I'm (we're) baaaaaack!!

So, 10 months later I've decided to jump back into this whole "Mommyblogging" thing. (Ugh. HATE the word "mommyblogger"...it conjures up visions of ladies with $500 strollers in thier Juicy sweatpants ignoring thier children's cries for attention while they sit at the computer and spew out thier opinion on Baby Uggs and formula use.) But: that is what this is, and I've been inspired by the lady I would marry if I was a lesbian and we both were single; Heather Armstrong. She wrote a brilliant book on baby-having that had me in tears the first couple weeks of Liam's life (which was really, really not a hard feat to accomplish...) as I read her brilliantness and cried out "Oh! I KNOW! I KNOW! Oh! THIS is my life!" and she hosts a website www.dooce.com that I follow everyday because she makes me laugh everyday. She also takes amazing photographs, and basically, if she ever gets into cake-making she'll be my all-time idle. If someone ever asks the question "What person, dead or alive, would you most want to sit down and have a drink with" my answer would be "Heather Armstrong"...as long as my Mom/dadstill living!! Heather's been on Oprah . If she were Canadian she would have won the Stanley Cup and owned Molson breweries (but I would only like her for the beer thing).

So back I am. I know no one really reads this except my Mom and Dad (thanks Mom & Dad) but it's sort of theraputic and if it sits out in Internet World for eternity or whatever...well, maybe Liam will read it one day, or maybe it will become lucrative when I become a famous cake maker and people will say: "Oh! The famous cake-maker/photographer extrordnaire Raeghan Howard Judge has a MommyBlog (barf) and we should advertise our stuff on it!! She doesn't spell very well and she sort of gives out way too much information, but her cakes and photos are great!"...

...or not. Maybe Liam will just go: "My Mom's such a dork"

...or I'll look back and go: "I had waaaay too much time on my hands with 1 kid."

So, as I re-enter the workforce because my cake-making and photo-taking talents have yet to be refined i figured I'll start blogging again since well, you know, a kid and part-time work isn't enough to do.

And no, it's NOT cuz I'm pregnant again.

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...