tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3767903666820250142024-03-13T18:00:43.401-07:00I am ChorusIf a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music. ~Gustav MahlerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger418125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-58330012599101597602013-03-20T13:45:00.000-07:002013-03-20T13:45:30.479-07:00A letter to my daughter on her first birthday.Dear Baby Bird,<br />
<br />
One year ago, at 6:30 in the morning on Wednesday, March 14th, 2012, you were born.<br />
<br />
At only 4 lbs, 1oz, you were just tiny, but we could tell right from the beginning that you were a fighter. One of the residents in the NICU where you spent the first weeks of your life said that he wished all babies were like you. You have amazed us every single day since your tiny beginning by the rapidity with which you have grown and learned and developed. <br />
<br />
You have been good for our confidence. Every time we successfully got you to sleep, or successfully got you to eat something new, or recorded an impressive weight gain, or taught you something new, we were almost as proud of ourselves as we were of you. Your first word (BALL), expressed so clearly and so repeatedly at only 11 months old was a particular moment of pride! And crawling! Oh my gosh, when you started crawling it was the most amazing feeling of accomplishment! <br />
<br />
Of course, there were moments of worry and anxiety. We, like most new parents, have over-thought things and fretted and fussed. But the more you grew and developed and learned, the more confidence and certainty we have gained. You've been good for us, little one.<br />
<br />
Up until about Christmas, you were very shy. You sat quietly and watched
the world around you, playing strange with anyone other than Mom and
Dad. At Christmas, seemingly all of a sudden, you decided that you were
going to be an outgoing participant in the world and you haven't looked
back. You engage with everybody, waving, chatting and playing with anyone around you.<br />
<br />
We love all the goofiness in you, including your goofy facial expressions, your goofy moods, your goofy games. There is very little frustration when things don't go your way; you just turn around and head for the next thing. You smile all day long (most days) and you have a wonderful infectious belly laugh.<br />
<br />
I have loved being home with you. But a new stage in both of our lives is right around the corner! Back to work for Mommy and off to day care for you. We have chosen a place where we think you'll thrive, where the staff are warm and kind. It will undoubtedly be a hard transition for both of us, but I have a feeling that you'll adjust sooner than I will. I'm looking forward to seeing all the new things that you'll learn from the teachers and the other babies at the day care. It will be so good for you. And going back to work will be good for me too. <br />
<br />
I'm just going to miss you so much, baby girl. So I hope you'll forgive me if for the first few days, I hug you a little tighter, kiss you a little harder and hold you a little longer.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday, sweet sweet baby.<br />
<br />
I love you. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-89414998192922073242013-02-12T08:29:00.005-08:002013-02-12T08:30:09.967-08:00Flying Time...It's almost unfathomable to me that Baby Bird is already almost a year old. A YEAR! Seriously? In fact, it's been almost exactly a year since that fateful doctor's appointment where we discovered that I had a placental disfunction that was causing high blood pressure for me and was likely going to result in an early birth. Without question, the month that followed was the most frightening of my life but I can't begin to quantify the daily joy that has filled our lives since she was born.<br />
<br />
We have been entirely blessed with a relaxed, happy, goofy and altogether chill little baby. She sleeps well, she eats well and she is thriving in all ways. She has a big toothless grin that is plastered across her face almost all the time except when that face is being washed, which from the sound coming out of her, you'd think was akin to some kind of torture. She loves the cats and they mostly tolerate her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbpXMpIxKbXG0t5KDLgyvlEkn74cLMfFp6Pdj9vPOnxt_AmXscUV42MI-bLpT-2IfOhLdh3AK2UjuXlYdFqDdWQlfTrpXF0_YMuBLVrS1RLL6e47WkLPBwed50-kK9xgpZ5nDG9lKPavS/s1600/IMG_1067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbpXMpIxKbXG0t5KDLgyvlEkn74cLMfFp6Pdj9vPOnxt_AmXscUV42MI-bLpT-2IfOhLdh3AK2UjuXlYdFqDdWQlfTrpXF0_YMuBLVrS1RLL6e47WkLPBwed50-kK9xgpZ5nDG9lKPavS/s320/IMG_1067.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
I still look at her with a sense of disbelief that she belongs to us and that we created her. It still seems like a crazy miracle. <br />
<br />
There have been two other babies born in the family in the last year and I am looking forward to this coming summer with great anticipation, already seeing visions of three little ones playing together outside. What a difference a year makes to the shape of an extended family!! When we all get together, we talk about poop a lot. <br />
<br />
