Sunday, September 14, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

I had a pretty tough night. I had a pounding headache due to coming out a little too fast (what can I say, after 9 months waiting the excitement just took over) and major tummy cramps due to swallowing meconium, as I had my first "stool" in my mommy's tummy. So I was pretty upset about that all and made that perfectly clear by crying pretty much the whole night. By the time daddy came over again to the hospital I was just fine.

Daddy helped mommy and me a lot with sucking on mommy's breast so I was able to eat. I just didn't had a clue what to do after I latched on to mommy's breast and mommy was too tired to help me out. Daddy did a great job though. He spent about 20 minutes helping me suck by pushing my whole face shortly into mommy's breast and than release me a bit again. For some reason this caused my jaw and tongue moving to the front and back and suddenly there it was...very yummy food. Now that I know what to do I really can't get enough of that stuff! =)

Unfortunately daddy had to go again between 10 and 11 at night, but luckily if everything goes well I am allowed to go home with mommy and than all three can stay together the whole day AND night. =)

Oh, before I forget, daddy also took some new pictures again. This time no video's though, because I heard that there were some bandwidth problems with the video's placed yesterday. Maybe I should talk with mommy and daddy about getting a paid web host for my site.

Saturday, September 13, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

After 15 hours of labour I finally found my way to the outside world! I was born at 7:33 PM (19:33 hours), my weight was 8 lbs and 14 oz (4050 gram), I am about 21 inches (53 cm) tall and my parents named me Maya Lynn, but you can just call me Maya. =)

I am a little too exhausted right now to go in detail, but if you click on the photo camera and movie clip icons below you can see movies and pictures of me.

I am going back to sleep again, but I will keep in touch!!

Friday, September 5, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

Hello there everyone! I have some very exciting news! Yesterday, my mommy went to the doctor's office, and he did another internal exam on her. The doctor said that she is 90% effaced (the flattening and thinning of the cervix) and 1cm dilated (the opening of the cervix), AND my head has dropped right down into place! I don't really understand what all of that means, but I do know it won't be much longer till I'm here! Mommy was SO excited to talk to daddy on his lunch break and tell him all the news! The doctor seems really nice, and he was very pleased with mommy's progress. =)

Last night, mommy and daddy went for a small drive, and ended up visiting their friend Stephanie. The four of us had a really nice visit. Mommy was tired, but she didn't feel like sitting in the house all evening, so she was VERY happy to get out for a bit. The four of us went for a walk around Stephanie's neighbourhood, and then we chatted until midnight. Stephanie was really funny, and I am very excited to meet her in the near future!

The other day (September 1), we celebrated my grandma's birthday! I think I am really going to like this birthday stuff – it seems like a lot of fun. I tried to come out that day to surprise my grandma, but it just didn't seem to work. Oh well…soon I will be here!

Sometimes, my mommy and daddy like to take funny pictures at night when they are bored, and the other night they took some funny pictures of mommy's VERY swollen feet. I haven't seen them myself, but it sounds like they are pretty big! I'm looking at my feet right now, but I don't think they are as big as mommy's. I guess I'll find that out pretty soon! Make sure to click on the camera below to check out mommy's big feet!

I am now in my last week, and boy am I ever ready to come out. I think mommy and I have both had enough of this, and daddy keeps giving me little "pep talks" to urge me to come out. Let me tell you daddy, I am trying! Hope to see you all soon =)

Thursday, August 28, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

Hello everyone! Not much has happened lately, but I thought I would still write so that you know I am doing just fine. Mommy and daddy are doing really well. Last week, mommy started to get REALLY tired from carrying me. She is taking lots of naps, which I really love because then we get to rest together!

