A mere 2 hours after Eli was born, we were packed up and ready to go home and would have been back in good time to be settled back into our bed at home ready to introduce Zara to her baby brother. Chris and I then decided to rather make use of a served breakfast & lunch (which we would be billed for anyway) and give Zara the “adventure” of coming to meet her new baby at the birthing centre. So by 7.30am Chris was back with Zara, he had told her that the baby had been born in ther night and she came into the room very quietly... I then asked her if she knew who had come out my tummy and if she would like to come and see. She carefully climbed up onto the bed and met her baby brother. She immediately wanted to hold Eli and was an absolute pro holding him – a natural born big sister, so comfortable and confident!!!
What an amazing experience! Monday morning started off as any other day I have had in recent weeks...I had been having early labour signs for the past 10 days and knowing you can have early labour for up to 4 weeks, I was getting used to them thinking that our baby would never come.
Zara and I went off doing some chores, had a nap and then went to swimming. On the way to swimming I asked her when our baby was going to be born and she said “Mommy on Monday – no Tuesday” Little did I know then that she would be quite right and in fact things were really imminent. After swimming we came home, I made her dinner and then went off to Yoga as usual. On my way to Yoga, I spoke to Andrea our Doula and she told me that Andrew and Clara (from our ante-natal classes) were in having their baby, so I kept talking to our baby, saying that even though we were ready for him/her, we needed to wait just a little longer so that we could all have Sharon.
Chris and I had supper, I had a lovely relaxing bath and then at about 10pm, I got a message from Taiya (another mommy to be from ante-natals) asking me if I was with Sharon... Guessing this meant that she was also in labour, I called her to let her know Clara was with Sharon at Genesis and they should probably get themselves to Genesis. Thinking we were still safely incubating early labour, Chris and I joked about the likelihood of three babies being born in one night... Little did we know that I would go into labour an hour later! Low and behold, by 11.45pm I was feeling strong contractions. I got into the bath again while Chris rallied around cooking me potatoes, trying to time contractions, make phone calls and pack the car... Mirriam came in to be with Zara and she helped Chris pack the car – we eventually were packed and ready to go – we got to Genesis at about 1.30/1.45am and I was very happy to have Sharon meet me at the car! She took me through to our room and it was all stations go.
Chris and Andrea were extremely busy getting photos set up, lighting candles, building the pool and getting our music playing. Chris certainly didn’t have a moment to spare so Sharon stayed with me, encouraging me all the way. At one point I was certain I just didn’t have it in me to carry on. The contactions were relentless - just one after the other with no break! But with Chris and Sharon’s gentle encouragement I managed to keep going. I was desperate to get into the birthing pool and poor Chris was trying to get both - the one we had hired as well as the Genesis bath - filled as quickly as he could! I’m not sure how long we had been there when I could finally get into the smaller Genesis pool. It was just taking too long to fill the bigger, more comfortable pool. The water was such a relief! Before I knew it Eli was out, born in the water, being passed into my arms. My first thought was that he looked exactly like Zara so Chris assumed we had another girl. We had to pry his legs open to see who he was and when I said a boy Chris was so surprised he had to double check. Eli Oscar Atkinson was born at 03.22am in his membranes - "in the Caul" - after a whirlwind 2hr 35min labour – a more perfect birth we couldn’t have wished for!
So having checked that there are no leaks and with Zara having had a great deal of fun swimming in the birth pool it was time to pack it all up so we can just put it in the car when we ready to leave for Genesis...
Zara and Daddy had a ball playing together whilst packing up ;~) and then of course they had to have a "nap" after all their hard work!
We have been priming Zara all week that the Easter bunny may come visit our garden if she is a good girl... Last night, having been reminded that Sunday was today, she went to bed with no hassles and at about 8.40am this morning Chris had to wake her... We had told her that she had to have breakfast first and then we could phone the Easter bunny and see if he had been in our garden. The only problem is that there have been Easter eggs in the larder cupboard so she thought that that was where she had to look...
After breakfast and much negotiation to get dressed we headed out the kitchen door in search of Easter eggs... Considering her usual sharp eyesight she needed quite a lot of help in spotting the prominently displayed eggs... Having found one (huge) chocolate bunny, she was happy to abort the hunt and devour the entire chocolate. I think even Chris would have been defeated by the size of the chocolate but Zara just kept at it till it was all in her tummy... and then wanted more!
