Friday Top 5 - Things We're Looking Forward to After the Baby is Born

Kathryn:

The top 5 things I'm looking forward to after the baby is born are always the 5 most anxiety-causing parts of pregnancy for me. I hate the unknown, or being unprepared for things, and everyone who has had a baby before will tell you that nothing can prepare you for how life will change when your first child is born. So as excited as I am for all the changes that are coming, I am feeling a little anxious about all of the unknown things. Here’s my list of the top 5 things I’m looking forward to after the baby is born:

1. Being a mother – and everything that comes along with it. Just seeing, holding, caring for and loving that little baby and knowing that he or she is mine, that he or she is a product of the love between me and my husband, is a feeling I can’t wait to experience.

2. Finding out if it’s a boy or girl and seeing what he / she looks like. I have spent countless hours lying in bed dreaming of this little baby. I imagine naming him or her, dressing him or her and, more than anything else, that moment when the doctor says, “It’s a ___!”

3. Being done labour – I’m pretty scared for labour. Not only the pain that is inevitable, but all the unknown that goes along with it. Will the baby be healthy? Will there be complication? Will I have a short or long labour? Can I make it without getting an epidural? I’m really looking forward to all that being done and over-with!

4. Sleeping on my back / rolling over in bed – I know I can’t realistically say I’m looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep, because everyone knows that wont happen, but I am looking forward to being comfortable in bed. I'm a back-sleeper, so I’m excited to sleep on my back again. But I'm now finding it difficult to even roll from one side to the other now that my stomach muscles are less-than-functional.

5. Breastfeeding – Another brand new experience for me as a first time mom. I'm really looking forward to that special bonding time between baby and me, even if it can often be difficult at first. I'm determined to push through the beginning stages and to do what’s best for me and for my baby!

Natasha:

#1 - Finding out if it's a boy or a girl. The suspense is killing me now!!! On a visit to labor and delivery a few weeks ago, the basinnette in my room had a pink and a blue knit hat in it, which is what they do when they don't know which gender you're having. It made it so much more real to me that in only a few short weeks, a nurse is going to put one of those little hats on my baby! Which one will it be??

#2 - Introducing the baby to the kids. They are all so excited about this baby, and have been very involved in my pregnancy right from the start. I remember always begging my parents to have another baby when I was a kid (what kid doesn't do that??) so it's fun for me to watch especially the older ones be excited for a new baby. 

#3 - Being able to take a deep breath. I can't believe I still have eight more weeks of growing to do! As this baby gets bigger the space inside my belly gets more and more cramped. I often have trouble breathing and finding a comfortable position to sit in, and as much as I love feeling the baby move around inside of me I have to say that I really can't wait to be able to sit and watch TV with my husband, and be comfortable.

#4 - The late nights. This one surprises me, but I have this stupid, romantic feeling whenever I think about being up in the night with this baby. I remember it so fondly with my last little one, and I've done it enough times now to know that it passes quickly, and so instead of dreading it I am looking forward to it. My current baby awoke in the middle of the night for the first time in forever the other day, and rocking him to sleep and looking at his little sleepy face reminded me that once upon a time, we did that almost every night. There is something so peaceful in the magical combination of a sleeping household and having a baby all to yourself that makes being awake so worth it.

#5 - Enjoying food. As the baby grows, heartburn is setting in for me. And while I am able to enjoy food so much more now than I did in my first trimester, I usually end up paying for whatever I eat not long after it makes its way through my crowded inner system. I keep gum closeby and chew it constantly (one of the best heartburn tips I've ever gotten!) and that seems to keep it at bay. But I do have to say I am looking forward to that day in the near future when I can indulge in a really delicious meal and not have it come back to haunt me!

Friday Top 5 - Things to Bring to the Hospital

Kathryn:

I really feel like I have no idea what to expect when it comes to labour (probably because I really DON’T know what to expect!). So I’ve made a top 5 list of things to bring to the hospital, but it’s all based on what I THINK I will need or want. I’m sure by baby #2 my list will change!

1. My Husband - Right now I can’t imagine doing it without him. When I get scared or anxious the thought of him being there with me to help me through calms most of my fears.

