Baby Shower Pictures & Other Fun Stuff

First off, More views of the elephant that Jenn knit for Sean on her blog today. Click here to view. Just want to remind Jennifer that it was my fave baby shower gift by far... because it was made from her, with love. Of course I received other gifts that were handmade, but this one, is truly special to me. (Besides the diaper cake that my UNCREATIVE mother actually creatively put together! See below).

This morning, I had my last monthly checkup at the OBGYN. My next visit is in 3 weeks exactly, on November 27th. Then I believe after that - it is a 2 week visit, and then weekly. (I only have 8 weeks left until my due date as of this Thursday, so I am sure that time will pass fast and I'll be sick of my doctor! LOL).

The other day, when mentioning to Jamie that I didn't want to have an epidural, he laughed at me, and said that he can't see that happening. But now he's told me that he supports whatever decision that I choose to go with - and he'll be there for me in any which way. That's the words I want to hear! But yes, the thought of epidurals sends chills down my spine - literally.

Jamie dropped me off at the doctor's office this morning on his way to work. After the doctor's office, I walked home. It was a nice walk, only took me about 15 minutes, and I didn't even need the hat, scarf and mittens that I brought with me to bundle up in. It was just warm. Warm in November. Odd. But nice.

I have to go this week for my diabetes testing. Apparently it's routinely done around 24 weeks, but my doctor had thought for some reason that I'd done it, but I didn't - so I'm going sometime this week to do it. I don't want to bother even trying to "take a number" at the hospital, which is the same walking distance as my doctor's office pretty much, so, I'm going to a private lab, and for 35$ (instead of free covered by medicare) to save me from headaches and line ups and aggrevation, I can do it at my convenience. I like convenience. Sometimes that's better than free. Plus, when it's private, they care more than free service. (That's how I feel anyhow). Anyhow, since I'm afraid of needles, and they did a good job at the beginning of my pregnancy, when they had to take 5 viles of blood - I'm trusting them again for the diabetes testing. I have to fast from midnight one night until the next morning. They take your blood when you get there, then you have to drink a liquid that apparently is like orange crush, and then after an hour, (ooh - an hour of knitting and/or reading), I get more blood taken from me. I just need to decide which day this week I want to do that.

My day went like this: Stopped by my mother's house. Stopped by my sister's apartment. Did a return at Zellers (and then went to go buy 2 items that I wanted to buy Sean or for Sean, with a gift card that I received to HBC yesterday, and the card was blank. BLANK! My mom says she's going to find out what happened, from the person who gave me that gift, but it was just weird. I hope they didn't get stiffed! That would be awful. I'll keep you updated when I find out what happened to the gift card that I received!) I then went to do an exchange at Sears (where I have my baby registry and pick up a few items that I needed) and after doing that - I think that I have everything that I need for Sean - just about. Of course there are a few other things that I'm missing (baby wipes, and a few other items), but I've got everything that I think I will need. Almost to the point, where Sean's room is SOOOOO full, that I have no idea where he is going to go!!! He's just soooo spoiled and has so much stuff now!

To prove that - here is a picture of me surrounded by all the lovely gifts yesterday at the baby shower! That's me sitting on the floor - because chairs are just not comfortable anymore!

Here is a picture of me wearing the ribbon hat they made me with all the bows and ribbons from all the gifts that I received:

Here, below, is a picture of my sister, my friend Saskia, myself & Angela:

This is my mother & sister (above), the two proud diaper cake makers. (My sister apparently helped out on it, but my mother is taking full credit for it!)

nd this is the WONDERFUL diaper cake that I received:
(Apparently I nagged about wanting a diaper cake, which I do not recall, but my mother said I did. That's what mothers are for, to nag to... BUT I honestly would never NAG about a diaper cake, so I have NO idea what she is talking about - really!

I absolutely love the job that my mother did with the diaper cake. I am soooooo very impressed with it. I even scored the rest of the box of the diapers (my mother bought the 228 diaper jumbo box from Costco. And that's now on top of the 228 box I already received last week from Jamie's dad and step-mom. So... I'm well equiped with over 456 newborn diapers. (And those aren't the only ones that I have!) 456 diapers, at 65 diapers per week (is what the average is apparently), with those 2 boxes alone, I'm good for approx. 7 weeks. CRAZY!

This afternoon I went knitting with my cousin Jennifer and Trish, who is an American living in Montreal with her husband, whom I met also, when he came to pick her up. Trish and her husband both are very nice people, and I'm glad that I got the chance to go knitting with her, and meet new people. Glad to have met you Trish - and glad to of gotten you out of the house. Just let me know when you want to go meet up again - I've got time on my hands (until the baby is born - lol!) I hope you had a good time too - both Jennifer & Trish!

My Secret Pal received the Needle Case that I made for her. She was VERY happy to receive it.

My SP9 pal, is only a few provinces over, and she's already building a slope in her backyard with snow for sledding. I WANT SNOW! I love snow. I would love to play in the snow. Where is our snow?

On the baby update, from Pregnancy Weekly:

Your baby now weighs approximately 3.5 pounds, measures about 18 inches from head to toe, and is getting used to the world of light and dark by opening and closing its eyes. Its facial muscles continue to strengthen, and your baby can make different expressions.

(As long as he's not making faces at me - then it's all good!)

I saw this today, and wanted to share:

TWENTY THINGS THAT CHANGE WHEN YOU HAVE A BABY:

1. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
2. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.
3. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.
4. You're less self-involved and more self-motivated.
5. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
6. You respect your body ... finally. (Hooray for baby-making!)
7. You have stronger opinions and are stronger willed.
8. You respect your parents and love them in a new way. (Hooray for grandparents!)
9. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
10. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child. (Hooray for the tooth fairy!
11. You lose touch with the people in your life that you should have banished years ago.
12. Your heart breaks much more easily.
13. You think of your baby 234,836,178,976 times a day. In fact, you're so busy with this that you forget everything else.
14. Every day is a surprise.
15. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
16. You think before you speak.
17. You become a morning person. (Hooray for watching the sun rise!)
18. If you have a son, you no longer curse men. (Hooray for all men!)
19. If you have a daughter, you hope she won't endure your same heartaches.
20. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

Alright, Prenatal Aqua pooped me out tonight. I love being in the water, I feel so weighless, I love it. I'm really glad that the Y around the corner from my house offers this class. It's just wonderful. I really recommend it! But, now, I'm zonked. I'm going to go take my knitting into bed, and hopefully pass out! Got stuff I want to do tomorrow before my mother picks me up (Jamie will meet us at dinner, and it's silly to have 2 cars (mine and his) out in the west, near my parents place) so my mother is picking up my grandmother and I, and we're spending some of the afternoon together, before dinner). Always chores to do around here - they never end!

Progress picture of my Woven Trellis coming tomorrow. Promise!