I don't think that the men that read this will fully appreciate the significance of this post but anyhow here goes...
On Friday, I was out with Kieran to go to the movies. There is a program at some cinemas called Movies for Mommies where they turn down the lights and provide a changing table with (supposedly, but this week lacking) the supplies you need.
So I put him in the Maman Kangourou carrier and off we went to catch the bus for the 1:20 pm showing at Côte-des-Neiges.
We enjoyed the newest James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace."
Now this was not the significant part of my day...
After the movie, we wandered around the mall and I walked into Reitman's, a women's chain clothing store here where I had previously seen a top I thought might be nice for Christmas.
At the time, I didn't even bother trying it on as it was still full price.
I rarely will buy something before it goes on sale unless it's really inexpensive or I really want it then and there. Why pay full price when I know very well I can pay less if I only wait a couple of weeks?!
So here was the top again and on sale. So I looked it over grabbed an XL and figured I'd try it on at home and return it if it didn't fit (which I fully expected.)
Then I saw a sweater (not that I need another sweater but it looked nice) for $20 so I grabbed that in a large and hoped for the best.
Well, I couldn't believe it...they both fit...really nicely! I should try that more often, it certainly saved time!
Then on Saturday, we stopped at Old Navy where they were having a huge sale. I found a pair of jeans that looked like what I was looking for and headed to the fitting rooms but then balked when I saw the long line-up. Well, I didn't have Kieran on me but I definitely didn't want to wait in line just to find out the jeans didn't fit so we just headed to the cash and went with the try-on-at-home-and-return-if-need-be theory.
Can you believe that the jeans fit, really nicely?! Jeans, I tell you. Now you all must know how hard it is to find jeans that fit well. How amazing is it that they fit without even trying them on?!
It's the little things in life I tell ya!
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
No complaints here
As much as Quebecers complain about high taxes, poor healthcare and other social issues, I must say our parental leave program is a god-send.
Tim was able to take 5 weeks off from work at 70% of his salary and I will be off for 25 weeks at 70% plus another 25 weeks at 55%.
If you're curious to see how the plan works, here's the link to the government page:
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan
I coul not imagine living somewhere where I'd already be heading back to work, having to leave my baby in someone else's care all day long. I would miss him so much.
I am truly cherishing watching him develop, as unobvious as it may be at this point. But I do notice the little subtleties as I observe him for so many hours a day.
His vision seems to be increasing. He doesn't focus or follow anything yet, but you can tell he can now see more of the world that surrounds him.
He also gets quite vocal at times, cooing and grunting and making all kinds of sounds.
No smiles, it's too early yet, but he grins to himself as if he's in on his own private joke. Those looks particularly crack me up and melt my heart!
So, needless to say, I am enjoying motherhood like I never could have imagined.
My little Kieran is an angel and I love him so!
Tim was able to take 5 weeks off from work at 70% of his salary and I will be off for 25 weeks at 70% plus another 25 weeks at 55%.
If you're curious to see how the plan works, here's the link to the government page:
Quebec Parental Insurance Plan
I coul not imagine living somewhere where I'd already be heading back to work, having to leave my baby in someone else's care all day long. I would miss him so much.
I am truly cherishing watching him develop, as unobvious as it may be at this point. But I do notice the little subtleties as I observe him for so many hours a day.
His vision seems to be increasing. He doesn't focus or follow anything yet, but you can tell he can now see more of the world that surrounds him.
He also gets quite vocal at times, cooing and grunting and making all kinds of sounds.
No smiles, it's too early yet, but he grins to himself as if he's in on his own private joke. Those looks particularly crack me up and melt my heart!
So, needless to say, I am enjoying motherhood like I never could have imagined.
My little Kieran is an angel and I love him so!
Little Boy Blue
I suppose it's about time I posted a picture of Kieran for those of you who aren't on Facebook or haven't met him yet...
Doesn't he look so peaceful?!
He's wearing the sweater Grandma Jo-Anne knit for him.
Doesn't he look so peaceful?!
He's wearing the sweater Grandma Jo-Anne knit for him.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
5 weeks already
Wow! Kieran is doing excellent and Mommy is not doing too bad herself. Yes, I definitely now have the designation of mother first and foremost pretty much all the time now!
It's so surprising to see some people's reactions to Kieran when we go out with him. You half expect women with older children to take notice of a newborn but when young men, like our waiter at Pizza Hut, tell you "He's so cute!", it's kinda funny and heartwarming too!
So Kieran had his VCUG on Friday the 7th where they injected iodine into his bladder to see if urine was going back up into his kidneys. After doing the test twice to make sure, it was determined he has no reflux. Yay! So after Monday night, he was antibiotic free.
It was kinda funny when they did the test, there was the radiology technician, a resident specializing in radiology, a McGill me student, 2 Dawson College technician students plus Tim & I, all watching this little guy, waiting for him to pee. No pressure!
We weren't worried, but is was a relief to know that he had no reflux. So everything is fine for now and we have another ultrasound in January to see what size his kidneys are then.
And we had a breakthrough on Monday...I'd pretty much given up trying to breastfeed Kieran somewhere around Halloween as he'd taken to the bottle and I was producing more than enough milk to pump and feed him. It was working out, Tim was able to help with feeding and Kieran was getting breast milk nonetheless. It was just more work as I had to pump every 3 hours or so.
Well, on Monday morning, I tried getting him to latch on again and, lo-and-behold, he was able to do so pretty well. So we've been doing pretty well with the breastfeeding so far. Today was a little more trying as Kieran did not seem to be satisfied no matter how much I fed him. So he is getting a bottle as I have my suspicions he was just not getting enough milk from breastfeeding.
I must admit, it is rather easier to nurse him and somewhat more gratifying too.
I'm lucky enough that he usually gets a good latch on and I don't have to focus all my attention on him so I've been able to read or write while he's feeeding.
He has been spitting up a little more but I think that's because he's not quite used to the quicker flow of milk. Even with a good burp, he spits up a little, sometimes even half an hour after he's done nursing.
So all is pretty good on the Westmount front.
Tim has been busy all week doing some programming work but he's been on diaper and bath duty. He's going back to work on Monday, a week earlier than planned so he can have some time off later instead. I'm sure everyone at his office will be glad to see him.
It's so surprising to see some people's reactions to Kieran when we go out with him. You half expect women with older children to take notice of a newborn but when young men, like our waiter at Pizza Hut, tell you "He's so cute!", it's kinda funny and heartwarming too!
So Kieran had his VCUG on Friday the 7th where they injected iodine into his bladder to see if urine was going back up into his kidneys. After doing the test twice to make sure, it was determined he has no reflux. Yay! So after Monday night, he was antibiotic free.
It was kinda funny when they did the test, there was the radiology technician, a resident specializing in radiology, a McGill me student, 2 Dawson College technician students plus Tim & I, all watching this little guy, waiting for him to pee. No pressure!
We weren't worried, but is was a relief to know that he had no reflux. So everything is fine for now and we have another ultrasound in January to see what size his kidneys are then.
