Newborn Essentials

As an expectant mama, the combination of a nesting instinct and wanting to be the best mama ever leaves you wanting to be prepared for your new arrival. There is oodles of advice and opinions out there on what to purchase before your newborn arrives. However, many people suggest far more items than you actually need. This is a topic that I have wanted to write about for quite some time, and now five months in, I have the opportunity to share with you what I have learned. I wanted to come up with a list of items that I felt were the bare minimum newborn essentials to acquire. Don't feel as though you'll need to purchase them all yourself! Often, friends and family want to help out and aren't sure of what they should purchase. Feel free to offer suggestions and it will ease their minds.

Here's what you need for your newborn baby:

Feeding Supplies
Even if you decide to bottle or breastfeed your baby before they arrive, nature often has other plans. Especially for first time mothers, try to borrow a nursing pillow. They are a more expensive item, and some mamas don't need them, whether for the comfort factor or because breast-feeding is not an option. Depending on your feeding method, you may require a breast pump, another item that you can borrow. Don't be squeamish! They're incredibly easy to sterilize and since there are so many models, as well as manual and electric, you may not like the first type that you try. My advice is to have a bottle or two that's newborn appropriate, even if you feel as though you'll be breastfeeding.

A Place to Lie Their Head
That adorable baby that you bring home from the hospital needs a place to sleep! Don't worry about the logistics - I've known several babies that have been snuggled in a dresser drawer or Rubbermaid tote and got along just fine. We were privileged to have both a cradle and a crib provided for us. The cradle had been a family heirloom on my husband's side, but our ginormous baby didn't seem very secure in it. We put together the beautiful crib that we borrowed from a friend within the first week of arriving home from the hospital. A fitted sheet or two (and a mattress pad, if you feel so inclined) will get your through in the beginning.

Diapers
Whether you decide on cloth or disposable, in the beginning, you will need disposable diapers, and lots of them. Newborns go through oodles of diapers, and you will want to stock up. Diapers go on sale regularly, and there are often coupons as well. Never purchase diapers at full price! Before your baby is born, my advice is to purchase from size 1 and up. After your last ultrasound, where they usually estimate the size of your baby, you can decide whether or not you need to purchase newborn diapers. That size is the quickest outgrown, and often many babies don't even fit into them from birth.

Wipes
Stock up on wipes, too! They're so handy, not only for diaper changes, but for wiping off your newborn's little hands and feet. Their teensy fingers and toes are lint magnets, and strangers also love to touch them, so using a wipe or two is a quick way to clean up.

Pacifiers
While in the labour room, one of my nurses asked us if we had purchased a pacifier. When we told her that we hadn't, she advised us to purchase one ASAP. The hospital where I was a patient doesn't condone or supply soothers, but the labour nurse, as a mother, suggested offering it to the baby in the first few days. Some newborns don't take a soother, but if you can get them to, it's a lifesaver.

Car Seat
In order to leave the hospital, you will need a carseat for your newborn. Secondhand carseats are a bit controversial, as car seats have expiry dates and need to be thrown out if in an accident. Make the decision that's best for your family. Our car seat was part of a car seat and jogging stroller set that was an awesome gift from my in-laws.

Sleepers and Onesies
My little one was born in the spring, so she didn't need to layer as much as a winter baby. Babies born in chillier months often need to wear a onesie under their sleeper. Wondering what the difference is between them? Onesies are usually short-sleeved, and snap under the bum. Sleepers are long-sleeved and have legs. Purchase, borrow, or ask for as many teensy sleepers as possible. It's amazing how many a baby can go through in a day, especially in the early days.

Swaddlecloths or Swaddlebags
Many babies enjoy being swaddled. I purchased a pack of Aden & Anais swaddle blankets before Violet was born, and I'm still using them almost daily, five months later. They are such a wonderful multipurpose item: in the summer months, when it's too warm for a heavy blanket, they're a perfect weight. That brand of muslin blanket is quite expensive, but the quality is by far more superior than the non-brand name muslin blankets that I've had.

Cozy Blankets
Before and after our baby girl was born, we were given so many beautiful blankets, from handmade quilts to knitted blankets to cozy fleece and furry throws and everything else in between. If there was ever an item to not ask for or purchase, it's a blanket. Seriously. You'll be up to your eyeballs in amazingly cozy blankets to snuggle your little one in.

