Calming before the storm(ing)

[caption id="attachment_1975" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Snuggles for siblings[/caption]

Our current "child" is needy, high energy and relatively spastic most times.  When it is just G and I at home she calms down and is the snuggle bug we know and love.  When we have visitors? She won't settle, wants to jump and leap and lick everyone and just get all the attention from all the new people.  It is so overwhelming both for us and for those coming for a visit. We have been making such a huge effort with her lately to calm that wild spirit and get her to just relax.  We want everyone else to get to enjoy her the way we do...a snuggley, tooting, snoring, sweetheart.  Not a wild eyed, jumpy, nibbly, excited tinkler.

 I feel bad because lately she has been hearing a lot of "down, no, off, NO" from us...and yes I realize she is a dog, but she sure has the puppy dog eye look down pat to make us feel bad after we reprimand her.  We both just want her to be a good girl, and not accidentally smother/jump on the baby once that big change happens.  Everyone tells us how quickly the pup becomes second fiddle once a baby arrives, and I can definitely see that happening...I am just hoping we are able to keep working with her over the next two months and tame some of that wild puppy spirit.  I tried explaining to her this morning that she will be spending a LOT of time in the newly fenced in yard if she doesn't simmer down, at least a little.  I am sure once Gus starts eating some real food, Brooklyn will realize that the baby is her meal ticket (or snack ticket I guess?!) but until then I just sense her getting annoyed that someone else has her parent's full attention.  (I guess I should say owners?  But it's hard not to think of her as our fur baby..maybe that is the problem hahaha)

iStalker

My friend Harrison and his parents gave us a really cool shower gift.  This baby monitor from Apple...we set it up last night and it is really cool.  We were playing with it last night and decided it set it up in the kitchen today so we can see what Brooklyn does while we are at work.[gallery type="square" ids="2025,2023,2024"]

It is no wonder why she is all pumped up and raring to go when we get home! She spends the day in her bed.  This is definitely a fun piece of technology that is going to be really neat to have to spy on the baby..oh wait I mean keep an eye on the baby.

How I'm feeling lately (Vol. 3)

[caption id="attachment_1980" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Granted I am wearing Birkenstocks not Givenchy, but the feeling is the same[/caption]

Image found here

[caption id="attachment_1981" align="aligncenter" width="388"] I feel like I could fall asleep anywhere at any time.[/caption]

Image from here

I think it has just been the heat the past few days but holy smokes I am just feeling all kinds of swollen and tired.  I had a doctors appointment mid day yesterday so took the day off work.  When I got home I hit the couch and forced Brooklyn to snuggle with me for a glorious nap.  I know that exercise is so important when pregnant, but the past few days it has consumed all of my energy just to remain standing and awake while necessary.   REALLY looking forward to the heat breaking later this week.  Again, extremely thankful for the bedroom air conditioner my Mum got us!

A Boy and his Dog

When we got Brooklyn I really thought she would be our dog. Loving the two of us equally with her whole puppy heart.  This has not so much been the case. She is 100% a Daddy's girl. It doesn't matter that I am the one who walks her, and 9 times out of 10 feeds her, if she has her choice between me and G...she is ALL his.  I keep having this vision of Gus and Brooklyn all snuggled up with G and me all alone on the couch. Ha (clearly I have a flair for the dramatic)

This is a picture G sent me the other weekend when he and his girl were out running some errands.  She is just chilling and supervising from her fave perch--front seat of the truck.  Poor thing, I wonder if she knows what craziness is about to be upon her...someone else who will be requiring more of her Dad's attention.  At least the baby won't be riding shot gun in the car anytime soon.

How I'm feeling lately (Vol. 2)

[caption id="attachment_1971" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Gus vs Bladder[/caption]

The past week or so I have been spending an insane amount of time peeing.  (sorry for the TMI y'all)  When I look at the amount of liquid intake vs how often I have to go, the numbers just don't add up.  It would seem that Gus Gus has taken up residence chilling on top of my bladder.   I was joking around with G and told him I would find a picture to accurately highlight my feelings.  Gus is angry looking kid in the yellow, my bladder is the whiny one all arm-barred into submission.

