Annabelle and her dad are the two most beautiful people to watch. I love their conversations, their looks, their games and her screams when she realizes he can't yet feed her. Phil is the most hands on father I have ever seen in all my life and experience with friends and family. The worst part is when he has to hand her over after many attempts to try new positions before giving into a feed. It doesn't take long before he's back in the room asking for his baby :)

Hey good looking

Two Weeks and Growing!

I loveeeee watching my baby's many gassy faces. Hehe

Annabelle is 15 days young! Awe. And she is growing into such a BIG BABY. I mean she's discovering her Wah's and her appetite is GROWING. She's definitely becoming more vocal and Phil and I are always experimenting with new ways to hold her and distract her.
Yesterday was her two week mark and we found her umbilical cord in her diaper! Tear :( She's officially done with me!
I found this sweet quote in La Leche League International's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding:
Babies are to LOVE
"From living in the womb with the umbilical cord supplying all his needs, he has progressed to a position outside of, but near, the mother's body. He is meant to be within close proximity of her warm breast and the sound of her voice. It is nature's careful way of providing a transition from the infant's old world to his new one. The little newcomer has the freedom needed to grow, yet is assured of continuous, loving support. The all-important mother-child bond replaces the umbilical cord."

I love the idea of earning my daughter's trust. And I think I have by the way she screams, snorts and fists at my breasts now. She's in demand and has me wrapped around her little finger.

12 days in Jordan gear thanks to King of the Dot!

12 days- Gloworm

Day 13- On the way to the Midwives

Day 14!!!

Because Fresco had to make the blog!

PR MOM PUBLISHED!

I knew I was getting something special for Christmas. I knew it was something from the heart and it involved a computer and photos... I was expecting a photo calendar haha.  I am so easily pleased. I mean we got an electronic dart board, 2,000 piece Coca-Cola puzzle and SORRY for Christmas; I'm totally thrilled!

Yesterday Phil surprised me with a gift which arrived only three fashionably days late following Christmas. Ever since the day of Anna's birth he was sneaking upstairs with Daniel to work on a secret project. It was only supposed to be the one Sunday and a few days passed where he needed more and more time and looked more and more excited.
When I opened the package and saw my title PR and the working MOM on a hard cover book and photo I think I just gasped and reached up to hug him. I'm not too sure... It all went fuzzy like the moment I first held Annabelle. Oh ya then I cried (surprise, surprise!).

My blog is printed and published in a beautiful hard cover memory book from day one to December 15, 2011 when everyone said I was crazy for blogging after giving birth. I'm so glad I did it!
I can't wait to show off the book to everyone. Talk about something from the heart! Phil also has insisted that it is a tradition as long as I keep on writing. I'm now so motivated to continue writing as I have with real experiences and thoughts. I do want to make sure I continue to write about more lessons that everyone can learn from- or at least grow from my point of view. The informational blogs on pregnancy, breastfeeding and midwives were a hit. I've been the first pregnant woman a lot of our friends have been around and i've been asked some ridiculous questions but I love it. I love how people feel comfortable to ask me questions without boundaries. Annabelle is also the first newborn in our group of friends and the first baby a lot of people have held in a while- or ever so I hope to continue having our friends open up and ask us anything.  I also want to write more about my personal PR goals and what I'm doing to keep up the craft as I dedicate myself as a mom this year. There's definitely room for freelance PR work that's already being discussed so there will be some great writing material for future blogs. Oh and now that I see my work published I have to double check the spelling! Most of my blogs are poured out from the heart in seconds just like a good song.

I dedicate this blog from now until the next book to my sweet Annabelle, Phil and Uncle Daniel ;) Phil asked if my next blog would be about the blog book so here you go!
XOXLuckiestPRMOM

One week old partayy

The Christmas photos I posted for the Holidays were also taken on this day. Becca, her godmother and a friend I've known since we were babies, came to spend the day with us for her 1 week old celebration. We did a photo shoot, went shopping and ate stuffed crust pizza!!!

Godfather Scott came by as well!

Angel 

Thumbs up!

It's so cute and terrifying to find your baby sucking her thumb for the first time. She was resting on my chest when all of a sudden I heard some loud smacking and called for Phil. She has discovered her thumb lol. And it was the cutest moment.