2. Music - Relaxing praise and worship music can get my mind of just about anything. For the early part of labour I plan to listen to music on my ipod to keep my mind off the pain of contractions. (My rosary will go hand-in-hand with this, as it helps me to relax and to focus).

3. Fan - I HATE being hot! In some of the labour stories Ive heard the woman has said that one of the most uncomfortable parts in early labour was being too hot. I feel like that’s going to be me, so I plan to have a fan (and lots of cold water or ice) on hand to help with that discomfort.

4. Camera - I think this one’s obvious. I want pictures, and lots of them, as soon as our little one arrives!

5. Pyjamas - I don’t plan on wearing the hospital gowns (Johnny Shirts) at all, if I can avoid it. I’ve got lots of nighties, housecoats and slippers ready to come to the hospital with me. 

Natasha:

#1. My husband. This may seem obvious, and of course he'll be there, but if possible it's my hope that he will travel to the hospital with me, and not have to meet me there. It's always been the case that I've gone into labor while he's been home, meaning he is around to help get the kids ready and help me get to the hospital, and I can't imagine needing to do that without him. We live 45 minutes away from the hospital, so if I ever did go into labor while he was at work I would probably get a neighboor to come stay with the kids until Jeff's parents could make it over, and I would need to call an ambulance to take me in. Which, naturally, I hope I never need to do. 

#2. Comfy day clothes. I HATE Johnny shirts! If you look back at my post-delivery pictures for any baby, you will see me in jeans and a t-shirt. Not because I'm some kind of superwoman, but because I really don't feel comfortable in hospital getup (especially when people are coming to visit me and the baby). They need to be loose fitting (since I won't be back to my pre-pregnancy size yet) and easy to nurse in (yay!) but - they need to be my own, and not hospital-issued.

#3. A list of phone numbers for people to call. Of course there are people whose numbers I won't forget, and people (like siblings) that other people will look after calling for me (God bless them!) But there are always a few people that I don't know numbers for off the top of my head (like my best friend's work number) that I want to make sure I have, for the calls I want to make myself. This time around we're going to use texting more than we did before too, because my poor husband felt like he missed the first hour of baby #5's life by being on the phone from the moment he was born to deliver the happy news! We'll likely text right away, and then make our calls in the evening when we've had a chance to bond with the baby and process the day's events.

#4. New pj's. My Mom bought me a new pair of pj's when I was expecting my first baby, and I've kept it up ever since. It's so nice on that first evening in the hospital, after a crazy-long day where your body when through some pretty miraculous (albeit, messy) feats, to slip on a crisp, new pair of comfortable clothes and settle into that first blissful evening processing the fact that your little one can now snuggle with you from the outside.

#5. The Rosary. Okay, so I rarely have the actual beads with me (my fingers do the trick!). But the rosary is my go-to prayer when I am nervous or can't sleep. And for me it takes on special significance in childbirth. I never really had a strong devotion to Mary until I had children of my own, because with everything that a normal birth entails I couldn't even imagine how much more intense hers would have been knowing she was bringing our Saviour into the world (not to mention conceiving out of wedlock in a time where people were put to death for that, and the knowledge of the life of suffering her Son would lead). It made her "Yes" so much more profound for me. I usually have a hard time sleeping in the hours before the baby is born after I arrive at the hospital, and I count on Mary for comfort and grace to be as strong and holy as she was in my own circumstance (which is so much less demanding than hers).

Friday Top 5 - Sources of Pregnancy Wisdom

Kathryn:  As a first time mom-to-be, I seek advice and wisdom anywhere I can get it – books, tv, internet, friends, coworkers and even strangers! It seems like I’m meeting new challenges and changes every day, but I’ve been very blessed with wonderful women in my life to help me through all the challenges I face. Here’s my top 5 list of sources of pregnancy wisdom:

1. Mom – I don’t think I’ve ever called my mom as much as I do now that I’m pregnant. Every little ache, pain or question I have she’s always there with advice. I’ve especially enjoyed learning about what her pregnancies and labours were like. So far my pregnancy has been exactly like hers were. And seeing as her labours were short and babies small – which helps to ease my labour fears! Lots of advice has come from my mother-in-law and sister-in-law too, which has been very helpful and a new sort of bonding experience with both of them.