And we had a breakthrough on Monday...I'd pretty much given up trying to breastfeed Kieran somewhere around Halloween as he'd taken to the bottle and I was producing more than enough milk to pump and feed him. It was working out, Tim was able to help with feeding and Kieran was getting breast milk nonetheless. It was just more work as I had to pump every 3 hours or so.
Well, on Monday morning, I tried getting him to latch on again and, lo-and-behold, he was able to do so pretty well. So we've been doing pretty well with the breastfeeding so far. Today was a little more trying as Kieran did not seem to be satisfied no matter how much I fed him. So he is getting a bottle as I have my suspicions he was just not getting enough milk from breastfeeding.
I must admit, it is rather easier to nurse him and somewhat more gratifying too.
I'm lucky enough that he usually gets a good latch on and I don't have to focus all my attention on him so I've been able to read or write while he's feeeding.
He has been spitting up a little more but I think that's because he's not quite used to the quicker flow of milk. Even with a good burp, he spits up a little, sometimes even half an hour after he's done nursing.
So all is pretty good on the Westmount front.
Tim has been busy all week doing some programming work but he's been on diaper and bath duty. He's going back to work on Monday, a week earlier than planned so he can have some time off later instead. I'm sure everyone at his office will be glad to see him.
Monday, November 03, 2008
3 weeks post-partum
24 days already since Kieran arrived! Yes, now I believe all of you when you say to enjoy every minute as time definitely does fly, even with the extra hour yesterday!
I am finally feeling back to my non-pregnant self. (I dare not say "normal"!) No more swollen feet, no more heartburn, no more carpal tunnel, among others. I even fit into a few pairs of non maternity pants, yay!
We've been pretty busy some days and managed to have some quiet, more restful days too. Kieran has already had a couple of visits to the Children's hospital to check up on his kidneys. They don't seem to be getting any bigger which is a good sign. This Friday we go for another appointment to see if urine is going back up from the bladder to the kidneys. If all is good then he can stop taking antibiotics which he is on as a preventative measure to stop any urinary tract infection or kidney infection.
We've managed a few outings too. We've been to both my office & Tim's a couple of times, for vistis & to pick up paperwork.
Last week we even took him out for lunch all the way out in Boucherville, at this great resto called Bistro Lulu.
We decided to get out of the house for the day as a water main had busted up the street and after some high water levels (Tim dubbed our street Lake Columbia), they shut the water off. So our best option was to head to the South Shore for the day.
Saturday evening another pipe burst further up the street so as of this morning, they have started digging up our street, section by section and they will replace all the aging water network. Our water is to be shut off from 9am to 6pm every day. Thank goodness I had done all our laundry on Saturday.
Other than that, it's a routine of feeding, changing diapers, pumping and hanging out with out little cutie. Kieran has not taken to latching on to breast feed, even after a lactation consultant's visit. Which is no so bad. He's getting breast milk nonetheless and Daddy can help with the feedings when I'm too deep into sleep mode!
Kieran is not quite on a regular feeding schedule yet. During the day he usually feeds every 2 1/2 to 3 hours but sometimes in the morning he'll feed a bit every hour. The past few nights he's fed around midnight & lasted about 4-5 hours before getting hungry again. So I get about 3-4 hours of continuous sleep. Naps during the day are a must!
So if you haven't come for a visit yet, give us a call already! And if you're due for another visit, give us a call already! No time is good or bad, really. But your chances of seeing him alert are higher around 10:30 am. For now at least...
I am finally feeling back to my non-pregnant self. (I dare not say "normal"!) No more swollen feet, no more heartburn, no more carpal tunnel, among others. I even fit into a few pairs of non maternity pants, yay!
We've been pretty busy some days and managed to have some quiet, more restful days too. Kieran has already had a couple of visits to the Children's hospital to check up on his kidneys. They don't seem to be getting any bigger which is a good sign. This Friday we go for another appointment to see if urine is going back up from the bladder to the kidneys. If all is good then he can stop taking antibiotics which he is on as a preventative measure to stop any urinary tract infection or kidney infection.
We've managed a few outings too. We've been to both my office & Tim's a couple of times, for vistis & to pick up paperwork.
Last week we even took him out for lunch all the way out in Boucherville, at this great resto called Bistro Lulu.
We decided to get out of the house for the day as a water main had busted up the street and after some high water levels (Tim dubbed our street Lake Columbia), they shut the water off. So our best option was to head to the South Shore for the day.
Saturday evening another pipe burst further up the street so as of this morning, they have started digging up our street, section by section and they will replace all the aging water network. Our water is to be shut off from 9am to 6pm every day. Thank goodness I had done all our laundry on Saturday.
Other than that, it's a routine of feeding, changing diapers, pumping and hanging out with out little cutie. Kieran has not taken to latching on to breast feed, even after a lactation consultant's visit. Which is no so bad. He's getting breast milk nonetheless and Daddy can help with the feedings when I'm too deep into sleep mode!
Kieran is not quite on a regular feeding schedule yet. During the day he usually feeds every 2 1/2 to 3 hours but sometimes in the morning he'll feed a bit every hour. The past few nights he's fed around midnight & lasted about 4-5 hours before getting hungry again. So I get about 3-4 hours of continuous sleep. Naps during the day are a must!
So if you haven't come for a visit yet, give us a call already! And if you're due for another visit, give us a call already! No time is good or bad, really. But your chances of seeing him alert are higher around 10:30 am. For now at least...
Friday, October 10, 2008
Self-portrait, 37 1/2 weeks
1.5 cm dilated, 50% effaced. 2 weeks to go?!
We shall see...
It's supposed to be a beautiful weekend. We are missing out on the annual Thanksgiving camping season finale at Saranac Lake.
We'll enjoy the holiday in the city instead!
A Happy Gobble Gobble weekend to everyone!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Anytime now, we're ready!
Last week I did some cooking to freeze for after baby's arrival. But there was only so much I could cook before both our fridges' freezers were full! We've bought a new freezer but it will only be in at the end of this week.
So we have lasagna, sheppard's pie, muffins, banana bread and a bit of chili. Not to mention the food people brought to my baby shower which is presently being stored at Cathy & Eric's.
Last Monday I took advantage of the gift certificate I received for my wedding shower and got a massage at the Westmount Spa. Wonderful! Unfortunately at this stage, the benefits of a massage don't last for very long.
I am very much looking forward to being able to toss and turn in my sleep.
And to wearing any pair of shoes I want (I think I'm down to 2 pairs that fit at this point.)
And to standing up for more than a few minutes before running out of breath!
I'm at the point where I'm going to see the doctor every week now. I've been lucky so far and haven't had to wait too long for my appointments most of the time. But last week, the doctor was pretty late as she had been attending a delivery so my 10:15 turned into a 12:30. Luckily I had nowhere else to be and had reading material so it wasn't so bad. All that waiting for her to check the baby's heartbeat and my blood pressure. Which were both fine.
Friday was a big day! Tim took the bus to work and so I went and picked up Cathy and Vanessa and we went for a walk on Mount St-Bruno. Surprisingly, most of the leaves have yet to change colour. It was a very pleasant day for a walk in the woods. Then we stopped for lunch. A very quick lunch. It was rather windy and quite cold in the clearing by the lake where we stopped. So we then went and warmed up at Cathy's parents' house before heading to the mall to look for a dress for Vanessa.
