Thursday, June 30, 2011

i was showered with lots of love

I must say I have some of the best friends going! Last Thursday night, the girls decided to throw this lucky girl a baby shower. Being my second time around, I really didn't expect such a thing, but hey, this girl is not going to complain. I love love love a good party! The night was full of yummy food, lots and lots of laughter and it was a party that reinforced how much love the little bean is already surrounded by. Once again, I want to send out a big thank you to my girl Sam for hosting such a great shindig, and to all the girls for bringing such scrumptious food and beautiful gifts for the little man. I can't tell you enough how much it means to our family that we are bringing our son into a world filled with love. Here's a little peek into a fantastic night with great friends and some of the awesome goodies I received.
We sure did fill our bellies.
The dessert table was my favourite, of course!
It's a boy...
Thanks Jennie for making your awesome cupcakes.
Too cute, loved the topper.
Group shot of the ladies.
One of the last pics just days before Sara welcomed her beautiful son into the world. Congrats again, and I can't wait to meet baby Jaxson.
Excited to try this rocker out, I never had one with Little Miss L. I like the fact that it is suitable for a toddler once they hit the older stage.
The little man's wardrobe has begun.
I have been a little worried about changing our little man's diaper, especially after dealing with a girl for the last 20 months. I am excited to try out this cool gift. I will let you know how it works out.
I was super pumped to receive this blanket.  Little Miss L. received a few and they turned out to be her favourite thing. She carries it around with her wherever she goes and it is a must sleep-time friend. 

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

it was a packed weekend

I am a few days behind on my posts, as many of you have noticed. No, I did not go into labour, but instead, I have been dealing with a little girl who has decided she no longer would like to nap during the day or sleep through the night. I think I have heard every excuse going as to why she is unable to go to bed. At the top of Little Miss L.'s list are - she needs water, needs to blow her nose, needs her diaper changed, needs pillows, and she wants to give everyone in the household a kiss for the hundredth time. The lack of sleep is starting to catch up and I have absolutely no energy for anything hence no blogging at the moment. I realized I needed to suck it up and probably start getting used to the idea of no sleep because I am sure in a few months the little bean is going to want to keep his momma up as well. So, here it goes folks, and be prepared because it's a long one...

Last weekend was a busy one. We packed up the family and headed down to my parents' house for the weekend. As many of you are aware, I really wanted to have another pregnancy photo shoot before the little man arrived. Our busy schedule and the photographer's just seemed to clash and there were no available spots until the end of July. I was a little worried to leave it that late, as you never know when the bean might decide to make his appearance. All that was laid to rest last Thursday as the photographer had canceled her out of town trip and was available to take some pics on Friday. As soon as I read the e-mail, I was in full panic mode... I was not mentally ready for this. I did not have any outfits picked out, I did not have time to get a manicure or pedicure, and the forecast was calling for thunderstorms all day; perfect, there goes my idea for some outdoor photos. The hubby could see the panic in my eyes, and told me there was no need to worry that things would all work out. Thursday night, I started the search through our closet for something that would work. Nothing was looking appealing, so I decided to call it quits and make a decision in the morning. Friday morning arrived and the rain was pouring down. I went to the closet and grabbed whatever I could and hoped for the best. As it turns out, the hubby was right, we made it to our appointment on time, were able to get a few shoots with Little Miss L. before she totally lost it, and the rain held off for a little while just enough for us to get some outdoor shoots. Even though we were unorganized, I have high hopes we will receive some memorable photos soon and of course I will share some with all of you!
Am I not the cutest thing ever?!?!
Saturday arrived and I knew it was going to be a tough one. The previous week, we had booked a check-up appointment for Toby. You might be wondering why I thought bringing a 5 pound dog for a check-up would be tough, but let me tell you, he can be deceiving. A normal 15 minute appointment turned into an hour long wrestling match. Toby need his booster shot, as well as a yearly blood sample. Four adults and a muzzle later, we were finally able to collect the sample needed and leave the appointment... it seriously felt like I had just left the gym because I was so exhausted. The rest of the day was spent running errands and snagging a few deals.
I don't know what they are talking about, I really don't have attitude... I just like to stand my ground.
Last but not least was Sunday. I had been looking forward to Sunday for some time, as it was our annual family bbq at my aunt and uncle's cottage. I love love love being on the water, and enjoying time outdoors. As we woke up on Sunday morning, mother nature blessed us with rain. Grrr, I was looking forward to throwing on Little Miss L.'s bathing suit and taking her in the water for the very first time since moving back to Canada. It rained on and off throughout the morning, but there was someone out there doing the rain dance for us because it finally decided to stop just before we arrived at the cottage. Even though it was too cold for us to get into our swimsuits and hit the water, we still had a great time surrounded by family. I love family get-togethers in the summer - there is nothing like it! I was able to snap a few photos at the cottage, I hope to be back again soon!
There were a few that decided they could brave the cold water, and rev up the jet ski.
Little Miss L. was in love with the trampoline.
Relaxing by the water, enjoying our summer months.
She's stylin' and she knows it.
This is the first time in several years that everyone was able to attend the bbq. It was definitely time for an updated family photo.
Little Miss L. loved spending time with her cousin.
The whole family once again - must say they are a pretty good lookin' group :)

