5 Months Old!

Hey everybody! I'm 5 months old!

Well, it seems our little guy is suddenly 5 months old. Crazy, right? How is it that it seemed like it took forever to get pregnant, and now that the baby is here, time has slipped through our fingers? It doesn't seem fair! I'm so thankful that I am able to stay home with him, so I can be there for every little moment and enjoy each stage of his life. They grow so fast.

So far Ollie has had a few episodes of night terrors and some wild separation anxiety. With his night terrors (which thankfully haven't happened in a while now), Ollie would "wake" up screaming in terror and confusion, with no way for us to calm him down. Since he was still in a sleep state, he'd be howling with his eyes wide open, just staring right through us as we tried to reassure him that he was safe. His body would be limp, and he just seemed so afraid that it was painful to watch. I guess the good thing is that he eventually fell asleep, and most likely since he was never really awake, he didn't have any recollection of the incident. He's had night terrors a few times, which I think came from him not getting enough sleep. After his worst episode he's been good, and has actually been napping and sleeping through the night better. So I hope it's behind us.

Ollie's separation anxiety has also been a difficult experience for us, as we never know when he'll blow. Sometimes he's fine being with other people, and then there are other times where he goes into a hysterical fit (very similar to his night terror fits) and nothing can calm him down. He can get so upset, that he ends up gagging and struggling for air, and usually the only way he calms down is to be in our arms. I find he does okay if he's able to spend time with everyone together before Chris and I leave, so I guess we have to make sure we have some good overlap time. I'm hoping this is something he will grow out of soon, as it makes it very hard for us to go out without him, even just for a quick visit to the grocery store.

One of Ollie's most recent outings, was going to an A.R.F. Ontario charity chili cook-off. The theme of the event was western, so we dressed Ollie up in some jeans and a cowboy shirt. Sadly, we did not have any boots, so I ended up making him a handkerchief and one for his horse Victoria. Victoria was given to Ollie when he was born at Victoria Hospital by the nurses, and he just loves her.

The food, decor and turnout was great, but unfortunately, Ollie was not in the mood. I think he was tired from not napping, and feeling a little overwhelmed by all the noise and people around him. He ended up having a bit of a melt down, and then when my mom went to hold him so I could relax, he just went wild, howling away as if he were in intense pain. It was a long night, and it became even longer, as he had the worst case of night terrors that night too. Maybe he didn't like wearing a pink bandana? (I thought it looked more cherry than pink...)

At the beginning of the month, Ollie was having a tough time sleeping, and I thought I was going to go crazy from the lack of sleep I was getting. He wasn't napping, he wasn't sleeping at night unless we were holding him, and we couldn't do anything about it. It was like we were going back in time instead of forward. I was so confused and frustrated by the situation, as I had hoped he would get better as time went on, not worse. We figured that a few things could have been the cause, either his second set of vaccinations, or maybe he was going through another growth spurt. Heck, maybe he was even teething!  There were a few times that daddy really came to the rescue by taking Ollie downstairs so I could get a couple of sleep here and there. It was much appreciated. Once I heard him humming 'Children of the Light' to Ollie to try to get him to sleep. Even in my sleep deprived state, I found that humorous. :)

Now for a complete flip! The last few weeks, Ollie has been sleeping like a champ! *knock on wood* He has been napping pretty well, for a couple hours per nap, and sleeping through the night. When I say sleeping through the night, I don't mean 5-6 hours, I'm talking 9-10 hours! What a turn-around! It's been a mixed blessing I would say. On one hand, we are getting sleep, which is AMAZING! But, on the other hand, my boobs are crazy sore! That is too many hours for them to go unused. I'm hoping my milk production will slow down through the evening, since Ollie isn't feeding at night anymore. I guess if he decides he wants to eat at night again, my milk production will come back, so it might as well go for now. No one likes spoiled milk! ;)

We are thinking he is sleeping so well because....Ollie is now sleeping in his own room, in his own crib! He's such a big boy! We moved his crib under the window, and now that he can see out into the hallway, he goes down in his crib without much of a fuss at all! He seems to be comfy with all the room, and even when he wakes up, he just lays there quietly, sucking his fingers or talking to himself and his bumble bee mobile.

