a day in the nesting life.. 

SUCCESS

we just had our first potty training success! I honestly feel like the proudest parent out there! it is wild.. all the signs were there.. she came up and told me she had to pee.. we sat her on her new seat (totally think this is key) read the potty book.. and 2 pages in.. she went.. I could tell she was nervous but the praise and the screams and the love that came after put the biggest smile on her face!! 

**that and the THREE chocolates she got***

this gives me major hope that the light is at the end of the tunnel.. 

March 31st, 2011

we had an epic potty training HIGH.. followed by a stomach bug LOW .. myself and the mattress received the most of the projectile blow.. twice.. and I may never look at peas the same way again.. the sheets are in the washer.. and I am trying to get the smell out of the house.. 

my poor baby girl.. and daddy thinks he is next.. :0

round # 2353

March 30th, 2011

we are making another attempt at potty training.. by adding another potty to the mix.. this way.. she cant get off the toilet and ask for her chocolate after 5 seconds.. she is stuck on it until I take her off.. we will see how it goes.. 

the results thus far.. 

I am in love with her little tongue out when she concentrates.. 

within the first ten minutes.. she had soiled herself twice.. oy

I however.. am still playing catch up from my weekend ‘o’ fun..  it is insane.. thankfully the days are flying by.. and April is almost around the corner.. I love the month of April..  to me it is flowers blooming.. babies being born.. family gatherings.. and maybe.. just maybe.. a little sunshine..  

May flowers.. just in time for my little May baby to be brought into this world! yes please.. my pregnancy is coming to an end.. and the others around me are starting to have their babies.. and it brings me comfort that I am almost there.. my baby fever is coming back.. and I look forward to the days where I have a new little peanut to curl up under my chin and nestle around my neck..  My Dr informed me he is going on vacation May 24th.. one day before my due date.. ironically enough.. he is going to Kelowna for his yearly Canadian fix..  but I think this little one will be out before then anyways ;) 

we have entered the phase of pregnancy that brings with it very limited food intake.. (not because I want to ;) little sleep.. and a tad bit of nausea.. I dont recall this nausea with Olive.. at least my hip is getting better :) the part I dont get is how I wake up on my back at least 4 times a night.. out of breath with sharp pains in my stomach.. and then in my tired stupor.. I quickly panic.. roll over to the right side.. and pass back out.. 

these next two months are jam packed.. which is good and bad.. its good when I get things accomplished.. bad when I just want to shut the blinds and sit at home alone..  I am looking extremely forward to Portland though.. we have never been.. and it will be fun to *explore a new little city that neither of us have been to.. 

*I use the word explore very loosely seeing as I will be 36 weeks preggo.. and trying to ride a bike ;)

I want long walks.. to sit and relax in little coffee shops.. bike rides.. prenatal massages.. food.. glorious food.. and just some one on one time with the daddy before baby #2 comes.. (and yes.. I will be bringing my hospital bag.. just in case..)

32 weeks baby!!

minute three of round 2 potty training…

poop in da undies.. 

its going to be a long night.. 

routine..

March 28th, 2011

as much as I love to leave.. I love to come home again.. the easiness of he routine of home life is so nice to me.. I had an amazing time in Canada this weekend.. too amazing actually.. I woke up with a sore throat :(  and can feel a little cold coming on.. there is never enough time to cram in everything I want to do.. but we had a great time with the loved ones we did see.. 

and if you can believe it.. I did not take ONE picture.. not one.. 

our adventure up started with a 4:45am wake-up call.. not ideal.. but the daddy was going to Miami.. or so he thought.. until all flights in were cancelled due to a fuel tank fire.. and no fuel in an airport = no re fueling planes.. I felt so bad for him as he drove back home.. that I couldn’t go back to sleep.. thankfully he surprised us with some breakfast.. and I was able to sodium bloat.. and get in my car.. ;) i was able to squeeze in a nap.. and head off to a ladies night! these are my favorite.. food.. good conversation.. and a child who was in bed at grandmas house.. yes please! getting home at 2:45 am.. not so much..

 The next 3 days were filled with play dates.. mc.chickens.. no sleep.. my all terrain maternity shoot;)  and a family potluck dinner.. where I made this..  met up with a great friend at Lou’s and a white spot brunch with the papa.. it was crammed.. I was trying to stay up until Monday.. but by the time Sunday rolled around.. I was physically done.. my eyes stung on the drive home.. and we lounged the rest of the day.. 

