on my nightstand

For years, while trying and waiting to get pregnant, I always promised myself that I would hold off reading though all of the Anne series again until those happy 9 months - as a rewarding treat to myself. And I must say, it's been so worth the wait! I am almost to the end of Anne of the Island now, waiting breathlessly chapter by chapter until Anne finally realizes she loves Gilbert after all, even though I've read it so many times before and know exactly how the story unfolds. Yet it never fails to bring me such great joy and I can't wait to get to the next book.
She is, at the very heart of me, a very dear friend and certainly a kindred spirit.

it's like holding an octopus

Tried to get a few photos with my favorite furry friend this afternoon ... but is she ever a wiggly worm! Posed pictures are not her thing apparently. But we've learned that staring out of the bathroom window is quite her thing! {can you see Sophie in the first photo?}

And um ... yes, that's a new haircut, folks. Quite happy am I.

that marvelous swooshing sound

Sam and I heard the baby's heartbeat this morning! - after the good doctor patiently and slowly searched all the nooks and crannies of my belly with the doppler for a minute or two. "There it is", he said, and did we ever hear it! That marvelous swooshing sound of our child.

14 weeks

Big day in our house today ... I'm officially in the 2nd trimester! Feels wonderful to pass that milestone and to know that 10 weeks have gone by already since we first found out - amazing! Every Tuesday we've been reading up on our Little One's progress and size here, and I thought I'd share that link for perhaps those Grandparents out there who might be especially interested to read such things!!

{Ok, so I'm finally adding a "belly shot" - yikes! But only for this milestone occasion! It's just that ... my belly's always been 'puffy' anyways and this somehow looks much bigger than what I feel is really 'baby' in real life. And mind you, there is a smidge of that belly which is actually a shadow, if you look closely, but maybe I am really growing! Keep safe and strong, Little One, we can't wait to meet you.}

weekend update

Well, I can't help but steal Angie's Sunday habit of a Weekend Update ... as I can't think of anything "real" or very interesting to blog about otherwise. Life is just life sometimes, you know?
I'll stick to point form as I love giving a list of anything! ...

• Made Brenda and Cheryl's Mom Norma's recipe for coffeecake on Thursday night as I received a none-so-subtle hint from a 'certain person' that he would really love some baking. "If you know what I mean ...!" 
• Enjoyed some really good sleeps over this long weekend, compared to a few rough, sleepless nights recently.
• Friday was emailing, reading, and sleeping all afternoon. That was about it! 
• Saturday we asked Fergus to take us, please, on a car ride to Saskatoon for an overdue shopping day -- in a city where there's more than just Walmart, thank you very much. 
• Finally bought Sophie a snuggly cat bed. And so we can finally reclaim our only extra blanket back!
• Went to Perwinkle Quilts. Sam was even pulling out bolts of fabric to try and help me, which I thought was very cute. 
• Crossed the threshold of Cravings Maternity and Baby Boutique which I've been dying to get to for ages. Love the store! I took my merry time and had a good look at everything twice, plus spent a long time trying on some clothes. Came away with a few good pieces for when I finally do "pop" plus even a Bella Band to get some more use out of my 'regular' jeans. Snagged a lovely lavendar smelling jar of bug & pickle's Belly Cream to help with, y'know, those stretch marks. I'm all set. So money was spent on BabyMama, but alas, nothing yet for Baby. Sam, to this end, would like full decision making rights when it comes to the purchase of the stroller, as he had a long time to test drive what they had available while we were in the store! 
• Went to The Keg for the most mouthwatering steak dinner. Too long since we've had a nice dinner out.
• Came home 12 hours later and cried when letting Sophie out of her room. I felt so guilty about leaving her in there all day. 
• Church this morning. Getting to know more people every week. Such friendly prairie folk. 
• Made my friend Joy's Shepherd's Pie recipe this afternoon for tomorrow's dinner while the laundry machines hummed and Sophie and Sam settled in for a nap. 
• Walked across the street to join our neighbors for a big turkey Easter dinner. Sam works with Eunice, the mom, and I'm friends with Autumn their daughter {who also lives across the street} and they both, along with hubbys and kids, go to our church. So it was a comfy, friendly, lots of chatter and laughs get-together. 
• Home to put sheets on the bed, get into my pink sweats, and blog this ...

Now wasn't that a terribly exciting catch-up ...?!

happy birthday dad!

