So it is official - I have gestational diabetes. It will make for an adjustment in what I eat and when I eat it - but it looks all manageable. It has been a bit of a scary ride and I would be lying if I said it hasn't been emotional and bit tough but we will get through it. The one thing that was exciting was that  we got to see the little bugger in an ultrasound and he is doing just find. 

He is currently a whopping 2 lbs, 9oz - therefore in the 60th percentile - so not too big (which is good news). All looks good

 with him and he was kicking up a storm while the ultrasound was going on. He clearly did not like being disturbed during naptime. 

They did the ultrasound a little differently this time - all of the ones they gave us are of the 3D variety - so they are a little hard to see, but once you adjust to how to look at these...it will be absolutely clear! 

So no more waiting...here he is: 

I LOVE this picture! A nice big smile (or so it seems), big eyes, and his cute little nose are relatively easy to spot! 

More looking happy and relaxed in there.

Bit of a profile shot - you can even spot a little ear! 

Another profile shot - and a definite ear. Right in front of his face are his two little feet and you can see his hand propping up his head. That is a big weight to carry. Notice the already chubby cheeks. I think that may come from my side :) 

Look at his LONG neck! 

That is all we have for now. We have another doctor's appointment this week where we get all of our pediatrician information and information about registering at the hospital. Then an appointment with the dietician next week to make sure my blood sugar levels are ok just with diet and exercise. And then soon we will have another ultrasound! I can't get enough of seeing him in there! 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures - less than 3 months now.

26 Weeks- or the Three Month Coundown

Ok..so admitedly it has been a while since we updated. It is a cross between nothing new to tell and the fact that, when not on the road to international locations, I can't keep my eyes open past 9pm anymore. Haven't quite decided yet if that is because I never sleep longer than 2 hours at night without having to wake up for shift positions or dash to the toilet...or just because overall I'm just plain old tired.



So here is the quick update to be followed by some belly pictures. My HUGE belly!



Everything is all good with Mr.Max (aka The little bugger which will inevitably evolve to Bug - I can see it now). He is kicking all the time now - hard enough for Nick to actually feel it and for anyone looking to see my stomach jump whenever he kicks nice and hard. Of course, he spends most of his time shamelessly kicking my bladder - so no one gets to enjoy that but me! It is easily one of the weirdest feelings ever.

On the not-so-fun side, I have to go in for my second gestational diabetes test as I was high on the first one. According to the doctor, about 40% of women fail that first time - but the idea that there may be something wrong never makes me feel good. Nick and I have often talked aobut he fact that almost everytime we have an appointment, I come back worried about some test result. Medical fear mongering. It is definitely stressful. I am never quite sure what I will have to worry about next - not that just having a baby and being a parent doesn't worry me enough. Hopefully the results will come in saying there is nothing wrong and we will move on from there. If not, it is off to the nutritionist for me. Admitedly, the worst part for me at the moment is the fasting. How can I not eat for 12 hours now. IT IS KILLING ME. I'm secretly now looking forward to the DISGUSTING orange soda I will get to drink tomorrow morning.

Other than that, Nick has been working really hard to get the apartment ready for Max. We had a run around town checking out everything on our registry and are getting ready to start putting in the orders. We actually have some space to put everything in now. Max has his very own dresser packed full of adorable clothing thanks to all the family making sure he well dressed (and if we haven't said it already - let me just say a huge thank you for everything everyone has sent/bought us! We can't wait to get him all dressed up. So many blog updates!)!

Pre-natal classes will start at the end of October where I get to hear all the joys of labor and the week after we will learn all about caring for a newborn and infant CPR. Yikes! So much to learn! It is still surreal to think we will have a baby in this apartment - our baby - in just a few months. Sometimes the reality of that sets in and other times it feels like at any point someone is going to jump out holding a camera and tell us we are on some twisted episode of candid camera. Of course, then my back aches and my feet swell and baby brain takes over and I forget everything I should remember and Max dances on my bladder and I quickly realize that he is indeed in there and growing fast!

I'm finally done with the travelling. Last weeks' trip was the last for me. The Virgin staff took exceptional care of me..bringing me bowls of fruit and bottles of water. But I have had enough plane rides to last me a lifetime and I'm ready to take it easy. Doctor's appointments are getting closer together too. 3 weeks until the next one...then I move to the every two week appointments. We have about 3 months to go until Max arrives. That is both an eternity and the shortest amount of time ever.

So that is pretty much the big update. Nothing really exciting other than the nesting beginning...lots of kicking.....and a huge belly. Ok....no more waiting...here they are....the belly photos (no comments on how big I am...as of yet the doctor has NOT told me to stop stuffing my face!)

:)

Here is photo number one - with lovely SF/Marin in the background.

Get ready - here is the belly - in all it's pale Canadian glory! I try to keep it covered so I don't blind people when the sun is out :)

I am a constant source of heat which makes me the most attractive pillow for our roomates. If I am lying down..sititng on the couch...anyhwere within reach..I am an automatic attraction. I am now better than lying in the sun. As long as they are near the oven I call the baby belly - they are happy. Max likes the purring I think. He kicks whenever one of them lies on my tummy and purrs.

And last, but most definitely not least - we received a lovely present from Nick's aunt - the delightful Eira - who drew us a piece of original art celebrating our engagement. We just wanted to post it here and send out a big thanks for that!

That's it for us! I promise I will update soon with news. As soon as he starts kicking hard enough for real movement to show - we may even take a video to share so you can all see the alien living in there!