In about six weeks, I'll be going back to work. My feelings about going back are by no means consistent. I have moments where I feel almost ready and moments of definite dread. We have a spot for BB in a day care in Prairie Hamlet and I'm not actually particularly worried about her ability to adjust to this new situation at all. I'm sure that it will take a few days, but I know she'll be fine. We'll be starting her out at the day care full time but the hope is to move her to three days a week later in the summer and to have WH stay home with her for the other two. I think that this will be a great thing for both of them!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I am trying to work through a long list of household projects that I wanted to get done before I go back. The approach for now is to take on one project per day. Yesterday, the project was sorting through all of the many baby-related resources that we've acquired in the last year, throwing away duplicates and filing the rest. I had hoped to take on further paperwork sorting today, but a sick baby may waylay that plan.<br />
<br />
I also plan to blog more, as a means to both work through the conflicting feelings associated with going back to work and get back into the swing of writing. There is a significant amount of writing in my work and I'm badly out of practice. <br />
<br />
And with that, I hear the sad sounds of a snotty baby bird waking up...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-3764342795030001962012-10-05T09:06:00.003-07:002012-10-05T09:47:46.069-07:00New NamesSo I have been thinking about a new blog name for the Divine Miss A because I think that she needs something a little bit more colourful than a simple initial. And "the Divine Miss A" is perhaps a bit much.<br />
<br />
Increasingly, I love the way that she opens her mouth to eat or to nurse. It is an action so full of trust and expectation and innocence. Just like a baby bird.<br />
<br />
Our little Baby Bird. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-85667351347249497102012-09-28T14:53:00.001-07:002012-09-28T14:53:27.902-07:00Looking to the weekendTomorrow, along with being the feast of St. Michael and every single one of the blasted angels, is our birthday. I say 'our' because WH and I were born on the same day, but eight years apart. <br />
<br />
I don't think that a birthday has ever before snuck up on me quite so quickly and unnoticed as this one. I think that having a baby naturally makes a person a little bit less self-involved so I haven't had a lot of time to think about turning thirty-three. <br />
<br />
We have decided to forego presents this year. We've both run out of time and besides, we're about to take on a significant renovation in our basement so we don't feel like we have a lot of extra money to be spending on gifts for each other that we don't really need. We will go out on Sunday, taking in a concert in the afternoon and then going for dinner. Miss A will spend a delectable afternoon with her Auntie.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, we'll spend a nice weekend together as a family.<br />
<br />
It'll be perfect.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-68979341215442850042012-09-26T09:38:00.000-07:002012-09-26T09:38:00.278-07:00Irrationally ExcitedDudes! I'm irrationally excited about something!<br />
<br />
We are about to embark, probably, on finishing our basement. And I am quite excited, if a little bit nervous, about that project. I think that excitement is perfectly rational. <br />
<br />
But in the process of scanning what the basement clean up project would be like before we start the renovation, my eyes fell on a very simple wooden table. I think that WH had used it as a bedside table in his old apartment but it's been in the basement since we moved here. It's about 2' x 2' and not very tall... about the height of a couch end table. And I thought... and here comes the irrational excitement... THAT WOULD MAKE A PERFECT PLAY TABLE FOR OUR DAUGHTER!<br />
<br />
My intention will be to sand it down, paint it some spectacular bright colour, stencil her name on it and some flowers or something and then cover it in a lacquer or varnish to make it easy to clean. And then buy a couple of wee chairs to go with it! <br />
<br />
HOW FUN IS THAT?!<br />
<br />
Carry on... Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-56150616628495615612012-09-24T09:15:00.001-07:002012-09-24T09:15:21.676-07:00HappinessOne of the new things we've seen with Miss A in the last month is a developing list of things that make her happy. Ever since she first smiled she has smiled a lot, but we are now starting to see patterns of specific things that bring out her biggest and broadest smiles and giggles. <br />
<br />
Foremost on the list this week, it seems, are FEET. Her own, her dad's, her mom's... she's not biased like that. Last night, in the bath, I sat her up and splashed my foot in the water. PEALS of laughter. And then I splashed her feet in the water. DOUBLE PEALS of laughter.<br />
<br />
She is also developing an increasing happiness at the sight of the cats. They continue to be pretty ambivalent about her, but she smiles at them when they come in the room, she follows their every movement and if we're lucky enough to be able to get her close enough to stroke one of them, she squeals with delight.<br />
<br />
