Sunday, June 29, 2008

old friends and some serious shopping

Sam and I left yesterday morning for the quickest of quick trips to Calgary ... and I will admit ... it was to shop at IKEA! Yes, it was some serious shopping. One last big purchase for our house renos is an ultra-organized wardrobe/closet system for our bedroom - spanning almost 8 feet high and measuring also 8 feet across. I spent this week on their website, constructing and tweaking every shelf and drawer and clothes hanger and then we just showed up at IKEA with the specified shopping list in hand. Brilliant! The closet system ended up being much less stressful than I imagined but I had a long list of other goodies to buy too, for the house and for baby's room, so we ended up shopping solidly for a good 3 and a half hours. Oh, sore feet for Mumma! We had pre-measured the packaging boxes to make sure they would fit in the car - all seats flat from front to back - but boy, were we ever chock-o-block full! I drove most of the trip there and back so Sam could continue studying for his big exam this week ... which means another road trip up to Saskatoon in a few days.

Quick as it was, I made plans to meet a few of my girlfriends for dinner and loved the laughs and catch-ups with both Robyn and Brenda. (But we missed you, Cheryl!) Robyn and I met as roommates at school in Austria 15 years ago and later spent a year in Europe together, traveling and then working at a hostel in Amsterdam. Robyn was one of my bridesmaids at our wedding and she's been teaching elementary and traveling some more on those lovely summers off. Brenda and I are old friends from the Island, sharing our first apartment together, having so many common friends from our 'College&Careers days' (back when Sam and I were "just friends"!) and always making time for visits even though we've been separated by such a distance for so many years. Brenda and Jesse brought their spittin' image of a daughter Arden and left Isaiah to have fun trap shooting with Grandpa. It was so nice - and normal - just to hang out at Moxie's for dinner and I'm so glad they got to see my Baby Belly, my bump I'll happily show off. Can't wait to see you both again-and Cheryl- this fall when you come a'visiting!!


Thursday, June 26, 2008

carpet is in, down, and done


The office - with the new French door leading out to the front upper porch.



The guest room - Want to come stay?



The master bedroom - large Ikea closet wall system arriving soon!



A bit closer view of the wool carpet ... and Sophie having a trot about.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

the 27 week bump

Start of the 3rd trimester today and here's what I have to show for it! I picked this photo out of the bunch as it is Sam's favorite - he said that "I'm a peach!" {And assures me this is a compliment as he loves my big smiles for photos!} Mum and babe had our monthly checkup this morning and we are both healthy and growing strong and steady. Up to over 2 lbs weight for baby and up 16 lbs for me!

As of last night, the painting is all done! What a chore that was! The carpet is all laid out upstairs and just needs to be stretched and tacked in. But wow, it is so lovely and adds a perfect, comfy, beautiful touch to our new upstairs. Fancy dancy indeed ... I love the soft wool feel and the natural-ness of it all.

Monday, June 23, 2008

happy three and happy third

Tonight's midnight moment will share ... today's milestone of 3 months til our due date and tomorrow's beginning of my 3rd trimester!

I made just about the best chocolate cake yesterday ... to celebrate? Well, who knows. You don't really need to a reason to make a cake sometimes. I came across a new recipe on a fabulous blog I frequent but am leery to share it as I think it may become a signature company classic. You'll be lucky if I serve it for you - it's beyond delicious. For now ... enjoy the visual teaser.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

rilla-my-rilla

I finished the last of the Anne books late last night. Rilla of Ingleside, long been one of my favorites. I had a good cry at the very same 3 paragraphs I always seem to cry at ... when Rilla's oldest brother Jem finally comes home from the war. I remember keenly the very first time I read those words, "Jem Blythe had come home." when I was 12 or 13 years old and how I felt at that moment, lying in my bed on Argyle Street in Penticton. As much as Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea will always be my lifelong favorite movies, the books are so much dearer to me and I am sorry for those who haven't taken the time to enjoy them.
I am so glad I kept these books as a treat for myself, waiting until I was pregnant - a sweet reward - and it's been especially meaningful to appreciate and love them again during this amazing and wonderful time for me. I hope my girls will find their own kindred spirits in Lucy Maud's books someday, as I have, and love Anne as I do.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

the last painting hurrah

The end is in sight. And only because it needs to be! Our wall to wall wool carpet (so luxurious - and durable - and a natural fibre too with a much less toxic underlay) is going in Tuesday and Wednesday next week and so this weekend is our last push to get all the painting done. So we don't spatter even one teeny, tiny drop on the new soft beauty under our feet. The wood floors on the 2nd floor were old, cracked, dinged-up, and very, very squeaky - coupled with a hideous green runner going down the hallway. So I can't wait to be able to play comfortably with Baby on the floor or being able to pad around in the middle of the night with warm and comfy toesies.

