I absolutely have to share this video. It is so incredibly beautiful.
Theo's Birth video from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A non-baby related post: Henry Rollins
Back in the days when the Janal Fonda (Janelle) and I lived together, our Sunday morning ritual consisted of rolling out of bed at some ungodly hour of the morning (I have never been able to sleep in) and planting ourselves in front of the Family Channel for hours. Clearly there are better things on in the morning than Lizzie Maguire, but something about the Family Channel ritual helped ease our Sunday morning hangovers. Years later, I still turn on the Family Channel on weekend mornings, despite the fact that the Disney corporation goes against everything I believe in. So here I am - Saturday morning, Kris has gone to work for the day, and I'm watching Disney in my ratty robe that barely gets around my belly, reflecting on a most amazing night.
Last night I went to see Henry Rollins' spoken word tour. I first went to one of his shows in 2000 - I found the ticket stub in an old box last month. I have gone just about every year since. On the way there we drove by Ontario Place and Niki mentioned that it was one of those places you go thinking it's going to be amazing and then you're disappointed. I replied that this is something that happens to me just about everywhere I go. Everyone laughed, but it's true. I have no idea why I am so hard to impress, but I went to Machu Picchu and I was just sort of "eh, this is ok." Anyway, my point of telling you all this is not for you to think I'm spoiled and ignorant, but to let you know that when I see Henry Rollins, I freak out. I become impressed and then I take that ten levels higher to some new world of impression that I heart and mind rarely visit. It's the result of a few factors - (1) He's 49 years old with a full head of gray hair and still makes my heart skip a beat. (2) He tells stories about travelling to places I will never, ever go and they are AWESOME. (3) He tells stories about growing up with Ian MacKaye. (4) he is SMART...so, so, so SMART. Yet the absolute best part about Henry Rollins is the way he talks. He's articulate and talks fast and I will forever be IMPRESSED by people who can combine these attributes. He talked for three full hours last night, never even stopping to take a drink of water. He didn't flub or trip over words, he didn't say anything that made me cringe internally (people make me do this all.the.time), he made opinions and told stories that were smart and funny and endearing.
And guess what? Tickey loved it.
Thanks to my dedicated clicking of the "buy now" button that started 10 full minutes before tickets went on sale, we were front row and centre (a long way from buying scalper tickets in the rain in 2000). Tickey rolled and kicked his way through the performance, responding to the thunderous laughter and applause from the audience and clearly loving the show. I warned Kris that if this happened, I would be incredibly inclined to name our baby Henry if it is a boy (I will restrain myself - our names are picked, there's no turning back).
I hope that Henry Rollins continues to do spoken word tours for many years to come (which I highly suspect he will) so that one day I can bring Tickey outside of the womb. Still, I think going to a Henry Rollins spoken word show at 8 months gestation counts for being the coolest kid ever.
Last night I went to see Henry Rollins' spoken word tour. I first went to one of his shows in 2000 - I found the ticket stub in an old box last month. I have gone just about every year since. On the way there we drove by Ontario Place and Niki mentioned that it was one of those places you go thinking it's going to be amazing and then you're disappointed. I replied that this is something that happens to me just about everywhere I go. Everyone laughed, but it's true. I have no idea why I am so hard to impress, but I went to Machu Picchu and I was just sort of "eh, this is ok." Anyway, my point of telling you all this is not for you to think I'm spoiled and ignorant, but to let you know that when I see Henry Rollins, I freak out. I become impressed and then I take that ten levels higher to some new world of impression that I heart and mind rarely visit. It's the result of a few factors - (1) He's 49 years old with a full head of gray hair and still makes my heart skip a beat. (2) He tells stories about travelling to places I will never, ever go and they are AWESOME. (3) He tells stories about growing up with Ian MacKaye. (4) he is SMART...so, so, so SMART. Yet the absolute best part about Henry Rollins is the way he talks. He's articulate and talks fast and I will forever be IMPRESSED by people who can combine these attributes. He talked for three full hours last night, never even stopping to take a drink of water. He didn't flub or trip over words, he didn't say anything that made me cringe internally (people make me do this all.the.time), he made opinions and told stories that were smart and funny and endearing.