Towels and Facecloths
We go through a pile of facecloths in our house! We use them for spit-up cloths, since they're so much smaller than the typical cloth and are easy to toss in the laundry. One great quality towel should be all you need. We received several as gifts, but my favourite is an organic cotton hooded towel that actually dries our baby off! Some of the thinner towels just seem to move the water around.

Toiletries
Take your time and research what brands you would like to use on your baby. I found it to be a big decision for me, as I didn't want to expose my newborn to any chemicals that were unnecessary. I chose Burt's Bees for a body wash and shampoo, and a fantastic local company, Anointment, for an all natural diaper cream. I also chose Anointment's belly butter for stretch marks, which smells amazing. As far as lotion goes, I have only used it on V a handful of times since she's been born. She had a couple of dry patches on the tops of her feet that went away after the first few weeks. Babies often have enough natural oils to stay moisturized on their own.

Laundry Detergent
I had planned on using our all-natural, unscented laundry detergent on all of our baby items. I quickly came to find that smelly newborn laundry really does need the intensity of baby laundry detergent in order to remove odors. We don't use hot water when doing laundry, so perhaps if you do, natural detergent will be enough for you.

Optional items:

Diaper Bag
I chose to purchase a diaper bag, but often you can get away with a large purse or overnight bag. Try to choose a unisex style that's suitable for any gender of baby or parent.

Changing Pad
We purchased an awesome changing pad for the top of our baby's dresser. More often than not, we have changed her on our bed, as it's more convenient for us.

A note on the topic of gifts: 

Don't ever feel as though you have to use something that was given to you or your baby. There's pressure to your gifts, but make the decision that's right for your family. If you don't want to use a particular product on your newborn, that's your choice as their parent. Whether it's a bath product with harsh chemicals, or a wool blanket that will irritate their skin, your baby relies on you to make the decision on their behalf. End of story!

I hope this list is a help to those of you with a newborn or a baby on the way, in the immediate future or "someday". Anything else I'm forgetting? Is there a particular brand or style of newborn essential that you feel is best? Let me know what your favourite items are in the comments!

Enjoy this post? Feel free to pin it for future reference!

How to Build a Maternity Wardrobe

When I started searching for maternity fashion on the web, Pinterest and various style blogs, I didn’t find a lot of advice. There were various fashion bloggers that continued to have style posts while preggo, but many of them didn’t include tips. I thought that I’d share some tips that I learned along the way, in an effort to keep those of you with a current (or future) baby bump swagged in style.

When I was first pregnant for Violet, I was quite sick. “Morning sickness” lasted all day long, and I couldn’t even keep water in my system. Needless to say, I was hospitalized for almost a week until they were able to put me on the proper combination of medication to keep my tummy at bay. Because of the lack of proper nutrition, I lost a lot of weight in a short period of time. I was pleased about that fact – I had always wanted to be smaller before I had a child – but the way I got smaller wasn’t the most fun. Since I had lost weight, much of my clothing was baggy on me, in spite of my growing mid-section. I was able to put off purchasing many maternity items in the beginning, other than bottoms – non-elasticized waistbands made me nauseated right from the beginning, even before a baby bump started to show. Once I started shopping, oh boy! Lots of fun.

 Here are some basic style tips to get you started in shopping for a maternity wardrobe:

Don’t forget about your regular wardrobe:

Cardigans and casual dresses from your own closet will get you through the majority of your pregnancy, as well as tunic tops. Although many of your stretchy shirts will still fit – and will be tempting to wear – resist the urge. They’ll fit you throughout the pregnancy, sure, but once that baby bump is gone the shirts tend to stay a bit misshapen.

Shop secondhand:

Considering the short period of time that one uses a maternity wardrobe, keep an eye out at your favourite secondhand shops. Consignment stores, thrift shops, even websites like Kijiji and yard sale sites are excellent sources for inexpensive, mint condition maternity clothing. Some of my favourite maternity pieces that I purchased were secondhand: sometimes they are fantastic brand-name items at a fraction of the price.  Also, borrow what you can from previously preggo friends that take a similar size as you. Most ladies are eager to share.

Check out the big-box stores:

No need to shop at the expensive, boutique style maternity stores: your local big box stores, such as Target, Walmart, Old Navy and Sears have great maternity clothing at much better price points. If you do happen to stop at a specialty store, make sure to head straight for the back: the sale racks can render many awesome, stylish pieces at a fraction of the price.

