Ow, My Boob!

So, the Tadpole is one week old and I haven't written his birth story yet.

I planned to, but then I came down with a NASTY case of mastitis. Not cool. But, I'm now finally on the mend, and will write the birth story soon.

I've got other things to write about, too. Like how this summer, the Mermaid will be attending camp for the first time (oh, be still my heart!)

And this little guy?

I fall in love with him more and more every day.

My little love, so happy you are here!

Ow, My Boob!

My Love

Baby is here. My joy, my heart, my love.

Born at 4:33 AM on May 23rd. 9lbs even. It's a BOY!

More pictures and birth story to come soon!

My Love

Singing Along (With Giveaway)

Lately I've been listening to this song... it seems kind of fitting, as I move into welcoming a new life into my arms while letting go of a love that was in my life all at the same time.

Does that ever happen to you? Where a certain song has phrases and lyrics that just jump out at you, and make complete sense to where you are in life?

"Maybe I'm a fool, but being foolish gets me closer...Everything I do is doing anything to hold you...My heart is on the edge, it's true...But I'll walk out on the ledge for you."

I admit, Micheal Bolton is not someone I would ever think to have found inspiration in. But his newest CD is pretty cool, a bit different from his earlier ones.

So, I sit and wait for this baby. For whatever is next in my life. And in the meantime...I just keep singing along.

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a copy of Micheal Bolton's newest CD, One World, One Love. This great CD includes collaborations with Lady Gaga and Ne-Yo.

How to enter:

~ Visit Micheal Bolton's website and check out his music, gallery, and updates. Then come back here and leave a comment on what your favorite Bolton song is.

Extra entries (please leave a SEPARATE comment for each additional entry):

~ Follow Micheal Bolton on Twitter or Facebook.

~ Tweet about this giveaway (just add @roxanne600 to your tweets)

~ Follow or subscribe to my blog

~ Link to this giveaway from your own blog.

~ Follow me on Twitter (I'm Roxanne600)

I will randomly choose a winner on Wednesday, June 2nd. Good luck!!

I received a copy of this CD from Universal as a member of Music Moms. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are mine.

Singing Along (With Giveaway)

Shouldn't This Be A Nursing Picture?

Belly shot at 41 weeks. That's right, I said 41.

We can't wait to meet you, little one!

Wordless Wednesday.

Shouldn't This Be A Nursing Picture?

VistaPrint Photobook Giveaway Winner!!

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway to win a free 12x12 Photobook from VistaPrint.

And the winner (chosen by a random number generator) is.....

Sharon!! Congrats Sharon, I will be contacting you shortly with the details.

Thanks again everyone!!

VistaPrint Photobook Giveaway Winner!!

40+ Weeks

I'm not really surprised that the baby is content to sit for a while. The Mermaid was seven days "overdue" and the Guppy was ten days. I'm not uncomfortable and I really am fine with sitting and waiting until baby is ready....but I just really hate being in that "limbo" state of waiting. Not really wanting to make plans, dealing with being the watched tea pot.

I am convinced of three things, though: 1. Baby is a girl. 2. She has a hat fetish. 3. She just wants to see how many hats she can get me to crank out before her arrival.

Hats are quick and easy to knit up, and are really helping me fill in the time during this waiting period. After the apple hat that I posted about, I made a cute little devil hat:



and then a cute little Bunny hat:

More information can by found on my ravelry page.

The difference with this waiting period versus my other pregnancies is that I've been very distracted. While with the Mermaid and Guppy I was able to go about my regular schedule up until I went into labor, with this pregnancy for some reason I've let a LOT of things slide. Waiting for baby has been my excuse for being a tad bit lazy. No more. Starting today, I'm going to work on catching up on those things that I fell behind in, including watching some session of the Gold 2010 Online Lactation Conference that I registered for a while back.

Thanks for checking it, dear friends. Hopefully my next post will contain adorable baby pictures!

40+ Weeks

New Activity: GeoCaching

I've decided recently that I want to get the girls outside more, and not just by saying "Go play in the backyard." I wanted something that we could do as a family, that would get us to interesting places and that was really fun. So, I decided that we should try Geocaching.

