In the second week of Reed's life

Things are going well, as I type this Reed is asleep in my arms.  He feeds a lot, a lot more it seems than the typical 2-3 hours, more like every 40min-1hr, but then during the night he sleeps longer so I get 3-4 hour rests.  So far he is not really much of a crier either, just when there's nasty gas, or getting changed.

We have been getting more and more adventurous and heading outside, for stroller walks with Pearl or in the snuggly walks in the trails, or walking downtown for coffee.  I'm still taking it very easy, I want to treat myself right now, so I can get back to all activitiessooner than later, don't want to rush into running or anything... Although  my midwife said that if things keep going along as well as they are, I could be back in the pool next week and back to running in two more...

Here are a couple of pics...

He's a big boy, already up to 10lbs!

This is Christmas morning, tummy time!

Pearl is Reed's 2nd mom, she likes to watch over him

Now this is eating local!

Last night we had our first sampling of the deer Colin shot.  It was beautiful!  I had never had deer before, we had a couple of tenderloins and they were so lean, and velvetty.  Colin had marinated them overnight, and eventhough he said he messed up on the marinate, it still tasted delicious to me. 

What follows is a backward progression of how it came to our plates... now please be prepared for some slightly disturbing pictures for some, but if we went to a slaughter house, I am sure the pictures would be much worse...

Now Colin had been hunting for days, he spent atleast 5-7 days of learning how it is all done, days of walking and walking and waiting patiently, only to come home with nothing.  He was hunting on a local rancher's land (with permission of course! and tags licenses etc ... unlike Brock Lesnar, who brings a bad name to the hunter!).  He worked hard for this kill, and makes you appreciate the beauty of eating so conscientiously, so clean, so very local.  This rancher also showed Colin how to clean it all and he showed him how to cut off all the big cuts which we eat, the only parts that need to be sent to a butcher are for making the sausages and jerky.  So he did it all: hunted, shot, cleaned and butchered! 

Yummy dinner!

After the hunt, Pearl is definitely interested...

Pearl getting a little taste herself!

Our deer strung up, before being cut up.

Colin, after days of hunting, finally with a kill!
  

Out walking the land

Overdue!

I'm past my due date, and it just plain sucks.  All day long, I think about labour, when will it start?  I am so collosal, that I seem to be able to only walk.  I swim every other day (or so), but can only go for about 2k now, and it is very slow and easy.  I'm just huge and tired...

Ok baby, come out and celebrate Christmas!

Everyone in constant vigilance, waiting for the baby!

What a sleeping beauty!

In the homestretch

So being now officially past 37weeks, this baby is considered full-term.  Everyday I wake up thinking, "Maybe today we will have our baby!"  (Eventhough I could be saying this for the next 4 weeks!)

I've starting drinking rasberry leaf tea, and taking evening primrose oil, and I keep on walking, and walking, and walking about 2 hours a day, I've even been picking up the pace to try and "get things going". 

Yesterday while swimming I started (or continued, by making an organized list ... ooh the things you do to occupy your mind while following the black line on the bottom of the pool - I've even tried doing long division...) thinking about the things I am looking forward to post-partum:

1.  The first on my list is the actual labour.  I know this sounds crazy, and perhaps when I'm going through it, I will take back these words, but I am excited to go through what I have been reading so much about, taking courses on, and listening to stories about.  I honestly feel like I'm sitting in the airport gate, waiting to get on a plane that will take me on an incredible journey.  But the waiting is the hardest part!  Having no control is something I totally struggle with.

2.  And the labour means I get to finally meet this little one.  Is it a boy or a girl?  How big?  Who does it look like?  Holding it, and being in general bliss with it.  (Btw I hate calling it "it".)

The rest of the list is in no particular order:

3.  Putting on my pants and socks and boots without feeling like it's the most collosal pain-in-the-butt workout of the day!  In general, doing things that require you to bend down, clean, pick things up off the floor, feed the dog, pick up dog poo etc.

4.  Sleep with comfort.  No backache, no pillows as support, no tossing and turning every hour, watching the clock slowing tick until a reasonable hour of getting up.  Not to mention the minimum of 4 trips to the bathroom. 