I then dropped the girls off at home and went to pick up Tim at work.
We had a made a date for dinner and a movie. After such an eventful day I was sure I would fall asleep at the movies but I didn't even come close to nodding off! I don't think that has ever happened even pre-pregnancy! We went to see "Burn Before Reading" and we both enjoyed it very much. Very true to the Coen brothers usual style of humour.
Saturday morning we purposefully got up at 5:30 (!) to go to a baby article sale in St-Bruno. We scored quite a few good buys by getting there at 7, one hour before the doors opened.
And that evening we had David, Julie & Arianne over for supper and they brought us more baby stuff. And on Sunday, Katja dropped some more clothes off so we are definitely set for a few months.
I think all I'm missing now is a baby album!
So we have lasagna, sheppard's pie, muffins, banana bread and a bit of chili. Not to mention the food people brought to my baby shower which is presently being stored at Cathy & Eric's.
Last Monday I took advantage of the gift certificate I received for my wedding shower and got a massage at the Westmount Spa. Wonderful! Unfortunately at this stage, the benefits of a massage don't last for very long.
I am very much looking forward to being able to toss and turn in my sleep.
And to wearing any pair of shoes I want (I think I'm down to 2 pairs that fit at this point.)
And to standing up for more than a few minutes before running out of breath!
I'm at the point where I'm going to see the doctor every week now. I've been lucky so far and haven't had to wait too long for my appointments most of the time. But last week, the doctor was pretty late as she had been attending a delivery so my 10:15 turned into a 12:30. Luckily I had nowhere else to be and had reading material so it wasn't so bad. All that waiting for her to check the baby's heartbeat and my blood pressure. Which were both fine.
Friday was a big day! Tim took the bus to work and so I went and picked up Cathy and Vanessa and we went for a walk on Mount St-Bruno. Surprisingly, most of the leaves have yet to change colour. It was a very pleasant day for a walk in the woods. Then we stopped for lunch. A very quick lunch. It was rather windy and quite cold in the clearing by the lake where we stopped. So we then went and warmed up at Cathy's parents' house before heading to the mall to look for a dress for Vanessa.
I then dropped the girls off at home and went to pick up Tim at work.
We had a made a date for dinner and a movie. After such an eventful day I was sure I would fall asleep at the movies but I didn't even come close to nodding off! I don't think that has ever happened even pre-pregnancy! We went to see "Burn Before Reading" and we both enjoyed it very much. Very true to the Coen brothers usual style of humour.
Saturday morning we purposefully got up at 5:30 (!) to go to a baby article sale in St-Bruno. We scored quite a few good buys by getting there at 7, one hour before the doors opened.
And that evening we had David, Julie & Arianne over for supper and they brought us more baby stuff. And on Sunday, Katja dropped some more clothes off so we are definitely set for a few months.
I think all I'm missing now is a baby album!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Before we know it
Only 2 more prenatal classes to go...This week we had a tour of the hospital. It was reassuring to see the birthing rooms and get an idea how things happen at the Vic.
So I think reality is starting to sink in and before we know it, the baby will be here and our lives will never be the same!
Catherine threw me a tea party baby shower last Sunday. It was great fun. We had finger sandwiches, homemade scones with cream and strawberry jam and cookies and brownies and lots of gifts to open!
So I think we're pretty much set for baby's arrival. The room is all ready. The stroller was delivered on Wednesday. We have some diapers, a few outfits and some bonnets and lots of blankets and washcloths. I'm not going to get anything else until baby arrives and we know the sex and size.
According to this week's ultrasound, the baby now weighs 7 lbs and the birth weight should be between 8 & 9 lbs. But that could be off by some 2 lbs. Ulp, hopefully not on the high side! And I thought I wasn't that big for 36 weeks. Ulp!
The baby's kidneys are still enlarged but nothing can be done at this point. We'll see after the birth if it's still the case. Apparently hydronephrosis, as its called, is the #1 problem detected on an ultrasound but after the birth, the kidneys are usually observed to be just fine. So no worries for now. A pedriatric urologist (talk about a specialty!) will do an assessment after the baby is born.
And as per our instructor's suggestion, our bags are somewhat packed for the hospital. I did that today. So as Tim said, the baby is sure to arrive late cos we're pretty much all ready for it!
Now I just have to occupy myself to stop from being bored to tears and cooping myself in the house all day long. There's only so much time one can spend looking at nursing bras online in a day!
So I think reality is starting to sink in and before we know it, the baby will be here and our lives will never be the same!
Catherine threw me a tea party baby shower last Sunday. It was great fun. We had finger sandwiches, homemade scones with cream and strawberry jam and cookies and brownies and lots of gifts to open!
So I think we're pretty much set for baby's arrival. The room is all ready. The stroller was delivered on Wednesday. We have some diapers, a few outfits and some bonnets and lots of blankets and washcloths. I'm not going to get anything else until baby arrives and we know the sex and size.
According to this week's ultrasound, the baby now weighs 7 lbs and the birth weight should be between 8 & 9 lbs. But that could be off by some 2 lbs. Ulp, hopefully not on the high side! And I thought I wasn't that big for 36 weeks. Ulp!
The baby's kidneys are still enlarged but nothing can be done at this point. We'll see after the birth if it's still the case. Apparently hydronephrosis, as its called, is the #1 problem detected on an ultrasound but after the birth, the kidneys are usually observed to be just fine. So no worries for now. A pedriatric urologist (talk about a specialty!) will do an assessment after the baby is born.
And as per our instructor's suggestion, our bags are somewhat packed for the hospital. I did that today. So as Tim said, the baby is sure to arrive late cos we're pretty much all ready for it!
Now I just have to occupy myself to stop from being bored to tears and cooping myself in the house all day long. There's only so much time one can spend looking at nursing bras online in a day!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Stroller & car seat update
We have a car seat! And the stroller has been ordered...
The Friday night of my last post, we went shopping on the South Shore. Our first stop was the baby store Clement but they didn't have what we want in store. Then we went over to Sears which had the car seat but not the stroller. Still no help as we wanted to test drive the stroller with the car seat in it. So then it was over to Toys R'Us. Lo and behold, they had both the car seat AND the stroller on display! So we wheeled it around and confirmed that this is the one we wanted. Unfortunaely, the stroller was not available and they did not know when they would be getting more in. So the next morning we headed out to the Toys R'Us in Lasalle but they didn't even have either of them on display. The clerk checked the computer for us, and the same story apllied to all the stores in the area, no stock and no date when they would be coming in. So we decided to head to Sears and see what they had available. No stroller, but the car seat was on sale beginning that morning. Score! So we bought the car seat. Don't you know, they didn't have it in stock, but we picked it up this last Saturday. And so the stroller we ordered on line from Junior Baby. No news yet as to when it will arrive. So that is the stroller saga, almost come to an end!
Thank goodness we didn't have to shop for furniture!
