License to Drive!

So... PC and I are nearing the time when we can post our little sign in the back window of the Escape... BABY ON BOARD (thanks Mary-Ellen for it!).

I have started to wonder about this little sign... ? Once we hang it in the back window... what does it actually mean?

Does it alert other drivers on the road to take extra caution when approaching our vehicle, or does it give me permission to drive like a mad woman and not piss others off because they will think 'Oh... she's got a baby in there - must be an emergency?'

I have to say... I have seen some erratic drivers on the roads with this sign in their back window, and I think a variety of things when I see them:

• A. What a piece of shit parent you are for driving like a maniac with a child in the car.


• B. I hope to GOD the baby is NOT in the car if your driving like that.


• C. I bet that guy doesn't even have a baby... he just has the sign so that people will let him in during rush hour.


• D. Okay... maybe something is really wrong 'the lady has a baby on board - let her in PEOPLE'!

I guess it will be the same for us... if PC is behind the wheel... people will probably think A, B or C, but if its me... then I am guessing folks will go with D.

Originally I was thinking I will have to give up my speeding and erratic driving habits once the baby comes, but maybe this BABY ON BOARD sign just gave me a whole new license to drive!

I thought breast-feeding was the cheaper option?

I always thought that one of the perks of breast-feeding was the amount of money couples were saving by not having to buy formula. But today I learned... you still have to shell out some cash if you are going to breast-feed!

I hit up the maternity store on my lunch hour, as I am trying to put together my bag for the hospital. Some of things I need, I can't just go to Walmart and stock up, I have to get at the speciality stores for preggo ladies.

I thought... I will go in and see what they have, and what I think I need, as I don't have a clue whats out there.

Well! I was greeted at the door by two very nice and enthusiastic w0men, who asked what I was shopping for today, and when I told them I was in the neighbourhood for nursing attire, they practically hoisted me up on a pedestal... sounded the Cinderella music, and went to town with fitting me for nursing bras, having me try on a few different styles of them, then onto the pjs, tops... all the while advising me of the pros and cons of each style.

In my head I thought I would just get one or two bras, but then after seeing all the different styles, etc... I ended up buying 4 bras... 2 good ones, 1 sports-type one, and 1 sleeping one. Then, I secured a pair of pjs for the hospital, some washable breast pads for home, some disposable breast pads for the hospital, and 2 fairly fashionable nursing tops that were on sale.

I hadn't even thought about needing tops that would accommodate breast-feeding... and I guess you really don't need all that many, but I figure if I am going to actually go out in public and breast-feed (which I am not totally convinced I am yet!) I am going to need a top or two that allows me to do it with ease, rather then getting half naked in the middle of a restaurant or the mall!

All this to say, I had a great experience, (mostly due to the service I received at the maternity store), as I felt like I was really outfitted and ready to take on this motherhood/breast-feeding thing... but at the end of the day the bill came to THREE HUNDRED AND THREE DOLLARS.

Let's recap:

4 bras: 2 good ones, 1 sports, 1 sleeping
1 pair of nursing pjs
2 nursing tops (on SALE)
1 package of disposable breast pads
1 package of washable breast pads

All of this... was $303.48.

Now... I have no idea what formula would run me.... but I am going to assume that for $303 I could get quite a few bottles out that!

The thing is, I have no idea how breast-feeding will go for me, if it will be easy and I will want to do it for awhile, or if I will absolutely hate it and want to give it up within the first few weeks. I hope to hell its the first option... as I just spent three-hundred bucks on stuff I won't need, if its the latter!

Whatever the case is... I will look damn good doing it, whether its for 3 weeks or 9 months!

My horoscope today!

My mother... bless her heart, gave me a daily horoscope book in my stocking last year at Christmas.

I have it at my desk, and although I don't read it faithfully on a daily basis, I do pick it up from time to time.

My boss.... shares the same zodiac sign as me, and her and I were meeting in my office to talk over a file yesterday, she picked up the book to read a few days.... she was quick to point out today's horoscope, as she laughed and said I should be especially worried about it!

Capricorn
Thursday, August 21st

As one phase of your life begins to come to an end, new possibilities are all around you. Working out exactly what you are going to do next will form part of the excitement that comes in late August for you.

