She's Here...

Welcome to the world Harriet Pearl McKinnon. She made her early arrival into the world on February 1st 2013 at 5:56pm weighing a slight 2.85kgs, measuring 49cms long.

I cannot believe it's been nearly 2 years since I posted about welcoming Ted into my life. He turns 2 next month and seems like he has grown SO much since arriving home from the hospital with Harriet.

My c-section went really well, it was quiet and intimate and I wasn't *too* nervous. My milk has come in and Harriet and I are bonding and feeding well. She is smaller than we had expected but is thriving nonetheless.

More photos to come!

xx

Mon-Thurs

This week so far:

Monday:

Standard day. Didn't feel inspired for dinner, so as James walked in the door from work I asked if we could go to Pancakes on the Rocks for dinner. Off we went. Abi loved her Clown Face pancake with ice cream for dinner. I got the Bananarama dish which includes 3 pancakes with toppings and couldn't even finish half of the serve. The place was packed at 7pm! Who knew pancakes and ribs were so popular!

Tuesday:

Had a real crapper of a day. Drove out to the new house and dropped James off so he could do the current inspections and discuss progress. Abi and I headed to our soon-to-be local Woolworths to pick up 'a few things'. A few things turned into a full trolley load. Me, struggling to get around the aisle corners and yet still filling up with more things. My nesting instinct took over as I realised I needed maternity pads, lux flakes, and other things for the arrival of new baby. I struggled at the checkout, and even more so in the car park as I loaded up the car.

Went to my Mum's house which is a 2 minute drive from the new house and Abi played with Mum as I vented all my worries and concerns. Mum is the best, and just listened and gave advice. Abi was flustered and upset when we left her house. Picked up James from the new house and realised I forgot to buy pizza bases for dinner so back to Woolies we went.

After getting home and preparing dinner, I had a huge meltdown about everything. The house, the baby, feeling unprepared and unorganised, the apartment being so messy and cluttered, the renovations costing more than we could have imagined, I let it all out. It felt good to cry like a baby.


Wednesday:

Slept well after my big cry. But still felt anxious and stressed. Spoke to Mum again and vented some more. Had a quiet day at home and managed a 3 hour nap in the afternoon which was bliss. Abi slept for 4 hours, gosh I hope she still sleeps like this in a few weeks once the baby comes. Baby was SUPER active all day, kicking and rolling around all day.

My father-in-law who works right next door to our apartment block came up after work to discuss some things with James. I was preparing to make our dinner, home made pizzas, and boom, the braxton hicks contractions began. Nothing too serious to begin with, but then I realised they were coming every 5 minutes, and were quite painful. I didn't say anything to James for about an hour, then I told him and he got excited and curious. The BH contractions stopped after 90 minutes or so and I relaxed on the couch for the rest of the night. I am excited at the idea of going into natural labour soon but I want to make sure baby isn't breech or transverse. He feels transverse still, I can feel his head and it's right on my side, not down low. I hope he is trying to move head down. Only a few weeks to go before he runs out of room!

Thursday:

Slept in till 9am. Had my usual weetbix and milk. We let Abigail choose her own outfit today and she decided to she wanted to wear her Croc Snow Boots, because it looked cold outside. James was reluctant to let her wear them but I thought, let her be. She was definately channelling some Pamela Anderson with the denim and ugg boots. Went to the Good Guys in Willoughby to pick our kitchen appliances and a dishwasher. $4800 later. Good lord.

Went to Trend Windows and chose glass/window combinations. The sales guy was so morbid and depressing, someone who really hated their job. Came home and ate leftover pizza for lunch. Find the turkish loaf I bought 2 DAYS AGO is already mouldy and I can't use tonight to make home-made Sammy Burgers. Gutted. Then remember that I have a loaf in the freezer, HUZZAH! James went to get a haircut and Abi refused to sleep this afternoon. I've been on the IKEA website for so long that I'm going cross-eyed. In search of a grey fabric sofa from anywhere, so if you have any suggestions, please send them my way.


So that has been my week. Stressful with tears. Contractions. Having fun with Abigail. Pancakes and pizza. Woolworths and worrying. Knowing I still need to buy feeding bras, set up the bassinet, wash baby clothes, pack hospital bag, book haircut and colour before the birth, and waxing too. Ahhhhhh

Weekend Recap

Late Thursday night, my husband sugested we should head to the beach house on the Central Coast.  Friday morning, he had an early conference call with his boss in the States while I packed 2 overnight bags and off we went.


