Soothers!

Mother's out there will probably agree with me that Soother's are LIFE SAVERS! Sommer only likes the soother that she got from NICU and the bad thing is that I can't buy that kind in the stores. I was freaking out because what if I lost it while we were travelling to the states... she only takes that one kind. I have tried switching the soother so she would like a store brand but nope, she totally knows the difference. Plus, the NICU soother is massive and bulky plastic green... but she totally loves it. Luckily my grandma's cousin is a nurse at the hospital and she brought me over 2 more just in case something happens. It pays to know someone at the hospital. When I'm in the states I am going to order some off the internet because this brand delivers to the states, not Canada. Oh dear... so much work for a passifier!

My other problem with her soother is that she really only falls asleep when she is sucking on it. So when she is in her crib not quite asleep and the soother falls out of her mouth she will cry. That means I have to walk down the hall just to put that stupid soother back in her mouth. There are some nights I walk down the hall probably 5 times for that soother. I have honestly contemplated sleeping on the floor in her bedroom until she is asleep to save me the walk down the hall. Currently she is almost asleep in her swing and I have got up 3x from typing this to put the soother in her mouth. I have such a love/hate relationship with that thing! Love it because she will be so quiet with it in her mouth and hate it because it doesn't stay there all the time.

Oh my... I use to blog about adult issues, now look at me, it's soothers and naptimes. Ha! Life sure can change :)

I have the cutest kid!

The funny thing about Mat Leave is that I honestly don't know what day it is... each one fads into the other and I find myself asking James what day it is today. I look forward to Sunday when I know that it will be a special day that has structure to it. Regular Sunday routines can still happen with a baby, who knew?

Last night we went out for Supper with some good family friends and their kids. I have been nervous about taking Sommer out to a restaurant because what if she crys? But last night she did so good and slept the whole time! What an angel. I also have mastitis, which is an infection of breast tissue and/or milk ducts, and I have been nervous about feeding her away from our house. She tends to be very fussy during feeding times and freaks out when she has to eat from the infected side but last night I had to feed her at our friends house and she did so good! My worries are slowly fading now!

This week I am going to take Sommer to the chiropractors to see if they can do anything for her digestive system. She is really bad gas after each feeding and she just ends up crying because it hurts when she burps or passes gas. I hear that sometimes treatments can help with that. Keep us in your prayers as we learn what she needs and how we can help her. She sure is cute! At her check up on Thursday she weighed 10 lbs 7 oz!! WOW! That's a 4lbs 2 oz weight gain since birth! Little porker!

Well, Im watching good Sunday evening TV and it's almost feeding time (sounds like I'm a farmer!). I better head off. Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Grey Cup 2007

Sommer has RIDER PRIDE!

Cutest Lil' Rider Fan!

RIDER FAMILY!
Mommy, Lexis, Sommer, and Daddy

RIDER FAMILY!

5 generations

This weekend we had Sommer dedicated at church. Sommer was really lucky to have her grandpa Dave do the dedication. After the service we went back to my grandma's house where we had our 5 generation picture taken. WOW! Not many people today can do a 5 generation picture. Sommer is lucky enough to have 2 great great grandma's alive. Today we had my dad's side picture taken and in June we will have my mom's side taken. We are very blessed to have the opportunity to take these pictures!

I love Mommyhood

The joys of Mommyhood.
1) Her sleeping on your chest. Day... Night...Day...Night
2) Seeing her curled up, sleeping soundly, knowing you brought her into the world
3) Feeding her and seeing her little eyes staring up at you with love
4) Little grunts, cries, and squirms... the sounds of life!
5) Little ears, nose, and mouth
6) All nighters, getting to know each other a little better
7) Seeing her with Daddy, Daddy little Angel!
8) Outfit changes, up to 5x a day, how does someone who never leaves the house get so dirty?
9) Nowing that she depends on you for life, a Mommy is someone special
10) Watching her discover new things, even as simple as the light above the kitchen table!

Sommer's Baby Shower!

YOU ARE INVITED TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF SOMMER LYN!

Sommer's Baby Shower!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

7:00 pm

Living Hope Alliance Church

Everyone is welcome to attend!

