Whoops! I did it again, bad blogger. But hey cut me some slack; I bought a house, moved, bought a new car, was a bridesmaid in two weddings and am trying to figure out the whole juggling a baby and getting stuff done thing.
I might ad that my macbook is on its last legs and likes to freeze, shut down randomly and the battery can hardly hold a charge, looks like I need to save up for a new one soon.
So lets get back to whats been going on since my April and May favorites. So the last time I checked in May was coming to an end, Mike and I were looking for a house and Everly was 3 months old. Well a lot has happened, let me tell you! On the house front Mike and I purchased our first house! I was very nervous at first, scared we made the wrong choice and I was going to hate it, but its starting to feel more and more like a home. Plus it is our starter, with plenty of jobs for Mike to tinker away at and we don't have to stay here forever. Our offer was accepted in June and we moved in at the beginning of August. We purchased a semi-detached 3 bedroom raised bungalow. Our kitchen and laundry room need the most work. We also have purple (yes purple) carpet on the lower floor. That will be ripped up and replaced with a nice laminate....eventually. We also need to do quite a bit of yard maintenance and landscaping. All these things will come in time - which I need to keep reminding myself. I'm such a type A personality that I need and want things done right away, my husband likes to remind me that we need to save up money for these projects first! He keeps me grounded.
I had the pleasure of being in two weddings this year. my sister-in-law's on June 21st and a couple of best friends Eric & Nicole's on October 4th. So I have also been busy with bridal showers and wedding festivities. Everly was just a young thing at 4 months old for my sister-in-laws wedding, which was a little difficult. My mom and dad attended the wedding and babysat for me for the whole day. By the reception Everly had had enough she was tried, hot and extremely un-happy. Thank goodness for a Grandma who didn't mind comforting her granddaughter while I looked on helplessly from the head table. For Eric and Nicole's wedding, Everly being 8 months old and Mike not being in the wedding helped a lot. Mike and Everly came along with me while we got ready with the bridal party. For the photos and reception Mike and my parents did a wonderful job keeping Everly happy and fed. Plus she loved all the attention from other guests.
Just a week after we moved into our new house in August I bought a new SUV! My first car was a gorgeous black Cruze LT Turbo with black and red leather interior, it was loaded and it was wonderful! However it is not a family car, and not conducive to a new mother with arthritis in her back. So I made the decision to wholly embraced motherhood and traded my car in for a Pontiac Torrent. Smooth ride, lots of room and am loving I don't have to kill myself getting the stroller in and out of the back. I know, I'm such a mom.
Perfect segway into a baby update! Everly started rolling over, back to stomach and stomach to back. She absolutely LOVES jumping into her jolly jumper. She moved into her own room (much to my dismay). She has vocalized "mama, dada, bubba bubba, hi" and a lot of other random babbling. She doesn't know she's saying anything but it excites us none the less. She has also started on solids and I'm trying to get the whole weaning process started, but its kind of hard and confusing mostly because its so easy and convenient to put on her a boob. TMI?....ANYWAY. Everly's crazy, sneaky, adorable little personality has been growing day by day and I'm so excited for what the rest of this year is going to hold. I think she's about ready to crawl any time now.
Other than that just trying to love life and enjoy every moment these days. Our first thanksgiving with Everly is coming up and we also celebrated our 3rd Wedding Anniversary in August, Mike's 25th birthday in August and my 24th birthday in August as well. It was a great summer and went by way to fast! Now that fall is officially here and Everly it getting on a decent routine I can finally start putting some effort into the whole blogging thing. We'll see, I probably shouldn't make any promises....
Next up will be a home decor post I believe!
See you later!
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Friday, May 23, 2014
Favorites April and May 2014
A few favorites from the last couple months. Theres quite a few things I've been loving that I've picked up lately. I haven't had a chance to get a whole haul at once because Mike and I are saving for a house and have a new baby to pay for, but these are just some things I've been enjoying lately.
Bio-Oil; Bio-Oil Website
I didn't actually buy this, I had been planning to use this on the stretch marks that have made their way onto my hips from pregnancy, but hadn't gotten around to picking any up. My mother-in-law who is going to school to be a nurse practitioner picked this up for me at a conference. It hasn't faded my stretch marks yet but I've only been using it for about a week. I'm excited to see how this works.
Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief; Sephora Clinique Mositure Surge
I started using the Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + when I got pregnant and my skin really dried out. I love that lotion but this gel formula from Clinique is amazing if your skin needs some intense moisture or to simply use as a night cream like I have been using. I love it and will continue to use religiously.
Dove Oxygen Moisture Leave In Foam; for fine flat hair, delicately moisturizes and gives light hold;
I've been anxious to try the new Dove line for some time now, but I've got a ton of haircare products from when I worked at the salon. While I was at the drugstore not to long ago picking up some new Dove shampoo all their styling products were on sale so I grabbed this one. It's been pretty good, very light weight, gives good volume and doesn't make my hair feel dirty like some heavy styling products do. So far so good, I haven't been using for too long but I like it enough to buy again.
The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder 01 Light Matte; Honey Bronzing Powder
I've been on a hunt for a nice bronzer that isn't too muddy or orangey for my fair skin. This bronzer from the Body Shop has been perfect for me. It gives me enough of a bronzy glow without making it look obviously fake and over dramatic. It's great lightly swept under my cheek bones and on my neck or built up for some serious contouring. This is going to be my go to bronzer for a while.
Maybelline Master Hi-Light 10 Nude; Maybelline Website
These fancy little hi-light blushes from Maybelline have been all the rage in the beauty blogging world lately, and for good reason! This blush/hi-light/bronzer is fantastic. It has a great little shimmer that isn't too shimmery or glittery just gives that perfect glow. Much like The Body Shop bronzer. I don't like to build this up too much because my skin is so crazy pale, but this gives me a nice healthy glow.
Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara 57; Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara
I picked this up at Winners, I know what a score! It was only like $20, I love Winners. I will ambit now I've never owned any Chanel makeup, I know I know I'm a disgrace to the beauty community. But there are no Chanel counters in my city and I'm very rarely in Toronto...without my husband...and I can very rarely justify spending a lot of money on makeup to him, as I'm sure is the case for many wives. Anyways, I actually didn't know this mascara was blue until I opened the package when I got home but I LOVE it. I've never really ventured beyond black for my mascara but this is amazing if you're wanting an extra pop of color while doing a neutral eye. Its very subtle and you can only really tell it's blue in certain lighting. The formulation is beautiful and not clumpy at all. So I now know why people love Chanel makeup so much...I wish there was a counter closer to me, or that they would ship to Canada!
Essie Nailpolish in Cute as a Button (left) and Go Ginza (right); Essie
I'm a nail polish snob, I only like using Essie nail polish right now. So these are the colors I'm loving for spring and summer. Goes on beautifully in two coats and lasts about a week without chipping too much.
Milani Baked Blush 01 Dolce Pink; Milani Blush
This is the first Milani product I've tried. I like it but it's very, very pigmented. You just need the tiniest bit on your brush to give you a beautiful pink cheek. It will definitely last me a long time.
The Body Shop Vitamin E Body Butter and Eye Cream; Vitamin E Products
I had been looking for something to help with my stretch marks and dry skin after having Everly. I first picked up the body butter and I was in heaven. So smooth, so moisturizing! Not crazy about the smell but it's not too strong or over powering which is good. A few weeks later I picked up the eye cream. I've never really had a problem with my eyes and never really used an eye cream before, but after being a new mom and not getting much sleep I noticed those dreaded dark circles and so here we are. I'm loving the eye cream, a little goes a long way.
The Body Shop Honeymania Body Butter; Honeymania
I got this in a tote bag full of goodies for mother's day. I bought one of the bags with my purchase, and split up the contents for my mom and mother in law to go with their mother's day gifts and kept this lovely little treasure for myself. Smells amazing and feels great. I'm definitely a Body Shop lover now!
Honest Company Diaper Bundle; Honest Diaper Bundle
I did it, I jumped on the Honest bandwagon and I'm loving every second of it. After the first month with Everly and spending way too much money on boxes of Pampers diapers and wipes I decided to do a little research. I had been originally interested in the Honest diaper bundle and their company/products and the whole eco friendly thing, but I didn't want to be paying too much money for shipping/handling and the exchange rate. But it turns out that the Honest monthly bundle is cheaper than buying Pampers in store! And boy was I happy to hear that! I love the selection of diapers - my favorite are the ones with the large purple flowery things (far left). And the wipes are great! Not too wet and the quilted texture is great for that extra clean up for the dreaded blowouts....
The Honest Life by Jessica Alba; The Honest Life
along with my first bundle I purchased Jessica Alba's book. It was a great read, and definitely handy to have around on the coffee table when you need more information on safe products, recipes and just to flip through. I found it very interesting and informative. As a new mom I'm definitely concerned about doing whats best for my baby. I want to use safe products for my baby and this book gives you all the information you need about making informed decisions, and it doesn't make you feel guilty! A great read if you're interested in learning what the Honest company is all about. I will absolutely be purchasing some of her bath and body and cleaning products.
There you have it, my favorites for the past month or two. I will hopefully start doing this on a more regular basis and starting to set up a youtube channel soon as well!
See you next time!
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Slacker
I'm bad, very bad at this whole blogging thing. I admit it, I've been slacking, using the whole "new baby" excuse....okay, okay, but at least I'm here trying to make an effort now right?
Everly is 3 months old and we've settled into somewhat of a routine, she usually goes down for a nap in the afternoon that honestly could last anywhere from 40mins-2 hours (if I'm lucky!). She's laying in her sleeper next to me (thank God for a baby that can sleep in a noisy room!) and every once and a while I'll notice her little eyes flutter open or she'll squeal and my heart stops a bit. The worst is when I'm in the middle of a mountain of a task, such as folding piles of laundry or washing stacks of dishes, and then I hear the squeaks which inevitably turn into crying which means "I need a diaper change and then you need to feed me!". But I can't complain she's a beautiful, healthy, silly, great baby and I'm honored to be her mother. She's taught me a lot about myself and life in such a short time.
I'm going to give sort of a quick overview of what's been going on in our lives these past 3 months. They have been exhausting, exhilarating, rewarding and the happiest months of my life. Everly was born in February and you can read all about that labour and delivery experience in my previous blog post. The first few weeks of being a new mom were definitely and obviously the hardest. It was like going through culture shock, I kept thinking to myself oh the weekend is coming up I get to sleep in - NOPE, forget about sleep for a few months you've got a baby that needs to be fed, rocked, burped and most importantly loved. One thing motherhood taught me was that I'm incredibly selfish, guilty, I'm a selfish human being and being a mom you've got to throw your problems out the window. The world doesn't revolve around me, it never has, I may have just been blinded to it before. I will admit to wishing and praying for an extra hour of sleeping, grumbling to myself when she woke up while I was in the middle of a deep sleep, maybe secretly (okay not secretly) wishing my husband could lactate for just one day so he could feed her throughout the night and maybe resenting him a little for being able to sleep through all her noises and cries throughout the night.
Week one was hard, as I knew it would be, I desperately wanted to go home from the hospital but Everly's jaundice was on the verge of being bad and it was causing her not to be interested in breastfeeding. I will say I have NO shame anymore, I don't know how many differently people checked my "swelling and stitches", asked if I'd had a bowel movement and touched my boobs. The nurses at Lakeridge hospital are fantastic and helped Mike and I out with a lot. I did think my motherly instincts would kick in more and the crazy change in hormones made me a basket case. We took Everly to our family doctor the day after we were discharged from the hospital, he wasn't concerned about her jaundice but wanted us back the next week to check her weight. She started breastfeeding and started gaining weight! Oh joy! Little did I know next we'd venture into the dreaded Thrush....we've had it going on 11 weeks now....what a pain in the butt that is! We've tried nystatin, two rounds of gentian violet, I've had canesten cream and been prescribed diflucan, I've rubbed coconut oil, baking soda and vinegar on my nipples (TMI?) and yet it's sticking around. I've come to the conclusion we'll have it until I'm done breastfeeding her....it will go away eventually.