I got one last cuddle night time session in with Olive.. she woke up as I was going to bed.. and I couldn’t resist.. those sweet milky white baby legs.. her squinty night time eyes.. and her need for her mama was to much.. I woke up to her all spooned up inside my nooks and crans.. it was magic.. 

and grandma sarah wanted to get off the last of the cradle cap that has crept back onto olives head.. so we went out in pubic like this :0

haha

one year ago today..

March 26th, 2011

http://kaceybruce.tumblr.com/post/480746906

thank you Earth Hour.. I will never forget my hen party because of you!

hanging up my cape..

March 23rd, 2011

today.. I threw in the towel.. after two energetic days with no nap.. it shouldn’t have surprised me when I woke up way to early.. and Olive followed.. and she was grumpy.. followed by many tantrums.. a scream in my face.. and a phone call to daddy.. (me.. not her).. I couldn’t do it.. the fear that this would be my life soon on lack of sleep scared me.. it is moments like these I wish my mama was here to take her for an hour.. maybe two ;) I called my sister.. a 62 minute vent fest on anything and everything.. she finally said she had to go.. and I laughed and told her I don’t blame her.. I was annoying myself ;) 

it took 2 hours to get out of the house to run errands.. a friend text for a park date.. and I said we would try.. but my energy levels were bi polar and changing every 5 minutes.. I finally threw on some sweats.. and drove to the park.. the fresh air is exactly what I needed.. I laughed when I walked into the park area and saw that I was dressed like the only man there.. literally..

big red sweater.. black pants.. 

oy

look at that face!

on the way home.. I came home determined.. I didn’t need a nap! I was going to charge through.. put my yawning red head to bed.. and was going to wash my car.. it looks grey.. when it should be black.. tossed her in the big girl bed.. grabbed my i pod and hose.. and started cleaning.. within 5 minutes.. I knew I had taken on to much.. i stood at the car wondering if i stopped now.. would anyone notice the patch that was black?!  my ear bud fell out and I heard Olive SCREAMING through the monitor.. not her normal “i don’t want to nap” scream.. I ran up and she had clearly fallen asleep so fast and was having a nightmare.. 

olive scared.. big puppy dog.. olive sad..

yes I had it.. my out.. I couldn’t wash my car.. my baby needed me!! brought her downstairs for some cuddles.. and realized I had to continue.. went out and finished while she played.. and I think its safe to say I did the crappiest job EVER on my car.. ** note the hose is still out there with the bucket **

realized my defeat.. put olive back down. to more screams.. and realized I was going down without a nap.. so for the first time ever.. I brought her in my room to nap.. I didn’t think it would happen.. I knew she was exhausted from the park.. and I just pretend to sleep.. next thing I knew.. I woke up to sweet little baby feet by my face.. nothing sweeter then a baby in a diaper and a cute little white shirt.. with her red whispy hair tossled all around.. 

me on the other hand was in my ragged white sports bra.. raging hot because of the sun beaming through the window.. and for the first time this pregancy.. could barely bend my fingers because of water retention.. not to shabby.. 

time to get back to packing.. daddy leaves tomorrow.. and we are hibernating in Canada for the weekend.. I don’t do alone nights anymore since I got pregnant. I don’t sleep anyways because I am so paranoid someone is going to break in. and my “escape route people” have moved to Lynden.. :0

disappointment…

March 21th, 2011

today was a sad day for my body.. I went to my massage appointment.. just aching to be loosened up.. I sat in the waiting room patiently.. and in walks this older woman to come get me.. sorry.. who are you?!  I didn’t say anything.. mostly out of confusion.. and she goes ” oh your pregnant!” yes.. yes I am.. 

we walk into the room that hasnt been set up for a prenatle massage.. and she threw a couple pillows on and said she would be right back.. I thought  maybe my massage angel Ann was going to come in.. but no.. it was this other woman.. who CLEARLY has never given a prenatal massage in her life..  it was so bad.. my body was twisted so weird that I ended up hurting my neck even more trying to hold my body in the positions..  I knew I was in trouble when she asked how far along I was..

