Pruning

No more monkeys allowed in the trees!!

As I mentioned that I attended a pruning seminar, and Sunday was such a gorgeous day that we were outside for most of it. We accomplished so much...and I realized that I'm not allowed to climb trees right now. Somehow, I went from ladder rung up and up, and ended up in the tree. Oops!

Monkey Bread?

Ok, so it's not what you think. We had a great weekend getting the garden prepped for spring, as the weather has started to turn nice here in the Loops. I attended a pruning seminar on Saturday and before heading outside on Sunday, we needed to get all fed up! Daryl decided to make some monkey bread - thinking that anything you needed to bake that came in a box would have to be easy...well...that was before he read the instructions! At least he had a good sous!

Belly Bump & Nursery

Some long overdue shots of the nursery - now that almost everything is in place, and some of the belly at 29 weeks. Daryl is making some frames for mirrors that will go behind the crib, and there is still lots of wall-art left to go up - but the majority is done! Closets are installed, furniture is painted, window blinds were ordered and installed, ceiling fan & light is up, the shelf is painted and up...I think we're just about ready for a baby!

I will learn not to wear such dark sweaters when taking these shots...black is so slimming! HA!

The Next Big Question

Now that we've gotten over the fact that Daryl has NO idea what the sex of the baby is...(thank you Michelle!)...we can safely move on to the question that most people seem to be asking us these days..."do you know if it's a boy or a girl?". No, we don't know, and don't want to know. What I find to be most amusing these days is everyones thoughts or interpretations of everything that I'm doing, eating, feeling, looking...and coming up with their own rediculous presumptions and, of course, guesses. Comon people, you have a 50/50 chance at getting this right, you have better odds here than during the multiple choice exam you took back in grade 12 where you were told to pick "C" if in doubt.
I should have thought of this earlier...for everyone who has a guess at what we're having, you should write it down on a piece of paper, seal it within 3 envelopes and we can open it post-bebe birth. That way people can't change their answers!
Here are some interesting points incase you want to fathom a guess!

You're more likely to be carrying a boy if...

• your baby's heartbeat is lower than 140 beats per minute - nope, we're at 150
• you're carrying all out front - kind of all over the place
• you're carrying low - yup...just moved over the bellybutton!
• you're blooming in pregnancy - blooming? do they mean flowers?
• you didn't suffer from morning sickness in your first trimester - not one day!
• your right breast is bigger than your left - they are BOTH HUGE! what do I do with them?
• you look at yourself in the mirror for at least a minute and your pupils dilate
• you crave salty food or protein, such as cheese and meat - oh yah! I LOVE cheese!
• your feet become cold more quickly than before you were pregnant - kind of the same...
• you tie your wedding ring to some thread, hang it over your stomach and it moves in circles - I couldn't find thread for this one.
• your skin becomes dry - parts are dry, like my elbows and knees
• you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is even - what?
• your hair has become more full-bodied and shiny during pregnancy - OH YAH!
• the hair on your legs has been growing faster during pregnancy - nope...quite the opposite!
• you are more prone to headaches - have had only 1 in 6 months!
• your pillow faces north when you sleep - nope
• you're asked to show your hands and you present them palms down - depends who is asking
• you lie on your left side when sleeping - nope, on my belly, which is getting harder to do!
• your urine is bright yellow - sometimes!
• you were the more aggressive partner during love-making when you conceived -classified
• you eat a clove of garlic and the smell seeps out of your pores - doesn't it always?
• your previous child's first word was "dada". - Fletcher doens't speak English

You're more likely to be having a girl if...

• your baby's heartbeat is faster than 140 beats per minute - yup, 150
• you're carrying all round - at times, yes
• you're carrying high - nope
• you've missed the "blooming" period altogether - I still don't know what I am blooming
• you suffered morning sickness during your first twelve weeks - nope
• your left breast is bigger than your right - like I said, both huge.
• you look at yourself in the mirror for at least a minute, but your pupils don't dilate - didn't do this
• you crave sweet things, such as juice, fruit and sweets - I like sweet too...I like all food, actually!
• you tie your wedding ring to some thread, hang it over your stomach and it swings from side to side - still no string!
• your skin is soft - some places, for sure!
• you are more moody than usual - my parents and Daryl both say no - I got an unbiased opinion!
• you're asked to show your hands and you present them palms up - again, whose asking?
• you were the less aggressive partner during love-making when you conceived - classified
• you eat a clove of garlic, but you don't smell of it - I'm sure I would smell of it!
• you combine your age at the time of conception with the number of the month you conceived and the resulting number is odd - still don't get this!
• your hair has become thinner and dull during pregnancy - no way!
• you lie on your right side when sleeping - nope
• your pillow faces south when you sleep - nope
• your urine is dull yellow - sometimes
• your previous child's first word was "mama". - Fletcher still doens't speak English!