I tried taking a picture of the baby's room but even with the wide angle lens, I couldn't get a good shot, so you will all have to wait until you come to visit to see it, ha! I am very pleased with how it turned out. Sometimes I go in there and rock in the glider for a few minutes and let my mind wander. Very relaxing.
So a little more than 4 weeks to go. If I'm lucky that is. I do have a feeling I will be pretty much on time but what do I know. It's probably just wishful thinking!
The Friday night of my last post, we went shopping on the South Shore. Our first stop was the baby store Clement but they didn't have what we want in store. Then we went over to Sears which had the car seat but not the stroller. Still no help as we wanted to test drive the stroller with the car seat in it. So then it was over to Toys R'Us. Lo and behold, they had both the car seat AND the stroller on display! So we wheeled it around and confirmed that this is the one we wanted. Unfortunaely, the stroller was not available and they did not know when they would be getting more in. So the next morning we headed out to the Toys R'Us in Lasalle but they didn't even have either of them on display. The clerk checked the computer for us, and the same story apllied to all the stores in the area, no stock and no date when they would be coming in. So we decided to head to Sears and see what they had available. No stroller, but the car seat was on sale beginning that morning. Score! So we bought the car seat. Don't you know, they didn't have it in stock, but we picked it up this last Saturday. And so the stroller we ordered on line from Junior Baby. No news yet as to when it will arrive. So that is the stroller saga, almost come to an end!
Thank goodness we didn't have to shop for furniture!
I tried taking a picture of the baby's room but even with the wide angle lens, I couldn't get a good shot, so you will all have to wait until you come to visit to see it, ha! I am very pleased with how it turned out. Sometimes I go in there and rock in the glider for a few minutes and let my mind wander. Very relaxing.
So a little more than 4 weeks to go. If I'm lucky that is. I do have a feeling I will be pretty much on time but what do I know. It's probably just wishful thinking!
Friday, September 12, 2008
All stuffed up
It seems to be all about the sinuses. This morning, at least.
And I know one Sinutab would not be the end of the world but I'd rather take no chances...
According to my pregnancy book, here are the possible problems with Sinutab's active ingredients: acetominophen has a possible association with fetal renal failure, chlorpheniramine maleate has no apparent link to birth defects, pseudoephedrine may be responsible for heart rate disturbances, minor birth defects, hernias and clubfoot, but research is inconclusive(!) It also says the use of antihistamines in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy increases the risk of a neonatal eye problem known as retrolental fibroplasia.
Yeah, so I'd rather not take any chances. I'm not suffering that badly, I can handle it!
And we still don't have a stroller! I was really hoping to come home with one last night but after trekking all the way to Rivière-des-Prairies, Junior Baby did not have the car seat that goes with the stroller we like in stock. We would like to see it before purchasing it so they should have it in a couple of weeks.
We'll see if Clément have it. Their online catalogue lists the stroller but not the car seat, which is funny because the regular seat detaches from the frame so you can use the car seat in the stroller.
Maxi-Cosi Foray
And I know one Sinutab would not be the end of the world but I'd rather take no chances...
According to my pregnancy book, here are the possible problems with Sinutab's active ingredients: acetominophen has a possible association with fetal renal failure, chlorpheniramine maleate has no apparent link to birth defects, pseudoephedrine may be responsible for heart rate disturbances, minor birth defects, hernias and clubfoot, but research is inconclusive(!) It also says the use of antihistamines in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy increases the risk of a neonatal eye problem known as retrolental fibroplasia.
Yeah, so I'd rather not take any chances. I'm not suffering that badly, I can handle it!
And we still don't have a stroller! I was really hoping to come home with one last night but after trekking all the way to Rivière-des-Prairies, Junior Baby did not have the car seat that goes with the stroller we like in stock. We would like to see it before purchasing it so they should have it in a couple of weeks.
We'll see if Clément have it. Their online catalogue lists the stroller but not the car seat, which is funny because the regular seat detaches from the frame so you can use the car seat in the stroller.
Maxi-Cosi Foray
Thursday, September 11, 2008
6 more weeks and counting?
It seems like my body has (for now) adopted a new schedule and I wake up somewhere between 3 and 4 a.m. so I'm not fighting it. Luckily I can go back to bed later and get a few more hours sleep with the whole bed to myself!
My allergies have been acting up too so that does not help the situation.
But I seem to have a little more energy and, knock on wood, my back has been ok for the last while.
Yesterday I walked all the way to NDG and back, a 2 1/2 hour trek and was none worse for the wear.
Okay, save for the humongous blister I now have on the back of my left ankle.
As much as I love shoes, my feet just weren't meant to wear them!
I also managed a solo trip to Costco and we had our 3rd prenatal class last night so it was quite a busy day.
In class we discussed Caesarean sections and various medical interventions such as episiotomies.
If you don't know what that is, I will not enlighten you, you're better off not knowing!
Ouch to the nth degree!!!
The baby's room is pretty much finished. We just have to put up some pictures on the walls to make it look less bare.
And the basement is close to being organized. Eric actually volunteered to help Tim on Saturday and they made some good progress. A couple of trips to the Ecocentre also helped to get rid of a lot of unnecessary items we'd been keeping for no apparent reason!
Still no stroller yet but hopefully that will be taken care of today with a trip to Junior Baby.
Other than that, we haven't made any baby purchases except for wipes at Costco! I'm waiting to see what we receive at my shower in a couple of weeks and also what some generous souls might pass on in hand-me-downs!!!
My allergies have been acting up too so that does not help the situation.
But I seem to have a little more energy and, knock on wood, my back has been ok for the last while.
Yesterday I walked all the way to NDG and back, a 2 1/2 hour trek and was none worse for the wear.
Okay, save for the humongous blister I now have on the back of my left ankle.
As much as I love shoes, my feet just weren't meant to wear them!
I also managed a solo trip to Costco and we had our 3rd prenatal class last night so it was quite a busy day.
In class we discussed Caesarean sections and various medical interventions such as episiotomies.
If you don't know what that is, I will not enlighten you, you're better off not knowing!
Ouch to the nth degree!!!
The baby's room is pretty much finished. We just have to put up some pictures on the walls to make it look less bare.
And the basement is close to being organized. Eric actually volunteered to help Tim on Saturday and they made some good progress. A couple of trips to the Ecocentre also helped to get rid of a lot of unnecessary items we'd been keeping for no apparent reason!
Still no stroller yet but hopefully that will be taken care of today with a trip to Junior Baby.
Other than that, we haven't made any baby purchases except for wipes at Costco! I'm waiting to see what we receive at my shower in a couple of weeks and also what some generous souls might pass on in hand-me-downs!!!
Friday, September 05, 2008
It was only a dream
Apparently yesterday morning when Tim woke me up, he was dreaming that he was playing football and he was tackling someone!
We had a good time last weekend (or so Tim says he did!) attending a family reunion on my mother's side, down in St-Eugène, which is about 90 km past Québec City on the South shore. It was the first time Tim met any of my maternal relatives.
I got to catch up with a few cousins and we spent some time on my uncle's farm where my mom grew up.
We also brought back some maple syrup and freshly picked corn on the cob. Yummy!
