October 15th – Our second anniversary and 24 weeks along
Today marks our second wedding anniversary, 24 months married and 24 weeks in our pregnancy.
It’s hard to believe it’s only been two years, with so much having happened in those 24 months. Wedding, honeymoon to Italy, house purchase, the loss of Heather, the pregnancy, not to mention all the little things like pool and yard remodel. All these things have brought us closer and closer, as we grow together through this life, with both miracles and tragedies as well as the everyday existence.

We came back last week from trip to Toronto for ‘Canadian Thanksgiving’ with family. It was wonderful to see everyone, my nieces Jackie and Jamie were all excited about having a new girl cousin on the way. My mom did an amazing turkey dinner and we ate outside on the new deck on Lake Caledon.
Picked up on way back by Heidi and Roberta, with a drive home from SFO. Heidi gave us something she has been working on, these adorable baby booties. The yarn is from an artist in the UK, the mother of pearl buttons are vintage and the design is Swedish. The baby is kicking more and more everyday, I think she wants to try them on.

Sept 18th – Half way there and healthy
Today marks the 20th week, so we are now officially at the half way mark.
Some great news to report, we got the amnio results and our little baby girl checked in all healthy and fine. It’s such a big relief to get the good report.
The time has just flown by so far, and my only complaint is the tiredness and insomnia. I’m very sleepy and exhausted but get in bed and don’t sleep well. Yes, I’ve tried breathing exercises, yoga relaxation techniques I’ve done since I was little, reading …even counting sheep doesn’t work. Is it just natures way of preparing me for what’s coming???
It’s funny, knowing we have a little girl coming, and knowing now things are all good in this growing bump in my middle, I feel more of a ‘bond’. Prior to knowing, it almost didn’t feel quite real. Now, I can see the ‘pink’, and the planning and anticipation has even more joy. Yes, and a bit of panic. Did you know there are over 300 models of strollers, and five different categories? That there are whole crib-buying recommendation sections in Consumer’s Report. If you know me, you know I’m a researcher. Next there’s going to be the new car decision…. can’t exactly have little Miss Robbins zipping about in the back of the convertible. Well, not all the time. (We’ll keep it in the family, it will probably become Mark’s commuter car, and we’re looking for a hybrid SUV). In between all the planning and purchasing decisions, (not to mention both working crazy hours) we’re looking at re-drywalling, plastering and painting the two main rooms at the back of the house before her arrival. And no, the back renovation is not quite done yet… but it’s getting very close with Mark’s hard work.
Sept 5th – The secret is out
It’s a girl!
We had the 2nd level ultrasound today and were thrilled to learn we’re going to have a baby girl. Although I would have been just as happy to get news of a boy, I have always imagined having a girl, so am just tickled. My sister Jenn has two daughters also, Jackie and Jamie, so she will have bigger sister cousins (in Toronto).
The amnio itself was really not bad at all, the needle was in and out in 30 seconds. It will take two weeks for the results. From the ultrasound, everything is looking good. She (really this time!) weighs 8 ounces now and was moving around quite a bit. Little bitty hands and feet, waving and kicking, heart beating, and we saw the full spine, the little lips, nose and ears. If I could think of a word better than ‘breathtaking’ I would use it here.
I’m taking the day off work today (my first day ever to not even check my emails since having my own business). With two websites launching tomorrow, I am thankful for my Production Manager, Carole and my loyal developers to make it all happen without me. (I must admit, I peaked at my emails now, but haven’t replied to any . Thank you Carole and team.
It’s nice to be able to start to picture things and plan, now that we know it’s a girl. So happy. Now just wanting healthy results from the amnio.
My friend Connie had her cute little baby boy, named Francis (“Francis”) after her father. His adorable 2 year old sister Rania is taking to him very lovingly. Connie is already out of her maternity clothes, and I have lovingly (and desperately) welcomed them into my wardrobe. Last weekend was spent replacing everything I own, which no longer fits.
Olchi, one of my closest friends is 6 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy. She and partner Somesh are keeping the gender to be a surprise. That’s going to be fun, too!

Aug 22 – What’s happening this week in there What we’ve learned this week: “At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she’ll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn’t recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she’s even started growing toenails.
Weight gain so far: about 7 pounds. Heard that women gain an average of 30.5 lb. during pregnancy. About one in ten gains less than 16 lb. and one in five gains more than 40 lb.
I’ve been told I have that pregnant glow. I thought it was a new line of skincare I was using, but no. Apparently it’s the increased blood flow to the skin. Hrm. Can I bottle that for future use?

Aug 21 – 16 weeks and starting to “show” I’m not fat I’m pregnant… stop staring at my gut. We reached the 16 week mark today and decided it was time to start documenting the b
ump. Grandma Robbins has been sewing pre-cut, handmade flannel diapers. So cute. And no folding necessary.

Proud papa flexing his muscles….

July 31 – First scary test passed! We’re so excited today… we saw the baby on ultrasound with little arms and legs, moving her head around, flailing her little arms as if waving hello. No, we still don’t know gender, I am intermittently using he or she. Good news!! This was the very first test for down syndrome and trisomy, they measure the amount of fluid on the back of the baby’s neck. Things are looking very good. Mark was there squeezing my hand as we were waiting for the verdict. They want the measurements to be under 2.5 mm, and hers was 1 mm, which the doctor says is very good and although we don’t have the blood work that is necessary to tell us the “risk score” yet, he was confident that there should be no surprises because the measurements today are so low. Here’s the ultrasound video at 13 weeks… tiny arms waving hello, and the little heartbeat racing away at the end.
May 29th – Positive Blood Test Confirms It Positive blood test with HCG level at 411, and a second yesterday at over 1100, so things are going in the right direction. After the results came in, we told my mom on the phone. Elated. Then went to Roberta and Herb’s and gave them a little wrapped picture frame, when opened, saw “Picture to come in 35 weeks”. Scott, Sarah, Julie, Margie and Tom were all at the table. Glee and surprise, tears. An emotional evening, still so close to the loss of Heather. Life, eternal, forever, endings and beginnings. Grief and joy and sorrow and hope, love, laughter, tears. Heidi phoned right after we announced. Excitement and talk of knitting booties already, neutral color she said, until we know more. Sarah and Scott big hugs and joy. Called Jenn and Dad and told them each. Excitement and joy. So long in the planning.
May 27th 2007 – I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant! I woke up this morning, day 25 of my cycle and peed on the stick. “Pregnant” read the digital display on the ClearBlue test stick. 99.9% accurate says the packaging. For past two weeks I’ve had slight twitching in right lower abdomen and constant headaches, which I never get. A buzzing feeling on both side of eyes. I wrapped the result stick in pink tissue paper and handed it to Mark, sitting under the cherry tree outside at the front of the house. “I have a present for you.” Perplexed he opened it. “Really? Wow. WOW. Oh… Are you sure?” Now standing up looking incredulously at the stick. “Wow. This baby is going to be called WOW”. Some context. An otherwise incredibly hard and sad time in life for the Robbins family. Dear Heather passed away May 23rd, it has been four days of incredible grieving.