Well there you go...

It's been 6 months. Where did that go? Oh yeah, soccer, school, Christmas ;)

Miss K turns 6 tomorrow! and she started Prep. And lost a couple more teeth.

Miss A is growing in leaps and bounds. Walking everywhere. Babbling lots. Loves her big sister.

Me, busy working on some reviews for here, starting a new blog, looking forward to becoming a great auntie in June.

We'll be back soon with a birthday wrap and some new reviews :)

Things (& an idea)

Well. There are roughly 3 weeks to go. I'm nearly 37 weeks!
I haven't had my mother blessing mainly because life has been way to hectic (I'll get to that in a minute) but I’ve had a chat to mum and discussed organising a baby meet & greet after bub is born and we've had a chance to bond as a new family of four. Also means we'll have an idea of what, if anything we need lol.
Anywho, on to the hectic. We had a weekend away which was lovely.
When we got back we decided to rip up all the carpets in our house as we think that's what's been making us sick. OMG I was disgusted to see what was under the carpet. No wonder we haven't been well YUCK
We have been taking about getting the floorboards polished for as long as we have lived here so, as you do at 8 1/2 months pregnant, I thought we might as well get it done. Which also meant getting the lounge and dining room painted first. We have been super lucky and have found a painter who came and gave us a quote one day and three days later has done the job.
I've been getting very nesty (is that even a word?) as has mum, who is having a lovely time washing and ironing baby clothes for me. I've just been cleaning the house around all the pandemonium. I did say to hubby though we aren't having any more kids as it's getting way too expensive. We renovated our kitchen while I was pregnant with Miss K and this time around we renovated our bathroom (like completely stripped out the room and started from scratch), have done the floors and got some painting done. Thanks must go to my parents for all the help they have given us recently too. Love you both heaps!
Onto my little idea. Well I can't claim the idea as mine. I saw it on one of my favourite blogs (Fat Mum Slim) and thought I really wish I'd done this for Miss K. SO. What is this idea? Writing a monthly letter to my little one on the blog. You can check out Chantelle's letters to her daughter here
What I'm hoping to do is, starting this week, write a letter to both my kids here on the blog. Fingers crossed I'll be able to do it monthly. I may even end up sharing my monthly Project Life pages here too.

Time for an update

It’s been nearly 10 weeks since I did an update on how we’re traveling here so I thought I should…

• still measuring on date
• had another scan (yay)
• found out what we’re having (no I’m not sharing)
• more midwife appointments & discussing how birth centre is different to hospital birth
• found out I have very low iron levels so on iron tablets
• no Gestational Diabetes (YAY)
• feeling HUGE
• did some shopping
• started organising the kids’ shared room
• dug out the bassinet and other baby stuff from the garage
• washing baby stuff
• working on pregnancy album (I‘ll be sharing it soon)

That’s pretty much it. Hoping to book a 3d/4d scan this week. On fortnightly visits with the midwives.

Mind the dust

Just working on a new look so please ignore the mess for the time being.
I’ve also got a Facebook Fan page now too -https://www.facebook.com/FromTheWolfsDen
Would love it if you liked me :D

24 week update

• I’ve been back to the doctors a few times. Still measuring to date. Blood pressure is good. Had a rotten head cold.
• Done the booking in (just in case) at the hospital
• Met with our midwives from the birth centre. Got to hear Munchkin’s* heartbeat for the first time.
• Eaten lots of chocolate over Easter.
• Put on a little weight - not related to the chocolate - honest
• Off to the doctors again this week

*yup, I’ve finally given bub#2 a nickname. Not sure if I really like it though - feel free to make suggestions :)

Just a heads up

Since I’ve decided to start this blog back I thought I’d give it a spruce up while I’m here. So over the next few weeks I’m going to work through the ProBlogger’s 31 days to build a better blog.
Just thought I’d give you a heads up :D

I've moved

because I am failing at keeping up with multiple blogs. I'm moving all my blogs to one.