On Wednesday I beat the heat with Vanessa and Catherine in St-Bruno. We went to a splash park that has all kinds of sprinklers and sprayers to play in. Vanessa had a ball. I was wiped out just watching her!
So it's too early for the nesting instinct to kick in, right?
I got tired of our upstairs being a mess so I started organizing the baby's room today. As in I moved the furniture in and put the crib together.
Not that the upstairs is any less of a mess now really. The extra dresser is back in the guest room and all our winter clothes and some linens that were in the closet in the baby's room are still piled high on the guest bed.
We have some major re-organizing to do. Or purging. I hate not having closet space.
The next project (after cleaning up the basement!) is to re-paint the office and get bookcases and storage to hide all our crap in. So I guess all that stuff won't get put away unitl that is complete. Ugh.
It's so annoying to have all this time on my hands but to be limited in what I can do.
We had a good time last weekend (or so Tim says he did!) attending a family reunion on my mother's side, down in St-Eugène, which is about 90 km past Québec City on the South shore. It was the first time Tim met any of my maternal relatives.
I got to catch up with a few cousins and we spent some time on my uncle's farm where my mom grew up.
We also brought back some maple syrup and freshly picked corn on the cob. Yummy!
On Wednesday I beat the heat with Vanessa and Catherine in St-Bruno. We went to a splash park that has all kinds of sprinklers and sprayers to play in. Vanessa had a ball. I was wiped out just watching her!
So it's too early for the nesting instinct to kick in, right?
I got tired of our upstairs being a mess so I started organizing the baby's room today. As in I moved the furniture in and put the crib together.
Not that the upstairs is any less of a mess now really. The extra dresser is back in the guest room and all our winter clothes and some linens that were in the closet in the baby's room are still piled high on the guest bed.
We have some major re-organizing to do. Or purging. I hate not having closet space.
The next project (after cleaning up the basement!) is to re-paint the office and get bookcases and storage to hide all our crap in. So I guess all that stuff won't get put away unitl that is complete. Ugh.
It's so annoying to have all this time on my hands but to be limited in what I can do.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
That's what friends are for
Yes, yes, I'm awake in the middle of the night again...I was sleeping fine until Tim smacked me!!!
So my gardens, front AND back, look amazing!
Front after
Back before
Back after
All thanks to Robbie, he rocks!!!
He came over Monday afternoon and cleaned up the jungle that had taken over our property. I even managed to help out a little without paying for it the next day. No back pain, I couldn't believe it!
So I get this silly grin on my face every time I go out the front door or look out to the backyard, no more weeds, yay!
Week 2 (and now week 3) at home flew by. Tim was supposed to have last week off but ended up working Monday and half days on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But the baby's room got painted. The furniture is not in place yet though. We realized that we have at least one dresser too many so it will have to get stored in the basement, which is still a mess. So until the basement gets cleaned up, I guess we will have to put up with our upstairs being in disarray.
On Thursday we managed to have some of that "fun time" we were hoping for. We went to see The Mummy. And we both really like it. What's not to like about Brendan Fraser! Don't expect great cinematography from this movie but just plain fun.
I've been feeling okay these past few days. No back pain which makes such a difference. But I get pretty tired. Luckily I can take a nap pretty much anytime I want!
And we've started shopping for strollers, what a task!
I'm completely undecided as to what we should get. There's a Peg-Pérego model which we really like but it's quite expensive. It seems ridiculous to spend so much when you can get one for hundreds less. Reading reviews has not been helpful at all as some people can love a model for a certain feature while others hate it for that same feature.
As my cousin said, it doesn't matter which one you get, you'll always find something wrong with it anyway!
We had our second prenatal class last night. We learnt how to breathe. In-2-3, out-2-3-4!
I can't say I am looking forward to labour. Just looking forward to it being over!
That's about it for the pregnancy update. I think it's time to go back to bed now. I'll update other aspects of our oh so exciting lives later!
So my gardens, front AND back, look amazing!
Front after
Back before
Back afterAll thanks to Robbie, he rocks!!!
He came over Monday afternoon and cleaned up the jungle that had taken over our property. I even managed to help out a little without paying for it the next day. No back pain, I couldn't believe it!
So I get this silly grin on my face every time I go out the front door or look out to the backyard, no more weeds, yay!
Week 2 (and now week 3) at home flew by. Tim was supposed to have last week off but ended up working Monday and half days on Tuesday and Wednesday.
But the baby's room got painted. The furniture is not in place yet though. We realized that we have at least one dresser too many so it will have to get stored in the basement, which is still a mess. So until the basement gets cleaned up, I guess we will have to put up with our upstairs being in disarray.
On Thursday we managed to have some of that "fun time" we were hoping for. We went to see The Mummy. And we both really like it. What's not to like about Brendan Fraser! Don't expect great cinematography from this movie but just plain fun.
I've been feeling okay these past few days. No back pain which makes such a difference. But I get pretty tired. Luckily I can take a nap pretty much anytime I want!
And we've started shopping for strollers, what a task!
I'm completely undecided as to what we should get. There's a Peg-Pérego model which we really like but it's quite expensive. It seems ridiculous to spend so much when you can get one for hundreds less. Reading reviews has not been helpful at all as some people can love a model for a certain feature while others hate it for that same feature.
As my cousin said, it doesn't matter which one you get, you'll always find something wrong with it anyway!
We had our second prenatal class last night. We learnt how to breathe. In-2-3, out-2-3-4!
I can't say I am looking forward to labour. Just looking forward to it being over!
That's about it for the pregnancy update. I think it's time to go back to bed now. I'll update other aspects of our oh so exciting lives later!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Positive thinking
Unlike the tone of that last post, things really aren't that bad...and no, I don't think I am trying to downplay my feelings!
The results from my one hour glucose test were just a wee-bit high so my doctor sent me for the three hour tolerance test and that one came out okay so I do not have to worry about gestational diabetes.
The baby's kidneys are still a bit big (and I really can't give much more details about this because I kind of zoned out when my doctor was explaining it) but it should be alright by the time the baby is born.
We start our prenatal classes this week, that might help reality kick in a bit more.
Yeah, believe it or not, even at this point, I stll don't quite feel an overwhelming connection to my baby. I thought maybe doing a 3-D ultra-sound would help but Tim didn't seem too keen on the idea so we'll just save that 200 dollars or so.
It is true that most of the images end up looking pretty much the same from one child to another and they're kinda creepy looking too.
So 5 more weeks and I see my doctor again and have another ultra-sound.
I wonder how much more weight I will have put on by then. So far I have only gained about 22 pounds but in the last little while, my appetite has increased. I can't eat very much in a sitting before getting full but then a half hour to an hour after I have eaten, my stomach is gurgling and I am hungry again.
So hopefully Tim will manage to take some time off from work this week and be able to work on the baby's room and still have some time to relax and have a little fun.
Very wishful thinking on my part...
The results from my one hour glucose test were just a wee-bit high so my doctor sent me for the three hour tolerance test and that one came out okay so I do not have to worry about gestational diabetes.
The baby's kidneys are still a bit big (and I really can't give much more details about this because I kind of zoned out when my doctor was explaining it) but it should be alright by the time the baby is born.