11 Days of Baby

Today I have to put aside the first few newborn outfits that our beautiful and long girl has outgrown already! :( I'm so curious to meet the midwife on Wednesday and see her new measurements. Phil and I spend our days mocking our baby girl, helping her stretch and admiring her traits at only 11 days old. Most of the time we're mocking her and making each other laugh hysterically. She's more then I ever could have imagined. 

xoxoPRMOM

The Beginning

Day 1

Day 2- chubbs 

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

1 week

Day 8

Day 9

Day 10 & First xmas

Day 11

Reach for the stars xoxo

Happy Holidays 2011!

This lil girl has us wrapped around her fingers and toes! Life with Annabelle is so amazing. I haven't been able to blog because I can't find the words to describe what we're going through daily. Also, we always have her in our arms and I don't think of my computer at all. Yes it feels great! In the New Year I look forward to continuing to share our real life experiences with the baby and balancing work. Til then, enjoy the holidays!
Love Phil, Mel and ANNABELLE!

Santa?HUH?

Oops!

Welcome Anna! Our unexpected GIFT

Welcome Annabelle Rebecca Carrey Dixon!
7.3 pounds, 20.5 inches long born at 7:47pm Thursday, December 15, 2011 at a great 41 weeks old after FIVE hours of labour.

Yes it happened that quick folks. When I say push- you push! And when daddy sees the head- you push!

Phil and I had a cozy night Wednesday, December 14 with chinese food and Mission Impossible 2. We woke up and kissed preparing for the ultrasound to check on our 41 week old baby.

I suggested to Phil that he brings my hospital bag but leave the baby one behind for someone at the house to bring later IF anything is to happen. He said NO- Mahnaz said to bring it all. So I said okay and left it as that. Super cute daddy-to-be.

The ultrasound wasn't showing her diaphram moving but everything else was so I told Phil we have to go upstairs for "protocol"- nothing to worry about yet. Next thing you know the midwife shows up, gives me heck for not letting her do the second internal exam and has the doctor tell us i'm at 4cm and ready to go!
Cue the water works.

Basically I probably would have gone into labour on my own very soon but because her breathing was now being monitored the doctor decided to induce today. I think midwives Mahnaz and Nicole were also excited.

Phil and I handled it very calmly. With excited eyes and a big heart he told people as I tried to zone out and remember to breath. Hunny when you're induced things work fast! Water breaks (felt real nice) and within TWO hours I went from labour pains to active labour.

Phil was amazing. He remained calm, fed me ice chips as I demanded (sorry love) and kept a cool cloth over my face as I was sooo hot. The midwives had magical touches to share such as foot squeezes and the back press. In no time I was demanding Phil to squeeze my two hands and both feet all at once lol. Poor thing! He said I almost wacked a nurse.

(Resumed at 7am)
I was typing this at midnight but we had a busy night with feeding (both still learning), a 4am bath and a nap :)

Anyways.

The pains came quick and fast. Even with the epidural I felt so much contracting to get this baby out! Super educement. One minute i'm yelling I want to push, next minute following a vaccum, forceps and push our baby comes out. All from 2 p.m.ish to 7:47 p.m. December 15.

She was silent her first few minutes. I knew she had a stressful time coming out and because her heart rate was dropping they rushed her out. Phil and I just stared at eachother, spoke beautiful words and teared when they said Mom and Dad baby took a breath on her own.

There was a cry as they gave her oxygen and they told daddy to get over there and comfort her. And he did. She grasped his finger so tight :)

Finally after my own cleaning and stitches baby was looking good to breathe without oxygen and came to Mama. How I cried in amazement, disbelief and admiration. She kept her focus on me.

My baby is waking up. Thanks to our beautiful family and friends who came to the hospital to support :) Thanks to you reading this blog and sending your love online and via telephone. We are so blessed to have you in our little baby lives :)

XoxoaPRMama!!

midwife update!

We met with my midwife Mahnaz today and she cleared up that I was not 2cm dialated last week. The other midwife (Nicole a co-op student) thought so and shared her thoughts outloud but Janet confirmed that she didn't think so. We still skipped the second/third internal exam and we're hoping baby comes naturally before Sunday's induction!!!

We continue to do every possible measure to induce this baby naturally- we dance, go on bumpy buses, put cayenne pepper on everything, eat pineapple, walk and tonight we're going to eat chinese food!

My midwife said she only has TWO deliveries left for the year! Me and another lady who was due December 4th! Unreal. Talk about holding up the holidays. No wonder they didn't object to me requesting a 10 day induction instead of the standard 14-day induction midwives usually prefer to wait for.