And guess what? Tickey loved it.
Thanks to my dedicated clicking of the "buy now" button that started 10 full minutes before tickets went on sale, we were front row and centre (a long way from buying scalper tickets in the rain in 2000). Tickey rolled and kicked his way through the performance, responding to the thunderous laughter and applause from the audience and clearly loving the show. I warned Kris that if this happened, I would be incredibly inclined to name our baby Henry if it is a boy (I will restrain myself - our names are picked, there's no turning back).
I hope that Henry Rollins continues to do spoken word tours for many years to come (which I highly suspect he will) so that one day I can bring Tickey outside of the womb. Still, I think going to a Henry Rollins spoken word show at 8 months gestation counts for being the coolest kid ever.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Busiest Bee
As time ticks by it's as though people are finally starting to realize that I will only be at my job for another 5 weeks. This has caused a sense of last minute panic as my work finds a replacement and all the committees I sit on starting asking for as much possible to be done before I leave. I'm not innocent either - I should have started preparing for my departure from work sooner, but it's hard to find the time. Now my days are jam packed at work. Gone are the days of leisurely lunches with Lexy and extended coffee breaks used to catch up on celebrity blogs. Now it's just go, go, go.
The weekends don't offer much time for relaxation either. Kris gets home Thursday night and by then I already have a long list of to-do's for around the house as we simultaneously attempt to keep up some kind of social life balanced with couple time. Last weekend we spent a good chunk of the weekend putting together the nursery (which we've been taking pictures of as things progress - so watch out for that slideshow!), including a full Saturday of looking for blinds that wouldn't cause us to take out a major loan (we ended up with the cheap ones). This weekend we've got a trip to Toronto for Henry Rollins, a photo shoot for some maternity photo's (eek!), and our last appointment with our Doula. Plus the usual laundry, grocery shopping, dinner with Kris's parents, and preparing Kris's meals for the week. Typing that was exhausting, nevermind actually doing it.
What's good about staying busy is that I don't have time to twiddle my thumbs and get anxious about Tickey's arrival. Not anxious in the "I'm nervous about shooting a baby out of me" sort of way, but the "when will this baby ever get here" kind of way. I do spend a few minutes every night sitting in the nursery, anticipating all the changes that lay ahead for us and how excited I am to start this new phase of my life. I imagine the screaming, the poopy diapers, the smiles, the nights spent in the rocker and I can't wait for it all.
The weekends don't offer much time for relaxation either. Kris gets home Thursday night and by then I already have a long list of to-do's for around the house as we simultaneously attempt to keep up some kind of social life balanced with couple time. Last weekend we spent a good chunk of the weekend putting together the nursery (which we've been taking pictures of as things progress - so watch out for that slideshow!), including a full Saturday of looking for blinds that wouldn't cause us to take out a major loan (we ended up with the cheap ones). This weekend we've got a trip to Toronto for Henry Rollins, a photo shoot for some maternity photo's (eek!), and our last appointment with our Doula. Plus the usual laundry, grocery shopping, dinner with Kris's parents, and preparing Kris's meals for the week. Typing that was exhausting, nevermind actually doing it.
What's good about staying busy is that I don't have time to twiddle my thumbs and get anxious about Tickey's arrival. Not anxious in the "I'm nervous about shooting a baby out of me" sort of way, but the "when will this baby ever get here" kind of way. I do spend a few minutes every night sitting in the nursery, anticipating all the changes that lay ahead for us and how excited I am to start this new phase of my life. I imagine the screaming, the poopy diapers, the smiles, the nights spent in the rocker and I can't wait for it all.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
pregnancy killed the mircowave
Yesterday was my 32 week appointment with the midwife. That's right - I'm just eight short weeks away from birthing the world's smartest, cutest and most charming baby you'll ever meet. I already know that Tickey has these characteristics because Kris and I are both smart, cute and charming (and apparently very confident!).