We start our prenatal classes this week, that might help reality kick in a bit more.
Yeah, believe it or not, even at this point, I stll don't quite feel an overwhelming connection to my baby. I thought maybe doing a 3-D ultra-sound would help but Tim didn't seem too keen on the idea so we'll just save that 200 dollars or so.
It is true that most of the images end up looking pretty much the same from one child to another and they're kinda creepy looking too.
So 5 more weeks and I see my doctor again and have another ultra-sound.
I wonder how much more weight I will have put on by then. So far I have only gained about 22 pounds but in the last little while, my appetite has increased. I can't eat very much in a sitting before getting full but then a half hour to an hour after I have eaten, my stomach is gurgling and I am hungry again.
So hopefully Tim will manage to take some time off from work this week and be able to work on the baby's room and still have some time to relax and have a little fun.
Very wishful thinking on my part...
Pregnancy update
I haven't been blogging much about my pregnancy, I guess for a few reasons.
Timewise when I do have free time, I've been trying to be productive around the house (can't say that's happened much though these days.)
And when I feel compelled to write, it's not about the good stuff so I'd rather avoid recording and sharing the negative.
But this morning is one of those times when my brain is in full gear trying to cope with all of this so I might as well be sitting here at the computer dealing with my thoughts rather than tossing and turning in bed.
Okay, I should correct that...not tossing and turning but more like slowly shifting my weight from one side to the other!
I have been really lucky with my pregnancy and how I haven't had any complications yet at times, I can't help but feel overwhelmed and I wish for the end of October to be here already.
So I try to live for the moment and enjoy the "miracle" that is growing inside me without thinking that it's an alien that's invaded my body and is sucking the life out of me in every way possible!
The mild nausea I had to deal with was over long ago and now I only have to deal with indigestion once in a while at night and that is usually taken care of by taking some antacid.
My carpal tunnel has not subsided since I stopped working. My fingertips are pretty much always numb and my right hand especially hurts at night even with the splints I wear when sleeping.
My ankles and feet are swollen most of the time, no matter how much I elevate my feet, avoid salt and whatever other advice I am given and try to follow.
So my skin is tight and I get itchy and I must scratch yet I get no relief!
Hmmm, what other complaints do I have?!
Oh yeah, how could I forget my sciatic nerve?! I was fine for a few weeks but in the last week as soon as I have some energy and decide to try and be productive and do something physical, the pain kicks in and it's all I can do but to shuffle around.
It's very frustrating not to say irritating, annoying and whatever other synonym you can come up with, to have all this free time on my hands since I have stopped working yet not have the capacity to do anything.
My backyard and what little front yard I have are complete overgrown weed-infested disasters.
The house has a good thick layer of dust coating everything from having the windows open all summer.
Clutter is everywhere and does not help to make my environment a calming and soothing place. No meditaing around here!
We've started on the baby's room and I won't be able to paint because of the fumes but things I could help with, I can't physically handle!
Like I said, it's all very frustrating when I have so much will to do things but am not capable of doing it physically.
Luckily I have been sleeping pretty well. I only wake up to shift positions and then manage to fall asleep pretty much right away.
Yet I still have the urge to take naps more than once during the day.
So all of that takes its toll on me mentally too. Emotions run wilder during pregnancy and I have had a few uncontrollable crying fits where no matter how hard I try to convince myself that it's not so bad, it doesn't help one bit!
Luckily for Tim, most of these fits happen when he's not around. I probably also tend to control myself when he is around. Good or bad, I don't know, but it's my way of dealing with things...
So I must channel some positive energy so not to transfer all this turmoil to my baby!
Timewise when I do have free time, I've been trying to be productive around the house (can't say that's happened much though these days.)
And when I feel compelled to write, it's not about the good stuff so I'd rather avoid recording and sharing the negative.
But this morning is one of those times when my brain is in full gear trying to cope with all of this so I might as well be sitting here at the computer dealing with my thoughts rather than tossing and turning in bed.
Okay, I should correct that...not tossing and turning but more like slowly shifting my weight from one side to the other!
I have been really lucky with my pregnancy and how I haven't had any complications yet at times, I can't help but feel overwhelmed and I wish for the end of October to be here already.
So I try to live for the moment and enjoy the "miracle" that is growing inside me without thinking that it's an alien that's invaded my body and is sucking the life out of me in every way possible!
The mild nausea I had to deal with was over long ago and now I only have to deal with indigestion once in a while at night and that is usually taken care of by taking some antacid.
My carpal tunnel has not subsided since I stopped working. My fingertips are pretty much always numb and my right hand especially hurts at night even with the splints I wear when sleeping.
My ankles and feet are swollen most of the time, no matter how much I elevate my feet, avoid salt and whatever other advice I am given and try to follow.
So my skin is tight and I get itchy and I must scratch yet I get no relief!
Hmmm, what other complaints do I have?!
Oh yeah, how could I forget my sciatic nerve?! I was fine for a few weeks but in the last week as soon as I have some energy and decide to try and be productive and do something physical, the pain kicks in and it's all I can do but to shuffle around.
It's very frustrating not to say irritating, annoying and whatever other synonym you can come up with, to have all this free time on my hands since I have stopped working yet not have the capacity to do anything.
My backyard and what little front yard I have are complete overgrown weed-infested disasters.
The house has a good thick layer of dust coating everything from having the windows open all summer.
Clutter is everywhere and does not help to make my environment a calming and soothing place. No meditaing around here!
We've started on the baby's room and I won't be able to paint because of the fumes but things I could help with, I can't physically handle!
Like I said, it's all very frustrating when I have so much will to do things but am not capable of doing it physically.
Luckily I have been sleeping pretty well. I only wake up to shift positions and then manage to fall asleep pretty much right away.
Yet I still have the urge to take naps more than once during the day.
So all of that takes its toll on me mentally too. Emotions run wilder during pregnancy and I have had a few uncontrollable crying fits where no matter how hard I try to convince myself that it's not so bad, it doesn't help one bit!
Luckily for Tim, most of these fits happen when he's not around. I probably also tend to control myself when he is around. Good or bad, I don't know, but it's my way of dealing with things...
So I must channel some positive energy so not to transfer all this turmoil to my baby!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Excellent weekend
We pulled it off, Tim and I are now husband and wife!
So Tim had taken the day off work on Friday and did all the necessary last minute running around before picking me up at work at 2:30.
We then headed up North to La Minerve where the big event was going down.
We caught up to Katja & Jouni & family at the turnoff from the 117 and Cathy, Eric & Vanessa showed up at the property not long after we had arrived.
So the guys got things set up and Maya, France and Robbie also showed up that evening.
I think that's everyone who was there Friday night.
We didn't get any rain but saw lots of lightning in the distance and also heard some rumbling as we sat around the campfire.
We hit the hay pretty early, hoping to get a decent night's rest before the big day.
On Saturday morning, we woke up to foggy weather which eventually cleared to sunny skies. Too bad that didn't continue later in the day.
Our guests started arriving mid-morning and by 1 o'clock I started getting a little overwhelmed by it all but luckily, Cathy & I were going back with Tim's mom to the B&B where she was staying. This allowed me to get away from all the excitement and calm down a little.
