What a year it has been!

How corny is it to say "where did the time go?" Between pregnancy and the first few months of Henri's life - time has flown by!! For all our family and friends who have been by our side, physically & thru the magic of the internet, we are so grateful!!! Words cannot begin to say how much your love & support have meant to us.

This final day of 2011 started like any other day - Jasper sprawled at the end of the bed; Rob hogging the covers, Henri snuffle grunting his way out of his swaddle and I trying to stay comfortable and warm. Henri finally broke free & woke up so that meant my day was set to begin. As he was waking up he let out one of his "cute" toots and, in typical little boy fashion, giggled & grinned. Precious... Well, the cute moment soon passed and Henri let out a "mom, I am hungry" wail...well, more like a squack. Henri, bless his little heart, doesn't really wail unless he is extremely pissed off.  Now the boys are still sleeping so time for momma to plan out what is on the radar for the rest of maternity leave. Yes, folks...I have time to plan!

 

My wish list includes trips to Scottsdale, Seattle, Vancouver, Whistler/Squamish, Montreal, the Eastern Townships, and, if I am lucky...Toronto. The last trip will include Grandma G along for the ride... :)

Aside from travels across this great land we are getting our renovations finished upstairs. My master builder has been busy designing plans for the room and now we just need to figure out when we will get it done. I can't wait! Thankfully one set of grandparents are close by to assist with Henri so momma and daddy can work away! Well, more like momma can supervise and shop for materials/furniture while daddy works away. When all is said and done we should have a finished guest room & master bedroom by June 2012!

So today we close amazing chapter on our lives and get ready for the adventure of tomorrow and the one after that, and the one after that...wishing you all a safe NYE celebration and a prosperous 2012.

'Tis the Season

When did it hit December let alone one week to go before Christmas??
Our house has two plants that resemble Christmas and Henri has his Christmas outfits. Presents are nearly done and the cooking is well underway. In years past we have been organized and lights are up the house...this year is a bit different.
With Master Henri's arrival it has become a one man show in the decorating and organizing department. And that one person has been working every day last few weeks until today. Today the house is transforming. We will give the house the attention it needs and transform it into a Christmas wonderland for Henri's first Christmas. Sunday is all about friends & Christmas parties! Henri will head to the second children's party of the year (OMG - we are attending children's Christmas parties...) and then over to a grand gathering with our Banff family! I love this time of year. Hopefully Mother Nature will keep the white stuff on the ground for Christmas. Oh - it is going to be great!!! Henri's first Christmas. Does he look excited?

Yes, Christmas has a whole new meaning and sense of excitement with a little one. Jasper the wonder dog has a spring in his step and keeps tabs on all of us. He has earned his place on the "Nice" list this year!

Ah yes...the sweet smell of Christmas cooking...better run before it burns!

How time flies...

I cannot believe it has been eight weeks since our little man entered the world. And in those eight weeks I have learned what can be achieved with very little sleep and a lot of patience. I can't remember the last time I celebrated a full night's sleep! Long gone are the days of sleeping more than a five hour stretch at a time! And who knew it would take so long to get ready to go out for a walk? Heck, trying to fit in a shower for myself is a challenge. :)

Henri Gerard Douglas entered the world at 10:07 a.m. on Septemer 4th at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary. He weighed five pounds & 11 ounces and was 49 centimetres in length. It was a lengthy delivery...we were brought in on September 1st in the afternoon to induce labour. Henri was going to come into the world three weeks early as my kidney function was starting to take the turn for the worse and the doctors told me the baby was perfectly healthy and would thrive on the outside. They said given he was 36 almost 37 weeks along it is time to take care of his momma. So, off we went to the Foothills to wait for our little man to come into the world. 

We had learned about what induction would entail in our childbirth essentials class two weeks prior. I didn't think I would actually have to reenact the entire lesson! I won't go into the gory details but if anyone has questions about any aspect of induction give me a call...I have first hand knowledge. :) In any event, 60+ hours after we started down the induction highway Henri came into the world with a little help from Dr. Birch and the team!

For the past eight weeks Henri and I have learned a lot about each other and what life is going to be like for the next few months. First things first...heal from the c-section and get Henri to pack on the pounds! Thankfully Grandma came to stay with us off and on for the first four to five weeks of us being home. And thank goodness for her! The c-section took a bigger toll than I ever imagined. I don't know what I was thinking...one lesson I learned - every child will always need their mommy. Henri - remember this. ;)

Oh, who can forget Jasper the wonder dog! Jasper has taken to his new role of protector with pride. He struts beside the stroller when we are out, barks with greater authority and makes sure anyone who comes to see Henri knows he is here too. :) A tad jealous I think but still our adorable retriever. When I feed Henri downstairs Jasper is right beside us so that we know he is there too.

Sorry for the lack of pictures on this post. I have them on my iPhone and desperately need to download them into the photo file!

Thank you all for your support and love as we soldier on the road of parenthood.

When the doctor says it's time...

It hit me at my last doctor's appointment on Thursday, August 25th - "this time next week I could be a mommy." Don't get me wrong. I knew it was coming but when the doctor tells you the moment you have been waiting for but thought was still three to four weeks away was actually far less than that the panic kicks in.