Everly started smiling at 5 weeks old and that made EVERYTHING, the sleepless nights, the crying, the blowouts, everything, worth it. Seeing her smiling up at me literally made my heart burst. Okay not literally, that would be bad. Now if we could only get her to start laughing. She has giggled once, just once, for Mike. She's rolled over twice since Mother's Day and is now actually starting to talk to us and grasp at things. She's also started to feel the pressure from her teeth and starting to chew on things and get rosy cheeks. And she's starting to sleep an average of 7 hours a night! HOORAY!
But I digress, I doubt you're interested in every single event in Everly's life...I'm just here to say I've grown more in three months than I ever thought I would. I'm changing every day as Everly has been changing and I can't wait to see what the future has in store.
I promise, pinky promise, that I'll do better. I'll write more I swear. I actually have a post coming up on my current favorites beauty and skincare products. Mike and I have been watching a lot of Shaytards, Sacconejolys and hannahmaggs on youtube and we've decided to start vloging. Just for ourselves and to make sure we get these precious moments caught on film. I think we'll start that when we move into our new house, we can chronicle home rennos, and our growing baby girl!
Thanks for baring with me, expect more from me coming up soon....I know I always say that but I actually mean it this time.
*She says while crossing her fingers*
Everly is 3 months old and we've settled into somewhat of a routine, she usually goes down for a nap in the afternoon that honestly could last anywhere from 40mins-2 hours (if I'm lucky!). She's laying in her sleeper next to me (thank God for a baby that can sleep in a noisy room!) and every once and a while I'll notice her little eyes flutter open or she'll squeal and my heart stops a bit. The worst is when I'm in the middle of a mountain of a task, such as folding piles of laundry or washing stacks of dishes, and then I hear the squeaks which inevitably turn into crying which means "I need a diaper change and then you need to feed me!". But I can't complain she's a beautiful, healthy, silly, great baby and I'm honored to be her mother. She's taught me a lot about myself and life in such a short time.
I'm going to give sort of a quick overview of what's been going on in our lives these past 3 months. They have been exhausting, exhilarating, rewarding and the happiest months of my life. Everly was born in February and you can read all about that labour and delivery experience in my previous blog post. The first few weeks of being a new mom were definitely and obviously the hardest. It was like going through culture shock, I kept thinking to myself oh the weekend is coming up I get to sleep in - NOPE, forget about sleep for a few months you've got a baby that needs to be fed, rocked, burped and most importantly loved. One thing motherhood taught me was that I'm incredibly selfish, guilty, I'm a selfish human being and being a mom you've got to throw your problems out the window. The world doesn't revolve around me, it never has, I may have just been blinded to it before. I will admit to wishing and praying for an extra hour of sleeping, grumbling to myself when she woke up while I was in the middle of a deep sleep, maybe secretly (okay not secretly) wishing my husband could lactate for just one day so he could feed her throughout the night and maybe resenting him a little for being able to sleep through all her noises and cries throughout the night.
Week one was hard, as I knew it would be, I desperately wanted to go home from the hospital but Everly's jaundice was on the verge of being bad and it was causing her not to be interested in breastfeeding. I will say I have NO shame anymore, I don't know how many differently people checked my "swelling and stitches", asked if I'd had a bowel movement and touched my boobs. The nurses at Lakeridge hospital are fantastic and helped Mike and I out with a lot. I did think my motherly instincts would kick in more and the crazy change in hormones made me a basket case. We took Everly to our family doctor the day after we were discharged from the hospital, he wasn't concerned about her jaundice but wanted us back the next week to check her weight. She started breastfeeding and started gaining weight! Oh joy! Little did I know next we'd venture into the dreaded Thrush....we've had it going on 11 weeks now....what a pain in the butt that is! We've tried nystatin, two rounds of gentian violet, I've had canesten cream and been prescribed diflucan, I've rubbed coconut oil, baking soda and vinegar on my nipples (TMI?) and yet it's sticking around. I've come to the conclusion we'll have it until I'm done breastfeeding her....it will go away eventually.
Everly started smiling at 5 weeks old and that made EVERYTHING, the sleepless nights, the crying, the blowouts, everything, worth it. Seeing her smiling up at me literally made my heart burst. Okay not literally, that would be bad. Now if we could only get her to start laughing. She has giggled once, just once, for Mike. She's rolled over twice since Mother's Day and is now actually starting to talk to us and grasp at things. She's also started to feel the pressure from her teeth and starting to chew on things and get rosy cheeks. And she's starting to sleep an average of 7 hours a night! HOORAY!
But I digress, I doubt you're interested in every single event in Everly's life...I'm just here to say I've grown more in three months than I ever thought I would. I'm changing every day as Everly has been changing and I can't wait to see what the future has in store.
I promise, pinky promise, that I'll do better. I'll write more I swear. I actually have a post coming up on my current favorites beauty and skincare products. Mike and I have been watching a lot of Shaytards, Sacconejolys and hannahmaggs on youtube and we've decided to start vloging. Just for ourselves and to make sure we get these precious moments caught on film. I think we'll start that when we move into our new house, we can chronicle home rennos, and our growing baby girl!
Thanks for baring with me, expect more from me coming up soon....I know I always say that but I actually mean it this time.
*She says while crossing her fingers*
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Labour and Delivery Story
Sorry I've been AWAL for so long, my precious baby girl Everly Grace Hicks was born on February 18th and the weeks leading up to it have been crazy and the days since as well.
As I take advantage of Everly’s precious nap time I thought I’d write a little post about my experience with her labour and delivery. This is for any of you curious folks out there - I know I was very curious/anxious about labour and delivery and read a lot of others experiences.
One week ago today I was in labour - how crazy is that!?
Disclaimer - this post may have a little too much detail for you to handle!
I had a feeling she was going to make an early appearance. I was 38 +5 Weeks along and feeling more and more exhausted and anxious every day. The night of February 17th there was a snowstorm and I wasn’t feeling too good. My Braxton Hicks contractions were becoming much stronger and more regular and every time I went to the bathroom I was paranoid that my water had broken and I didn’t know about it. I made sure my “going to the hospital” outfit was ready and our hospital bags were packed and ready to go.
I actually managed to get a few hours of deep sleep that night - which was a rarity for me, still is! - I woke up at 3am after the power flickered. I got up to turn our fan back on, went to the bathroom and got back into bed. Half an hour later the power flickered again and Mike actually woke up this time. Just as I was about to get out of bed, my water broke with a gush. I soaked through my pajamas and conveniently managed to miss the towel I had been sleeping on and instead hit the newly changed sheets - of course!
