The Four of Us

I was going to post up my finished knits from this month.  But Leap Day has proven to be a bit like the superstition of Friday the 13th around these parts.  Everyone is a bit out of sorts.  I'm doing my best to find the happy in it all.  After picking up Grace from pre-school, I found alot of happy in our mailbox.  I'd like to share some of it with you :)

Knits will come tomorrow :)  Happy Leap Day everyone!

Photos taken by Kathy at Photolicious Photography :)

Making me Smile

Earl Grey Tea Lattes.  Started my day again with one today.  Such a nice way to start the day.

A basic white long sleeve tee.  I called all the maternity stores near me to no avail.  It seems that they have seasons confused, and their Spring stuff is on the way out, and Summer will be arriving first week of March.  Looking for a shirt appropriate for the winter was a bit like finding a needle in a haystack.  But I found one.  A bit of a drive, but worth it.  Managed to snag it for $7.  Now I can wear all my handknit scarves and cowls again :)

This great shirt.  Ordered it off of Ravelry and it arrived today.  I was so excited to put it on, I'm wearing it over a long sleeve purple shirt.  Very stylish!

The #13.  I'm 13 weeks pregnant today.  Really hoping this will mean a turn in the nausea department.  So far, no luck today, but it gives me hope.

Babs.  My Dcuk Babs.  Have I spoken about her before?  She was a gift at Christmas from Nate.  I'd been wanting a Dcuk since I first saw them in Martha's Vineyard back in 2006.  (She came with the name Babs).  She sits on the ledge that goes to our bedrooms upstairs.  Not only does Babs and her awesome rainboots make me smile, but, a few days ago, I was searching through my yarn stash looking for something to use for my next pair of socks.  I grabbed my favorite colour, Malabrigo Lettuce.  Something obviously distracted me, and I ended up setting it down beside Babs.  My family must be accustomed to living with a knitter who randomly places yarn everywhere.  Because noyone has commented that Babs is sitting beside a skein of "Lettuce".  Somehow I find it very amusing that my Dcuk is with Lettuce :)

My sock.  I'm almost to the toe.  The end is in sight!

I cast on a gauge swatch last night for my first baby knit.  A sweet sweater for the Fall.

Strawberry Lemonade.  Can't get enough of the stuff.

What is making you smile today?

Out of the Ordinary

I sheepishly have to admit, that it's 2 pm and we are all still in our pyjamas.  It's the final day of a week off of school for G.  We've been busy every other day, so today are taking it really easy.  Grace actually asked to stay in her pyjamas all day.  This morning, after a rough night, and a headache starting, the idea seemed really good to me.

I've recently discovered, despite that espresso isn't agreeing with me, that tea is.  I've been really enjoying an Earl Grey Tea Vanilla Misto.  Aidan, who is our 'Swedish Chef' (or 'Little Chef' as Nate likes to call him) also thinks he is a barista.  He'll hang out at the machine waiting for the foam from the milk.  I've started making him a vanilla steamer with extra milk from my latte.

Not to mention he has the BEST milk moustaches :)

We also made up a batch of apple cinnamon muffins.  It's a Betty Crocker recipe I have.  It's good, but I'd love one with less sugar (this one calls fo 1/2C for about a dozen muffins), and I'd really like it to include oatmeal.  Anyone have a good recipe to share?

We ate them fresh from the oven :)

Amidst the playing today, I've been working on finishing up this second sock.  I have to say, that they are one of my favorite pairs.  The yarn is Gaia that I picked up while on vacation in Victoria, Fall of 2011.  It's a joy to knit with.

Over Aidan's naptime I brought up the fabric from his quilt, and worked on cutting out the binding strips.  For some reason, getting the binding on seems to take me forever.  I have a getaway with some girlfriends this weekend, and think hand sewing on some binding at night while visiting, sounds really really lovely.

I hope you are all having a relaxing, slow paced day as well :)

Family Time

Nate and I have been talking about different activities we can do with our family - both now, and in the future.  Talking about now, we/I have been thinking of things we can do around home.  Not only do we spend alot of time at home with Aidan still usually taking a 3 hour nap, but we will also have alot of home time coming up this Fall. 

When Aidan is awake, we tend to do activities that are toddler friendly.  But I was feeling like I needed to find an activity that would be something just for Grace, given she is awake all day, and stays up quite late (she has pushed her bedtime out til 8 pm, but sometimes we can still hear her chattering away at 9:30/10 pm!).