5.  Getting my heart-rate up.  It has been over a year since I last gave my heart a real little workout.  I have been diligently keeping my heart in a respectable and conservative zone, deemed more safe for carrying babies.  I long for a good sweat and a good hurt in running, swimming and biking.  Bring on the pain!

6.  Along the lines of # 5 - running.  I gave up my pregnant running around 34 weeks, but it wasn't anything very satisfying, it was barely running.  I can't wait to get my legs moving faster, breath hard and get to that place where I'm caught in a back-and-forth between my mind and body (much like the angel and devil bantering on your shoulders).  Where my mind is telling me "Ok, you can't keep this up, you need to stop."  But my autopilot body, just keeps on going, and my mind continues, saying, "Ok, so you're getting it done, so far, but look out ahead, there's a hill, better slow down..."  But the body responds by speeding up.  I love to push the body past the mind, to do things without thinking of the consequence (heart, lungs, legs blowing-up).

7.  In order to be able to more easily accomplish # 6, I'll need to lose the extra weight.  I wonder how much I will shed automatically after the baby is born.  Just the weight of the baby and the water, will be substantial.  And then, the excess fat I have packed on in my arms, legs, back, butt etc.  You just can't avoid the fat that automatically builds up for future breastfeeding.  However, I have actually lost weight these past two weeks.  Well if I stopped gaining weight, but the baby continues to grow, the weight must be re-distributing itself, from extra mommy-fat to, extra baby-fat.  Basically, I am really looking forward to getting my body back.

8.  In general, getting out-of-limbo.  I feel like I'm in limbo, waiting for the next part of my life to begin.

9.  Seeing Colin as a dad.  I'm pumped for him to be a dad, I know he will be a great dad.

10.  Wine and coffee!  I miss them so...  I miss wine more, if I had to choose one.  I am buying a few bottles to sip at in the weeks after birth in the evening.  So if you want to pop by and visit the baby, bring a bottle of red wine!  (Yes, yes, I know you have to limit and time your intake while breastfeeding.)

On the trainer ...

I didn't realize how funny and ridiculous I looked!

Project # 37, clean and organize basement...

I have all the lifeguards worried!

As I mentioned before, I've been able to keep up swimming even as I really start to slow down and feel absolutely uncomfortable at all times.  It's funny, my swimming has actually been improving, I can go longer and longer and feel stronger all the time in the water. 

Cochrane is a small town, so you quickly get to know the people you see all the time, not to mention that people are just very friendly and talkative here.  That added to the fact that being pregnant seems to elicit constant smiles and conversation from strangers.  (I admit sometimes I get sick of people always smiling at me, and I just want to be invisible for a day - impossible with massive belly!)

People at the pool have their bets on what I'm going to have, most say it's going to be a boy, I still think girl...

Yesterday Colin and I learned that what we had previously been joking about, was actually true...  We always joked that the lifeguards had a code word for when I entered the building - like "watermelon", so they would be on their guard for sudden emergency water birth! 

Well Colin learned from the pool manager, that the young lifeguards did in fact get quite nervous when I arrived!  I think this is so funny, because I remember the same exact thing happening to me when I was a lifeguard long ago.  There was this women that swam through her pregnancy and with each progressive week I would get more and more nervous about her actually going into labour! 

Now I realize that the chances of this actually happening are super low.  But it makes me want to suddenly clutch my belly, doubled over in alarm, just to keep them on their toes!

Here I am 37 weeks looking spectacular in my stylish maternity suit!

It was scary at the time, but mostly embarassing now...

Out for our nice morning walk...

I gave up running almost 2 weeks ago, around 34 weeks, so it's all about the brisk walk now.  I get in about 2 hours of walking a day with Pearl.  Still swimming and riding the trainer though, I don't think I'll ever have to give those up.

So we're walking along, it's a beautiful morning, clear sunny sky, not too cold, and I thinking of all sorts of wonderful things that put a slight smile on my face.  The roast I'm going to cook, the delicious gravy I'm going to make for it, inviting my parents over to join us, the Christmas crafts I'm going start soon, the food gifts I'm going to make with my old canning jars, the baby of course, the fact that he or she will be considered full term in less than two weeks, the things I'm going to start doing soon that can supposedly start labour... just enjoying being lost in my head.

Along the path we go...

Side note - Pearl is off leash, it's not an off-leash area, but I rarely see anyone on the paths and when we do run into people with dogs, she always comes to me immediately so I can leash her up.

