Baby Tondino

On my list

At the top of my 'what I want to do once I give birth' list has to be laying on my stomach. As I tossed and turned early this morning, as I do occasionally on nights where I just can't quite get comfortable; I came across an exercise program where the woman was laying completely on her stomach and I realized just how long it's been since I've been able to do that! Laying flat on my back has been an option long forgotten too, for that matter, but somehow the stomach option is more appealing right now.

Of course, I'm looking forward to not worrying about what I'm eating - ie. brie, carpaccio, etc. and a nice glass of red wine. I think this shall be the menu for when I return home with Taylor. Ha. It's really just having the option that I have started to miss. I don't miss the indegestion I used to get with dairy products that I have been relieved of while I'm pregnant, nor do I miss any hangovers that could have come my way over the holidays as they may have in previous years, but it's nice to have the option that's all.

Taylor was very very active yesterday, was making us laugh quite a bit with all the rolling and kicking. Taylor feels very strong and ready to emerge anytime - but who knows, the countdown is on but you just never know! We're slowly getting our boxes unpacked and getting settled in our new place. The crib arrived yesterday (thanks again to all of you who contributed to that purchase!) and we can't wait to get it set up...I think with every box unpacked and baby item put in it's place will make reality closer and closer. Woo!!

A brand new year

Happy New Year to everyone!

We're so happy that January is here, that we have a new home and that Taylor's arrival is quickly approaching! Thanks to everyone (you know who you are) for all your help throughout this crazy month while we tried to find a place to live - from making phone calls, helping us locate apartments to view, moving heavy boxes and countless pieces of furniture over two days, moving it all into to our new place, and helping unpack and move furniture -- for this, we owe you all a tremendous thank you & more. We couldn't have done it without you.

We have attached a few recent pictures in the photo album 'Home' and hope you enjoy them. We're counting down the days now and thank you all for your support & kindness and love everyday!!

Baby face...you've got the cutest little baby face

I had my 32nd week ultrasound today and let me tell you - Taylor has got to be the cutest thing I've ever seen ;) My mother came along to the appointment, which was so nice, and we got a really good look at Taylor's face - what a beauty. She showed us the 3D version which was so neat, it really was like Taylor was right in front of us. We opted for the 2D pictures, as soon enough, the all-D version of Taylor will be here :) hee.

Taylor weighs 4.9 pounds, and his/her head is 8.31 cm. I'm going to have to wait until Shane gets home to visualize Taylor's head size, as any measurement sounds big to me right now - the thought of squeezing out something that is 1cm makes me take in a deep breath. :) ha ha.

Everything else is good, and I go back next week for another check up with Dr. Cohen.

Jenn & Jake Tondino (along with the help of Gail, Pat , Shannon, and others I'm sure) threw us a lovely baby shower last weekend - it was so sweet! I have attached some pictures from that in the 'Home' section, and here is one of the latest ultrasound pics! Love to all! xoxo

Home sweet home

I've been home for just over a week now and I'm lovin' it! So happy to be here, and it didn't take long for me to feel settled in. Despite the fact that I only got my luggage a few days ago, I still knew I was where I should be.

Saw Dr. Cohen yesterday, and everything is looking great! My glucose test was fine, which is good news (means I haven't developed gestational diabetes) - and Shane is RH negative which means I don't have to have the RhoGAM shot - Taylor will definitely have RH negative blood, so there are no health worries or risks for me or future babies. Taylor's head is down at the bottom of the uterus, and is laying on his/her side right now - Jenn & Jake will remember how hard one side of my stomach was compared to the other when I saw them on Sunday night....and that would be why! Taylor has been dancing up a storm, keeping very active. I see the doctor again in two weeks, at which point I have another ultrasound which will be nice.

A few days before I left Bermuda, I had some pictures taken with a local photographer - as a keepsake for Shane, and Taylor of his/her days in Bermuda ;) The photo shoot was a gift to us from Magalie - and she also made a photo album for Taylor as well - so sweet & thoughtful. Will be so nice to have and add photos to as Taylor grows up. I am going to attach a few pictures from that photo session on the beach, and maybe next week take a belly shot. Love to all!  

Homeward Bound!

I’m so excited to be coming home! And to be honest, a little sad to be saying goodbye to everyone here. I’ve made some great friends here, not to mention it was pretty close to a dream job for me. I’m so blessed to have a husband that supports me and understands my dreams and desires. This experience in Bermuda won’t ever be forgotten, and thanks to Shane and my family & friends back home I was able to enjoy and learn from the experience with encouragement and faith from those I love, even at such a great distance.

It’s funny, on some nights when I’m working, I look out at the crowd and I find so many people that look unhappy. They could be having dinner with a spouse, drinks with a friend or dancing with many people – but somehow some people still look miserable. And in the moment, it’s distracting because it seems to me that if they’re not in the place that makes them happy, why are they here? But then I turn to the more common thought: how happy I am. And often I find myself smiling. I mean, obviously disregarding the fact that I am so far away from Shane and the rest of my family & friends right now, I really am happy. So happy that I married my best friend, and so happy that I’m coming home. So happy that we have Taylor on his/her way. I feel that everything in my life is right, and if not ‘perfect’ to us right now, we’re on our way to figuring it out. And have so much time to do so. I wonder, how did I get so lucky as to meet all these wonderful people in Bermuda – people that I hope will be friends for years and years to come. Everyone here in Bermuda and back home has shown me so much support and love & beyond over the last 8 months. Thank heaven for all of you.

