Grateful and Spoiled

WOW! This weekend I was spoiled on so many fronts.



I celebrated my birthday on Thursday at prenatal with Joel. It is kind of a mad dash to get home, make, eat and clean up supper, and then head out to class, but so far I have really enjoyed each class. (Joel would completely disagree with me) After dinner Joel told me he quickly had to run out, so I started to get ready for class, played on the computer and finally made it downstairs to do some dishes. Joel walked in with a chocolate heart shaped cake (including 3 candles so I could make a wish) and a bouquet of flowers for me! What a sweetheart. We had already gone shopping the week before to buy my gift so I wasn’t expecting anything from him, but he always has a few surprises for me.


Friday was a busy day even though I only worked until noon. I went straight over to my parents new condo to help unpack what I could. Although we didn’t get a lot done in terms of the big picture, we did manage to have every box that mom and dad had moved during the day unpacked by the time we went for dinner. Joel came after work too and helped dad move a few fragile things but by 8:30pm it was time to go home.


Saturday was a busy day getting ready for my baby shower on Sunday. Mom and I headed over to Martin and Barb’s condo to make sandwiches with Sarah and Barb. We started by making sandwiches, cutting cheese, debating cutting pickles, plating the dainties and desserts, decorating the room, and generally getting organized for the day ahead. Sarah and I even had time to run a few last minute errands for items we forgot.


That night we celebrated our birthdays as a family. Mine is on the 21st, Sarah’s is the 25th and Joel’s is the 31st so Jay was kind enough to make reservations at a restaurant called Tres Visi in the exchange district for us four, Martin and Barb and my parents. It was fabulous! Sarah and I both love Italian food so this was right up our alley! Everything from the appetizers to dessert was spectacular. Sarah and I planned to split 2 desserts, but when one came and I realized it had a wine custard sauce (I could actually pick up on the alcohol in this dessert ~ shows what a few months of not drinking does to you) we ended up just each eating one of the choices.


Sunday was another busy where I was honoured with a baby shower hosted by my moms, Sarah and friend from grade one Dana. There was approximately 50 people in attendance. Here are a few pictures from the afternoon.

this is the room where we hosted the shower in the basement of Martin and Barb's condo.

here was the mountain of generous presents I received. I am so lucky to have such generous and supportive friends and family.  I don't think this picture was when everyone had arrived.

 

These are from my mom, they are burp cloths.  They were one of the many MANY monkey themed gifts I received. (and registered for) For those who do not know, I love monkeys.  We have 2 curious George framed pictures in our dining room, our bathroom is monkey themed, and now so is our nursery.  As a pet name for Joel, I often refer to him as my monkey.  He calls me his baby, so when we learned I was pregnant, he told me "Honey, that is perfect! Now we will have a baby monkey!" Jay often jokes that my child will be terrified by monkeys.

 

Julia was excited for me to open the present from her and Dana. 

my crazy sister in law who has no free time for herself made me this beautiful quilt! she started in the summer when she learned I was pregnant and finished it last week. (note: reports cards are due this week and she still managed to dedicate time to finishing this ~ isn't she the best!)

Dana planned all the games for the shower.  She "approved" them with me ahead of time and made sure no one was forced to play.  This one was 10 jars of baby food where people had to guess what type it was. They could taste them if they were daring.  Christy and Heather are experimenting in this picture with prunes.

Another game Dana planned was the ball of yarn went around the room and people could cut off where they felt the correct amount would wrap around my belly.  Joel's cousin Amber won only being about an inch too big.  Sarah had cut the a piece that was my height! I told her I might be 5 feet tall, but I am not yet 5 feet around. :)

 

This table was PACKED with presents, some even spilling onto the floor.  The monkey vtech toy you see in the front was Joel's favourite and he spent most of the night entaining himself. I received so many handmade blankets that were so beautiful and took such talent. I will need to post a picture of the one Joel's aunt made as it is unbelievable! She made her own monkey pattern for our little one. Some people stocked my change table (like all of it), some bought me a high chair, others spoiled peanut with cute monkey outfits.  Everything is just perfect and Joel and I were so grateful!