2. Baby Centre – I have the BabyCentre App on my phone, which gives me daily updates on my baby’s growth and development, changes in my body, and tips/advice for dealing with pregnancy. The website has also been a great resource for research questions, concerns, aches and pains, as they arise

3. Natasha / friends – Seeing as Natasha has already done this 5 times, and that she and I are doing the blog together, she’s been a huge source of pregnancy wisdom. Other friends have been there to offer advice as well, but none quite have the experience she does. Her friendship has been invaluable throughout this pregnancy!

4. Laureen – My massage therapist, who has two young children, has been a huge help. Not only do my massages relax me, but the long chats with her have taught me a lot about preparing for a baby and taking care of my body. The biggest I’ve gotten from her was the suggestion of a babysitter. We went to meet her babysitter this week, and we loved her! She lives in our area, is affordable and speaks Spanish! We are so thankful for that contribution from her!

5. Prenatal Class – this may seem like a given, but prenatal class has been a HUGE source of pregnancy wisdom! After only 2 weeks I feel like I’ve learned more about labour and delivery than I did from all of my reading and talking to other in the last 6 months! The best part of the class is that my husband is there with me, learning the same things I am (which isn’t as easy when it comes to talking to friends or reading a book). It’s been a great learning and bonding experience for us both and getting us very excited for the arrival of our baby!

Natasha: 


1.  My definite, number one source of pregnancy (and parenting) information is my mother, and my mother-in-law.  There are no two women who are more closely linked to the journey I am taking than these two, no one who could be a better predictor of how my pregnancies and babies are most likely to be, and no two women I trust more than these two.  Particularly when facing something I haven't faced before, it's nice to have someone to call and say, "did this ever happen to you?" or "how did you handle this?" 

2.  My doctors.  I only actually have one doctor, but my mother also works for a doctor, and the two are invaluable resources when it comes to any of my medical questions, pregnancy-related or otherwise.  I have the amazing (and rare) blessing of having a family doctor who delivers babies, and she has delivered every one of my five children.  We have an excellent relationship between her, me and my husband, and I am more confident in her medical advice than just about anyones. (As an aside, there is a possibility that I may not be able to have my GP deliver this baby because it is pregnancy #6 - I would really appreciate your prayers in this regard.  I can't imagine having someone different at the helm of my birthing team!)  My mother's boss is usually just a phone call away, and always very eager to give sound, level-headed advice that I trust.  So when I can't reach my own physician, he is the one I check in with.

3.  "What to Expect When You're Expecting".  Over the years my friends have given me a hard time when they see this book laying around my house.  "Do you really still need to read that book?" they often ask.  YES!!!  I devour it chapter by chapter when I am expecting!  It is full of practical pregnancy information, and there is a surprising amount of information you forget, even when it's your sixth time around. 

4.  Babycenter.com.  I have subscribed to Babycenter's weekly pregnancy updates since my very first pregnancy, and they are the first source I look to when I type a pregancy-related question into an online search engine. 

5. Other "grand-multips" (women who have had six or more babies).  Especially Catholic ones, and especially homeschooling ones. I am sort of in unchartered territory in average social circles, and I am fortunate enough to know a good number of holy, Catholic women who are the mothers of very large families, and have played a foundational role in my own family life, even before I got married.  I wish I had time to have weekly tea with any one of these women, but sadly this is not the case.  And yet, the small amount of time I do spend with them, maybe even only once or twice a year greatly affirms and strengthens me in my conviction that what I am doing is worthwhile.  I get so much encouragement when I ask one of them, "how did you make it through such-and-such" and they say, "oh boy, just by the skin of my teeth!" Because it shows me that these women are no different than me, and struggled the same way I do.  What I see and admire in them are the fruits of a lifetime of laboring for the good of their family, walking the same road I am walking.

Friday Top Five - To Do Lists!

Almost on the home stretch!

With only ten and twelve weeks to go, there is lots to do before our babies arrive!  Here are the top five things for each of us:

Kathryn:

With less than 3 months to go, there is still a lot that needs to get done before the baby arrives. Here’s our my top 5 list of what I need (or want) to do before the due date:

1. Set up the crib – we were lucky enough to have been given a crib from my cousin. The problem? It’s not assembled, and we don’t have the instructions. We’re supposed to be getting a copy of them soon, but since we’re still waiting, the crib is still sitting unassembled in the baby’s room

2. Stock up on supplies (clothes, blankets, diapers, wipes etc) – This being our first baby we pretty much need everything. We’ve starting buying diapers (a box every pay day in hopes that it’ll alleviate some financial stress when I’m on Mat leave) and have been receiving a few gifts, but we still need a LOT! We do have a couple of baby showers coming up, and my husband will be having a diaper party, which will help a lot.