I actually managed to get a few hours of deep sleep that night - which was a rarity for me, still is! - I woke up at 3am after the power flickered. I got up to turn our fan back on, went to the bathroom and got back into bed. Half an hour later the power flickered again and Mike actually woke up this time. Just as I was about to get out of bed, my water broke with a gush. I soaked through my pajamas and conveniently managed to miss the towel I had been sleeping on and instead hit the newly changed sheets - of course!
Mike got up with a jump, phoned the hospital and got everything arranged. Normally you don’t go to the hospital as soon as your water breaks anymore, you wait for contractions to be 5minutes apart. But I tested positive for Group B Strep which is a bacteria that lives in the birth canal which isn’t harmful to me but can be very dangerous if baby comes in contact with it. Because of that reason, as soon as your water breaks you need to be put on a round of antibiotics every 4 hours until the baby is born and you can’t labour for very long.
We hugged my parents, Misha and brother and sister goodbye and headed out to the hospital.
When we got there we were admitted to triage where they put in my IV. I’m like terrified of medical things so I almost passed out when she was putting the IV in haha. Also I white coat every time I got my blood pressure done - which was a lot!
While we were in triage things started to get VERY busy in the birthing unit. Two ladies were delivering at the same time around 5am, and more and more women we filing up triage. I was eager to get my contractions started and Mike and I decided to walk. We walked in circles in the halls for hours taking breaks when the nurses needed to see me or if I needed to use the bathroom. Around 9am the doctor came to see us. Lucky for me my OBGYN was on that day! She checked and saw that I was 4cm dilated! If anything got the labour process sped up I think it was her checking my cervix. Shortly after we met our nurse for the day Sarah (who was beyond fantastic), and she brought us to our birthing suite! Finally a room for myself! I had been getting pretty frustrated being cooped up in triage!
As soon as we got into the room I told the nurse it was getting to be time for me to have my epidural. About an hour later I was sitting up, terrified, shaking and trying to breathe through my contractions whilst not focusing too much on the pain. The Doctor was preping my back for the epidural noticed my lower back being very tight and mentioned I probably have arthritis in my back. The freezing needles I didn’t really notice but the actually epidural hurt like crap! She had to move it around a couple times to get it into a comfortable position. But after that I felt much better asides from how creepy it is not being able to feel your legs very well!
We hugged my parents, Misha and brother and sister goodbye and headed out to the hospital.
When we got there we were admitted to triage where they put in my IV. I’m like terrified of medical things so I almost passed out when she was putting the IV in haha. Also I white coat every time I got my blood pressure done - which was a lot!
While we were in triage things started to get VERY busy in the birthing unit. Two ladies were delivering at the same time around 5am, and more and more women we filing up triage. I was eager to get my contractions started and Mike and I decided to walk. We walked in circles in the halls for hours taking breaks when the nurses needed to see me or if I needed to use the bathroom. Around 9am the doctor came to see us. Lucky for me my OBGYN was on that day! She checked and saw that I was 4cm dilated! If anything got the labour process sped up I think it was her checking my cervix. Shortly after we met our nurse for the day Sarah (who was beyond fantastic), and she brought us to our birthing suite! Finally a room for myself! I had been getting pretty frustrated being cooped up in triage!
As soon as we got into the room I told the nurse it was getting to be time for me to have my epidural. About an hour later I was sitting up, terrified, shaking and trying to breathe through my contractions whilst not focusing too much on the pain. The Doctor was preping my back for the epidural noticed my lower back being very tight and mentioned I probably have arthritis in my back. The freezing needles I didn’t really notice but the actually epidural hurt like crap! She had to move it around a couple times to get it into a comfortable position. But after that I felt much better asides from how creepy it is not being able to feel your legs very well!
I had visits from my family and not much longer after that Doctor Jana came in to do another check. It was around 11:45 and I was 9 1/2cm dilated! Dr. Jana wanted me to wait a while and lay on my right side to get the baby to turn into the right position. Mike sat next to me the whole time, holding my hands and stroking my legs when thy started to shake from nerves. He was absolutely my saving grace during the whole process - still is.
As my epidural started getting stronger and stronger and creeping up further I was hoping it would be time to push. Sure enough at 1:30pm we were given the go ahead to start pushing. The nurse and Mike had to physically move my 95% limp body into the right position and I started pushing. Little did I know that my mom was standing just outside the door the whole time listening and trying not to intrude. After a while the nurse called for Dr. Jana and a birthing nurse and so many people flooded the room, the lights turned on and I started pushing harder and harder. Dr. Jana told me mom was just outside and I told her she could come in if she wanted. She stood next to Mike and helped me through the last few pushes. The hardest part was the shoulders I think, her head got a little stuck but once that was out I was so exhausted. But at 3:59pm I heard Mike say “It’s a girl! We have a girl Christine!” They plopped her slimy white screaming body on my chest and I just sat there in awe and exhaustion. I couldn’t believe it! Not long after that they took her to get clean and checked out as Dr. Jana and a nurse proceeded to get out the placenta and stitch up my tearing - gross!
As my epidural started getting stronger and stronger and creeping up further I was hoping it would be time to push. Sure enough at 1:30pm we were given the go ahead to start pushing. The nurse and Mike had to physically move my 95% limp body into the right position and I started pushing. Little did I know that my mom was standing just outside the door the whole time listening and trying not to intrude. After a while the nurse called for Dr. Jana and a birthing nurse and so many people flooded the room, the lights turned on and I started pushing harder and harder. Dr. Jana told me mom was just outside and I told her she could come in if she wanted. She stood next to Mike and helped me through the last few pushes. The hardest part was the shoulders I think, her head got a little stuck but once that was out I was so exhausted. But at 3:59pm I heard Mike say “It’s a girl! We have a girl Christine!” They plopped her slimy white screaming body on my chest and I just sat there in awe and exhaustion. I couldn’t believe it! Not long after that they took her to get clean and checked out as Dr. Jana and a nurse proceeded to get out the placenta and stitch up my tearing - gross!
