The First Time, Ever I...

There are so many "firsts" associated with having a baby. To me, every single tiny one is worth noticing and noting. Many moms told me to pay attention and cherish these things as they happen, to enjoy every moment and not let the chaos distract you from the amazingness of living with a newborn and watching them grow and learn and develop. I have taken this advice to heart and doing my best to take in everything and take nothing for granted.

I will do my best to document what I can right here. To get started, here are a few that I am especially proud of so far.

1. First Walk.
Bella and I had our first walk together on February 5, when she was just 6 days old. The temperature reached an unprecedented 8 degrees and I was dying to get outside, into the sunlight and move my body. Crown was at the office so baby and I were alone but I didn't let is stop us! We suited up and headed out into the great big world. Together for the first time. I haven't felt so proud and happy on a walk since my first walk with The Momes, almost six year ago! I wanted to stop everyone on the street and show them my baby and tell them, "she's six days old today and this is our first walk!"

2. First time in the vibrating chair.
Bella loves to vibrate. Heh - really? Who doesn't?

3. First shower with nobody home to watch her.
So many people told me that when you have a new baby you barely have time to shower or brush your teeth. I really enjoy being clean, and a hot shower is one of my favourite things in life, so I was terrified of this particular part of early parenting. I'm proud to say that not only have I been able to have a long, hot shower every single day since she's been born (even in the hospital!) but today, for the first time, I got up the courage to have one while home alone with her. It didn't hurt that she was doing this at the time:


4. First yoga pose.
This picture is not the first time she's done it, but it's her first and favourite yoga pose. I wanted to note this one especially for Auntie Shantih... get a look at this kid's lotus!! Can't wait for our Mommy and Baby yoga classes!

A Whole New World

Just now I was lying on my couch, nursing my daughter and watching the big flakes of snow fall outside in the dark. I glanced at the clock to see it was 2:46am and it hit me. Exactly one week ago I was lying in the exact same spot, labouring, sore and scared. I hadn't even met her yet. And today? Just one week later and I simply can not imagine life without her. The smallest shadow of a thought of it enters my mind and I lose the ability to breathe. In just one week my whole life is repurposed; my whole world is as brand-new as hers.

My Lovely Lady Lump: Week 39

Week 39

Weight Gain: At my doc's appt. on Monday I was 199lbs... but things may have changed a little since then.

Milestones: Milestones. Hmmm... there was something I was going to make note of but I can't quite remember what it might be but it seemed kind of important so let me just think about it for a minute, noooo still can't quite put my finger on it... Oh. YES. I remember now. I gave birth.

Birth story coming as soon as I get a little chunk of time. As you may know, these things tend to be a little lengthy.

Here's the very last picture of the lady lump, taken on Tuesday evening around 9 p.m., literally hours before we left to go to the hospital and before I even knew I was in labour. Incidentally it is also just hours before it went from a lovely, round, solid, living bump to an empty, soggy, saggy mess. At least now I have something WAY cuter to take photos of. More of those coming soon too.

My Girl

She's tightly swaddled and sleeping soundly in my lap. Her warm breathing and little squeaks are almost too much to bare. Her fingers are long and strong and when she grasps my finger tightly she might as well be squeezing my heart. She's pure magic. And in just a few hours I'm going to have her home. Thanks for the support and encouragement from all. Full details and more photos to come soon. I can't wait for you to meet her.

Introducing Anabella Dawn:


Born January 30, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. after 16 hours of labour and 1 hr and 15 mins of pushing.
Weighing 6 lbs, 14 ounces, 51 cms long.


Welcome Little Chicken. To say "we love you" is not enough.

Mommy

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things: Part 1

Like any expectant parents, Crown and I have been busy at work over the last several weeks preparing our baby's room. The last few days, especially, we've been working on finishing touches, adding a new chair and footstool, hanging prints and adding decorative touches here and there. It's still a work in progress, but already it has become my favourite room in the house! I love it. I'm glad that we stuck with the original wall colour, left over from when the room was our office. It's not too babyish and not too girlie but still feels right for a baby. It's a room that we can all enjoy. Here are a few pictures of my favourite elements in the room.

1. My puppy prints by John W. Golden. I picked these adorable prints up on Etsy after a tip from Scarbie the uber-style scout. Framed in basic IKEA frames, they simply couldn't be cuter! I want to buy the whole series.

2. This little vignette on top of the dresser just kills me. We all know by now about my penguin-love. The lamp has been moved from my desk at work, I like that I can add a little element from my old office into my new one. The azalea and the cat picture are both gifts from the ever-so-lovely Hampster, my friend and colleague, and incidentally also the capable person taking over my job while I'm away. You'll find that a LOT of my favourite things in this room are from Hampster, something I just realized while I was snapping these photos. What can I say? She's HGTV through and through. Thanks Girl!

3. The Moses basket. This will actually be in my room once Baby arrives because she's going to sleep in it next to our bed, but for now it looks so pretty sitting in her room, the white islet material adds the perfect amount of feminine charm to the room. Thanks again to the girls at work for this amazing gift!

4. My Ugly Dolls! Oh, my God, I love them so much. I got this idea while looking at modern nurseries online and just had to have some of my own. These are Little Uglies, from top to bottom we have Moxy, Gato and Ox. I chose them because the colours reflect those I've used through-out the room.

5. Clearly I still need to hang these prints, but I couldn't leave them out because they are so sweet. Like the cat from above, these are from Hampster. In case you haven't noticed, there's a real animal-theme happening. Mommy loves animals and has a special soft spot for stuffed ones.


6. It's a Blabla! What a dude, eh? Just another example of my stuffed animal fetish.


7. Yep, more animals. This is the mobile and you guessed it, it was also part of the gift from the girls at work. Well, from the whole staff, but the girls did the shopping. Do they know me, or what?

7. Last but not least, my Dwell Baby cowgirl blanket and tiny, tiny pink cowgirl boots. Obviously I have a horse-thing and I hope to share my love of them with my daughter. What a precious way to start! The blanket is from Auntie Dings and the boots from one of my poker pals, Curls. Thanks Aunties!