And we - her mama and papa - are also on that list, thankfully! First thing in the mornings and when she wakes up from her naps, she is always thrilled to see one of us come through the door of her nursery. We get the big smile and she kicks her feet as hard as she can to show us how excited she is to be getting up to face the next part of her day. <br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-34567517178130501732012-09-21T20:29:00.002-07:002012-09-21T20:29:52.720-07:00On sleepingI love my daughter very much. She's more fun every day, she's happy and she's doing all kinds of new things that are so exciting to witness.<br />
<br />
I also love when she's asleep.<br />
<br />
We are in the process of transitioning her from three naps a day to two. This has meant more general crankiness as we approach nap time -- because she's been awake for longer -- but it also means wonderful long naps, often two hours long. She also goes to sleep at 7pm and sleeps through until at least 3 or 4 am every night. <br />
<br />
I love those sleeping hours.<br />
<br />
I love that I can take some of that time to have adult conversations with WH or with other family or friends. I love that I can take some of that time to catch up on housework or other items on the to-do list. I love that I can take some of that time to sit in front of the television. I love that I can take some of that time to sleep myself! <br />
<br />
And I love that when she wakes up from her nap or wakes up in the morning, she's back to her usual rested, happy and delightful self.<br />
<br />
God bless sleep.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-90874041948606114232012-09-14T18:32:00.004-07:002012-09-14T18:35:27.227-07:00Random Friday FiveToday's Friday Five from the <a href="http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/">RevGals</a> is random!<br />
<br />
1. What is one of the best things that happened to you this week?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_7k2B6LIoowj37RE2x32jpCoPEpnJJvwr4Tg8M271L8RxNy8A9GNf7YpmiYRoSdd30UW17n-rDdUTLyGylbtFFVzTcj8uc8xfQiRzLWko654b9G4SfvBC3a2lhcR7Vg4XBRuOyFnuvTZ/s1600/happy-face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">We started Miss A. on solid food! It's so exciting to have the opportunity to introduce herself to the world of food! So far, that world only includes rice cereal but she seems to like it!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_7k2B6LIoowj37RE2x32jpCoPEpnJJvwr4Tg8M271L8RxNy8A9GNf7YpmiYRoSdd30UW17n-rDdUTLyGylbtFFVzTcj8uc8xfQiRzLWko654b9G4SfvBC3a2lhcR7Vg4XBRuOyFnuvTZ/s1600/happy-face.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
2. If you were in a Ms. Canada Pageant, what would your talent be?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvLCcI8OZbR6y72QZU1JHyj79vFuF7lvm0sqmWdrtTnCvW6VxpK5q4thrtpVddxbH7DjpP2rjS-yYwzj-6Tu5zCnRPv02VOiE0SWglDuVhb10Bv30ie2rHqthRZX-RkjmYzvwcMitxcHc/s1600/crabbyprincess.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Sending a clear, elegant and grammatically correct email. </span><br />
<br />
3. You were just given a YACHT!!! What would you name it, and why?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #cc0000;">
I always liked the name Kelly and I think that The Kelly is a kind of an elegant name for a boat.</div>
<br />
4. If you were to perform in a circus, what would you do? <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">I think that I would like to be the lady riding on the elephant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
5. What do you have in your bag/wallet/backpack that best describes your personality? <span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Given that my bag is currently full of diapers, I'm not even going to go there... </span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-32865351269582686702012-09-09T16:11:00.001-07:002012-09-09T16:11:23.795-07:00TransitionMiss A will be six months old next Friday. Six months old seems to be an age at which everything is in transition, including the two biggies, eating and sleeping.<br />
<br />
She is showing many signs of being ready to start solid food, including interest in the things that we are eating, shown by staring and reaching at our food and drink. I think I'll pick up some rice cereal tomorrow and just see what happens. Everything that I've read has reinforced that the first eating experiences should be fun and relaxed, so that's how we'll approach it!<br />
<br />
The sleeping seems to be more complicated. She is in a kind of limbo between two naps and three naps a day, so no two days recently have been the same. And her naps affect the time that she goes to sleep at night, which affects the time that she wakes up in the morning, which affects the time that she has her first nap, etc. etc. etc. I know that consistency will come eventually... right? <br />
<br />
At the same time, I have been trying to help her fall asleep more independently. It can be a frustrating process because I find myself unsure of when to go in and try to settle her, and when to leave her alone. And inevitably, I feel like I've made the wrong decision. Take this afternoon, for example. We got home from church and she was showing all the signs of being tired. Her eyes were red, she was rubbing her face in my shoulder and she was very quiet. I put her down in her crib, swaddled her up, gave her her soother, kissed her on the forehead, said, "I love you, now go to sleep," and left the room.<br />
<br />
