You are getting sleepier and sleeeeeepier...

First play date

Dan, Darouk and I have had a couple of playdates so far. Really, our three kids barely even notice each other, so it's just an opportunity for us to get together and converse about adult things like diapers, sleep patterns and formula. We're thinking of taking the kids to a pub next time. 

Dan, the veteran, is demonstrating the football hold on Gabrielle while Logan gazes adoringly at his father.

Metal Queen!

Gigi's got quite the collection of metal band t-shirts already. Big *thanks* to Jim and Lofft for the Maiden and Sabbath shirts. At least now Mark has something non-pink to put her in when he takes her out. 

Gigi weighs in

As mentioned below, Gabrielle was born at a very respectable 8 lbs 15 ozs. At her first home weighing a couple of days later, she had lost only 6 ozs. Two days later, she was up at 9 lbs, and a week later at her first office visit, she was up to 10 lbs! Her next office visit was when she reached the 4 week mark, and she weighed a ridiculous 12 lbs, much to the midwife's astonishment. The average weight gain is supposed to be an ounce per day, but Gigi's been double-timing it.

The Drapers descend

No longer able to contain her excitement, Nana Jane flew down for a day from London, Ontario. Go figger, Air Canada lost her luggage, and only found it as she was returning. Pat and Kitty took the long drive from Lennoxville for a measly 3 hour visit, much of which was spent buying us groceries! We owe all of you a much longer visit - please come anytime...

Aunt Katharine arrived with little Ms. Maggie, who didn't seem to be too interested in her new competition in the "smallest and cutest" category. At least for now, she was willing to share space in our fancy new avocado green Chariot. We can only hope they'll backpack around Europe together one day.

Working title: Gabrielle

We started test driving the name Gabrielle a couple of days after her birth. We had a few names on our shortlist but Gabrielle, or Gigi, seemed to stick. We decided that she can use that name, or her rock star/hippie name, Tennessee, as she likes. 

We've had a steady stream of friends visit since Gabrielle's birth.

Top row, left to right: Mark and his lifelong best friend, Jim. I can't help but think this is what a gay couple would look like with their new baby; Natalie Roussy and future babysitter, Maian; Anna and Marc test driving the baby; Nicola playing the proud auntie.

And more visitors: Maureen and Wendy; taking over Planet Coffee with the Singhman clan; the D-Waz trying to figure out where the gears are on this little thing.

First visitors

My mother and father came to visit on December 31, when Gabrielle was still tiny, and we were still clueless. Mom brought tons of food from Montreal (the best kind), which fed us for days - I guess mothers really do know what new mothers need. Papa examined Gabrielle for any classic Peres family traits - i.e. weak chin and strong nose. It's probably too early to tell what she's going to look like, but he seemed pleased with what he saw.

Welcome Bébé Fille Peres!

December 29, 2007, after 25 hours of labour, Bébé Fille Peres came into this world at 8 lbs, 15 ozs. The name was *carefully* chosen by the administrators at the Montfort Hospital. As Mark and I had convinced ourselves that we were having a boy, we were unprepared to name her until days later.

I went into labour on December 28, at 9 pm. At first, I thought I was just experiencing the effects from the teaspoon of castor oil I had taken 6 hours earlier, on the advice of my midwife, Claudia. As I was already 6 days late, I was willing to try anything, as I was hoping to avoid being induced. When the cramping began at 9 pm, we had no idea if this was labour or just the unpleasant *ahem* effects from the castor oil. When my water broke at 11 pm, that answered that question. The contractions continued through the night, and our midwife Sarah showed up at around 2 am, and stayed with us from that time on. Having her there was a huge comfort to both of us - as Mark and I couldn't tell how far along I was, and had no idea whether it was time to go to the hospital. Sarah checked me every couple of hours at home - and I progressed well to the 5 cm mark. Knowing this was only halfway to the magic 10cm mark, and having been in labour for 14 hours by that time, I started hinting that I wasn't going to be able to make it without pain relief. 

This was a tough subject for me, as I had been pretty adamant ahead of time that I was wanted to deliver naturally, but I guess I learned the lesson that only women who have given birth know: labour and delivery hurts like nothing else, and if you know pain relief exists, it's almost impossible not to ask for it. I am now more than ever in awe of women who have done without. 

We went to the hospital at around 10 am on Saturday because my contractions were slowing down and I was stalled out at 5 cm. Sarah suggested that I get oxytocin to boost my contractions, and she agreed that an epidural would allow me to rest and recover my strength for when the pushing would have to begin. 

The epidural was a godsend, although it really freaked me out, suddenly being in the hospital and being tied down by a fetal electronic monitor, a contraction monitor, an IV in my hand for saline solution and oxytocin, and a needle right into my spine for the epidural. I also had a blood pressure cuff on my arm. I was lying flat on my back, and was convinced I was heading for further interventions. On the positive side, I was able to snooze for a couple of hours, oblivious to the work the oxytocin was doing.

Mark was able to nap on a cot in the room and when we woke up a couple of hours later, I was ready to go! I guess I was one of the lucky ones for whom the oxytocin/epidural combination didn't result in a C-section.

I pushed for a couple of hours, and despite what others had told me, the epidural did NOT have the effect of dulling the pain. I was in a ridiculous amount of pain, and wanted nothing but to have it stop. My concentration was so intense that I forgot that there was going to be a baby at the end of the ordeal. When they put the baby on my stomach, I was completely surprised: what the hell is this? I looked at Mark and said something like "is this our baby?" Amazing what the human mind can do. 

Having a midwife was amazing - I can't say enough positive things about it. We got tons of care before and after the baby came, and when I needed hospital intervention, it was there too. We had to have the baby "turned" about a month before she was born because she was in breech position, and the midwives performed that procedure too. All in all, a completely excellent experience - I have to admit that I'm not looking forward to returning to the medical establishment's care...

Clockwise from top left: Sarah, our awesome midwife, spent 24 hours with us through the labour and delivery; I don't get it - I've got a baby next to me - why do I still look 7 months pregnant?; Hello Bébé, where'd you come from?; Mark keeping a watchful eye on our new roommate.