Julius Mandela and Waiting for X-mas

Finally on Father's day our little boy was baptized. Julius Mandela is the name officially. Julius comes from his babu (grandfather on daddy's side) and Mandela of course from Nelson Mandela - to respect his amazing work for human rights - against racism. Felt suitable for our little mixed family. And sounded so soft and flowing when all the names were put together.

Julius started out smiling and laughing to the Priest Ville but at some point became fussy and started crying - and cried until the thing was over. After that he was his normal self. I love this picture. Julius is looking straight into Ville's eyes - and it was the part he was being told that today he will be baptized.

Getting ready for Christmas season is not simple. We are trying hard to keep

it as relaxed as possible but it seems impossible at times. We started by doing a photo

shoot of Julius and I will turn the photos into cards and at least our friends and relatives get

a small Christmas wish from us incase my head explodes before the actual date.

We will be having the family over for a late lunch and then we will go to my mothers for

the rest of the day.

It's a magical time of the year. I just wish I had more energy to deal with it... But I guess the

most important thing is to be with family and friends and that's one thing I know I'll be able to manage :D

He turns...

Julius started moving around around two weeks. I tried to place him on his bed on his side (that's what is the recommended position) but he disagreed and always managed to turn to his back as well as back to his side. When he was less than a month he somehow managed to turn fully around. I was shocked and I knew it was a pure mistake but anyhow he did it, and of course since then the only place I can leave him alone (so I can use the bathroom) is on the floor.

In the last two weeks lying on his back and kicking toys on his play mat became more fascinating, so he hasn't been practicing too much. Today I realized that he hasn't been lying on his stomach unless its on top of me or Tonny much, so when he woke up from his nap I decided it's a good opportunity to do some head holding exercise. Julius disagreed and decided to do some turning exercise instead!!! He repeated it so many times that I was able to grab this (i know bad quality) small video with my cell. I'm so proud!!!

6 weeks already

Oh how lazy have I been... Before our beautiful baby was born I was determined to write the blog very often, just to keep track on things, but I guess life has gotten into the way. At some point I just decided to focus on enjoying him rather than recording everything that has happened.. (I'm sure being tired had a lot to do with this also :D) but now it seems crazy that it has already been six weeks!!

Everything is going nicely. Julius had his doctor's appointment today and his growing fast (actually faster than average, especially his height) and looks around at everything and everyone. He also started to turn very early, so while all this progress makes me feel like a very proud mom it seems that he is growing way too fast. We even have some clothes already that have become too small for him.. When did this happen???

Life is nice and I'm enjoying every day with him, as well as being thankful of nice Finnish government that makes it possible for me to stay home with him without needing to worry about my work.

OUR LITTLE MIRACLE

Finally.

He kept us waiting two days past my due date, and I was anxious to meet him. During those last days I kept increasing exercise, visited sauna often and just waited and waited. The funny thing is that when the labor actually started I didn't even realize it at first.

Here's how the day went.

My biggest fear was that I would feel my labor pain in my back. I've heard that it's the worst kind of labor pain there is... So of course, my luck, that is exactly what happened. On August 27 I started to wake up with some pain during the night, but as I told earlier it didn't dawn on me that it was the real deal. For a few weeks before that, I'd had contractions everytime I would move my position, so at night, feeling sleepy I didn't realize that the pain came before I got up.

Around five in the morning I gave up though, and decided that I need to go sit in a hot shower to ease the pain. I kept secretly hoping that that day would be the day we would get to meet our little miracle, but at the same time I tried to be realistic that it could end any minute.

But they kept coming and kept getting worse. So after having regular contractions every eight minute for a bit over two hours, we started to make a plan for the day.

Just breathing at home

Tonny went to work and took me to my mom's place, since I didn't want to stay alone, and mom has a bathtub :D. We also didn't want Tonny to stay home, incase it would end. At this point the pain was intense, but nothing I couldn't breath through. Around nine I was at mom's and almost straight away decided to take a bath. The hot water felt amazing on my back, since that was still the place all the pain was in. I actually had to check that my belly hardened to be sure that they were contractions (since I don't have that much experience on this..). The bath is supposed to relax and even slow things down, but even though it felt good, and relaxed me a bit, the contractions started coming every 5-6 minutes. It didn't seem like it would end, and between the contractions it started to register to me that I will have my baby that day.