You can now find me at nightwolfsden.com/blog

Been awhile

Can you believe I haven’t posted here since April! Wow where does the time go?
I mean the wolflet is now 5 1/2 months and so much has happened. Motherhood sure is a full time job lol
Let’s do a quick recap of the last 3 months
April

• had a bath with me & loved it! Now a regular treat.
• Weight (7.5 weeks) – 4.66kg (10 lb 4oz)
• Length(7.5 weeks) – 56cm (22.04in)
• first time at an AFL event (Super Saturday @ Aurora Stadium)
• started giggling
• first lot of vaccinations

May

• Weight (3.5 months) – 6.02kg
• Length (3.5 months) – 61cm
• Started showering with me of a morning. Loves it. Not worried about the water over her face at all.
• went to the airport to say goodbye to grannie & grandpa before they went on a 6 week holiday

June

• Weight (4 months) – 6.06kg
• Length (4 months – 61cm
• sitting up supported. Loves her Bebepod boost seat.
• went to her first Hawks game. was super well behaved.
• trying to stand and roll
• went & stayed with Uncle Andrew. Our first family holiday… well weekend away.
• another game of footy
• had her first day nap in her cot
• started Baby Bliss routine
• second lot of vaccinations

July

• rolling over
• chatting away
• had her first taste of solids – mushed pumpkin then some leek & potato soup
• fell asleep on her belly – just like her mum did
• first cold – doesn’t like having her nose wiped. found some great things to help (reviews coming soon)

Anyways, that’s it for now. I’m creating a page that will contain all the wolflet’s milestones and growth info so I have a record of what she’s up to.

ERGObaby

OMG I love my ERGObaby carrier & the ERGObaby Infant Insert

5 minutes after I put the wolflet in it, she was sound asleep. Guess it gets the tick of approval from her.
Another Child Health appointment today. 4.36kg & 54.5cm long.
and hubby bought a pair of sunnies yesterday (along with two more mcns, a jacket & a sleeping bag – he loves shopping for Kara)
How cool is that? She loves them too.
Okay better go get some sleep before madam wakes up & wants a bum change or a feed ;)

Updating & some milestones

All is well here. Kara is growing very fast.
Had an appointment with the Child Health nurse today. Kara now weighs 4kg and is 54cm long. The nurse is happy with how Kara is growing :D
Milestones & important dates (up to March 10)
20th Feb – came home
22nd Feb – first Child Health visit. Has gained 120g since leaving hospital.
22nd Feb – first bath at home. Screamed. Not a huge fan of having a bath (or having her nappy off)
22nd Feb – what was left of her cord fell off during a 4.30am feed.
26th Feb – Second Child Health visit. Now weighs 3.56kg 
27th Feb – slept through a thunderstorm (which woke everyone else in the house up)
27th Feb – first major outing. Jonathan’s first birthday party. Slept nearly the whole time.
4th Mar – went to town for the first time. Managed to sleep most of the four hours while we went to Bunnings, Crafty Critters & Kmart.
6th Mar – Another major outing. Great Gran’s 90th birthday. Slept through most of the evening, even with being handed around to a few of the rellies for cuddles.
10th Mar – Another Child Health appointment. Now weighs 4kg. Had foot print taken.

Welcoming Kara Rose

Our little bundle of joy has finally arrived. We came home Saturday and I thought I better sit down and blog about the last few days.
We went back up to the hospital on Tuesday morning and my waters were broken at 8am, I swear that is one of the weirdest feelings – feels like u’ve wet yourself. The first part of the labour wasn’t too bad. About 11.30 the pains started to get fairly bad so I opted for the gas. That is an interesting experience – felt like I was totally off the planet. Wanted to go home at 12. About 2.30 the midwives decided I was struggling a bit with the birth and got a doctor to come check me out. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer doctor, he was lovely. Bub had a fairly large head and I was struggling to push her out so it was decided that some assistance was needed. At 4 the doctor decided to use forceps to assist in the birth – OMG talk about painful.
4:13pm saw Miss Kara Rose make her entrance into the world. I’ve never seen James so emotional, gotta admit I was pretty teary myself. The doc fixed up my tear which took bout 30 minutes, that was pretty painful too.
Kara was 7 pound 14 (3592g) and was 50cm