Stock up on staples:

I’ll get into this a little more when I talk about what I purchased, but remember – basics and layers are your friends always, but especially when outfitting a baby bump. Simple tanks, t-shirts, and long-sleeved tees are lifesavers and can be dressed up or down.

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize:

The use of accessories can really stretch your maternity wardrobe. Necklaces, earrings and scarves draw attention to your glowing mama face and away from your possibly less-than-stylish outfit. A belt placed below your bust and above your bump does wonders to define that one part of your body that seems to remain trim throughout your trimesters.

Fancy footwear:

If you don’t already have them in your wardrobe, invest in a quality, cute pair of sturdy heels (a wedge is always comfy and stylish) and an adorable pair of flats with a bit of flair. Your swelling feet will thank you when you’re carrying the extra weight around on comfortable footwear. Nothing worse than feeling as though the only thing that fits is your pair of Crocs that should only see the light of day when you’re weeding the garden.

Wardrobe Essentials:

While pregnant for Baby V, I found that I was able to mix and match my maternity wardrobe much more easily than my regular clothes. I think that this was due to the fact that I shopped more strategically – I wanted to be able to put together outfits quickly. Most of the pieces that I purchased were solid colours, with a few stripes and polka dots mixed in. Most of my pattern tended to come from non-maternity dresses or scarves.

When it comes time to shop for a maternity wardrobe for your expanding tummy, I would recommend purchasing the following items:

Jeans (2 pairs): one dressy, and one more casual or trendy.

Pants (2 other types): I chose a pair of coloured jeans and black dress pants.

Leggings: if you’re able to find them, maternity leggings are the best, since they’re made for your expanding mid-section.

Casual skirts (1-2): I found a maternity jean skirt at a consignment shop that I wore until it fell apart.

Dressy skirts (1-2): try and find skirts that you can dress up or down.

Tank tops (2-3): pick at least one neutral – the much-longer tanks are perfect for under your non-maternity cardigans, and are lifesavers for covering your expanding chest and belly.

T-shirts or long-sleeved tees (2-3): the extra length makes a huge difference between feeling self conscious and covered. Try to find at least one in a fun colour or print.

Blouse: I had a white maternity blouse with black polka dots, purchased through an Instagram sale, that went well with jeans as well as dressier bottoms.

Maternity dresses (1-2): I loved my maternity dresses; in fact, my favourite one was what I wore for our maternity photo session.

Maternity coat: whatever the season, try to borrow or purchase an appropriate coat. You won’t regret it when it’s -15 degrees out and your coat is actually able to button over your bump.

I hope that these tips and suggestions can help even one of you to feel less daunted by your dwindling closet. I had lots of fun dressing myself and my bump, but just wait: dressing your new little one will be even more exciting!

All images in this post were taken by the lovely Michelle Leudy of Hind Heart Studios. If you're located in Cape Breton and looking for a great photographer, I highly recommend them! Let them know I sent you :)

First image/graphic was edited by myself.

Our Newest Addition

A month ago today, Dan and I welcomed our newborn baby girl into our lives. Little Miss Violet was born on May 10th at 3am weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces and 20.75 inches long with a whopping head of hair. She's taken our world by storm already. I had a really rough delivery with her that's taking me a while to recover from, but our baby girl was totally worth it.

Miss V is a healthy little bug that's growing like a bad weed already. She's changing daily, but one thing that's a constant is that she's a snuggler. Violet adores being cuddled by her mama and prefers my arms to her cozy crib for most naps. Can you blame her?

Here are a few photos that I've shared on Instagram of our girlie. If you'd like to follow along, all of her photos are tagged with #ohmyviolet. I hope to do a monthly progress post this week, so let these photos tide you over for a bit. After almost two months hiatus between finishing school, my work term, giving birth and caring for a newborn, I hope to be back to semi-regular blogging. I've missed my little online space!

Happy Tuesday!

Little Lentil : 35 Weeks

Right not on track! Today I'm 36 weeks, but I'm still running a week behind with my pregnancy post updates. Without further adieu, here's what week 35 was all about!

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-five

What's going on inside: This little baby is a strong one! Sometimes their movements make me gasp. Their kidneys are fully developed, and their liver is now able to process waste. Back in the days when I first started feeling movement, they had a routine: certain times of the day they were active, and at other points, they stayed still. Over the past month or two, though, they've been active at all points of the day without much of a pattern. According to the experts, now that my belly is significantly larger, the skin is stretching: the amount of light that the baby can now see will help them to start having a sleep cycle once more. 