Father's (to be) Day

Father's day is coming this weekend and it has suddenly taken on a whole new meaning to me.  I am pretty gushy sentimental (as if you couldn't guess) so I wanted to do something fun/special for he who I am about to make a father.  All of my ideas involved a bunch of money which isn't so practical at the moment so instead I bought a gift that is sort of for G but mostly for the babe

[caption id="attachment_1925" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Starting Gus's love of reading as soon as possible[/caption]

There was a Father's Day section at Chapters where I spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to pick out the perfect book. So obviously I ended up with two. A super cute animal one and then one about  building a dog house with Daddy.  I couldn't pass up either one.  I just thought G could read them to Gus when s/he arrives and I will just melt into a puddle of hormonal goo at how cute that would be.

I like the idea of starting some sort of Father's day tradition(s).    Letting him sleep in will likely be gift enough at that point!

Anyone have any fun/fond memories of things they did with their Dads when they were little?  One of my nicest memories is watching The A-Team with my Dad.  Fun and full or Mr. T,  but not necessarily what I  have in mind.

Weekend Report--the Ontario Road trip edition

This past weekend was amazing but not all that restful.  We (mostly Garret) did a lot of driving and had some great adventures.

Friday night I stayed downtown after work and went to see the NKOTB, Boys II Men and 98degrees concert.  My friends husband was given box seats which he generously bestowed upon us.  My Mum took me to see the New Kids in '91 or '92 and it was my first concert, and now 20 odd years later it was Gus's first concert too!  G is slightly worried I am skewing the babes musical taste, but really who doesn't love 90's music?

[caption id="attachment_1917" align="aligncenter" width="388"] The girls and Gus enjoying snazzy seats at the ACC. Anxiously awaiting our former teenage dreams hahaha[/caption]

Saturday morning my throat was sore and I think G was embarrassed on my behalf to hear that I was actually screaming my head off all night.  I am sorry but when Jordan Knight tells you to scream? you SCREAM with all you have.  Michelle and I drove back to Barrie and didnt get home until 1am (which for this pregnant chick is crazy late)

Saturday morning we were up early and drove up to North Bay to celebrate G's Grandma's birthday--I will have to upload pictures from the other camera.  It was a long trip, but definitely worth it to spend some time with family and eat a ton of baked goods.  We drove home Saturday night and just took it easy on the mega couch.

Sunday morning we headed off to Niagara with some friends for a prebooked Wag Jag night away.

[caption id="attachment_1918" align="aligncenter" width="388"] This was the only way we could figure out a "falls view" room. hahaha G is very creative.  We actually overlooked a gorgeous parking lot...oooh fancy[/caption]

We walked around for hours and took some pictures of the falls and had some relaxing time on a very loud (and grossly sticky) patio

[caption id="attachment_1919" align="aligncenter" width="388"] First family photo in Niagara[/caption]

I also made a valiant attempt to recreate a photo we took 6 years ago but kind of missed the mark:

[caption id="attachment_1920" align="aligncenter" width="310"] the top picture is from 2008 when Garret surprised me with a night away for my birthday. Side note: I am wearing the same sunglasses, and he is still crazy handsome. [/caption]

We got back to Barrie on Monday afternoon and did some house work (thrilling as it sounds)  G moved the bed out of our spare room and we moved the crib (gulp) up in it's place.  We haven't built it yet, but this gets the giant box out of our hallway so that is a start.

[caption id="attachment_1921" align="aligncenter" width="388"] One step closer to being a room ready for a baby.[/caption]

It seems that each day something happens to make us feel a little more ready or freaked out or "ermagerd this is actually happening"ish.   While we were watching a show before bed Gus was being particularly active and G finally got to feel a kick/jab (or "upper cross" if you ask him)  These things happen and then we look at each other and query if this really is happening? We are having a baby?! Then we laugh and make jokes about the babe and try to enjoy these last glimpses of what soon shall be 'what was'.