Come and meet Sommer and celebrate her arrival into our family!

Sommer Lyn's weekend with Auntie Lyn

This weekend Sommer Lyn hung out with her Auntie Lyn. This is the first time that they met and Lyn was so excited to finally meet her! Sommer had fun getting spoiled and held all weekend that she is a little grumpy today. She can be a little bear! Here are some pictures from the weekend!

Update

WOW!

I haven't had time to blog much now that Sommer is here! Seems like that little rascal is taking most of my time, haha. She is great! Growing so much each day. Already she is over 7 lbs 8 oz!!! That's over 1 pound from her birth weight! Her sleeping schedule was really good for the first 10 days and then Sommer decided to not sleep at all. But last night we got back into the old routine and got some much needed rest! Most of my day is spent nursing and burping and cleaning up spit-up. But I wouldn't change it for the world!

My mom made this video of Sommer's Journey into our family! Check it out!

Family Picture

Our family of 3 leaving the hospital! Time to go home on Saturday night! HURRAY!

Welcome Sommer Lyn McCullough

We are home! After 15 hours of labour, 1 night and 1 day in the NICU, and 1 day in the Mommy/Baby Ward, we are a family!

It all started early Thursday morning with contractions 10 mins apart at 1:30 am. By 2:30 am they were 5 mins apart and by 4:00 am we were checking into the labour/Delivery Ward Room 1. Contractions were 4 mins apart for most of the time and I spent most of the time in the bath tub where the contractions were not as strong. But you can't spend the whole time in there are when I would get out I thought I would pass out. I stalled at 4 cm and tried to hold off the epidural but I just couldn't do it. The pain was too intense. So at 4 cm I got the epidural and had a nap. A couple hours later I was checked again and I was still 4 cm so they hooked me up to the drip. Once that drip went in me I was off to the races... 20 minutes later I was 6 cm and 45 mins I was 8 cm. They broke my water at 8 cm and honestly instantly I was at 10 cm. TIME TO PUSH!My doctor was in a funeral so I pushed for 2 hours and got an episiotomy and the next push Sommer arrived.

Her heartbeat had been dropping a lot during labour so I was constantly rolling around to my side. So when she was born the NICU Team was in there to help her out and they stole her from me to observe her because she was in shock. It was so sad that they took her right away, but at least she was being cared for. I didn't get to see her until she was already 4.5 hours old but James was with her for quite a while. It was so sad to see her hooked up to all the wires and monitors and I couldn't hold her. Finally Friday morning they called me to feed her and they started to ween her off the I.V.'s as I feed her throughout the day. It wasn't until Friday evening at 6:30 pm that they gave us to her for good! We could hold her and fuss her up whenever we wanted to.

All in all we are doing great and enjoying life as a family of 3. Hard to believe that little angel was inside me for so many months, it's sure great to have her out and in my arms! Thanks for your prayers and encouraging words. The life of a mommy is one I would never trade anything for, I love it!

2 days over due....

Hey Everyone.

Still waiting for baby. I am 2 cm dialated and 100% effaced, so it's just a matter of time. I have had some contractions but nothing timeable so that is frustrating. Hopefully a nice walk around the lake today will help speed things up. She is 2 days over due now but is moving lots and has a strong heartbeat. I am getting frustrated and can not believe the amount of phone calls I get to see if the baby has arrived. I actually changed my answering machine message so I dont have to answer the phone anymore if I'm tired, haha! So, if I dont answer just leave a message and I will call you back. One nice thing is that James has been working from home this past week, getting lots of paper work and stuff done before the baby actually arrives so it is nice to have him here.... even if he is hidding in the office.

Please pray that she arrives in the next couple of days! I'm getting anxious and uncomfortable. Thanks and I will keep you all posted!

Pregnancy Photos

PICTURES TAKEN BY BRUCE VASSELIN

DESIGNER PHOTOGRAPHS

Waiting... but not like Sarah waited!