3. Go on vacation – we’re going away for the long weekend as one last getaway as husband and wife before the baby comes. We’re looking forward to having some time together with just the two of us, even if it’s just for a few days.

4. Pick names – a daunting task! I’m finding it very stressful to choose a name and while we have a short list of both boys and girls names, decided on one of each has been near impossible!

5. Sell a car – Now that my husband is working in the city and with my salary soon being cut in half, we’ve decided that that best way to save some money is to get rid of one of our cars. It’s going to be a sacrifice, but we’re looking forward to getting the burden of double the car payments off our backs.


Natasha:

Since I already had most of what I need, my to-do list mostly involves replacing things that have gotten too old, or shuffling our household around to make room for the new little one.

1. Buy a crib mattress - Both of ours are currently in use (on a toddler bed for my 3-year-old, and on a crib for my 18-month-old).

2. Buy an infant car seat - The one we had expired in January.

3. Replace the change pad on the changing table - We purchased our change table used in 2004 when I was expecting my first, and the poor little pad has definitely seen its day.  The problem is that it is smaller than the average changing table, meaning we can't just walk into Toys-R-Us and pick one up (I've tried!)  I think it's around the size of a bassinette mattress though, so I plan to do some online investigation to see if I can purchase one of those (Toys-R-Us doesn't sell them in their store).

4.  Move my current baby downstairs and vacate the nursery - I set the toddler bed up in my daughter's room downstairs a few weeks ago, and was delighted to discover there was more space than I thought there would be.  Now we are just waiting for fall to make the official move, since I want daylight savings on my side (pretty sure it's going to be a rough battle getting these two to sleep instead of play when I put them to bed in the same room).  Our current goal is September, when school starts, to give plenty of time for adjusting to the changes before baby arrives.  I hope it gets dark early enough by then!

5.  Go on a date with my husband - Several, if possible, but if I manage to squeeze in even one I'll be happy.  It would be nice to get away for a weekend, since I remember our last weekend away with my current baby when he was four months old was pretty disastrous (a normally content little boy, he was really fussy the whole time, pretty much confining me to the hotel room while my husband and his brother explored the sights without us).  As a nursing mother I rarely leave my little one overnight in the first year (though I know other mothers who do, I just find the hassel of pumping and storing milk almost as difficult as just bringing the little one along).  If we can't, we can't - but still, a little getaway would be nice.  And a date is an absolute must!

Taking Care of Business - Kathryn

I had a blog post written and ready to publish in early June called “Taking Care of Business”, all about how I was coping with pregnancy and working full time. Needless to say, things were VERY busy and I never got the time to finish and post it. Throughout the month of June I attended 4 bridal showers, 3 bachelorette parties, celebrated 4 family birthdays as well as fathers day, participated in 3 graduation events for my grade 5 and grade 8 students – all while writing report cards, applying for jobs for next September and packing up my classrooms.

Fun at one of the many parties we attended in June

In the midst of everything that was going on, I began experiencing pain in my side. It was a dull pain at first, until suddenly one day, while teaching, the pain became so bad that I felt like I would pass out. I ended up going to the hospital and, after being tested for kidney stones, was told it was probably just ligaments stretching. A week later I was back at the hospital with the same pain, which had moved more into my back, making me convinced that it was kidney related. Again I was told it was ligaments and was sent home to lay down with a hot water bottle. The pain persisted off and on for about 2 weeks, causing me to miss about 2 days of work. Later in June and into early July, the pain moved into my back… just in time to host my sister’s bachelorette party and attend her wedding as maid of honor. The timing was terrible, but it made me realize a couple of important things. #1 – I definitely DO want some sort of pain relief when I go into labor. #2 – I’ve had things very easy in this pregnancy and I am very blessed to have been relatively pain free up until now. Another positive thing that came out of the experience was having an introduction to the labour and delivery ward. Having visited twice now I feel MUCH less apprehensive about labour and about what's going to happen when the time comes. (Not to mention Jose finally got to hear the baby's heartbeat when we were there!)