We had about an hour of tummy time after the midwives checked her out. She got a 9 on the AGPAR scale which is pretty good.
Miss KR shortly after being born. The bruises are from the forceps. Mum & Dad, Janne & Joe and Andrew all came to visit while we were still in the labour ward.
Don’t remember much of the next day as I was still pretty out of it. Had a room to myself though which was nice. Thursday was a quiet day but we had a few visitors. There have been a heap of photos taken so I’ll have lots to scrapbook.
We were really hoping to go home on Friday but during her check up the midwives were a bit concerned about the amount of weight she had lost (over 14% of her birth weight – the usual is 10%) so asked if we would mind staying an extra 24 hours to monitor her weight – meant I had to feed every 3 hours and then 4 hours overnight. Was a bit disappointed to not be going home. I ended up with a roomie on Friday but ended up moving to a private room as we decided it would be better – thought it would b better as bub was fairly restless & the other lady had just given birth that day and was pretty tired.
The private room was really nice and it was lovely to b able to have visitors and not have to worry about disturbing anyone else. Next time I’m in hospital I’m definitely going to shell out for a private room again.
Saturday morning we weighted bub again and she had put on 190g overnight so the midwives & the doc were really happy and after another blood test to check her jaundice levels they were happy to let us go home.
Kara travelled really well in the car and slept all the way home and for another hour and a half after that, so it looks like car trips will be ok :)
Sunday was a quiet day at home just enjoying being a family. Mum & Dad came round for a visit as Dad was having withdrawals from not seeing his grad daughter for a day. Dad took Kara for her first walk around the block and she went to sleep.
Mum & I pottered round the house just putting away some of the stuff we took to hospital (over half of which never got used). Janne popped in quickly for a visit and dropped off some new clothes she had bought Kara as well as some pre-folded cloth nappies and a bouncer, which Kara loves.

Michelle also brought the kids round to visit as they hadn’t met their cousin yet. Have been getting lots of well wishes from friends and family via Facebook too.
Off to our first Child Health appointment today so I guess I should go get miss KR ready.

updating

Well the appointment went well on Thursday but they decided to book me into be induced today.
Cut a long story short – I got to the hospital at 8am this morning, they did an internal and decided not to induce me as I’m in early labour :D if my waters don’t break by themselves tonight I’ll go back up to the hospital tomorrow @7am to have my waters broken.
In other non baby news – we’re getting our iPhones on Wednesday… yay! the first Mac product I’ve owned for YEARS!! looking forward to playing with it when it arrives.
Okies off for a nap & hope my waters break today. Looking forward to meeting our little bubba!

Time for another update

Not much is going on here at the moment really. Just waiting for the little one to arrive.
Got a few more things done in the nursery. Just need some drawers & a change table.
Got some of the Deborah Woods prints framed & they are up on the wall now. These are the three we have chosen.

  
(here’s a shot of all three together)seriously too cute.
Haven’t taken any new shots of the nursery but will get around to doing it when it cools down a bit. It is so hot here atm (well hot for Tassie anyway lol)
Ankle is still swollen – could take up to 6 weeks to come right and of course the heat doesn’t help much.
Have an appointment at the hospital on Thursday. I imagine they may do an internal to see how all is going. Not long to go now – 5 days til our EDD. Have a feeling the wolflet will arrive in the early hours of Sunday morning (allowing mum to watch her team play – even if it is on telly – Saturday night).

39 weeks

OMG where has the last nine months gone?
Our cot is set up, we have the baby seat (& got it properly fitted in the car) and a stroller, lots of baby clothes & my bags are pretty much packed (just a few more things to add)
Had another appointment today. Endo is very happy with how I’m going so has said they don’t need to see me again til I go into labour.
Docs are happy too & are happy to let me go to term (I was actually given the choice). The doc I saw today said it feels like bub is engaged so now begins the waiting game. Have another appointment next Thursday.
Feel huge. Feel hot. Getting more BHs *sigh*
 
(hehe how trendy is that – pj bottoms & one of hubby’s tank tops)
On a side note – I twisted my ankle last Friday & it is huge. Is making it very hard to wear shoes.
Not much else to report. Got most of the nursery organised. Will share photos over the weekend.

