Baby Goog Watch – The Eviction Notice

Posted on March 30, 2011 14 Comments

Somewhere along the line the jelly bean became baby goog. Because let’s face it, we are well past the jellybean stage now. I’m currently 2 days overdue. Although I’m beginning to suspect that I just have a naturally long gestation period. Clearly I’ve won some kind of genetic lottery. Awesome. But given that Riley was only 7 pounds at 42 weeks, I’m thinking that my baby’s just need extra cooking time. Convincing the doctor of that with the planned induction on day 11 may be a little more challenging. But we’re not there yet. Right now I’m focusing on drinking lots of water, keeping active and thinking positive labour thoughts.

In other genetic victories I seem to be overly prone to carrying babies posterior. Which I hear will be extra special when it comes to labouring. I’ve given up on the idea of the baby turning. And resigned myself to a bit of a difficult labour in that department. At this point, as long as there is a labour I’ll be a happy camper.

And to prove to Baby Goog that I am in fact ready, willing and able – I have completed the baby blanket and sewn in the five million ends. I didn’t think forward enough that changing colours so regularly without carrying it up the side would end up in a whole lot of work for me at the end. I figured that was future Zoey’s problem. And it was.

So, no more excuses. You’ve been warned. I’m looking at the castor oil right now.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Hormones, Baby Watch and Preschool

Posted on March 24, 2011 4 Comments

I don’t really have a clear idea for a post today. I know I should probably put some thoughts together about the conference but I’m still letting everything settle down. I’m waiting to see when this baby decides to arrive and so I’m in a sort of limbo at the moment. Not unpleasant. Just limbo. Let’s face it, the late stage of pregnancy is unpleasant. But the limbo itself, I’m ok with. Particularly the bit where I only have one child who won’t sleep with to deal with. Such as the toddler last night at 2am ‘I can’t sleep, I’m too hungry’ until about 2:30am when it changed to ‘I need back tickles’ to 3am ‘I need to get up and go to the lounge room because I’m hungry’ to 3:30am ‘I need more tickles’ to 4am when I gave up having not had any sleep for the last two hours and we got up.

Yesterday we had a conversation. The toddler and I. One of those things that makes me realise how much she understands. She was talking about me going away to the conference. ‘You went to the train station. But I didn’t. I went with Daddy on an adventure. But then you came back. And you missed me so much.’ I’m glad that she got the missing part. Because no matter how frustrating or exasperating it can be at times to cope with the little tyrant, I miss her when I’m gone. And not in the way that you miss a baby. Not in the way that you worry about how they will cope without you, or that they might have a need that another person can’t fulfill. But in the way that I miss her chattering away. I miss the inflection of her voice. I miss the way she pats my arm like an old lady and says ‘you’re ok, mummy’.

Since I’ve been back, things have been a little bit rough. There have been tantrums (lots of tantrums, meltdowns and real boundary pushing. But then, she’s also ran into our bedroom every morning, clambering up on to the bed, arms in the air, yelling ‘mummy’s here!’ So I know that the time away affected her a little more than I thought it would. And me too, if I’m honest. I did not anticipate that I would spend a few quiet moments in the bathroom at the conference having a cry. But I did.

And now I have an enrolment form. For a preschool. She would start next term in the preparation program which would involve me going to a structured session with her for about 2 hours once a week. And when she was considered socially and emotionally ready she would start the actual preschool program. On her own. For either two half days or two full days depending on what the staff thought her readiness was. And now I have to answer questions like ‘describe your child’ (in three freaking lines), ‘describe parenting’ (in one word) ‘does your child have any particular fears’ (separation from me. oh wait, that’s me)

Possibly a mistake to read enrolment form while I’m all hopped up on hormones. Or not. I’d probably be just as emotional about it no matter what. I think this blog is evidence of the fact that I am completely incapable of describing any of those things in the questions in a succinct manner. The one thing that I’m holding on to is that Riley will have the opportunity to develop relationships with future carers while I’m there before I leave her to her own devices. Deep down I know that she’s ready (or close to being ready). She loves spending time with children her own age and she could benefit from a more structured environment than just being at home.

But still. It’s the first step of many that she takes away from me. And although it will be a proud moment for me, it will also sting like hell.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jelly Bean Watch – Week 39

Posted on March 16, 2011 16 Comments

Checkup Details

Blood Pressure: 100/50
Engaged: 1/5th
Fundal Height: 36cm
Fetal Heartbeat: Found by toddler so I’m guessing pretty strong
Pronouncements: Baby considered ‘leggy’


Last week I was 2/5ths engaged – this week 1/5th. So my main message to unborn child is to stay put until after the weekend. AFTER. Just. Stay. In.