So THESE are hormones Part 2

Alternate post title:  Things I have cried about thus far while pregnant (part 2)

1. When Brooklyn was with my father in law for a week and I just missed her smooshy face oh so much


2. When we went to pick up our Storm Doors (on sale no less) only to be told that while the flyer neglected to mention it, the dark colour that we wanted would be an extra $200/door.  Insane bawling the whole way home. Garret's attempt at comfort "the baby won't know we don't have new storm doors....I love you... want a popsicle/frosty/sandwich"


3. The morning after as I remembered a dream of Garret leaving me for some imaginary lady and being mean. oooh pregnancy dreams can be brutal


4. When we got Brooklyn back and she peed in the house one time so I started panicking and crying (thankfully this was just once)


5. When my peanut butter cookies I made as a surprise for G looked like a bar instead of like cookies (still tasted awesome so all was fine)

I usually run pretty high on the emotional scale.  To quote Kristen Bell on Ellen "if I am not between a 3-7 I am crying"  But to be honest this whole pregnancy thing is really throwing me for a loop.  I feel my eyes welling up at completely ridiculous times (see #2--I had to rush out of Lowes and wait in the car due to utter devastation re storm doors) Luckily G is really good at making me laugh about it without feeling like he is laughing at me.  However I feel badly subjecting him to so many tears and then me feeling pretty idiotic when explaining I am crying because I made him delicious things that just don't look enough like cookies.

To be continued over the next 4 months I am sure

Weekend Report: The learning edition

We had a pretty ram packed weekend but all in all it was quite lovely.  Friday night G, Gus and I went to see Fast and the Furious 6...definitely an Oscar contender for this coming season.  All these movies are pretty ridiculous, but we LOVE going to watch them together, and whenever there was a lot of engine revving (which was clearly a lot in this movie) Gus would wiggle around...perhaps not a fan of loud noises like their Mumma?

Saturday we had our labour and delivery class with a really amazing nurse from Barrie.  We learned a lot, and G asked a lot of questions which made me feel good.  He said that he feels like he understands a lot more about what will be happening now so he is more comfortable with the whole thing.  We have some homework readings to do together so we can be even more prepared, but I feel that we are at least on the same page about how things are going to happen. We had friends up Saturday night for a BBQ and hang out session...they are also expecting and due a month after us so G lovingly explained all the scary stuff to the husband.  He visibly blanched when G explained about an episiotomy . haha (I am so proud he retained all that info!)

Sunday we headed to our newborn care class and again learned a lot.  I think that this made things even more real which is fun. Obviously we both know we are having a baby, but getting detailed info about how to take care of one brought us to a whole new level.  I know that a lot of it will be instinct and we will learn as we go, but I think we both feel a lot more confident now about certain things. We were both frantically taking notes in the "when baby is sick" section of the class.  We were joking about how we will obviously have our doctor on speed dial and be best friends with all the call centre workers at telehealth!    After class we headed to visit my father in law for supper and to pick up Brooklyn.  Clearly I took the cutest picture ever and posted it yesterday!  It is so nice to have her home, we missed that little bum--She has been christened "Bubble Guts" by G's dad as he was accidentally fattening her up all week...there was a slight miscommunication regarding how much food she gets, and as she indeed is a bubble guts she ate all that he set down for her...so its to weight watchers for the little miss this week.

So all in all a great weekend, we didn't get to get as much done around the house as we wanted, but we did get to see the fruits of G's lawn labour from a few weeks ago.  Our lawn wasn't looking so great after the winter, so about 3 weeks ago G put down some seed in the gross areas and we kind of prayed that the rain would do its job.  Last night we noticed that the areas are starting to fill in nicely! Hurrah...cross one thing off the list!  Our gardens have been so jungle-ish lately they are unbelievable.  Our longer term plan is to dig a few of them out because they are a lot to handle, but fortunately a gardening fairy stopped by last week and took care of two of them for us!   Our lawn has been a never ending attempt to repair project--the previous owners never  mowed it and it was full of crab grass, dandelions and the like.  For the past two summers we have invested in grass seed and fertilizer and are slowly seeing a difference, but man alive what a lot of work...astro turf for the next house!