She talked to herself for about 20 minutes, at which point I peeked in to see how she was doing. She was sideways in the crib, had removed the swaddle and had lost the soother. I went in to get her resettled and she smiled her big goofy grin at me. I put the swaddle away, lay her back in her normal position, gave her back the soother, kissed her on the forehead, said, "I love you, now go to sleep," and left the room.<br />
<br />
She talked to herself for another 20 minutes, so I went to check on her again. She had wiggled herself around so much that she had pulled her diaper down and wet the bed. So I changed the diaper, covered the wet spot, lay her back in her normal position, kissed her on the forehead, said, "I LOVE YOU NOW GO TO SLEEP," and left the room.<br />
<br />
She cried.<br />
<br />
So I sat next to her crib, held the soother in her mouth and rubbed her little nose until she fell asleep, a full hour after I first put her in her crib. Her little arms relaxed and she spit out the soother and finally, FINALLY, she drifted off to dreamland. I left the room.<br />
<br />
She woke up 15 minutes later.<br />
<br />
@#$@Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-44690881409475501712012-09-06T13:57:00.005-07:002012-09-06T13:58:10.274-07:00Randoms on MotherhoodJust a few random smattering of thoughts from the first (almost) six months of A's life:<br />
<ul>
<li>While there was a great deal about her challenging beginning that was difficult for WH and me, there was much about the experience that was positive. We got so much wonderful care and tremendous coaching from the nurses in the NICU, all of which provided us with a wonderful start when we finally got to bring her home. </li>
<li>She's a wonderful sleeper (knock on wood) and that is a relief to me.</li>
<li>There is nothing quite so empowering as discovering that she is growing! </li>
<li>I have a New Mom's Group here in Prairie Hamlet that is run by the local health centre. Nurses come each week and give a lecture and answer questions on a variety of topics, including growth, development, teething, sleep, nutrition, local resources, injury prevention, etc. Judging by the questions asked in the first couple of sessions, if all the classes were called "Eating and Sleeing cont.," we'd all be happy. I'm also amused by how many of the questions are phrased as follows: "My baby does X; is that normal?" Commonality of experience is comforting. </li>
<li>There is nothing quite so humbling as being thrown up on. </li>
<li>God Bless You, Mr. Jolly Jumper. God Bless You. </li>
<li>I've been interested by how one redefines success as a mother. Coffee, a shower and breakfast? That's a successful day. </li>
<li>The cats have been totally ambivalent to the new family member. She, on the other hand, is now very interested in them! </li>
<li>She is very alert and spends lots of time simply looking around and taking in the world. For this reason, I'm excited to start her on solid food, to get to be a part of all the new experiences that entails. I recognize that they won't all be easy or enjoyable experiences, but I'm glad that we get to witness them! </li>
<li>We took her camping this weekend and she loved it. The temperature dropped to about 8C at night and with all her various bundlings, she was a complete champion. </li>
<li>She is, quite simply, the niftiest thing I have ever come across. </li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-30258758610928241642012-08-23T09:08:00.000-07:002012-08-23T09:08:43.221-07:00UpdatesIt's astonishing how quickly maternity leave is flying by. Miss A is already a shocking five months old! WH, A and I have spent a really delightful summer together, including a little bit of travel, some great visits with family near and far and beautiful weather! <br />
<br />
September now approaches and the name of the game will be routine and making the very best use of my time!<br />
<br />
To that end, here's what's been on my mind:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://waterbutterwine.blogspot.com/">More cooking, better eating!</a> </li>
<li>No "background" TV</li>
<li>Quality time with my husband and good quality time at that.</li>
<li>Quality time with our daughter and good quality time at that.</li>
<li>A potential basement renovation to make the most productive and fulfilling use of the space that we own.</li>
<li>Eliminating extraneous "noise" around us.</li>
<li>Quality time with extended family and friends and good quality time at that. </li>
<li>Being just a little bit more thoughtful and a little bit less reactive all the time. </li>
<li>Teamwork. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-40821270578621909202012-04-07T20:10:00.000-07:002012-04-07T20:10:30.224-07:00Our Story<h2>
<i> weeping may endure for a night</i></h2>
Up until the 32nd week of my pregnancy, I was considered "low-risk." The baby was growing as expected, there had been little in the way of complication and we were heading towards the mid-April due date exactly as we had expected.<br />
<br />
Probably our fault for getting too comfortable...<br />
<br />
At a regular appointment with my OB in mid-February, my blood pressure measured above normal and I tested positive for protein in my urine. Many of you will know that these are both troubling signs of potential pre-eclampsia. The condition is now commonly known as "pregnancy-induced hypertension," or PIH.<br />
<br />