What's going on outside: I'm feeling quite large, lol. I've been more tired lately - my favourite afternoons usually involve a nap. I've been using an all-natural, local belly butter from Anointment (which smells incredible!) in an effort to keep stretch marks at bay, and I've been pretty faithful with the application. Unfortunately, I've always been prone to stretch marks and scarring (the curse of being pale!) so I have still developed some. At least it's totally worth it! Give me a stretch mark any day if it means a little baby in my arms at the end.

How big is that lentil? The baby is weighing in at about 5.5 pounds now.

Total weight loss/gain: I've been terrible at tracking my weight over the past month or so, but I've been gaining at a proper rate. I don't think I've gained much (maybe a pound or two?) since my last doctor's appointment. I'll find out tomorrow at my obstetrician appointment!

Food cravings: No cravings - although I hadn't had much protein last week. I went out for lunch with my mom and brother, and was drawn to all of the vegetarian options, but I forced myself to have something with a little more substance. Let me tell you, that burger and salad was delicious! :)

Best moment this week: Sometimes Dan will be reading or watching TV and I'll be napping beside him and he can see and feel the baby moving lots, even though I'm asleep! I love the fact that they're having a little bonding time without me involved. It's adorable to picture.

Happy Wednesday!

Little Lentil : 34 Weeks

My, my, how the time keeps getting away from me! Bad, procrastinating mama. As of today, I'm 35 weeks, but I'll share last week's update anyway. (I'm storm-stayed inside, with a big old snowstorm going on here in the Maritimes. Might as well make good use of my time!) It's fun for me to learn what's new in the baby's world each week, and these updates will be a fun keepsake for the baby book that I've yet to get started. 

Baby's size this week: Butternut Squash (image via Medicinal Meals & More)

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-four

What's going on inside: This week, according to the development studies, the baby can recognize and react to specific songs! Isn't that mind blowing? If born between now and 37 weeks, unless the baby has any other health concerns, they're generally fine! (Just a bit teensier than anticipated.) They're continuing to focus on gaining weight, and their eyelids are open when awake, and closed while sleeping.

What's going on outside: I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable, which is to be expected. My energy levels are pretty low - and no wonder! It's hard work creating a human! :) Dan and I are both getting really excited to meet our little one. I received a free package of baby essentials in the mail today, and I smiled at the name of the diapers: "little snugglers". I can't wait to meet my little snuggler!

How big is that lentil? The baby is approximately five pounds this week, and between 18-20" long. They should be around the length that they'll be when born, they're just beefing up. In comparison to an object, the baby is around the size of a butternut squash.

Total weight loss/gain: I haven't been tracking it for the past few weeks. At my doctor's appointments (within the past month), I have been gaining a pound a week, which is right on target. Considering that the baby is gaining about 0.5lb per week, it makes sense!

Food cravings: No cravings this week. It's getting harder to eat when I'm hungry. We have stools at our kitchen table, so eating requires hunching over a bit, which the baby seems to love. They kick me in the ribs for most of the meal… so there isn't much room for the food to go. I've been attempting to eat smaller amounts at regular intervals to compensate.

Best moment this week: We set up our bassinet on Monday! Dan's grandfather made a cradle for Dan's oldest sister, and it's been used for each of his siblings, and each of his sister's kiddos. It's pretty special to be able to use it for our little one, too. I'm not sure how long we'll use it for, but we have a crib in the basement that we will set up in its place once it's time to make the transition. It's neat to see the cradle in the corner of our bedroom!

Happy Wednesday!

Little Lentil : 33 Weeks

After our baby-moon weekend, the reality that the baby's due soon has really hit! I have four weeks left of my work placement for my Graphic Design program, and then the baby is due two weeks after that. Dan and I have a few things to get ready for the baby, but for the most part, all of the "things" are ready, it's just time to get mentally prepared.

I've been gathering and collecting goodies for our nursery nook, and we spent a day last week getting our gear organized. I have a floating shelf that I'd like to put up on the wall in the baby's corner. I'd like to fill it will pieces of meaningful art. I have a frame and print or two that I'm planning on using, but I also wanted to make something for the shelf. After discovering a special Bible verse and an evening of crafting, I came up with a little canvas for the baby.

