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Being a new Mum, SIDS or Cot Death as it is sometimes referred to, is my biggest fear. I have tried not to be one of these paranoid Mums who checks on her child constantly, especially now that Q is sleeping anywhere from 6-8 hours at night, and sometimes 3-4 hour stretches during the day, but it's never completely out of my mind. Yesterday my husband told me about a possible breakthrough in understanding why apparently healthy babies die in their sleep. Anything that can be done to prevent this tragic outcome is welcomed and I certainly hope that one day they will be able to treat babies to prevent this most devasting death.

You can read more here
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20061101.SIDS01/TPStory/Front

Yes indeed.... the little monster weighed in at 12lb,5oz yesterday. Now bearing in mind he is just over 6 weeks old, that's seems ALOT in that time no? Everyone tells me it's normal, he is happy, healthy and storing supplies lol! I guess Mums milk is definately nutrious, hell... there is litres of the stuff haha.

Hopefully I'll get to working on a new album of pictures this weekend and get them online...

On a no related baby note! I am loving hockey season and the Nucks are off to a good start... with all the big changes in the off season it's very hard to know how this year will go, but it's exciting nonetheless to watch. GO CANUCKS GO...

and... GO LIONS GO! maybe this will be the year for the Grey Cup to return here again.

But oh my f**** god!

My mum who was recently here with us in Canada had an interesting experience at US customs (because that's a big shock these days) She came carrying my beloved Vegemite from home to keep me in good supply and was some what given the third degree about this interesting substance which primarly is had on toast, but has a few other uses as well. Now I know most of you North Americans think it's gross and have a multitude of names for it, but for a kiwi kid it's as common as peanut butter or jam, and actually really pretty good for you.

This morning I received an email from "Canada Kiwi's" which is a contingent living mainly in and around the lower mainland and we get interesting news of things going on around BC that are "kiwi", sporting events, functions that sort of thing. In this morning little news letter was the following story.... I just HAD to post this after what happened to Mum.

VEGEMITE HORROR!

BE WARNED! The NEWS story below is true.
US CUSTOM'S QUESTION AUSSIE OVER VEGEMITE An Australian's accent was suspicious enough for US customs officials to question him about smuggling contraband.

But, rather than drugs or guns, the officers were looking for the much-loved Australasian spread Vegemite, the Geelong Advertiser reported. "We thought they were joking but it was real," Australian Daniel Fogarty told the newspaper. The incident happened on the Canada/US border. "We went down to Montana and were crossing the border, they searched everybody's car as they do and after they searched asked if we were carrying any Vegemite."
On this occasion, neither Mr Fogarty nor his partner, Sarah Egan, were carrying the banned substance. "We were completely shocked. Normally Sarah wouldn't travel far without Vegemite but for some reason we didn't have it." The vitamin-packed yeasty condiment was outlawed because it contains added folate. US laws state the B-group vitamin, which is used by the body to make new cells, can only be added to bread and cereals.

* I'm in shock! Does this mean every time we bring back black gold from the homeland we're international smugglers?!!!

* And does this explain why it's suddenly not on the shelves here any more? Suffering from withdrawal, Charles Wallis wrote in recently in a panic about where to get his next Vegemite hit. Charles was particularly distraught as he'd found this letter :

NATIONAL IMPORTERS INC.

SERIOUSLY?!?

So last night was amazing, Quentin slept from 11.30pm till 7am, what a beautiful little angel we have. I am well aware this might be a one off for now, but I'll take them when they come. I was very tired yesterday and am fighting off a nasty chest cold so the extra rest was amazing..... thank you my darling.

Quentin's *first month* album can be found under shared/baby gallery.

Quentin is one month old today, holy crap! I have barely sat down at my computer in the last month, let alone had time to blog, email or even read any news. I have a new appreciation for single parents, I can't imagine doing this alone! I have my husband and many relatives helping and it's still alot of work, but worth every tiring minute.

Anyhow, Quentin is doing fabulous and growing like crazy. Today I will be taking him to a drop in clinic to weigh him again, last week he weighed in at 10lb 3 oz, and he feels it when I hold him lol! Mum has no shortage of milk and he has a great appetite.

We had a full on weekend in Kamloops over Thanksgiving weekend. There was a family wedding on the Saturday which was alot of fun, a birthday party and 5 pin bowling on Sunday for an 8 year old, and a surprise baby shower for Quentin and his Mum (yes Dad was in on the surprise) on the Monday, so it was quite exhausting, but alot of fun. Quentin got so many presents we can't begin to imagine where we will put everything.... we need a bigger house!!!