All 4 radiators have now been returned to us and are waiting out in the garage to be put back in. All 1000 lbs of radiators! We had them sandblasted of the silvery paint from before and then re-painted with a powder coating and baked enamel finish. They are a bit more glossy than what I expected but they look fabulous, all white and new, and will go wonderfully with our white trim on the doors and windows. (Still to be done!) The French door leading out to our upper front porch - off the joint offices and craft room - was also installed this week and though we need to replace the grill which was done in error it looks amazing and lets in so much light! I've found some chocolate brown Adirondack chairs for the upper porch and so we'll set that up soon with some tables and potted plants - all ready for my parents' and sister's visit in a few weeks. My then-retired Dad can have his morning coffee and a read on the porch in style!

Pregnant or not, I'd be insisting on no VOC paints and we've been really pleased with the CIL brand we found and the colors we've chosen. {Ok, really, the colors I chose ... though Sam certainly approved. He tells me that he is the Mike Holmes of the operation and I am Sarah Richardson, the down-to-the-details design decision maker.} For the hallway, guest room, and office we've chosen Contemporary White, which is the 2nd from the bottom on the Chocolate Brown paint swatch. Also the open can of paint and the wall behind is that color, though it's really hard to see the distinction. For the baby's room we'll have the lightest color on the same swatch, called Natural White, and the master bedroom is being transformed into a Blue Danube tone, the 2nd from the bottom on the blue paint swatch. Not very much a baby blue or a pastelly blue, more of a grey blue and a shade I duplicated from a Real Simple magazine cover. We're also wall papering only one wall of the baby's room in the cream colored wallpaper you can just see on the first photo, which has the texture and design of large mums on it. Love it! No color change in the room, but a way to bring out a feature wall without being too bold. I know Sarah Richardson would be proud of me!

So we're getting there! And after almost 7 weeks of living downstairs, sleeping in our dining room, I can't wait to move in back upstairs soon! Still, there's lots of small details to work through, but we're thrilled it's all coming together.

Ok, I've got to go put my feet up ... My ankles and feet having been swelling enormously lately (so much so, the ladies at work are a little horrified and concerned!) so my time on the couch with my feet up, iced bags balanced snugly, is a daily event around here. Oh, child, what are you doing to your Mumma ...?!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

all about the yum

It was a good weekend. Lots on the to-do lists and in the end much accomplished, but did we ever enjoy some yummo treats in the betwixt time! I can't say I've had any true cravings during this pregnancy (I know, chalk it up to another "non-usual" for me!) but I have to, just have to, eat my latest yogurt concoction every day! (Umm, ok, yes ... maybe this does qualify as a 'craving'.) It's the closest to food perfection as I can muster and will I ever be distraught when raspberry season is over.

Here's the rundown. The lovely layers from bottom up. Raspberry yogurt, ground flaxseed, a handful of Dorset Cereals (so far I've only seen this brand at London Drugs), sliced banana, a drizzle of honey, and fresh raspberries on top. Plus strawberries too, if you're feeling extra happy. I took this deliciousness to work with me every day last week. And I'm all stocked up on supplies for tomorrow. Can't wait.

Today, of course, is Father's Day {Love you, Dad!} and Sam's very first with this Wee One still growing for a few more months. I made him his very favorite of favorite cakes, Martha's White Layer Cake with Lemon Buttercream Frosting, which I blogged about earlier and posted the recipe link as well. A happy boy was he, indeedy-o.

Painting was on the roster this weekend and we've got a good handle on it now. The guest room is completely done, plus the ceiling and one coat of the office. Love the color we've chosen for these 2 rooms and the hallway ... Contemporary White, but it's actually in the chocolate brown family, one of the very lightest shades. Very soft, and a nice change from simply white. I spent a good hour digging up over a hundred dandelion monsters this afternoon too - in the glorious sun - while Sam trimmed, cut, and spruced up every other corner and crevice of our yard. Looks so nice now.

Like everyone else, we've had alot of rain the past 10 days and are itching for Summer to come and stay for good. Our motivation has just been so low this past week because of all this drizzliness, so what a difference today's color and warmth made.