Another side note - Pearl is not a great leash walker, she gets very insecure around big dogs which leads to her putting on a big bravado show of aggressiveness.  She will growl and try to lung at the other dog. Bad, I know, but as soon as she is off leash, she is fine and becomes submissive when meeting other dogs.

Walking ahead of me, Pearl spots some people, a lady with two rottweilers.  She immediately stops and allows me to catch up to her so she can be put on leash.  Good dog so far...

We are about 25 meters from them.  I have seen this lady before, she always makes her dogs sit down to allow other dogs to pass by.  A trick I use at times so Pearl stays calm and submissive, so I am already wary of these massive rotties...

Pearl is on my right, and we walk close to the bushes by the edge of the path, rotties on our left.  I look up and smile a greeting, and Pearl suddenly thinks she has to show these two huge rottweilers how tough she is, and starts growling, her hair rising on her neck and bum while lunging front legs off the ground. 

Side note - pregnant women have terrible balance.  They can also be even more irrational / emotional than what might be considered "normal" in any given monthly outburst...

I quicken my pace and struggle slightly with Pearl.  Then it took a turn for the worse.  The two dogs lunged at us.  Suddenly there were dogs at my legs, Pearl was freaking out, her growls had transformed to scared squealing.  I lose my balance, I'm scared in the middle of a dog fight, rottweilers upon us.  I think I may be either crying or screaming, I hear myself repeating "I'm scared, I'm scared".  I stumble into the bushes, instinctively trying to get away from vicious dog attack. I drop the leash in an attempt to gain balance, and put my hands down as I fall on my butt in the bushes, roll to my side in fetal position clutching at my belly.  I'm crying and maybe slightly screaming, totally in a panic, an instinctual save-the-baby moment, fight or flight, rational mind gone. 

I snap out of it, and hear the lady: "Can you get up?  Are you alright?"

I look around and see two happy cute faces staring down at me, tails wagging.  Probably about to give me wet sloppy kisses, and certainly smiling, the way only dogs can.

Immediately embarrassed beyond social norms.  I don't know how to even look the women in the eyes.  Still slightly hysterical, I get up, in an awkward, in-the-ninth-month-of-pregnancy-way.  She is trying to see if I'm ok, I look at her, and then at her two sweet rotties and turn away, completely embarrassed.  "I'm fine, I just want to get out of here," I tell her and start walking away.  But Pearl, of course had backtracked, she still wasn't about to pass by the dogs.  My wimpy dog had bailed on me in time of crisis!  She saved herself and left me to be eaten by the dogs!  I had to go back and get her, all the while the woman trying to say sorry and see if I was ok.  I was trying ignore her, and get out of there as quickly as possible, still sniffling snot and wiping tears.

I walked home, very distraught, not knowing exactly how I felt about the whole ordeal.  Scared, shocked, embarrassed, angry.  I can now laugh.  If someone had videoed that episode it would be a very funny you tube clip entitled: "Crazy huge pregnant lady freaks out over friendly rottweilers". 

Now I hope to see that lady again, to make it a little better, and express how stupid I feel! 

A new painting

I have been meaning to use some of my free time to get back into some painting, and finally I have.  I decided to go with Aspens in fall, as that's all you see everywhere you go around here. 

Now we have something to put up on our bare walls!

Here are a few more pics out on our walk today...



She then rolled in poo, and had to have a bath.  Why are dogs the funniest when they have just had a bath?  They just go crazy!

32 weeks

This morning Pearl and I went out for a beautiful fall run.  I am so happy to see the colours of a changing season, in Vancouver there is a slight shift, yet mostly it seemed green just turned to brown or stayed green.  The night had gone below 0, and the temperature was slowly rising as the sun got the day going, so Pearl and I were treading on frosty grass and leaves.   Here are some pics of some trails we go on...

That's Cochrane in the distance

Saturday, however, it's calling for snow.   I am so excited for winter here, I haven't had a cold snowy winter in years.  But this winter will be special because we will have our new baby!  I'm already trying to remember what it was like training, especially running in those dead of winter days of 30 below...  I am might join a gym, to use a treadmill.

The house is slowly getting finished, upstairs all done, and the living room is shaping up.

