the labours of our weekend

Long weekend over ... we're both tired ... but we feel as though we've accomplished good things. And that is so refreshing and needed these days. As I'm starting to feel a lee-tle overwhelmed with the under 4 weeks timeline I've got now. Still, what doesn't get done, doesn't get done and I'm alright with that. Yet I'm so proud of myself for every great and little item I'm ticking off the list these days ... I must say it feels downright wonderful. This weekend I made some Monster Cookies and Banana Bread for the freezer, fresh applesauce for Henry, and zucchini and cranberry muffins for some "with coffee love" for Sam and I. Got some spring cleaning done in the kitchen and ordered some more cloth diapers for Baby and Henry that we needed to fill the gaps. And I've been spending every quiet minute during naptimes and bedtimes to tackle a v-e-r-y long overdue baby project ... to be revealed tomorrow when it's finally done!

Sam has been painting, painting, painting ... pretty much the nightly task around here since we returned from our holidays. And today exactly half of our large living room is completely, completely done. And I can't even tell you how good it looks. These photos certainly don't do the change justice. The hideous forest green has finally been replaced with a yummy chocolate brown, the top is now a very light, very warm brown tone instead of the blah cream that covered everything but the green, and the trim and moldings a crisp white to really accent and separate the colours. And I'm thrilled with it ... makes this home finally feel more like mine. The last big step this weekend was painting the green radiators a white and that became an adventure in itself. No eco-friendly, low-fumes options there ... so Henry and I were either sequestered upstairs with every window open or out in the car doing errands or eating at the park while Sam was trying to blow out the powerful smell. And now, all's well that ends well, we're back to normal, and our half green/half brown living room is switched up again for Sam to start on the other side tomorrow. He feels the pressure of our under 4 weeks timeline as well as we have a Birthday Party and a Birth-Day day coming up fast!

We've moved the guest room furniture downstairs for now, into our little "dining room" off the living room which has two pocket doors to close it off when not in use. This little room which has had a recent transformation as well, replacing the oppressive burgundy walls to the warm, light brown from the living room and the two rooms together look fantastic. Sam spent a good deal of time today putting together Henry's new bedroom furniture (informing me ... "Honey, I'm just going to put together a second crib here ...!") and so now that organizing project begins for me, transitioning Henry to this new big boy's room. Well, still with a crib though! Another moment to realize ... we're going to have two children in here soon! And I must say, I'm half terrified and half very, very excited!

Thank you as well to everyone for your kind words regarding Sophie - I'll just say Thank You - as those of you with family pets certainly know how hard it is to lose one of them. And she was a gem.

I'll sign off now as I've blathered on long enough. It's late and I must away to bed. Very thankful for the slightly cooler day today and the breezes now coming through our open windows. Thankful for what we were able to accomplish this weekend. Thankful for this squirmy child inside who gives me no end in discomfort these days but whom I'm awfully anxious to meet. And thankful for our almost-one-year-old boy who is napping and sleeping on a perfect, uninterrupted schedule these days and who wakes up with lots of smiles and slobbery kisses, eager to spend his days standing, yelling at his reflection, reading his favorite books, and hanging out with his Mum.