The midwife and I chatted quite a bit yesterday about what could happen if I were to go into early labour or if I was late. The reason that I asked her about this is because friends of ours told us over the weekend how their neighbours went into labour at 33 weeks and my friend Lexy is currently over a week past her due date. Most people have their predictions about my due date (which is officially May 9th), and some of them guess early and some guess late. I've read that most women go past their due date for their first pregnancy, but I continue to hear more and more of women who went early. I don't want either to happen to me, obviously, but wanted to talk to the midwife about it so I was at least prepared. Turns out that if I go before 37 weeks I would have to go to Hamilton to deliver and if I go too late, I would have to be induced (aka - my WORST nightmare) and would deliver at the Guelph hospital.
Thankfully I will give birth on May 3rd or 5th and won't have to go anywhere (there's that confidence!).
In other news, yesterday I had to give a presentation in Waterloo for a group of students going on a trip to Peru (where I did my feild research) and figured I would stop by Babies R Us on the way home since there isn't one in Guelph. I spent a long time wandering the aisles and staring at other people's babies before I noticed the sun was starting to set and headed back home. I had totally forgotten about the time change and so was shocked when I noticed that it was 8pm. My poor hungry cat. I came flying in the door and threw some leftovers in the microwave, racing to get myself to the couch for the new episode of gossip girl. I hit start on the microwave and - NOTHING. Tried again. Nothing. Called Kris, thinking that I must be having the ultimate pregnancy brain moment and ask him how to heat something in the microwave. Still nothing. It's broken.
This morning I start thinking about getting a new microwave for work when I realize - I can't buy a new microwave, I can't carry it! Ok, so I could ask someone who works at Canadian Tire to carry it to my car, but then how would I get it inside?? Thankfully I called a friend who is willing to come to CT with me and then go home and carry it into my house for me. I'm sharing this story because it's an example of how you start losing some of your independence as your pregnancy progresses. This is an example I can live with. However, I'm getting dangerously close to not being able to take a bath when I'm alone because I need help getting out. This is an example I can't live with, but since Kris is away Monday - Thursday, I have to live with. It's either that or train my cat to lift me out....
The midwife and I chatted quite a bit yesterday about what could happen if I were to go into early labour or if I was late. The reason that I asked her about this is because friends of ours told us over the weekend how their neighbours went into labour at 33 weeks and my friend Lexy is currently over a week past her due date. Most people have their predictions about my due date (which is officially May 9th), and some of them guess early and some guess late. I've read that most women go past their due date for their first pregnancy, but I continue to hear more and more of women who went early. I don't want either to happen to me, obviously, but wanted to talk to the midwife about it so I was at least prepared. Turns out that if I go before 37 weeks I would have to go to Hamilton to deliver and if I go too late, I would have to be induced (aka - my WORST nightmare) and would deliver at the Guelph hospital.
Thankfully I will give birth on May 3rd or 5th and won't have to go anywhere (there's that confidence!).
In other news, yesterday I had to give a presentation in Waterloo for a group of students going on a trip to Peru (where I did my feild research) and figured I would stop by Babies R Us on the way home since there isn't one in Guelph. I spent a long time wandering the aisles and staring at other people's babies before I noticed the sun was starting to set and headed back home. I had totally forgotten about the time change and so was shocked when I noticed that it was 8pm. My poor hungry cat. I came flying in the door and threw some leftovers in the microwave, racing to get myself to the couch for the new episode of gossip girl. I hit start on the microwave and - NOTHING. Tried again. Nothing. Called Kris, thinking that I must be having the ultimate pregnancy brain moment and ask him how to heat something in the microwave. Still nothing. It's broken.
This morning I start thinking about getting a new microwave for work when I realize - I can't buy a new microwave, I can't carry it! Ok, so I could ask someone who works at Canadian Tire to carry it to my car, but then how would I get it inside?? Thankfully I called a friend who is willing to come to CT with me and then go home and carry it into my house for me. I'm sharing this story because it's an example of how you start losing some of your independence as your pregnancy progresses. This is an example I can live with. However, I'm getting dangerously close to not being able to take a bath when I'm alone because I need help getting out. This is an example I can't live with, but since Kris is away Monday - Thursday, I have to live with. It's either that or train my cat to lift me out....
