{Friday Night Leftovers}

• December 30th.. there is only one more day left in 2011. It has been one crazy year but I am so looking forward to what 2012 has to offer!
• I took down my Christmas tree yesterday... and cleaned.. and did 10928158323 loads of "holiday" laundry. My house feels slightly sad without the smell of pine and the glow of lights. Until next year, I suppose.
• It's a friend of mine's Due Date today. That means that sometime within the next 10 days I will be in the hospital watching a baby be born. I am SO excited. I can't wait to help her through labour and to watch her become a mother. I know first hand the love that fills your heart the very second you see your baby and I cannot wait to see that from another perspective.. to watch her fall in love. 
• I am addicted to Candy Cane Lane tea. It's so good... and I must stock up because it's seasonal and will soon be leaving the shelves of supermarkets everywhere! I may die without it.
• How does one 23lbs child make more laundry than 2 full grown humans? How!? 
• I'm a little bit sad that Christmas is over but in the same breath, I'm so relieved. The holidays are so hectic and we need to have routine back in our life. H is a little out of sorts.
• Speaking of H... she took her first steps nearly a month and a half ago. Some days she'll walk 15 steps like she's a pro, other days she falls after 2 and acts like she's never done it before. Wtf!?
• I feel like I've consumed enough goodies for an entire year... blech! 

For more leftovers go here!

{Wordless Wednesday - The "When Did This Happen?" Edition}

{I Spy With My Little Eye, Something That Is Purple...}

{Friday Night Leftovers}

• I fear we're coming to the end of 2 naps a day.. the thought of only 1 nap makes me want to vomit. 
• 12 teeth. She got her first tooth on her 6month birthday and at 12.5months old she now has 12. If I ever meet the damn toothfairy, I'mma knock a bitch out. 
• I got a new camera. I sold my Sony a380 and bought a Canon t2i.. I'm. In. Love. It's unreal.. for real. 
• I hate the snow, as I've mentioned before, but I like a White Christmas. I'm beginning to get nervous that we won't have one this year... too much rain!
• I don't know if I mentioned this but I finally broke down and gave H peanut butter. It was something that made me very nervous but on one cold December evening (the 7th, to be exact) we had a PB&J sandwich in the 15 minute stall of the hospital parking lot. Yah, I know.. I'm a freak. 
• Also, she's not allergic! yay.

More leftovers here! 

{Happy Birthday}

December 13th was the day H was supposed to be born. It is also my papa's Birthday, or at least it would be if he was still with us. While I was pregnant I "told" him that though I would love for my babygirl to share his birthday, I was done being pregnant and if he could make her come any quicker it  would be greatly appreciated. Though I will never know if he aaactually had anything to do with the fact that I went into labour the next day, I like to think he did.

Happy Birthday, Papa... I miss you every single day and I wish more than anything in the World that you had a chance to meet C and your Great Granddaughter. xo

{Friday Night Leftovers}

• Friday, already?! Were did this past week go!
• H is teething - again, or still, it seems it never quits. We had molar #1 break through a couple weeks ago and this week we have #2 and #3! She's miserable, and so are we. Will the poor kid ever catch a break? 
• I'm ALL DONE my Christmas shopping. Christmas cards are sent. Presents are wrapped and under the tree.. I think it's safe to say I'm ahead of the game this year!
• I got a new camera and I looooove it. Merry Christmas to me, from Husby! (He told me I had to wrap it and put it under the tree... I gave him the empty box and told him to wrap away!)
• Pictures with Santa tomorrow - I have a very strong feeling H is going to hate him. We shall see!
• I entered a contest to try and win a Trash the Dress photoshoot with a photographer in Vancouver. If you would be so kind as to please vote for me that would be AMAZING. All you have to do is LIKE this page and then scroll down to my (Danielle Foster) post on her wall and LIKE it as well. Tell your friends while your at it ;)
• I don't have a lot to say as this week has been full of whiney, teething baby and exhausted, grumpy parents so I'll leave it at that. Check out more leftovers here! 

{1 Year Old}

A year? An entire year? Really??!! How did that happen. I've been doing quite a lot of reminiscing the past month week.. I never really imagined it would be so emotional to have my babygirl turn One! I honestly don't know where the time has gone. I feel like it was just yesterday I was staring into her sweet blue eyes for the very first time....

Is there a rewind button?

