Pool arrived!

Holy cow - it's here. It's still in boxes, but it's here. Need to buy plastic stuff to put it on now & get a duvet down from the loft for padding inside.

 

More maternity antics

I've done yet another load of washing today. This is good though because it means the weather is good enough to hang clothes outside! Hurrah for the sun!

I changed the date of birthing pool delivery from Saturday (yesterday) to Monday (tomorrow). This is good because it means that we won't have boxes lying around while the girls are here and also endless questions relating to said boxes from said children. I do think the Wiggler is trying to break out of me though so I'll be glad when it's here & set up. I can sit in it & watch DVDs!! *Must buy plastic sheet things/shower curtains* I really did think there would be a chest burster moment last night, but exiting from the side rather than through the sternum. As much as I love the Wiggler, I won't half be glad to have my body back. I've got some serious pelvis action going on what with the poking and Wiggling™!

I made some fitted sheets for the crib last week!

I used this tutorial. I think my pregnancy dementia is climaxing in super stupid because it took me several goes to get it right. Maybe I should've printed it out rather than thinking "I can remember that". Seriously, it's very sad and a tad worrisome! Please tell me I'll get my brain back post-birth!

I also made flat sheets from the remaining part of the sheet so I now have 2 of each. So here is the crib in its made-up glory :-D The little bear is a gift from Mum. Can you believe that my Dad made this crib 35 years ago??

I know it's virtually impossible to distinguish between sheet & blanket, but that's the joy of a direct flash and phone camera combo. I still can't be bothered to get my other camera out. Maybe when not pregnant I will. In-fact, I know I will because I hate direct flash.

I think a hooded towel project is on the cards next week, now that I've wrapped my pregnant brain around it that is! However, there are loads of tutorials for making a hooded towel. Some have pleats in the back & some are just squares sewn together. I don't know which one to make! Which one my machine will stand is probably the question I should be asking. Hmm...

I've got my presenting scan on Wednesday next week. I'm sorely tempted to ask what gender the Wiggler is...although we've come this far without managing to find out so I think a few more weeks will be tolerable, especially as I've stipulated on the birth plan that we'd like to find out ourselves, rather than the midwife telling us. I've decided that I'd like to cut the cord. The Wiggler has been linked to me by the thing for the whole pregnancy and I think it fitting that I should end the permanent physical connection.

I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea so I'll be interested to see if it has any effect on my labour. Will it be possible to tell? Scientists will say no because there isn't a controlled environment in which it can be tested and "everyone is different", but the midwife may have an opinion? I've also ordered some arnica 200cc in preparation for baby time. I was going to take some anyway, but didn't realise it came in a 200cc strength! All I have around the house for general use is 30cc, but birth/labour is pretty traumatic for both mother & baby so I guess 200cc is a better bet. Also, some sweet almond oil for perineal massage. I hope there's enough time to do some before the Wiggler makes it's appearance...after last night I'm not so sure there will be!

Next!

I did clean the windows yesterday - the downstairs back ones anyway. They really were disgusting, as was the kitchen floor.

Anyway, the news is that the Wiggler is partially engaged! Midwife wasn't going to tell me, so I asked. Apparently when 3 5ths of the head are in the pelvis she calls that being engaged, although this isn't what every midwife says. Pah - how am I supposed to know? I knew it must be though because I could feel it in my pelvis & I haven't been able to before, plus I could breathe more easily.

Had our first post-class NCT meet today at my house. I made brownies...mmm. Think they went down well - hurrah! Was really nice to meet up with everyone. One of the other ladies has step-children too! Phew! Now everybody knows & it's all OK. I was stressing, but it's all good. I think we're going to do lots of stuff together over the course of our maternity leave which is good. I've volunteered Simon to take a photo of all of the babies when they're out which will be nice :-)

I couldn't resist...

I know that I'm really on maternity leave now - Simon's gone back to work and it's just me & the dog. Curtains and windows are open and the house is spotless LOL! I'm looking at how dirty the windows are...

Anyhoo, I've determined that the Beeb can't accurately predict the weather often enough and thus decided to wash the baby clothes we have. Here's is a picture of the first load, because I couldn't resist :-)

Little tiny clotheses :-)

They're so small! Simon & I were removing the labels from them last night & it properly dawned on us that there'll be a Wiggler wiggling away in them soon enough. Although they look quite big. Which isn't very reassuring considering from where it emerges!!

Other great news: my friend Ute had her baby yesterday: Jonathan born 27th July 2009 at 9.33pm weighing in at 5.36lbs. Both mother and baby are fine and should be allowed home in a few days. I'm so glad after a complicated pregnancy. Hurrah!