Being the savings gal I am, I got an e-mail earlier this week that puzzles were on sale at a small shop just down the street from us.  I ho hummed about the idea, but was out this morning near the store, and decided to pop in.  I came home with a new puzzle, and a puzzle mat.

Grace adores puzzles, so this is right up her alley.  I think it's good for me too to put down the knitting needles from time to time (ha!).  Nate loves to see a job completed, so he happily works away at activities like these.

Once Aidan was down for his nap today, the three of us got to work.  Now, yes, I did pick up a 1000 piece puzzle.  I realize that this is over a 4 year olds head.  But we have ALOT of puzzles here geared for her age.  I wanted something we could do as a family and have our kids grow into.  What this means, was as we were building the puzzle edge, we passed Grace pieces she could work on.  Building a rainbow, a snowsuit.  (I bought this Ravensburger puzzle from the Canadian Artist Collection).  Small images that are manageable for her.  She was happy as a clam.

Today we finished up the edge (we let Grace put in the last piece).  I think next we will tackle the school bus.  I'm thinking I might have a puzzle post from time to time to show you all our progress :)

Peanut Facts

• Surprisingly, yes, that is a 12 week belly. 
• We had our first Ultrasound this past Monday.  This peanut is 6.5 cm long, with a 1cm foot (isn't that crazy tiny!)
• So far this pregnancy has felt a bit surreal to me.  I think it's because I really treated my pregancy with Aidan as our last.  I was concerned at our first midwife appointment that there wouldn't be a heartbeat, and was concerned headed to the Ultrasound that there would be no baby.  I realize how crazy that sounds.
• If Aidan was our last, then what with this peanut?
• I could say alot of things, but it all comes down to this.  It felt like someone was missing.  This babe was discussed and discussed.  For months.  Nate and I really had to get on the same page about alot of things before we jumped at adding to our family.
• One of those major items was how this babe is going to come into this world.  We are still undecided if we will have an elective c-section, or if we will try for a VBAC.
• We are under midwifery care, but they have told us we don't need to make that decision right away.  We will also be meeting with an OB.
• This is our first, and only, mystery baby.  One of my conditions was that we don't find out the sex.  I'm really excited to not know until this wee one enters the world.
• Since we found out that we are expecting, looking at our family it feels really really right.  Like a piece of the puzzle that was missing, is now found.

Sea of Pink

We're busy prepping for Valentine's over here.  Cards, cookies, chocolate. 

Are you?

It Clicks

Grace has taken Preschool 3 swim class so many times I've lost count (I reckon about four).  She is great at all of the skills except for one.  She doesn't want to put her face under the water.  This means she also doesn't want to jump in.  We've tried tackling this with her wearing goggles.  And our trip to Hawaii really helped with some one on one time with Nate.  But, last Spring I was talking with her swim teacher about the "issue" and she told me something that is just so true - "when she is ready, it will click".  It isn't something that can be taught, or pushed.  She has to be ready.  In many areas of development, I think this is the case.

Now I fully realize that there are things we should, and can teach our kids.  But somethings, especially when it involves a developmental milestone, just have to happen on their own time.

A few weeks ago, we had our first scholastic "click".  Grace had been tracing her name on the back of her school art projects.  You could see the lines underneath where her teacher had written, and Grace had traced on top.  I picked her up from school one day, looked at her project and she had written her name!  (It is still so exciting I almost typed that in caps lock!).  Truth be told, I did take the project out of her bag, (tried not to run to her teacher) and said "Grace wrote her name!".  Grace didn't have the same great reaction about this.  Her chin dropped, her eyes welled up with tears and she said "but I don't want to grow up".  (This is something we've been facing lately).  Her "name" still hangs on our fridge.

Then yesterday, oh yesterday, her artist Mama just couldn't get enough.  The preschool class mailed their parents a Valentine's and ours arrived yesterday.  I waited for Nate to get home to open it.  Inside was a red card.  The front stamped with white hearts.  Here's the inside.

That there, is the first recognizable object she has ever drawn.  Ever!  She went through a phase in her early 4's where she would draw people, that looked more like fish.  This, first, is Nate.  Spiky hair and all (as she pointed out). 

Then last night Grace and I were having a sleepover, and before I tucked us in, I was writing in the baby's journal.  Grace asked to draw a picture.  I was expecting the drawing of Nate to be a one off, and the journal would get a page full of scribbles.  But here's what she drew.