After a quick drive up the F3, we stopped in at Bateau Bay Woolworths and did some grocery shopping. Once we arrived at the beach house, into our cossies we were and headed to the pool. Abi is going through a phase of only liking the "baby pool" which is about 50cm deep and has a fountain in it. James and I sat in the big pool while she ran around cooling off. We finally coaxed her into the big pool but she held onto me for dear life.


The whole weekend was disgustingly hot but relaxing. We spent most of Saturday in the lagoon pool which has a beach-like entrance which Abi loves. We had cold showers. Applies lots of moisturiser and sunscreen and zinc.

Abi pondering

Abi giving me the 'stink eye'

Yesterday morning we all slept in till 10am, bliss. Then James and Abi headed to the beach and I relaxed on the sofa. Then I headed to the spa in the resort for an eyebrow wax and 90 minute pedicure. My feet are soft and my nails are bright orange! I loved sitting in the treatment room with my therapist talking about babies and beaches and girly things.  Most of the therapists know me at the spa because I'm such a frequent visitor. James and Abi met me at the spa lobby with an umbrella which was sweet because just as we walked out, a huge storm hit and I would have been drenched walking to the beach house. Abi ran home in the rain and loved every minute of it.

My bump + orange nails

Taken from our balcony. Just as the storm hit!

After my treatment, we drove home via the suburbs of Sydney to my parents house to say hello. We then all headed to the new house to see the weekly progress. New walls are being built, the butler's pantry frame is up and the plumbing is being attended to. We have an inspection tomorrow and I will get new photos then.


I'm 35 weeks pregnant today. I can't believe it. Sleeping is becoming difficult, my insomnia has ramped up a notch. So has my anxiety. But I know in a matter of weeks, my baby, my son, will be here. I can't believe it.

Photos taken on my iphone, so excuse the crappy quality.

Transverse Baby

Here is my bubs. I can announce that we are having a BOY and we are all over the moon. Look at his little face! He looks just like Abigail did in the womb. I have heaps of 4D photos of her too. The cord is right near his face too, the detail is amazing, isn't it!

I had my 34+ week appointment this morning with my Ob/Gyn and again, everything looks fantastic. Baby is growing well, strong heartbeat and rolling around in my belly. But peanut has moved, from frank breech position to transverse. I felt alot of activity and kicks last Saturday and my belly changed shape. I'm convinced that is when he moved from breech to transverse.

So the diagnosis is the same. We are hoping baby turns in the next 2-3 weeks. After that, we aren't sure if baby will have the room to turn. I've been doing some stretches on all fours, and pelvic stretches too. My back and hips are loosening up alot. My hips are not aligned and my left side is KILLING me most of the time when I sleep or sit down with my feet up.

I had another blood test to check my iron levels and my anti-D levels too for my blood type. Hopefully no antibodies are present and my iron levels have increased.

Less than 6 weeks till my baby is here. I can't believe it. It's getting CLOSE!

Photos taken this morning on the balcony. The sun is out, and despite the heat, I'm really enjoying the last few weeks of summer.

Breech Baby

I had my 32+ week appointment with my Ob/Gyn this morning and everything looks great. Baby is of small to average size, with a strong heartbeat and chubby cheeks. Nor! Look at that little face! I cried watching the 4D scan this morning, the baby starting to look so REAL!

Baby is still in the breech position. Little peanut has changed from breech to transverse to breech in the last 4 weeks. 2 weeks ago baby was complete breech which is head up and feet down low, kicking my bladder all the time. Now baby is frank breech which means the feet are up high next to the head and arms.

My iron levels are very low too so off I went to buy some iron supplements. I have to be careful about having low iron levels because of my negative blood type. I'm sure after a week or so, my iron levels will increase. This does explain though, why I've been feeling so tired!

I'm hoping baby will turn before my next appointment in 2 weeks. If not, then an elective c-section it will be. I did have my dreams set on a successful VBAC but at the end of the day, it's not how the baby is born, but that the baby is born safely.

Less than 8 weeks till my little baby is here. I'm starting to get so excited. I was talking to my sister on the phone this morning and we are going to plan a baby shower. I didn't have one with Abigail, because I lived in Singapore so I figure this time around, I'd love to see all my friends before the birth and for them to see me, all big and glowing. Also, with the house renovations, we are so busy and haven't had much of a social life lately, I'd like to see everyone before the big move too.

Ok, I'm off to find my Baby Bjorn carrier and give it a clean and then perhaps take an afternoon nap. James is on his flight home to us. No more waking up with my arms around a pillow, now I can cuddle the real thing.