20 week ultrasound

I am now in week 28 and starting to get pretty big, but experiencing very little discomfort lately. It’s been three weeks since my sister’s wedding and in that time I’ve started to get down to business and prepare for baby. I’m starting to see God’s wisdom in a 9-month pregnancy. I feel like it took the first 4 months or so just to adjust to the idea of having a baby and to become more excited than scared. I’m now getting down to the physical preparation – cleaning and reorganizing rooms, unpacking boxes that never got unpacked, setting up a baby registry, and buying some furniture. I’m very blessed to have the summer to prepare because doing all this while working full time would be very difficult! I’m looking forward to getting everything else together and finishing our preparations as summer vacation continues.

Getting Prepared: 12 Hashbrown Casseroles to be put in the freezer for when the baby is born and the baby's room (where we can finally see the floor!)

Taking Care of Business - Natasha

Mazerolle family piano lesson

May and June have been crazy in my household, and I still can’t believe how fast they’ve come and gone. I can’t even remember anything about what I have been doing since my last post, except that it involved a whole lot of nesting!

We officially finished all our curriculum requirements in May, but picked up a few extra subjects (and got a head start on some of next year’s material) in June, because I just didn’t feel right about not doing anything for the last month of the official school year. It was nice to have a bit of pressure off though, because up until then everything had been, “We have to get this done! We have to get this covered!” The boys also finished their piano lessons in May, which was nice because I was starting to find it difficult to get everyone out every Wednesday afternoon. As it turns out my previous employer had some extra jobs that needed doing around the office, so I was able to pick up a day of work once a week for the summer. I know this will make some people shake their heads (what is she doing working when she has so much on her plate already??) But it’s only one day a week, and we have a great (and reasonably-priced) babysitter, so I see it as kind of like a day camp for my kids once a week. Plus it’s an opportunity for me to earn a little bit of extra money to put towards our family retreat this summer, and next year’s school expenses. I am really thankful for the opportunity, and also happy that when it comes to work, my Monday is also my Friday!

The four oldest kids started soccer at the end of May, which runs every Monday and Thursday evening for the summer. It’s crazy getting them there, and we don’t always, but my goodness we get so much out of it when we do make it. I love soccer because as far as sports go it’s relatively inexpensive, and it doesn’t require as much skill as say, hockey, so it’s much less competitive. My kids can just go and have a good time. This summer is the first time my daughter has played, and so far I think she’s got her brothers beat! Who would have thought that with three older brothers, this little girl would turn out to be the sports superstar? I heard some parents talking to each other about how good she was the last time we were at practice, and my heart nearly exploded out of my chest! So worth the time commitment it takes to get there.

Soccer stars!

 I recently have taken up baking like wildfire! We bought an air conditioner this year, which helps because I can run the oven on a summer day without heating us completely out of the house. We don’t buy any pre-packaged snacks anymore (my choice), so I am trying my hardest to keep a full supply of healthy snacks around that are easy for the kids to grab, and almost as fun as the ones they get at the grocery store. I also started making bread about a month ago, and wow! I really hope I am able to keep it up, because it’s a savings of over $1.25 a loaf – and when you go through a loaf a day, that adds up pretty quick! I’ve sort of taken this on as my commitment to lowering our costs as a family, since I can’t go out and earn a living every day the way my husband does. Every little bit makes a difference, and I just hope that when the nesting wears off I am able to keep it up, and this becomes a new lifestyle for our family and not just a period in my life that the kids and Jeff look back on fondly in a few months!

And of course, there is the baby! Our little one is growing fast and furious inside my belly, and I am definitely feeling the effects of it. I’ve moved from the awkward, “is she pregnant? Is she just putting on weight?” stage of pregnancy to the part where people are completely confident to ask, “When are you due?” Which is thrilling to me, because I love the opportunity to share my excitement with anyone! We have also started the task of rearranging our house to accommodate our new little one, and I am thrilled to discover that it’s not going to be nearly as crowded as I thought it would be. It’s such a nice feeling to realize that you have everything you need – God really does provide for every little thing.

BABY!!