I have been very impatient waiting for my baby girl to come. But this morning I was doing a lesson for my Beth Moore study, The Patriarchs, and was reminded about how long Sarah had to wait to give birth to her son Isaac. When Sarah was around 65 years old God promised her that she would give birth to a son. It wasn't until she was 90 that she actually gave birth to Isaac. WOW! I can't imagine how she would feel when that baby finally was born and she held him for the first time. Those must have been the longest years of waiting and trying to trust God that he will do what he said he would do. But one should never question Him, because he is faithful and will deliver whatever he promises. God doesn't forget, he just does things in His time not ours. This lesson helped remind me that God has a perfect time picked out for Sommer to arrive, I just have to trust Him.

Dear Daughter

I AM SLOWING GOING CRAZY,

1-2-3-4-5-6 SWITCH.

SLOWLY AM I GOING CRAZY,

1-2-3-4-5-6 SWITCH!

Dear Daughter who resides at "just below my rib cage/ just above my pelvic bone":

I checked and it is time for you to come out. You have been inside long enough and you need some fresh air. It is not good to stay in the same position for a long period of time. My mom, your grandma, use to tell me that if you stay in the same position for too long you will end up looking that way permanetly and we really don't want that. I am sure your legs are getting cramped, infact I know they are because you are constantly stretching them out into my side. Not that I'm complaining, I love it when I can grab your little foot and tuck it back inside, but it is kind of getting painful now you are so big.

Your free ride is coming to an end. I can't carry you this way forever, you know. There comes a time when you need to be a big girl and brave the real world on your own, without my body acting as your sheild. But don't worry, I will still protect you and hold you. Just in a new way. It's an adventure that we can go on together, trust me, you'll love it here. Your daddy is patiently waiting for you to come out of hidding. He is a patient person, but I wouldn't test him too much... when he wants something he wants it NOW! So if I were you I would hurry up... who knows how much longer I can keep him calm.

Your big girl bed is waiting for you! In fact you have 2 beds, you have options! Every girl LOVES options! First you have a dark cherry wood bed that is very comfortable. It's every girls dream really. And you also have a smaller bed that you can sleep near me in. We can have sleepovers and stay up into the wee morning hours and have "girl talk". I'll make you a midnight snack, and if you are still hungry you can eat again at 4 am if you want! You call the shots, but you need to come out to do so! You should see your closet full of beautiful clothes! Daddy says you are spoiled. If you come out now I can take you shopping and buy you a new outfit. Again, you really need to be able to pick which colours you like on your own, so hurry up!

These past 9 months have been fun! Thanks for teaching me so many news things and always being there for me. I have loved our Yoga classes and Aqua fit classes, and also our PreNatal class. We have been to so many fun things already and there are more to come! If you liked Yoga and Aquafit we can do those again, but we need to register soon... not to pressure you or anything! Your big sister Lexis is waiting to play with you. She looks different than you, so don't be alarmed, she is adopted. But she loves to give kisses and snuggle so you are in luck! If you find her too much just let me know and I will give her a gentel scolding. She is really just a big ball of energy and love. I tell her every morning that you might be arriving today, so please don't make me look like I don't know what I'm talk about... come now!

Here are a few travel tips I thought you should know for your journey:

1) When you see the light, tunnel for all its worth!

2) You only have a short distance to travel, so try not to take too many rest stops along the way!

3) If you get scared half way here, please don't turn around and head back. I'm waiting for you on the other side!

4) I will have a thick blanket and some warm milk waiting for you when you arrive. You can have a quick snack and then head to bed. You'll be exhausted from the journey!

Well daughter. I hope I have convinced you to come ASAP! I'm waiting for you on pins and needles. I can't wait to meet you in person. I love you so much already!

Your anxiously awaiting Mother,

Melissa

Thinking, Waiting, Wishing, Pray'in...

Still here... still waiting... still anxious...

No, I have not given birth, unfortunately! My baby is still inside, nice and warm and growing stronger (not to mention BIGGER) each day. James thought she was coming last night because he had some weird kind of feeling. But we woke up this morning and she still was inside. We went for a walk last night and then I took Lexis for another one this morning. I was having cramps by the time I got home from the morning walk, but nothing now. We will have to go for another one this evening when James gets home from work. My hands are extremely swollen, which is uncomfortable. No rings fit on them now, I officially look unmarried. They are so swollen that I can't close them tight in a fist. I have the house all cleaned and my bags are ready to go in the bedroom. Now we just need some contractions!