After the hunt we went to Delta Park, came home and had some lunch, all had a sleep and now Chris and Zara have gone for a ride on the bike past Samuel's house.
This is probably the first Easter we have spent in Jozi (in 12 years) and I must say, its been a lovely - quiet - family day and I have thoroughly enjoyed being at home for a change...
Having been caught "unprepared" when Zara was born, we have found ourselves quite the opposite for little Flutterbug's arrival.
Chris collected the birth-pool on Thursday and we spent most of Good Friday sorting and packing what we need when we go to Genesis for the birth. Even though this is a fully functional birthing unit, there is still a lot of additional "stuff" Sharon likes us to take with to make everything more homely and run more smoothly.
One of the most important things to do was to check that all the bits and pieces are there for the pool and that it doesn't leak. So, while I sorted,washed,dried and packed baby clothes, Chris set up the pool...
Zara had a good sleep while we were busy and by the time she got up, the baby's room was sorted and most exciting - there was a massive "pool" for her to have her bath in...
With everything packed, ready and waiting, we now just need to relax and enjoy our time together till Flutterbug decides he/she is ready to meet us all...
Knowing our luck it will be another FOUR weeks - so sit back, relax and enjoy the wait with us. We will let you know when he/she is safely here!
Yesterday we had a small Blessing Way Ceremony & Baby shower...
A Blessing Way, which is a North American Indian tradition is fast becoming a great alternative to the traditional 'baby shower'. Having only ever been to one other Blessingway for Antonella, who's son is Zara's age and baby girl is 4 months old, I knew that it would be something I would want to have with my friends and family when the time came to celebrate Flutterbug's imminent arrival.
Two weeks ago, Orsi & Jo offered to organise us a baby shower & I felt it would be great to include parts of this tradition into our family get together...
Each woman was asked to bring a bead or two for a blessing necklace. During the ceremony the women left the Dads with the kids and we all went upstairs to form a sisterhood circle. Then a bowl was handed around and each woman gave her beads and a blessing for me and new baby as they threaded the beads to make a necklace. The necklace was then given to me to wear during the rest of my pregnancy and the birth. I have been totally blown away by the love, support & empowerment this has given me, Chris & Zara as we enter our last faze of preparation to meet Flutterbug.
Afterwards we all went back down to join the Dads and kids, gorged on far too much yummy cakes and treats and got thoroughly spoilt with gifts for Flutterbug...
What a truly magical day that we'll treasure for years to come - Thank you everyone!
As you might remember, I had a belly mask done of my tummy when I was 36 weeks pregnant with Zara... So this week I had another one done so that I could compare belly's.
Zara was quite intrigued by the process of Theoni pasting "stuff" all over my tummy and insisted on getting naked too - what a great daughter to keep me company ;~) I know she would have loved to "help" Theoni so we kept her distracted with some Easter eggs. Zara seems to have been a far "quieter" baby in utero so it was quite a weird experience this time as the baby just kept moving around - he/she seems to be constantly busy but also probably wasn't wild about the coldness on my tum?
As you can see its quite a messy affair but well worth it in the end with a treasured art piece to keep for each child so they can see how they transformed my body. Chris and I have had fun examining each belly mask and taken note that although there are some similarities, my tum is different...
I am now 36 weeks, so with approx 4 weeks to go till we meet our little Flutterbug I have been quite busy "nesting"...
Zara is nicely settled into her big girl room and en-suite bathroom. The move over has been gradual and this week, she decided no more changing on the baby's change table but only in her room so sometimes I feel like my back is going to give in. She also decided to give her 1st pair of gumboots and grobag to the baby. There are days that she wants to be a big girl and other days she feels the need to be my little baby. We are just letting her set the pace as she feels comfortable...
I have cleaned out the linen cupboard, larder cupboard, bookcase etc... we have also washed all the newborn baby clothes and I plan to sort out the nursery next week...
We have seen Dr Mia, our back-up doctor. He says the baby is well positioned and a nice size so he has given us a full thumbs up for our planned birth at Genesis Clinic. Although it is very difficult to determine an accurate size for the baby, Dr Mia estimated he/she currently weighs about 2700g. On average a baby will gain 150g per week from now so he would estimate roughly 3300g at term - pretty much what Zara weighed at birth (3280g). He did say the baby is mature enough to be born so we should be ready for when he/she is ready.