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Books, books and more books
My bedside table used to be piled high with a mix of pop culture classics and fashion magazines. Now it looks more like this:
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
"the class for people who do not have the internet"
I really intended to update this blog more, but I have been distracted by work lately. Yesterday was the release of the strategic plan for the poverty task force I coordinate and we had an event to mark the occasion at City Hall. Thankfully, it all went really well and the press from it has been great (one of the major goals). For those interested in my non-pregnancy related life events, you can read about it here and here. The only thing that would have made it any better is being able to come home and celebrate with a glass (or two) of wine. Instead, after the high wore off, I had to deal with aching feet and sore hips all night. Apparently standing in heels all afternoon when you're 7 months pregnant is not a good idea.
Now - onto the exciting baby stuff! We are now 30 weeks pregnant, meaning Tickey will be making a grand entrance in only 2 more months! Kris has been working on painting the nursery over the past couple of weekends and it should be finished this weekend so we can start organizing things. Right now everything we have for the baby is piled into the closet and making me feel a bit crazy.
I had an appointment with the midwife yesterday, who I now see every two weeks. The baby is measuring right on track, my weight gain is good, the baby's heartbeat is strong and baby is head down - all good news.
Last Saturday Kris and I had our first of two pre-natal classes. After about an hour, Kris renamed the class "the class for people who do not have the internet" since it seemed like none of the other participants had ever done a google search or picked up a book about pregnancy. Most were completely clueless about the stages of birth, benefits of breastfeeding, etc. Apparently everything they had learned about labour and delivery came from terrible movies. Kris and I were so bored that we couldn't have been any happier when the fire alarm went off and we all got to leave 15 minutes early. Being bored was one issue, but the bigger issue was how frustrated we both were by the teacher's failure to explain the different options available. Everything was geared toward those who were planning a standard hospital birth with an epidural. There was no mention of how an epidural causes labour to be longer, can cause long-term back pain for mothers, restricts the mothers movement during delivery, increases the need for forceps, and much, much more. This isn't to say that I'm entirely against the use of an epidural, but I don't think that women should decide to get one without being fully informed. There were a million other similar examples I could use that would demonstrate why we were so frustrated, but we have a midwife and a doula and have the support and information we need to make the right decisions for us so we're happy with that.
We have one more day of classes this coming Saturday and I'm hoping that we might learn something....anything!
Now - onto the exciting baby stuff! We are now 30 weeks pregnant, meaning Tickey will be making a grand entrance in only 2 more months! Kris has been working on painting the nursery over the past couple of weekends and it should be finished this weekend so we can start organizing things. Right now everything we have for the baby is piled into the closet and making me feel a bit crazy.
I had an appointment with the midwife yesterday, who I now see every two weeks. The baby is measuring right on track, my weight gain is good, the baby's heartbeat is strong and baby is head down - all good news.
Last Saturday Kris and I had our first of two pre-natal classes. After about an hour, Kris renamed the class "the class for people who do not have the internet" since it seemed like none of the other participants had ever done a google search or picked up a book about pregnancy. Most were completely clueless about the stages of birth, benefits of breastfeeding, etc. Apparently everything they had learned about labour and delivery came from terrible movies. Kris and I were so bored that we couldn't have been any happier when the fire alarm went off and we all got to leave 15 minutes early. Being bored was one issue, but the bigger issue was how frustrated we both were by the teacher's failure to explain the different options available. Everything was geared toward those who were planning a standard hospital birth with an epidural. There was no mention of how an epidural causes labour to be longer, can cause long-term back pain for mothers, restricts the mothers movement during delivery, increases the need for forceps, and much, much more. This isn't to say that I'm entirely against the use of an epidural, but I don't think that women should decide to get one without being fully informed. There were a million other similar examples I could use that would demonstrate why we were so frustrated, but we have a midwife and a doula and have the support and information we need to make the right decisions for us so we're happy with that.
We have one more day of classes this coming Saturday and I'm hoping that we might learn something....anything!
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