Hospital Bag + Countdown

 One of the things on my list of to-do's is to finish packing mine and the babies hospital bag. Starting off with the essentials - all of the little crap you will want or need at some point during your hospital stay. When I was in the hospital with Harper, I didn't completely know what to bring - I either brought things I never used or didn't bring things I actually ended up needing. This time around I think I did a little better.

These are the things I packed (and a few things not shown in the picture that I will add):

- Tucks: An absolute must. I didn't bring these the first time because I had never heard of them. After pushing for three hours with Harper, I had a lot going on down there and the nurses brought these in for me and I was very thankful! You literally tuck them in between the cheeks and voila, instant cooling sensation. 

- Deodorant: Pretty self explanatory.

- New Mama Bottom Spray: This isn't necessary but is nice if you have itchy, irritating stitches. You just spray it on your bottom area and it gives kind of a cooling sensation.

- Light Body Spray: Obviously hospitals are a no-fragrance zone but I'm still bringing a lightly scented body spray in case I need a pick up. I will probably use it when I'm getting ready to leave the hospital. 

- Hair Elastics: You definitely need a few of these if you have longer hair.

- Mama's Nipple Butter: I used this nipple butter for the first few weeks when I had Harper because my nipples kept getting dry from nursing. However, I didn't find this stuff helped for really sore nipples, that is why I am also bringing the next item. 

- Medela Lanolin Cream: This stuff is seriously a life saver! I had super sore nipples for the first three months of nursing Harper - even a badly bruised (purple/black) nipple from Harper biting down on me - this is what saved my poor little nipple. Love this stuff! I still use it currently since Harper is still nursing before bed as nursing while pregnant can make your nipples very very sensitive.

- Preparation H: Again, pretty self explanatory. If you are one of those lucky women that only push for 10 minutes, you might not need this. However, if this delivery is anything like Harper's, I will be prepared with my industrial sized tube of Preparation H. There's nothing to be ashamed of, birthing a baby is not the most glamorous thing ever. And when you're pushing for an extended period of time - what the hell do you expect is going to happy?

- Oral Hygiene Items: These items will be for both Fraser and I. We will just need to add our actual toothbrushes to the bag once I start going into labour.

- Lotions, Creams and Lip Balms: With Harper, I had a reaction to the epidural and became extremely itchy all over my body to the point of my skin drying and flaking off. I think I may bring a larger tub of lotion, like my cocoa butter I use on my belly - just in case. I'm also bringing two different lip balms in case they get chapped.

- Hair Stuff: I'm bringing a hair oil as well as a headband to keep my hair out of my face. The hair oil I will use after I take a shower or I end up with a tangled mess!

- Long Maxi Pads: I'm bringing several of these since the ones at the hospital are like mini-mattresses in between your legs (although very helpful that first 24 hours after giving birth when your flow is very heavy).

I'm sure I am forgetting a few things but I think I have all of the necessities in terms of all of the little things I will want or need.

As for bigger stuff like clothes, I will be bringing the following:

- A Robe

- Slippers

- Socks x2

- Larger, more comfy underwear (possibly even maternity)

- Nursing Bra

- Nursing Pillow

- Small Blanket (for Fraser)

- Pillow (for Fraser)

- Comfy Pajamas 

- Maternity Leggings

- Comfy Top

-  Ipad

- Ipod

- Charger(s)

- Snacks 

- Few items for Fraser (sweatpants, etc.,.)

Again, I might add a few items last minute but I think I have a pretty good list!

I am 35 weeks this week - so the countdown is officially on. It will be interesting if she come's early or late. EEK. All I know is that very shortly, we will have another sweet little girl and I am so darn excited.

Boogie Bubbles & Anxiety

(Dried boogies and orange creamsicle stained cuteness)

Harper has had a yucky cold for the past 4 or 5 days which has meant lots and lots of boogies. The poor thing goes from being congested to having snot running down her face. The first few nights were brutal because she had such a hard time sleeping with her nose being blocked up - which meant I wasn't getting much sleep. I immediately had Fraser run out to pick up the Vick's vaporizer, baby Vick's and a snot sucker (yum). It's hilarious and slightly sad how much she loves having the baby Vick's rubbed on her chest and back. She would literally bring me the jar and while I'm smearing it on her, she would lay back and say "mmmmm". Poor thing. I remember how lovely it was to have my mom put Vick's on my chest and back when I was sick, it is very relieving when you're so stuffed up.

Although it was very apparent from her sniffles and non-stop stream of green goodness snot, Harper was truly in the best mood considering. I made a point to get her outside into the sunshine to get some much needed fresh air. We've discovered she loves it outside and is a total pain to get back into the house (a tantrum usual follows the second you start walking towards the door).

Overall for Harper's first time being sick, she has been a little trooper. I am looking forward to no more boogies though :)

Fraser's having his wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow and having to be put under for the first time ever - which is giving me major anxiety. I know everything will be fine BUT I am a worrier and will be happy when he's home in bed so I can take of him!

Growing up so fast!

