WEEK 40! IT'S PUMPKIN DAY!

Just to be clear... THIS pumpkin weighs like 35lbs... hopefully very unlike our dear Hazelnut. He's more like 9lbs-ish and just over 20 inches long. His lungs are continuing to develop, and his nails and hair are apparently still growing!

Honestly, I didn’t think I’d make it to week 40 (my due date). I thought I’d go early because a) my Mom did, and b) I’m huge. But... here I am!

Okay, now THIS may be the last listy-loo...

1. The absolute most hilarious little interaction to occur during my entire pregnancy...

Little boy (with hands on my belly): Why is your tummy so fat?
Me: Because there’s a baby in there!
Little boy (moving hands to my sides): Oh… why aren’t the sides fat?
Me: Because some people only carry babies out front!
Little boy (now cupping my breasts) :Why are these so fat? I thought the baby was only in the tummy!

OH MAN! I was a tad caught off guard and thus sweetly responded with something about some women carrying babies everywhere (whilst barely containing my laughter). In hindsight, perhaps I should've taught the little gaffer a bit of a lesson about breast-groping (rather than completely reinforcing it)! Next time...

2. We’ve had a hot and beautiful summer, and Lowell and I FINALLY got to float down the river with Nicholas, Chelsea, and da poochies. We only have pictures of our cramped arrival as we didn’t have a waterproof camera.

The trip started out delightfully calm, beautiful and relaxing (well, at least for Chels and I who had luxury air mattresses and did NOT have doggies climbing atop our flotation devices WITH us), but over a 10-minute time period, the temperature dropped 15 degrees, and the wind picked up immensely causing choppy waters. We aborted mission and walked the 2kms back to our drop-off vehicle. Lowell joked that someday we would share with Hazelnut what we did 2 hours before he was born. Seriously though, we WERE pretty impressed (and a little shocked) that labour was NOT induced!

3. We were talking with friends about how most people can’t wait to get their babies out of them at this stage of the pregnancy, and Lowell said “We don’t feel that way…we love it!” Yes… WE. I guess that means that he DOESN’T mind giving daily massages, and perhaps this practise will continue? Lowell?

4. CARLYNNE'S HERE!! I hadn’t seen Carlynne since January (when we were about the same size). When I first laid eyes on her this week, my first thought was, “Carlynne lost weight!” I brought it up to Lowell later and said with concern, “Did she lose weight? Did she not look TINY to you?” Lowell agreed that she DID look small, then we realized what was ACTUALLY going on. We were both used to MY new normal (which is NOT so petite). This hang out time has GOT to be good for Carlynne’s self esteem!

It’s been a hoot having Carlynne around. We hang out all day, have quality gal time with mama, and have a daily scheduled nap time (always a must). Also, it’s kind of ASSUMED that we all congregate at Mom & Dad’s for supper every single night for family time. LOVE!

One of the first things Mom, Clyn and I did was get pedicures. (Note the swollen legs. One of the cute Vietnamese pedicure ladies walked by me, placed her hand on my shin and proclaimed, "Oooo! Swollen!" Yes indeedy.)

I had one foot painted pink and one foot painted blue. NOT because I want our child to be confused about his/her sexual orientation, but because we don’t know if we’re having a boy or a girl. Carlynne gave me the idea. Being a medical gal herself, she thought the medical team would get a kick out of it. I’ll report back.

5. I think Watson (Carlynne and Dan's 11-month old golden doodle) may be even more human than Kumeu (if that's even possible). THIS is apparently a familiar sight around BOTH households…

Also, both doggies have bed access...

But Watso’s human tendencies have expanded beyond Kumeu’s. Like… in the car. Following a trip to the dog run, both dogs WERE in the very back, then Watso climbed into the back seat and sat up regally. Carlynne and I stopped to run into a store and when we came back out, Watso was sitting elegantly in the FRONT seat (while Kumeu was obediently in the very back where he has recently been relegated because of the coming child). Next thing we know, Watso will be driving US to run errands.

This is the first time Watson & Kumeu have met, and they get along famously...

6. The stretchmarks on my stomach are now so expansive that it's almost a work of art... almost.

7. My feet have been RIDICULOUSLY swollen. We went to see The Help with the fam (FANTASTIC movie, by the way), and this is what my feet looked like when we got home...

hot.

8. Thank you for all the personal well-wishing messages... and also for the threats that I need to go into labour so you can win Starbucks/iTunes!

9. Lately I haven't been getting many comments about being pregnant with twins because I've confirmed that my due date is indeed very near. However, TWO DAYS AGO, I told a lady that I was due in TWO DAYS, and she continued, "with twins?" Hehe :)

10. When I asked Lowell if he wanted to cut the umbilical cord, his immediate response was “no”. I asked him why not, and he responded, “What if I cut the wrong thing? Like a leg… or a penis.” I assured him that the medical team would likely be very clear about what needed to be cut. I think he WILL do it… that is, if he’s not already passed out in the corner.

11. This whole week has been amusing. When people ask me when I'm due and I respond with "on Sunday", they get a panicky look in their eyes like they're silently pleading with me not to have the baby right there in front of them. Entertaining for me!

