27 weeks

Sweet Pea

Noah

David

What's so special about 27 weeks? Well for one it marks the beginning of the third and final trimester of pregnancy. Also it gives me a chance to compare belly shots from all 3 of my pregnancies because it just so happens we took 27 week pictures with David and Noah.

Sweet Pea now measures about 14 1/2 inches and weighs almost 2 lbs. The everlasting question remains... boy or girl?! Lately I have switched my thinking from girl to boy and Jonathan still insists "he" is a "she". We have added a survey to our blog so please let us know what your guess is. My next doctors appointment is at 28 1/2 weeks so I will likely give another update then but everything seems to be going well. If Sweet Pea is born at 37 weeks like Noah then we only have 10 more weeks to go. David was born in his 39th week so either way I am hoping and expecting to be a little bit early.

Trisomy Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QJF0Cs4f9s

Please click on this link if you would like to watch this video by NILMDTS featuring trisomy babies, including Noah about 1/2 way through.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

Noah's Stocking

I finished sewing Noah's Christmas stocking this evening and I put some of his things inside just to spend some time thinking about him. I'm glad we have some keepsakes... things to hold and touch that were his. Christmas is always a difficult time of year when you have lost a loved one. Though I don't have past Christmas memories with Noah I am sad that he isn't here to celebrate his first Christmas. Noah's name means "PEACE"... it is why we chose it for him and I've included the meaning of his name on his stocking because it fits so well for Christmas too. Wishing you were here Noah. We think of you and miss you all the time. David calls you "Oah" which is really cute. Your stocking will always be with the rest of our families because you will always be part of us. Love you.

Random December Pics

Here is the snowy backyard. I think this was actually before the latest snow arrived and I've heard there is more on the way tonight and tomorrow. It's definitely getting deep. David no longer enjoys playing in the snow. Partly because he doesn't like having his hands bound in mitts... he takes them off and then touches the snow which he doesn't like either because it is so cold. Jonathan and I have had a bit of fun trying to make him a snow fort which is in the above picture but it's camouflaged since everything is white.

Not sure which video game this is but it is one he gets to play at Canuck Place. This was taken at our Christmas dinner. Our grief support group for families who have lost children has been very helpful and we will continue to go when it starts back up in January. David likes going too and has really become fond of the lady who takes care of him while we are there.

Here are our ginger bread "men"... Daddy, David and Mommy. Made by Grammy... decorated by myself and David. David was actually more interested in eating the decorations but that didn't at all surprise me.

Santa and more Snow

Finally scanned the photo of David with Santa taken at the Canuck Place Christmas Party last weekend. He was so funny! As we were waiting for our turn I had to hold him by his pants to keep him from bugging in line. As soon as the boy in front of us was finished I let go and told David that it was his turn and he grabbed onto the door frame and froze. He didn't cry when he sat on Santa's lap but he refused to answer any of his questions. He still came out of the deal with a cool car so maybe he won't be so shy next time. I also added a few more pictures of David playing in the snow this morning.

Snow etc.

Here we are 25 weeks pregnant and all dressed up for Jonathan's work Christmas dinner/dance last night. It was a fun evening but we did leave at 11pm when we herd it was snowing. It took us an extra hour driving home because of the snow but it was a nice snowy drive with Christmas music.
This morning David and Daddy went outside to enjoy all the snow. David loved it so much he refused several times to come inside. Finally we bribed him with hot chocolate as we had to get going to our Neufeld Christmas lunch and he needed to warm up. Looking forward to playing more later this week?

And here is the war wounds of David from 4 days ago when he got into a fight with the dishwasher. I was most worried about his split lip but he is actually healing quite fast. It might not be completely gone for Christmas but I don't think it will leave much of a scar if any... of coarse only time will tell. So note to parents (and toddlers)... beware of dishwashers... they are meaner then they look.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

As of today Jonathan is more then half way to 50... we celebrated his 26th birthday all day long. I made breakfast sandwiches this morning and he opened some gifts. David made daddy a present this morning all by himself. (He pooped) and when Jonathan opened the diaper he started singing "Happy Birthday to you"... we both thought it was quite funny but maybe you had to be there. I surprised him with 1 hour massage at the spa (I got to go too... I needed to de-stress after the thought that Jonathan is getting old... j/k) then we came home and I helped Dad (Rob) make Jonathan a nice birthday dinner which we enjoyed with both sets of grandparents.
Last night I made the cake... chocolate turtle cheesecake. Good... but sticky and the pieces didn't come out nicely. Here is David "helping." I also made cupcakes for David so we have been busy!

Oh Christmas Tree

December 1st Jonathan and I went to Ikea to pick up our Christmas tree. We chose a very tall and full tree... there is always plenty of selection if you go early. December 2nd Jonathan and Dad (Rob) trimmed the tree and brought it inside. Later that evening we put the lights up and Angel on top. This morning We got around to decorating it. David put the first ornament on without any instruction but after one or two he decided it was easier to just lay them on top of the branches... still cute. Here are a few pictures of him decorating his first tree (we didn't get one last year).

Christmas Cookies

The other day Grandpa brought home some snow man cookies to bake with David.He waited... and waited... and waited.
Needless to say David's favorite part was when he finally got to taste one.

He said they were "delicious"... one of his newest words which he uses when he eats just about anything. He proclaims it with such enthusiasm... so cute!