Building up layers of white, coral, and shades of minty green paint

The finished canvas for the bebe

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-three

What's going on inside: Since the baby is getting so big, there's less amniotic fluid surrounding them - that's what's causing their movements to feel so intense. Seriously, sometimes I can't believe how much they're moving. We spent a lot of the trip home from Halifax on the weekend watching my stomach move back and forth. That's one active little bean in there! They are also amping up their immune system right now, getting ready for when they're out in the world.

What's going on outside: I can see how mamas start getting antsy to have their babies right about now - I know that I am! (In a way… because I'm quite content for them to keep growing and developing inside me for a few more weeks. I'm just tired of being preggo.) I am still taking medication once a day, and I messed up on my pill timing last week. The following morning, I got sick (icky!), so I guess that proves that I still need to be on medication! I also slipped on the ice last week, nothing major, but my muscles were extra sore for a few days.

How big is that lentil? The lentil is growing like mad! They're about 4 to 4.5 pounds at this point. The fruit comparison is a honeydew melon this week, which sounds a little silly… can't argue with the experts, though. 

Total weight loss/gain: I've been gaining about a pound per week (as judging by my doctor's appointments). This will take me up to just about my pre-baby weight, which is a nice amount. I had lost between 20-25 pounds in about three weeks in the first trimester, so for my body, that's a good amount of weight gain in total for pregnancy. It'll be awesome to have the baby and weigh less than before getting preggo!

Food cravings: I haven't had any cravings this week, other than Thai food (but that's simply because I had access to it while we were away over the weekend). I haven't been able to eat large quantities, since the baby's so high and there's quite a bit of pressure, but that just means smaller, more frequent meals. That I can handle!

Best moment this week: We picked up our stroller and car seat that was delivered to my friend Heidi's place. Dan spent Sunday evening putting everything together and reading every last instruction manual. I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants person, so I was thankful that I married a keener ;)

Happy Tuesday!

Little Lentil : 32 Weeks

Yikes! Time keeps getting away from me. With all of the daily busyness, I didn't get the opportunity to write my 32 week post - and tomorrow I'll be 33 weeks. I started my work term for school yesterday, and I was busy for most of last week getting school all wrapped up. Okay, I'll get right to it.

Week 32 photo: let's pretend that my mirror is spotless, okay? Thanks.

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-two

What's going on inside: The baby is continuing to grow and develop, getting more and more ready for their arrival. Their skin is getting silky smooth and filled out, and their lungs are preparing for when they'll need to start breathing air. They've been kicking and rolling around like mad, which isn't the most comfortable feeling. They're big in there! At my last two check-ups, the baby was head-down, so they're getting prepped for their big debut!

What's going on outside: I was sick with the cold for most of last week, which was horrendous, since I'm already having trouble breathing with how much that ol' baby is filling up inside me. I was a pretty grumpy bear, and I apologize to anyone that had to deal with me. I threw myself a pity party all week long. 

How big is that lentil? The baby weighs about 3.75-4 pounds this week, and is almost 17 inches long. That's roughly about the size of a squash. (Although that makes no sense to me - a squash doesn't have those proportions. Oh, well. Trust the expert fruit comparers.)

Total weight loss/gain: I'm not sure if it's baby brain or just me not paying attention, but I can't remember how much I've gained. I'm around roughly ten pounds under my pre-pregancy weight, so I'm expecting to be back to my original weight by the time that the baby is due. 

Food cravings: I think I've given up on my orange juice cravings, for the first time in years. I've been getting indigestion, and the OJ is so acidic that I usually end up regretting it if I have more than one glass. I also went out for lunch with friends yesterday and had butter chicken, which tasted delicious at the time, but I regretted it for the rest of the day and evening. Indian food doesn't seem to be sitting well, not that I blame my poor stomach. There's not much room for expansion in there!

Best moment this week: We realized that our baby could be here in as little as 5 weeks! Since Dan's on vacation this week, we're hoping to get most of our nursery prep work done now. I hope to share our plan and progress with our nursery nook over the next couple of weeks.

Happy Tuesday!

Little Lentil : 31 Weeks

It's week 31, and I'm getting excited to meet this little bean! I feel as though they have a personality already. They're pretty feisty - they haven't made this journey an easy one, so I think that they're going to be a little rebel rouser. Our family could use a bit of excitement! :) I don't have a belly picture this week, since I'm sitting here in my pyjamas and I'd rather that not be an image made public, lol. As comfy as I am in stretchy pants and a tunic tee, I don't think that the rest of the world would appreciate it.

image via pinapplestreetstudios.com

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-one

What's going on inside: The baby can turn their head easily from side to side now, and they're plumping up their arms, legs and torso. When they move around, it feels a lot more aggressive, since they have less room to move. Ouch! A few times this week I let out a yelp. 

