Have NO Time to Write (or think) But Here's Some Pics!

It's equally as wierd to be totally surprised by your baby by his being born early and through your vagina when you are not prepared for that at all!!

Welcome my son!! Roland David Liam Judge (who will go by Liam Judge in most instances...) was born on June 2nd at 6:38pm after a looong, crazy labour. He was 8 lbs 3 oz (just like his momma was) and looks like a little elf.

Thanks everyone for the well-wishes! My vagina and I are a little overwhelmed but coping...have no time in between wiping up poop, being drained by my little milk-vampire and am barely functioning on 4 hrs sleep/night...but we'll git r dun. Will post pics as soon as I have a second (hah!) to get my usb cord replaced!! Liam says "s'up" and "do you have a boob?"

It's Sorta Strange to Know Your Baby's Exact Birthday...

So apparently the Howard-Judge baby will be here within the hour of 1pm on Friday, June 5th, 2009...

Ready or not, Mommy here it come!!

Nursery Befores & Afters

Babies and Showers and Nurseries...OH MY!

Shower thrown by Steph, Melissa & Sandra...Mother's Day 2009

More Belly Pics!

I made Brenden do a photoshoot for our Mom's Mother's Day Gifts...the vein in his forehead isn't popping out, so maybe he enjoyed himself...though I did have to endure him talking to me through it like a "Russian Supermodel"...

34 weeks and growing...

Whoa!!!

...And I Don't Really Even Like Change...

Within a month I have "retired" from the job I've held throughout the last 7 years of my 20's...am leaving my 20's and turning 30...and am having a baby for the first time.

But I can't have any alcohol, chocolate, or even a nice - relaxing - sauna in order to deal with these big changes.

And God forbid I don't get up at least 3 times a night to pee (thus, not being able to actually sleep through the night before I'm forced not-to).

So this is why women-folk got pregant earlier in the olden days...so they could turn 30 with the aid of alcohol & chocolate!

If I Could Get On To My Hands and Knees, I Would Lick Our Beautiful, Newly-Restored Hardwood Floors in the Nursery!

Or, perhaps I shall name the baby Earl, of Earl's Carpentry (Thunder Bay yellow pages)...Brenden phoned this particular number because his add says "Just go Floor It!"

So we listened and he gave us an amazing price and the floors glisten with golden glints of sunshine and I love them. Thank you to Earl and the Easter Bunny. I can now begin the nursey of all nurseries!!! Before and afters soon to come!

7 pounds

This week, I gained 7 lbs. in 7 days. Wow. This puts me dangerously close to weighing more than my giant husband. Not cool.

Pregnant and "Barefoot"...

Someone stole my favorite preggers boots from outside the Maternity Centre.

They were my favorite, slip-on go-to boots that I wore all winter as I could almost get them on all by myself without grunting too much or help from Brenden.

And now, they are gone. The Maternity Centre makes you take off your shoes outside the door (lest they dirty the baby-friendly floor), but there is a clearly marked sign; Maternity Centre by the removed shoes that clearly indicates that they belong to pregnant ladies/new mothers.

So who, I ask, steals shoes from pregnant shoe-lovers??

When or if I ever find out, I assure you they will regret taking mine...and let them hope it's not when I still have all these hormones surging through me (see previous entry re: dreaming about stabbing my husband...)

I tell you, this baby better come out AWESOME...so far I've given up beer, sushi, sugar, sleep and shoes for it, and most of you are aware these are most of my favorite things.

Does this mean I can no longer have a fried persian for breakfast??

I'm not sure why I didn't think I'd end up with gestational diabetes given my genetics (and, ummm, maybe some bad eating habits, occasionally...) but, I didn't really.

Not that I "officially" have it -yet- but I've been told to go and see the Diabetes Health people and to watch my (sniff) sugar intake, based on my blood glucose tolerance test and my family's health history...

...so good-bye Sugar, I will miss the time we've spent together. I assume I will see you (and Beer) the moment beloved child leaves my womb. (This is a hint to bring sugar and beer to Labour and Delivery to all those that will be there.) ...to help with breastfeeding of course.

Luckily She's Really Nice, Too...

Congratulations to my friends Jana and Pete who had a baby girl -Joely Ella Margaret Angus - on March 11th!!

