Carter Trevor Blaby

My beautiful baby boy,

It's now been one week since you entered this world, and I discovered a new type of love that I had never felt before. This is your birth story.

On Thursday the 23rd of July, around 6pm, I started getting some irregular contractions. By this stage you were 10 days overdue, and driving mum bonkers! I was so impatient, all I wanted to do was meet you! You must have inherited that stubborn streak from your dad!

Around 10pm the contractions were around 7 minutes apart, and your daddy ran me a bath so I could lie in it, and practice my calm breathing. This also gave your daddy some time to have a nap, as I wasn't sure how long it would take for you to arrive, and I wanted him to have as much sleep as possible.

By 11pm, they were 5 minutes apart, so I decided to wake your daddy up and go into the hospital. When we arrived, they hooked me up to a monitor to check your heart rate. Even though mummy was going through contraction after contraction, your heart rate showed that you were still asleep! So, to wake you up and raise your heart rate, I drank many glasses of cordial so the sugar would give you a kick start!

About an hour later one of the doctors came to check on me, and discovered I was 9cm dilated, and told me that I would soon feel the need to push. I continued to drink lots of cordial and moved around in different positions to keep you awake and alert.

Before long, it was time to push. However, you were a cheeky little thing, and didn't want to come out! I must have made it way too comfy and warm in there for you! Each time I would push, you'd make a bit of progress, then move back again. Your shoulders were also square on, and you didn't want to turn.

After 2 hours of pushing, mummy was exhausted, and the doctor and midwife decided to use the ventouse to get you out. Daddy was absolutely wonderful, and kept me strong enough to keep going.

We finally got your head out with the suction cap, and all I had to do was one more push to get you out so the doctor took the cap off. However, once again you were a little monkey, and eased back! So, the cap had to be reattached, and after a few more almighty pushes you came out into this world. Daddy exclaimed, 'It's a boy!' and cut your umbilical cord with the hugest smile on his face. The midwife wrapped you in a blanket and put you on my chest, where we had our first special hug. I was overwhelmed with love the moment I saw you, and stared with wonder into your steel blue eyes that daddy and I had managed to create something so perfect.

You were 8 lb, 14 oz and born at 4:50am on the 24th of July, 2009. I had picked your name when I was 17 years old, and 11 years later it was still my favourite boys name. Daddy loves it too, and says that Carter is a strong name, which definitely defines you! Your middle name, Trevor, is after your Great Grandad and is also your Pa's middle name.

Carter, you are the most precious thing in our life. Daddy and I are so proud of you, and can't stop cuddling you and kissing your gorgeous little chubby cheeks. You have enriched our lives more than you could ever know. I can't wait to watch you grow and develop week by week.

Daddy and I love you past the stars xxoo

Birth Weight: 4050 grams
Birth Length: 51cm
Birth Head Circumference: 34cm

41 Weeks!

So... looks like I have a very stubborn July bub.

41 Weeks, who would've thought it? Definitely not me.. I was convinced that I was going to go early! Hmm.. shows how much I know!

Went into hospital for a trace today, and Chickpea decided it was a nice time to have a nap (must take after it's mum!) so it took twice as long to get some solid readings, but in the end all was good. The graph printout was quite encouraging though, as it recorded that I was actually having contractions.

The woman in the suite next door was in the last stages of giving birth and was definitely vocal about it, which set my nerves on edge a bit, and a bit of the fear I had banished crept back in again. However, the sound of the baby crying after re-enforced my feelings that all will be OK, and my body was designed to do this.

Not long to go now...

It's Tuesday and I Can't Wait...

...to see my little chickpea for the first time.

I'm now 7 days overdue.

Yesterday I had my last obs appointment, where she performed an internal and discovered I was 1cm dilated.

Well, that's a start. As Sally the midwife put it, I'm already 10% there with hardly any work! I had quite a bit of cramping after, and a fair bit of pain in the evening, which made me very excited. However.. as soon as I went to bed, they disappeared. Vanished. On the plus side, I had one of the best night's sleep I've had in weeks.

Off to hospital to have a trace soon, to make sure all is OK. Little bub.. what are you waiting for?

Learning to be Patient.

Image by Metal Rain from Flikr

Yep, I'm still here. I haven't gone anywhere.. I think Chickpea is quite warm and snuggly where he/she is and doesn't want to come out and face this cold weather!

Yesterday was a bit of a low point.. I woke up feeling out of sorts due to another restless sleep, and couldn't shake the blues I had over facing another day of nothing happening. Today was also a day where I had about ten people texting, emailing and calling for a status update, and although it really made feel wonderful that people cared, it was also difficult to keep replying over and over that Chickpea hadn't, and wasn't making an appearance.

