Our Family Rhythm

You know when you're reading a good book, how you can't put it down? I find those books have a sort of rhythm to the words. Not in the way of a rhyme or beat, but just that cadence that draws you in and carries you through the pages effortlessly, with great intrigue. It's easy, it's fun, it's interesting. You enjoy it, want more of it, and hate for the last page to come. Families are the same. There's a rhythm to the days that you come to enjoy and expect. Yet, more often than not, that rhythm inevitably changes and you find yourself in the pages of a new story.

For the past five plus months, our family has enjoyed a very nice, peaceful rhythm. As some of you know, Des had taken a leave of absence from his ad agency position and, from August until last week, he had been home with us. While the instigation for the change was not ideal, having him home was awesome. We quickly settled into our new routine and the changed cadence of our days.

Two parents to one child - albeit one very sleepless child - made life a lot more sane. We settled into taking turns on the night shifts and early morning shifts. We could trade off on midday naps when necessary {which was much more often than we would have preferred}. Mid-week afternoon coffee dates were a common occurrence, as we were walks and hikes and hanging out in our PJs. One of us would do grocery runs and banking and other errands sans baby, getting it done faster and at more convenient times, while the other enjoyed playtime and snuggles at home. We could head out of town to Nanny's on a whim and stay as long as we wanted {thanks again Nanny!}. The rhythm of our days, even if they followed many a sleepless night, was good.

More importantly, HP got to spend lots of one-on-one time with each parent and even more time as a family together. That his first word was Dada is evidence enough for me that having Des home with us was worth the financial strain {let's be honest two people on leaves from work does not pay well}. In fact it was so worth it that it makes me want to advocate for all families being able to benefit from some joint parental leave time. Especially in those very early days when life goes topsy-turvy on you. Alas, I expect the national EI system wouldn't be so quick to pay out. I digress.

Last week, those family days came to an end. Late in 2011 Des resigned his agency position and accepted a new gig, which he started last Monday. Des went off to work, coffee in hand, waving bye-bye from the driveway. Then it was just me and HP for the whole day, for the first time perhaps in months. The rest of the week came and went. While Des went off to work, HP and I filled our days with play + snuggles + naps. We got groceries together, a little slower than going solo, but fun too. We ran errands - I was never so grateful for drive-through banking and coffee shops before! I figured out that morning naps are better times to fit in my run and, if lucky, a shower too. We met other mamas-n-babes for a winter walk in the park and a post-walk cocoa, so nice. We visited Grandma and cousins. We even fixed a car.

Before we knew it, the weekend was here and daddy was home again. This week we're planning more of the same. The rhythm of our family has changed. The cadence of the days is different and we're getting used to the way it feels now. Like any good book, I was enjoying the story of three at home so much I almost dreaded the arrival of that last page. Yet, at the same time, I was so very happy to see what would come next, what the sequel would hold in store if you will. So far, the rhythm of the sequel feels ok too.

So Long Summer, It Was Fun While It Lasted

As fleeting and as wet as she was, summer was still enjoyed at our house. It probably helped that I decided to call it summer right up until the first day of fall, rather than calling it quits after Labour Day like I normally would (sorry Lesley). And we certainly made the most of it, making good on most of my summer to-do list:

1. A few more Saturday mornings at The Rocket with my men. Check, check, check. We did a lot of this, especially earlier in the summer when the weather was fit for nothing other than being inside with warm coffee and sweet treats. There was quiche + croissants, coffee + the Globe. It was delicious + delightful every time.

Hudson is learning to read the G+M at an early age

2. Some hiking with the boy in his new carrier. Check and check. We did a lot of walking with the boy on board, including a couple of great trails. I particularly enjoyed a walk along the Manuels River trail with our own personal guide + friend.

Thanks Geoff + Carm for a great afternoon!

3. A visit to the Ferryland Lighthouse. Check. Well, technically this happened on the first day of fall, but for us it was the last summer hurrah and a belated anniversary celebration. The weather was perfect, the food fantastic and the experience even better than both combined. So nice to continue this annual tradition with our boy.