Cheers to the other lady and I for making this one helluva end-of-the-year!

XoxoPRMOM

Remembering why I love this time of year

As I wait for baby, snow and Christmas morning I have a lot more time to think about the present, future and past. And one major dose of nostalgia comes every year with the Christmas season and that is remembering my beautiful grandmother Mimi. She loved Christmas. She decorated the house from head to toe! I'll never forget the year I wanted to surprise her and I put the tree in the wrong corner of the house- all hell breaks loose! From the decor to the candy trays to the nuts, I think we can all remember the sight, smell and warmth of celebrating Christmas with Mimi and the family. I was lucky to have so many memories with my grandmother and there is so much more I would ask her if I could today. Especially when it comes to the kitchen! Sigh. I would love to share my baby with her. And boy would she be proud of my tall, handsome, dutch boyfriend! I'm completely in love with the fact that my baby has her own two amazing grandmothers and she gets to meet my grandmaman who remains just as influential in my life. Family is so beautiful.

Pepe (grandfather) and Mimi in 1947

Mimi (right) and Shirley

Adorable Christmas photo of my aunts and my mom(right)

xoxMerryChristmasPRMOM

10 Highlights from 2011

#10highlightsof2011 is a trend on Twitter today so I was curious to see if I could make my own list. Turns out I am flooded with amazing memories so here are the first 10 that came flooding out of my heart:

1) Making baby

2) Finding out we’re pregnant and buying lottery tickets and slushies/ Not being able to keep it a secret/ Phil looking at me to confirm we're excited/ Telling our family&friends in person/ Phil kissing my belly

3) Moving in with my love (planned prior to baby FYI)

4) Receiving my Public Relations Diploma from Humber College!

5) Beatbox Canada 2011

6) Four baby showers = lots of love

7) Ending an a crazy, growing, awesome three years on the TV show Out There with Melissa DiMarco

8) Phil leaving, returning for Halifax2Toronto Courage Canada campaign

9) Discovering the Rachel Zoe Project episodes online (and in bed) to help me survive my alone time and new heavy belly

10) Feeling our baby move

And if I can add an 11 it would be actually having a baby, which I know for sure will happen sometime between now and the end of 2011!!

xoxoPRMOM

Baby2Baby

Two of my favorite fashionista's Nicole Richie and Rachel Zoe attend Baby2Baby's Huggies sponsored Winter Wonderland event. Baby2Baby helps families in LA who can't afford the basic necessities for their young families. I can't wait to be able to attend, support and even head more local events like this here in Toronto, Southern Ontario, Sudbury and where ever else life takes us.
More info: http://baby2baby.org/

xoxoPRMOM

2 days overdue

What a beautiful Saturday! I'm in bed with a warm coffee and the blinds are open with the beautiful sunshine beaming in our chocolate-mint bedroom.
My aunt and uncle just left and now we have our change table which will fit perfectly.
Now...
If ONLY THERE WAS A BABY TO CHANGE.
Oh my goodness.. really life? Of all the new and impatient mothers to attack you chose me? I know three new mothers this year and not one of them was late. Well one of them was two days late so today is the cut off!
Phil and I have a nice Sunday, December 11 feeling. Let's hope it happens. Everyday I practice every single way to induce labor the natural way. Today I'm taking a day in bed and hoping a bit more relaxing will help.
I have to admit- I look pretty good. In all seriousness I just have a little round belly and I just never pictured myself looking like this at 40+ weeks pregnant. Maybe I was just meant to be pregnant and stay pregnant. Sounds alright to me. The more I wait and anticipate labour pains the more I'd like to stay pregnant.
I do feel a lot more energetic and better than I did following the internal exam. After that I was certain I was going to give birth. Now I feel light as a feather again. Baby moves are different. I miss them. They're a bit lighter, not as obvious and I almost miss seeing and feeling the pokey baby.
One of the funniest things today is when 'Uncle Eric' asked me if I've decided which position I will give birth in lol. I squatted down but in all seriousness will probably do the classic lay/sit position with some pillows supporting my curvy back. Phil was very concerned about his little brothers curious question but at least he's been doing his washroom readings!!
I'm going to search fashion sites and try and read up on some real world news now. Just figured I'd let you all know what the status is!

XOXsighPRMOM

Baby's grandma

My grandma

One of three aunties