Last Wednesday evening, I got to see my little friends Cassidy and Quinn. We went over to their house to have dinner with their mommy and daddy (Ben and Melissa). My mommy held Quinn for a LONG time, and it was SO much fun. I got to kick him in his bum the entire time while mommy held him! I think we are going to be really good buddies once I come out. On Friday evening, mommy, daddy and I went to see their friends Tricia and Rob. They just got married AND bought a new house, so mommy and daddy wanted to see their new place! We had a really fun evening, and mommy ate some really yummy food that Rob made, which I loved! I don't know Tricia very well yet, but I KNOW I am going to love her because she was backpacking with my mommy in Europe when my mommy and daddy met! I think Tricia will have LOTS of stories to tell me.

I hope that some things stay the same once I am out of my mommy's tummy. EVERY night, daddy rubs some oil on to mommy's tummy, and oh boy do I ever love it! I push my back up against his hand so that I get to feel the rub as well. He always rubs extra long over my back, and mommy and daddy always seem to laugh and call me "cute and sweet" when he's doing it. Mommy always seems sad when the rub is over, and I think I know why…because it feels SO good. Daddy is so good to the two of us (as long as he rubs my back EVERY night when I am out)!

Well, there isn't a lot to tell. I am now in my 38th week, and I am ready to come out. I keep trying to make a little hole in here, but boy it is ever difficult! Mommy and daddy keep telling me that it is OK for me to come out now, and that they would love to finally meet me…I’m trying mom and dad! I promise! Oh, I almost forgot…if you click on the photo camera below, you can see some funny photos daddy took of mommy's tummy (and if you look closely, you can see that I am in her tummy!).

Oh, one more thing…it is now August 28, and this morning, mommy, daddy and I went to see the doctor! The doctor did an internal exam on mommy – I don't think mommy liked that very much because I could feel her getting VERY tense during the exam. The doctor told mommy and daddy that my head has dropped right into place, so I am getting closer to coming out of my mommy! See you all soon! =)

Tuesday, August 19, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

Wow, what a great weekend I just had! First of all, mommy, daddy and I went to Stephanie and Mike's house on Saturday night. Debi came as well! We had pizza and lots of yummy sweets for dinner and dessert. Daddy and Stephanie talked about funny things until midnight, but my mommy fell asleep on the chair – I think I had something to do with that. She can fall asleep just about anywhere lately!

Sunday was an awesome day! Mommy and Grandma went to see Nan and Linda (Grandma's friends). They had a BIG baby shower for mommy! I got to see my mommy's cousin, Jaclyn, who bought mommy a spa pedicure as a treat for after I am born. Mommy seemed pretty thrilled about that. I hope mommy gives me a spa pedicure as well when I get big, because if it makes me as happy as it made her, then it has to be a good thing. Anyway, mommy, daddy and I got SPOILED at the shower! Now I have my very own stroller and playpen! When the shower was almost finished, daddy and Grandpa came over as well! I love it when mommy, daddy and I are together because there is a lot of laughter and silliness. Daddy was really impressed with all of the gifts. I can't believe how much mommy and daddy's family and friends already love me! Now I really can't wait to get out of here to meet them all.

I am in my 37th week right now. It is so small in here, and I often think of the day when I can stretch out my little arms and legs and lay with my mommy and daddy. Mommy isn't sleeping very well at night and she keeps saying that her back is getting really sore – something called Braxton Hicks contractions. Whatever they are, they feel weird to me too.

Well, mommy and I are getting tired now, so I must go. Luckily I still have a lot to look forward to this week because tonight we are going out for coffee with mommy and daddy's friends, and tomorrow I get to see my friends Cassidy and Quinn! Yeah! So much to look forward to. See you all soon!

Tuesday, August 12, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

Sunday 3:15 PM my big buddy Quinn was born and we saw him yesterday for the first time. First daddy held him for a long time and than it was mommy's turn so I was able to say "hi" too. I did this by constantly kicking Quinn in his back. Not too hard of course but hard enough to let him know that I was there too. I think it was great bonding time. I can't wait till I can lie next to him.