Friday, June 24, 2011

33 weeks

Weekly e-mail update:He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
How far along?: 33 weeks
How big is baby?:This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark.
Weight gain?: As of last week, I was up 19 pounds. I haven't weighed myself this week... let's hope I didn't pack on any more.
Stretch marks?: Not yet. Lathering up the lotion. There have seen a few blood vessels that have popped.
Maternity clothes?: Have mostly been wearing dresses, they are so easy to wear and comfy when pregnant.
Food cravings?: Still on the apple kick.
Sleep?: Sleep has improved this week. I have been more comfortable lately, I haven't had as many bathroom breaks. The only complaint I have is the nasty leg cramps I have been getting in the middle of the night.
Gender?: Our little girl is going to have a brother.
Exercise?: Definitely slacked this week!
What's been going on?: This week has been a busy one, we have been on the go all week. Daddy has been home, and it has been great to spend the extra time with him. Daddy was in working mode, we finally finished staining the change table for the little guy's room (pictures to come soon). I was super excited this week because I had my ultrasound. It has been awhile since I saw the little guy, so I was anxious to see the difference from the last time. He is right on track and weighs over 3 1/2 pounds. The technician confirmed that our little guy was still indeed a boy, she also pointed out that he has some chubby cheeks on the go. It was great to see the little one growing bigger each day, I can't wait until I am able to hold him. To finish off the week, my girlfriends threw a beautiful baby shower. It was great to see everyone, and share my happiness of bringing another bundle of joy into the world. I must say this little one is spoiled already! Thanks again to all you wonderful ladies, it was a great night.
33 week belly.
33 week belly with pregnancy #1.
Pregnancy #1- look how high and pointy Little Miss L. was.
Little Miss L. decided she wanted to get in on the action today.
Mommy, why doesn't my belly look like yours?
Thanks again ladies for the awesome baby shower!

Thursday, June 23, 2011

ladybug themed party

Does your little one love love love ladybugs? Are you planning a party sometime soon? Look no further - a ladybug theme for a birthday party is easy and fun to plan. For Little Miss L.'s first birthday, I thought long and hard about what was suitable as a theme for her big day. At the time, she was not really into cartoons or characters on television, but there was one thing I knew captured her attention... whenever my baby would see a ladybug, she would get so excited. One of my favourite nicknames for her is my "lil'bug" so it seemed to be the perfect fit.

Invitations were made with red and black card stock. Red for the main body with black spots scattered about. The information was written in silver pen and then sealed within a black envelope.