Mom helped me with some massaging and even Daniel was there pretending to be a little doctor. The horrible thing was that, I started vomiting again. Nothing new to this pregnancy, but let me say that vomiting and contracting at the same time - not very fun! Those moment made me feel I will never make it.

Around two I started to feel like that I can't take the pain any longer. I called Tonny to come to mom's and Minna came to pick Daniel up. We had already decided to have my mom with us during the delivery, in case of any language issues. So finally after all that, the three of us took the trip to the hospital. As a plus the car seat warmer really helped along the way - in front of the hospital getting up was torture already. We got in and I went in for an examination. They made sure baby's heart was beating ok, and then checked me out. My second fear was that they would say that I'm barely anything along and would send me back home. Luckily that didn't happen, and I actually started crying from relief when she told me that it's going to happen today, I was already at 4 cm.

Putting the aqua

After that I took a quick shower, and changed (possibly the most horrible clothes change in my life!) At this point my back wouldn't relax completely in between the contractions, any ANY movement made it worse. Upstair at the delivery ward I was recommended to take these aqua bladders (basically just water inserted just under the skin) to my back. It hurts so bad, like a bad bee sting, but finally relief! I remember saying to the midwife that now I can finally look at people in their eyes again.

I headed back to the shower and poured hot water on my body. Now that the back was at peace (even if it was only for a very short time) I finally felt some pain in my belly also. Also the sides of my legs started to burn with every contraction. I was lucky though, because between every contraction I got a nice break.

At some point it didn't seem like enough though and I started to take laughing gas also. I didn't enjoy it at all since now my contractions started to come two in a row, so I always ended up taking it for so long that it affected my legs and everything. But it made some time pass and at the next check up I had progressed to 6 cm and they were able to break my waters and give me a para cervical injection to ease the pain. After that when the pain started to become too much again, and I thought I would have to take an epidural (which I was ready for incase the pain would become too much) the midwife told me that there is no need for that anymore since I was at 10 cm and could start pushing soon. We had to wait a while since the baby was in a angle, but soon enough it was time and 18 minutes later, at 19.33, baby Julius was in my arms. I'm not going to lie, it hurt so much, but my midwife did such a good job in aiding him out that even Tonny said that it looked so easy and natural.

Brand new

My first thought was that HE is SO SMALL... and I just wanted to protect him from all the bad things in the world. I cried a little - he made me so happy... I was able to hold him immediately and he ate for the first time before he was even one hour old. From the moment that I arrived at the hospital it had only been 3,5 hours until I had him. I felt so lucky because I was able to stay comfortably at home for a very long time.

Proud dad

After a while Tonny and the midwife went to take his measurements height 50 cm and weight 3485 g, and to give him a bath. Then we were served some tea and sandwiches (finally I didn't feel like vomiting anymore!) and thanked God for our amazing little boy. Two hours later we were transferred to the new born ward.

Tonny went home that night and I stayed with the baby... I don't think either of us was able to sleep that night... The baby slept though, and I kept checking that he is breathing. I guess that is what every new mom does :D

Two days old

We stayed at the hospital for less than two days, since I was ok and little Julius was eating and sleeping well.

Daddy dressing him into his "going home" clothes

Let's go!!

Belly pic

I've been super lazy about posting (and taking) belly pics.. Here's how I look now..

I was on my way to Annika's ylioppilas party and Tonny was busy playing with "his" new camera. I feel HUGE already.. I wonder how I will look after two and a half more months... A whale perhaps..

27+5

For those who don't speak "pregnancy" it means 27 weeks and five days. Wednesday always marking the "full-week", and making the duedate yet another week closer. This weekend a panic started to set in. I have not been super active in buying things for the baby. Apart from one onesie that I bought in the beginning (mostly for Tonny since it says I love Daddy) and two bottles for future situations, and of course the biggest purchase baby-trolley, I haven't bought anything else. I know there is still time, but I just feel like its running out. And fast.

So today I am heading to Ikea, for some shelves as well as a lookout for some other things that I still want to buy, to get everything started. I still have a list of "house-things" that I want to do before the "baby-things" that it seems impossible that I'll ever finish. Luckily I am feeling better now, nausea is only slight, and some days even completely non-existent. I've even been able to go for a 5K walk for a couple of days in a row.. My goal is to have everything bought by the time I start my maternity leave, so whithin the next 7 weeks I have to work hard... I plan on doing absolutely NOTHING once it starts :D

Wish me luck...