And now a few random pictures:

[caption id="attachment_1909" align="aligncenter" width="388"] A fun pic my Mum sent me on Saturday night of her and my Nanny having a wee drink on her porch![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1910" align="aligncenter" width="388"] My sister in law got us this which we finally started on the weekend. Then promptly fell over realizing how soon this is![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1911" align="aligncenter" width="388"] FOUND THEM!!!! A random Timmies Kiosk at my work has these...made my day today[/caption]

It's a....

Baby...ha, we didn't find out. But here is your first glance of our sweet babe Gus:

[caption id="attachment_1873" align="aligncenter" width="388"] And for inquiring minds: That is a leg thankyouverymuch[/caption]

It was  unbelievable to finally get to see what this little one looks like. When we had our earlier ultrasound it looked like a sea monkey. Still exciting but very less babyish.

This time the technician was laughing and asking me if I could feel "all that movement" I said only a little bit, and she turned the screen towards me so I could see the wiggling pile of baby that is Gus.  She said that the baby was having a dance party in there (clearly my child!) After she did all the measurements she called Garret in to have a look.  It was really awesome to see his face as he saw our baby.  It was an emotional moment for us and I think really drove it home that we are having a BABY.  Also reassuring that I am not just getting fat and emotional for no apparent reason! haha

Of course we think that Gus is perfect looking with a beautiful nose and lips, we are so happy the profile picture turned out so well!  Watching the babe flip around and stretch in there was just the neatest thing--I could have watched for hours.  I love that we now have an idea of a face to put to this little thing boogieing around inside me all the time.  It is magical and yet oh so strange to love something so much that you can't quite comprehend even exists.

The one with the hungry pregnant lady

Yesterday at work we had a baby shower for another colleague. There was cake. I may or may not have been looking forward to said cake all week.  The morning seemed to drag on to infinity (before the shower at 11) This was me:

[caption id="attachment_1866" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Preach Stanley[/caption]

I just realized that once Gus comes I will have no excuse for being a sweets spaz. This saddens me. boo.

Long weekend Run Down

[caption id="attachment_1860" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Livin' Young and Wild and Free[/caption]

As thrilling as this likely seems....the above is (what I hope) a breakdown of this upcoming long weekend.  We have been out and about the past few weekends and have more events coming in the next few weeks. As a result our wee house is feeling a bit neglected...AND my early onset nesting nestyness is freaking out.

G and I tend to have a slight time management disagreement disorder.  He feels it is entirely possible to watch 5 movies, hang out with friends, go away over night and still somehow manage to accomplish 500 home related tasks.  I have learned that this is not even close to the truth and tends to leave me just annoyed drowning in a pile of laundry and grocery bags at the end of the weekend. And so my to do lists have been coming out to help keep us focused when we try to plan home things.  I get that a long weekend is kind of a downer weekend to be stuck at home working, but if I have to deal with the pile of lumber that has been taking up half my small hallway any longer, I will lose my ever loving mind.  (ed note: it has been there since Feb when we first discussed doing built ins for our room)  

In order to make these tasks fairly weighted between the two of us I am tackling the bathroom reno with the help of my Mum and her trusty favourite paint brush.  I figure over three days we can pretty easily get all the work done (I am thinking it will just take most of one day to paint and reassemble the new vanity etc in bathroom)  I will take some before pictures of the weird purple colour and impractical vanity that was left there from previous owners...I think that this point anything will be an improvement!

Wish me luck in us accomplishing all of this..or at least luck with me keeping G focused for three whole days hahaha

The elusive pregnancy craving

Once upon a time I came across Cherry Timbits at a Tim Horton's.  They were life changing.  G thought I was making it up until one day we found another Tim's that also carried them.  Long story short, these timbits are hard to find and most Timmies don't carry them.  They are ALL I WANT TO EAT lately...and none of the Tim's near me or work or anywhere reasonable for me to go has them.  Tis a sad sad day for Gus and I, let us move on to a more easily accessible craving choice shall we? please?!

