*drum roll*

Week 40

This is what maternity leave sans baby looks like:

10:30AM - Wake up
10:40AM - Check work e-mail
11:00AM - Breakfast/Chat with mum, chat with aunts, chat with sister on the phone
11:55AM - Make self snack
12:00PM - Sit there and contemplate what to do with afternoon
12:05PM - Call husband to complain that there is nothing to do (all options from above action did not appear very appealing)
12:10PM - Check work e-mail
12:11PM - Google "how to induce labour"
12:15PM - Sit at craft machine and do a little sewing
1:00PM - Check work e-mail
1:01PM - Google "how to induce labour"
1:05PM - Lunch/Watch some TV on computer
1:55PM - Check work e-mail
1:56PM - Google "how to induce labour"
2:00PM - Sit there and contemplate what to do till husband comes home
2:05PM - Call husband to complain that there is nothing to do (all options from above action did not appear very appealing)
2:10PM - Go for walk
2:15PM - Treat self to ice cream or coffee or cold drink to drown out anxiety (i.e. "Why is my baby STILL not here?")
3:30PM - Go home and make self snack
3:35PM - Check work e-mail
3:36PM - Google "how to induce labour"
3:40PM - Sit there and contemplate what to do till husband comes home
3:45PM - Call husband to complain that there is nothing to do (all options from above action did not appear very appealing)
3:50PM - Call mum or sister to complain that baby isn't here yet
4:00PM - Make self snack
4:05PM - Stare into space while lying on bed
4:10PM - Fall asleep
5:30PM - Wake up to start dinner
6:00PM - Sit there and contemplate what to do in the evening when husband is home
6:05PM - Call husband to if he's left work
6:10PM - Sit at craft machine and do a little sewing
6:40PM - Google "how to induce labour". Remain on computer until husband is back from work.

Yes, there is a lot of work email checking, googling and complaining.

Currently 5:19PM on my due date. Skipped nap and, instead, doing squats around the house in hope to induce labour. So far no contractions, but my thighs, calves and ankles really hurt.

Change Kits

My good friend Tiff and I used to talk about how great it would be to get pregnant and go on maternity leave together, so when I found out she’s four weeks behind me in pregnancy, I was thrilled. When I found out she’s also having a little boy, I was beyond excited—not only will our kids grow up together, we’re going to enlist them in the same sport leagues!

Every time I purchase supplies to make baby something, I double up to ensure I have enough materials for Tiff’s baby as well. For her baby shower, I went with a handmade On-the-Go Change Kit.  In the kit there is a spare diaper (or two), some wipes, a portable change mat, a change of clothes, a bib and a burp cloth. The purpose of the kit is to have essential items for a day out ready to be grabbed on the way out of the door; all the items are conveniently stored in a cute little bag that doubles as a wet bag for soiled clothing.

I sewed the portable change mat with Daniel’s help. I rounded the corners of the mat it would look nicer, but I had such trouble sewing the bias tape around the corners!! I had an embarrassing mental breakdown and Daniel had to sew on the border for me while I lamented about my horrible sewing skills in the background (it was ugly; I blame the hormones). The mat is made of waterproof vinyl and can be wiped clean with a wet cloth.

The bib was made following Kelly’s 20-minute bib tutorial. Great tutorial and really easy to follow, but again, I had trouble with the curves. However, it was the snaps that almost ensued another breakdown; I had sewn in snaps with neat and pretty stitches only to realize that they were in backwards (I even checked and double checked!) and had to pull them out. The burp cloth, a rectangle with terry cloth on one side and cotton on the other, was nice and simple. I love right angles.

I didn't make the onesie. That purchased from Moms to Be... and More.

It is my hope that Tiff and Phil find this On-the-Go Change kit handy and useful when their little one arrives!

Week 39

I saw these little shoes on sale at Gap and just couldn't resist! Baby L has matching shoes with his mama.

We’re all ready for the little one to come out. Now we’re just waiting, and the wait is long and painful. In the last couple of weeks my hormones have been going haywire and I am breaking out like crazy. The swelling is such a nuisance. I have cankles. Not only my feet and hands swelling, but my face is as well; in the morning, I look like I've just gotten into a fight (so sexy). I have heat flashes. I waddle... Ugh. I feel miserable!!

Baby, come out, come out, come out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Babymoon

According to Wikipedia, the term “babymoon” refers to “a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby.”

Since I’m always up for a vacation, I jumped at the excuse to getaway just once more before the baby comes. We decided take a small trip to Kingston a couple weekends ago— close to home in case I went into labour or thing.

The babymoon was relaxing. We had reservations at the Secret Garden Inn, a charming Victorian bed and breakfast located close to Queen’s campus; I used to ride my bike past the Secret Garden Inn and imagine living there. We stayed in the Victoria Rose room which had a gas fireplace, four-post bed, and a claw-foot tub. We spent most a lot of time at the inn, taking naps, reading (Domino Magazine’s special edition!), eating goodies baked by Kathy the inn-keeper, soaking in the tub and playing scrabble. We ventured out to eat at old favourite places (mmmmmmmm Stooley’s fries!), get some R&R with massages from Serenity Spa, and take walks along Princess St.

We had the loveliest time... I am a little sad that I'll have to share Daniel with the baby when he comes, but I guess that's part of growing up. Sharing is caring, right?

Boy oh boy!

(photography credit: Gretchen Easton Photography)

I'm going to have to admit that there is a big part of me that has no clue what to do with a little boy. I’ve always been pretty girly and I know tea parties and how to twirl in skirts, not boy stuff! But it has been exciting picturing a little mini Daniel, especially a well-dressed little mini Daniel. Below are a few things I’ve come across that make me smile at the thought of raising a little boy:

(source: sailor romper, vintage French baby boy shoes, The Boys' Book: How to be Best in Everything, superhero wooden peg dolls, soccer-cleat like baby boy shoes, newsboy cap and ties, wooden cars and trucks)

An Accessory for Cloth Diapering

So I hear that the one absolute must-have accessory for cloth diapering is a wet bag. Wet bags are waterproof bags designed to hold wet and dirty diapers while on-the-go. I purchased a couple online, but when I found some Lizzy House’s fabric from the Castle Peeps collection on sale, I decided to make a few by myself.

I absolutely love the Castle Peeps collection. It's so cute and so much fun, with its fairy tail themed. I chopes fabrics in blues and turquoises to match the nursery colour theme. I wish I had the foresight to have purchased more of it to make more soft blocks.

The insides of the bags are lined with some waterproof polyurethane (PUL) laminate fabric. I couldn't find any locally so purchased some in a lovely sky blue from etsy.

The bags were very easy to make. There is a plethora of tutorials online (like, here, here, here, and here) and I referred to them all until I got comfortable with doing my own thing.

I hope these come in handy!