I have been feeling good, just getting heavy.  By the end of the day I need to put my feet up.  I've been able to run about every three days for 40ish minutes.  I go slow, and walk up all hills and most slight inclines... day-dreaming of future fast hard running.  On the bike a couple times per week, for about 40ish minutes also, I still hate riding the trainer, it gets so boring, but that's what I'll be doing all winter to get back into shape... fun!  Swimming has been really great, I mostly forget I'm even pregnant, besides the fact that I still haven't found anything near to my old power and strength, I can see that it will return. 

I admit to getting bored at times, here in a new town, when Colin is working days or night shifts, i actually wish I was working!  I miss school, especially with Halloween coming up.

So I do a lot of thinking about things to come... and I get really excited!  It's funny how you spend time complaining about not getting pregnant, and then you spend your time complaining about being pregnant. 

I was so very jealous!

Up until today I have been quite content with watching and cheering Colin on the races he's been doing lately.  But today's xcountry running race looked like soooo much fun!  Here are a few pics, Colin came a very close 2nd to Trevor Williams.

Crossing the river to then climb the escarpment...

A big pack at the start... brrrrr! It was below 0 in the morning!

Crossing back, in second place, chasing Trevor.

I'm cheering very loudly, and managed to get a smile!

The finishing kick... and no one is near you!

Looking good!  I'm already excited to do this race next year!

I'm in my 31rst week!  Coming into the eighth month!  I have been excited to get into the 30s, thinking that  it would be the 'home stretch'!
Went for a run this morning, I am slowing down with every passing week and every additional pound.  I have to admit, since putting on sooo much weight in the first trimester (normal weight gain = 4 lbs, I gained a hefty 15lbs in the first 4 months!!) I have evened out, and claim a small victory when I go for my monthy check-ups at the midwives to find I've only been gaining a couple lbs each visit (although I just finished an Oh Henry bar that I found in the kitchen - why was it there??).  It all evens itself out in the end, thank goodness! 

We have been going to birthing class for a couple weeks now, getting all the info on what to expect.  I'm getting very excited, and pumped to do it!  I want to try my very best for all natural pain management.  I feel like it's a big long race, a supreme challenge, like a marathon or an ironman.  A big goal that you've been training for, and getting ready for physically and mentally.  You know it's going to hurt, you know you're going to have to concentrate hard, you know it's very long and there will times when it's going well and times when you wish you had never signed yourself up for it.  But if you keep your focus, you know the end - the big win, is well worth all the pain. 

I thought it couldn't get any worse...

And then I burned it.

Still debating if I should give it as a thank you...

"Thanks so much for all the hard work, I thought you might like a burnt pie."

My first attempt at pie...

It is definitely hideous!  I am trying to give it as a thank you to my in laws for all their help with our move and renovating the house so far, they have cleaned, scraped stiple, washed and painted walls for us, so I thought a nice beautiful apple pie would be a nice thank you...

Well I now know why so many people just buy the pie crust at the shop, it isn't as easy as Martha Stewart makes it looks (or Mark Mogatas for that matter... what's your pie crust tricks and recipe??).

So here's hoping to it tasting better than it looks.

At least I did the fancy fork marks around the edge...

Close up of the disaster.

Room number one done!

The baby's room is done, well floors are in, now I'm pumped to set things up!  I love the look of our floors, so much!  Although I admit anything is better than the dusty plywood we've been living on for the past couple months.

Colin getting it done.

Pearl enjoying the new floors.

Things have been pretty hectic lately.  There's a bit of a rush to get things done before the snow comes... mainly because Colin wants to spend all his free time xcountry skiing, not putting in flooring.

I have signed up for a half ironman next summer.  It was such a nice feeling, I felt normal again, the idea of being able to participate once again in our normal activities, instead of feeling like I'm in this state of limbo (read pregnancy) forever.  I'm just not one of those women who love being pregnant.  At first I thought I should be enjoying every minute, but I soon realized that pregnancy for me is simply an end that justifies the means. 

Although I realize (and have actually encountered a bit of "are you crazy? or just stupid?" sentiment) it will be tough to train and have a newborn baby.  But I won't be the first one who has done it, and I don't plan on winning.  I just want to get back to doing what I love to do, train with a purpose.  Train for a race, have a goal to work towards, and have fun along the way.  I miss training and racing.  It's okay if my season back I'm not exactly "racing" I just want to be the mix again.  Plus, I have a husband who backs this 100%, who has a job where he is off 4 days out of 8, and two moms who have agreed to help out!  I'm pretty lucky! 