The Artist in me, and my years of Art Therapy Education in school, are bursting with pride.  I need to capture a video of her actually drawing because the description as she draws is pretty great.  My mouth is open because I'm blowing her a kiss.  You'd think there aren't hands and feet, but there are.  She's made the ends of the arms and legs darker to show feet and hands.  She also said she made my belly bigger. Ahem.  She is paying attention to details like hair, eyes (I'm supposedly winking) and height.

It clicked. 

It is so great watching all these 'clicks' happen lately.  When I filled out her kindergarten form, and was checking off her abilities, I actually had to click off that Grace couldn't draw recognizable objects.  A few weeks shy of that form, she can.  Having a few friends with 5 year olds, I've been a bit in awe of the difference in their capabilities to those of Grace.  But what I'm seeing, is that even a 6 month age gap at 4.5, makes a very big difference in regards to their development.

Grace has three weeks left in her swimming class.  Perhaps that too will click? :)

Extremely Grateful

This morning, I loaded the kids up into the car to head to Grace's preschool.  I turned on the radio to Country 105 and heard that they were doing their broadcast from the Alberta Children's Hospital.  The Radiothon runs for the next few days, raising money for the hospital. 

If you follow this blog, you will know Grace's story.  She has been a patient at the hospital since she was just three months old.  In August 2007 when her hemangioma burst, we rushed her to the emergency room.  She was two weeks shy of her first appointment with the cleft lip palate and vascular birthmark clinic.  The staff that night were supportive and loving.  They listened and gave us information. 

At first, we saw the clinic every 6 months and were assigned a pediatrician.  They took my history, carefully monitored Grace's growth.  When we go in for appointments, she is weighed and measured, and her hemangioma (singular now!) are photographed.  She is now nearly 5, and we have seen the same nurses, photographer & surgeon the entire time.

Today, as I listen to the radio, I have also been watching Grace - talk, run, skip, play with her brother, and laugh.  And I can't even express my gratitude for what this hospital, the staff that we see, have done for us, for her.

Hug your littles today and rejoice in their health.  And, if you feel so inclined, donate to your local hospital.  Every little bit helps make the littles who need their help, better.

The Great Big Closet Purge

I spent Aidan's naptime today, doing the great big closet purge.  Taking enough clothes out, to make room for my tub of maternity clothes.  I hate having both mixed together, especially since the clothes I took out will be packed away for at least a year.  I always make a point of packing away my most favorite items.  By the time I can wear them again, opening up the Rubbermaid Bin always feels a bit like shopping :)

I don't think I'm the only one with closet cleansing on my docket. 

Source: rayandjen.com via Carmen on Pinterest

There was this great idea on Pinterest shortly after New Years.  It won't work for me right now, but I think in years to come, it would be a great way to see what should stay, and what should go.  Today as I went through my bins, I did part with a few favorite items.  Items that were favorites at least five years ago, but ones which I had to admit I haven't worn in at least three.  It was hard to say goodbye, but it just doesn't make sense having them stay.  I also noticed I have quite a few sweatshirts.  A few from races, and a couple from University.  They would be great around a campfire, but I think six sweatshirts for camping is a bit excessive.  I parted with four. 

There was also this post yesterday on Simple Mom.  My wardrobe is such a mismash.  It's been two years now since I have been out of the work force.  But I still have a ton of work items and fancy gowns in my wardrobe that just don't get worn.  This past year especially I've started to notice that they just aren't in style anymore.  I'm not ready to part with them, but I feel a bit stuck with the inbetween my clothes are in.  I have my jeans, some khakis, a whole swack of t-shirts, long sleeves and sweaters.  I have suits, dress pants, and fancy blouses.  I know what I would like to see in my wardrobe, and I think slowly cleaning it out, and making a plan on how to get my loved items in, would be a great idea in about a year.  One big item for me is more dresses and skirts.  I would love to own more of these that I can wear on a regular basis.  For all seasons.

What about you?  Is Spring making you think of doing a clothing refresh in your closet?

A Gift

December 16th we received an early Christmas gift.  A positive line that two extra feet would be joining our family.  Yesterday, a Groundhog present (har!) with hearing the heartbeat.  A strong 150 bpm.  February 13th, an early Valentine's gift - our first Ultrasound.  An early (perhaps) birthday gift for me, this babe (#3!) is expected to arrive two days before my birthday.

Life is crazy, chaotic, wonderfully busy, and good.  So good :)