Just like that, I became a high-risk case, no longer able to work and visited daily by nurses at home to have my blood pressure checked and the baby monitored. My activities were restricted and eventually, I was prescribed some medication to keep the BP in further check. We were informed that we would eventually see signs that the placenta was no longer providing the needed nutrition to the baby. We were told to prepare for the possibility of an early birth and that our goal was to get as close to 37 weeks as we possibly could.<br />
<br />
We almost made it.<br />
<br />
A day before we hit 35 weeks, our ultrasound showed that the baby had not grown the expected amount in the previous two weeks and that the fluid levels in the uterus had fallen. I confess to not being particularly surprised by this news; I had been aware that I was not getting bigger in that aggressive third-trimester way. The doctor who reviewed the ultrasound told us that we had reached the expected point and that our baby was better off getting nutrition outside the womb than inside it.<br />
<br />
I was admitted at 9am on Monday morning and the induction process was begun shortly after noon.<br />
<br />
WH stayed with me for the afternoon and evening on Monday and then went home to sleep as we knew that the induction process was likely to be long. Monday night was very trying... I was not having any contractions, but I was cramping and was too uncomfortable to sleep for longer than an hour at a time. I spent most of the time staring at the clock and rocking back and forth to try to alleviate pressure. And trying not to cry.<br />
<br />
Tuesday morning brought the very first signs that our baby may not tolerate labour. Very small drops in heart rate, from which the baby immediately recovered, led to a need to test the baby's ability to withstand contractions. I was given very small doses of oxytocin and we watched to see how the baby would react. The baby passed and full oxytocin was begun.<br />
<br />
Labour began to come on fairly strongly in the afternoon on Tuesday and my water broke shortly thereafter. WH and the Maternal Unit took turns rubbing my back and legs as the contractions came and went. Occasionally, I added to the drama by throwing up. Still, the little heart rate went down and up again, down and up again. We watched and held our breath.<br />
<br />
I had an epidural in the evening on Tuesday and WH and I managed to sleep.<br />
<br />
Early in the morning on Wednesday, the resident came and checked my progress. Frustratingly... disappointingly... only a centimeter and a half. Down and up again... We were given the option of continuing with labour and monitoring the baby for another two or three hours or progressing to a c-section. Given the issues with the baby's heart-rate and my increasing exhaustion, we chose to go straight to the surgery. It was time.<br />
<h2>
but joy <i>cometh</i> in the morning</h2>
I was wheeled to the operating room at about 5:30am on Wednesday
morning. We were delayed a short amount of time while another emergency
c-section took place, so WH and I finalized our choices for names and
asked each other about 50 times if each other was ok. "You ok?" "Yup.
You?" "Yup."<br />
<br />
I felt very calm heading into surgery, but overwhelmed that we were about to find out whether we were parents to a boy or a girl. As that moment came closer and closer, I became increasingly emotional. I had been quite dozy as we waited for surgery, but the surgery itself brought intense clarity of consciousness and focus.<br />
<br />
"We're getting close!" "We're almost there!" "Come on, little one!" <br />
<br />
And then, at 6:30am on Wednesday, March 14, our little girl was born. Our. Little. Girl. Four pounds, one ounce of perfection.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5K-JGo_qtXK4srtkmWeq-ih9x3PCvItocODsQuq_GkQBHbmoTdx947qFob4a21BklGM1qlrcL_nBbXParnl4Yj6Lk3cLcnfHuHXrBnxGk4hnxYViuooSeGJCJv4IScn2QbSvi1uNJuG6/s1600/421139_10151391878905247_672900246_23165252_1795105356_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5K-JGo_qtXK4srtkmWeq-ih9x3PCvItocODsQuq_GkQBHbmoTdx947qFob4a21BklGM1qlrcL_nBbXParnl4Yj6Lk3cLcnfHuHXrBnxGk4hnxYViuooSeGJCJv4IScn2QbSvi1uNJuG6/s400/421139_10151391878905247_672900246_23165252_1795105356_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-6695889242473491142012-02-17T11:10:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:10:27.445-08:00Two months to go!I'm not sure when the "home stretch" of pregnancy techinically begins, but it feels like we're getting close. <br />
<br />
When I consider how I look and how much stronger the baby feels everyday, I think that this must be the home stretch. But when I think about the fact that the baby only weighs about half of what it will weigh when it's born, I think, "Nope... no home stretch here." <br />
<br />
When I look at the increasingly large number of baby things arriving on our doorstep, it sure feels like the home stretch. But when I think about how much more there is to acquire and decide, I hope and pray that the middle stretch is here for a bit longer. <br />
<br />
You know how it goes, I'm sure.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-53659605335846538882012-02-02T11:56:00.001-08:002012-02-02T11:56:49.899-08:00I'm pretty sure...... that what I'll be giving birth to in a couple of months is not a baby at all, but a rolling pin.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-66820018909310195662012-01-24T08:55:00.000-08:002012-01-24T08:55:45.931-08:00AttachmentI can't wear my wedding ring any more.<br />