Appointment & a funny

Had another appointment today at the hospital. Went well. They aren’t going to induce me (*yay*) and by the looks of it are happy to let me go to term and maybe a week over. CTG went well too apparently I had a few braxton hick contractions during it, never felt them. Bub is moving around a lot today.
Oh yeah, it’s my 32nd birthday today. Got some lovely goodies for myself & bub. Will post more about my birthday over on my personal blog
Saw this posted on the BellyBelly and thought I’d share it
Breastfeeding, Dr Seuss style!
Would you nurse him in a park?
Would you nurse him in the dark?
Would you nurse him with a boppy?
And when your boobs are feeling floppy?
I would nurse her in the park.
I would nurse him in the dark.
I'd nurse with or without a boppy.
Floppy boobs will never stop me.
Can you nurse with your seat belt on?
Can you nurse from dusk til dawn?
Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,
I will nurse her til she's full.
Can you nurse and make some soup?
Can you nurse and feed the group?
It makes her healthy strong and smart,
Mommy's milk is the best start!
Would you nurse him at the game?
Would you nurse her in the rain?
In front of those who dare complain?
I would nurse him at the game.
I would nurse her in the rain.
As for those who protest lactation,
I have a perfect explanation.
Mommy milk is tailor made
It's perfect food, you need no aid.
Some may scoff and some may wriggle,
Avert their eyes or even giggle.
To those who can be cruel and rude,
Remind them breast's the perfect food.
I would never scoff or giggle,
Roll my eyes or even wiggle!
I would never be so crass or crude,
I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!
We make the right amount we need,
The perfect temp for every feed.
There's no compare to milk from breast-
The perfect food, above the rest.
Those nursing smiles are oh so sweet,
Mommy milk is such a treat.
Human milk just can't be beat.
I will nurse, in any case,
On the street or in your face.
I will not let my baby cry,
I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.
It's not about what's good for you,
It's best for babies, through and through.
I will nurse her in my home,
I will nurse her when I roam.
Leave me be lads, leave me be ma'am
I will nurse her, MOM I am.
Anyways, enough from me. Hope you’re having a great day!

Well….

I forgot to do an update last week LOL lots been going on.
This is what the nursery looks like atm…
it is such a mess. I’m hoping it will all be finished over the weekend. *sigh* on the upside, the computers are now all out of there. Hoping to get the rest of it out of there over the next few days.
Last week’s appointment went well. Everyone is happy. Have another appointment tomorrow. Will do an update when I get home. Bub is still moving around lots.
Hoping to get another belly shot soon.

Growth scan & parenting class

Went and had our growth scan yesterday. All is going well. Bub is measuring about 2-3 days ahead at 37 weeks. Bub is positioned head down with the spine on the left hand side and feet in my ribs on the right. Have a nice bruise on my right hand side.
Popped in to see Andrea and she looked at my blood sugar levels and is very happy with how things are going, so another positive :)
Off to see Dr Dennis tomorrow so will report back tomorrow night.
The Practical Parenting class was interesting. First up we went and watched a newborn being bathed. He was very cute and I think we both learnt a bit. We discussed going out with bub, feeding, sleeping, having pets and introducing pets to bub and a couple of other things. Most of it was stuff we had discussed in other classes.
Not much else to report at the moment. Will hopefully have some more pictures to share this weekend of my purple mini binder & my bub journal. I’ve started a Word doc so I’m doing a bit of journaling in that while I work on the pages.