The drive home was hellish as we hit accident spots in the valley and had to double back and take a different highway, all in all it took several more hours to get home than it should of, and needless to say we were all very tired and worn out.

Anyhow, duty calls as I hear the little one crying.....

More pictures in the baby first week gallery. He is now over two weeks old and doing great. We'll have even more of him online soon :o)

Mum and Dad are doing pretty good, I'm still recovering from my surgery but getting better by the day. Poor Dad has a nasty cold right now (along with everyone I know it seems) So far Mum and Quentin are staying healthy, fingers crossed,

where the heck did the time go?!? Two weeks ago I was sitting here pondering my c-section and now we have this amazing bundle of joy in our home.

I have to admit, I think we are doing pretty well for new parents. He's feed, changed, bathed and loved more than he knows so that's a good start right? For me personally one of the big challenges was getting used to feeding. Breastfeeding so I thought, was just stick on the nipple and away they go, oh no no no.... not at this tender age. Anyway after mastering it and with Quentins help along the way, we seem to have that part down pat.

The changing comes fairly easily, and OFTEN.... he is a pee and poo machine for sure, but the beauty of breastmilk means no stinky poo for now :o)

My Mum is arriving a week today! man, I feel like her and Dad have just left after their summer vacation here in July/August, I guess in reality it's only 6 weeks since they did go home. She is here for 3 weeks and looking forward to seeing the new addition to the family. Quentin is very lucky, with 3 granny's, 2 grandpa's and a great grandpa...... you can't even imagine how many aunties, great aunties and cousins he has.

We have our first big road trip coming up with him on Thanksgiving weekend. We are headed to Kamloops for a wedding! Yes, seems to be the place to get married don't you think? This time it is Brad and Jenn's turn to tie the knot and we can hardly wait to celebrate with them as they did with us last June. Should be an interesting time having a newborn at the wedding, but I am sure we will manage just fine.

Well it's almost feeding time for the wee man, so I best get to it.

You know, it's difficult to explain how things feel when you become a parent... All I can really say is that you can't really know until you become one.

This past week has been full of anticipation, excitement, advice, knowledge, anxiety, concern, and wonder, and I wouldn't change a thing. We've been blessed with a healthy baby boy and everything's great.

I'd like to invite you to check out a few of the pictures we've taken of Quentin so far. As we've hardly spent any time in front of our computers the past week, we haven't processed much in the way of photos, but we'll be getting more going soon.

So it's here, the day we've all been waiting for, the day my husband and I become parents, our parents become grandparents (some for the first time, others for the third), our sisters become aunties, our aunties become great aunties, our grandpa becomes a great grandpa again ...

It's 2.30am and I am up having a little juice to inject some sugar in my system and give my aching body a break from being horizontal,.. pondering the reality that in approximately 9 hours I am going to become a Mum, Adam a Dad....... all I can say is,

WOW!

See you all in a few days when I am home from the hospital.

So the kids are back to school, thank goodness.... I say this only because it makes going to *any* store or mall alot easier. The mornings and evenings are cooler and it's finally raining (I think, it's 2.24am and dark) after something like 3-4 weeks of glorious sunshine.

There is something about season transition that I like, dunno what it is. Perhaps it is that I am looking forward to watching the leaves turn, or the mountains get their first snowfall, or hockey returning!! lol. Whatever the case may be, this season change is like no other and is about to unleash a whole new chapter in my life.

I sit here in the quiet of the early morning hours, pondering how life is going to be totally different come Tuesday, 12th Sept 2006, the day our son will be born. I put my hand on my squirming abdomen and ponder what he looks like, what he will feel like, hearing that first cry, seeing that first indication that he knows I am his Mum.

For me it has been 9 months of body changes, physically and mentally as this little life has taken shape, grown inside me to the point now where I feel his obvious shape through my skin. However, for Dad, thus far, he has only be able to watch as I grow, feel as he kicks and wonder in anticipation what it will be like to hold his child for the first time.

The family on both sides of the world are of course as excited as we are about our pending arrival and are counting the days as well. This little addition to the family is the first grandchild for some, and for others, the first in a very long time. It just so happens he is scheduled to be born on one of his Grandma's birthdays, and what was his great Grandma's birthday and wedding anniversary also, how cool is that?

Well it's time Mum and baby try for some sleep..zzzzzz