I was not surprised. I’ve felt quite a lot of downward movement and fake contractions so I was expecting that the rascal had engaged further. I can only hope that this baby is not quite as disobedient as my first child and we should be ok. And ‘leggy’? Well not exactly surprising either. Most of the time this baby feels like it’s all legs. I can only hope that in reality there are only two legs.

I have a conference to go to. I have pampering organised. I have a spot of me-time before I return to baby-town. I am most definitely going to be waddling around. There’ll be no escaping that. I seem to have an even more pronounced waddle since yesterday morning, if that’s possible.

The midwife informs me that I should be continuously doing ankle exercises and moving around while at the conference to prevent swelling and potential early labour. Not very comforting when it comes to mission – STAY IN. And she commented that I seemed ‘so relaxed’. Which leads me to believe that I might be relaxed but I’m definitely delusional. Still, I’m holding on to the dream that this baby won’t be early and won’t be late. Because I don’t ask for much, do I?

In the meantime my slightly frenzied nesting has meant that both Riley’s room and the baby’s room have been extensively decluttered. If I could just get to our bedroom, the hallway cupboard (which currently looks like some kind of bizarre toy overflow solution) and the laundry I’ll be a happy woman. It really is better if I do the decluttering. The husband just doesn’t have the killer instinct required.

You may now commence with all of your staying in thoughts.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Final Countdown

Posted on March 1, 2011 7 Comments

4 weeks to go. In theory. That theory doesn’t take into account happy dwellers like Riley who opted to stay inside for an extra two weeks. But for the sake of argument and my sanity we’ll say I have four weeks to go. Four weeks until I can look accusingly at my belly and say ‘you’re done’. Or alternatively I might start to panic at that point at the prospect of two and start demanding that he or she stay on the inside as long as possible. Pregnancy is unpredictable that way.

Of course it’s now, with only a few more weeks of incubating that my body decides to get sick. Typical. I could live without the swollen glands, running nose and general grogginess. Because I’m not already dealing with enough pregnant brain as it is. Case and point: I take Riley swimming every Tuesday morning. The centre has a card that you are supposed to get scanned on the way in to streamline the process for people who have signed up for a term of lessons. A month ago Josh took Riley to swimming so I could go to antenatal classes. I still haven’t retrieved the card from his wallet. Which means that every week that we go to swimming I have to admit that yes, I am a moron and do the process manually. That’s what I’ll be doing shortly before driving to the hospital this afternoon for a check up.

My iron levels will be coming back today so keep your fingers crossed and think over 100. Anything over 100 is ok. Anything under 100 not so good. Under 100 they start talking about infusions and I enter a higher risk category.

Apparently it’s going to be over 30 degrees today. So I’d like to alert the universe to the fact that in the Southern Hemisphere it is officially Autumn and the weather should start reflecting that immediately. Because really, who wants me to be complaining about heat in Autumn, it’s bad enough that I bored everyone to tears in Summer.

But I digress {pregnant brain tangent}, the jellybean is happily oblivious to both my deadline, my nasty cold and my complaining about the weather and is happily attempting to kick his or her way out as I write. And while it was suggested that due to the octopus-esque nature of the jellybean that perhaps I had a stealth jellybean on my hands (which might or might not have resulted in a series of panicked questions from the husband), I’m pretty sure that I just have one very active, very feisty jellybean on my hands.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Week 36

Posted on February 21, 2011 10 Comments

The beginning of week 36 begins tomorrow and I’ve got 5 weeks to go. 5 weeks if you take the highly arbitrary 40 weeks as something solid. Which it’s not.

We discussed my birth plan last week at my check up. Which is your average run of the mill – induction as an absolute last resort – drug avoidance – and being allowed to move around as much as possible. Not much to ask for, right? All except the bit about induction. Hopefully this baby isn’t as keen on staying put as Riley was. I’m pretty sure she’d still climb back in if she could. When I mentioned to the midwife that Josh and I were planning to be alone with our baby for at least an hour before having any visitors they suggested that the easiest way to achieve that was just to not tell anyone when I go into labour. Smart really.

I’ve never laboured. I was in early stages of labour with Riley when I had the c-section. So I was only experiencing contractions for a few hours before the operation. So I just don’t really know what to expect and I’m starting to get just a teensy bit apprehensive.

But distracting myself from that inevitability entirely, everyone is getting boy vibes. I don’t know if it’s just that I’m highly susceptible to suggestion by others, or I’m actually getting boy vibes. Meanwhile I have very nearly made it to the end of summer, which is a massive achievement even if I do say so myself and even if I had absolutely no choice in the matter. In no time at all I’ll be complaining about getting up in the middle of the night in the freezing cold and I won’t even feel a little bit ashamed.