Here's a picture of Jana walking with Joely in Elliot Lake (where they live). Yes, that's Jana, only mere days after giving birth, looking as if she was never even pregnant in the first place.

Umm Hmm. Luckily she's really nice or else us fat pregnant ladies would have to hate her.

...did I mention she also gave birth on her due date, exactly?? I bet it didn't even hurt, did Jana??

But I really am very happy for them and not as bitter as I sound!!

This St. Paddy's Day I really do have a "little" Irish in me!!

The "Reality" of birth

Everyday I watch "A Baby Story" from 2-4pm on TLC...and everyday I am horrified at the labour part and than I weep when the baby is (finally) born.

Almost 6 months

Here's some pictures taken when I was about 6 months from the photography course I took in Jan/Feb...we were practising portraiture with classic butterfly lighting...

Your days of leisure and sleeping in are OVER, lady!!

The other day Brenden and I were having a nice little sleep-in cuddle (enjoying our last weeks of "freedom and irresponsibility") and we were spooning with his back to mine. As usual, the baby was kicking up a storm (it does this late-night and early morning - basically mostly at times when it would be really nice to sleep- to remind me that it is now in control of my leisure time.)...and suddenly Brenden turns over and says: "Uhhhh! I can't sleeeeep. The baby keeps kicking me in the back!"

Oh. Poor Daddy. Did the baby kick you once in the back?? Awwwww...

Try having it pummel you in the gut/bladder/ribs every time you want to sleep/watch tv/eat chocolate/watch a movie in the theatre/update your blog...

But, obviously, I am grateful for every kick in the gut. It just makes it more clearly understood that this baby is already it's own person even though it's still technically a part of me!

And as for the location of that placenta, as of my latest dr. appointment (yesterday) it is still covering the baby's exit out of my uterus...but no c-section appointment has been made yet, and no bleeding has occurred!

I'm getting VERY large for the "cute" 6-months pregnant stage...I look the same as my friend Jana who is currently 39 weeks!

Scary! Here comes PREGZILLA!

On a lighter note:

Anouther great quote:

"A friend of mine claims that after giving birth she can now hear her labia clapping together as she walks down the hall. And it's not in appreciation."

(Same book as below, on how your body changes after birth!)

Willing my placenta to move

Just a shout-out to all my friends & family that follow: I would really appreciate it if you could take a moment, mentally picture my placenta in my uterus (;)) and with the power of your mind, will it to move away from my cervix. Greatly appreciated, as I am hoping to avoid bed-rest, a c-section, historectomy and/or death.

Sorry: I'm hormonal and a little dramatic...

More belly pix...

Shocking and Horrifying News from the Doctor!

Brace yourself.

Doctor Fulford informed me of something today...

She said that before pregnancy she had size 6 feet. After pregnancy her feet had grown - permanently - to a size 8!!!

This could happen to me.

My beautiful, dainty size 7's could expand permanently to 8's or...9's!!!

What would happen to all my lovelies?? (My shoes)...

I will have to have A Great Shoe Sale.

...Good news for all you friends/family members with size 7's!
In the meantime I will wish and hope for a happy, healthy baby. And non-expansion of my pretty lil' tootsies!!

(No matter what, no one will ever get me Choos - I would sooner bronze them like a baby-bootie than sell them.)

Some New Belly Pix!! (Photographer: Me!!!)

Good quote...

"Pregnancy is like being in an airplane:
A little bit boring but not entirely unpleasant, and at least you get to sit down a lot. But if you really stopped to think about what was really happening under the bland surface of the ride, sheer terror would immobilize you. Luckily you get by with a feeling of general anxiety mixed with excitement as to what this new destination has in store for you."

...from one of my many pregnancy-themed books: The Mask of Motherhood by Susan Maushart

Technology is amazing!

Sooo cool!

20 week ultrasound...

It looks like a boy. (Not because anyone with training or authority told me so, but it looks like one to me. ...and Brenden and I are convinced the tech made a "gender" slip by saying (maybe) "and that's his such and such...)

I'll deal.

This ultrasound was amazing!! I'd be like (in my head) 'Ohhhh...look at it's cute feet!' And the tech would be like (out loud): ..."and that's the kidneys."

Or what I thought was the skull still had changed to it's lips and nose...which, by the way, look perfect. ...skull-like, but perfect!!

Some exciting/creepy ultrasound pics!!