Beata Lulu Zwaida Mnedeme

Yesterday we got one of the biggest honors we can, Tonny and I became
godparents to Beata, Adam's beautiful baby daughter.

Proud Father and Godfater

So precious and so beautiful

The ceremony was beautiful and peaceful. Even the baby stayed calm, for the most of the time at least. :D It's just amazing, that soon it will be our turn.

Old and new

When I found out I'm pregnant I started to write my very early feelings down. But I didn't want to make them public just yet, so today I finally posted those few lines that I wrote down so long ago. All that was before the overwhelming nausea and vomiting started, when it was just brand new and quite scary at the same time...

Now I'm just super glad that finally the nausea shows sings of disappearing to the background, but unfortunately that has been replaced with severe pain in my lower abdomen. It is safe to say that I have not been blisfully happy during this pregnancy, like so many women around me discribe theirs, but have struggled quite alot.. Don't get me wrong I feel blessed about having this baby, but no one who has not been with their head down the toilet 5-10 times a day for 5 months in a row, doesn't get to have an opinnion on this.

Pretty soon it will be time to get everything ready for the baby. We've already been receiving some gifts and they just make it feel like that it is that much more real. Today though, I realized that May is approaching mid way, and I start my maternity leave on 21 July, so time is truly running out... At the same time I want the time to fly, but what happened to those nine months that we were supposed to have to get everything ready for the baby??? They should tell you in the beginning that it's not really nine months, it's one month of panic and disbelief, then 5 months of head down the toilet and trying to survive, and then actually two months of getting everything ready!!! So now we are trying to get everything ready and done before the little one makes an appearance :D

My Love the Party Planner

The past few months Tonny has been finding new ways to express his creativity and social abilities. Not a partyer himself, he enjoys organizing them. During this spring he has organized two black and white parties, a reggae jam, as well as an benefit concert for the people in Haiti. (We're talking some serious performers etc.) Every time the quality gets better and better and people have a good time. I am so proud of him, while unfortunately I've had to stay home the last two parties, because of severe nausea and other pregnancy issues.

The boys posing at the red carpet

Thruthfully, it really makes no difference whether I'm home or at the party, I might be in bed attempting to sleep, but can only relax when my love is back home safely and has shared the exciting events of the evening. It is just amazing how Tonny has the energy to do all this on top of his every day responsibilities. I guess when you are reaching for your dreams energy just keeps flowing...

Just Amazing

Today Tonny and I faced our first troubles with our little baby. And yes, I know the baby is still inside me, but we went to an ultrasound (20-week appointment) to check everything is ok, but someone didn't want to make it an easy task. It actually started yesterday already, when the midwife was only able to take measurements but failed to get our little ball turn around to check heart and kindeys etc.

So today we tried again. After being there for 40 minutes we were finally done. Before we were done though I had to run 6 floors up and down, jump around the room and eat candy because someone was being stubborn. Fortunately all the tests were good, and no abnormalities could be seen for now atleast and we also found out that we are having a little baby boy.

We're both super excited and working at the moment seems like such a waste of time. I'm trying to cool down, but all I want to do is to tell anyone who wants to listen that I'm having a baby boy.. ohh... bliss..

Quietness...

I know, I know, I know... I've been dead quiet for a very long time.. Everything is fine it's just that I've been spending most of my time getting to know many toilets of Finland. If the information has not yet reached you I am pregnant. And while it's amazing and wonderful and I can't wait for our little baby to come out already for me this time hasn't been the most enjoyable of my life. I know some women get to experience that, but I've been following my mother's footsteps and vomiting all the way through. So, for me, at the moment, I am super anxious to get through this part. Part of me is worried that because this is not getting any better that by the time I start feeling better I'll be huge and suffering from many other things. Don't get me wrong, we're both very happy and feel truly blessed. I just wish I could feel blessed in somewhere else than a toilet.

First official belly photo. I've been lazy about them but realized this morning, that if I plan on seeing any progress I better start. I feel huge already....

This one is the weirdest for me. I'm lying down on my back, before breakfast... Looks like some alien trying to push through (comment made by my lovely friend) but she's right. I know I'll get used to it, but still... It's not like this every morning, I guess our little Tiger was just streching out the living quarters :D