Here’s my dilemma of the minute. Pay attention. It’s a big one. What pram/stroller? I know, life altering stuff. I need one that I can click a baby capsule into and will take a toddler skateboard at the back because I think I have zero chance of getting Riley to sit in a toddler seat even on longer trips. And I have a teeny car so it needs to be relatively compact when folded. Anyone with brilliant ideas I’m all ears. My last pram was awful and made everything far more difficult than it needed to be. Unfortunately I saw the Bugaboo on Saturday and was far too easily drawn in by how pretty it looked. What can I say. I’m weak.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Week 29

Posted on January 9, 2011 8 Comments


Look at that belly! That’s freaking huge. I’ve approached the whale stage of pregnancy. My weekly pregnancy alert has informed me that this stage is where my body goes into lard collection mode. I’m sure there was a better way to word that. And I’m equally sure that the wording of blubber attraction for the purposes of baby health and protection shouldn’t really concern me.

Either the baby’s getting a whole lot bigger or the placenta has moved. I’ve gone along for weeks now only feeling very occasional movement and in the last week or so it’s kicked into high gear. Probably just the baby getting bigger, but it would be nice if that anterior placenta had moved, but somehow I doubt it. One of the things that I really love is the absolute commotion of movement there is anytime Riley is close by. That’s awesome.

I did the glucose tolerance test yesterday – the long one. And the first hour was pretty awful but after I got over that hump the rest was fine and I was just tired afterwards. Although it was a whole lot better than last time where I felt like I’d been hit by a train, so I’m taking that as a sign that I’m healthier this time around. Which lets be honest wouldn’t be hard.

But speaking of testing I have an etiquette question. Or less of an etiquette question and more of a ‘was this person unbelievably rude or not?’ sort of question. So I arrived at the pathology clinic a bit before 8 when it opened. There where already three men in their 80s sitting outside waiting. When they opened up the office I let them go in first and sat down. I had a urine sample with me (I know, glamorous!) and a bunch of paperwork so I dumped that on the front desk just in case they wanted to refrigerate said sample and belatedly noticed that I was supposed to take a number, which I did. Number 3. Anyway, to cut a very long story short, as I was sitting down, one of the men came up to me took my number, gave me his (number 4) and said ‘I was here before you’. And walked off. I was too taken aback to say anything. I didn’t really care if I was third or fourth. The difference of 1 minute is not going to impact my day. And I wouldn’t have minded if he’d came up to ask me to swap either instead of just taking my card. But is it just me or is all of that a bit weird? The only thing I can think of is that fasting makes people batty.

I’ll stop ranting now. Maybe.

As far as the never-ending to do list is concerned I seem to be making some progress. Or other people are making the progress for me. As long as it’s getting done, right? My sister did the bulk of the painting in Riley’s new room so I’ve just got to do the skirting boards and window ledge which leaves me free for nesting activities and shopping. I like to play to my strengths.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Halfway!

Posted on November 9, 2010 28 Comments


At the end of last week I hit twenty weeks. Half way. It seems to have gone so fast. Although now I think it will slow right down. I’m starting to feel very, very pregnant. I waddle. I find it difficult to get up from a crouching position and am developing all manner of eww factor pregnancy symptoms. And today I was tired which reminded me very much of the first trimester kind of tired. Although it could have been less from pregnancy and more from running around all day yesterday and staying up until past midnight. Maybe.

But now I have a dilemma of sorts.

Next Monday is my 20 week scan (even though I’ll be 21 weeks). And at that scan I could find out the sex of the baby. And I could stop call the jellybean ‘it’ which would be awesome. At first Josh was dead against finding out and wanted it to be a surprise but now he doesn’t really mind either way, which leaves it up to me. You’d think that would make it easy. But without the big Josh shaped obstacle in my way I’m now reconsidering the whole thing. I thought I wanted to know. But know I’m not sure. On the one hand, my inner planner really wants to know. On the other hand nothing really beats that big surprise like we had with Riley.

I’ve waited for a week to see if my gut would do its job and tell me what to do. But my gut seems to be too busy housinga jellybean to be bothered with such things. Lacking appropriate priorities if you ask me. So I leave it to you to step in and tell me what to do.

Also? Vote for me on Babble! Because you can and because I begged you nicely.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Week 18

Posted on October 20, 2010 3 Comments


I’ve been a little lazy with my jellybean posts. Ok, a little lazy is a little bit of an understatement. But I’m beginning to realise how different a second pregnancy is. First time around, I had the time to pour over all kind of books that told me exactly what the development was, how big the jellybean was and all manner of other things to freak me out. This time around I’ve been so busy with work and a certain inexhaustible toddler that the whole thing has flown by at an alarming pace.