Once we got changed and took some pictures at the B&B, we headed back for the ceremony.
The sky was getting dark in the distance and the closer we got, the heavier the raindrops fell.
We decided to wait out the rain in the car which also allowed the last lollylaggers to arrive.
So I eventually made my way across the field with Cathy, my unofficial lady-in-waiting and joined my husband-to-be under the shelter that was set up for us.
Olaf proved to be the distinguished celebrant that we knew he would be.
And I was easily and unexpectedly able to keep my composure and even managed to look Tim in the eyes while saying my vows.
Ysabel read "How Do I Love Thee" with a thoughtful twist, handing out the lines of the poem to various guests as she read them.
I also got the pleasant surprise of Clara and Leo acting as ring-bearers. They did a stellar job of bringing us our bands!
Before I knew it, the deed was done and Tim and I were kissing each other as husband and wife.
I wouldn't have thought it just a few months ago, but being married really does make a difference. And I've certainly been enjoying calling Tim my husband, tee hee!
As I said before, the rain had somewhat subsided and we managed to gather everyone together for a group photo before organizing the food.
Luckily for me, everyone pitched in and got it all set up. As much as I used to often be the organizer for many a get-together, it was just too much for me to take care of this time. But we kept it simple and we have such great family and friends so everything turned out great.
And then the rain started up again. And then the rain, it poured.
And poured. And poured!
We were prepared with tents but then we also set up tarps between the army tent and
the kitchen shelters we had up.
The rain did eventually let up and we had a great campfire with guitar playing, marshmallows and let's not forget the mosquitoes!
The highlight of the evening was the fireworks display put on by The Rev, Olaf.
We actually lasted a little past midnight before calling it a night.
Sunday was pretty much spent packing everything up.
Luckliy it didn't rain so we were able to put things away dry. There's nothing worse than ending a camping trip with packing up wet gear.
So that in no way even comes close to describing the atmosphere of the weekend!
But I must say, other than the rain, which wasn't all that bad really, the wedding was pretty much everything I could have hoped for.
It was in no way a restful weekend, but most importantly, it was not stressful.
I will have some pics for you tomorrow!
So Tim had taken the day off work on Friday and did all the necessary last minute running around before picking me up at work at 2:30.
We then headed up North to La Minerve where the big event was going down.
We caught up to Katja & Jouni & family at the turnoff from the 117 and Cathy, Eric & Vanessa showed up at the property not long after we had arrived.
So the guys got things set up and Maya, France and Robbie also showed up that evening.
I think that's everyone who was there Friday night.
We didn't get any rain but saw lots of lightning in the distance and also heard some rumbling as we sat around the campfire.
We hit the hay pretty early, hoping to get a decent night's rest before the big day.
On Saturday morning, we woke up to foggy weather which eventually cleared to sunny skies. Too bad that didn't continue later in the day.
Our guests started arriving mid-morning and by 1 o'clock I started getting a little overwhelmed by it all but luckily, Cathy & I were going back with Tim's mom to the B&B where she was staying. This allowed me to get away from all the excitement and calm down a little.
Once we got changed and took some pictures at the B&B, we headed back for the ceremony.
The sky was getting dark in the distance and the closer we got, the heavier the raindrops fell.
We decided to wait out the rain in the car which also allowed the last lollylaggers to arrive.
So I eventually made my way across the field with Cathy, my unofficial lady-in-waiting and joined my husband-to-be under the shelter that was set up for us.
Olaf proved to be the distinguished celebrant that we knew he would be.
And I was easily and unexpectedly able to keep my composure and even managed to look Tim in the eyes while saying my vows.
Ysabel read "How Do I Love Thee" with a thoughtful twist, handing out the lines of the poem to various guests as she read them.
I also got the pleasant surprise of Clara and Leo acting as ring-bearers. They did a stellar job of bringing us our bands!
Before I knew it, the deed was done and Tim and I were kissing each other as husband and wife.
I wouldn't have thought it just a few months ago, but being married really does make a difference. And I've certainly been enjoying calling Tim my husband, tee hee!
As I said before, the rain had somewhat subsided and we managed to gather everyone together for a group photo before organizing the food.
Luckily for me, everyone pitched in and got it all set up. As much as I used to often be the organizer for many a get-together, it was just too much for me to take care of this time. But we kept it simple and we have such great family and friends so everything turned out great.
And then the rain started up again. And then the rain, it poured.
And poured. And poured!
We were prepared with tents but then we also set up tarps between the army tent and
the kitchen shelters we had up.
The rain did eventually let up and we had a great campfire with guitar playing, marshmallows and let's not forget the mosquitoes!
The highlight of the evening was the fireworks display put on by The Rev, Olaf.
We actually lasted a little past midnight before calling it a night.
Sunday was pretty much spent packing everything up.
Luckliy it didn't rain so we were able to put things away dry. There's nothing worse than ending a camping trip with packing up wet gear.
So that in no way even comes close to describing the atmosphere of the weekend!
But I must say, other than the rain, which wasn't all that bad really, the wedding was pretty much everything I could have hoped for.
It was in no way a restful weekend, but most importantly, it was not stressful.
I will have some pics for you tomorrow!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Here comes the bride, fair, fat and wide...
So far, most people have been amazed at how "not pregnant" I look. That's mostly because I have not been wearing maternity tops. Don't worry folks, my belly is bulging...These were taken a couple of weeks ago and I am definitely bigger now.
So I am convinced I will positively hate myself in every one of my wedding photos. I've been told I will be able to look back and tell my child, look see, you were at our wedding and gush and glow. Yeah right! I'd rather hide under a baggy t-shirt!
Anyhow, the wedding is now only 7 days away...maybe that's why I'm wide awake at 5 o'clock in the morning and blogging!
How did this silly notion of a wedding this summer come about anyhow?
Well, after Tim proposed during our trip to Ireland in early May, we then discussed when and how we should get married.
I much preferred getting married before having the baby. And, no, it wasn't because I don't want to have a bastard child - it was more like we'll never have time to plan anything once we have a baby to deal with!
We talked about a civil marriage with just the two of us but then you also need 2 witnesses present so how would we chose? And I didn't feel right about not having our family there so then we thought about just having our closest ones present. But even if we didn't want to make a big deal about this, it didn't feel right not sharing this day with our friends. What to do, what to do...
Then I remembered about the new rules for celebrants in the province and having read about a couple who had a friend marry them. Much more special and memorable than some stranger mumbling the required text at a courthouse.
So, we could have a friend marry us...hmmmm, I knew just the guy for the job! But hmmm, where would we do it?
We wanted a memorable location as well...Hmmmm, the annual camping trip at La Minerve was being planned for August.
So we asked Katja if it would be okay to do it there. And lo and behold, she said yes.
And so then we asked Olaf if he would perform the ceremony. And lo and behold, he said yes too!
So then started the process of getting permission from the ministère de la justice which thankfully came through quickly enough and we were set for August 2nd!
As much as we are trying to keep this a low-key and simple thing, there is still quite a bit of planning and organizing to do.