This little lady continues to get bigger and crazier with every week that passes. It seems she has learned something new every couple of days and her quirky personality continues to blossom. The above picture is her trying to snort..the end result is pretty flipping amazing. She still only has eight teeth but boy, look at those chompers. haha

 I haven't had the time to sit down and work on my blog when working full-time and taking care of this little monster ham. However my third trimester has ended up the exact same as my pregnancy with Harper - meaning lots and lots of laying in bed until babe # 2 comes along. Long story short, I have an abnormally small pelvis (tmi?), which means once baby starts packing on the weight and working its way down - I have excruciating pain which can result in painful contractions - which if I don't take care of myself and rest, could potentially lead to pre-term labour. Which at almost 31 weeks, is a no-no.

 "I am Harper, hear me roar!!!"

Being put on bed rest is going to make these last 9 weeks draaaaaggg on...but it's honestly a blessing as I can barely do anything for more than 25 minutes before needing to lay down. Luckily I have an amazing mother who helps me all week with Harper. She either takes Harper over to her place for the day so I can rest or comes here and chases after her so I can still see her and not go completely insane in my house all alone.

Harper has been saying a lot of words lately, she now knows the following (and are pronounced as such):

- momma/mum

- daddy/dad

- gramma

- grampa/papa

- bubble

- whas' that?!

- boob

- Uh Oh

- Ha-Ha

And the more recent and my personal favourite: Ka-Ka (we ask her if she has a "ka-ka" bum when she has obviously pooped)

A quick overall update: She is 16 months and just shy of 24 lbs. She has eight teeth and is currently working on a few more. She is not only walking like a champ, but runs. She climbs up onto everything and can climb up the stairs. Fully understands pretty much everything Fraser and I say to her - including if we ask her to go get something of hers. If we say we need to change her bum, she will run to our bedroom where her change pad is. If we ask if it's night night time, she will run to her bedroom and grab her sleeping sack (yes she still sleeps in one, I freaking love those things!). She sleeps 13-14 hours straight - she is an amazing sleeper. She has 1-2 naps, depending on her day and how busy we are. She is a picky eater as of late. If it's not whole grain pasta, rice or bread - she's not interested. She LOVES oranges, pineapples and bananas but won't touch any other fruits. Although she is a picky eater, she loves water. That's all she drinks other than breastmilk and she drinks on average 15-20 oz's a day (water not breastmilk). She nurses before naps and bedtime - I'm hoping to get her down to just before bedtime before babe # 2 comes along. Oh and she is obsessed with wearing a small pink blanket as a cape (as seen in the pictures above).

Overall I am trying to take care of myself to keep this little baby in for as long as possible. All while trying to give Harper all of the love and attention she deserves as she is still technically a baby. Fraser and I have crammed a lot in the next few weeks on our "to do" list, which will be challenging to do with me being pretty much useless.

On a super exciting note, we have an Ikea order being delivered next weekend including many items for the girls rooms. I plan on taking some nursery photos soon. Fraser is going to be a busy busy boy building furniture next weekend ;)

Our little ham

It has been a long while since I've been able to get a decent picture - let alone 30 - of this little ham. I was in our dining room taking pictures of my new products for my Etsy shop, since the lighting was so good, and Harper was running around playing. She kept coming up to me with this big smile and I took the opportunity to snap some shots.

Truth be told, I feel like I should have been a photographer. I love capturing beautiful moments like this. I'm completely obsessed with taking pictures of this little lady and I know I'm going to be the same with our second little lady.

I am in love with Harper's eyes. When the light hits them, they just sparkle and look like ice. It's unbelievable and I hope baby # 2 has these baby blues!

Harper's new obsession is looking out the windows at the snow. I cannot wait until the spring time so she can play outside now that she walk.

Harper and her daddy were sharing some snuggles.

  Lately, it has been insane to see how fast Harper is growing. Fraser and I feel like everyday, she's doing something new. The past month and a half, she has finally learned the "more" sign language. Now she will point to exactly what she wants and ask for more using sign language.

These pictures were cute, because I had no intention of capturing my belly but being 23 weeks pregnant I shouldn't be surprised it snuck into the pictures ;)

And we're having a...

Yep, we're having another sweet girl. We could not be more thrilled. I thought up until this point, that it was totally going to be a boy - since this pregnancy has been so different compared to my pregnancy with Harper. The second the receptionist told me the results over the phone, I was totally shocked, but excited. I mean Harper is so darn cute - so it will be so exciting to see what this little cutie is going to look like. 

Since we now know the sex of the baby, we picked out the paint colour for the nursery:

http://www.cil.ca/Colour/Paint-Colours/Reds/82RR_76-111

 I loved this colour, because it's a really really soft light pink - not your traditional BAM pink that a lot of people end up choosing for a little girls nursery. I wanted a soft colour also because this babies room is the smallest of our three bedrooms. I want the room light, bright and fresh.

Since I'm not the most traditional when it comes to decorating a nursery, I went to Pinterest for some inspiration and this is what I liked:




I loved these nurseries because their different but still really adorable. SO excited to start decorating. We plan on getting the room painted this weekend, so I intend on taking some before and after pictures as we go along. 

Here's the baby at 19 weeks 5 days:

I still can't believe we're doing this again...so soon. But here we go :)