Baby has a name!!!

So much going on I can't believe how fast time is flying! Third trimester is here - baby is growing and moving constantly - I especially love the hiccups - they're so cute.

OK so big news!!! We've finally AGREED on a name for this little princess!! We've been around the world and back and I've decided to go with Daddy's original choice but with a prettier spelling:

Arielle....

Her nickname will be Elle; I'm very excited to be able to refer to my baby by her name! So, now for the middle name, as I said before I want to honor my Amazing Grandmother, Hyacinth May Lee (known simply as May), who passed away at Christmas last year - she was the rock of our family. She taught me about Jesus and made church, the bible and Christianity fun as well as meaningful. So I decided on Christamay / Christa-May (TBC). Not sure if I want to go with the hyphen, but I'm sure I want it to be one name not two.

Arielle ChristaMay Meany
Estimated Due Date June 19th, 2010

Daughter of Tanisa Samuel & Deryk Meany

Orgasmic Birth, Hypnobirthing; Reality or Gimmick?

I came across this website from baby center about "Orgasmic birth". So the ladies started a thread about it, and many women on there said they couldn't imagine it - these are women who's experienced labour. There was also a labor nurse who said she'd never ever seen a woman enjoy birth, so WTH? I watched their little trailer and as far as I'm concerned it's a crock of shit. I mean really? I know I'm a cynic, but do they really think I"m gonna fork over $20 to hear about how I should envision a penis or some other inappropriate sexual fantasy while trying to push a 8 pound baby out of my hoohaa?? COME ON PEOPLE!! (Not sure If I can post links, you can just google it).

I've already decided to go all natural, but that's because I truly believe this is best for both mom and baby; but no way am I going to fool myself into believing that I can just waltz into there and think good thoughts to an easy labour.

Then there's the Hypnobirthing / hynobabies phenomenon. Some women do swear by it, and I'm sure they made it through a lot easier thanks to the coping techniques learned through self hypnosis. I'm not saying that I can't be hypnotized; I just know I can't hypnotize myself. I've never been one of those free-spirited, one-with-nature, yoga-lovin' people who can sit and meditate.

So I guess I'll do some lamaze classes or maybe bradley, hire a doula and ensure I'm fully educated on what to expect.

I have to accept it's gonna hurt, A LOT. Once I have realisitic expectations as well as good people around to support me during a tough time that will be worth it in the end!!

Tanisa Samuel

Saying Goodbye......

So today I had the final appointment with my OB on Monday. I didn't realise I would actually be sad and get all teary eyed over it! Must be those pesky preggo hormones. I do wish she could deliver this baby - she's so cool and appreciates the natural way to do things, and I do trust her. She did a very thorough checkup, and baby girl was perfect in every way :) I will be heading to Fort Lauderdale to give birth and my new OB will be chosen by my insurance company. I chose Holy Cross Hospital - so I just have to hope the new OB is decent.

Although the baby wouldn't pose for any cute ultrasound pics, (unlike her Mother and grandmother LOL), from what I could see - she's really cute and she has my chubby cheeks!!

Pics: Deryk and I went to Sunday dinner at Chris and Pam's. Thanks guys!!

Sleep, becoming a luxury...

The Third Trimester is a few days away and I'm certainly feeling it. The energy and excitement brought on by the 2nd trimester is slowly being replaced by sleepless nights and zombie like days. I'm sitting here right now in a fog......

Meanwhile, Baby girl is kickboxing her way throughout the days and nights. At night, when I switch positions - so does she. She likes to roll around in there! She better get into birth position within the next couple of weeks, I fear the breech, which would mean the dreaded C-section. Although I think she's already assumed the position - I went on this website which helps you figure out where baby is - and as far as I can tell she's comfy being head down.

So we're packing and moving and it is stress!! That's all I'm gonna say on that front.

27 weeks :) today. I'm really grateful my lil bun is still baking comfortably in the oven - I'll take the discomforts if it means she can have a better chance at going to full term. There are a few women in my birth club, due in June already giving birth to tiny preemie babies and my heart breaks for them.

From PrimaDonna to SuperMama?

Many women extol the virtues of bringing new life into the world and marvel at God's amazing creation, (which is undoubtedly awe inspiring), but lets not forget that we're also the ones who have to actually navigate the side effects such as morning sickness, pregnancy weight gain, mood swings, and of course the agony of childbirth only to be followed by sleepless nights, dirty diapers, incessant crying BUT with the occasional coo and smile which erases all the above and makes everything worthwhile.

I just read a blog by a pregnant lady in which she writes just how much pregnancy SUCKS and that she has no idea why she does it (memory lapse?) - she would prefer labor over those 40 weeks of suckiness blah blah blah. Well, I am happy to report that this is not the case for me. Am I one of the lucky few? Well if I am - I am grateful. I too have fallen prey to the amnesia which seems to strike all mothers with my quick dismissal of the early days of morning sickness, (that terrible misnomer), that had me hugging the toilet bowl in an unladylike (not to mention unsanitary) fashion morning, noon and night. The 2nd trimester though, has been glorious; glowing skin, happy days, thick beautiful hair, sexy boobs, plenty of energy and a cute round bump that announces to all that I am indeed with child and not just victim of too much cake and ice-cream.

I'm only in the beginning stages here. What's gonna happen when those sleepless nights hit? Am I going to become another victim of that post-natal disaster that seems to befall so many new moms? Disheveled bleary eyed, unwashed hair, un-manicured nails, tired and wired, having no problems with popping that boob out in public to feed hungry baby, with an attitude of: "there's more to life than being well groomed" and the "don't you dare disapprove, my baby needs nourishment and is the most important thing on the planet" look.

NEVER!!

I'm assuming not - people have kids everyday and it doesn't essentially change who they are, right? But people also say how having a baby changes everything.... Life has a way of surprising us all and YES God has a sense of humor (enough with the cliches I know - I never claimed to be a writer) - so watch this space and see how this self professed glamour girl takes on mommy-hood!!