Maternity leave and mobiles

So here it is, ze mobile:

My lovely husband put it up for me today :-D They look a bit porky on this picture - I think my phone has distorted them a tad. If I could be bothered to take a proper picture with the Nikon I would, but I really can't right now.

I finished work today! WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! The last day for 52 whole weeks. It's still quite surreal and hasn't really sunk in because it's the weekend. I know that it means that The Wiggler is now imminent. Hopefully not before-pool-arrives-imminent, but the due date is a darn sight closer than it was! Erk! My work mates very kindly bought me some crib blankets and a swaddling blanket - which is exactly what I needed - I wonder how they knew?! Hmm LOL! Anyhoo, we have pretty much everything we need now. I'm still debating a baby bath. Some people say they're a waste space, time and money. Other people say they're great.

We had our final antenatal class yesterday and went for a curry afterwards. Rebecca has arranged loads of coffee mornings at each other's houses over the coming weeks and a reunion in October. It seems so far away, but I know the time will fly. I've learned so much from the classes and genuinely do think they've helped both Simon and I on our journey through this pregnancy. So the ladies will be visiting my house on Wednesday for drinks & stuff - best get some biscuits in! Or...shall I make brownies...hmm?

Stuff & things

I ordered our sling yesterday. It's so very beautiful. I bought it from here. This is what it looks like:

Isn't it lovely?! Can't wait til it arrives & there's a Wiggler in it :-)

I bought nappies today. All these things that have been on the list of things to get after our July payday and now the July payday has come & gone and I'm actually buying the things! It's all a bit surreal.

I'm also extremely chipper because I've found some other people who are into more natural parenting near me. Having been somewhat disillusioned with other Mum's forum sites, I've discovered Netmums. The Local meet-a-mum thing is great! I posted something on the board on Saturday, I've had 5 replies since then and it's only Wednesday! Maybe we should start our own group as there doesn't seem to be one that caters for what I want, not that I can find anyway.

I've got so much planned for next week - I've got the sheets that Mum gave me to wash & turn into little fitted sheets for the crib, my freezer paper has arrived so I can make some stencils for the plain bodysuits, I'm knitting a hooded jumper for the Wiggler which needs finishing, I need to wash all of the baby clothes we've got already - how have I been so restrained this far??! Oh I know - I've been at work!

Another piece of extremely good news is that Mum is definitely on the mend :-D We went over to see them on Saturday last week as it was Rosh's 3rd birthday and she came downstairs for the first time in 11 months. That was momentous enough, but then I got a text on Sunday saying she was in Tesco's having a coffee! I spoke to her today & find out that she's been down to their house in Southampton for the day to meet the builder & generally get out & about and hopefully they'll be coming to see me next week when I'm on maternity leave! I'm so very pleased and it's nice to have my Mum back. Love you Mum :-) xxx

I wish this weather would sort itself out - I put some washing out when I got back from my antenatal class today (which was great and 5 of us had lunch together afterwards) and it was almost dry, then the heavens opened. Now 1/2 hour later it's about as dry as it was when it came out of the machine. Gah.

Birth pool arrives next Saturday (1st) woohoo! I love it when a plan comes together :-D

Vaccination or not?

I'm not a fan of Western medicine generally and today I started thinking about whether The Wiggler should be vaccinated or not. I assume that if we choose the non-vaccination route there will be people who are angry and think we're being selfish. I really don't know enough about the subject to make a decision at this point.

It seems that there are 2 camps: the "vaccines are evil" lot & the "vaccines are essential" lot. I'd really like to speak to someone who can give me the facts so that we can make an informed choice. Is that even possible with this subject? There are so many books on the subject - one I would like to read is What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave. There's also Raising A Vaccine Free Child by Wendy Lydall.

I have to say that initial feelings are complete bewilderment. One one hand you want the best for your baby and to protect them from the nasty world. Then you think, hang on - the world isn't nasty. Then you start to think - what's in these things that doctors say are vital? Are they really? How is the immune system supposed to cope if it's bombarded with synthetic substances? From my few minutes web browsing I've read comments such as "linked with Autism" and things suggesting that the research stating vaccines are necessary is done by people with a vested interest in the sale of said vaccinations.

At school I ended up refusing the yearly flu jab because it always made me ill and I didn't actually get flu. I had mumps when I was little and I survived! I dunno. Maybe have some & not others. I'll talk to our NCT class teacher and have a read & a think.