My plan is to still update the site once I’m home, because although I’ll be in Toronto now, that means I’ll be further away from those who have been watching me grow here in Bermuda . So, keep on checking back each week if you want to!

Here are the latest pics. I also attached some pictures from the Pickled Onion on our last two nights in the 'Bermuda' album. Enjoy!

The Homestretch!

Well, six more days to go. Have I mentioned how much I'm looking forward to coming home? Oh yes, I have. :) can't wait!

Saw Dr. Robinson, the ob-gyn here in Bermuda this past week, which really wasn't worth the time to be honest. Other than being able to hear Taylor's heartbeat again, which I always love - she doesn't ask me questions (about how I'm feeling) nor does she allow me time to ask any questions of her. I suppose at this point, I'm home in a week and will see Dr. Cohen back in Toronto soon anyway, so no big deal. Every test was good, everything is fine which is great. I'm looking forward to my next ultrasound in Toronto, which as I understand is around 32 weeks.

Taylor has been very active this week, and we've spent many an hour playing with each other. He/she kicks, I give a little knudge back. I get a knudge in return, and we continue this for a while, until one of us falls asleep. Ha. It's usually me I think. :)

Had a lovely dinner tonight with some friends, as it's the last night before I leave the island that we were all able to get together when no one had to work. It was a really nice night! I'm certainly going to miss everyone! I've posted some pictures in the Bermuda photo album. And here are today's pics of Taylor! I decided to go with the oh-so-chic black and white look...I'm wearing a skirt and long black boots in this picture, but you can't tell :) 

 

Baby love

Counting down....

#1. 2 weeks today, and I'm home for good. Can't even express how excited I am about that. Although that also means 2 weeks yesterday I have to say goodbye to all my friends that I've made down here, which is a little sad. A lot of friends have promised to visit us in Toronto, so I hope they will - and have also offered their places here for us to stay when we all come back to visit Bermuda (which they've made us promise to do!) :)

#2. 91 days to go until Taylor is scheduled to join us! Time sure is flying. I can really see how a mother bonds with her baby long before they are born just by experiencing this pregnancy process. From when Taylor is moving to how - how much, how little, how hard, how soft, how silly (the other day it felt like Taylor did a somersault - such a wild feeling! Hope he/she is having fun in there).....I do feel that Taylor and I communicate every day at different times and for different reasons. It's really quite amazing.

I am now at 27 weeks and 1 day. According to a book I have, this week officially marks the beginning of the third trimester. I'm experiencing some back pain on days where I haven't rested enough throughout the day and then I am on stage for 3 hours. I do have a chair on stage, which I try and sit in every hour or so for a song but sometimes it's just a fatigue thing I think, and apparently is pretty typical as the baby starts gaining weight and putting more strain on all parts of the body. I also had a wicked leg cramp wake me up this morning - owee! I haven't had one for a while, and thought it was just when I didn't gig or walk that particular day - but apparently not. I did wear short heels last night...maybe that did it. I'll have to do some stretching today.

Thanks to everyone who reads this site every week - it's so nice to know that Taylor is so loved even before he/she is born. This is one blessed baby!! Thank you for your wonderful comments as well, we love to hear from you. Love to all of you :) 

I took this week's pictures last night, cause I was all ready to go to work and had the camera handy. Here they are!  

Commencing countdown engine's on

21 days to go until I'm home! My visit last week was great - too short as always. It was so nice to see my family, can't wait to be back home for good. Gee, have I said that before? :) I have added some photo albums with pictures from work, and from the visits back home.

We met our obgyn at Women's College when we were home last week, Dr. Cohen. He did an examination and went over our tests from previous doctors and allowed us time to ask our questions which was great. Something interesting that came out of the appointment - if Shane's blood is confirmed A- (which we believe that it is) then I won't have to have the RhoGAM shot as originally thought; this would guarantee that Taylor's blood will be Rh negative as well. So, Dr.Cohen is doing a blood test on Shane to confirm, and we should know by the time I'm home.

Thought I would look up the 'meaning' of the name Taylor and these are the things I found:  Definition: An English occupational name for a tailor, from Old French "tailleur" for "tailor" which comes from the Latin "taliare," meaning "to cut." It is among the most commonly found surnames, due to its popularity as a medieval occupation. In 2006, the (first) name Taylor was ranked #22. Common Nicknames: None. (phew! hee).

Another week and another growth spurt! Here are this week's pics:  

There's no place like home

Well, here I am all ready for the airport! I'm so excited to be coming home (for a short visit) I can't even tell you! This week has been another kick-filled week, with lots of growing (as you'll see). I miss home terribly, and I have to say that I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends here in Bermuda that are constantly looking out for me, showing me how much they care - making each difficult moment away from home bearable. I'm going to miss my friends here so much as well. I've included some pictures from Friday night's gig as well. Can't wait to see you - and those of you who I won't be able to see, I'm home again for good so soon and will definitely see you then. Lots of love to you all!

6 months yesterday

Well, I'm officially in the last month of my second trimester - whoa, time is flying! Still feeling great, and Taylor is as active as ever. We went to see Bermuda's production of 'Dreamgirls' yesterday afternoon, which I have to say, out of all the productions I've seen in my life, this is one that tops the list. It was fabulous. Taylor pretty much kicked through the entire thing, so I have a feeling he/she liked it as well ;)

In a week I will be home for a short little visit, which I can't wait for. Just counting down the days ;)

Here are today's pics! I have strangers in the street yelling to me now "it's a boy!" ha ha. I guess b/c of the way I'm carrying, or something. Hee. We'll see!!