<br />
I was fairly certain that this day would arrive sooner than later and I turned out to be right. I can still wear the engagement ring, but even it is not long for my left hand, I fear. <br />
<br />
It's not a big deal and I know that it's temporary, but I was much more sad about it than I thought I would be. <br />
<br />
I love my rings. I look at them every day and think about my husband and my marriage and our home and our life together. They're a constant corner-of-my-eye reminder of how lucky I am to have what I have. <br />
<br />
I know that they are just "things," and that in the grand scheme of things, they don't matter. I know that if we had no material symbols of our marriage at all, we would still be happy and committed to each other. I know all these things. <br />
<br />
But I miss my ring. <br />
<br />
But then, eventually, I feel a might boot to the side of my abdomen and I'm reminded why it is that the rings will be in a box on my dresser and not on my hand. <br />
<br />
And that's a pretty nifty thing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-75847054609474592262012-01-23T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-23T08:53:44.038-08:00Catching up, catching upWell, my dear friends, aside from being a negligent blogger, life continues on apace!<br />
<br />
We are now almost 28 weeks pregnant, so just at the beginning of our third trimester. I feel bigger every day, and every time that I think that this baby can't get any stronger, he/she delivers a kick stronger than any I've felt before. <br />
<br />
I have absolutely loved being pregnant. <br />
<br />
Relative to many, I think that I have had a pretty easy pregnancy. Some morning sickness that extended almost all of the way through my second trimester, but nothing too bad or too disruptive to every day life. I've been lucky to have had no medical complications (knock on wood) thus far. My doctor is confident that the pregnancy and the birth will be straightforward and low risk. I have grown and gained weight at pretty standard rates and the little one has done all the things he/she is expected to approximately when he/she was expected to do them.<br />
<br />
So we have had lots of time to simply enjoy the experience, for which I am immensely grateful. I try to spend some time every day just watching my stomach move or feeling the kicks and punches and rolls without doing anything else. Just taking that time is part of a general intent in my life to uncomplicate and slow down before the baby comes. <br />
<br />
Slowing down seems to have resulted in more time for things like cooking, planning the nursery, shopping and reading, all of which I'm enjoying. <br />
<br />
I wouldn't go as far as to say that life isn't busy, but it's a very fun and interesting kind of busy! <br />
<br />
Hope to blog more in the near future about it! <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-30094271888102043722011-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:002011-10-14T09:14:01.301-07:00Friday Five! Scattered...<span class="entry-author-name">Revkjarla at the <a href="http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/">Rev Gals</a> gives us a scattered Friday Five today! </span><br />
<br />
1. What is something you are chronically looking for, if anything?<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">There are two things that WH and I seem to have difficulty keeping in one agreed-upon location are our cheque book and our passports. They seem to migrate from one place to another and are never exactly where we need them to be when we need them to be there!</span><br />
<br />
2. What movie are you looking forward to watching sometime in the future? <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Sometime in the future I would really like to sit down and watch the first two Godfather movies. Never seen them!</span><br />
<br />
3. What is one of your favorite comfort foods? (me, pizza. hands down).<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Easy! Chips and dip</span>. <br />
<br />
4. Story time. Tell us a story of one your favorite people that has touched, blessed your life.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">Oh gosh... there are way too many people to think of just one! </span><br />
5. What do you do to focus or calm or center yourself? (please, I need ideas!!!)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">I'm a big fan of deeeeeeeeeeeep breaths. </span><br />
<br />
BONUS: Share the first thing (or second thing) that comes to your mind after your read this!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">It's time for the <strike>first</strike> second snack of the day!</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-32883725339288081582011-10-13T11:48:00.000-07:002011-10-13T11:48:49.284-07:00Turning the PageHello blogospere! Nice to see you again! <br />
<br />
GUESS WHAT GUESS WHAT GUESS WHAT?? <br />
<br />
We are having a BAAAAAAAAABBBBBBBYYYYYYYYYYY! <br />
<br />
Sorry, I tried to think of a soft and gentle and clever way to make that announcement but nothing seemed to quite encapsulate how I feel about it the way that capital letters do. <br />
<br />
We had the best summer vacation ever and the very best part about it was our discovery about mid-August that we're expecting our first little one. We are now about 13 weeks along and everything seems to be going well. I have had a little bit of nausea in the first months, but nothing really to complain about. I'm hopeful that those issues will soon be over! Bring on the 2nd trimester, I say! <br />
