Baby pics, at last!

Time to meet the monkey!

Emma Büchner was born on 12 August at 11h25. I had a caesarean section because her head didn't descend, at time of her delivery we realised that it was because the umbilical cord was around her neck, which means that she wouldn't have been able to take the 'normal route'.

She weighed 3,6kg and is 100% healthy and a perfect little human being...

We came home from the hospital yesterday and are still busy adjusting, so far it has been very successful :) I just get tired quite quickly and it feels like there is not enough hours in the day to get everything done.

Enjoy the pics, next time I'll elaborate a bit more about the birth and the hospital stay.

Lots of love!

Ané and little monkey Emma

Maybe tomorrow, baby!

Monday the 11th, another week starts with monkey very happy in my tummy! :)

We had a nice quiet weekend, slept late, had a very enjoyable woman's day breakfast with my parents on Saturday, and a proper 'braaivleis en kuier' with all the 'oumas en oupas' to be on Saturday evening. Sunday was just a quiet day at home - definitely (may I say!) our last Sunday as a couple without a monkey...

Tomorrow morning we are going to decide on a game plan. I am definitely not waiting another week...! If the gynae agrees we will try induction (I really really really hope we can give it a shot!) otherwise we will maybe have to go for the c-section option. But we are officially past our date now, and we are ready for action.

So, my friends....

maybe...

when I write my next post...

it will be with baby pics!

Lets hold thumbs please...

Due date??

Today is Friday 8 August (8/8/2008) and according to dates today is our official due date - we are now 40 weeks. Still, the monkey is happy to stay where she is - and another Friday arrives without any baby pics...

I had two busy days (enjoying all my 'plans'!) - on Wednesday I spent the morning driving around and shopping with a friend, and then went with hubby to buy dinner at Subway on Hatfield Square :) what a weird experience! We were still sitting at home watching TV and the next moment he said he is really in the mood for a Subway sub (they used to buy it a lot when he was on contract in Bahrain), so we decided 'why not?', got into the car and drove to Hatfield. Unfortunately we had no idea where the shop was, so we had to 'phone a friend' first! :) But it was worth it - a footlong sub and a subway cookie later we were quite satisfied... :)

Yesterday morning I went to watch 'Miss Pettigrew lives for a day' at Cinema Nouveau. It was SO ENJOYABLE!!! :)
Just a feel-good, funny, well-casted and easy-to-watch enjoyable movie. I would really encourage anyone to go and watch it - even those who are not seasoned Cinema Nouveau fans. Good relaxation!
After the movie I joined my in-laws for a special lunch (my mother in law had a special friend visiting from Cape Town), and after that I had a quick visit with my own family (mom and sisters and niece) - a day full of plans! But a lot of fun :)

I slept a bit better last night, the past few nights I've been have bad cramping in my hips and lower back. Think my whole body is getting a bit fed-up with all the extra weight, the relaxed ligaments and the general sense of not having balance. I just wish the monkey could also get the message!
But, while she's happy and comfy inside I am taking it easy.

For today I don't have big plans, I really need to get a bit of studying done, then I'm definitely going to watch the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, and we'll fit in another walk late afternoon...
and we wait...

Still no sign of labour coming closer

This morning early I got a phone call from my gynae - she is going away for the weekend and she wanted to see me today to assess whether we could (?should) consider inducing labour before the weekend. We are now 39 weeks and 4 days so it made sense - the chances are there that labour may happen over the weekend and believe me, it is not really an experience I would like to go through with a complete stranger assisting...

Any case, I started mentally preparing myself for the possibility that tomorrow may just be the official arrival day... just to find out that this little monkey has not even remotely started considering being born. (wow, what a sentence!) What I am trying to say is that, after careful examination etc, the conclusion was that my body is not even close to going into labour yet. Should we attempt induction it is most likely to fail, and end up in a c-section, which I have been trying really hard to avoid.

So, understandably, I am a bit apprehensive about waiting another week but it seems as if it is the only option. If nothing has happened by next week Tuesday 08h00, we will have to reconsider and maybe even consider a c-section. Mmm.

On the bright side, monkey still seems to be happy and comfortable where she is, estimated weight 3,28kg and all else fine with her. So no reason to worry that she will be affected by our decision to wait another week. Will update if there is any news...

Planning my week!

Good morning on another Monday without the monkey...!
Last night I read on some random website that the best thing to do these last few days is to have PLANS! So, this morning I got up with a head full of plans :)
The first on 'the list' was to go and watch a movie. So I went and watched 'Bella' this morning at 09h30. It was...
A MA ZING.
BEAUTIFUL.
And I cried my eyes out! I don't think I have ever cried in a movie like I did this morning! (and I am one of those people who normally cries in 9/10 movies!)
It was such a special Monday-morning experience.

So, for the rest of today (this is after washing dishes, doing laundry and updating email/blog) I am planning a good study session, a quick afternoon nap ;) and getting a bit of fresh (suddenly wintry again!) air with a nice brisk stroll round the neighbourhood :)

And providing nothing (?un)expected happens, I may just fit in another early-morning Cinema Nouveau movie tomorrow!

August!

It is Friday, the 1st of August, and it would seem as if the monkey has decided to be an August baby... July is officialy over! We went to the doctor yesterday - monkey is still growing well and seems to be very happy and thriving in the slowly-shrinking-darkness where she is currently determined to stay! :)
Anyways! Went to watch a movie this morning with a good friend (who also happens to be pregnant!) and the two of us together managed to attract quite a few smiles and bemused looks (yes, at the moment I definitely look a full 39 weeks!!)... the waitress in the coffee shop could not stop smiling!
Spent some quality time with hubby this week catching up on dvd's and also went to see the new Batman movie (wow, impressive!), managed to get some efficient studying done, and went for three 3+ km walks... lets hope by next week Friday I'll be posting some real baby-pics...
Love!
A