Heading up the trail, waiting for the picnic basket, and of course the obligatory self-portrait

4. Sitting around the fire in our backyard with wine in hand, at least once (or twice or thrice, now that would be nice!). Check. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate for the twice or thrice part, but we did squeeze in one lingering evening, Hudson even stayed up a bit late to enjoy his first backyard fire.

5. Our first official road trip with the little guy. Check + Check. We took a few road trips this summer, hitting up Grand Falls, Bonavista and Southern Bay with only one minor incident of note. This of course was in addition to our regular visits to Kingston (NL not ON). While a great little dude in the car, we discovered H is not such a great sleeper out of his own bed. Oh well, the road must go on.

6. A visit to the beach. Check. I had intended this to be a sandy beach, but again the weather didn't exactly oblige. We did get up to Topsail beach for a late summer barbecue with great friends though, so I count that as complete.

7. Introducing Hudson to swimming at the pool. Check. Ah, yes the pool. Hudson was completely non-plussed by it all. Even though he loves, loves, loves the tub, he coulda cared less about the pool. Given the amount of work it takes to get ready to go and re-dressed afterward, I think we'll hold off on this event for a little while longer. Dear pool, we'll be back, just not in a hurry.

8. Completing my first post-baby 10km run. Uhm, yeah, well, see, uh. Ok, so this one was not accomplished. I did do a few 5kms, but that's about it. I could blame it on the weather I suppose, but that really wasn't my excuse. I just never got around to it. On the upside, I've set a new running goal (duh, duh, duh the suspense, it's killing ya isn't it ;)

9. Scrapbooking a few pages about the little man. Check. Mostly completed through our Week in the Life Album, but also with a couple of other layouts (here, here and here). Still many, many more on a growing list though, so more coming your way.

10. Reading. Partial Check. I had planned to read a few books, but only finished The Help and started Room.  I'm also not into Room yet, so thinking about moving on from that soon.

11. An out-of-province excursion, complete with Hudson's first plant ride and catching up with great friends. Big Check. We were a little nervous heading out on this first adventure, unsure of how Hudson would take to traveling, but we made out a-ok. He was still a sleeping disaster on the road, but was awesome on the plane and fairly pleasant during the busy days. Looking forward to more adventures with him as he grows.

Snuggles with Auntie Brooke, checking out the in-flight entertainment, a family photo in Chester + drinks on the deck
sigh, if we could only do it all again next week. Maybe next year!

12. Lots of dining al fresco on the deck with my hubby. Check. Ugh, the weather again a hindrance, though we did manage a few leisurely meals + drinks outside on our deck. D also made good use of his Father's Day prezzie.


Mmmm, Corona + quesadillas, the BBQ Master with his new toy, yes ice cream counts as a meal, just soaking up the sun

 And of course, we had plenty of fun doing things not on our list as well, including spending time celebrating Canada Day, hanging at Chapters/Starbucks, enjoying birthdays and lounging deck side.

Dear summer, thanks for the good times. It was fun while it lasted. Until next year, I bid you adieu.

    

Happy Anniversary

Your heart stops for a moment.

Your breath catches in your chest.

Your stomach is aflutter with butterflies.

They say you know when it's 'the one'.

They were right.

Happy 3rd Anniversary to my one, my only.

*all photos taken by Nate Gates, who captures the moment like no other.

Love you more everyday. XO.

Labour Day Re-Cap

Hard to believe the Labour Day weekend has come and gone for another year. Sure it seems like we just celebrated Canada Day! We spent our extra-long weekend with family and friends from Southern Bay to Northern Bay (no joke, Des grew up in Southern Bay and my family comes from Northern Bay!) and we enjoyed it thoroughly. Here's a look through our weekend lens:

Hudson P's first visit to Dad's home in Southern Bay

Hanging out on the bed in Daddy's old room
(at some terribly early hour after a very sleepless night!)

There`s was plenty of attention from the older cousins

Espresso found here :)

Plenty of food & drink consumed

a scenic drive through Trinity to encourage much-needed sleep for the boy



some lawn-mowing followed by riding just for fun!



trying out of old furniture ... showing off that chubby belly :)

fresh blueberries and homemade muffins

folding some laundry for Nanny Pat

All wrapped up with some time at Chapters. The scene from down below...

and the scene from up above.

Hope your weekend was as delightful!