Family came in a saw my precious little angel, Everly Grace Hicks, and then we started working on breastfeeding. She didn’t get interested in breastfeeding until day 4. That night Mike and I didn’t get much sleep, we were overwhelmed with the whole day and the fact that we had this little life to care for. I was in a lot of pain and thank goodness Mike stayed, he did the first diaper change, helped me get and around console Everly while she cried.
The next couple days were really hard, we had to stay at the hospital for 48 hours because of the potential for her to be infected by the GBS and then she was also a little bit jaundice so they wanted to watch that.
Day two and three I spent most of the day crying. No one warns you about the crazy immediate change in hormones after birth. And I had a touch of the ‘baby blues”. I wasn’t sad she was born, I was overjoyed, but I was nervous about her feeding, home sick, missing Misha, overwhelmed with everything, feeling under prepared and also very happy It was quite a confusing emotional roller coaster. Again Mike sat with me through that, encouraging me and helping me through every tear.
Night two a nurse suggested we start supplementing Everly’s food with some formula cup feeding. That was so bizarre, feeding a baby with a cup looks hilarious also. Everly didn’t like it much but at least she was getting fluids, I started using the hospital grade breast pump and expressing as much as I could to give to her as well. Day three the lactation consultant came for a visit and taught us the proper positioning and everything and encouraged us that because she was jaundice that meant she wouldn’t be too interested in eating for a few days but it would get better.
We were discharged later that day on the stipulation that we see our family doctor the next day to check her jaundice levels. I was so happy to be home, that night was a long one as we tried formula and breast feeding and pumping every 3 hours. Friday we saw the doctor and his amazing nurse who weren’t too concerned about her jaundice and encouraged us to continue trying to breastfeed her and if we need to we can always bottle feed, theres nothing wrong with that.
The next day after many more tears from both Everly and myself Mike suggested we put what I pump into a bottle and feed her that way instead of with a cup and with formula. We tried that and it instantly sparked her to start suckling properly now she doesn’t even need the bottle stimulation to get going! Woohoo! Breastfeeding is hard, and doesn’t come naturally, so I would encourage all new mothers to give it a good hard try, let yourself cry if you feel over whelmed and lean on support from your spouse and family and if you need to bottle or formula feed, just do it.
I’m so blessed that we’re living with my parents right now because as Mike went back to work this week my mom has been a great help with tiding things up for me, watching Everly when I need to do my own thing and encouraging me through every high and low.
Motherhood isn’t easy, but it’s the best gift I’ve ever received. I wouldn’t trade anything, not the poopy diapers, wailing fits, sleepless nights or sore nipples for the world! God has been so good to us, my labour was only 12 hours long, my baby is healthy and eating now and my support system has been my rock.
The next couple days were really hard, we had to stay at the hospital for 48 hours because of the potential for her to be infected by the GBS and then she was also a little bit jaundice so they wanted to watch that.
Day two and three I spent most of the day crying. No one warns you about the crazy immediate change in hormones after birth. And I had a touch of the ‘baby blues”. I wasn’t sad she was born, I was overjoyed, but I was nervous about her feeding, home sick, missing Misha, overwhelmed with everything, feeling under prepared and also very happy It was quite a confusing emotional roller coaster. Again Mike sat with me through that, encouraging me and helping me through every tear.
Night two a nurse suggested we start supplementing Everly’s food with some formula cup feeding. That was so bizarre, feeding a baby with a cup looks hilarious also. Everly didn’t like it much but at least she was getting fluids, I started using the hospital grade breast pump and expressing as much as I could to give to her as well. Day three the lactation consultant came for a visit and taught us the proper positioning and everything and encouraged us that because she was jaundice that meant she wouldn’t be too interested in eating for a few days but it would get better.
We were discharged later that day on the stipulation that we see our family doctor the next day to check her jaundice levels. I was so happy to be home, that night was a long one as we tried formula and breast feeding and pumping every 3 hours. Friday we saw the doctor and his amazing nurse who weren’t too concerned about her jaundice and encouraged us to continue trying to breastfeed her and if we need to we can always bottle feed, theres nothing wrong with that.
The next day after many more tears from both Everly and myself Mike suggested we put what I pump into a bottle and feed her that way instead of with a cup and with formula. We tried that and it instantly sparked her to start suckling properly now she doesn’t even need the bottle stimulation to get going! Woohoo! Breastfeeding is hard, and doesn’t come naturally, so I would encourage all new mothers to give it a good hard try, let yourself cry if you feel over whelmed and lean on support from your spouse and family and if you need to bottle or formula feed, just do it.
I’m so blessed that we’re living with my parents right now because as Mike went back to work this week my mom has been a great help with tiding things up for me, watching Everly when I need to do my own thing and encouraging me through every high and low.
Motherhood isn’t easy, but it’s the best gift I’ve ever received. I wouldn’t trade anything, not the poopy diapers, wailing fits, sleepless nights or sore nipples for the world! God has been so good to us, my labour was only 12 hours long, my baby is healthy and eating now and my support system has been my rock.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Pregnancy Must Haves and Tips!
I thought I'd write a little post about the Must Haves and some tips for your first pregnancy! Now that I'm nearing the end of my first pregnancy I think I've accumulated enough information and experience that I feel like it's my duty to share them with you.
1. Stretch Mark Cream
With the expanding of your mid region comes every woman's worst nightmare - stretch marks. While some women don't get them, others will find them showing up right away. I've been fortunate enough to avoid stretch marks on my belly as of now (33 weeks in) but I've noticed a few on my hips and on my breasts (which isn't a surprise because I had tiny boobs before I got pregnant). There are a lot of different lotions and creams on the market specifically targeted towards pregnant women and stretch marks, so you just need to find out what works for you. When I first went into a Thyme Maternity clothing store the clerk suggested I try out their brand of stretch mark cream and I've never looked back.
Thyme Maternity is a clothing store here in Canada (they also have small sections in Babies R Us in America). Their Soothing Therapy Protect Stretch Mark Cream sells for $20 but they always have a buy 2 get 1 free promotion on. They have a line of skin care products which include Breast Cream (which I also use), Leg Gel and Nipple Cream. The scent is a little strong but it doesn't linger and hasn't bothered me and I've had quite the issue with strong smells this pregnancy.