So, when you add it all up...there is no clear winner. I think I will try and find a poll to conduct on here...for the next 10 weeks we'll see what YOU think!

Oh, the Secrets that We Keep!

It's been 10 weeks since we had our ultrasound and confirmed that there was only one little monkey jumping in my belly. There are times it seems like it was yesterday, and times when it seems like I've been pregnant for YEARS and just want to meet this little person already! (I never was very patient...I have lots to learn). This morning, Daryl rolls over at 5:30am and says "So, should we just find out if we're having a boy or a girl?" I wasn't quite awake yet - but was now fully alert. We've had this conversation. I believe that if little monkey is healthy...and we know that there is only one, everything else is discovered only for convenience. At this point, if we were to find out, all it would do would be to tell us we can buy pink things or blue things. That's it. There is no other reason other than pure convenience (and lack of patience) that we would need to know this information. For thousands of years people did not have the medical marvels we do today...like ultrasounds...to tell the gender of your unborn child. We discussed it, and decided that we would wait. It is one of the few real surprises in life. And we only have another 10 weeks to go! COMMON!
But, Daryl has been holding in a secret. He knows. At least, he thinks he knows. When we had our ultrasound back in early December, he claims that the technician (who was very cold and mean and didn't say ANYTHING to us at all) swooped the beam over monkey's personal private area and Daryl was able to "see" and "tell" if we're having a girl or a boy. I didn't see anything. I was having a hard enough time telling the difference between the head and the spine when the baby was upside-down. It moved a lot...it wasn't just me. "It looks like a peanut" I remember thinking. Then it was an alien with VERY big eyes! Kind of freaky.
Anyhow, Daryl has been holding in his secret for 10 weeks. He wants to tell me, but I don't want to know. And besides, I don't think that he really knows. I mean, I know that he's smart and medically capable and has seen ultrasounds before - but he's not THAT good.
I'm trying to get him to call our good friend Michelle, who is an x-ray tech, who will convince him that there is no way he could have seen anything in the nano-second that the tech might have swooped over the area.
Either way, we have a Dr's appointment on Monday and I'm telling. Cause now Daryl won't tell me. I'm torn. But I know that he doesn't really know.
But it would make my shopping on e-bay so much easier!

This is a pee pee tee pee...Do I need to buy some of these?
To my defence, I've now told Daryl that I'm not going to tell him if I think that I'm in labour...or if he is away, that I'm in the hospital having the baby. He will just come home and there will be a new little person there too...he just stared at me...knowing that there is no way I could do this...but this is the rant of a pregnant woman! I could get away with a lot right now!

Day of Love

Wishing everyone a very happy St. Valentine's Day! I hope that you all have love in your heart and that your sweetie treats you better than you think you deserve to be treated!

Me & monkey at 28.5 weeks...
Me and chow this morning!

I promise to get some shots of Daryl too...

Justification

I've already admitted I have an addiction...and some of you out there are questioning my sense of reason...perhaps I've lost my mind since I'm growing a living, human person inside of me! Well, see for your self. Here are some of my recent purchases on e-bay...Lot of clothes from France - Jacadi, DPAM and Catimini. I paid $1.99 for this lot, and $4 for shipping.Brand new Lamaze pup-squeek toy thing. My girlfriend Laurie says her daughter Olivia just loves these bright toys...so what better way to start! This one is NEW with the tags and everything...$0.99! Brand new 100% organic Egyptian cotton baby kimono (long) $2.99. i also bought a short one for $0.99 Brand new with tags baby Gap 100% cotton kimono top with matching pants. $3.99 I love this t-shirt! 100% cotton, brand new with tags from Gymboree "silly monkey" shirt. It will fit monkey in a few months...about 12 I'd say...but it was too cute to pass up! $3.99 An absolutely gorgeous little outfit (100$ organic cotton) kimono and pant set from Janie & Jack - new with tags. It has a quilty look and feel to it. It is even more beautiful than the photo shows...I paid $5.99 for this! Finally, I bought one long-sleeved t-shirt and one baby gown from Under The Nile, both unbleached white 100% organic cotton. Paid $3.99 for the gown and $0.01 for the t-shirt! What!?! That's right!