Sharing a Soule-ful Post

After the past few days, I'm enjoying some quiet time in my home. My day started early too. My baby snuggled in the bed with me just a little while. The coffee pot was on and the first cup enjoyed before my husband roused from his slumber. The sun rising higher in the sky and the day is unfolding before us. Perhaps that's why today's post on SouleMama.com sat nicely with me this morning. In case it might sit nicely with you too: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2011/08/soulepapa-blogs-still-morning.html

Making the Most of Summer

There's something about the summer that boosts the spirit and relaxes the soul. I find myself more willing to abandon chores and savour the moments. I guess it's the boost of Vitamin D and warmth of the sun's rays. Or perhaps it's just knowing that summer in these parts is so short-lived. Either way, I plan to make the most of the next couple of months and enjoy the warm summer days and long summer nights. Here are few of the things on my summer to-do list:

1. A few more Saturday mornings at The Rocket with my men. So love that they kept the common area from when it was Auntie Crae's and that they serve the sweet pastries, rich coffee and savory treats.

Having a yarn over coffee, sweets and the weekend paper. Love.

2. Some hiking with the boy on board in his new carrier and sporting the SPF gear we picked up for him downtown.

some cute in the spf stuff :)

3. A visit to the Ferryland Lighthouse. It's an annual tradition for D & I that I'm eager to continue now that we are three.

The food is delish, the view amazing and the experience just wonderful. A must-do for tourists and locals alike.

4. Sitting around the fire in our backyard with wine in hand, at least once (or twice or thrice, now that would be nice!).

We have a different fire pit these days, but the experience is the same.

5. Our first official roadtrip with the little guy.

6. A visit to the beach.

7. Introducing Hudson to swimming at the pool. I'm thinking our visit to the beach/the ocean might be a bit cold for his first experience!.

8. Completing my first post-baby 10km run. I survived a 5km one with some walking on the weekend and enjoyed another 5km yesterday, shaving a couple of minutes of my weekend time, so easy as she goes on this one.

9. Scrapbooking a few pages about the little man. Perfect rainy day activity.

10. Reading. I'm already well underway with this, almost finished The Help by Kathyrn Stockett and enjoying it immensely.

11. An out-of-province excursion, complete with Hudson's first plant ride and catching up with great friends.

12. Lots of dining al fresco on the deck with my hubby.

Again, we have a new BBQ these days, but the experience is the same!

I'm sure there will be many other wonderful experiences woven among these as well, making summer as full and complete as I'm hoping it will be. What about you, what's on your summer to do list? How do you plan to make the most of the short-lived long summer days?

Documenting Life

I started scrapbooking about six years ago after a friend of mine introduced me to it. We took a beginners class together and I was hooked. I loved the colourful papers, the fancy embellishments and making pretty pages. My first real project was a Christmas gift for my mom, an album full of layouts of our family through the years. At the time, I just thought it would make a nice gift, something she'd really enjoy. Of course, it was, but I quickly came to realize that, for me, scrapbooking is much more than creating pretty pages. It is capturing the stories, the memories, the moments of life on a page, preserving them for the future.

Just think about all the stories of your own childhood that remain untold to you because they've faded or blurred in the minds of your parents as time passed and lives changed and everyday got busier. Think of the stories of your parents' childhood that you never heard because your grandparents have passed or have aged. First words and favourite toys, daily routines and holiday traditions, quirky habits and traits passed down from generation to generation. When I scrapbook, that's what I want to tell - the stories of our life.

Even before Hudson joined our family, I knew scrapbooking was my way of ensuring my children and their children know their family history. Yes, photos alone can preserve history, but not as completely, not as richly. Photos usually remain unmarked and undated, so once the owner of the photo is gone, so are the details. And in today's electronic world, it's worse as photos rarely make it out of the computer and/or are lost with a keystroke or a hard drive crash. Don't get me wrong, I love photo albums and make it a point to print pictures and put them in albums as I simply can't scrap every picture I take. But scrapbooking takes those special memories, be it celebrations or the simplicity of everyday, and tells the full story behind the picture.