Little Miss L. rose to the occasion and wore a little ladybug dress (I received this adorable outfit at my baby shower). To finish off the look, she wore black shoes - she looked so cute!
For decorations, we stuck with red and black, of course. The tables were covered with red table cloths and we added black napkins. For the rest of the decor, we used red and black balloons and paper streamers, all found at our local party supply store.
Next I decided to take a swing at making my very first fondant cake EVER! I must say that it took some time (okay, a lot of time) but now that I know what I am doing, the second time around should be smooth sailing. I made multiple cakes: one main, large cake, a cake for Little Miss L. to smash and several mini ladybug cakes for the little kiddies that would be joining us at the party. The kids loved having their very own cake - I will definitely do individual cakes again... I think they would make great party favors.
The dessert table.
One of the mini cakes I made for each of the kids.
Little Miss L. wasn't to sure what to think of the cake but it didn't take her long to decide she really liked it.
Finger lickin' good!
To close things off, it was gift opening time. Daddy and mommy were sure to wrap all of Little Miss L.'s presents in red wrapping paper with black ribbon. To end the party on a high note, Little Miss L.'s god-mommy knew the perfect gift... it was just so fitting :)
God-mommy got Little Miss L. her very own ladybug to ride around on!
Little Miss L. ready for Carnaval in Portugal.

Our little bug, she loves them so much that she was one for Halloween.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

mirror mirror on the wall...

You may remember my previous post where I spoke of the dilemma I was faced with in our master bedroom - we had an empty wall between the closet and our bathroom which looked bare and lonely, and lacked character. I knew I wanted something large to fill the space but I didn't quite know exactly what. I headed out on the search for an object that would fit just right. My search was short-lived as soon as I came across Mongstad at Ikea. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was the solution to my problem. "Who is Mongstad?" might you ask... well, Mongstad is a full-length mirror which can be hung horizontally or vertically, with a big chunky frame. When I caught a glimpse of myself in that perfect rectangle - I knew I could stop looking.  Let's face it, who doesn't need  at  least one full-length mirror somewhere in their home?!? So, without further ado - here is my new friend...
...and this is how Mongstad looks in our master bedroom. I think he is fitting in quite nicely, if I do say so myself.
Little Miss L. loves chatting to her new friend.
Sorry the picture is crooked, but that's what happens when you have a 20 month old jumping around while taking the picture.
Good choice momma!

Monday, June 20, 2011

a weekend full of celebration

This past weekend was a busy one but I wouldn't change it for anything. I love love love this time of year. The flowers are out, the barbecues are fired up, family gatherings are a weekly occurrence, and housework seems less of a priority these days.
This weekend, we headed down to my parents house to celebrate my grandmother's 86th birthday. All I have to say is that I hope when I reach her age I can be as witty, caring, and energetic as she is. Little Miss L. loves spending time with her great-grandmother and she loves telling her lots of stories... poor Nan heard an ear-full over the weekend.
We also celebrated father's day. I am one lucky girl, my baby daddy is one special man. He always seems to amaze me. My little girl adores her father and I love watching the two of them together. I also have to send a shout out to my daddy, as I could not ask for a better role model. He is a man of few words, but if you ever need anything, you know you can count on him to be there. Thanks to the men in my life, you make this world a better place.
We could have not asked for better weather - I know we have lots to do around the house and preparing for the little bean - but I have to stop myself and remember we only have a few short months of this beautiful weather and to spend precious moments like these with family and friends. Here's to more weekends filled with laughter, family, friends, sunscreen, cold drinks, and the gorgeous sun!
Daddy with his little girl on father's day.
Warm weather means bubble time.
Little Miss L. could spend hours outside with her bubbles.
I love love love flowers!
The little guy loves spending time outdoors.
Watch out, she is on a mission...
I caught myself off guard when I realized this was my shadow - the belly is growing and growing.
Family gatherings full of delicious appetizers.
Let's just say that this momma gained a good 5 pounds this weekend - how could I not with all this good food?!
Little Miss L. found the cake and was determined to get into it.
Happy Birthday to a wonderful lady. Little Miss L. had to help Nan blow out her candles.
Four generations.
What weekend would be complete without Little Miss L. picking on her uncle!?!?