LATE AUGUST?

Nooooooooooo...... this can't be. I need to get my act together pronto...!! PC and I were planning on going to the cottage in LATE August with friends... for one last couple weekend, sans kids. I figure we would have 4 looooooong weeks afterwards to get everything together, and put the PREPARED stamp on things at home... well in time for the baby's arrival.

Perhaps the long weekend at the cottage is out of the question now, unless I want to have this baby in Parry Sound, which I don't (although I hear they have a fabulous new hospital up there)... I can just hear our son or daughter now... 20 years down the road saying:

Future Baby Coleman: Dad, why did you name me Parry?
PC: 'Cause it was a nice name.
Me: No... because your Dad was hammered when we got to the hospital (and I was sedated from the shock of premature labour), so him and his buddies said, let's name it Parry... were in Parry Sound... and then they all high-fived each other before crushing some beer cans off their foreheads.

Face it, I'm dooomed if this horoscope is correct!

Nesting!

So I have heard and read many things about the nesting phase of pregnancy... the phase were every pregnancy woman gets this surge of energy and cleans and organizes every nook and cranny of their home.

I am 8.5 months pregnant and I mentally have my nesting list ready to go:

• finish the baby's room
• disinfect the fridge
• clean out the freezer
• organize the cupboards
• organize the pantry
• wash windows
• get bookkeeping in order

This is the list .... but yet I don't seem to have the motivation or energy to do any of it.

So here I am... with my list ready to do, but all I can do is wait, and wait, and wait for the energy to come.

I am starting to wonder if I am suppose to be doing all of this stuff during the wee hours of the morning, as that when I am wide awake, with nothing to do but watch reruns on tv, and toss and turn. Perhaps I should just put myself on the night shift next week and see what type of productivity comes from that. I have a feeling PC wouldn't think too much of it, as the major nesting activities would take place on the main floor, and he has setup camp in the basement, so that he can actually sleep, since I am up all night!

I am going to try accomplish some of the tasks off my list this weekend, but I have a feeling I will end up napping more than anything, since I am a zombie at work these days. However, who knows, maybe it will turn out to be a productive weekend, and then once my nesting energy arrives (if it ever does), I can use it to just annoy PC and the whole neighbourhood!

Did any of you expert pregnant ladies out there ever experience the surge of nesting energy... if so, when did it happen for you, and what were you like?

Back from Vacation!

I guess I owe my faithful readers an apology! I took off on vacation for 10 days, and absent-mindedly forgot to inform you of this little blogging hiatus.

PC and I were in the metropolis of Thessalon,ON for the famous Community Weekend - PC played ball with the Bellerose family men's team.... and I spectated for the entire long weekend. Then on Monday afternoon, we headed to Parry Sound, actually Parry Island on the Georgian Bay, to the family cottage, for some relaxation and sunshine.

We couldn't have asked for a nicer week... the sun was out in full force the majority of the week, and I managed to get a tan on my pasty white skin (this is the whitest I've been in probably 20-some years!).

I didn't sleep the greatest at the cottage, the baby was awake through the nights, and I found it hot at times, and on top of that, I was the most restless person in all of Ontario I think - I couldn't sit still for 5 minutes. However, the water in the Georgian Bay was so warm, and refreshing - so I spent as much time as I could in the water... soaking up the sun and enjoying the little bit of summer we had!

We returned home from the cottage on Saturday afternoon, just in time to shower up and attend a wedding in the area, and then Sunday and Monday were spent doing laundry and some clean up at home, before returning to work today!

This week is shaping up to be busy... tonight PC and I are going to the hospital for a little orientation tour - so I am really looking forward to that. Tomorrow morning, I go to the doctor, so we will get the official results of the last ultrasound and see what the doc has to say about the final stretch (no pun intended!). Then on Thursday I am meeting with HR to determine my last day of work and fill out all of the necessary paperwork to get ready for my maternity leave.

I am looking forward to all three appointments! I will have to do a pregnancy update post soon - stay tuned!

P.S. Shout out to Double D who turns the Big 3-0 today... happy birthday Dal!