Also yesterday Jo-Anne (the doula) was here again. This was kind of the last session with mommy and daddy before my BIG day! She told and taught mommy and daddy a lot about how to feed me and what to expect (or not to expect) when I am in the outside world. Since I really don't know what it feels/looks like in the outside world, I can react in a lot of different ways. It can be that I get a little bit stressed in the beginning and don't know how to proper drink milk. So Jo-Ann went over a lot of different positions to hold me in and to find out that way which position I feel most comfortable in. Personally I think I will be just fine. =)

Today we went to see my Great Grandma. This was the first time for me. Mommy couldn't see her any time sooner, because she was always working on the days they went to see Grandma. Now mommy is on maternity leave, so she could go any time. We also met my Grandma's Uncle George and Aunt Yvette. It was a lot of fun to see all those new faces.

Now I am tired from all the excitement, so it is sleepy time.

Friday, August 1, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

I am getting more and more exited, as the time that I will see the outside world is getting closer and closer. Today I am exactly 34 weeks (only 6 more weeks to go!!!!). I am about 42.5 cm tall and weigh 2250 grams. From this time on I will gain about 230 grams a week, so that I will be about 3630 grams (8 lbs) at the day of my birth, which is pretty much average.

Yesterday we were at the doctors again. This time he was a little bit more gentle with me. I am still in the same position as two weeks ago; bum up, head down, my back along the left side of mommy's tummy and my feet, legs, arms and hands on the right side. He also listened to my heart and he sounded very pleased that I had such a strong heartbeat.

Mommy and daddy are playing with me a lot, poking my feet and of course they'll get a reaction back in the form of a firm kick. The other day I really shocked my daddy. He always rests his hand on mommy's tummy while watching TV. That night I tried to kick him as hard and often as possible and I did. He was totally shocked and thought that I would literally tear right through mommy's tummy. It made me giggle =)

Wednesday my girlfriend Cassidy was over. Her mommy had to go to the hospital for a check up on her and little Quinn. There was a possibility that she had to be induced due to high blood pressure, but everything seemed just fine. So now they let Quinn come all by himself, whenever he is ready. Anyway, mommy and daddy had to baby-sit Cassidy in the meantime and that was so much fun. Of course I wished I could be out there too, but at least I was able to see that I would have a lot of fun with mommy and daddy. We went to a play garden where Cassidy played on the slides and swings. Of course daddy had his camera with him again so he made some pictures.

Sunday, July 20, 2003 ::React!? :: Archive ::

Boy oh boy did I have the best day ever yesterday! Melissa and daddy had organised a surprise baby shower for mommy and me and we had absolutely no idea it was coming.

Around 5:00 PM daddy took mommy and I out for a ride. He was getting a bit impatient, which he otherwise never is, when mommy kept talking with grandma, but mommy and I didn't had a clue so it never looked suspicious or anything. It was a gorgeous ride along Lake Shore and we saw the most beautiful houses. We even drove into a sort of court area, which almost had castles as houses, pretty much incredible.

Around 6:00 PM we arrived at the house again. Mommy and I noticed that there were a lot of cars parked in our street, but our neighbours have parties or come togethers almost weekly, so we still didn't clue in. Mommy daddy and I walked down to the basement when we suddenly saw purple streamers and Melissa with Cassidy waving at us. The more we came down the stairs the more friends we saw. Mommy got teary eyed and asked daddy what was going on. Daddy replied: "Well, Sarah this is what you call a Surprise Baby Shower!" It was sooo much fun!

After some delicious food mommy started opening gifts and I can't believe how spoiled I am. One present after another, it just never seemed to end. Mommy and daddy's friends must love me all very much =)

Around 10:00 PM most friends were gone home, only Heather was still with us, so mommy and daddy decided to watch a movie with her. After the movie Heather went home too and we went to bed.

Below I posted all the pictures taken at the Baby Shower and the day after. If you would like to see the bigger versions of the pictures, please visit the "Pictures" section.