I believe that the trick with e-bay is not to get attached to ANYTHING and set your maximum bid early - that way you won't feel the anxiety of having to bid at the last minute...and won't get sucked into the excitement! Find what you want...watch it and go for it. If it sells, oh well...chances are in a few days the same item will pop up again! Be patient...deep breath...it will all be ok!

Habits

Today is Ash Wednesday. I am suppose to give something up for the next 40 days in remembrance of the sacrifices made for mankind in the time preceding Easter. Since I'm "with child", I've already given up alcohol, I don't smoke, no drugs, already am eating very well, so I thought that I would give up my gambling habit.

It's hard to call something you do twice a year a habit, but it's the only thing I can think of right now. I won $100 on the outcome of the Super Bowl, which was great for me (and judo-monkey) because with those earnings I was able to purchase BOB! That's right...feeding my other habit of buying on e-bay I was the lucky winner of a 2008 BOB Revolution stroller in navy and black. We've been eyeing and shopping around for this stroller for quite some time..and as luck would have it...ours is now in the mail!
YIPPEE! I'm not going to gamble until next year.Don't even THINK about suggesting that I give up e-bay...SILENCE!

The Sacrifices We Make...

This morning I was subject to yet another pregnancy pre-baby test that was fit for a hummingbird. Hummingbirds like sugar water...so they would have loved to partake of the 500ml of sweet, orangey, tastes like a cross between flat-Crush and McDonald's orange drink that I had to chug on an empty stomach. I nearly gagged right there.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL!
Then I had to sit for an hour...did I mention that I hadn't eaten yet today...and wait until the lab-tech could suck the blood from my veins! I thought I was going to pass out...first from lack of food, then from the hummingbird water, then from the blood sample. I have never been a brave little toaster when it comes to needles or giving blood, but I've had my fair share and don't cry (as often) as I use to. Today I was very brave and remembered to breathe despite Daryl's absence...the tech was actually very gentle so I didn't have to smack her!
I understand that the glucose screening/tolerance test is required when you're at risk...but if I've had no signs to indicate anything...why do I need to subject myself to the torture!?!
Heading to work I became very light-headed and threw-up a little in the parking lot...but then I had a delicious blueberry and pecan muffin and cup of tea and feel much better, although I could use a nap.
The first of many sacrifices I will make for judo-monkey. Who, by the way, loved the hummingbird water and spent the whole hour doing flips and twists in the ever-decreasing confines of my belly. Silly monkey!

Welcome to February!

Well, it has come and gone...and I've got $100 more in my pocket! I bet on the underdogs, twice, and Daryl was rooting for New England - simply because they have good clam chowder. As previously mentioned, I was watching more for the commercials, which I must say, I was somewhat disappointed in. There were a few good ones, the e-trade baby ones were quite funny - but that could have just been the mood that I was in.

All in all, we had a great weekend. Chow had a bath - he was not impressed. We ate lots of good food, and I have money to spend on e-bay!don't tell me this is a dog who is TOO upset!

And you asked for it...here is a shot of me and my belly...two actually, one at 26 weeks (black sweater)and one taken on Saturday at 27 weeks (blue striped sweater) ...at least you can see a small bump now!

TV Works

Don't tell me that advertisements don't work. The other day I was watching a pre-view to the upcoming commercials during the 2008 super-bowl (admit it...this is the only reason you're watching the game too!) when along came the Anheuser-Busch clip where poor Hank chases his life-long dream of making the Budweiser Clydesdale team. The music mellows as he is passed over, with the coach saying "better luck next year". Hank is depressed, the music is depressing, and now...I am depressed...desperate to see what happens to Hank. I know there will be a happy ending...with the Bud commercials there always is...but this has gone on long enough...bring on the game! (and the chicken wings!)

It reminds me of a few years back...when BJ and I were watching TV at his place, I had my scrapbooking stuff skewed all about his living room floor (he was so patient with me!) just then...a commercial came on the screen, where an old desk lamp was being replaced with a new and improved, bright and shiny one. Day turns to night, the rain starts to fall, the music saddened, and the old lamp was left on the curb, atop a pile of garbage, looking up...so forlorn at the apartment window where the new lamp is now in it's place.

Just then...I said to BJ "I feel sorry for the lamp" and almost could have cried...at the same moment I finished my sentence and wiped a tear away, the Swedish voice asked us all "Do you feel sorry for the lamp?"
TV...are you talking to me?
"I do feel sorry for the lamp!" I exclaimed!
"That is because you are crazy" announced my Swedish friend from IKEA..."the new lamp is much better".


I couldn't shop at IKEA for a year.