<br />
It's very exciting and my heart is totally and entirely full at the thought of all the people who already love our little lima bean and can't wait to meet him or her. I feel very, very blessed! And very, very thankful! <br />
<br />
Stay tuned!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-30547502492854138722011-06-23T09:03:00.000-07:002011-06-23T09:03:23.727-07:00In which Chorus looks ahead to vacation...I AM READY FOR A VACATION. <br />
<br />
I WANT TO LEAVE FOR VACATION RIGHT-FREAKING-TODAY. <br />
<br />
Anyhoo, we are leaving for vacation in a week and I am looking forward AAAAAAAAH WHY CAN'T WE LEAVE TODAY. <br />
<br />
We will be driving across this great and beautiful country and a little bit of the great country to the south of us, stopping here and there and everywhere to play golf. Our first destination point is Georgian Bay for three nights with my dad and his wife, then we will head to Ottawa for a week with WH's family, then home via Toronto for our annual Blue Jays game. This year, we'll see the Yankees (Boo!). <br />
<br />
Right now, we are flood watching. We did have a hotel reservation in Minot, ND, but the hotel is right in the middle of the area that is recently evacuated, so we've had to shift our plans a bit. We have a hotel reservation and a golf reservation in Grand Forks as well, so we're keeping an eye there too. <br />
<br />
It's a beautiful day today in Prairie City, sunny and warm and MAYBE IF WE CAN'T LEAVE FOR VACATION TODAY I COULD JUST GO LAY DOWN IN THE GRASS SOMEWHERE INSTEAD. <br />
<br />
I'm finding it hard to focus on work. You might have guessed that.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-26405966088056522752011-06-12T10:22:00.000-07:002011-06-12T10:22:32.536-07:00This weekendWe are nearing the end of WH's latest examining trip to Closeby Province and I am very, very ready for him to come home. After he's home, the only travel in our near future involves both of us, together, and I can't wait for that.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, I have good friends taking care of me while he is away. Yesterday, I went to two baseball games in which the son of our friends, J and D, was playing. LittleJ is five and just about the cutest thing you've ever seen (trust me), and I had a wonderful time watching him play. It's amazing at that age, you know, because from the beginning of the first game to the end of the second game, I could almost SEE him learning things and then applying them. They have a great format in Prairie Hamlet's league; they play two innings, all the kids get to bat each inning, half the kids play in the field each inning and the other half go out into the outfield and practice their batting. The kids get four swings at pitches thrown by a machine, and then they get to hit off the tee. So it's a great balance between ensuring that all of the kids have a positive experience while still learning the skills of the game. <br />
<br />
Too much fun, and it was a beautiful day, and this morning I can see all of the places where I missed the sunscreen.<br />
<br />
Last night, I attended Prairie City's high school theatre awards and was thoroughly inspired by the quality of young talent that was on display. Our friend D, father of the baseball pro mentioned above, is a drama teacher in Prairie Hamlet, and his students' December production of a Christmas Carol was many times nominated. And, in the end, were the successful winners of the awards for best set design, best costumes, best featured actor (for the young man who played Jacob Marley) and best lead actor (for Scrooge). It was a great thing to witness!<br />
<br />
I'm having a quiet morning today, still in bed at 11am sipping my coffee with Mama Cat asleep under the covers, purring so loudly that she's actually vocalizing. Also pushing laundry, so it's not totally lazy. This afternoon is a Princess-themed birthday party for J and D's daughter, S, so I guess I have some wrapping to do. And I just heard the dryer buzz, so I should move things along in that direction too.<br />
<br />
Hope you're having a relaxing weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-13570333839509444382011-06-08T07:40:00.000-07:002011-06-08T07:40:52.301-07:00Water on the hostaOne of the reasons we love our new hostas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XnqZXLF_k9oYnnsiKgCg94SdX0olc30Oq1BQmIWMSFP-k7b4tpIjMYo0Xgn0Jzc3q_8pv-8-I748TtjzkybKrFhhJz8q53tnQf8MoT4nPELbiWPwhEJbleGeCmQ16HBCmDuSJq_2osp5/s1600/Hosta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6XnqZXLF_k9oYnnsiKgCg94SdX0olc30Oq1BQmIWMSFP-k7b4tpIjMYo0Xgn0Jzc3q_8pv-8-I748TtjzkybKrFhhJz8q53tnQf8MoT4nPELbiWPwhEJbleGeCmQ16HBCmDuSJq_2osp5/s400/Hosta.jpg" t8="true" width="298" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-65119563486229331442011-06-03T20:33:00.000-07:002011-06-03T20:33:46.651-07:00Hey look!It's a blog! Fancy that...<br />
<br />
Anyhoo, WH is away for the next couple of weeks examining piano exams, bless his heart, so Chorus is on her own. Of course, I have Mama Cat and Baby Cat, who, somewhat inexplicably, take up the same amount of space on the bed as WH, including his portion of covers. I actually woke up at one point last night, sat up, looked at them both and said, "Seriously??" They didn't seem embarassed.<br />