12. There has been a lot of cramping going on this past week. I have a hard time telling the difference between menstrual-type, bowelly, and contractiony cramping, but regardless.... something has GOT to be going on down there.

13. I've mentioned my philosophy about not commenting on someone's pregnancy- no matter how obvious- unless they mention it first. HOWEVER, now that I'm on the obviously pregnant side, it seems almost rude when people DON'T acknowledge that I'm pregnant. Hmmmm.... I'm sticking with my philosophy though... it just ain't worth it.

14. Our labour kit is soooo packed and ready to go!

15. Some of you are really brave! You STILL haven’t voted and TODAY’S MY DUE DATE!! Ummm…. I’d get on that… NOW! Click here: http://goo.gl/Fxd0J

16. I'm now measuring about 43 inches around.

(This is Lowell playing with the camera, lighting, and a pregnant lady!)

17. This morning Lowell and I invited ourselves to the rents' place for a spontaneous breakfast, and we arrived bearing pumpkin spice lattes for all as it's PUMPKIN DAY. It was just a coincidence that Mom had homemade scones in the oven and a big bowl of fresh fruit cut up and ready for eats. Yum!

18. We're sort of banking on Hazelnut being born this week... mainly because we have no idea how one would top a 35-lb pumpkin!

WEEK 39!! WATERMELON!!!

I'm so PUMPED that I made it to the watermelon stage! WOOHOO!! Hazelnut is probably somewhere in the neighbourhood of 8lbs now (according to our doctor's estimation), and about 20 inches long. His brain is still developing (what a smartie he shall be!), he's flexing his limbs, and his nails might extend past his fingertips!

And now for what may or may not be the last LISTY-LOO..

1. This baking spree of mine has been glorious for the tastebuds but detrimental to the waist lines. Cookies for supper and cherry pie (homemade from our own cherry tree cherries) for dessert. No joke… that was Wednesday’s menu at the T home!

2. We’re fairly intelligent people and we know it’s highly unlikely (read: impossible), but we’re really hoping that Hazelnut get’s Kumeu’s eyes. How can you look at these eyes and NOT melt a little bit inside?!

Also, I’ve been thinking… we love Kumeu SO MUCH. I can’t even IMAGINE how much we’re going to love our child.... our very own flesh and blood!

3. Lowell has been on a broccoli kick lately, and let me tell you. Broccoli burps are horrid. And don’t even get me STARTED on broccoli toots…

4. I love that we’ve had amazing basement dwellers (renters). The problem is that our cool room (i.e., storage room) is in the shared area, and I feel obligated to put pants on whenever I need to fetch supplies. As we all know, I do NOT love pants. *sigh*

5. It’s common knowledge that my least favourite- and in fact most dreaded—domestic activity is cleaning muffin tins. During my recent baking spree I actually started using those little paper muffin cups. Why did I not hop aboard THAT train several years ago??!!

6. Long story short, we went to the hospital for a non-stress test this week. Don’t I look stressed though?

Actually, it was kind of stressful, but all is well with me AND baby, and the nurse even said we have a "very happy baby". Yeay, a happy baby!

Before we went in, Lowell and I were discussing bleeding and placenta tearing with a doctor friend, and Lowell ended up leaning against the wall, colour drained from his face with glazed-over eyes. I’m 85% sure that Lowell will faint at some point during the birth. Good thing Mom and/or Carlynne will be there!

7. Mom and I canned 66lbs of peaches!

I'm soooo lucky that my mama is my canning buddy. I dare say one could not have a better canning buddy than that!

8. Have I mentioned that both of my shins are carpets of red speckles (popped blood vessels)? Add that to the veins and water retention… hawt. Also, things have definitely been loosening up more down there. I'm not sure that the upper, inner thigh/groin area spasms can be attributed to that or some sort of pinched nerve, but the hip discomfort has returned. It's actually a good thing though because this narrow-hipped woman is going to need all the help possible to get a KID through there!

9. 44 lbs up in total. Yeay me. And I measure 42 inches around!

10. Over the last few weeks, Kumeu has turned a corner fetching-wise! He’s always been a great little fetcher INDOORS, but when outside, it would turn into a game and he’d run around with the ball/stick in his mouth just EGGING us on. I think it’s finally clicked that if he brings the ball back to us, we’ll throw it again and again and again, and he’ll get to go for little sprints/swims again and again and again...

He's such a fun puppy child!

11. CARLYNNE AND WATSON (Kumeu's puppy cousin) ARE COMING TOMORROW!!!

12. STATS on the contest that you really should hurry up and enter:
45.5% girl - girls really making their move this past week!
54.5% boy
most common guess is the 20th.

Loving the guesses and the creative questions. Our families have some particularly amusing name suggestions. Marc suggested 'Greiselda', Carlynne guessed "Miralda", and nieces Emily & Katelyn predicted "Flower" and "Mermaid". There have also been some really legit suggestions that weren't on our list but we're seriously considering for baby number 2!
If you haven't voted yet, you are running out of time! Do it now... http://goo.gl/Fxd0J

week 38 - a leek and a whole lot of ME!

