Author Archives: Kara

20 Weeks and the Gender

Posted in Baby #1, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Update by

Technology today is amazing, there’s no doubt about that, so why not do something if you can?

Finding out what we were having was quite the issue when I first found out that Kyle and I were going to be having a baby. He wanted to know, I didn’t. I went with the “It should be a surprise because that’s the tradition” argument. But really – we’re not overly traditional people.

Other than getter married before having kids, that’s about the only traditional thing we’ve done by “the books.” We moved in together before we were married, and then there’s fornication … Yeah, not traditional whatsoever. So, after figuring that it would make my life a lot easier to find out what we’re having, I decided, why the hell not find out?

It was actually frustrating when I told some people that we decided that we were going to find out what we were going to have. A lot of people gave us flack for it, saying that we should wait because it should be a surprise. There’s going to be a lot of surprises anyway with raising a child, and knowing a few months sooner wasn’t going to hurt.

I had actually said on Facebook that the choice is ours to make, and regardless of what it is, people shouldn’t judge us. I certainly don’t judge people for wanting to keep it a surprise, so why should they be allowed to judge me?

I know in some parts of the world that it’s a huge controversy because of gender preference in some cultures. Males are generally more “desirably” than females, and so many female pregnancies are aborted or if they are born, they’re given up for adoption. I can definitely understand the ethical conflict doctors and ultrasound technicians may have when telling a couple that they are having a girl or boy.

Where I live, there’s two places (that I’m at least aware of) that do ultrasounds for pregnancy. One location will tell you if you’d like to know, and one will not regardless. I don’t know if it’s up to your doctor to decide which location you’ll go to, but I would imagine that their own personal morals and ethics have something to do with that decision.

But – without turning this into an ethical debate – because that’s not what I’m looking to do, I digress into the important stuff: Pregnancy update and pictures!

I had my first ultrasound on Thursday last week and after trying my hardest to hold all 4 cups of water in me (it didn’t happen – I peed several times before my actual scan and had the technician stop 1/2 way through so I could go again), we got to see our little baby! I’m still in serious aww over the fact that the picture on the screen was actually my little person growing inside me! So surreal!!

How far along? 20 weeks – Half way there!!

How big is baby? It’s about 10″ long from head to heel, and weighs about 10.5oz!

Total weight gain/loss: I’ve gained 2lbs since the last time I weighed myself, so not a heck of a lot still! I’m thinking I’m really going to blow up in the next few weeks. Not looking forward to that, lol. My belly has definitely been growing steadily it seems though!

Maternity Clothes? I haven’t really done any serious maternity clothes shopping. Ever since I got my Bella Band, I’ve been wearing my normal clothes for the most part! I may have to buy some new shirts to accommodate my belly though, lol.

Stretch marks? Still none – Yay!

Sleep: I’ve discovered that I’m starting to experience a little bit of heartburn when I go to bed. Thank goodness for Tums!

Movement: There has been tons of movement! It’s so amusing. The baby kept moving like crazy during the ultrasound too, so the technician had a hard time getting all the images she needed. This was not ideal because it took longer, and I had to pee, so I was whiny. I’m sure the lady was used to it, because she didn’t get frustrated when I said I needed to pee.

Food cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary! I’ve been eating a lot of ice cream though, lol.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably. My neck and shoulder are taking a beating from me always sleeping on my side. I’ve been getting some pretty serious headaches as a result.

What I am looking forward to: Getting the colours picked out for the baby’s room and painting!! Now that we know what we’re having, picking colours is going to be SO much easier!

Milestones: Definitely my ultrasound, no doubt about it! It was so amazing, especially to have Kyle there with me.

Photo: 

Oh – and what are we having, you ask??

IT’S A GIRL!!!
(Photoshopped bow for added clarity ;)) 

We’re still mulling over the name, but I’m 90% sure of what it’s going to be :)

What I’m Reading: The Book of Negroes

Posted in Book Review, Books, What I'm Reading by

What I'm Reading

Synopsis from Goodreads.com:
Unrolling a map of the world, Aminata Diallo puts one finger on the coast of West Africa and another on London. The first is where she was born in 1745, the second is her location six decades later. Her story is what happened in between, and her remarkable voice is the heart and soul of Hill’s magnificent novel. 

Brought before the British public by the abolitionists to reveal the realities of slavery, she has come, old and weary, to change the tide of history and bear witness to some of the world’s most grievous wrongs. 

