Potty time

Since Lauren started eating solid, she has stopped the watery poop. I was so shocked how quickly it changed! I am using cloth diapers so I have to shake out the poop now instead of just throwing the whole diaper in the washer. This little inconvenience motivated me to start using the potty. It's pretty easy to see when she wants to go. She turns red and really starts pushing. (btw, she looks so cute doing that!). So far I had caught her twice! She doesn't like to sit still though.. always trying to touch stuff or the floor. I have to hold her still and tell her to push.. and she did! I was so proud of her and myself I took a picture of the first one! LOL! No I will not post the picture!

Bath Time

I am not sure if we are the only parents doing this still.. Lauren is 7 months old now and we still need four hands to bath her. Tim holds her steady while I soap her and rinse her.. We had tried to let her sit on her own in her small tub but she got scared a few times.

It's nice though.. this team work thing. Tim gets a lot of time with her when he gets home from work. Feeding solid, play, bath time, massage, and story time.

I love it when Tim passes her to me after bath. I have a towel ready to wrap her. She always looks at me and uses one of her hands to touch my face... until I transfer her to her crib. Sooooo cute!

Lauren's Birth (Viewer discretion is advised)

Lauren was born on July 6, 2008. She was 3305g (7lb 5oz) and 49cm long.

I had always hoped that she'd come a week earlier than the due date. I figure I wouldn't get stressed about her being late that way. We have hoped to have a natural birth so we signed up for Hypnobirthing classes. The idea is to have a comfortable and safe birth without medical intervention. At one of these classes, my instructor asked us when we think the baby would arrive. I said July 5 and I predicted a 5 hours active labour. She came a day late (which was the day Tim predicted) and I was in the hospital for about 5 hours before I gave birth.

I started feeling some pressures at around noon that day. By the way, we call it surges in Hypnobirthing. Because I had bloody show the day before, I knew this could be the day. We were going to get ready to Jahim's one year old birthday party.. but I told Tim we wouldn't be able to make it. We ended up going out for Pho for lunch. I started getting more stronger surges after an hour or so. It was uncomfortable but it wasn't painful. I remember the pain I had when I had Bonsai.. it felt quite different this time. I started using the relaxation CD I've been listening to and I used the breathing technique I learned each time I feel the surges. It was kind of funny to be out having lunch while I was in labour.. I would pause every 4 minutes or so to breath through a surge.. but no one noticed anything.

We came home after lunch. I tried a few positions people recommended to turn the baby. She wasn't breached but she was facing out and that could give me back labour which I heard would be painful. She never turned over until when I was pushing.. but I didn't get the pain either. Around 4pm, I called the hospital to let them know I may be coming soon. They suggested that I take a bath and wait till the surges are 3-4 min apart. We waited till about 630pm and then drove to the hospital.. it took us 3 mins to get there.. we are that close to the hospital!

When they checked me in the hospital, I was 5 cm dilated at 7pm. I used the hypnobirthing CDs through out the entire time. I was able to use a birthing ball and the bath in the hospital. I was feeling really confident and safe. At one point, I even sent Tim out of the hospital to get something to eat.. I think it was around 9pm. About 10:30, I started feeling a bit of pressure and I thought I was having a bowel movement. The doctor decided to check me just in case. I was 8 cm. They finally put in a dose of antibiotic at that time. I didn't have the urge anymore (bowel movement). I think at 11pm, the doc said nothing had changed (still 8 cm) and asked if we want to break the water. I didn't really care either way at that point, so I agreed to break the water. After that, the nurse suggested laughing gas to me. (I should laugh.. ) I told them I don't want it. I didn't feel any need to get anything. I did get really tense at one point. It was just before the doc break my water. I was shivering and scared. I kept saying I am cold and I asked the doc not to proceed yet. It took a few mins before I was able to clam down and felt better. After my water broke, things were going a lot more intense. The urge to push was so strong I wasn't sure if I was doing my breathing right. I was pushing with lots of loud moaning.. I kept thinking that this is not what the videos (hypnobirthing) were like! Anyway, after 25-30 min of pushing, after touching her head when she crowned, we watched her coming out and that was the most amazing moment.

She was crying for awhile. The nurse was rubbing her and I kept saying "Be gentle with my baby!" - Tim bugs me about that all the time. When they put her on my chest, she was still crying. I was thinking.. why? are you sad? how can I make you feel better? I think she finally calmed down after I patted her and talked to her softly. She was so tiny but so perfect. We counted her toes and fingers.. have to make sure there are no extra ones! (Family history) and I could finally relax! She was a healthy and beautiful baby!

blogging again?

wow.. its been so long since my last post. I actually wrote a few drafts but I never had time to finish them. I also didn't work on my baby book. I feel very bad but I did spent all my time playing and taking care of Lauren! So she's getting mommy time..

I will try to post more often. I do want to record some of my thoughts here for her. Maybe the posts will be short but it will help remembering things later. I wonder who reads my blog these days.. ha.. I didn't hear any complains so I assume no one is!

If anyone is reading this.. I am back!