The photo was actually taken at 15 weeks at my first ultrasound. Apparently I didn’t drink enough water because they could barely see the wriggly little jellybean hiding down very low. A litre seems like plenty of water to me. But I could tell I probably hadn’t had enough water becaue I wasn’t experiencing the excruciating level of uncomfortability I have had in the past. But it was so nice to see the little jellybean all moving about. Because deep down I was afraid that I would get there and they wouldn’t see a baby. Slightly ridiculous, yes. But that’s the nature of fears, they aren’t reasonable.

I took Riley with me. Josh was there so he was on hand to help calm her down when I lied down on the table and she freaked out a bit. But as soon as she could see the monitors she began chanting ‘baby!’, ‘magic!’ and it was all pretty good from then on. Particularly because the nurse might have bribed her with a sticker.

On Friday I have my first hospital appointment. And Riley will not be coming with me. An hour and a half appointment? I think not. And that’s if there’s no waiting time. Cue hysterical laughter. Hopefully the appointment will mean that my assessment will get me into the VBAC program they run. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

My biggest pregnancy problem at the moment? Forgetting to eat and then feeling like death warmed up. Every pregnancy is different, that would never have been an issue first time around. I was too busy eating to forget about it. But all of that is far outweighed by feeling the occasional movement now. Although I don’t get butterflies. To me, kicks feel like really strong pinches and that’s alright by me. It makes them very hard to miss.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Week 13

Posted on September 14, 2010 11 Comments

So I might have skipped over just a few of my updates. And apparently I’m the laziest pregnant woman on the planet. Or that’s what you’d think if you listen to the receptionist at the radiology clinic.

I might have forgotten about getting my 8 week dating scan. But in my defense, my doctor never brought it up either, so we’re both lazy. He mentioned the scan at 12 weeks, so I dutifully went and got my referral and called the clinic. Ok, getting my referral at 12 weeks for my 12 week scan might have been leaving things a little late, given that those places are notorious for having a bit of a wait time.

But when I called this is the somewhat unbelievable conversation that happened:

Me: I want to book in for my 12 week scan

Her: How many weeks are you?

Me: 12

Her: Ok, the nuchal isn’t bulk billed so that will be $260

Me: I’m not high risk so I wasn’t going to have the nuchal.

Her: Oh we do it for everyone now.

Me: But the referral isn’t for the nuchal.

Her: What do you mean? Haven’t you already had a dating scan?

Me: No. I haven’t had a scan yet.

Her: Then how do you know you’re 12 weeks. You can’t know.

Me (in my mind only): I can count.

Her: And the referral definitely doesn’t say anything about nuchal?

Me: Yes, it’s just a checkup

Her: Ok, we can fit you in on Friday the 5th October.

Me: Great.

After I hang up, I realise that the 5th of October isn’t a Friday and I call back to confirm that the appointment is in fact on the 1st.

I have no intention of having the nuchal screening, even if they do do it for everyone. And I am highly amused by the fact that it’s assumed I couldn’t possibly know how many weeks pregnant I am without a scan. You could set a watch to my period. It’s like they don’t even realise that not very long ago, people used to go through their entire pregnancy without actually having a scan. That being said, bring on the 1st!

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright

Jellybean Watch – Week 10

Posted on September 4, 2010 4 Comments


Well technically it’s week 10 for the next couple of hours anyway.

Tonight while I was cuddling a poor, sick, and in desperate need of TLC toddler I felt a million little flutters going on, courtesy of the jellybean. So even though Riley doesn’t conceive of a baby at this stage (and probably won’t until I really start showing), it seems like her little brother or sister is all into her already.

This week I did actually separate myself from the couch and get moving. Although two 40 minute walks in one day may have been overkill for my poor sloth-like body and I’ve had lower back and ankle pain ever since. Which is why going to yoga today was such a relief – it’s really helping with the little niggles and I might have been so relaxed in the guided meditation that I fell asleep just a little bit and forgot where I was for a minute or two.

Also, I think that men should probably go to a class or something on what not to say to a pregnant woman. Best not to antagonise the hormonal beast I always say.

And finally, no morning sickness / all day sickness / random feelings of passing out or throwing up. The good bit of the pregnancy is upon me. And I am one very happy camper.

‘

Pages: ‘, ‘after’ => ‘

‘, ‘next_or_number’ => ‘number’)); ?>

© Copyright
«Older Posts