So far 29 weeks, and I'm still able to keep exercising.  I am still biking on my trainer (we had to flip the handle bars upside down, so I'm practically sitting straight up), I am "running" every other day, and swimming, which is the most enjoyable because its the sport I feel the most normal doing.  I have also added a pregnant yoga dvd, which I'm really enjoying, it's so strengthening and stretching, apparently it has good preparation moves for delivery.

Today, Ikea, the place to go for pretty much everything.

Cute pic of Pearl really dirty.

Day at Galveston

Yesterday we went to the beach in Galveston...

Sun hats, check.

 Sand castles, check.

 Sunglasses, check.

Being chased by seagulls for your pb sandwich, while losing your swimmers, check.

In Houston

It's hot, very hot.  When I first arrived I felt like I was sitting in front of a heater, blowing hot air on me.  It has since cooled off a bit, however.

I've been for a couple of runs, along to Bayou, early in the morning.  Running has been going well still shuffling along, in my 27th week. 

We go to the pool pretty much every day, I tried swimming, but only ended up doing about 1200m, the pool was like bath water and I was overheating.

 Me and my nephew Jack, who says he has a hotdog baby in his belly, because it's his fave food.

Sarah, Caitlin and Jack

Trail race, new stroller and other stuff

No, I did not do a trail race, I'm not that stupid, although I did hear one part of my mind saying: "I bet if I went slow enough..." 
It was Colin who raced a trail 16km in Bragg Creek.  And he did great!  He hasn't been able to do much training at all, other than just general fitness stuff, what with his fire fighting training and then renovations.  He still managed a strong third place, behind two legit fast, in-shape, runners.  It made me really want to try some trail races next year.  Seemed fun, low-key, and dirty! 

(It actually took him 1:08min, the race clock was for the marathon.)

As for me, I'm in my 26th week and things are still going along well.  I have days where I feel more pregnant than others, more tired.  I have been taking extra iron (Floradix is a natural miracle worker!) and its been getting much better. 

I totally thought it would be the running that I would be packing in first, but that has actually been getting better lately, I have had to really concentrate on my technique, leaning back more, as my weight gets front-heavy, engaging my quads and butt more than my shins. 

I have given up the bike (or trainer) lately, I find it too uncomfortable, too much pressure on my bladder and the muscles I use in my low abdomen don't feel right.  However, that said, I did check out Sara Gross' blog and saw how she rigged her trainer as her belly got bigger, so I'm trying to find something to raise my bike front up.  BTW, Sara Gross, is my new heroine, she had a baby about 8 months ago and managed to finish 4th at Ironman Canada this summer!  That is amazing!  She is my inspiration and motivation, that racing for me might not be out of the question next summer.  Colin has already signed up for IM Canada, which makes me very excited. 

Yesterday was my birthday, and I got to spend it with my parents, who have just arrived from Ottawa, and have officially moved to Calgary.  We all had a nice breakfast, then we went out and they bought our new stroller.  Gotta love the BOB revolution, it's going to keep me running with baby and Pearl!



Not the best pic... it's a dark plum colour.





And here is a pic of our little princess trying to find a place to sleep amidst our messy renos.  She truly is the cutest dog ever!



Renos have started!

Tip:

If you're planning some renos, get pregnant...

"Well, I would love to help you scrape off that stiple and re-paint but..... I'm pregnant, so instead I'll walk the dog and read my book in the backyard."

Looks good Colin!

Elbow River trail hike

The other we went for a nice afternoon hike, and it was very nice!  I had gone for a swim in the morning and wasn't expecting to go hiking, but it was such a nice day!  The weather was very very hot, but we took it slow, or I took it slow and Colin was patient.  It's amazing how out of breath a little bit of hiking up some hills made me. 

View from up top on the Elbow River

After about 3 hours of hiking we made it to the river, and Pearl couldn't have been more thankful for cold water!  Me too...

We ended with a little picnic of jam and honey sandwiches!  Needless that night I was completely tuckered out ... making a baby can really take it out of you!