But, I'm feeling quite a bit better today. More positive, and hopeful that something will happen soon. Mum and Dad are convinced that the little one will be here by Sunday night.. here's hoping!

Polyvore Challenge #2

I couldn't resist- Here's another Polyvore challenge called Little Black Dress.

This is my creation (and there's a bit a creative license with it.. I know it's technically not all black!)

LBD Challenge by vanillakat21 featuring Tarina Tarantino jewelry

Wishing and Wanting.

Well.. bit of a let down. I was really hoping that my 40 week update would include a photo of Deon and I cuddling our newly born Chickpea, but alas, the

Wishing and Wanting.

Well.. bit of a let down. I was really hoping that my 40 week update would include a photo of Deon and I cuddling our newly born Chickpea, but alas, the little one has decided to stay put for the time being. However, the official due date is not until tomorrow, so you never know...

Got a really good deal off ebay last week. I've been researching baby carriers for a while now, and wanted to get one that Deon would feel comfortable wearing as well (translation- it had to look sporty and stylish as well as functional- nothing 'girly' thank you!). So, with the help of Danielle pointing out all the pros and cons of the Baby Bjorns, I decided to go with the Synergy one.

I won this one, which was pretty much brand new, with the cover (worth $100) and a bib set (worth $50) thrown in free. Very cool!


And.. just a couple of things that I've put on my wish list from the Witchery online store.. aren't they beautiful? I guess I'll just have to file them away in my virtual closet...


Hmm.. Deon has quite a few tatts tickets that he got for his birthday and hasn't had checked yet.. I might have to send him out to get them scanned to see if we won anything, so I can do a bit of shopping!

Impatient.

On Monday night I thought something exciting was happening. At 3am I started getting waves of pain across my pelvis and lower back. And then, at 5am, they stopped.

Nothing since!

Chickpea, time to stop playing. Your eviction notice has been served. Come on little one!

Happy 30th Birthday Deon!

This is a tad bit late, but last Thursday was Deon's 30th Birthday, and we held his party last Saturday night (in our gorgeous new front yard!).

Deon, my gorgeous cheeky husband, Happy Birthday. Chickpea and I love you past the stars. xxoo

39 Weeks!

Well, what can I say. This has been an incredible journey, and we're almost at the end. 39 weeks... due in 9 days.. it almost doesn't feel real. The next update could be a shot of Deon and I holding little Chickpea!

I wanted to make sure I had a photo of the three of us before I popped, so here it is. Cute, huh?


And, one of mum, Chickpea and I (in front of our lovely new doors!) She looks so tiny!


Apart from all that, symptoms are the same as last week, but just gradually getting harder and harder to do things. Lots of pelvic pain and shooting pains down my back and legs. At night, my poor shins and knees just throb from carrying the little one around all day!

C'mon Chickpea, you're right to come out now that dad has had his birthday and his 30th party! It's all clear!

Deon's Vision.. Complete!

And finally, after 5 and a bit years.... we have a complete front yard! How exciting! All in 11 days too, which is not a bad effort at all. I'm just thrilled with it, and love how the light just pours in through the glass pane and double doors each morning.

So, here is a before shot from 2 years ago, with the original sliding doors and front door...

And the after shot, with new doors, pelmet and glass pane..

Here's the before shot of the front yard from last year....

Working against time to complete it all before Deon's 30th Birthday that night...

And all complete! Beautiful new doors, plants, pots....

Feature wall with artwork and timber for our new Chiminea (which is awesome, and pumps out so much heat. We'll finally be able to sit outside on the cooler days and nights without freezing our butts off!).

And inside the completed front yard. It's not easy to see, but each cutout has a tree planted inside, and a floodlight at the bottom. Once it's all hooked up, I'll take a photo at night to show the full effect.

I love, love, love it. Well worth all the stress and pressure of having it done by Deon's Birthday party! Now all we need is a nice outdoor setting and some comfy chairs.. and a glass of wine or two (after chickpea is born, of course!)

38 Week Update.

Phew. Things are still CRAZY around here. I'm currently 38 weeks and 2 days, and struggling big time just to do the most simple things. I'm feeling quite conflicted too, as on one hand I just want Chickpea here, but on the other I need the little one to stay put until after Deon's 30th birthday party on Saturday (his birthday is tomorrow) so... anytime from Sunday onwards is fine!

We've had sliding doors ripped out and replaced with French ones, the front yard is on it's way to being completed, the walls have been patched, another door is being replaced today with a glass panel, new outdoor lights have gone in and a lot of gear has been removed and placed into storage. We're just waiting on some new blinds to go in, and mum is helping me get some plants this afternoon. It's starting to look fantastic. I was a little bit stressed initially, but I'm loving the changes. I'll take some photos soon.

Dee has lent me her bassinet too, so it's all ready to go in our bedroom. Not long to go!!!