me- almost 31 weeks!

her- um.. that means nothing to me.. ??

me- oh.. almost 8 months.. 

boo erns.. I asked on the way out where my beloved Ann went.. and the woman tone changed and she just said.. “she is no longer with us”

tear :’(

at least I got to come home to this sweet pea.. her vocabulary is shocking me everyday.. she is loving animals.. (we must get to the zoo asap) and she is singing songs.. and now when she does something she knows if funny to me.. she does it over and over and over again.. its so precious.. 

mama.. I sing you the barney I love you song!

last night while my second love child was going NUTSO in my belly.. she was so jealous watching her mommy and daddy  ooh and ahh over it.. (it was literally throwing my body into the couch.. they were such strong movements).. and so she got on all fours and started crawling.. “look daddy.. I’m a baby!!” 

may 25th cant come fast enough..

"supermoon"

things you may not know about me..

March 19th, 2011

 I am in love with natural lighting..  LOVE! seeing this sunshine pour through my windows this morning just confirms it yet again.. if I have ever entered your home.. you can 100% guarantee that I have noticed your windows.. the frames.. the blinds.. and the light that pours in.. oh.. and placement of windows.. it is bad.. when I would look for places to rent.. (via pictures) that is the first thing I would look for.. and I would base a decision on it.. I had a friend drive me to look at a basement suite many years ago.. and we pulled up.. and I could already tell that this place was built into the ground.. and most of the light came from the side door that had a little window in it.. I didn’t even go in.. he was a man.. so he thought I was crazy that I didn’t even go in to look.. but I already knew my answer.. 

don’t even get me started on floor to ceiling windows!! when I moved to Vancouver.. I walked into the apartment (that I ended up renting) and there they were.. floor to ceiling windows.. side to side.. that was it.. sold.. it faced the ocean.. I was right by the water.. and had a view of the fireworks.. it seemed to block my brain from looking at anything else in that place.. because $850.00 later.. I signed a lease.. and realized that I had a dirty pee soup green toilet.. that was NASTY.. a kitchen I wouldn’t cook in.. (not even once) and the closet had no doors on it.. but I had a view!  I lasted 5 months.. 

this may be why as much as I loved apartment living.. I loathed that you could never find an apartment with a window in the bathroom.. my favorite.. even now.. my window faces a highway.. and an old folks home.. (and you know they are peeking ;) and those binds are pulled open every day.. and yes.. they face my shower :0

ahh.. when I do end up purchasing a home.. Dustin may be in trouble ;)

ps.. jenne rosse.. I would die for your dining room/living room.. 

same goes for you chrissy..

are you there God.. its me margaret..

my Linea negra is starting to show.. finally.. with olive  I definitely had one.. this time around.. I only have the upper portion above my belly button.. and it is not centered.. I am a Virgo.. so this is driving me nuts.. almost as nuts as my lopsided c section incision.. yes.. lopsided.. 

next..

March 18th, 2011

this weekend I decided to torture myself/body with two weekend shifts :0  why not.. my time if fleeting.. and I would rather work now and play later.. right? right?

my baby is 15 inches long.. and I can feel it!! I am going to take a stab in the dark here.. but because Olive was a little breacher baby.. I never felt these kinds of movements.. she was only 6lbs4oz at birth.. and 19 inches long.. and this little pocket when swaddled up.. so I never experienced the ass in your ribs.. but hand is punching your vagina feeling :0 It is pretty wild.. this is me every night

me- Dust.. this baby is moving like CRAZY!! look.. no look now.. ok now.. right there.. (as if its the first time I felt movement)

dust- you say that every night.. lol

its true.. its like when he would have really long work weeks and Olive would go a day or to with only talking to him on the phone.. and I would spend the whole weekend saying “look at that!” “did you see that face”  as though he wasn’t glued to her hip taking it all in as well.. 

as of lately.. we are just coasting in this house.. we have hit that plateau where I am done with the pregnancy.. and the cleaning and organizing of little clothes.. and I just want the baby.. I want the new routine.. I want something to be spiced up around here..  while I am loving my Olive time.. I am excited to see her become a big sister.. she is lovin babies right now.. (little ones that don’t move) and she likes to give them their soothers.. and play mama.. we have a bath every single night together.. or day.. or morning.. whenever the weight of this belly is to much and needs a little water support.. I know it is her favorite time of the day.. “mama.. bath?”  and we add the bubbles.. and the calgon.. and we play with letters and crayons.. and get nice and relaxed for bed time.. it will be a sad day when she is to old to do it with me.. :( 

I have 9’ish more weeks with this little peanut pop.. and I want to make them as special as possible.. now all i have to learn is how to battle this exhaustion :S

this picture gets me very excited for summer.. 

