Doing like the Robins

Spring is an amazing time of year...for those of us who live in a climate with 4 seasons. Those of you who don't....well.....we're jealous...but then again...we have spring and you don't. I watch the Robins gather up twigs and Christmas ribbons forgotten under the melted snow to make nests. I'm not using Christmas ribbons, but I am flying high on something. I CANNOT believe the transformation my body and mind have made in the past 10 days. I have heard of the nesting instict, but didn't give it much thought. Then, I felt like lifting weights the other day. I thought..."that's weird.....why do I want to lift heavy objects all of a sudden". Then I realized that my feet don't hurt anymore (I would come home in tears from grocery shopping they used to hurt so much). So I put it all to the test, and here I am, at midnight, full of energy to tell you all about it. The part that surprised me the most, was not writing thank you cards till 2 am, not doing laundry and ironing the bed sheets all day, not going to 5 different stores in one day, but the 4 km walk I've taken with Stef around "the lake" two days in a row now.....and he had to keep up with me. I do not remember having that kind of stamina since before I got pregnant. And I'm 38 weeks with a cold! So it's been an amazing ride this nesting instinct. I like it.

We will have a baby in 5 days. So this post may be my last until I am introducing her. So, here are a few pictures.

My work shower on March 18th, put on by my dear friend at work, Cathy. We had a butterfly theme.

 

Here is how the baby has grown in the third trimester:

Don't you just LOVE that Buddha shirt? My sister in law gave it to me on the day I announced I was pregnant. Thank you! one of the best prego gifts ever. I got stopped by total strangers to tell me how cute it was. Go to tummyts.com and check out their whole line for pregnant women. Very cool.

One thing I have to admit that I am proud of myself for, is my weight gain. As someone who was constantly hungy and was advised not to work out in the first trimester, never had morning sickness and a huge appetite, has a profession that exposes me to endless restaurant food every day, and my feet forbid me from walking half the pregnancy, I have managed to stay under the 35lb weight gain recommendation. Knock on wood...as long as I don't gain 2.5 lbs in the next 5 days. I weighed myself every morning, and that was really the only way to do it. I wanted this to be a healthy pregnancy in every way, and was proud to be complimented for looking great and healthy. I also think it's cute when people say that my weight gain is "all baby". I guess they didn't take a close look at my butt :)

On a more serious note, if I don't go into labor before Thurday morning, our daughter will be born on the one year anniversary of my egg retrieval at CCRM. It was on April 5th, 2011 that she was concieved, and on April 5, 2012 she might be born. We find that kind of neat. Also, Canada is phasing out the penny. So we are hoping to find a 2012 penny to keep for the year she was born. To all my Canadian followers...please keep your eye out. As for what's been happening with the birth preparations....I've been off work for a week now, but it does not feel like it. It has been non stop activity and last minute preparations. I keep hoping I will go into labour before Thursday. As long as she comes into this world safe and healthy, that's all I care about and that's why I'm getting a c-section. But a surgical procedure in the sterility of an OR is not the way I wish to birth this child. My ultimate preference would have been a water birth. Due to my age and the risks associated with it, a c-section in the 39th week was the best way of guaranteeing her safety. I have always dreamed of being pregnant and having a child. I have that now, and will meet her on Thursday. I will embark on motherhood in the way I always knew I would. With a strong, loving heart. I may never know the thrill and pain of a vaginal delivery and am denying my body what it was made for, and although I will be a mother, will continue to not relate to any other mother talking about "when she went into labor". Here's the BUT. The collosal truth is that I will, for the first time in my life, be able to relate to another mother on a much more important matter - having a child. I hear that once I see my child, there will be a well of emotion like no other and it is a moment I will never forget. I am chosing to focus my greatfulness to be that privilaged. She will be here by April 5th. The little girl I always wanted.