What's going on outside: Other than it being a serious mission to roll over once I'm in bed, I've been feeling pretty good! I'm back to my tired ways, feeling pretty sluggish in the evenings, but I'm sleeping much better. My sister-in-law suggested getting a massage, which I was always under the assumption that not all therapists are willing to do prenatal massages. I haven't gone since I found out that I was pregnant for that reason, but now I sure am going to give my massage therapist a call this week!

How big is that lentil? The baby weighs around 3.3 pounds at the point, roughly about the size of a pineapple or the weight of four large oranges. Their approximate length is the same as last week, 16 inches.

Total weight loss/gain: When I was weighed at my doctor's appointment last week, I was up two pounds from my previous appointment two weeks earlier. Finally starting to put on regular weight! I'm still about 5-10 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight, so it would be nice if I was able to lose the weight quickly after birth and be smaller than I weighed before becoming pregnant. Here's to hoping!

Food cravings: None. I did get to have a delicious Pakistani meal that a classmate brought in to share this week. Right now, I am sitting down with a delicious cinnamon roll from a local bakery and a tall glass of orange juice for breakfast. Not the healthiest option first thing in the morning, but it sure is tasty.

Best moment this week: There were lots of fun little moments this week. Yesterday, Dan texted me to give my belly a little pat for him, and when I did, the baby kicked back. We sat together in front of the computer and typed out our name options with our last name, and then wrote them with our names: Dan, Katie and _____________. So adorable to see the names listed together! We also went shopping together this week and picked out a rocking chair and a cute grey crib sheet with little white elephants.

Happy Friday, and have a great weekend!

Little Lentil : 30 Weeks

It's week 30! That means that the longest amount of time possible to meet our baby is twelve weeks from now - or it could be as soon as in seven weeks! (Or anytime, really, but let's hope that it's between 7-12 weeks from now, so they'll be healthy and strong.) There's nothing like the reality of numbers and dates to make your heart race. I've gotta get cracking on so many tasks!

I've been working this past week on getting my school straightened away in regards to work terms and finish dates. I've had a placement interview and several meetings with my instructors. Once it's all confirmed, I'll share my plans here. So far, it's going to be busy but manageable!

Week 30 selfie

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty!

What's going on inside: The baby's lungs and digestive tract are just about fully developed now. They can distinguish between light and dark. Freaky fact alert! Apparently, sometimes if you shine a flashlight on your stomach, the baby can move their head to follow the light and may even reach out to touch it. Crazy, eh? They also have all of their eyelashes and eyebrows now. They also control their own temperature now. 

What's going on outside: I feel like I've been growing exponentially this past week. The baby's movements are so strong and a bit shocking sometimes. Last night Dan was watching my belly for a while and was amazed at home much the baby was moving and how visable it was. I've been having indigestion in the evenings, difficulty catching my breath and had a few weak spells over the weekend (I think my blood pressure's been low) but that's all to be expected. My body's working hard at growing a little lentil!

How big is that lentil? This week, they're about the length of an English cucumber (they're about 16" long). They won't get much longer (usually a max of around 22 inches by the time of birth) but they're packing on the weight. The baby's weighing in at around 3 pounds now! No wonder I can feel them so much! Between now and 38 weeks, they should gain about half a pound a week.

Total weight loss/gain: I'll find out this afternoon. I have a doctor's appointment after lunch (which kinda sucks, my other weigh-ins have been early in the day, so it won't be as accurate today.) I do know that I've gained since my last appointment, though.

Food cravings: Just chocolate of any sort, hehe. That's pretty typical for me, though. I'm so thankful that I don't have gestational diabetes - what a struggle that must be! I've been trying to be conscious of my eating habits and not snacking too much in the evenings to help with the indigestion. The only problem with that is that if I haven't eaten in the evening, I get more nauseated the following morning. 

Best moment this week: I was driving home from class one day and U2 came on CBC. I'm a huge U2 fan, and it was a song that I hadn't heard before. Before it even sunk in that it was them on the radio, the baby started moving like crazy. It made me so glad. I guess that they'll be a U2 fan just like their parents! :) 

I purchased a wooden activity centre for my hippie baby this week :)

Happy Thursday!