1. Stretch Mark Cream
With the expanding of your mid region comes every woman's worst nightmare - stretch marks. While some women don't get them, others will find them showing up right away. I've been fortunate enough to avoid stretch marks on my belly as of now (33 weeks in) but I've noticed a few on my hips and on my breasts (which isn't a surprise because I had tiny boobs before I got pregnant). There are a lot of different lotions and creams on the market specifically targeted towards pregnant women and stretch marks, so you just need to find out what works for you. When I first went into a Thyme Maternity clothing store the clerk suggested I try out their brand of stretch mark cream and I've never looked back.
Thyme Maternity is a clothing store here in Canada (they also have small sections in Babies R Us in America). Their Soothing Therapy Protect Stretch Mark Cream sells for $20 but they always have a buy 2 get 1 free promotion on. They have a line of skin care products which include Breast Cream (which I also use), Leg Gel and Nipple Cream. The scent is a little strong but it doesn't linger and hasn't bothered me and I've had quite the issue with strong smells this pregnancy.
2. Maternity Pillow
Sleeping well and pregnancy don't usually go hand in hand, especially when you're belly is gigantic and everything hurts. Investing in a good pregnancy pillow (body pillow or wedge) is a great idea. I personally love my Snoogle, a crescent shaped body pillow. I've always had hip pain and my chiropractor suggested I sleep with a pillow between my legs. I purchased this at Babies R Us for $60 and it has been well worth it. It comes with a white pillow case but they sell patterned ones for $20-$30 which I picked up as well. If you don't like this, I've heard a wedge shaped pillow works wonders as well for putting behind your back as you sleep or even under your growing belly for a little extra support.
3. Maternity Underwear
Most of you pregnant ladies will notice sore breasts as early as the first trimester. Purchasing a maternity bra or two will definitely feel more comfortable than a push up bra, although they don't look quite as sexy. I went into Thyme and got measured for a maternity bra (usually the general rule they use is one cup size up and one letter size up), this means you'll be able to grow into it comfortably. Also if you have a Thyme Maternity near you their hipster underwear is ridiculously comfortable, pick up a package or two of those and you won't regret it.
4. Maternity Clothing
You'll notice you'll quickly out grow some of your more form fitting clothing, so it's a good idea to invest in a few maternity specific pieces. If you're lucky you'll still be able to wear some of your clothes so you don't have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe. I got lucky and am experiencing the largest part of my pregnancy during fall/winter so I can get away with wearing some of my old sweaters and tunics. I think the general rule is make sure you have at least one pair of maternity pants, a couple shirts and a dress or two. Also maternity sleepwear/lounge wear is great as well. I also am not currently working in an office so I don't need a lot of fancier clothing, although I did invest in a few maternity dresses to wear to church on Sundays. I would absolutely recommend you get your hands on a pair of maternity leggings from Target ($24.99), they are the Be Maternity brand and the comfiest leggings you ever will wear. Also go ahead and grab yourself a Bella Band ($19.99 Target) so you can still wear your favorite pair of pants/jeans.
5. Morning Sickness Relief
I was lucky enough to experience terrible nausea and morning sickness right from the get go. Nausea started at 4 weeks and the actually vomiting started at 6. Some of you will experience morning sickness at specific times in the day, if you're like me it will last all day or you won't feel it at all. There are many things you can do to help relieve this symptom such as drinking water with lemon, snacking through out the day instead of eating a big meal at one, eating soda crackers, drinking ginger ale, sucking on hard candies like peppermint or Preggie Pop Drops etc. If your morning sickness doesn't get better and is causing you a lot of inconvenience or if like me and end up tearing your stomach lining make sure you talk to your doctor about something they can prescribe to relieve this. The thought of taking medication during my pregnancy made me feel really uneasy but after research online and talking to other mothers and my doctor I decided it was the right decision for me to get a prescription for Diclectin, which is a pill available in Canada specifically for morning sickness. I used to take one at night and one when I woke up and it would help me get through the day. As my pregnancy has progressed and my morning sickness lessened some I only have to take one at night before I go to bed. The only side effect I've noticed was that it did make me a little drowsy when I took it in the morning, but you're already tired being pregnant anyways that it didn't bother me much.
6. Massage/Chiropractors
Early on in my pregnancy I strained my lower back after a lovely morning spent bent over the toilet. I was in so much pain my husband had to help me just get around. I've always had a bit of a bad back from years of working in an office with a crappy desk chair and bad posture. I made a massage appointment and it was amazing. I've been back a few times but not since the fall (holiday season was just too busy!). I do plan on making a Prenatal Massage appointment within the next few months. Why not pamper yourself with a few massages? You're growing a human being, you should be allowed to have a great massage every once and a while.
Before I got pregnant my hips would like to pop in and out and just be a pain in the butt so I decided to start seeing my husbands chiropractor - mainly because with his benefits its free. It's good to start seeing a chiropractor early on in your pregnancy even if you don't have any immediate problems, because as you see them every few weeks they are able to see how your back/hips are responding to the bodily changes and help you should you become unaligned. They are also full of great knowledge about how your spine and muscles react to the pregnancy and full of tips and tricks on how to alleviate that annoying back ache that creeps up during the second and third trimesters. Plus if you're baby is breech there is specific things chiropractors can do to help move that baby into the head down position.
7. Food and Drink
Everyone craves different things during pregnancy and there are wonderful resources online which outline which foods are good and bad for pregnant women. While it's very important to make sure you're getting a well rounded nutritious diet you don't need to freak out and only eat vegan or organic food. I'm sure other people will argue me on this.
Make sure you're drinking a lot of water. I know it's annoying because you're already peeing every 5 minutes but hydration is very important during pregnancy. Your baby needs that water. Invest in a great water bottle and fill it up regularly! I purchased a Contigo thermos from Costco ($20.00 for 2) early on because it keeps drinks really hot or really cold and I like my water nice and cold with lots of ice! I refill it things several times a day and you can bring it with you every where you go.
If you want to have a can of coke every once and a while - go for it. Although I would be careful about your caffeine intake especially in the first trimester. Also chocolate is good, eat that chocolate. Basically it's just important to make sure you're getting a well rounded diet, you don't need to go over board either, but eat as much as you want, you've got to gain at least 20lbs....just listen to your body and your doctor or midwife.