The first night he slept in his crib was a bit of an ordeal for me. The evening started off on the wrong foot because I was going out to a movie (first time since Ollie was born) with some lady friends and leaving him home with daddy. He hadn't napped that well during the day, and when he finally fell asleep, I realized it was time for him to eat before I left to go out. I was so torn! Do I wake him, feed him, and hope he falls back asleep, or leave him and hope he doesn't wake up until I'm home? Chris tried to reassure me that if Ollie woke up, he would feed him formula, but of course, I was worried as he hadn't had formula since his first weeks home from the hospital, before my milk came in. I didn't know what to do, and so I started crying and feeling like I couldn't go to the movies. Chris kept trying to calm me down, and after he promised he'd call if anything happened, I bravely went for my girl's night out. It was a great night! We watched Bridesmaids (hilarious!!) and I had my own bag of yummy popcorn. It had been so long, too long! Through the evening, I had only checked my phone a few times, and I resisted every urge to call Chris. Okay, I lied. I called him once. When I got home, I expected to see a wailing Oliver squirming on daddy's lap, but to my surprise, Chris was relaxing while Ollie slept! Apparently, he hadn't even woken up once! I gently nudged him awake to feed him, and then struggled with another issue. Do I put him back in the crib for the whole night, or in his cradle beside our bed? This was a very difficult decision for me, as we had been told that babies should sleep in their parent's room until they were 6 months, but at the same time, I saw how comfy Ollie was in his big-boy crib, instead of being crammed in his cradle. After much debate, I put him in his crib...and then I settled down on the floor beside it. :) Hey, he's still my baby! Since that night, Ollie has slept in his crib every night, and me? I've moved back to my bed. I do miss hearing all his little sounds, but I am amazed at how much I still hear even from down the hall. I swear I can almost hear him opening up his eyes sometimes! It's like my spidey-sense tingles or something!

We celebrated my first Mother's Day, and it was a wonderful day. We went out for breakfast with Chris' family and Ollie slept through most of the meal in his car seat. Then when we got home, he went down for a nap, giving mommy and daddy some much needed alone time. We watched a few of my favourite podcasts (nerdy, I know), and then headed into Strathroy to visit my family for dinner. We went out, and again, Ollie was quite well behaved! I'm thinking that must have been his gift to me. :) It was a fantastic day, and we felt so blessed to be able to spend it with the special mom's in our lives.

The other day, for the long weekend, we decided to go to the dog park with Ollie and Sawyer. Those two really are best buddies! :) The sun was shining, and the outdoors was calling, so we hopped in the car, and off we went! I carried Ollie around in our baby carrier for the first time. Since Ollie is still too young for sunblock, we shielded him from the sun with a light blanket and his cousin Alex's old sun hat. He looked both cute and serious, taking in everything as we walked around the park. He loves observing everything. You can actually see his mind ticking as he watches the world around him. He is one smart cookie.

After the dog park, we walked to the boardwalk by the river to see the ducks and geese. Sawyer's favourite! Ollie missed out though, as he had fallen fast asleep. It was a perfect afternoon! :D

Ollie is growing stronger everyday, and I find myself amazed and delighted by all the little things he does. He loves to screech at the top of his lungs when he plays, is upset, or is tired. I think he just loves to hear himself, and watch us jump in surprise. He laughs so heartily when we "eat" his belly, neck, thighs and feet. Often he laughs right into a high pitched squeal. It is my favourite sound ever!


Here is a clip of him and Sawyer hanging out!

He is putting everything in his mouth, especially his blanket and his linking rings. I'm so happy to see him finally figure out what to do with toys. It is neat to see him make all the little connections as he learns, things that we just do automatically, without thinking. He likes playing in his exersaucer, and can touch the ground now, without the pillow! He wears 6-9 month clothing mostly now, and size 3 diapers! What a big boy!

He loves making bubbles and raspberries. Once he starts, it's hard to stop him. He also enjoys sticking out his tongue and panting like a dog. Maybe he's been hanging around Sawyer a little too much! ;) He loves animals a bunch, and lights up and laughs whenever the cats or Sawyer walk by. Neko often rolls and lays with him on his play-mat, which he enjoys. We have figured out that he is allergic to dog saliva though, so we have to keep Saywer from licking Ollie's scrumptious fingers and toes. ;)

He is almost rolling over, his arms just gets in the way. He screeches away as he tries though, and often plants his face right into the ground, which muffles his screeches. He spends most of his day playing on his play-mat with his toys in the center of the room so he can see everything.