David's Christmas Wish List

Updated December 15th,2008

Car road rug

Hot Wheels 48 Car Case

Play Cash Register

Roll of paper (to pain or colour on)

Large Colouring Book

Go Diego Go DVD's (he doesn't have any yet)

Backyardigans DVD's... he is only missing these 3 "Polka Palace Party", "Cave Party", and "Movers & Shakers"

Sleeping bag

Fun at the Park

Here is a slide show of David having fun at the park with Daddy. It was so cold that we had to go home after a while because David's little hands where frozen, but Mommy warmed them up with his first hot chocolate of the season.

Raclette

On Saturday we enjoyed our first raclette dinner of the season. We introduced our friends Tony and Christina to this traditional Swiss meal. It was our first time trying gruyere cheese and we quite enjoyed it. Natalie and David entertained each other for the most part so we were able to enjoy a nice adult sit down.

Sunday marked the beginning of my 22nd week of pregnancy. Sweet Pea weighs about 1lb and measures about 11 inches tall. I am really starting to notice a difference in how I am carrying this pregnancy... more to the sides and not as much out front. Between that, the added sickness in 1st trimester and the extra heart burn it is hard for me not to think that we are having a girl. BUT from talking to many mom's I know that a different pregnancy doesn't always indicate a different gender. Both Jonathan and myself would love another son as well as a daughter and we are committed to keeping it a surprise from everyone including ourselves. 5 more weeks until I start that final trimester. 4 weeks until Christmas!

Smells like Snow

Here are a few new pictures of David taken last week at the park. He loves going to the playground where he is actually aloud to climb, instead of at home where we are constantly asking him to "get down." We didn't actually get to stay as long as we would have liked because it started to sprinkle but I had a nice walk to and from the park. Took David there again yesterday only I had to make a few stops and by the time we got to the playground he was sleeping. We've got a busy weekend but if the sun comes out again next week we will go again. I'd like to walk 1-2 times a week to go along with my aquafit on Thursdays which is continuing to go well. I am thinking of signing up for another set of classes which will take me until March 18th.

Last week we also did 5 days of potty training "boot camp" but ended up deciding to take it easy for a while. We still put him in training pants sometimes and he even asks to sit on the potty but it seems he is not quite ready so we have eased up a bit... for our sake and for his. I do hope to train him before Sweet Pea arrives but that will depend on how ready he is and how much energy I have in my last few months of this pregnancy.

21 Weeks Pregnant

Today we are 21 weeks pregnant... more then 1/2 way done... especially since I tend to deliver before my due date. Sweet Pea is making herself known on the inside and out. She is moving much more, I can definitely feel her everyday. And my belly is growing too as you can see from these 21 week pictures Jonathan took this morning.

Today we also got a visit from Aunty Theresa who is visiting from Victoria so Mommy got to go out for a nice lunch and also had some company while trying to potty train David.

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversary!

Today Grandpa and Gramma are celebrating 50 years of marriage. We celebrated with them on Sunday. Happy Golden Anniversary!

Pictures of Sweet Pea

As for an ultrasound update baby is looking "happy and healthy"... those were the exact words of the doctor who spoke to us yesterday afternoon. Sweet Pea's heart looks great and they could see all four chambers. There was one concern as they found a "marker" on Sweet Pea's brain called "choroid plexus cyst" which is just a collection of fluid in the part of the brain which makes the fluid that cushions the brain and spinal cord. The "cyst" is a small build-up of fluid as it moves through the connecting tubes. As the baby grows so the tubes get bigger, and the fluid moves on. CPCs are almost always gone by 24 weeks and do no harm to the baby's brain (found this information from a google search). The concern was that CPCs are sometimes an indicator of a chromosome abnormality (less then 1% of the time). My reason for not updating yesterday was that I needed to see my doctor to find out the results from the other tests which combined with the finding of a "marker" make up a calculated "RISK." I got in to see my doctor this afternoon and he is not concerned at all. When a baby has a chromosome abnormality there is usually several signs and Sweet Pea is perfectly formed except for this little build up of fluid. We will be having another ultrasound around 28 weeks to make sure growth is normal and everything else continues to look good... mostly it will be another reassurance for us that everything is fine.

We specifically asked not to be told Sweet Pea's gender though we did keep our eyes open during the scan. Sweet Pea was hiding her parts well so her gender remains a mystery. Her heart rate today was 144bpm... which continues to be consistent with David and Noah. It was nice to get to watch her moving around... and I look forward to seeing her again in the new year.

19 week Ultrasound

Yesterday was the beginning of our 19th week of pregnancy and this afternoon we get to go for an ultrasound. Right now Sweet Pea weighs about 1/2 lb and measures approximately 6 inches from head to bum. In two more weeks she'll weigh almost 1 lb and measure 2 inches longer so she's got a lot of growing to do. We are very excitted to get to see her again... it has been 7 weeks since we saw her for the first time but today we are looking forward to taking home our first pictures. Unless something comes up this will be our last sneak peak before baby arrives, although with David and Noah I did have ultrasounds at 35 weeks so it could be that another one comes up. Sunday marks the 1/2 way point in a 40 week pregnancy but hopefully Sweet Pea will come just a little bit early like her brothers did. Yes I am saying "she" and "her" and NO we don't know the sex of the baby and we are not planning to find out until "she" arrives. I will continue this post with an ultrasound update when we get home from the hospital but our appointment isn't until 4:30 this afternoon.