I am weak..

March 17th, 2011

we are in the process of trying to wein olive off of bottles.. so far Olive-1 mama-0.. our naps are going great.. sippy cups work.. but bed time.. no way.. her comfort is her bottle.. and she wants it.. i finally gave up at 9:30 last night.. after cuddles.. crying it out.. and then just screaming for me.. I gave her a milk bottle.. I was exhausted and just wanted to sit down and relax for an hour before bed..  

this morning when I went to get her.. I walked in and found this.. I think it may be some sort of Italian mob threat.. it is being looked into.. 

well played Olive.. well played.. 

in reality.. my belly feels so huge.. I should have just painted the whole side brown.. but it wouldn’t have looked as cute ;)

starting to cut the Kelle Hampton strings right…. now!

in reality.. my belly feels so huge.. I should have just painted the whole side brown.. but it wouldn’t have looked as cute ;)

starting to cut the Kelle Hampton strings right…. now!

Happy First Birthday my sweet little blog!!

March 16th, 2011

one year ago.. I started this blog.. inspired by a woman’s blog I had just found and fell in love with..  we had finally reconnected.. and her proud husband sent me the link.. and I was hooked. I caught up on a lost year by seeing it in snapshots and  quotes.. and I wanted a piece.. I wanted to look back and know what I had done on that day.. and just have one more thing to hold onto as Olive was growing and learning something new each day.. because as I entered motherhood.. I became this person who couldn’t remember how old I was.. (it seriously happened once.. I had to get out a calculator).. so now on nights when I cant sleep.. or just want to see photos of our journey.. I go to the archives.. and start digging.. 

my first entry.. and looking at this picture brings my right back to Green Lake and the picnic we shared.. and the beautiful sun.. and the mud all up her legs and my ass because I let her crawl through the mud because she was just lovin it!

I thought my mind would go blank when I logged in every day.. or that maybe I wouldn’t even enjoy doing it.. I loved my creative writing classes in high school.. always being allowed to write what I wanted.. I didn’t find it so much as an expressing myself thing.. to get my point across.. I just found this to be a helpful way to give people a little peek into my world.. which is usually filled with something crazy and random going on.. and i ended up falling in love with it.. and having a family that lives in a different country.. it gives me a comforting sense that when we see each other.. they know exactly where I am.. I started to cut out the conversations of 

oh.. I didnt telll you olive got a tooth?.. she said mama?.. shes walking.. 

the last one was a joke.. because Olive never walked until what felt like preschool!! and it was my mama telling ME that she had walked :(

I almost forgot about  her walking shoes.. she looked like a little nurse and I put them on wherever we went.. 

today is also my 30th week of pregnancy with my next bundle of baby.. 30 weeks!.. it feels great to be in that number. even though I have anywhere from 7-10 weeks to go.. it feels like we are almost there.. I cant wait to start packing my bag.. because learning from experience. it will be coming to all my appointments after 35 weeks.. WITH my camera ;)

and I am oh so grateful that motherhood maternity had on black cords for only $19 so that I have work pants for the last leg.. my originals didn’t make it through two pregnancies.. and I was starting to feel frump.. its hard enough having every table talk about your pregnancy.. and I even had one woman pity hug me on Friday night as I just walked in for my shift.. (do people think that helps? lol) but I needed to look cute.. especially after finding those gems that used to be me.. so I bought some tanning towels for my face.. had my hair finally died blond yesterday.. and I am feeling like a million bucks!

my sister went through something major yesterday.. it was year six of this major event.. and while I wanted to share something about it.. I knew it wasnt my story to tell.. and when I logged on today and saw that she hadfinally wrote another blog entry.. it made me smile.. 

you must click here.. 