Proof I keep albums and albums of photos that are not scrapbooked (yet ;)

When I first started scrapbooking, I was more interested in whether the papers matched, whether it was in line with current trends, and whether each element was perfectly put on the page. Now, I'm more interested in making sure the story is told as I know years from now, Hudson won't care whether I've found the perfect shade of blue paper or if I used a flower instead of a butterfly or if the pictures are aligned exactly straight. What he'll care about is reading about his childhood, his parents' month-long vacation in Europe years before he was born, our wedding and, more importantly, our marriage and our family. This post on Write.Click.Scrapbook early this week reminded me of that.  

Right now, I too have a stack of unfinished projects. I have pages in progress waiting for the "right" finishing touch. Right now, I don't have nearly as much time as I'd like to do this hobby I love. Right now, I'm reminding myself that it's ok if it's not "just right" and it's ok if it's a work in progress. Right now, I'm reminding myself to instead jot notes and blog and take pictures. Right now, I'm reminding myself to make just a little time here and there so the stories of today won't be lost tomorrow. 
I think we should all do this in some way. Whether it's a blog, a journal, photos in albums, videos, scrapbooks, whatever form suits your life, there is such value in documenting your life. Already, I watch my three year old nephew flip through the album I made for my mom. I hear him say "that's my mommy as a baby" and "that's my mommy at a party, she's pretty" and it makes me smile. I know someday (too) soon Hudson will be doing the same thing and that makes me smile even wider. And that, my friends, is why I document life.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I know I just honoured my mom in this Mother's Day post, but as today is her birthday she is deserving of more recognition. Here are just a few things I love about my mom:

She makes awesome cakes. She always made homemade and beautiful cakes for our birthdays and special occasions growing up and now does them for our babies. 

Cake made for Hudson`s Christening

Her patience. It doesn't matter how many times we call, ask for something, put off accepting her advice, she is always there to answer, give and support us.

That she can sew and is crafty. She hems my pants, sews on my buttons, and makes any alterations I need, saving my mucho money at the tailors over the years! She always made clothes and costumes for us growing up and now does so for our babes.

Christening dress made by Nanny Pat

Her love for feeding us. I think it's a mom thing that you want your children to be fed. Brunch at mom's is a favourite. Almost every weekend morning for as long as I can remember, you could count on a big ol' brunch of bacon, sausages, bologna, eggs, hashbrowns, toast (and maybe toutons), fresh muffins, fruit, cheese and homemade jam. When we were little, it was fresh OJ in fancy glasses and now it's fresh brewed coffee in big mugs. And, of course, now there's always a bag of fresh muffins to take home with us when we leave.


mmmm ....

She is supportive. Whenever, whatever I need - be it a night`s sleep as a new mom, advice as a student, band-aid as a child or a hug at any age - mom is always there.

Her giving nature. Mom hardly ever says no to anyone. If you need something, she`ll do what she can to make it happen. And if she can`t do it, she`ll help you find someone who can. 

Her sense of style. Mom always looks good when she leaves the house, whether she`s going to a fancy dinner or just running errands. She takes pride in her appearance and has a love for shoes, purses and jewellery. I credit her for instilling the same in me (both the pride of self and love for all things fashion!).

She`s a fantastic Nanny. Whether playing dinkies and trains with Logan or changing diapers and cuddling with Hudson, these two boys are blessed to have Nanny Pat as part of their lives (and their mom`s even more so!)

Mother`s Day 2011

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday

We meet many people in our journey through life. Some are passing just briefly passing through, some are part of our lives for a short while and others stay with you for a lifetime. I believe everyone we meet, we do so for a reason. Either they have something to share, teach or leave with us or it is we who have to something to offer them. Each encounter leaves an impression on who we are as people. However, it is those who are long time presences in our lives that play the greatest part.

For me, one of those long time presences is one of my best friends - Sandy. We've known each other for more than 13 years and as we both like to say "she's the one that knows the good, the bad and the ugly and loves me anyway". We met in university and have lived in residence together, worked on class projects together, shared an apartment and danced downtown until the wee hours of the morning. I was honoured to be her maid of honour when she married her true love and lucky to have her first-born as my ringbearer when I married mine. I've watched her become a mom to three handsome boys and have turned to her for advice as I myself entered into motherhood.