8. Relax!
You're pregnant, you're going through changes, listen to your body and do what feels good to you. If you get winded exercising, take a break. If you feel sleepy, have a nap. If you don't feel like making dinner get your significant other to do it or order in. Try not to stress too much about labour or delivery! Milk it for all it's worth and don't feel bad for complaining every once and a while!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Goodbye 2013....Hello 2014!
Like many I've decided to write a little reflection piece on my 2013 year.
Much like every year this one had its fair share of highs and lows. We started off the new year with our puppy Misha all gimpy and casted up after having broken his leg just before Christmas. His leg was broken just above the ankle and required surgery to have a steal plate put in. After having to pay that and vet fees for appointments every two weeks for a couple months we were emotionally drained and financially drained. But happy our little guy was on the mend and I was glad for the extra cuddle time as poor Misha wasn't allowed to do too much to strain the break.
In February I started a new job. One of the most stressful jobs I think I've ever had. While I am glad to have moved on I am very grateful for the opportunity and skills I learned. In the end after many teary anxiety attacks and sleepless nights I decided it was time for a change and quit. My home based baking business was picking up a bit and I wanted extra time to focus on that and to spend with my husband and healing pup while looking for a new position with steadier full time/day time hours.
That plan didn't exactly pan out as June came quick and with it a roller coaster of emotions, nausea and a lot of quick trips to the bathroom. I remember joking with Mike "I'm peeing so much I'm either pregnant or I've got diabetes". Sure enough one afternoon we decided we might as well take a test just to rule it out. Turns out the test was positive. I was pregnant. And terrified.
Mike and I had always planned on starting a family, our plan was to wait a few more years when we were more secure financially and owned our own home. Obviously God had another plan, a better plan. So after a few tears we told our families. All have been over joyed and extremely excited for us and the new addition we'll be adding. I have to admit I was quite scared to tell our parents, not because I didn't think they would be happy for us and beyond supportive, but because I knew our financial situation wasn't exactly ideal. But they have been nothing short of wonderful throughout this whole experience.
This summer I spent the majority of my time on the couch with a bucket by my side and soda crackers at the ready. I knew my body would have a hard time with the change in hormones but wasn't expecting my morning sickness to last all day every day. The thing that scared me the most about getting pregnant was the fact that I'd have to had blood drawn regularly, and for a person whose afraid of needles and prone to passing out after receiving needles I wasn't happy! My first trip to the lab they took 9 tubes and I was not a happy camper, especially since two days later I got a call from them saying they didn't have quite enough and I needed to get more drawn. Luckily everything looked great, myself and the baby were perfectly healthy. At the beginning of August in the middle of the night on my husbands birthday I woke up to once again be sick. Although this time blood came up. It was about 3am. I went back to bed, told Mike we'd need to go to Urgent Care first thing in the morning. But after a couple more trips to the bathroom and becoming more and more worried we decided to run to our ER just incase. After waiting for about an hour we saw a doctor who preformed an ultra sound. We got to see our little nugget for the first time! 12 weeks tiny we got to see it on my husbands birthday! How cool! It was bouncing around and doing somersaults! Everything looked perfectly fine and I was diagnosed with a tear in my stomach lining and prescribed Diclectin to help with my morning sickness - it's been a life saver! As I'm 8 months along now and STILL suffering from morning sickness. We proudly displayed our first ultra sound pictures to friends and family and suddenly the whole thing became very real.
In September we decided to move out of the house we were renting. We weren't saving any money and with a very generous kind offer from my parents decided it would be the best thing for us now to move into my parents basement until we can afford our own place. It's been a major blessing or an curse probably depending on who you ask lol. Still working in saving money and slowly but surely making our way towards buying a house. Although I do have to admit a big pet peeve that's developed over the past few months is when people ask "so have you found a house yet?" Obviously we haven't because we can't afford it right now, when we have a house you will know.
In November my best friend from America decided to pay us a visit. It was amazing to see her again and catch up. It honestly feels like we see each other everyday, I wish we could. Still trying to convince her to move up here....
December came and went like wild fire full of holiday craziness. Shopping, family get togethers and appointments. We finished our birthing classes which have been a great help at calming my anxiety and fear over my impending labour and delivery. I've accepted the fact that it's coming no matter what, and the joy and love we'll experience when baby makes its appearance is going to be more than worth it.
This year we were blessed to celebrate 4 weddings. So happy for friends who all had beautiful weddings and excited for them and their futures. They better start having kids soon though so ours has some play mates!
We are glad to say goodbye to 2013 and look forward to all 2014 has to offer. Our baby's arrival in February or March, my sister in laws wedding in June, our best couple friends wedding in October, first Christmas with our new baby and everything that comes in between.
I hope you had a wonderful year and have an even better 2014!
And hopefully you'll be seeing more posts from me in the new year!
See you later,
Christine!
Much like every year this one had its fair share of highs and lows. We started off the new year with our puppy Misha all gimpy and casted up after having broken his leg just before Christmas. His leg was broken just above the ankle and required surgery to have a steal plate put in. After having to pay that and vet fees for appointments every two weeks for a couple months we were emotionally drained and financially drained. But happy our little guy was on the mend and I was glad for the extra cuddle time as poor Misha wasn't allowed to do too much to strain the break.
In February I started a new job. One of the most stressful jobs I think I've ever had. While I am glad to have moved on I am very grateful for the opportunity and skills I learned. In the end after many teary anxiety attacks and sleepless nights I decided it was time for a change and quit. My home based baking business was picking up a bit and I wanted extra time to focus on that and to spend with my husband and healing pup while looking for a new position with steadier full time/day time hours.
That plan didn't exactly pan out as June came quick and with it a roller coaster of emotions, nausea and a lot of quick trips to the bathroom. I remember joking with Mike "I'm peeing so much I'm either pregnant or I've got diabetes". Sure enough one afternoon we decided we might as well take a test just to rule it out. Turns out the test was positive. I was pregnant. And terrified.