Kidnapped and taken from her family as a child, Diallo is forced aboard a ship bound for South Carolina, where she arrives at age 12, weak and ill, the other slaves her only family. But soon she is sold again and begins an exodus that will lead to Canada, where she discovers the same relentless hardship and stinging prejudice. 

Her hunger for freedom drives her back across the Atlantic to England, and in 1792, Aminata undertakes yet another ocean crossing, bound for the place of her birth. 

My Review:
A while ago I tweeted what books I should add to my reading list, and The Book of Negroes was suggested by a couple people. I read the jacket cover online a couple times before, and had always thought it sounded a little too “deep” for me to actually to enjoy. Boy was I wrong!

I REALLY enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down! (Just ask my husband – every spare moment I had I was reading the book!) It took me less than a week to finish, in fact!

This book goes way back to the “beginnings” of the slave trade between Africa, Europe and the United States, and follows a young girl (Aminata) during her capture just outside her village in Africa to South Carolina to New York to Nova Scotia and back to Africa. The story she tells of her life during this time I can only imagine ring very true to the actual events and horrors that occurred during the slave trade. I became emotionally attached to her character and her life events.

I can’t say the events that happened throughout the book shocked me – most of them were no surprise – but it did help drive the issue home. It never fails to amaze me that humans treated each other this way, and that it still does in some shape or form. It angers me to the core when I think about this sort of thing happening, past or present.

I’m going to rate this book 4.5 stars out of 5.

I would give it 5/5, but the only predictable part of the book (for me) was part of the way it ended. (I won’t give it away for those who have read it, but if you want to email me your thoughts, feel free!) I highly recommend this book to everyone and anyone willing to sit down for a good, heavy read! You won’t be disappointed!

Questions:
Have you read The Book of Negroes? How did you like it?
Do you get emotionally attached to characters in books?

Also – I just thought I’d point out that today is the start of Black History Month. How fitting that I post this review today! 

Ten on Tuesday

Posted in Ten on Tuesday by

I’m so happy that ToT is back, but I’m not giving Chelsea any flack for not hosting for a couple weeks. I totally don’t blame her one tiny little bit.

Anyway, here are today’s questions, brought to you by yours truly!

1. What’s your favourite variety of apple?
I would have to say gala apples, or most thin-skinned apples. I hate Granny Smith and thick-skinned apples like red delicious. Blech.

2. Do you prefer Long-English or Field cucumbers?
Long English. I hate all the seeds in the field cucumbers, although those are the only ones we can seems to grow well here.

3. Tomatoes – Delicious or disgusting?
I’m tomato neutral. I’ll eat them if they’re cooked, in a sandwich, or in Greek salad (basically, I’ll eat them if they’re prepared in some way), but I won’t eat them just on their own.

4. What’s one fruit or vegetable that you can’t stand and why is that?
Right now it’s bell peppers because pregnancy has made me intolerable of the smell. I’ve also really tried to enjoy eggplant, but I just can’t seem to do it. It’s just yucky.

5. What’s your favourite way to prepare veggies? (Grilled, boiled, roasted, sautéed, etc.)
In the summer I loved grilled veggies, especially on kabobs. Sautéed is probably a close runner up.

6. Sweet potato pie: Love it or hate it?
I’ve never had it, but I do love sweet potato fries!

7. What’s your favourite “style” of French fry? Wedges, shoelace, curly, crinkle-cut or other?
Definitely curly fries! Wedges are pretty darn good too, but nothing beats curly fries!

8. What’s your favourite fruit-pie filling?
I love me some cherry pie, especially if the cherries are a bit sour. Rhubarb-strawberry is my next favourite. And make both a la mode!

9. When you were a kid did your parents make you sit at the table until all your veggies were eaten off your plate?
No, but they usually made me sit there until I ate “just three more bites.” I used to actually “sneak” my unwanted veggies onto my Grandpa’s plate. (He always knew what I was doing!) To this day I still don’t eat all the vegetables off my plate! If I can get away with it I’ll toss them onto Kyle’s plate.

10. Do you drink veggie & fruit juice blends (such as V8, etc.) or make them yourself?
I am much too lazy to make my own blends. My blender is so huge and annoying to clean, so I rarely break it out. I buy cases of V8 Veggie/Fruit blends. Tastes like fruit, but there’s lots of veggies in it. Win-win!