This month has been fun. H's personality is shining like never before. She's such a ham and loves to laugh and make others laugh. She's a huge show off and the life of the party. If you're watching, she's performing! Her favourite kids song is "Itsy Bitsy Spider".. I've yet to catch it on video but it's seriously the cutest, she lights up as soon as you start singing and she does the actions and everything! She's really into dancing and loves it when music plays - no matter what kind.

The damn tooth fairy won't leave us alone. We're at 9 teeth now. bottom 4, top 4 and her bottom R molar came in on Nov 6th. If I had to guess I would say that her bottom left will be through any day. She's definitely not her happy go lucky self at the moment! 

On Nov 1st she fiiiinally said "Mom" and then Nov 23rd she started to say "dada". Now it's "hi dad" every time she sees him. Totally precious. That puts our word count at 10 (mom/mama, dad/dada, hi, baba, ball, up, bath(bah), baby, Elmo and Ya)! She also says "meow" to the cat. She's really starting to "talk" to us more and is working hard at imitating what we say. She knows where her belly is and if you ask her she tries to lift her shirt up to show you and sticks it way out. 

On Nov 17th we got to see her first steps. I have never felt more proud in my life! I was squealing and giddy. She is definitely still a "crawler" though. She only walks if we force her to.. ie. let go of her hands so she has no choice. The most steps she's taken is 6 but she gets SO excited about it that half the time she just tries to run and falls down before she gets 3 steps in. My guess is that it'll be at least another month before we'll be calling her a walker. Either way, she's on the right track - and we're in no hurry! 

She currently weighs in at 22lbs 7oz and is only 29.25" tall. I'm not sure on the percentiles for that but I know she's a bit short which makes her look chubbier than she is. We have her 1 year well check on Tuesday so I'll make sure to update the percentiles at that time (not that it really matters, regardless). Dec 1st are her 1 year shots - I am NOT looking forward to that. 

H continues to be a really good eater though she is becoming pickier. I think now that she knows what she like BEST she sometimes won't eat other things until you assure her they're good. She loves meat, especially chicken. She still has 2-3 bottles a day (before naps and bed) but drinks from her sippy cup throughout the day. She's obsessed with juice - of any kind - but rarely gets it. 

When it comes to sleep.. it's hit or miss. She generally sleeps through the night but has been staying up much later talking away to herself in her crib these days. She still has 2 naps most days and we tried to cut that down to 1 to see if she'd sleep better but she's made it quite clear that she still NEEDS 2 naps a day. She's in 12-18mo clothing, size 4 diapers and size 3 shoes.

I don't ever want to forget the past 12 months. It's amazing how one little person can change your World as you know it... and just when you start to think things cant get much better - they do, daily! 

Happy 1st Birthday, H. Your Mumma Loves You xo

1 minute old

1 hour old 

1 day old 

1 week old

1 month old 

{365 Days Ago [Part 3]...}

After pushing for what felt like an eternity my contractions slowed down to about 8 minutes apart. I pushed like this for quite some time, sleeping and crying between contractions. I kept telling C I was going to die because I honestly thought I was going to.

Finally, when the realized the contractions weren't going to pick up again, they decided to put some oxytocin in my IV drip to get things moving - 10 minutes later, on November 26th, at 12:48am, Hadley Grace Foster was born. 

It felt like my pregnancy and labour had taken forever but as soon as she was placed on my chest, I couldn't even remember life without her. I cannot believe how quickly this past year has gone by and how much she has grown. She has taught me so much about myself, my relationships and what matters most in life. It's amazing how one tiny being can change you so much. 

I am beyond excited for the years to come.

Happy 1st Birthday, Babygirl, we love you more than you could ever imagine <3 

{365 days ago [Part 2]...}

I had a good nights sleep in the labour room from about 12-7 when my doctor arrived and did an internal exam/fluid test. She said I was 1cm dilated at this point and that yes, it was infact my water that was broken. I clarified that this meant I would not be leaving the hospital without a baby and she assured me that was the case. She told me that I had until 9am for my contractions to start again and if they didn't start on their own by that point, I would be induced. I phoned my mom and sister in the Okanagan and told them to get on the road.