Have a happy Monday tomorrow, everyone. And for those of you realizing this is three posts in three days ... I know! ... I can't believe it myself!


Saturday, June 14, 2008

the next 3 months

As our renovations start to wind down - slowly but surely in this painting stage - my thoughts are focusing more on the next 3 months and this next phase of preparations for Baby's arrival. In fact, tomorrow is 100 days til our due date and I know that will simply fly by.

On my nightstand, in my book stack, and on my to-do list are these must read books and I'm really looking forward to immersing myself in them soon. A few I have already read or have dabbled in for a night or two and all of them have been researched as some of the "best of" out there. Like on this website where you'll notice "What To Expect ..." is not included at all and nor is it on my list either. (Sorry to those who are fans.) I've realized in the past years that I will certainly be a Natural Mama and birthing naturally, and all that entails, is a great part of that philosophy and preference. Still Sam is always quick to say that I need to allow room for the unexpected and the unavoidable, which I agree, but I know too I will be heading into this birth with strong ideas and set parameters, hoping that the hospital staff will support and respect me. I feel, though, living in a small town this may be a challenge.

And the reality of naming our child, and finally getting to use (hopefully) some of my long standing baby names, is largely on our minds these days too. Knowing that I need to respect Sam's preferences and dislikes in this process is slightly unnerving and somewhat exciting ... so right now I feel a little lost in what I always thought were our names. I have quite a few other baby name books packed away and Sam's insisting on having them all out so we can go through everything, letting no little gems slip through our fingers. Still, you can be assured that we'll have a wonderfully old fashioned name for our lad or lassie, probably to the horror of some of you!

And I'm on the last Anne book now - I've enjoyed every word. And there's an awful lot of old fashioned names in Lucy Maud's books ... wouldn't Rilla be a beautiful name?

Sam says no.

Friday, June 13, 2008

pink, pink everywhere

Today our department at work hosted a baby shower for Brandi and her gorgeous daughter Ava ... but really, it was Katrina who organized and perfected the event. Katrina's become a 'blog junkie' as I am and so discovered the "how-to" instructions for a diaper cake centerpiece here and did it ever look fantastic! Wee Ava was a charmer - and a peaceful sleeper - as she was handed from snuggle to snuggle and her Mama Brandi is so deliciously in love with her, it's wonderful.
Is it really possible that I get my own Little One this fall?! - it's so hard to imagine. But, holding Ava today, I realized ... I can't wait.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

funny girl

If Sophie's around and one of us is on the computer ... this is usually what ends up happening! She loves this current screensaver and the moving arrow (we like to ask her 'yes' or 'no' questions like "Were you a good girl today?" ... head shake 'no'!) but she quickly tires of the boring kitty and plops down for a loudly purring nap. With lots of stretches and nose nudges and rolling around on the keyboard. It makes typing a bit challenging, let me tell you.
But she loves us so much. And do we ever love her.

same outfit, bigger belly

Ok, I really do have other clothes, I just wanted to keep up the look for comparison's sake. Really!

25 weeks today! Wow, wow, wow. Belly has certainly grown since my last good lookin' 20 week pictures and well, growing seems to be the name of the game these days. Thighs, arms, bust, and even feet and ankles ... as the swollen look is apparently all the summer rage, I'm told. Perfect with shorts. {um, no...} Still I'm loving the belly, loving being pregnant, and loving my wee one inside who kicks and squirms all the time now. Even keeping me awake at 4am with a continuous Stomp concert rendition of his or her own! The mystery of boy or girl is always on my mind and as antagonizing as that is, I'm happy not to know and to wait for that biggest and best surprise of all. 15 more weeks. Or less. Or even more. Just keep growing, Little One, your Mum and Dad will wait for you.


Saturday, June 7, 2008

primer painting

We're finally at the painting stage! {and just 2 weeks until our carpet goes in, so it's about time...}
The drywall is completely done - taped, mudded, sanded and looking smooth and uniform now. We had our friends and neighbors, Jim and Eunice, over this morning for a "Gotta have Tim Hortons coffee first" painting party, getting 3 of the rooms primed in short order. I was even in the work crew, looking and sounding like Darth Vader with my respirator on, but happy to be chipping in and to see progress for myself in this, one of the last stages. Sam's continuing on this afternoon, planning to have all rooms and the hallway primed by dinner when we'll then head over across the road for a neighborly supper invitation. So nice! And then, more of the same tomorrow ...