So yes, it is going to be pretty non-traditional but hopefully memorable in a good way.
And unfortunately not everyone we wish to have with us to share in this special occasion will be there, but they will be in our thoughts and in our hearts.
So 7 more days of butterflies (or is that the baby moving?!) and hopefully restful nights of sleep until the big day!
So I am convinced I will positively hate myself in every one of my wedding photos. I've been told I will be able to look back and tell my child, look see, you were at our wedding and gush and glow. Yeah right! I'd rather hide under a baggy t-shirt!
Anyhow, the wedding is now only 7 days away...maybe that's why I'm wide awake at 5 o'clock in the morning and blogging!
How did this silly notion of a wedding this summer come about anyhow?
Well, after Tim proposed during our trip to Ireland in early May, we then discussed when and how we should get married.
I much preferred getting married before having the baby. And, no, it wasn't because I don't want to have a bastard child - it was more like we'll never have time to plan anything once we have a baby to deal with!
We talked about a civil marriage with just the two of us but then you also need 2 witnesses present so how would we chose? And I didn't feel right about not having our family there so then we thought about just having our closest ones present. But even if we didn't want to make a big deal about this, it didn't feel right not sharing this day with our friends. What to do, what to do...
Then I remembered about the new rules for celebrants in the province and having read about a couple who had a friend marry them. Much more special and memorable than some stranger mumbling the required text at a courthouse.
So, we could have a friend marry us...hmmmm, I knew just the guy for the job! But hmmm, where would we do it?
We wanted a memorable location as well...Hmmmm, the annual camping trip at La Minerve was being planned for August.
So we asked Katja if it would be okay to do it there. And lo and behold, she said yes.
And so then we asked Olaf if he would perform the ceremony. And lo and behold, he said yes too!
So then started the process of getting permission from the ministère de la justice which thankfully came through quickly enough and we were set for August 2nd!
As much as we are trying to keep this a low-key and simple thing, there is still quite a bit of planning and organizing to do.
So yes, it is going to be pretty non-traditional but hopefully memorable in a good way.
And unfortunately not everyone we wish to have with us to share in this special occasion will be there, but they will be in our thoughts and in our hearts.
So 7 more days of butterflies (or is that the baby moving?!) and hopefully restful nights of sleep until the big day!
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Complain, complain, complain...
I am now 24 weeks pregnant and I don't feel radiant, I am not glowing and I have not found any renewed energy.
Regular pants don't fit and maternity pants are too loose and slowly creep down giving me that awful teenage-boy look!
My ankles are swollen, the bottom of my feet hurt and I get up in the morning walking like a 90 yeard old.
I eat but have no appetite.
My hands fall asleep during the night.
My back aches.
I am tired, I am tired, I am tired.
But...it's beautiful & sunny outside!
And warm.
And this morning Tim put in the small air-conditioner my parents gave us at the end of last summer and it seems to be cooling off the upstairs rather nicely.
I've been very greatful for the cooler nights we have been having, so far our ceiling fan has done the trick.
The last bit of painting that was left to do in the kitchen finally got done at the beginning of June so I guess we can say the kitchen renovations are finally done! We've submitted our plans to the city to re-do our front steps and back balcony and after some revisions they have been approved in the first stage and this week we are to find out if they get final approval by some other commitee. Gotta love Westmount...Then comes the fun part of finding someone to do the work.
At the beginning of June I finally announced to everyone at work that I am pregnant. I took them all quite by surprise. Especially when telling them I was already 5 months along.
Then a week later my co-worker Suzanne quit, giving only 4 days notice. We've been coping fine without her especially since we have our student Robin helping us out for the summer. They have not hired anyone yet to replace Suzanne or me when I leave so they better do so quickly. I only have 6 weeks to go!
Tim turned 34 on the 18th. We quietly celebrated together by having our 2nd ultrasound and then went out for supper at Le Baton Rouge.
The weekend before St-Jean Baptiste was Olaf's annual FTR golf tournament and I managed to play 14 holes, not bad for a pregnant lady who hadn't played in at least 6years. I think Olaf, Jouni & Nigel only made it through 11 or 12 holes so, I rule! Just don't ask us what our scores were!
Last weekend we went camping up at La Minerve with Katja & Jouni & the kids & her family. We got to test out our new tent that we bought last Christmas and it was a bust! Someone had obviously used it & returned it with a busted zipper. Luckily we had brought our old tent so we used it instead. There were way too many bugs to use a tent with a door that wouldn't close. Black flies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, deer flies, you name 'em, I got eaten alive! And we had a wicked thunderstorm in the night. Luckily our trusty old tent kept us pretty much dry. And more luckily, on Sunday we packed up and got home before the rain hit again.
So that's about it for the month of June. I'll make a seperate post later on our wedding plans...
Regular pants don't fit and maternity pants are too loose and slowly creep down giving me that awful teenage-boy look!
My ankles are swollen, the bottom of my feet hurt and I get up in the morning walking like a 90 yeard old.
I eat but have no appetite.
My hands fall asleep during the night.
My back aches.
I am tired, I am tired, I am tired.
But...it's beautiful & sunny outside!
And warm.
And this morning Tim put in the small air-conditioner my parents gave us at the end of last summer and it seems to be cooling off the upstairs rather nicely.
I've been very greatful for the cooler nights we have been having, so far our ceiling fan has done the trick.
The last bit of painting that was left to do in the kitchen finally got done at the beginning of June so I guess we can say the kitchen renovations are finally done! We've submitted our plans to the city to re-do our front steps and back balcony and after some revisions they have been approved in the first stage and this week we are to find out if they get final approval by some other commitee. Gotta love Westmount...Then comes the fun part of finding someone to do the work.
At the beginning of June I finally announced to everyone at work that I am pregnant. I took them all quite by surprise. Especially when telling them I was already 5 months along.
Then a week later my co-worker Suzanne quit, giving only 4 days notice. We've been coping fine without her especially since we have our student Robin helping us out for the summer. They have not hired anyone yet to replace Suzanne or me when I leave so they better do so quickly. I only have 6 weeks to go!
Tim turned 34 on the 18th. We quietly celebrated together by having our 2nd ultrasound and then went out for supper at Le Baton Rouge.
The weekend before St-Jean Baptiste was Olaf's annual FTR golf tournament and I managed to play 14 holes, not bad for a pregnant lady who hadn't played in at least 6years. I think Olaf, Jouni & Nigel only made it through 11 or 12 holes so, I rule! Just don't ask us what our scores were!
Last weekend we went camping up at La Minerve with Katja & Jouni & the kids & her family. We got to test out our new tent that we bought last Christmas and it was a bust! Someone had obviously used it & returned it with a busted zipper. Luckily we had brought our old tent so we used it instead. There were way too many bugs to use a tent with a door that wouldn't close. Black flies, mosquitoes, no-see-ums, deer flies, you name 'em, I got eaten alive! And we had a wicked thunderstorm in the night. Luckily our trusty old tent kept us pretty much dry. And more luckily, on Sunday we packed up and got home before the rain hit again.
So that's about it for the month of June. I'll make a seperate post later on our wedding plans...
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