Mike and I had always planned on starting a family, our plan was to wait a few more years when we were more secure financially and owned our own home. Obviously God had another plan, a better plan. So after a few tears we told our families. All have been over joyed and extremely excited for us and the new addition we'll be adding. I have to admit I was quite scared to tell our parents, not because I didn't think they would be happy for us and beyond supportive, but because I knew our financial situation wasn't exactly ideal. But they have been nothing short of wonderful throughout this whole experience.
This summer I spent the majority of my time on the couch with a bucket by my side and soda crackers at the ready. I knew my body would have a hard time with the change in hormones but wasn't expecting my morning sickness to last all day every day. The thing that scared me the most about getting pregnant was the fact that I'd have to had blood drawn regularly, and for a person whose afraid of needles and prone to passing out after receiving needles I wasn't happy! My first trip to the lab they took 9 tubes and I was not a happy camper, especially since two days later I got a call from them saying they didn't have quite enough and I needed to get more drawn. Luckily everything looked great, myself and the baby were perfectly healthy. At the beginning of August in the middle of the night on my husbands birthday I woke up to once again be sick. Although this time blood came up. It was about 3am. I went back to bed, told Mike we'd need to go to Urgent Care first thing in the morning. But after a couple more trips to the bathroom and becoming more and more worried we decided to run to our ER just incase. After waiting for about an hour we saw a doctor who preformed an ultra sound. We got to see our little nugget for the first time! 12 weeks tiny we got to see it on my husbands birthday! How cool! It was bouncing around and doing somersaults! Everything looked perfectly fine and I was diagnosed with a tear in my stomach lining and prescribed Diclectin to help with my morning sickness - it's been a life saver! As I'm 8 months along now and STILL suffering from morning sickness. We proudly displayed our first ultra sound pictures to friends and family and suddenly the whole thing became very real.
In September we decided to move out of the house we were renting. We weren't saving any money and with a very generous kind offer from my parents decided it would be the best thing for us now to move into my parents basement until we can afford our own place. It's been a major blessing or an curse probably depending on who you ask lol. Still working in saving money and slowly but surely making our way towards buying a house. Although I do have to admit a big pet peeve that's developed over the past few months is when people ask "so have you found a house yet?" Obviously we haven't because we can't afford it right now, when we have a house you will know.
In November my best friend from America decided to pay us a visit. It was amazing to see her again and catch up. It honestly feels like we see each other everyday, I wish we could. Still trying to convince her to move up here....
December came and went like wild fire full of holiday craziness. Shopping, family get togethers and appointments. We finished our birthing classes which have been a great help at calming my anxiety and fear over my impending labour and delivery. I've accepted the fact that it's coming no matter what, and the joy and love we'll experience when baby makes its appearance is going to be more than worth it.
This year we were blessed to celebrate 4 weddings. So happy for friends who all had beautiful weddings and excited for them and their futures. They better start having kids soon though so ours has some play mates!
We are glad to say goodbye to 2013 and look forward to all 2014 has to offer. Our baby's arrival in February or March, my sister in laws wedding in June, our best couple friends wedding in October, first Christmas with our new baby and everything that comes in between.
I hope you had a wonderful year and have an even better 2014!
And hopefully you'll be seeing more posts from me in the new year!
See you later,
Christine!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Autumn Maternity Fashion Lookbook
Hey Everyone!
It's Autumn now which means time for comfy clothes and layers! I must admit my heart deflated a bit when I saw all the Fall and Winter clothing lines coming into my favorite stores! I have a bit of a shopping addiction and was (and still am) a bit sad that I can't go and buy new pieces from all the new lines, because frankly I just won't fit into them properly. Not with me ever growing baby bump! But just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't find some great maternity clothes and rock my own style this Autumn/Winter. Here's my fashion favorites and newest pieces I'll be wearing quite a bit this season.
I've been told my bump looks bigger in pictures than it does in real life - I didn't believe them until I saw this shot! My bump does look quite huge! I'm only 23 weeks along. This photo showcases my favorite outfit right now - top and legging from Thyme Maternity. These were the first pieces I bought for my Maternity wardrobe - pieces which I can wear throughout my pregnancy and even afterwards! You'll notice the leather detailing on the shoulders and down the sides of the legs! I love leather so anything with leather detailing I'll take! Also the leggings are a thick enough fabric I can get away with wearing them as regular pants, which is amazing because they are super comfortable! I paired this outfit with my favorite fall shoes - my combat boots I got last spring from Globo Shoes. Ridiculously comfortable and a little edgy.
My favorite puppies! CeCe (my parents dog) and Misha (mine and my husbands). Both fully grown and so adorable!
I picked this sweater from Ardenes funnily enough. I don't shop at Ardenes, I honestly don't think I had ever been in one before, but I got a gift card for my birthday and ran into one to see what I could get, found this comfy sweater with a cute aztec print and figured it would come in handy in the colder months. Paired with these amazing white flats with gold metal toe - bought these online from Aldo and I'm disappointed to say they are horribly uncomfortable, but cute nonetheless.
This cardigan I purchased at Thyme Maternity, light black knit with gold studs on the shoulders. Paired with black flats with the gold metal toe bought from Forever 21 (much more comfortable than the white ones from Aldo)
This burgundy H&M Maternity shirt is so fuzzy and so comfortable. Paired with my black maternity jeans and my Aldo riding boots.
Collar necklace from H&M
Another sweater I found at Ardenes. Not maternity wear but I bought it in a medium so it should fit me throughout the whole pregnancy. Love the gold metal polka dots. Paired with a knit eternity scarf I got from Joe Fresh which has some gold detailing of its own.
Picked up this sweater from Forever 21 - love the shoulder cut outs.
Paired with silver arrow jewelry from Forever 21
Maternity army green silky tunic from H&M, with the most comfortable Maternity legging from Target and adorable tan wedges from Target as well.
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Fox ring from Forever 21 and spike earrings from Aldo
Love these black and white aztec sloughy pants. Picked these up at Winners. Paired with a plain black long sleeve maternity shit from H&M and a pair of black heels - I believe these are from the Jessica Simpson collection
This bodycon dress I also picked up at Winners, stretchy enough material that it will make room for my growing stomach.
Paired with a statement necklace from H&M
Well there you have it! My autumn maternity fashion favorites!
See you later!
Christine
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