It all began to sink in. I sent C to the car to get "the bag". I texted our parents, our friends, and updated FB (of course, Ha!). I had some breakfast, went for a walk, and grew more and more nervous by the second. At 9am I was still feeling great, still no contractions. I was hooked up to the machine, induced and monitored. It only took about 10 minutes after the induction for my contractions to start again and they started strong. About 3 minutes apart. After monitoring me for an hour to make sure H was handling the induction well, I was removed from all monitors and instructed to walk. I walked, and walked, and walked and walked. By 12 that afternoon I was still only 1cm, but my cervix had softened and the contractions were 2 minutes apart, lasting about a minute. I was beginning to get pretty uncomfortable but I was set on having a natural labour and delivery. By 330 I was 4cms and around 6pm I was 5cms. H was still not engaged and my full waters had not broken. The doctor broke the rest of my waters at about 9pm and I instantly went to 6cms and H dropped down to +3 station.

My mom and sister had arrived from the Okanagan shortly before they broke my waters and the room was full of pretty much everyone we loved. I don't think my water had been broken for more than 15 minutes and I was asking (or screaming and swearing) for an epidural. I was screaming, crying, and freaking out. I was given the gas which I'm still convinced never worked, but it didn't make any difference. Everyone was trying to talk me out of the epidural because that's what I told them to do, but I was losing my mind. The doctor kicked everyone (except C) out of the room and made sure that this was what I wanted. I assured her that I needed it or I would die (obviously, ha!) and so she called for the Anesthesiologist. In the time it took him to arrive I went from 6-10cms and when he walked in the door I was getting ready to push - it was already too late.

I started pushing just before 10pm and I'm fairly certain if I hadn't already woke up the entire hospital with my "crazy girl" screaming and crying, they were up now. I pushed and and pushed and pushed for what seemed like forever. When 12am rolled around, I was still pushing...

{365 days ago [Part 1]...}

I didn't write much while I was pregnant and that's a regret of mine (not one that keeps me up at night, but I just wish I had of recorded more of it is all) so here's a recap of what was happening November 24th, 2010 (it was a Wednesday).

I woke up in the morning and still felt horrible. I was going on day 3 or 4 of a cold and it was really beginning to kick my ass. I finished rearranged my living room, which I'd started with the help of my auntie a couple days prior. After that I did some laundry and while my auntie was finishing up moving furniture I sat on the nursery floor folding baby clothes. I had a shower, took a belly picture, ate some chocolates and lounged around wishing my Braxton Hicks would just go away and my back would stop hurting.. you know, the usual day in the life of a prego.

At about 12pm I was thinking that perhaps my Braxton Hicks contractions were in fact real and that perhaps I should start timing them. They seemed to be coming about every 11 minutes so I texted C and told him that when he got home from work we may have to go into the hospital. He said okay but I don't think he actually realized what I meant. I called my doctor at about 2 and told her of my back pain and my contractions and asked her if I should just wait until the next day when I had a doctors appointment with her. She said that it sounded like I was in labour and that I should go in to get checked. I instantly panicked. I hadn't packed a bag or anything. I slowly started getting things together while I waited for C to get home and puttered around the house doing last minute things. It was snowing pretty hard and the contractions were getting stronger so when C got home at about 5pm we left for the hospital pretty much right away.

When we got to the hospital I refused to bring anything in with me, I was 100% convinced I was about to become that girl. You know, the one that thinks she's in labour when she's not? Anyways, we went in, I was hooked up to monitors and sure enough, my contractions were about 6 minutes apart and consistent. They checked me and I wasn't even 1cm. Because it was snowing so hard they gave me the option of staying at the hospital or leaving and coming back when the contractions were closer together. We opted to leave and went to C's parents who live much closer then we do. I had some dinner (the only food I'd eaten all day aside from an entire box of chocolates), walked on the treadmill, bounced on an exercise ball, and relaxed a bit. At about 9pm my contractions were closer together (about 3minutes) and getting stronger. I went up stairs to have a pee and as I was walking up the stairs I felt a gush. I thought I had pee'd myself but then it happened again, and again. My water was leaking! We went back to the hospital shortly after that and we were admitted.

They kept testing my fluid to make sure it was my waters, and the test kept coming back negative. The nurses didn't understand why because they said there really was no other explanation for fluid pouring out of a pregnant woman. They said in the morning my doctor would come in and do a microscopic test and we would know for certain. In the meantime I was to try and get some sleep. Shortly after, at around 12am my contractions stopped...

{Wordless Wednesday - With a Few Special Words}

{Oh, What a Difference}