Patient, kind, loving, fun, spirited, compassionate, genuine, honest, caring, considerate, smart. These are but a few of the words that come to mind when thinking of Sandy. She is by far one of the nicest people I know and one of the best friends any girl could have. I am blessed to call her one of mine and with great pleasure wish her a very Happy Birthday!



the birthdat card I made for her special day :)

In just 13 short years, we've grown together from single university girls to working professionals to doe-eyed fiances to doting wives to loving mothers. I can hardly wait to see where many more birthdays will take us. Though one thing I already know for sure is, no matter where life takes us, Sandy is one of the people on my journey through life that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Happy Birthday Girlie!

R&R

Happy Tuesday morning to you. I'm enjoying mine sitting on the sofa, surfing the web and sipping a toasty cup of decaf coffee.

Jumping Bean Coffee + A Favourite Thermal Mug

Which to most of you probably sounds divine right about now. And yes, it is nice. Though I've decided I wouldn't be a good one for doing this stay-at-home alone thing all the time.

A) I'm social. I like people. Seeing them, talking to them, listening to them.
B) I'm active. I like to be busy, to have things to do, to be accomplishing something.

Yet without a car (I'm also a sleeper, so I don't want to get up and take hubby to work every day), I'm homebound, without social interaction most of the day. I'm also just about 39 weeks preggo, meaning what I used to be able to do and accomplish in a day, I can't. I now have to space it all out with breaks and rest time on the sofa, surfing the web, sipping decaf. And to think I've been off work less than a week!

What keeps me sane is knowing that the time is short and before long I'll have plenty to do with the babe and, quite likely, less energy to do it with. The house will also begin to fill with visitors wanting to pinch pink cheeks (no, not mine) and there will be more social calls than I'll know what to do with.

In the meantime, I'm looking forward to doing a few things this week (and not worrying about the fact that I normally would be able to do this in a day or so). On my to-do list is making this soup for supper and extra for the freezer, finishing up some DIY art for the nursery inspired by some discoveries on etsy, including this and this and this, finishing up tidying the scrapbook nook which had become a catchall for everything that didn't have a home elsewhere in this home over the last few weeks, scrapbooking a few photos, and taking time to stop and smell this sweet laundry.

Sweet Smelling Tiny Clothes :)

And of course, making my way through the to-do list is ever-contingent on baby's decision to hang tight or make his/her world debut.

Memories

Yesterday I participated in a research study exploring if and how having young children has an influence on childhood memories. The study includes non-mothers, expectant mothers and current mothers of small children, asking them to recall memories from under the age of five. It was an interesting experience to say the least.

First the interviewer gave me 4 minutes to recall as many childhood memories as I could. Do you know how hard it is to recall memories from when you were less than five years old? It is tough. There was plenty of quiet time in that four minutes. Though I was able to recall a few – I remember falling off a slide in the park and being left at swimming pool for lessons but not wanting to stay (perhaps the trauma made those stand out!). I also recalled lots of fun things too, mostly playing outside in the sunshine - in an snow igloo, in the garden, at a swimming hole, and often with my sister.

After that, I was asked to say how old I was at the time of the memory and rate the vividness of the memory using a scale they provided. Needless to say the clarity of my memories was usually ‘very vague’. I was three to five years old for crying out loud!

Participating in the study reminded me of how glad I am that I scrapbook. It reminded me how fleeting memories are. Often it feels like the moment will be forever etched in your mind, yet before you know it time passes by and the memory dulls a little more with each new moment. I know my memories of our Europe vacation in 2005 are like that. The big details are all there in my mind – our favourite places, our favourite experiences – but the little things that made those places and experiences special slowly disappear. And, in another 5 or 6 years, those details will be less clear than they are today. Fortunately, I have a scrapbook from that trip that captures our favourite memories on paper and tells the story of that trip. Anytime I want to revisit those moments I can, without having to rely on the recesses of my mind.

For me scrapbooking is about exactly that - preserving those stories and moments that make up our lives, both for my own personal reflection now and for sharing with family and friends as I age. I know I would love to have a journal or scrapbook that tells the story of my great-grandparents' life. How did they meet? What was their wedding day like? What did they serve their family for dinners? Where did they travel? Who were their friends? What were their routines? I can only imagine how different their life was from mine. And I know my life today will be drastically different than that of my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

So, photograph, journal, scrapbook, blog. However you do it, capture the moments before they become a very vague fleeting memory from your past where all you know is you were wearing a red snowsuit having fun in the snow. Thirty years from now, you’ll be glad you did.