Happy Birthday little blog.. I look forward to the next year filled hopefully some more adventures.. (maybe another trip to Europe ;)

30

unsupervised painting fun

this is what happens when mama is talking to her sister on the phone.. 

and one for the cheap seats in the back!

moment of clarity..

March 15th, 2011

These last two days have been non stop.. I wonder if maybe I am fighting off a cold that is trying to take over my body? but yesterday was my “free pass” day.. aka.. I mentally left the fam for a couple hours without feeling like I wanted to be there with them.. and what were they doing.. I even told Dust.. no text messages!! cause then I rush..  I ran some much needed errands! hit up the mall.. finally bought some new mac concealer.. (mine was entering the 5 year zone!!) gross I know.. but I just don’t throw make up out.. and when my energy levels were coming to an end.. I grabbed a bottle of water.. a mini donut.. ok .. it wasn’t mini.. but it was plain original and glazed.. so I justified eating it all .. then I finally made it to the pottery place..  being a Monday.. I was the only one in there! which was perfect.. I picked out my mug I wanted to paint.. grabbed some nice neutral colours.. and began.. I always go to over board with colour choices.. I love me some rainbows.. but I knew if I pained it to bright.. I probably wouldn’t drink out of it.. so I stuck with a Mississippi mud brown.. and a Sahara cream.. and I duplicated this.. 

in fact.. now that I look at this picture again.. I think I may have 100% duplicated the colours.. I also had  huge moment of clarity while painting alone at Color Me Mine.. I am trying to re create Kelly Hamptons birth experience.. I wrapped my mind so around hers because it seemed like something I have always wanted.. with the friends and family and the “celebration” aspect of it..  that I was getting too caught up in it. and when my expectations are to high.. there is only one way to go. and that is down.. I actually laughed out loud at this moment of clarity.. and while I am still going to do my best to make it my experience .. and special..and more of a birth celebration.. I am going to do just that.. make it mine.. after the Japan tsunami/earthquake.. the scale of my fear is being adjusted.. and I no longer think I am actually going to die.. of course I still have been having my random waves of “oh my f&%# #%% #%$” moments.. but they pass way faster.. and I am now just taking in my little peanut pop.. and enjoying our last moments together.. before we become a family of four.. 

*****

on a different note.. I have finally crossed back over to the world of blond.. and it feels good.. no GREAT! it took 4 hair dies.. and finally a colourist change.. and I am in love.. it feels weird.. while I loved the bold dark chocolate browns.. I was not digging this in between stage.. 

and this morning when I got Olive out of bed.. she looked right up at me and goes “oh so beautiful mommy” .. it melted me heart.. her sentences are off the charts funny.. and it is so weird to see her communicate even better with us.. she had me and Dustin on the floor last night.. when he walked her dinner over to her.. she took one bite.. and goes 

oh daddy.. this is so delicious (deelish ish)

perfection!

balance..

March 12th, 2011

I cannot find the balance between cabin fever.. and mustering up the energy to get out of the house.. and if I do leave the house.. I barely have the energy to get us out of the car.. I think the fact that she is refusing a stroller.. and my belly is in the way to carry her.. is not helping our case.. 

oy veh

my shift last night at work was the longest in a while.. I came home with these.. 

tree trunk legs.. they were unbelievable.. me and Dustin couldn’t get over them.. I could barely make it up our stairs.. and thankfully Dust was up late and was able to give them a good lotion rub down.. but I woke up probably ten times last night from the pain.. and every time I rolled over.. it woke me up out of my sleep :S

at least I had a sweet little friend to play with all day.. Olive was off the charts.. while I was getting dressed.. she came up to me and fanned her hand over my outfit and goes.. 

oh.. so cute mama

thank you olive.. the compliments were appreciated! she now looks at me when I have said something random or not up to her standards.. and tilts her head to the side and goes.. mooooooom.. like she is 14 and I just tried to impress her friends with a lame joke.. 

I’m in trouble.. 

thank you Shelby :)

its instances like this.. that giving your love bug chocolate cake for lunch makes perfect sense!

March 11th, 2011

I don’t even know what to write about.. Japan was just hit by a tsunami.. and I feel sick to my stomach.. this world scares me right now.. to many things are happening.. and I am sad for the people who are touched by this right now.. which is essentially the whole world.. we have friends over there.. people we have met through student exchanges.. and still have strong relationships with..  and they are there right now.. and I pray for their safety.. 