He is our favourite thing in the whole world. I love him so completely, which is both terrifying and amazing at the same time. He is our heartsong. <3

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Frosting On My Nose and Cheeks, Eating Cupcakes At 32 Weeks!

Last week, Chris treated me to a wonderful surprise! Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes! YUM! I cannot believe I have not had them before...but now that I have tried them, I don't know if I can keep myself away! They are spectacular! The store is located in a little house that is tucked away, so it can be hard to find, but it sure is worth the look! As soon as you open the door, the delicious aroma of baking cupcakes waves over you, causing you to drool uncontrollably. The shop is decorated with adorable frilly aprons, cupcake related merchandise, and of course, a huge display of cupcakes. Everyday they feature at least 12 different varieties of cupcakes, and apparently, they have over 80 flavours on their menu that you can order from, with flavours ranging from your classic Red Velvet cake, to the currently off-limit flavour of Baileys Caramel Lindy Hop, which is a cake injected with a Bailey's version of dulce de leche, and caramel frosting.

We decided on 4 flavours for our first taste. Chris got the Chocolate Cha-Cha and the Banana Jive (which smelled like banana bread). I got the Strawberry Samba and the Red Velvet Paso Doblo (mmmm, cream cheese frosting...). They were incredibly moist and so flavourful! I also loved how there was the perfect amount of frosting, and the fact that after eating the cupcakes, you weren't overwhelmed with the urge to check your insulin levels. They are so light, that you almost could eat 2 in a sitting...almost.

At Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes, you can order full size cupcakes, petites (1/2 the size), cakes, and  wedding cakes. They all come so delectably decorated and you can tell they are made with love. They are baked fresh daily (even though they are truly just as moist the next day), and are the most scrumptious treat you'll ever eat! Baby Muppet agrees, at least that's how I interpreted the crazy belly dancing it was doing after I ate my cupcake. ;)

 http://www.razzledazzlecupcakes.ca/

Last week we finally got to go to our first prenatal class, and it was a lot of fun! I was really impressed with how attentive Chris was, and well, he really surprised me when he actually agreed to try on the pregnancy empathy belly! It was so funny watching him carry around all that extra weight, while trying to pick things up that I "accidentally" dropped on the floor. The empathy belly consists of a velcro band that goes across the upper ribs where your lungs are, that constrict your breathing, as well as a huge weighted belly filled with warm water (so you can overheat), weights that dig into your sides (like a baby's kicks), heavy boobs (because all men want to see what having breasts is like...haha), and a weight that pushes on your bladder (so they too can feel the urge to pee). I think it's a great idea, and helps your partner understand how even the simplest tasks can become difficult when you are carrying around all that extra weight. I have to admit, my favourite moment in class was when one of the men had to lay down on the floor wearing the empathy stomach and try rolling over, as if he was in bed. There was a lot of grunting and groaning. :) Another thing we learned was how to create a focal point while in labour. We were instructed to close our eyes while listening to the sounds of the ocean waves crashing on the shore, while the instructor helped us focus on our breathing and visualizations. I may have laughed and peeked at people a bit, as we were all seated around a table and it wasn't very private, but when I got home, I put on my own new age music and laid down in bed, doing my "yoga" breathing, and I admit, it was very relaxing. Next class is all about labour, so we'll see how that goes!

Another fun thing this past week was celebrating my favourite holiday of all time, Hallowe'en! I had plans to wear a more elaborate costume for Hallowe'en, but by the end of the day, I was already so exhausted and feeling a nasty cold coming on, that I decided to go as a pumpkin, as I felt that was very suitable considering the size of my stomach. I borrowed my dog Sawyer's costume from last year and went out with my husband who was dressed as the late Billy Mays. Despite the fact I had a kleenex up my nose the entire night, we had a lot of fun.

Chris (Billy), was being bombarded with people asking him to help them out with stains, due to many accidents with a batch of cupcakes that had a lot of food colouring in them, but sadly, he wasn't actually carrying around a bottle of OxiClean... It was actually a bottle of Fantastic covered with a homemade label on top. Too bad, as by the end of the night, Chris was covered in frosting himself. :) It was a great night, though Muppet was tired by the end of it, and probably confused as to why I was still up at 3 in the morning.