Yes, this type A personality as actually caught a little off guard. Who knew first born children could arrive THREE WEEKS early! When I entered the world I was told I took my sweet time getting here but made a very dramatic entrance (shocking I know). This little one has made pregnancy a dream for his momma. I haven't been sick, I haven't been too hormonal and the worst part has been the swollen feet/ankles and the drop kicks on my bladder from time to time this last trimester. So when the doctor told us last week that we would be checking into the hospital and be induced within the week, while I knew it was a possibility, it was a shock to the system. I had my mind wrapped around a post Labor day birth not a pre-labor day birth! For those that know me they know I don't do surprises well. It took some time to sink in and there are still moments I am a bit taken a back. We are closer to being ready than we were a week ago but still don't feel 100% there. I guess this is a good start for parenthood. Because really are we ever 100% ready for anything?

My loving husband was good enough to endulge me in a few purchases this weekend that will tie us over until Junior's "real" furniture arrives in a couple of weeks. When we get home from the hospital in Calgary early next week Junior will have his sailboat themed room painted and a bassinet in there for him to snooze the day away in in between feedings. And bless Grandma & Grandpa Grant...the troops are coming out tonight to help me get the rooms ready for when we leave and when we come home. There is just so much to do! Who knew two people could have so much "stuff". And Jasper the wonder dog is just laying at my feet and following me around. Poor fella...what is a dog to do? Oh right - he will head to Chateau Grant doggy retreat for a little TLC while his momma is giving birth to a little one that will be the bane of his existence over the next couple of years. :) Poor puppy.

Stay tuned folks...the ride is definitely going to be interesting!!

One step closer...

This is it. The final few weeks (hopefully) of the Cote Clan being two plus pooch.

I have been ordered home early from work and day one consisted of going to the city for my final ultrasound (Junior is five pounds, six ounces at the 35 week mark) of our pregnancy. It is starting to hit us...we are actually going to be parents and there is no turning back. Me - I am excited and scared all at the same time. The Admiral finally admitted he is nervous. Will he be a good father, will our son grow up and still respect us for the way we brought him up? The usual concerns.  And what about Jasper the wonder dog... how is he going to handle this "thing" taking over the house. Will he share his toys? I bet that is what he is thinking.

One of the best things about having Junior enter our lives is the new adventure we are getting ready to take on together. This is something we both have wanted for as long as we can remember. Is the room ready - NO WAY! Are all the supplies in the house - NOPE...but close. Do we have an amazing support system - you bet!
Our surrogate family in Banff has been amazing and so supportive. The Grant clan in Calgary/Cochrane awaits the call. Grandma Cote is waiting for the call and cannot wait to meet her EIGHTH grandchild (not to mention her three great-grandchildren). Get ready world...the next Cote is almost ready to make his entrance.

We are getting closer...

I think I finally understand what the phrase "we are in the homestretch" finally means. I mean, I have been in races, events where the homestretch was the final kilometres but this is so drastically different. The recovery period from the race is a few days in bed. This recovery happens before the big event!
This week saw the return of the hormonal rollercoaster! Wow - how the other half puts up with me. One minute I am fine and then I am crying like Niagra Falls. Hormones do strange, strange things to you!

The homestretch means a doctor's appointment and ultrasound every two weeks. So far, so good for Junior. He is perfectly average! That is music to my ears. It is amazing to see how much they grow and develop within 14 days. As of Tuesday, Junior was three pounds & 10 ounces...and we have eight weeks to go! Oh boy...

Another giant leap in the homestretch - I indulged my family with "a bump" picture. I have never been one to enjoy having my picture taken.  Anyone that knows me knows I will run in the opposite direction when the cameras come out. I think it was because at Grant family gatherings EVERY adult had a camera and would not stop taking pictures. That can damage a child. ;)

I hope all are having a great summer!

"It hasn't hit me yet"

These are the famous words uttered by the Admiral (hubby's nickname in the summer months). We are sitting at 29 weeks & three days into the pregnancy and the man is still trying to come to terms with the fact that we are going to have a little one running our lives in a mere 10 weeks time.
Funny thing how the Admiral can't get his head wrapped around what is about to happen. Meanwhile, our little boy has been branded "yoga master" after our latest ultrasound. How this little one was able to get his feet up by his head, along with his hands, blows my mind. It did explain why I felt the way I did. Never a dull moment I have to say.
And thanks to my friends for pointing out a newborn weighed in at 16 pounds this week in Texas. I made sure to ask my doc if there was a chance of this happening to me and the little one and his words were music to my ears... "are you insane! No way!" Ah yes, the sound medical advice I long for every two weeks.
Hoping everyone has a great summer! Believe it or not I am praying summer will arrive (and stay) in Banff soon!

The adventure begins...

Well, here we go. The Cote's have entered to blog-o-sphere. With one foot in the "old" world (still love writing letters and receiving cards in my mailbox) and a giant leap into the digital world I thought this is a great way to share our journey into the world of parenthood.

For those just tuning in Rob and I are expecting a bouncing baby boy in September. While it still seems surreal for Rob it is very much becoming a reality for me. This little one certainly lets me know when he is hungry; wants his momma to get up and move around (my stomach is already becoming a kicking bag) and when he recognizes the dog's presence. Ah yes...Jasper the wonder dog. Sure hope he is ready for the chaos that will reign the house this fall. The upside for Jasper is we are encouraging him to bark so the little one is used to that sound when he arrives.

Baby C's first pictures...his little head.

This blog's intent is to keep our friends and family up on what is happening on our road to parenthood and the fun of the first few years. Ready or not...here we go!