*whistle* that's a long baby! Hazelnut is supposedly about 7 lbs and ~19.5 inches long. However, my doctor guestimated at the BEGINNING of the week that Hazelnut was already around the 7.5lb mark. Also, this was what she said to the resident while checking me over: “People have been bugging Julie about how big she is, and I always brush it off. But I have to admit… she IS pretty huge.” So there you have it, folks. It’s been confirmed… I’m huge. :)

1. I’ve been loving these last weeks. I’m relatively comfortable (again, thank you Lowell’s massages), I’m being productive up the wazoo, and I have so many fun, random conversations with complete strangers. People are very bold around pregnant women, and I love it (unless they still think I’m pregnant AFTER the baby is born in which case I won’t love it quite so much).

2. We got more maternity shots! We feel sort of like giant cheeseballs that we had TWO maternity sessions, but let me explain! We booked with Jen at La Di Da Lane Photography at week 33 because let’s not kid ourselves… she’s amazing. We brought some props and had sooo much fun with her. Then at week 37, we were meeting with our good friends Kevan & Leah and their adorable daughter Peta. Kev just happens to be of [6:8] Photography fame, so we took some week 37 (i.e., even huger than week 33 if anyone thought that was possible) shots. Kev is TAL.EN.TED! Man is it ever handy having gifted friends!

Now for some faves from our week 33 shoot with La Di Da Lane Photography…

I. Am. Canadian.

Side note: I am totally on board with Lowell’s bulging muscles. I just don’t think I’ll ever tire of them! I was telling my hairdresser about them (lucky for Lowell he wasn’t there, otherwise I would’ve been SHOWING her, and it tends to embarrass him when I do that), and she said “oh that must be sexy for you!” Yes, yes it is. Pure muscles walking!*

Aaaaand back to the pictures...

Belly henna!

I spoon Nutella.

And now for some [6:8] Photography faves from week 37…

Background story for the next shot. When we discussed doing some maternity shots during our hang out time, Kev said he specialized in wedding photography (as opposed to maternity) and who knows… he might just do something cliché like use blocks. This comment inspired Lowell and me, and with a little help from Chris & Lisa’s baby blocks, this shot was born…

Still spooning Nutella at week 37 (while documenting how gracefully I can eat off my belly)…

The following little family shots book-end the pregnancy. Self-timer took the first one on the day we found out we were pregnant (January 15, 2011), and Kevan took the second one during this- the final weeks of the pregnancy (note how Lowell shrank and I expanded... faces and all)!

Oh, and another perk from our hang time with the W's was that Kev taught Lowell a few tricks on our camera. When we caught a glimpse of the sunset in the rearview mirror on our way home that evening, Lowell insisted that we pull over so he could practise his mad new skills.

3. I have been doing a SWACKload of baking to freeze so that when y’all come to visit Hazelnut, you’ll have something to snack on (hint hint)!

4. Convo with the momsicle…
Mom: You know where else you’ve gained weight?
Me: Where Mom?
Mom: You’re butt…. and it looks great. I hope it never goes away! It looks like Carlynne’s bum! (editor’s note: you must understand that Carlynne is famous for her enviable derriere so this comment was in no way a slight…and in fact was quite a compliment!)*

5. We’re hoping to record the entire labour and birth and make a video to share with you all… JUUUUUUST KIDDING! No thank you (*barf*).

6. We had a make-up prenatal class because we missed one early on. I do NOT recommend making a class up so close to due date because it was all TOO real… and therefore somewhat terrifying.

7. I’ve gained a steady 2lbs/wk over the last few weeks. WATER RETENTION (at least some of it...I swear). I can FEEL the water sloshing in my feet, and these wedding rings? Ya, they’re not coming off any time soon.

8. I can not express how GRATEFUL I am that the excruciating hip pain from weeks 31 & 32 has largely subsided. I had been reduced to tears on several occasions, and couldn't even turn in bed without being stabbed with mind-numbing pain. I assumed I’d be stuck with the intense discomfort for the remainder of my pregnancy, and I've never been so thankful to be so wrong in my life!

9. My stomach is soooooo itchy (despite lathering on the oil). Makes sense given the ridiculous amount of stretching it’s doing, but still…

10. We FINALLY removed the guest bed and set up the crib in the used-to-be-guest-room-soon-to-be-baby-room (you'll understand what took us so long later). Kumeu made himself right comfortable on the stack of bedding while we worked away. The room has a way to go, but don’t you worry. It’ll at least be done sometime this month (cuz CARLYNNE’S COMING!!!), and you’ll be the first to see the finished product!

11. We bought milk AND sour cream that expire ON MY DUE DATE. Now if THAT doesn’t make things seems extremely real and CLOSE then I don’t know what does!

12. Oh my word. Two more weeks. But it could be any day now. Stay in there Hazelnut! Hold on! There's so much more this mama wants to get DONE (plus I've been looking forward to the last two fruits/veggies since day one)!

PS- you better submit your guess if you haven't already. WHO would turn down $50 in rockin awesome gift cards??!!

* apologies to Lowell and/or Carlynne for potentially embarrassing them. :)