<br />
Here we are in June and the weather has been beautiful for the last couple of weeks, but tonight there is a frost warning and a chance of snow. Harumph. I have brought the potted annuals inside and covered the tomatoes and the herbs with pillow cases and that will have to do.<br />
<br />
We have had an exciting spring in the garden here at one-oh-six, spending the equivalent of two car payments on perennials for the new garden that WH built me last year. We have this new obsession with hostas; it's quite cute. We also bought 5 trees and as soon as WH is back from his adventure, the trees will go into the ground. <br />
<br />
I hope that you're all doing well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-25422450129536706302011-03-23T09:39:00.000-07:002011-03-23T09:39:52.091-07:00Vegas, Baby!Last week, I went to Las Vegas with my best friend and her sister for a girls' weekend! We had a lovely time, and saw a lot of amazing things and spent a fair amount of money! Here are a few scattered thoughts:<br />
<ul><li>We went to see Ka, the Cirque de Soleil show at the MGM Grand. Oh, my friends, if you have the opportunity to see this one, you absolutely must. I actually had a visseral reaction to all the amazing acrobatic work and the jaw-dropping technical aspects of the show. The experience is simply astonishing. </li>
<li>The combination of St. Patrick's Day, March Madness and Spring Break create quite an insane atmosphere on the strip. Whee!</li>
<li>I bought a red hat and red shoes.</li>
<li>I don't think we paid full price for anything that we bought because there are so many coupon books and special deals available. Along that same theme, three words: Premium. Outlet. Mall. </li>
<li>I saw at least four Elvises. (Elvi?) </li>
<li>We ate at a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. It was yummy. We also ate tapas. The tapas was also yummy. </li>
<li>I did not purchase a yardstick plastic drinking vessel that requires a lanyard to be carried. Aren't you proud? </li>
<li>We put a tasteful quantity of money into slot machines while we were there and had fun losing all of it. At <u>one</u> point, we were up $20... but not at the <u>end</u> point. </li>
<li>There were a lot of young women on the strip wearing mini-dresses that didn't fit them properly and ridiculous shoes. I wore capri pants and comfy shoes and was happy. </li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-19311123739813460682011-03-05T07:41:00.000-08:002011-03-05T07:41:54.845-08:00Adventures in Interior Design cont.WH and I continue to wrestle with what to put up on a number of our walls. <br />
<br />
This morning, we had the following conversation:<br />
<br />
WH: Here's a crazy idea. What if we made our own artwork? <br />
Me: [pause]<br />
WH: No, wait, it would be great! We could take a class on making a canvas and then we could just paint them! <br />
Me: But what if we don't like them?<br />
WH: Then we won't put them up!<br />
Me: But what if I don't like yours and you really like it?<br />
WH: Then we'll put it up. Because I worked hard on it.<br />
<br />
Me: Aw, honey... Thanks for writing my blog post for me this morning. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-376790366682025014.post-25596644851306072442011-02-18T15:13:00.000-08:002011-02-18T15:13:27.633-08:00I am addicted to...... HGTV.<br />
<br />
A couple of recent stays at home during the day have meant finding that HGTV is a really inspiring and lovely way to spend TV-watching time. And as a result of countless episodes of home buying and home decor shows watched in the last couple of months, WH and I are a little bit more motivated to complete some of the home decorating projects that have been trickling along since we moved in.<br />
<br />
We went to an antique superstore in Prairie City and found a really nice antique buffet. It needs a little bit of refinishing work but otherwise, it's exactly what we've described wanting for a long time. It's dark wood, with cabinet space big enough to hold our liquor cabinet, small drawers for wine stoppers, corkscrews, coasters, the guest book, etc., and a big drawer for linens. It fits in really nicely with the space and we love it!<br />
<br />
Today, we tired to do some more antique shopping for decor items but the local store wasn't open so instead we went to Home Sense, where we found three large wooden candle holders to put next to our fireplace downstairs. Then off to Michael's to buy nice big candles for them!<br />
<br />
We are now also on a pretty active search for artwork for the walls in our living room. We were looking at a design website this morning that had a neat shelving idea that we think we can do on one of the big and currently-bare walls in our upstairs family room, but we really want to do a couple of similar modern-ish paintings in the living room. We're also looking for either a long and narrow painting or for a series of repeating decor pieces to go over the fireplace. We don't have a mantle but we're trying to think a little bit outside the box for the fireplace space. A mantle is a possibility though too!<br />
<br />
We have interest in three-dimensional decor pieces for smaller wall spaces, things like plates or masks.<br />
<br />
<br />
It's fun! We're having a good time!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0