January Update

Well, we've been taking photos of the baby-bump progress, but I think they all look horrible and wasn't about to post any of them for the rest of the world to see. Instead, you get to see photos of what we've been up to for the last 2 days...installing hardwood flooring at my parents place. It has been...interesting...between my dad nearly shooting Daryl a few times with the air nailer and breathing in our faces...literally, my mom barking orders and removing the imperfect pieces and the chow laying in the middle of it all...I'm exhausted...and I didn't even do much of the work! Poor Daryl...he looks exhausted...time for a hot tub!

Oh, and I've completely lost my mind on e-bay!

Photos

here is a photo of the crib that we purchased
a photo of the ADORABLE little sheepskin coat that I bought on e-bay for $2.66! I know it won't fit judo-monkey until 12 months...but WHATEVER!here is a shot of the stroller that we want...BOB. Really...that's its name!

Addiction

Over the past several months, I've been posting various comments about my pregnancy and the fact that I don't seem to have any of the typical symptoms, and that Daryl says my only complaint is that I have nothing to complain about. Well, I don't have a complaint, but I think I've found a symptom...and yes, we can call it an addiction.

I'm addicted to e-bay. Laugh now...fine...get it over with...but for those of you who don't know the amazing things that you can find on this place...you must check it out. For those of you who are skeptical, well, have faith.

For the last few months, I've been doing my duty of reading about all the "must-haves" for the baby and for those of you who know me, you know that I like lists and organization. I know that all that is about to change in less than 4 months with the arrival of our little judo-monkey, but I can still get my fill before the arrival. So, I've been making lists of the things that we need, such as crib, car-seat, stroller etc...and let me tell you! There are deals out there to be had!

This is what I've purchased so far...

Graco Pack'N Play which retails for over $130...and I paid $34!!! Canadian!

Baby Bjorn baby carrier which sells for $120 in local stores...I paid $13!!

Storkcraft Crib! which sells for $450 at Baby's 'R Us and we paid $250. Ok, this was an Internet find...not e-bay...but still!

Maternity clothes! I've paid about $40 total and have 15 pairs of pants and over 20 tops! One set that I found on e-bay I won for $7 and it was for 8 pairs of pants. Jeepers! Even if only one of the pairs of pants fit...it would be worth it! $7!!

And currently I am bidding on other items like a high-chair, new car seat, stroller, new glass baby bottles and other things that are just so gosh-darn-cute!

I don't think that I've been going nuts...but I know that this must stop soon. My mom asked Daryl to make me stop...but when you're saving hugs dollars on each purchase, why should I stop! I'm practically making money on the deal!

New Year's Bash in K-Town

In addition to the Christmas celebrations, Daryl, Fletcher, Zara and I took a little road trip to Kelowna to celebrate New Year's at Randy & Michelle's place, along with Cheryl and Andy & the entire kiddie brood. We were dog-sitting Zara for Kristen who returned to Montreal to the holiday season. Zara and Fletch were house-mates for a while, but I don't think that he was too impressed with having to share his Christmas treats and snacks with someone else...Chow was spoiled by Rachel on the 1st - she made him a cozy bed with pillow and blanket...we didn't have the heart to tell her that he was boiling under the layers, especially with the fur coat! But I think he was pretty happy to have the love and attention!And finally one shot of the nursery...now that it is 99% complete (except for furniture). We have recevied over the years, many pieces of hand-me-down furniture including dressers and tables, which I have now found a use for! I originally painted this yellow and gold dressers a cream colour, but will now put a coat of white over-top and it will make the perfect change table! We also have the matching high-boy, so it will be just awesome for the little monkey!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm going to get right to it...cause there is lots to talk about! First off - Happy New Year to everyone out there! I hope that 2008 is the best year yet! Stay happy and healthy!

Ok, let's take a few steps back. Daryl arrived home just before Christmas after spending a few days in Whitehorse with Sherri and time spent visiting friends and family that he hasn't seen in a quite some time. Although the weather was cold (I was told) spirits were high as the holiday season came speeding ahead. December 22 saw the arrival of Twyla, Gil and Tia-pet for a too-quick over-night visit. We had as many of Twyla's family members over as we could think of that evening for a pre-Christmas gathering. It was great to re-meet everyone and to share some laughs. Gary - we are certainly coming this summer for a music jam session!

It was such a pleasant holiday season all-round, because for the first year that I can remember, Daryl and I didn't have to drive anywhere! With my parents living just down the street, and everyone else coming to see us - we couldn't have had a more relaxing time. Our living room furniture arrived just in time as well - so we all didn't have to sit on the floor!

Christmas Eve was a quite day as we prepared to cook a 3-rib prime rib complete with all the fixin's! It was delicious - and the ambiance and company was just wonderful. We have been so thankful for the gifts received over the years, including our wedding. We received a very special wine decanter from Holi and John that we use quite often - but on this special day, we opened a 1998 bottle of Chateauneuf-du-Pape that was purchased when Daryl and I were in France in 2002. Although I could only have a small glass - it was absolutely yummy! I'm a firm believer that life is much too short to drink cheep wine! YUM! Monkey loved it too!Christmas Day brought to our oven a 29lb turkey...for 4 people. Yes, we are still eating turkey - but it was the best darn bird you have ever tasted! On the 27th my mom and I made 8 turkey-pot-pies, which are all resting comfortably in the freezer, waiting for the next turkey craving!
Boxing Day was an adventure, as Daryl set out at 6am to Future Shop for our last Christmas gift - a new SLR digital camera. He arrived at 6:03am and they were already sold out of the model on sale...so we ended up with the newer version with more bells and whistles than we know what to do with...but it came with an amazing telephoto lens that can focus on the clock on our neighbours microwave over 500m away! Very scary! So, the first few photos here are with our original camera, and after December 26 they are with the new one...can you see the difference?

The next few days were spent continuing with the home renovations. Not that Christmas isn't special and a time to rest and relax - but there is only so much eating and talking that you can do! Daryl and my dad continued with the tile installation at the front entrance, first with the thin-set layer and under-lay, laying tile, grout and finally sealing the whole deal. It looks AMAZING! But then there was the hardwood to continue to the stair edge too. They both worked so hard, but the end results are fabulous!

Following the adventures upstairs, Daryl decided that he was in the mood to attack the last bit of flooring on the main level which required the removal of the old terra-cotta-type tiles, grinding the 30 year old concrete mortar and then laying the new hard-wood floors. We learnt our lesson from the dust disaster that happened upstairs with the electric grinder, so Daryl - not wanted to upset his pregnant wife, rented an exhaust fan to suck all the dust out of the house as it was generated by the grinder. Well done Daryl, well done! With only a minor clean-up to follow, I was in much better spirits this time! And, once again, the finished product looks just amazing! I can't believe how different and what an improvement it all makes. And who knew that adding furniture to our empty living room would actually make it look smaller!
Do I work him too hard?