We will now see Sharon on a weekly basis till the baby decides he/she is ready to meet the world... my guess is that seeings we are ready, prepared and organised this time round he/she will make us wait till 42 weeks (unlike Zara who decided to catch us completely unawares) "just because he/she can"
I am feeling strong and healthy and savouring each day left of the pregnancy. Although I am desperate to meet our new baby, I have thoroughly enjoyed being pregnant! Its been a far easier pregnancy this time round so know I will miss the flutters when baby is born.
Having had a rather torturous week and even rougher weekend with Zara been sick, I thought we would be a long way off moving her into her "big-girl bed"! But low and behold today at lunchtime, she announced to Chris that she wanted to have her nap in her new room...
My immediate feeling was that this was going to be a way of tricking us into not actually having a sleep and getting us to run circles around her. She came and gave me a kiss "goodnight" as I was sorting stuff out in the nursery and toddled off with Dad to her new room! I didn't hear a peep from her for over an hour so can only assume she actually did sleep.
Tonight when it was time for her bath, we asked her where she wanted to sleep and she said in her "big girl room" so while she was bathing, Chris and I rallied around to get her chair, radio & monitor all set for the big event! After getting dressed in the nursery, she was a bit concerned that her chair was missing but got all excited to see we had put it safely in her new room. She chose her story (& managed to sneak two extra books in as well...) after a little cuddle with me, she went into her bed and all I can say is "so far, so good!!!"
We feel extremely proud of her making the decision all by herself but also realise that in many respects our little baby is not so little anymore. I suppose the lesson for me, in particular is to try let her guide me as to how much change can be tolerated at one given time!
Even though she is growing up daily - she will always be our little girl!!!
Having had Gran Heather make all the bedding and lengthen the curtains for Zara's new room, we thought it only fair to get Grannyannie to sew 100 ladybird buttons onto Zara's mozzi net. I did phone her 2 days before going to Durban to warn her that she had a "mammoth" task ahead of her and got a rather nervous giggle as a response! Having sewn 1 button on, we soon realised that this was not going to work! The buttons were too heavy to be sewn on so in stepped Grandpa. The best plan he could suggest was to glue the buttons to the net. BUT what glue?? Super glue didn't work so whilst Grannyannie cut the loops off the back of the buttons, Zara picked up the bits of plastic and Grandpa and I used the glue gun to glue all the ladybirds to the net. It was all done in much shorter time than I anticipated and the final result is truly too cute for words - now we just need Dad to get the net up over the "big girl bed"...
With just a few weeks before we meet our little Flutterbug, we have all been busy gearing up for the big changes in our family. Zara in particular has been facing the most change with potty training, getting Dad to do bedtime and with the prospect of moving from the nursery into her own "big-girl bed". I have been telling her that we going to make her a nice new ladybird room and that she will be sleeping in the bed that was mine when I was a little girl... so far she seems OK with this so I have been running around sourcing ladybird goodies to make her room special and thus hopefully a smoother transition into the new room. Over the weekend the Hilton grandparents were here for a visit and Heather spent the most part "chained" to the sewing machine making the duvet covers and some covers for the new baby's change mat. Graham and Chris put up curtain rails and some floating shelves... Everyone had a little help from the big girl herself and she really seemed pleased with all the goings on...
This week I am 32 weeks pregnant! I cant believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. It has also been a very easy pregnancy compared with Zara's pregnancy. We have been doing ante-natal classes over the past few weeks and Chris and I feel that we have really benefited from the classes far more this time round. One of the "Dad's to be" in our group is an underwater photographer so offered to do some underwater "pregi-bellys" as he wants to build up a portfolio. We had a lot of fun doing the photos, with much laughter at how much more buoyant a pregnant body is. Zara was of course the star of the show with her love for swimming. As far as Flutterbug goes - he/she is growing nicely and on track on the chart. I certainly feel and see a lot more movement than I did with Zara and often feel the continuous hiccups! It is fascinating seeing my belly moving - I love just sitting and watching our little miracle. Even though we are ready and excited to meet Flutterbug, I know that I will miss this special experience when he/she is born...
PS - still waiting for the underwater images so will add when I get them
although the image quality has improved significantly over the past 2 & half years, we certainly can see strong similarities between Zara and our new baby...