Be Great



Image from Fifi du Vie on Etsy

Yesterday I attended a leadership development seminar at work about tapping into the greatness already within. The premise was that people already have the capacity to be great at what they do, but allow barriers – be it self-imposed or externally driven – to interfere with reaching full potential. While certainly geared towards executive leaders and managers, it occurred to me how most of the principles just as easily apply to our personal lives as well.

One comment that hit home was the importance of focus. The presenter used the example of golf, noting that if you were to ask a golfer how much physical ability is a factor in success versus mental preparation, or focus, and the ratio you’d get is about 20/80. Yet, most golfers spend 80% of their time perfecting their physical ability and technique to just the 20% spent on preparing mentally. It was the same for me when I ran the marathon. Absolutely, without question, I spent the bulk of my energy and time on physical training. Now mind you I needed it, given I was going from inactive couch potato to marathon runner in about 5 months, but still. My 5 months were filled with short runs, long runs, hill and interval training, learning how to breathe and do 10 & 1’s. Yet, aside from a few Running Room clinics, very little time was spent on preparing mentally for the race itself. Of course, come race day my body was more than ready, it was my mind that wasn’t. I hadn’t visualized myself crossing that finish line. I didn’t have that mantra to help me push through a knee injury and fatigue. Anyone who runs knows it as much a mental sport as a physical one. Fortunately, I did have an awesome running partner who filled the void and kept me motivated.

Or to take it from another perspective, how often do we allow something else to take priority rather than do what we say is our priority. I do it all the time. I enjoy scrapbooking and often say I don’t have the time to do it as much as I’d like. So untrue. It’s just that I often choose to do something else with my time – whether it’s check email, surf facebook, watch bad TV, or whatever. I choose not to scrapbook by putting my focus somewhere else. Whether we skip exercise for some reason even though becoming healthier is on the priority list or give into that impulse buy knowing that bolstering the bank account is a top to-do, we’re simply allowing our focus to wander. The result is that we create barriers to living life the way we’d really like to.

The other comment that struck me in the session is that people often allow fear to interfere with reaching maximum potential (as the presenter put it, interFEARence). Fear of failure, fear of losing control, insecurities, fear of reprimand or ridicule. And it's so true. I wrote blog posts for about a month before sending the link to a limited number of family and friends. In a nutshell, fear. A month ago I would have defined it as doubt that’d I keep it up or concern that people wouldn’t find it interesting or care. All other ways for describing fear. Long story short, these were the personal barriers I set up to doing something I want to do. I still haven’t fully removed the barriers – I’ve not really shared the link beyond a safe circle of people who care about me, but I will at some point.

Sitting in the seminar, I recalled this quote I read somewhere recently:

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure ~ Sven Goran Eriksson

Imagine what we could all achieve if we really focus, let go of those fears and just do or be whatever it is we want. How great would that be?

Simple Things - Breakfast in a Basket

Breakfast in a Basket

D and I celebrated Valentine's Day with a night out at Atlantica/The Beach House B&B. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner and headed back to our jacuzzi suite just a few steps away. The next morning, breakfast was delivered right to our door. Breakfast in a basket, now that's a simple thing that makes me smile.

The spread spread out on the bed. Now that's breakfast in bed.

What Goes Around

I’ve always believed the philosophy that ‘what goes around comes around’. Normally, I think of it in work contexts, trying always to treat those I work with respect and courtesy even during challenging times. You just never know when the person you’re working with will be making decisions that will impact on you and you’ll want the same courtesy and respect in return. However, the ‘what goes around comes around’ philosophy also applies in social and personal contexts as well, as was the case for me last night.

You see, my darling husband has been known to drive the car around town with the gas light on for quite some time before stopping to fill it up. He has also been known to run out of gas (ahem, on more than one occasion). To the point that it had become a point of fun contention. The banter goes something like this:

• We drive around with the bright orange warning gaslight glaring on the dashboard.
• I suggest we stop for gas.
• He says we have 70kms before we’ll run out. Or something to that effect.
• I say “it’s on you mister if we run out” or something like that.