Sawyer dressed up as a horse being ridden by the Headless Horseman this Hallowe'en, a tribute to our honeymoon in Disney World on Hallowe'en, as we were able to see the Headless Horseman tear through Main Street USA during the Hallowe'en Parade. It was quite hilarious watching him spin and spin, trying to bite the pumpkin in the Horseman's hand. Poor dog. :)

At 32 Weeks, Muppet weighs the same as a Jicama, which is a sweet, edible root that looks like a turnip. Muppet is also around 17inches in length, taking up a lot of room in my uterus! Muppet has all it's nails, has real hair and it's skin is soft and plumping up. Muppet is definitely moving around lately, and not gently either! I am getting a lot of strong pushes and stretches even while I'm at work walking around (which is usually nap time for Muppet). I have also noticed an increase in hiccups, and sometimes those little hiccup sessions last for a good 15 minutes! I hope it doesn't annoy the baby, as I know how much I hate them. *Try this: If you see someone with hiccups, tell them you'll give them a dollar if they stop. Surprisingly it usually works... though I never have the dollar... ;)

I have really started packing on weight, and am really feeling it. I feel heavy all the time, which makes me want to sit down or sleep. I don't seem to have as much energy as I had such a short time ago. I'm sure it'll pick up again when I get closer to my due date, and start my frantic nesting and house cleaning. I'm now just struggling with wanting to get things done, but feeling to tired to do them. It's probably because I'm getting a cold now too, so we'll see how this week goes. :)

One night, while I was listening to music on my iPhone, I decided to put it on my belly so Muppet could hear it. Well, as soon as the music started, Muppet took off to the other side of my stomach! It was the wildest thing to see! My whole stomach shifted completely, like a big wave rolling by. I guess Muppet has it's Dad's taste in music. :)

My book choice this week is Chester by Melanie Watt. Chester is a book about a hilarious cat who duels with author and illustrator Melanie Watt for control over her book. He uses his fancy red marker to scratch out her illustrations and story, while rewriting it to suit his tastes. She initially sets out to write a story about a mouse living in a house, but Chester quickly pounces on the tale, sending the mouse packing and drawing himself living in the house. Every page is an amusing battle between the author and cat, making it a story children will want to read daily. I found it to be super adorable, and was so happy when two more Chester books were made. Melanie Watt is an author who has done amazingly well in such a short period of time. Her other popular books are the Scaredy Squirrel series and Have I Got A Book For You. They are wonderfully illustrated, quirky and just plain fun!

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Muppet Could Be Here In Under 99 Days!

According to my iPhone app, Muppet should arrive in about 99 days, or 14 weeks! That is nuts! I feel unprepared! I feel I must start shopping! I feel I must start decorating!!...I feel like I may be losing my mind slowly. :) Knowing the baby is coming really does send one into a bit of a nesting panic. If I were a forest animal, I'd start burying acorns in preparation, or gathering twigs and pieces of string. Instead, I get out cleaning supplies and start scrubbing cabinets and toilets. At least Chris doesn't complain! :)

My tummy is becoming the center of my world now, as everything seems to revolve around it. People now freely comment on it without worrying about offending me, it causes me to get stuck in bean bag chairs at work, it provides comfort to my nephew who absent-mindfully rubs it while we play games on my iPhone, it causes me to waddle when I walk, crave cake and pie all day long, and forces me to go out and buy maternity pants with the FULL panel...*sigh*. It feels so huge already that I can't even imagine how much bigger it will get in the months ahead!

