EVER AFTER - MY WAY . . . . . . (main blog)

I finally have one!

2009-07-14T09:48:00.003-02:30

When I was a teenager, I used to make the bread for my family. I would make a big batch of white and a big batch of whole wheat and we would freeze it for the week. (We ate a LOT of bread). After I moved out, I think I made maybe a half a dozen batches at the very most. It is just so much mess! For years, I have been longing for a bread maker. Something to allow me the luxury of a nice warm slice of bread without the mess and work of making it by hand. And then my lovely neighbour gave me her breadmaker!!!! I am so thrilled. I have never used one before and I would love to hear from anyone who has. What is your favorite recipe? How do you use yours? I am such a mom to be soooo excited by a kitchen appliance but there you go. I am going to sing it from the rooftops, "I HAVE A BREADMAKER!!! WOOHOO!!"

Not Me Monday

2009-07-13T10:18:00.002-02:30

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I absolutely DID NOT realize that I was out of coffee filters and decide that that was the perfect reason to take my girls down to Tim Hortons this morning. I would never feed my girls those little balls of fat and sugar! I only feed them healthy food all the time. I do not have a cupboard specifically dedicated to the various types of sugary goodness I feed my girls. Nope, Not Me!

I am certainly NOT sitting here waiting for Princess Magpie to wake up from her nap so that we can head out ~~for my coffee,~~ for a lovely walk with my girls. Nope, Not Me!

I am NOT so anxious for my coffee that I am considering cleaning my kitchen VERY LOUDLY so that if Princess Magpie should happen to wake up, we can go! Nope Not Me! (I wonder what Tim Horton's decaf tasts like?)

I DID NOT go upstairs to tell Princess Belle I had made her cinnamon toast for her breakfast, smell and see her pee'd in bed, feel my pregnant stomach to a flip and close the door and decide to change it later. I would never leave that awful mess on her bed. Nope, Not Me!

I DO NOT think that the fact that she has only pee'd her bed a few times this month is a victory. She is seven years old and shouldn't be peeing the bed at all. And knowing that, I am certainly not sharing our failures with the entire blogging community. I would never do such an undignified thing! Nope, Not Me! (seriously, is there such a thing as a loving, fun, hands on, involved, firm, and still dignified mommy? When I think of all the diapers, sickness, dirty noses, and muddy clothes, I don't think I can be all of that at once.)

When Princess Magpie woke me up at 5 this morning I DID NOT feed her and then place her to play in her playpen while I slept beside her. I would never do that. My girl deserves my undivide attention even at some ungodly hour when I would rather be giving my attention to the back of my eyelids. Nope, Not Me!

14 weeks

2009-07-12T09:26:00.004-02:30

I am 14 weeks pg today! I am feeling a little more energetic. I haven't had a headache for a few days and I am able to control my morning sickness now. So all is good. I have a new bed and bedspread for Princess Belle so we will be changing the rooms around soon to create a new nursery big enough for the new baby and for Princess Magpie. I am just waiting to find out when I can get rid of the old bed and stuff.

Fetal development - 14 weeks pregnant

Crown to rump, your baby is around 3 and a half inches / 9 centimetres long and weighs one and a half ounces / 43 grams. The body is now growing faster than the head. This week, its parchment-thin skin covers itself with lanugo (ultra-fine, downy hair that usually disappears before birth). Though eyebrows are beginning to grow and the hair on top of the head is sprouting, this hair may change in both texture and colour after birth.

About now, the fetus can grasp, squint, frown, and grimace. It may even be able to suck its thumb. Researchers believe these and other movements probably correspond to the development of impulses in the brain.

Princess Belle dresses up

2009-07-11T21:21:00.001-02:30

I love the way that Princess Belle loves to dress up and pose in silly ways for the camera. It makes me smile. I thought I would share her latest.

Great Giveaway!

2009-07-11T10:48:00.002-02:30

Bumbleride Indie Twin Stroller valued at $650 is being given away at twoofakind! Open to US AND CANADA!

I hope I win! I have been really wanting one for when this baby is born.