We love you and are so proud of all the hard work you've done for our family all these years. Happy almost-to-the-end of 41 years with the bank!! Bethany and I thought we'd give you two grandbabies for your retirement year ... but I think we're as surprised as you are to be able to give such a gift!
Have a great day, we'll talk to you soon, and can't wait to see you this summer.
Love The Daughter, The Doctor, The Baby and The Cat.

first time for everything

First time for a new car - something neither of us have ever had before - and so what a luxury this is. This here is our Honda CRV, something I'd never heard of until the accident last week but Sam has been quite the fan for a long time. And anyone who knows me knows that I love to name everything and as we've chosen this Green Tea Metallic and as it's close to St Paddy's Day we thought we'd better use a Celtic name ... so we'd like to introduce Fergus, or even Gus if you please. Quite a fantastic car, perfect for our growing family and our many planned trips back to BC and, well, unless we have triplets we'll be all set and snuggled in there for many, many years to come.

life's curveballs

Sam was in a car accident this morning, only 4 blocks from our house, as he headed to the library to study. Thankfully he is just fine and we are happy that I wasn't in the car with him as well so that we wouldn't have the worry of our Little One's health in addition to everything.
Sam thinks though that the car, our dear 4FIR, might be totalled by the damage done to the back/side though the Claims Adjustor certainly may disagree. Either way, we are unexpectedly facing the inconvenience of time to have the car repaired or we are looking to suddenly purchase a new vehicle. I think we're both in shock over all this - this is all so sudden and such a disruption to the normalcy and security we take for granted in our car and in our ability to get around easily.
Still, we are so thankful that the important things, Sam and I, are safe and unharmed and so we are more than willing to adjust to this change in exchange for that.
But if 4FIR goes, we really will miss her terribly.

Edited To Add: Yes, 4FIR is indeed a total write-off ... and so car shopping we go! Sigh. Goodbye, old girl. You've been so good to us.

isn't september such a wonderful month?

We sure think so! Finally I can share our news ... and doesn't the picture just say it all!? This really is a dream come true for us as we have struggled through 2+ years of trying to conceive - including many tests, a procedure, too many months of timing, temping, and charting my cycle, and finally on to 3 months of increasing dosages of fertility meds. Not the experience we ever imagined! But we are stronger for it and we certainly felt ever more thankful and blessed to see that magic word materialize one January morning ... Pregnant.

So I am just 11 weeks along now and have been feeling marvelously thus far. So thankful for that. We are having such fun telling all our family and friends this past weekend and today, many who have been aware of the journey we have undertaken to this point. I can't believe it ... it's actually us ... we're having a baby! What happiness I feel. And how I love sharing this experience with Sam, my best friend.

So the beans are spilled, the countdown is on, the belly a'groweth. And of course, I just wanted you all to know!

weekend

Happy March, everyone! As you can see, the view from my desk chair as I sit at the computer is fittingly cheery and colourful as we flip the calendar to March ... the hopefulness of a bright and warm month, perhaps, and the coming to the end of winter. Though today is bitterly windy and cold again so I suspect we have quite a few more weeks of wearing oversized coats left yet! Such is prairie life and yet I must say, the sun is glorious here!

It was a good weekend, somehow lots of food was involved and a bit of a Lost marathon for me last night to finally catch up on all the episodes that I have TiVo'd. Friday night I went over to my friend's house - right across the street, no less! - to hang out with Autumn and another friend til the wee hours. Eating, movie-ing, and lots of talking. Really enjoyed that. I brought over a huge veggie platter and spinach dip which was a hit and we all devoured. Just didn't want to spend Thursday night baking my usual dessert-y offering and I've been hankering spinach dip for awhile anyways.

Saturday morning I whipped up a most perfectly delectable Swedish Oven Pancake breakfast with fresh fruit ... so delish, the photo doesn't do it justice at all! Swedish Oven was always a treat growing up in my family and so I've made it for Sam numerous times but inexplicably on this Saturday morning it turned out absolutely perfectly and I was thrilled to finally give him the full taste and texture experience that I remembered. Yummo.

We just got home from a meal out with a very nice older couple from church and tonight we have take-out leftovers ... so the food treats just keep on coming! Now that's my idea of a weekend "off" ...

Swedish Oven Pancakes
1/2 cup butter (scant)
4 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 quart milk (4 cups)
2 cups flour
*may bake 1/2 recipe in 8x8 pan instead*
Melt butter in 9x13 inch baking dish. Beat eggs with salt in bowl, then stir in milk. Add flour and whisk until mixed then pour over butter. Bake at 425 oven for 30-45 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. (It may fall slightly when out of oven.) Cut and serve with syrup.