4 weeks to go

OMG!!!!!!! 4 weeks!!!!! Had my baby shower yesterday but more about that later.
Had an appointment with the OB & Endo yesterday. Endo is very happy with how things are going so is the OB. My hip pains are just the results of ligaments etc stretching and the cramps are practice contractions. My fundal height is 36cm and the heartbeat is good. Also had a CGT so they are very happy with that and got the expressing kit so I’ll start doing that tonight (well try anyways lol) So all is good in the eyes of the hospital :D
Onto the baby shower……
It was a great afternoon with lots of games and lots of pressies. We received… clothes, nappies, a baby bath, towels, cot sheets, mattress protectors, a crocheted rug, books (which is awesome cause we both love reading & want to read heaps to bub), bibs, toys, a photo frame, a Hawks football (see it has no choice in what AFL team it follows LOL) and much more. Ate way too much, especially the marbled chocolate cheesecake slice *yum*
Got to catch up with my cousin & her new little one who were up from Hobart for the week which was awesome as I haven’t seen her for ages.
Hubby ended up coming out to mum & dad’s and we had pizza for tea. Was nice not to have to cook LOL
Next week I have a couple of appointments – one with the OB (they are weekly from now on I think), a growth scan, and a practical parenting class.
So much is going on around home now too. We’ve emptied the back room and are up to the stage of plastering the joins (hubby & FIL are doing that today). The sanding will prob get done Sunday (giving the plaster a day & a bit to dry) then we’ll paint hopefully Monday and pick up the new flooring on Tuesday to be put in Wednesday. Hopefully Monday or Tuesday morning will see the new door go in as well. Thursday is Dad’s birthday so I doubt we’ll do anything then meaning Friday we’ll move computers.
Saturday & Sunday will most likely be spent plastering up holes in the nursery (where computer cables have been moved from), doing paint touch ups, steam cleaning the floor & setting up the cot & moving the wardrobe in. I’m sooooo looking forward to that bit :D
Anyways enough from me. Off to do update our to do list & then have some lunch.

A car capsule, a dietician & a belly

We’ll we ordered our cot & mattress on the 6th, so it should get here this week. It’ll stay in it’s box though until we get the nursery empty (& steam clean the floor). Hopefully that will be next weekend. Looking forward to finally getting the room set up.
We picked up our Unity capsule on the 7th. OMG I love it. It’s so light and easy to take out of the cradle. A big hanks to my little bro for buying it for us. Looked into the price of spare bases to for both sets of grandparents (I know Mum & Dad will buy one) - $119.from Babyland in Launnie.
Had the appointment with the Diabetes dietician. She suggested I should try having my meals at more regular times (instead of whenever we eat) to see if it helps make my levels a bit more even. So I’m trying to get up a bit earlier and do my fasting bloods about 8, breakfast about 8.30, morning snack bout 11, lunch around 1, afternoon snack bout 4ish and tea bout 6.30. managing to go ok so far. also means I’m not staying up super late to take my last lot of bloods. Did ok on Friday & yesterday but today we slept in so I didn’t do so well on keeping my times this morning (but caught back up at lunch). Apart from that I need more dairy in my diet (I’ve been drinking less milk lately) so I’ve got to have some small glasses of milk with either my meals or snacks & I’m going to try & have some yoghurt at least once every second day.
Finally… here’s the first belly shot for 2010.
So we’re at 35 weeks now – not long to go now and we’ll b onto baby photos :D

Happy 2010 & updating

First up just wanted to share this cool quote I found
My opinion is that anybody offended by breastfeeding is staring too hard. ~David Allen
gotta love it!
Wow we’re into 2010 already & we’re just under 6 weeks to go!! OMG where has the time gone?
Still really haven’t got anything bought. My bro is buying us the Unity capsule. We’ll probably get the stroller just after bub is born.
The in-laws are buying us a cot & mattress. I think we’ve finally decided on a cot…

a Grotime Lara 4-in-1 cot.
Mum’s being buying heaps of clothes still. Got some great bargains too. Like a brand new Bub2B (kmart brand) top from a second hand store for $5!! It’s never been worn and still has the labels on it.

I’ve nearly got my labour bag packed – all I need to do is chuck in my purple mini folder, our birth plan, some pkts of barley sugar, some deodorant for both of us and some change. I’ll chuck the camera and mobile in just before we leave.
Suitcase is nearly packed as well, just need to grab 2 pairs of pjs from mum, a notepad so I can write stuff down (won’t take my laptop as there will probably b no net access :( ), my 2010 journal (will put that in just before we leave), and some disposables for bub.

GD is going well. The diabetes nurse is happy with my levels so we haven’t put my insulin up (yay). I should have at least one more scan AND if all things continue to go well they won’t induce me and I can go to term (& possibly slightly over).

Mum’s coming in either tomorrow or Friday to give me a hand with some cleaning up. Nice to have an extra set of hands, especially when hubby doesn’t seem motivated & would rather watch DVDs *sigh*

Have a breast feeding class on Thursday & an appointment with the dietician so will probably post again then.