 What I am most looking forward to about the baby’s arrival is slowing down. It always strikes me funny that with a bigger family, having a new baby doesn’t mean the same crazy chaos that it does with a smaller, younger family. I remember when I only had a few very little ones I would take every opportunity to rest and relax in the months before a new baby was coming, because I knew it was the calm before the storm. But when you have older kids, it’s the opposite. These are the months where we can get around easily without diaper bags, nursing and sleeping schedules, and car seats. We can stop by a friend’s house and stay until ten if we want, and won’t pay for it by being up all night when we get home. We can go to the beach, the zoo, the park, and not worry about keeping a little one out of the sun (or corralling everyone back into the van so Mommy has a quiet spot to nurse). So while the pace of these days sometimes leaves me exhausted, I am relishing every minute of it. I know there is no way I could ever keep it up, and that’s what pushes me to enjoy the most of it now, and not let it slip away. Because I am also looking forward to October – when I can stay in most nights of the week, put my feet up, and fall asleep with a newborn laying on my chest. When everything I do will involve having a little one bundled up next to me, and I will spend the wee hours of the morning in complete exhausting, head over heels in love with a new little person who was born into the family and somehow became like they had always been here.

30 weeks

 Here’s to living life to the fullest, at every stage along the journey! God is so good!

Friday Top 5 - July 20th


Sorry it's been so long since our last post. Here's another Friday Top 5 - clothing we can't live without. Another post coming soon!


Kathryn

#1 Dresses and tights – Sundresses (maternity and otherwise) with knee-length tights have been my top outfit of choice from early on. There aren’t many pre-pregnancy clothes I can still fit into, other than my dresses, and the tights make them super comfy and casual.

#2 Bella Band – My Bella Band has made it possible for me to wear my pre-pregnancy jeans and capris comfortably and saved me from buying new ones. Super easy, comfortable and definitely a must have.

#3 Long t-shirts / tank tops – Tight t-shirts are my favourtie. They show off my bump without making my look huge (loose or flowy shirts make me look a lot bigger than I really am).

#4 Maternity Shorts – My mom bought me jean-shorts with a maternity panel in the US. Better than jeans because they keep me cool and fit well (most jeans are too long for me)… and they match everything!

#5 Birkenstocks – Comfortable shoes to walk in which also keep my feet cool in the summer heat. I had to ditch my heels when I started getting back pain a couple months ago, I’m getting a bit too clumsy for flip flops and my flats are getting tight, so Birkenstocks are my new favourite, must-have shoes!

Natasha

#1 - Bella Band!!! I can't believe I went through five pregnancies without this! It makes everything so much more comfortable, and gained me the use of about $500 worth of tops, shorts, pants and skirts that I otherwise would have had to retire loooooong ago!

#2 - Low rise jeans. Not the kind where you can see your bum anytime you crouch down, but the ones that rest just below your belly, so you can wear them even when your belly gets bigger. I have a trusted few pairs of pants I can still close the button on, only because they fit a bit lower than the rest of my pants. And when I'm having a bad day, being able to fit into a pair of non-maternity pants really gives me a boost (even if I do know the real reason why!)

#3 - Maternity dresses. This is one area where I am officially into maternity clothing, and thank goodness. I tried squeezing myself into non-maternity dresses, but they just don't flow right and end up making me look like I'm wearing a tent! Maternity dresses are cut around my belly so they float back in towards my body, not just down from my belly button. Plus they're so breezy and feminine, and perfect for summer.

#4 - Form-fitting clothes. I admit, I drag my feet when it comes to wearing maternity clothes because I love my pregnant belly! I'd rather wear something that puts the spotlight on my belly and doesn't drift away from it, and I feel like more form-fitting clothes do the trick. This is why I love the Bella Band, because it lets me stay in those clothes so much longer, without feeling like my belly is hanging out of the bottom of my shirt. 

#5 - Long tank tops. These are great for layering, and a staple for my summer wardrobe. I discovered recently that I can wear one over my non-maternity bathing suit, and it looks completely beach-worthy. Which is good for me, because I will never be someone who is comfortable in a two-piece with my bare pregnant belly hanging out (I think it's beautiful, but I'm not even comfortable without a cover-up when I'm not pregnant!) The tank top gives me just the right amount of confidence to wear the bathing suits I've always worn.