Yesterday we got pregnancy pictures done by Bruce Vasselin at Designer Photographs. They are so cool! James only wanted to me in 2 pictures or so. But I was there for 2.5 hours taking 100's of pictures. They are really different. I will post them when I get them... Probably by the time they come my baby will be here. Oh well... they are still cool to have. I am going to make a pregnancy photo album for Sommer.

Not much else is new. Just (im)patiently waiting for the big day. My mom says that she wont come until next Thursday and be a couple of days over due because I am such an impatient person. It's true, I hate surprises and waiting for things to happen. Usually I take things into my own hands and plan it all out... why can't I plan this out too??

Hurray for Shauna!

Shauna had her baby yesterday evening. A baby boy weighing 8 lbs 1 oz! HURRAY! I don't know much more details than that, by the end of the day I am sure I will though. Now I just want to have my baby. I figured out how to explain my feelings: You know when you are engaged and people are having their wedding day before you and you just want yours so bad... that's how I feel. I JUST WANT MY BABY DAY! I feel like I have waited so long and it still hasn't come. James is fine with it waiting a few more weeks. What a bum. He just tells me he has too much stuff to do before it comes. Well, I am not ready to wait any longer!

We had a good thanksgiving weekend. James' brother was here for the weekend and we went to our friends house for dinner on Sunday. I love to eat and especially now, MMmmm, I loved every minute of it. Yesterday I was a tad bit grumpy... not too sure why. Must have woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Now that the weekend is over I am not sure what I will do to keep myself busy. Tonight we are having friends over for a bbq but before that she and I are going to prenatal aquasize! I am going to swim this baby out of me! Also today I am getting my haircut and highlighted, possibly the last time for a while. It's not really easy to do when you have a little one.

Well I am feeling sick this morning. I think I forgot to take my medication last night before bed. I should go take some and then head over to my doctors appointment. Have a wonderful day back at work everyone!

I love you baby girl!

Here I am at 38 weeks. Hard to believe a tummy can get so big (and I am small compared to the average woman!). I have officially "hit the wall" as the "professionals" say, haha. I WANT THE BABY OUT! I can't sleep at night, it's all I think about. I just want it to be over. Every dream I have involves labour, and honestly I wish it was just over. I'm not scared really because they aren't bad dreams. They are just dreams where I am in labour and things are moving along. But then I wake up, look at my belly and realize it was only a dream. How sad. Pray that things will move along quickly... I honestly think I am going a tad bit insane! HELP ME GET HER OUT!

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

Thanks everyone for your birthday wishes and presents!!! I am definitely loved and supported! I took these two pictures of my new baby items that I am so excited about.

The first is the newest trend in diaper bags: groovy, chic, oriental looking bags that noone would ever know is a diaper bag. My how things have changed since the days of the Winnie the Pooh bags. I am absolutely in LOVE with my new bag - Thanks Lyn!! It has a matching diaper changing pad and the inside is made of vinyl for easy wipe downs. SO MUCH FUN!

The second is a breast feeding pillow that goes around you when you are feeding. Makes it much easier on the Mommy since she doesn't have to hold the baby in her arms. The little one can rest on the pillow and be at the right level. The pattern matches the crib bedding except in blue! I look forward to taking this to the hospital because it makes learning to breast feed a lot easier.

Later the pillow can also be used to prop the baby up in the sitting position. All around a VERY wonderful gift for both Sommer and I.

Not sure if you all read the LeaderPost today but the had a front page article on how the labour & delivery and Mommy & Baby ward are full to the max! They have a waitlist for women who are to be induced which can last up to 16 days past the due date of the baby. My friend Shauna Kaytor was featured in the article as she is almost 2 weeks over due. Pray that her baby will come soon naturally so that she will be able to deliver the baby soon. They won't send you away if you are in natural labour as those baby's won't hold off being delivered. It is not much fun for those overdue moms! Hopefully little Sommer comes soon on her own as I will not want to be at home waiting for a phone call for enducing!

Hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving weekend :) Eat LOTS of turkey and enjoy special time with family. This will be my last thanksgiving just James and I... so much will change in just a few short weeks.

Love always,

Melissa

Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my 23rd birthday! No huge plans today, just a lunch date and then some people coming over this evening. Should be a pretty relaxing birthday :) Last night James and I went to pick out my birthday present. It was suppose to have been that rocking chair but I told James that I wanted something else too, because it's no fun already having your birthday present! I picked out a camcorder from Best Buy so we can tape Sommer's arrival into this world (no gross photography though). I just want to be able to remember my daughter when she is fresh into this world and looking cute as ever! Hard to believe I'm almost a mom at 23 years old. Looking back 5 years ago I would have never guessed this is what my life would be like. But I love the point in life I am at now. I wouldn't change anything for the world.

Almost finished!

The count down is on! Only 3 more weeks until my due date, which in turn feels like forever! I am definitely ready for this little lady to come into our lives. 9 months seems to have flown bye but at the same time it also feels like it has been a long time coming. I am glad that I have been able to blog through my experience and look forward to looking back on the posts with fond memories. Soon I will be blogging about late night feedings and poopy diapers... oh interesting and exciting!

This weekend we watched the movie Knocked Up. Funny comedy (bad language for those who are sensitive) about two individuals who meet at a bar and end up sleeping together and becoming pregnant. The scenes about hormones and crazy thoughts hit home and had me laughing. But the labour and delivery scene had me in tears and stressed to the max. I don't really know why I ended up sobbing but I did. James thought I was crazy but was compassionate at the same time. He said that we probably shouldn't have watched that movie but reminded me that labour is only a very short period of time in our lives... we will survive! I don't know why I get so stressed thinking about it. It's not that I think that it's going to hurt (I know it will, but I'm not afraid of the pain), I think it's more of the "unknown" that gets me all worked up.

Today is my first official day of Mat Leave and I am going ansy! Haha. I have watched t.v. and cleaned the house and now I am lying on the bed snuggling with Lexis :) I should get ready to go to the doctors though. Have a wonderful day!

I am normal.... right?

I should be in bed... yes, I should be! But every time I close my eyes I start thinking about how soon this baby is coming and how unprepared I am. Now, I know I am not unprepared. I have been nesting for the past 9 months. The nursery is ready, my house is ready, I am ready. But I have to tell myself that over and over again. I have been having these really weird dreams lately about delivering the baby and then being the one responsible for her. I just dream that I don't know what I am doing and that I will be so unprepared for motherhood. But is anyone really prepared and gifted right off the bat with their first child? I doubt it. It takes some trial and error, and also some good advice from people around you. I just think over and over again about a nurse handing Sommer to me and then saying "go ahead, feed her." What the heck? I don't know how to feed her yet!! I have seen 1 movie in Prenatal, trust me, that doesn't make me an expert by any means. Ahhh! This is very different than babysitting, haha. There is no one going to appear at the end of the night and pay me and send me home. I am the one now who has the responsibility (or soon will have) of taking care of this precious angel and knowing what she wants and when. But I will be okay. I'm sure every new mom before they have their baby has some sort of anxiousness about what is going to come in the next couple of weeks. I am sure I am normal... I am... right???

Big Sister Lexis!

I had such a great nights sleep last evening! I slept through the night and didn't get out of bed until 8:00 this morning. We are trying to teach Lexis to sleep on her own and not with us. So on Friday evening we went over to Costco and bought Lexis a new bed and told her it was her "big sister" bed that she had to sleep on. (Wow, she is spoiled! I know... she is a dog!) Lexis got up 2 times last night and tried to come into our bed but I told her to go back and lie down. Finally at 7:3o am she came to see if I would let her up and I did... a 1/2 hour in bed with us can't be too bad. Lexis needs to learn that things are changing around here so her nose isn't out of joint when the baby sister comes. I think she will be great but she still has a little ways to go! Good thing I have patience with her because she is sooo cute! She will make a great big sister!