Once upon a time there was an innocent cheesecake sitting in the freezer of the Superstore ...

Hi there little one,
Quite a lot has happened since I last checked in. You are apparently growing like a weed and this week got your larynx and tooth sockets in place. Good for you! You've accomplished a lot, whereas your mom feels like she is going backwards most days. Sometimes I think that I can feel you, like a little flutter in the lower left hand side of my tummy. Really, it is probably gas - but I kinda think that it is you. I am so excited for the day when I know for a fact that it is you - if you could be so kind as to not use my ribs for kicking practice, I'd be grateful - but I can't wait.

Your big fur-brother Tucker and fur-sister Skye, had a playdate on Sunday with another lab and a golden retriever. Everyone had a riot, balls were chased and sticks were eaten - and the dogs managed to have some fun too. After everyone left, Tucker became very ill and vomited through the night. I was terrified, much like I will be with you. I'm not comparing babies and dogs but I think that having the pooches has been good practice. It is difficult to understand what is happening with that which cannot communicate verbally. It's scary and heartbreaking to feel so helpless. The big guy was miserable. I also learned a valuable lesson in reheating two day old Chicken Alfredo and paid for it myself. Needless to say, it was quite the Sunday night/Monday at the Stewart-Thorup household.

I left work early on Monday and laid around until it was time to take Tucker to the vet. Tuck got checked out by the nice doctor (who your dad claims is a she-male - not that there is anything wrong with that - but she could very well be the white RuPaul) and she decided that the big guy should be kept overnight for xrays and observation. The look on Tuck's face as he was taken away broke my heart. I then went to the Superstore to get some dinner which, in hindsight, wasn't the best course of action. To anyone who noticed the girl with tears rolling down her face as she stared blankly at the butter section - she was not, in fact, upset the the price of salted butter has increased. Though, now that I think about it - I am kind of pissed. To non-dog owners/lovers this sounds ridiculous but for those of us who dress up our dogs for holidays, pay more for dog food than 10 steak dinners would cost and recount countless stories of the antics of our animals at dinner parties - this is completely normal and acceptable behaviour. Anyways, I consoled myself by buying some cute sleepers for you (and a cheescake for me). The sleepers are blue because I am 100% positive you are a boy, if you are not then you will be a girl wearing blue sleepers. I don't subscribe to boys in blue, girls in pink - though if you are a boy I will choose to let you decide when you are older if you want to wear pink, or 'salmon' as it is known in metrosexual circles.

Of course, the big guy came through everything just fine though he was violated with a thermometer and deprived of food. He is now resting comfortably on his pillow.

This week I began to tell more friends about your impending arrival and tonight I told the full branch. I have received nothing but excited and happy wishes and lots of hugs. I have wanted to shout it from the rooftops but there is that little voice inside telling me to keep it to myself so not to jinx it. It's silly, I know. I just want everything to go well so badly that I am more superstitious than I would otherwise be. But I had to tell the staff. I'm getting to that stage of 'is it possible that she is pregnant or is she just really letting herself go?' My face is getting rounder and my ponch has taken on a life of its own. I'm still stuffing it into the same three pairs of pants but this situation is going to come to a head real soon and it is just a matter of time before buttons begin popping, causing a hazard to anyone approaching me. I would never forgive myself if someone I know lost an eye because my ponch needed to be set free. I really need to go shopping.

I am getting more energy (as we speak it is 10 pm and I am not in bed! Woo hoo!) and feeling fantastic. We are still getting snow (blech!) and it is bloody freezing outside - I can pretty much guarantee that you will likely be more of a water-skiier than snowboarder. Your dad and I just don't enjoy winter. Your aunt Liz calls us lizards because we love to be in the roasting sun.

Anyways babe, that is it for tonight. Good luck with your development over the next few days - apparently your bones will be ossifying and you will be creating bile and insulin ... sounds exhausting, so make sure you take care of yourself in there!

Love you lots,
Mom