As of week 25, Muppet is about the size of a rutabaga. It weighs roughly between 1.5 and 2 pounds. Right now Muppet is putting on it's cute baby fat which helps plump out those wrinkles and will eventually cause ladies to stop and pinch it's little cheeks or legs. Apparently it's eyes are beginning to open now (though there isn't much to see), but the pigment still isn't developed unlike Muppet's hair which now is beginning to show colour and texture! Muppet's brain is also starting to work overtime, allowing Muppet to react to noises now by increases it's pulse rate, or it's activity. That may be why Muppet is most active when I'm watching television! I have noticed the baby tends to be the most active now around 10:30pm when I'm trying to sleep, and it's hard to ignore the little thumps as I know I will miss them when they are gone! I'm trying to pay attention to each little jab so I can hold onto the memory, because world, I am a sap. :) The other day while grocery shopping, I got a sharp punch to the kidneys which hurt like heck and then suddenly made me have to pee so badly! I yelped in surprise, scaring an elderly man who must have thought I was going into labour. *sigh* These are the moments I'm going to miss! ;)

The one thing I'm not going to miss is this heartburn that has gotten out of control! Because Muppet is growing so well, my insides are all squished together, which makes heartburn a sure bet! I'm taking tums to try to conteract it, but they only do so much. I just need to learn to eat smaller meals, and eat slowly...which is basically impossible for me. :)

In this picture, I am telling Sawyer to be patient for his new little brother or sister. ;)

Here is a photo of the cats enjoying Muppet's bassinet. Nobi has called dibs on it, and isn't afraid to let Muppet know how he feels about the baby coming and taking it from him. :)

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Half Way There at 20 and 21 Weeks!

I cannot believe we have already passed the 20 week mark! We are half way to the finish line! Time is passing so quickly, it's unbelievable! I almost want to stop time just so I can keep enjoying being pregnant right now, as it's something I've come to enjoy immensely. Technically we are on our 21 week, but I'm back tracking as I'm late once again.

Things are really going well right now. I have been feeling great, eating like a champion and feeling super positive about things in general. I don't think I've ever felt better about myself than I do right now to be honest. I'm pretty sure this is what my body was designed for. :) 

One thing we've been struggling with is getting the nursery organized, as we don't have much room in our house and we've been trying to figure out how to merge our furniture together. Sadly, poor Chris is going to have to share his office with me, as there is no where else to put my things! And what do we do with our futon?! I love that thing! *sigh*. We also have to find space for our treadmill, as I will need that later this winter... *bigger sigh*. In other nursery news, we finally picked a paint colour! It's called 'Pooh Bear Yellow'. It's nice and soft and neutral, so I think it will look great! We are thinking of painting this week sometime, if we ever move the furniture out of the room. ;) The theme we are going with is Classic Pooh (or as I call it, shirtless Pooh). We are going with light wood, soft pale yellow, white and cream mostly and accenting the room with bumble bees. I have already been getting little treasures from family that they have collected along our pregnancy, so I'm super excited to have the nursery done so we can display them!

My friend Bonnie has recently started her own business, "Only One", on Etsy selling the most adorable hand-knitted stuffies! She has made so many cute toys, from monkeys, owls, birdies and bears to giraffes and even nursery mobiles! I am lucky enough to have received Mervin the Giraffe (who is super awesome), but now am even luckier as I am getting my own bumble bee mobile! :D I can't wait to put it up in the nursery! You can buy her unique critters for yourself or someone you love at  http://www.etsy.com/shop/bgordon2.

As of week 20 (half way point!), Muppet was the length of a large banana, about 10 inches from head to heel. At this stage, Muppet is swallowing more and more each day, keeping it's digestive system on it's toes. :) I have also been feeling Little Muppet moving around so much lately, especially in the evening, around 9:30pm. You can actually see it flutter against my stomach if you look really closely. I think it likes the sound of the television, because it seems to stop moving when I mute the t.v. and then dance around when I turn it back up. I also seem to notice it move around when I sit at my computer. I know I'm going to miss those little moments we share.

As of this week (21 weeks), Muppet weighs 3/4 of a pound and is the length of a large carrot! Which reminds me of how when I was small, I remember going to our family's garden and digging up fresh carrots from the ground and eating them without even washing them off first. The taste of dirt really added to the whole experience I think! ;) I also would walk around, annoying everyone, by constantly saying, "Ehhhh, what's up doc?" :) At week 21, Muppet's eyebrows and eyelids are present and I should soon start feeling it's kicks and punches a little more... intensely.

Belly Bump! I am so pregnant! Look at that tummy! ;) Our dog Sawyer seems to think it's funny. I wonder how he'll be with a new little brother or sister. He'll probably try sitting on it at first, as he loves sitting on people (he thinks he's a lap dog), but I think Muppet and him will become best buds. :) 

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