What's In a Name?

Saturday, March 27th.

Radio guys are kooky. My lovely colleagues asked me yesterday morning if I would consider naming my baby boy after them. Their names are Mauler and Rush. They want me to call my baby Maulerrush. Uhhhh… I don’t think so guys! I love ya, but no… no way, no sir!

John and I still haven’t chosen a name. Right now we have a few that we like. We’ve got them all on post-it notes in our bathroom. So far I don’t love any of them. It’s such a tough decision! I mean honestly, I can be indecisive at the best of times and this is not a decision to be unsure about. I keep thinking about what it will be like when he introduces himself to his first little friend in school. Or how a potential employer will perceive him when he gives him a firm handshake and states his name, or how it will work with the ladies when he’s trying to pick up in a bar. Is that weird?! I’m actually thinking about scenarios where my sons name could help or hinder him in the hooking up department.

As I mentioned in an older post I’m hoping that we’ll have a better idea as to what name suits when he’s born. I’m sure looking into his face will make it an easier decision to make. That’s what I’m counting on. It makes me wonder though, how do other people choose a name?

Artsy Fartsy

March 24th, 2010

Last night I attended another workshop at my girlfriend Emily’s store in Almonte. I was really excited about this one because we were working with canvas and fabric and text and I had a vision. Unfortunately my vision didn’t exactly transpire into a work of art. I mean, it’s okay, but it didn’t turn out like what I had in my head. The experience makes me appreciate true artists. It’s not enough to come up with a creative concept and it’s not enough to be a skilled painter or sketch artist, the talent comes in combining the two. My late Opa (grandfather) was an artist, and in fact the entire Geuer side of my family is very artistic. I have my moments, but it’s not something that comes naturally to me so I tend to get a bit discouraged. Just the same I’m going to hang my art in the baby’s room as I had intended. The quote I used is from Martin Luther King Jr. It reads;

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

Growth Spurt

March 22nd, 2010

On Saturday night my belly felt uncomfortable. I wondered if maybe the baby was growing. I can say now on this Monday afternoon that my little guy had a growth spurt in the last 36 hours that I can hardly believe. I’m huge! I wish I measured my belly on Friday so I could have the quantitative proof. I would have done that except I didn’t get a warning. My little guy didn’t tell me. Neither did my doctor, neither did my What To Expect email. No one told me that this weekend I was going to literally grow overnight.

I’m in the home stretch… Just two months and a few days to go. I guess it’s time to get big.

My House Is A Mess!

March 21st, 2010

For the last 6 months John has been working on finishing our basement. I admire him for tackling the job because he’s never done anything like it before and it’s looking terrific. Of course having him do all the labour is saving us a ton of dough, the drawback is that it takes longer. He’s got a full time job and we’ve got a pretty busy social life so he can really only put in a day here and a day there.

The issue we’re having right now is that we’re bringing a lot of stuff into the house, but we have nowhere to put it. Baby items are coming in fast and furious and it seems there isn’t a room that can store it all. We have to keep the basement clear for John to work. Same with the garage, and the baby’s room is in an in between stage. We’ve cleared most of the office stuff out of it, but now we’ve got to build shelves and paint before we can load it up. It’s driving me a bit bananas.

Also, with all the work John’s done in the basement this weekend there’s a lovely layer of dust on every surface in our living room, dining room and kitchen! I would share pictures with you of the mess I’m living in, but frankly it’s a bit embarrassing. At least I’ve got clean bathrooms. Ha ha!

Spasm!

March 17th, 2010

Last night at exactly 1:58am I woke up in some serious pain! It felt like my calf muscle was coiling into a hard ball. I immediately yelped, shot my leg straight up in the air and grabbed John. The poor guy, what a terrible way to wake up. He was surprisingly with it and knew exactly what was happening (well, once he confirmed that I wasn’t having a heart attack). We’ve been waiting for the calf spasms.

I read a while ago that a lot of pregnant women begin to experience leg cramps in their second and third trimesters. Up until last night I had only experienced a little cramping, nothing like the full on spasm that hit me in the wee hours of the morning. I’m thinking the walk I went on yesterday after work probably set things in motion. It was such a beautiful day, I wanted to get out in the sun and fresh air so I went for a big long walk, but I didn’t stretch afterwards and I probably should have. Yoga is going to feel good tonight.

The one good thing about a tender calf is that it “forced” me to wear my new flat Michael Kors boots. I love my new boots! Any stylist would probably tell you my legs are too short for riding boots like this, but I don’t care! Aren’t they fun?!

Is My Baby Moving Enough?

March 15th, 2010

I’ve read lately that at 29 weeks you should be able to feel your baby kick or move 10 times in an hour. I must admit it’s hard to find an uninterrupted hour in the day to keep track of the movement, but overall I feel like he doesn’t move that much and it has me a little concerned. Obviously it’s something I’ll be talking to my doctor about, but in the meantime I’m curious to know what other mom’s (who are at the same stage as me) are feeling. Some days he moves a ton, but I feel like most days my little guy is pretty chill. Or maybe I’m just having a hard time differentiated between kicks and movement. Movements are more subtle than kicks so maybe if I really concentrate I’ll feel more. I hate that I’m even worrying about this… Everything is okay, right?