Early Onset Nesting

I have been feeling rather panicked lately about all the things that need to get done around the house.  We tend to talk in circles trying to decide what should be prioritized and what we can hold off on.  In a moment of trying to feel focused yesterday I made a list and sent to Garret at work.  Perhaps was a little overwhelming?  But holy smokes October is going to be here before we know it! Plus I have a sneaking suspicion we will have an even harder time focusing on house stuff once Junior arrives.

These are the main things I would really like to get done before Gus comes:

1. Trim on the door in downstairs bathroom


2. Paint downstairs bathroom


3. Swap out the sink downstairs bathroom


4.  Carpet the stairs


5. paint the railing and spindles (not a super priority)


6.  Backsplash in kitchen (we could just paint it before we decide to do something else...then it looks pretty and less boring)


7.  Builtins in bedroom


8. Hanging all the frames on the wall in our room


9.  Getting bathtub reglazed


10.  Fence


11. Garden maintenance


12. Powerwash/sand/paint front porch..lighting if we are feeling crazy?


13. New storm doors for kitchen door and front door


14.  Nursery will likely just involve hanging a few shelves and maybe some art over the crib? Nothing dramatic and I already like the paint colour in there. Oh and some sort of closet organization system.


15. ok I am done for now.

His response was along the lines of: "we will make a plan of attack later...when I am not at work...on a Monday morning"  Some of the heavy lifting construction jobs I will have to bow out of for now, but if we start doing some things before I am 30lbs heavier and it is 30 degrees hotter out I think we have a good chance of getting things completed.  I have roped my darling Mum into coming for a day or two next weekend to help me get the downstairs bathroom done (hurray)  I feel if we pick certain jobs and pick when we can work on them stuff will get done.  It is that whole "oh at some point we should do this" attitude that we seem to thrive on which I fear will lead to me bringing Gus home to a house that continues to look like a construction site.  Every new mothers dream, am I right?!

So THESE are hormones

Alternate post title:  Things I have cried about thus far while pregnant

1. An episode of Shark Tank where a really passionate lady didn't get her product backed.


2. Garret went grocery shopping (apparently I was really thankful?)


3. I left Brooklyn with my mother in law for the week


4. My nephew just is so cute


5. Someone asked me if I was ok


6. The horrendous vet bill quote to fix Brooklyn's teeth


7. Hearing Gus' heartbeat at my midwife appointment


8. Watching Wreck it Ralph (the part where he wrecks the candy car "for her own good"...bawling at a kids movie....


9. G made fun of my indecisiveness at Marble Slab (not full on tears but there was some welling happening....it was HARD to choose my ice cream mixins)


10. Being unable to get an earlier ultrasound appointment

Stay tuned as this ridiculous list shall just keep getting longer and stranger I'd imagine.

Expressing Ourselves

When we first found out we were pregnant we had lofty plans for how we would tell our families that we were having a baby.  But then we were way too excited and told them in a pretty straight up "guess who is having a baby"? type of way.  Our Mums lucked out and each got a framed pic of a pregnancy test with the words "Baby Walsh" on the bottom....classy right?  I think our excitement trumped our creativity there.

We tried to make plans  to put a little more effort into it when we told some of our friends...but my graciously turning down wine at Garret's birthday weekend was enough of a tell for all the guests there.  As we started telling more people we made time to make a few fun things.  Two of our friends are REALLY into the Grumpy Cat Meme so we made this to send:

My friend Harrison texted me immediately after laughing saying "I thought you were telling me you are pregnant"  then two seconds later another text "THAT IS YOUR WEDDING RING"  Definitely some good laughs there.

I had been bugging Garret for a few weeks to make something cute we could send to his family to tell them.  I was thinking something along the lines of a picture with one of our favourite Iphone Aps to snazz it up.  He spent some time goofing around with his phone and when he sent me what he made I had to laugh.  Not quite what I had in mind

[caption id="attachment_1755" align="aligncenter" width="388"] Ice Cube is obviously delighted for us[/caption]

Granted I found this hilarious and so did several of our other friends, but I am pretty sure none of his family listens to Ice Cube so the novelty would have been lost.