And the process repeats itself the next time the little orange gas tank appears on the dashboard. Somewhere in there, I forgot that ‘what goes around comes around’. What’s that saying about karma again? Well, karma found me yesterday.

I took the car to work, not realizing the gas light was on until after dropping D off. As D was initially driving, I didn’t know exactly when the light came on, but figured it wasn’t more than 15kms or so before that point. I quickly crunched the numbers calculating those supposed 70kms the car can go before running out of gas, figured I was good and continued on to work. I went out at lunch to grab a sandwich and then to my hair appointment after work. After that I headed downtown to pick up D, only he decided to continue working for a bit so I headed home by myself. At no point did I think about gas. Somehow, I was oblivious to the orange gas tank on the dashboard.

It wasn’t until I was on the highway en route to my humble abode that I realized I was getting close to that 70km cutoff and immediately planned to stop at the North Atlantic to fill ‘er up. Only I didn’t make it. Clearly I underestimated the mileage capacity of the Jetta when on E. I never claimed to be a mathematician.

The car gave up running on fumes on the Outer Ring Highway just before my exit. It’s 8pm. I’m 8 months preggo. It’s dark. It’s cold. It’s snowy. I’m hungry. I’m tired. Thank you Mr. Karma. Thank you very much. I call my husband so he can figure out how to get the car home from the side of the highway. Then I call a cab to come take me home. Then I realize my phone battery is essentially dead. At least Mr. Karma cut me some slack and allowed me to make two phone calls before cutting off access to the outside world. He’s not all bad I suppose.

Morals of the story:

• Always fill up the gas tank when that orange tank lights up your dash.
• Always charge your phone. You never know when you’ll need it for something important.
• Always remember, ‘what goes around comes around’. Especially when mocking your husband’s penchant for not filling up the tank and then running out of gas.

I hope Mr. Karma treats you better than that this weekend. TGIF.

Thankful Thursday

I didn't have a chance to participate in the Simple Things challenge this week, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thankful of many simple, everyday moments over the week or so. Today, I'm

thankful for ... getting ready to welcome baby Ryan. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with mom last weekend, shopping and registering for the few things we'll need. It's a good thing we don't know whether it's a boy or a girl, as the closet would already be overflowing!

thankful for ... having a wonderful sister who is graciously lending me most of the 'big items' for Baby Ryan, including the crib, change table, rocker, swings and bouncy chairs and other such goodies. Life is much easier (and less expensive) that way.

thankful for ... Red House Soups delivering soup to my work today, so supper will be as easy as warming up a tasty and healthy dish. Perhaps not quite as good as mom/Gerry's soup delivery, but close. Either way, I don't have to cook.

thankful for ... having a hair appointment scheduled for this evening. Love, love, love relaxing in the chair, having my hair washed and styled, and chatting with my stylist of 10+ years. Such a great way to head into the weekend (no pun intended!).

thankful for ... the 34 week ultrasound that shows a healthy, wiggly, thumb-sucking baby with a strong heart, a round head and cute baby lips. Looking forward to seeing him/her in person.

thankful for ... enjoying breakfast out with my hubby, mama and Gerry this weekend, even if the breakfast was just mediocre. The company was great and it's not something we get to do all the time.

I hope you have plenty to be thankful this Thursday too!

Love

Today is the internationally-recognized day of love. Around the world couples will celebrate with heart shaped boxes of chocolates, large bouquets of flowers, fancy dinners, stuffed animals, jewellery and other trinkets that have come to symbolize love.

While D & I usually refrain from the commercialized side of the holiday by not exchanging gifts, we do celebrate the day in some way. More often than not, we just hang out at home, cooking a lovely meal together and enjoying some tasty vino. We prefer to spend our time than our money in honouring the day, knowing that love is something we have to show and indulge in every day, not just on February 14. 

This year, we decided switched it up and indulged in a wonderful dinner and a night out at Atlantica/The Beach House B&B. It was nice to sit and enjoy each other's company and conversation over a fantastic meal with stellar service and then retire to our jacuzzi suite just a few steps away. We enjoyed taking the night out to ourselves, knowing that once the wee one arrives those nights and opportunities will be fewer and farther between.