Minivan's Are Cool!

March 14th, 2010

Why do minivans have such a bad rap? I think they’re cool. Growing up we had a Dodge Caravan. It was white and box shaped. I remember when we first got it I was about 15. I thought it was fun! It came in especially handy when my mom, dad, brother and I took off for a trip across Canada. When I was 16 we loaded up the minivan with clothes and camping gear and travelled from our home in Corkery, Ontario, right to Tofino, British Columbia. We were gone for about a month, and to this day it’s one of my fondest family memories. I look back at it now as our last big family vacation. One of the most wonderful things about it was that we, as a family, experienced this beautiful country of ours for the first time together since my parents had never ventured out that way before we were born, and certainly not afterwards.

On that trip the van became our portable home. The downfall of spending so much time in a van for a month, along with camping gear is that it never really smelled the same after that trip. For the life of them my parents could not get rid of the wet socks smell. It became a bit of a joke.

Eventually the Caravan died and my parents got a Honda Civic. I was already out of the house and the car more or less became my brothers. Well last year, my parents, who are both close to retirement decided to get another Caravan and they love it. Last summer they went on trips with friends, and my mom went on girl’s weekends, and there was always more than enough space for everyone to travel together. Last month John, my brother, his girlfriend, my parents and I went up to Tremblant for a weekend, with all our ski/snowboard gear, and guess what?! We all travelled together in the van.

Just this weekend, John and I borrowed the van to go and pick-up some furniture in Toronto. I drove for a bit and I don’t know if it’s because I’m a shrimp (at 5’2”), but I just love the feeling of sitting so high. Needless to say I would totally consider getting my own minivan one of these days. They’re cool in my books!

Special People

March 8th, 2010

Yesterday I received an unexpected phone call from my girlfriend Anne. The reason it was unexpected is because she is currently in Haiti working with CARE Canada to help the survivors of the earthquake.

Although our conversation was brief (because the connection kept breaking up) I was able to hear the joy in her voice. She told me that she knows the work she is doing there with CARE is saving lives. She told me that yesterday morning she attended a memorial for all the women that lost their lives in the earthquake. She said it was a beautiful gathering and that it was more hopeful and joyous than it was sad. She told me the Haitian people truly are some of the strongest human beings she’s had the pleasure of meeting. I can hear in her voice that their spirit is giving her energy for the work she is doing.

After getting off the phone with her I took a moment to be thankful for all the people in the world like her. Thank God for the special people who abandon their comfortable and privileged lives to help those in need. I am so proud of my friend. Her will is inspiring.

It makes me think about my son and the man he will grow up to be. Will he one day travel the world in the hopes of lending himself to help others in need? Maybe he will, or maybe his contribution to the greater good of our society will come in a different form all together. Maybe he’ll smile at a stranger who needs it. Or maybe he’ll be able to make financial contributions to charities that find cures, donate items to the less fortunate, or offer support to those walking a lone path. Regardless I know it is up to me to teach him the spirit of giving by example.

This entry is dedicated to my beautiful friend Anne.

Josie, Put The Gun Down!

March 2nd, 2010

I did my baby registry on Sunday. The first thing the sales associate did when I told her what I was there for was arm me with a gun. Otherwise known as a scanner. I immediately felt lightheaded with the gun in my hand, knowing the damage I could do. Thankfully I had my wonderful friend Andrea by my side to keep me from losing my mind in the store. If it wasn’t for her I surely would have drowned in the sea of bottles, nipples, blankies, and breast pads. That, or I would have scanned everything in site and ended up with 20 soothers too many at my shower.

I don’t know how anyone walks into these types of situations for the first time alone. I am so fortunate to have supportive and experienced friends and family to help me through. I was so overwhelmed, but Andrea was very good to tell me what I would need and what I wouldn’t. It felt like we were at it for a long time, but I feel good that it’s done now. Well almost. I have yet to register for the stroller and the crib bedding. The stroller is a tough one because I want it to be good quality, and at the same time I don’t want it to cost a fortune (which some of them do)! As far as the bedding goes, I’m having a hard time deciding on a colour scheme. Decisions these days can be hard enough to make… try deciding on bedding after you’ve already made a hundred choices on face cloths, and diapers, and teething rings.

I hope I’m not sounding like a spoiled brat. I know how fortunate I am that these items are going to be generously purchased for this little baby by friends and family. I guess I’m just feeling… I already used the word overwhelmed… ummmmm… nervous. Walking through the store it hit me pretty hard that my world is going to revolve around this baby boy when he’s born and I’m just feeling a little bit like I have no idea what I’m in for. Half the things Andrea pointed out to me I didn’t even know existed. All part of the excitement, right?!