I signed up over at the website and on Sunday, Mother's Day, the girls and I went off to find our first cache. I picked a really easy one; for one, I didn't feel like a real hike while being 39 weeks pregnant and for another, I wanted to do something fast and easy for our first cache to get the girls excited.

The verdict? They LOVED it. They keep asking to do more. I'm so glad that they are totally into it, and can't wait to be doing more of them (hopefully soon with a baby strapped on my back :P).

Here are pictures from our first cache:



Anyone else into Geocaching? Friend me: my username is FloraMama.

New Activity: GeoCaching

Still Waiting...

I'm still here. Still waiting for baby to make his or her appearance.

Surprisingly, I don't feel rushed or impatient. I'm rather comfortable most of the time, and I've been getting so much help from my fabulous and supportive family. The only we have left to do is inflate the birth pool and do a practice run. I don't "feel" like I'm ready to burst or drop or anything.

I've tried to keep my calendar clear as much as possible, so I can spend the rest of this pregnancy relaxing. Of course, for me the word "relaxing" is synonymous with "knitting". Here is my latest knitting project: an apple hat, for the newest Apple of My Eye.


More information can be found on my ravelry page. Last night I cast on and started a little devil hat. I wonder if I will have another time to finish it before baby comes...

Oh sweet baby, we are so in love with you already and can't wait to meet you!

Still Waiting...

Organizing My Heart (Giveaway!)

My girls are my heart. I take a lot of pictures of them.



I share pictures online, and for the most part, there they stay. I'm not organized enough to print them off and put them in photo albums.


But I'd like to do something special with my favorite pictures. Not just print them out and frame them, but something more...like a photo book. Something treasured for them to keep on their bookshelf and leaf through in the many years to come.

GIVEAWAY:

These days it seems we all keep our photos online. However, there’s nothing like having hard copies of your photos to share with your friends & family! Vistaprint is offering one of my readers an opportunity to win a personalized, 12 X 12 Photo Book. The winner can choose from hard cover, leather cover or linen cover. It includes 26 pages and a variety of layout and design options and free 14-day shipping. The value of the giveaway is over $50.

How to enter:

Just visit the Vistaprint website and take a look around. Vistaprint also offers such great products as Birthday Invitations, Custom T-shirts, and Personalized Mugs. Then come back here and leave a comment on which product is your favorite.

For extra entries (please leave a separate comment for each additional entry!):

1. Subscribe to my blog.

2. Tweet this giveaway (just add @roxanne600 to your tweet).

3. Blog about this giveaway.

I will choose a random winner on Monday, May 17th (unless I'm in labor then. Then I might be a little late). Good luck!

I received no compensation for posting this giveaway. This is part of a campaign with Team Mom. All opinions expressed in this post are 100% mine.

Organizing My Heart (Giveaway!)

I Am A Willow Tree

My Mother's Blessing, or Blessingway, was yesterday. To be surrounded by so many supportive family members and friends was absolutely wonderful. I was in heaven all day.

We did smudging, sharing of thoughts and advice, beads to make a birthing necklace, and belly henna. The sharing of thoughts and poems, etc. really touched me and made me feel really loved and supported.

And, I realized, that I can do this.

I am a Willow Tree

Strong, yet fluid

Graceful.

I can bend with the wind,

But my roots are tough, Indestructible.

Opening to birth my child

I am flowing with the wind

From a soft and gentle breeze

To a stormy gale

Back to a soft and gentle breeze.

My body is strong, but flexible.

It is my friend, it knows how to open.

I am friend to my body.

Eating well, walking, and loving myself.

I shall birth safely, freely, openly among my loved and trusted ones.

I am the Willow, flexible, beautiful, resilient

Endowed with the power of surrender

To the wind rustling through my leaves, my branches.

My roots reach deep into Mother Earth, anchored in her strength

I bring forth life

In joy

I am a Willow

I am a Mother

I am Strong.

- Anonymous

Thank you to everyone who made my Blessingway so special.

I Am A Willow Tree