on the mountain. This guy was wearing sunglasses (obviously) and had "rips" in each knee of his green combat pants (but the kind of rips that come pre-torn when you buy the pants), a wide open jacket, and I am pretty sure he was running in oxfords. Plus, he was wearing cologne. A ton of it.

It was definitely amusing.

I love the running culture on the mountain. The real runners always smile or nod or give a little two finger wave as they pass you. A running buddy and I used to drag ourselves to the mountain at 6:30 am once a week during the winter months and made a particular effort to say hi to everyone we passed. We were only outdone once, where someone who was passing us (in the same direction) said hi before he even passed us.

I'm really enjoying my current running mix, particularly GnR's "Get In the Ring." Ian doesn't think it's the kind of music I should be exposing the baby to, but I don't want to discriminate against types of music this early on, do I?

15+ weeks

"Your tiny tenant frequently gets the hiccups, which babies master before breathing. Babies don't make any sound because their trachea is filled with fluid rather than air. The fetus weighs in at around only 2.5 ounces / 70 grams. It measures nearly 4 inches / 11 centimetres long, crown to rump. Legs are growing longer than the arms now, fingernails are fully formed and all the joints and limbs can move." -from babycentre

Still feeling good so far. I played my last game of indoor ultimate on Monday night (which we won, woohoo!). Since there is still so much snow on the ground, I doubt I'll get to play outside before I get too far along and probably shouldn't be out on the field. So, I'm now shifting my focus to running. It was warm enough to run on Mount Royal last Sunday, so Ian and I went for a nice jog. We didn't run together (I'm anxiously awaiting when he has to push the baby stroller while running so I'll be able to keep up with him) but it was nice to be out and not breathe the stale gym air.

I'm aiming to go again tonight, since it is supposed to be +8 today. I'm also contemplating running a 5 km race at the end of April just for fun. I was scheduled to do a leg of a marathon in Burlington with some ultimate ladies in May, but we decided that probably wasn't the best plan of action. But, I figure a 5 km in 3 weeks is definitely do-able. I'll keep you posted.

waiting, waiting and more waiting

So, I really like my obstetrician. She seems like a very hands-on doctor who really cares about her patients. At the same time, I don't really think that waiting 3 hours for a 5-minute consult is a worthwhile endeavour. Because I visit the doctor at the hospital, I (along with 30+ other pregnant ladies) get to see her in between deliveries and emergencies and other such things on Fridays.

I had a 9:15 am appointment, and I saw the doctor at about 12:20 pm. I saw the nurse within the first 30 minutes, but then had to wait. And wait. And wait. It's essentially a big waste of time, in my opinion. If I was unhealthy, or had some sort of concern, I could see why it would be important to wait to see the doctor. But the way things are going, I'm pretty happy just talking to the nurse, having her ask me the relevant questions and then leaving. I'm sure once I get further along there'll be things I need to see the doc for, but right now, I'm seriously thinking about going the private route next time, only so I can cut down on the wait times.

In other news, yay for more presents! Just got a package with lots of good books about pregnancy from a west coast mom, and I look forward to digging into them.

14 weeks

"Crown to rump, your baby is around 3 and a half inches / 9 centimetres long and weighs one and a half ounces / 43 grams. The body is now growing faster than the head. This week, its parchment-thin skin covers itself with lanugo (ultra-fine, downy hair that usually disappears before birth). Though eyebrows are beginning to grow and the hair on top of the head is sprouting, this hair may change in both texture and colour after birth.

About now, the fetus can grasp, squint, frown, and grimace. It may even be able to suck its thumb. Researchers believe these and other movements probably correspond to the development of impulses in the brain."

--from babycentre

Spoiled rotten

What is it about being pregnant that makes people want to do nice things for you? Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining! I guess I'm just surprised by all the kind gestures.

Several of our friends have send us "congratulatory" gifts so far, including some lovely spring flowers we received yesterday. There's nothing better than coming home to a package that you weren't expecting, especially when it brightens your day!

Just wanted to give a shout out to all of you for your kind words, thoughts and gifts!

new threads

One thing I have not been excited about with being pregnant is having to buy maternity clothes. I'm hoping I can get away with wearing my regular clothes as long as possible. But, there is hope. A friend & I stopped in at a maternity shop in Westmount yesterday just to browse. Turns out, they actually have some decent-looking jeans I think I might be able to pull off. Work clothes might be slightly more complicated, but if spring ever decides to arrive I might be able to stick to skirts for the most part.

In any event, I will definitely have to find at least one dress, since we have several weddings on the schedule this summer. Any and all suggestions are welcome!

13+ weeks

So on the advice of a good friend, I signed up for an e-newsletter that informs you of how much more developed your baby is each week.

Here's an excerpt from this week's version:

"The fetus is now nearly 3 inches / 7 to 8 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighs nearly an ounce / 23 grams -- about half a banana. Its unique fingerprints are already in place. And when you poke your stomach gently and she feels it, your baby will start rooting -- that is, act as if she's searching for a nipple.

If you're having a girl, she now has approximately 2 million eggs in her ovaries; she will have only a million by the time she's born. She'll have fewer eggs as she gets older, and by age 17, the number will have dropped to 200,000."

Neat, huh?

baby's first photo shoot

Today we had our 12-week ultrasound. In Quebec, this is a service you have to pay for unless you are at risk or +35 years old. If you don't opt to have the 12-week ultrasound, you wait until week 20 to see the little peanut. So, we opted to have it, and here's the proof! It was amazing how squirmy the little bugger is. Moving around, flipping over, waving its little arms...amazingly cute for such a small thing.

They measured the head, and the length of the baby from head to bum (6.5 cm) which means we're right on track at about week 13, ie: the due date is still Sept 23. We also heard the nice, strong heartbeat pounding away at 160 beats a minute.

Technology is cool.

now we are three is born

So, we're expecting to become parents sometime in late September (officially Sept 23). The first question everyone seems to ask us when they hear the news is; "are you excited?" Of course we're excited! We've been keeping this news a secret (relatively speaking) for almost 3 months and it's a big relief to be able to share with our friends & family.

For those of you wanting to know how the future momma fish is doing, so far so good. No morning sickness to speak of, and aside from developing a habit of curling up for naps more than usual, I haven't had any specific aversions or cravings yet. And no, I'm not showing, but I'll be sure to let you all know (and maybe post some photos) as soon as the tummy grows a little.

I got to hear the heartbeat loud and strong at my first doctor's appointment at 9.5 weeks. Nothing makes it feel real like hearing someone else's heartbeat in your stomach.