Of course, I also make a Valentine's Day card for D, which I tucked in with his lunch today just so he'd know I was thinking of him.


Whatever way you celebrate, whether it's with your loved one and all the standard trimmings, with your family and heart shaped pancakes, or treating your wonderful single-self to something nice, I just hope you have a wonderfully happy and loved-filled day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Month in Photos

A lot of scrapbookers have started doing a version of Project 365, which is basically taking a photo a day for a year and putting those pics in an album with short notes or stories. Becky Higgins has a fantastic kit to make the whole process easy-peasy. Part of me wishes I had the stamina to do it, but taking pics, printing pics, recording notes every day for a year is just more than I know I can realistically commit too. In fact, it was just this weekend that I started to finish up my Week in the Life album from April 2010!

Still, I know having that album of images and stories all together at the end of the year would be amazing. So when I saw these templates on Simple As That I immediately thought it was the perfect solution for me. I could use as many or as few pictures as I happen to have in a month and make a few quick notes about the month's highlights. And the templates are free to boot!

In just a few hours this weekend, I captured our January in photos.

I plan to do one or two pages like this each month for the year and then print them and put them in an album. No fancy papers, no embellishments. Just photos and short snippets all in one place. So easy. Love it.

Weekend Breakfast Routines

I find it interesting how routines change. One day we're entrenched in them, can't imagine doing things any other way. Life works perfectly just as it is and, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Yet somehow at sometime, those routines change. Sometimes it's a sudden change, brought on by a big trigger (oh let's say, something like having a baby, or at least that's what I've heard) and other times, it happens so gradually you're completely unaware of it until what used to be no longer is.

That latter is where weekend breakfasts fall in our house. When we were first together, Des and I started going to Auntie Crae's on Saturday mornings for breakfast. Like clockwork, we'd head downtown for coffee, scones and the Saturday papers. If we happened to sleep in closer to lunchtime (I know, I know, those times are soon to be long gone, thank you growing-baby-in-my-belly), it might've been sandwiches instead of scones. But, for the most part, the routine was the same. We got to know one of the cashiers, Christine, by name. We knew what goodies were likely to be in the display case and which special treats were worth changing up the norm for. We went to Auntie Crae's almost every Saturday morning for several years. And it was perfect. It was us.

patridgeberry scone for me, blueberry for des, fruit and cheese to share. mmm.

Auntie Crae's is no longer (insert sad face here), but that wasn't what caused a change in our weekend routine. I can't even recall what did. All I know is that somewhere along the way, we began staying home on Saturday mornings. We began brewing coffee using this coffee pot and whole beans from Coffee & Co. We began making homemade versions of Tims-style breakfast sandwiches, only healthier and tastier. We switched from reading the newspaper to readings news websites and surfing the web, while some cooking or car show ran in the background. While the core elements remained the same - enjoying each other's company, coffee, tasty treats and catching up on the news - the where and how had changed. Yet, it too was perfect. It too was us.

 
Now I'm noticing it is changing again, albeit only ever so slightly. While coffee and news at home is the same, we've started to introduce blueberry pancakes into the mix. Having seen a recipe on TV one morning (ironically, it was probably some Saturday morning while eating breakfast sandwiches) I tested it out one weekend. They were not only healthy, but hearty and delicious and have been edging their way onto the weekend breakfast menu more and more. So much so that I've nearly depleted my frozen stash of berries months earlier than usual ... thank goodness mom has more!
 

so tasty! I'll share 'the making of a blueberry pancake' soon

Certainly far from a significant change in routine, it is just blueberry pancakes after all, it did trigger a moment of reflection. I wonder what Saturday morning's will look like 3 months from now, with a newborn in our lives. What about 3 years from now, with a toddler? Or even 13 years from now with a teenager? Somehow I think I can safely say that sleeping-in will no longer be on the schedule, nor will the leisurely simultaneous web surfing. I'm also going to bet that coffee will increase in prominence (and value!). Otherwise, it's anyone's guess what routine will shape Saturday morning in the Ryan household. But one thing I do know is that it will be like the routines that preceded it. It will be perfect. And it will be us.