Reuben Michael has arrived!

I am pleased to announce that our son Reuben Michael was born on Monday Sept 24, 2007 at 1:32AM at St. Joseph's Hospital here in Hamilton. He weighed 8lbs 10oz and is doing very well. I am also doing very well, albeit sore from the delivery and tired from the lack of sleep that we are already experiencing as new parents. Learning to breastfeed is an interesting challenge as I'm sure all new mothers can relate to, but my midwife is happy with how things are going so far and have given me all sorts of tips on pain relief etc.

Anyway, I will try to post a picture when I get a chance, but my free time is severely limited these days.

Still waiting for baby...

Well, I'm now 5 days overdue, and baby still hasn't come. It's been teasing me this week with contractions that have been regular for a couple of hours and then go away. I just wish that we could know when it will come and when the time is actually here instead of all this guesswork. Friends and family have been very supportive, calling and emailing to see how things are going. Tim finds it funny because it's as if they aren't expecting us to call when it does happen, but I like it because it keeps me distracted.

Everything we've needed to do to prepare is done. I've got all my paperwork in for EI, now it's just a matter of waiting for them to put it through. Tim's big show for Artech (Heaven's Rehearsal) was last Saturday and went really well. It's just clean up time now for them so they're glad baby's waited.

Well, I'm off to do laundry and wash my kitchen floor. I've heard that being on your hands and knees can be a good place to get labour going, so here's hoping...

Just waiting...

Well, no baby yet. We have 4 days till the due date and I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable and ready for this baby to make its appearance. My days are filled with watching tv, taking naps, doing dishes, and other random activities as they come up. Tim is very happy to be eating regular meals for a change. I haven't even made Hamburger Helper once yet...although I'm sure it'll show up back on the menu at some point.

Otherwise there is really not a whole lot for news. It's been more of a chore than I realized getting my ROE from work. Apparently the lady who puts them together didn't get the memo that I'd actually left for my maternity leave, and if I hadn't called her the other day wouldn't have known to do it. (This after I left her a voicemail on my last day specifically asking her to call me about when I could pick it up...maybe she still hadn't checked her messages a week later??) Anyway, I should have it this afternoon, and maybe sometime soon I will make a trek down to the Service Canada office to drop it off.

well, I am going to head off...maybe I'll fold some socks...

Maternity leave has started

So as of yesterday I am officially on maternity leave. I filled out my application for EI benefits online today, just gotta wait for my ROE from work to bring in so they can process it all and ensure that Tim and I will still be able to pay our bills while I'm home caring for our little one...who isn't here quite yet. But soon. Only about 10 or 11 days (depending on how you number the days) till the due date, and I'm crossing my fingers that it might come a little earlier. I know, I know, first babies are always late...but that doesn't mean I can't hope. So far I'm doing well keeping myself amused at home. Yesterday I did some shopping with my sister for some last minute stuff I was still needing. Today I walked to the library and returned a book that I'd "lost"...read that: "never returned and is more than a year overdue". I know it's pathetic, but for some reason once I started working full time I didn't get many chances to go to the library anymore, so taking out one book just once ended up being dumb because I never went back.

Anyway, what with random shopping trips and afternoon walking excursions, I haven't even really had a chance to tackle my at home projects: laundry and cleaning. Ah, that can wait till tomorrow...eventually I'm sure it will all get done.