These are the girls I met at BH in grade one. (one exception ~ Christy came in grade 3)

left to right: Dana, Julia, Heather, Amanda, Christy and me! (I am the first of our friends to have a baby)

By 3:30pm everyone was gone and the clean up started. It did not take long since the boys came to help. Sunday evening was spent writing thank you cards and doing laundry. There was mounts of it!


I have so much more to update on but I have run out of time for tonight. I will update soon, but for now, enjoy ~

Let's try this again

I have started this over and over again though each time I end up discouraged and deleting what I had wrote.



Joel and I attended our first OB-GYN appointment on Tuesday and it was a huge success! We have chosen the Boyd Group to deliver our baby so our appointment was across from Portage Place. The doctor felt the baby by pressing my belly and confirmed the little peanut’s head is down. The heart rate was a strong 130 bpm. He confirmed by due date as March 11th (previously it had been moved to March 20th) and told me I looked really healthy from my chart. He provided time to answer questions although I did not have many. I have since started a list for the next time I go. (January 25th) To think that I am 32 weeks along already terrifies me on one hand and really excites me on the other.


I have been tired for awhile now and not sleeping great and that just seems to get worse with each expansion of the bump. I have tried pillows, but so far the best option is the couch. (Although I don’t often use it)


My parents are getting really excited for their big move which happens the weekend of January 22nd.  They have already given many items away and sold what they could.  They still have a lot for the storage unit they are renting, but I think my mom is feeling good with how it is all progressing.


We have purchased our last big ticket item which was a travel system stroller and car seat. After my parents move I will go to the fire department to ask for help installing the car seat base. (Not because I don’t trust Joel, but because it is a free service that they offer and we have a fire hall that I can see from my house) There are still so many things we need to get, but I know we will get there soon. Most are little items but all still essential. (receiving blankets, onsies, etc.)


Chaos (our mastiff) has gotten worse and it breaks my heart. He is unable to hold his balance most of the time although appears to still be happy and mostly pain free. He has been diagnosed with Wobblers Disease which is a neurological disease caused by a narrowing at the spine. Basically there is pressure on his 3rd and 4th vertebrae. It causes him to act clumsy and causes a lot of problems with stairs. He is only 14 months and the size of a 6 month old mastiff at 105lbs. (he was estimated to be 180lbs, but stopped growing from the disease) He still plays and enjoys being with us, but I am definitely seeing it get worse and worse as the days progress. His new fear is coming down the stairs from our top level (where our room is and where he sleeps) to the kitchen (and back door). He often sits at the top of the stairs and whines. He will try to put one paw down, but brings it back up and starts to cry/whine again.  I think it is because he slips on the lino, so we may have to try a mat at the bottom of the stairs to see if that helps in the short term.  We have started to look for a new home (with fewer stairs) for him.


We attend our first prenatal class this evening and I am really looking forward to it! I am excited to get Joel more involved and learn more about labor and what to expect. I have read a lot about what to expect after the baby arrives, bringing the baby home, but I kind of avoid the all too scary labor section of books and websites.


I am starting to count down until February 15th which is a spa day I planned with my mom. Joel and I were not sure what to get her for Christmas since they are moving and trying to get rid of “stuff”, so we bought her a pedicure at Ten Spa. Luckily for me my husband thought I deserved one too and got me a matching certificate! I made a reservation for us at Maxime’s for lunch and then an appointment for our pedicures! I cannot wait.


I am gearing up for mat leave starting on February 26th and am really looking forward to it. It has become so hard to stay at my desk and awake for 8 hours a day a little afternoon nap would be nice.


Well for now that is all the news I have, so enjoy ~

I'm in love

I have no idea how to rotate this, but this is the finished room!

I will post an update later this week about our holidays, but for now... Enjoy ~