It is a scary time to be living in this world right now.. and I truly believe that only the strongest of souls are coming back to be part of it.. things like this really connect our world together.. but it is so sad to think of how many people have to suffer before we will truly be one in the world.. 

I am praying for your safety Kazuma.. Maki.. Aya.. Keori and their families

may God give you strength.. 

technology what! ..

March 10th, 2011

today.. I logged off the computer.. not just put her to sleep.. I shut er down.. it felt great.. and the amount of times I wanted to run over to “quickly check” facebook.. or the weather.. I flashed back to the days when I never had a computer.. or facebook.. and did other things.. which is why this blog entry will be long.. by 9:30am.. I had baked a cake!  I should start by mentioning.. that I don’t even like chocolate cake.. its true.. if you threw the word Reese peanut butter in there.. I would give it a go.. but I am a vanilla lemon girl.. but after seeing these photos.. I have beencraving this cake.. 

image courtesy of Jenne Rosse.. courtesy of The Woodside Kitchen.. 

and because we have a family birthday tomorrow.. I made it.. because that person does LOVE chocolate cake.. and it was an excuse to make a little mini cake for me and Olive to snack on.. and I had never made a cake from scratch before.. 

it was AMAZING.. I will never go back to Betty Crocker boxes again.. ever! and it just cooked differently.. the taste is unbelievable.. and I wonder if I just wasn’t eating the right chocolate cake..  if you need to make a cake.. you must try this one!!  once the diabetes is gone.. I will be re visiting this treat of a recipe!!

on another note.. I cut Olives hair :0  I remember trying long ago.. and being too terrified to make a cut.. so after our bath today.. I was brushing out her hair while we brushed our teeth.. and I just knew today was the day.. (please note I don’t know how to cut hair).. while she was preoccupied.. I snipped.. and brushed.. and snipped some more.. and then I couldn’t stop.. I felt like I worked at a salon and I was unstoppable!! i had the good sense though to blow dry and now it is resting.. so that I could see what I got us into  before it shrunk up and scraggled.. and I am loving it.. I want to do more.. maybe with an actual pair of scissors that are meant for hair.. and not cutting paper and bags of chips open :0  

goodbye scraggles!! I have always known I wanted Olives hair short.. and now I am going to finish it off tomorrow.. a cute little pixie cut! (can you say living vicariously through her ;)  and then on saturday we are going to die it platinum blonde! kidding.. kidding.. 

and because I had so much time on my hands.. I did what I usually do.. I pulled out the old photo albums!! all my trips to Mexico.. San Fran.. Toronto.. going away parties..  and pics of me and Tiff as sweet little babies.. and many photos of me fresh faced.. and tanned.. and blonde :(

I cant even look at this photo.. 

I think this is what baby #2 is going to look like..

mini Heidi.. ( I dont know if this is me or tiff)

2003- how he never scooped me up and put a ring on my finger.. I will never know ;)

this was coachella.. circa 2004.. one of our best trips ever together! 

these photos have actually motivated me and pushed me for some more alone time with the daddy.. it sparked that little flame inside of my that gets burned down with babies.. work.. and putting everything else in front of myself.. I really want to go on a date night now!! 

ahh.. time to relax.. the dishwasher can wait!

week 29 belly comparison.. 

this is for you Tabitha!

If you drove past my home this afternoon. say noon-ish.. you probably would have thought it was on fire.. to be honest.. I am actually surprised that no one stopped in..  I made some cinnamon pull aparts a few days ago.. and went to turn on the oven.. I knew some of the corn syrup had fallen out of the pan and leaked everywhere.. so I thought I was being smart and firing up the oven while olive was awake.. instead of waking her up when the smoke alarms went off..  

instead.. dark grey smoke was billowing out of my oven.. and I opened every window and door to get it out of the house.. which only made things worse.. it just blew around the downstairs.. and took almost 2 hours to clean out.. I made Olive stand by the front door just for fresh air.. 

for those of you who have never been in my kitchen.. it normally looks like this.. 

** side note.. this blog entry took me 15 minutes to write.. because the smoke alarm went off again and olive was scared crap-less wondering why there was a firetruck in our living room.. maybe I just have a sensitive smoke alarm?!