A little nervous

2009-07-10T17:11:00.001-02:30

I am a little nervous. I have a sneaking suspicion that my blood pressure is creeping up. Last night while watching Big Brother and again today while I was checking my email, I had that familiar feeling that I had before. My face feels hot on the inside, I get a weird feeling in my head and behind my eyes, and my head feels "fuzzy". I don't want to get high blood pressure early!!!! I had it with both my girls, but not until I was 35 weeks pg.

Thursday Thirteen #84 - Thankful Thursday

2009-07-09T13:34:00.009-02:30

Thirteen Things that Twisted Cinderella is grateful for.

I thought that this felt like a good day to share some of the things I am thankful for. So here are some of the blessings in my life that I am forever grateful for (in the order they popped into my head):

Prince Charming - I can honestly say that without him, the rest of my blessings would not exist. He is loving, fun, caring, honerable, my greatest defender and my closest friend.
Princess Belle - she made me a mom. Before she came into this world, I had spent my whole life under the impression I was unable to be a mother at all. She changed my world and showed me just the depth of feeling true love brings.
Princess Magpie - after five long years of trying, she came into our world with a bright sunny smile and has kept us smiling ever since. She is pure sunshine and happiness and having her convinced us to tempt fate and try our hands at being parents for a third time.
Our New Arrival - coming in January to a hospital near here. This baby was hoped for, and prayed for and we never expected this little one to decide to make an appearance as soon as this. We are just so blessed that we didn't have to wait another five years!
Our neighbourhood - like any neighbourhood, there are good things and bad things, but I know living here that I will never be alone. In the case of an emergency, I always know that there are quite a number of people here that I can turn to. There are community outings, and celebrations. There is a lovely community center with so many wonderful programs. And thanks to this neighbourhood, I even have my very first garden ever!
Grandma Great - Not only did she bring the love of my life into this world, but she also gave me her love. She became another mother to me, one whom I could turn to for anything and who loves me unconditionally.
Notsosnowwhite - She is a listening ear, a dieting companion, a big brother companion, a friend and the sister I have by choice instead of simply by chance of birth.
My blogging friends - they are a source of amusement, information, support and friendship. I have met so many wonderful friends in all these years of blogging and I am so lucky to know each and every one of you.
My parenting group - There is something wonderful about this group of women. We came together as new moms and grew together as friends.
The health care system here - for all it has its short comings, it has saved the life of my grandmother, my best friend and my father. It is working to diagnose and me understand my beautiful daughter, Princess Belle.
The Summer Sun - I have always had troubles in the winter when the sun is so seldom seen. But in the summer, when the sun warms my skin, I can feel my soul sing. It lightens my spirit and makes me feels gloriously happy. It only gets better when I get to enjoy it with my family.
The Homeschooling Community - They turned the nightmare that public schooling was to me into an opportunity to love my daughter more my teaching her myself and to learn so much more about her and how her mind works. I am so glad we get to go on this journey together.
Life - I am so grateful today for every aspect of my life, my family, my children, the life growing inside me, the friends that surround me, and all the joys yet to come. I am truly blessed.

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Wordless Wednesday -- My Sunshine

2009-07-08T10:47:00.003-02:30

Click the pic above to get to other Wordless Wednesday Participants.

For more Wordless Wednesday go check out 5 minutes for mom and 7 Clown Circus!

Creative Calling

2009-07-07T11:21:00.002-02:30

I am getting ansty to do something creative. Every once in a while I get a yearning to create something, to change something, to stretch my creativity and have fun. Usually this is when I change my blog look, create new headers and backgrounds and similar stuff or this is when I do some more digital scrapbooking. I am not sure where this creative feeling is going to take me (if I have the time to let it take me anywhere.) We will see I guess.

(oops, Princess Magpie is calling, I guess it won't take me anywhere at the moment.)

Not Me Monday

2009-07-06T23:08:00.003-02:30

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

I absolutely DID NOT keep Princess Magpie up an hour past her normal nap time so that she would sleep the whole time I was away at my Doctor's appointment to make caring for her easier for Prince Charming. I would never make my poor sleepy girl get up early! Nope, Not Me!

And I certainly DID NOT wake her an hour before I normally would this morning so that she would nap while I went to the Healthy Baby Club and left her with Prince Charming again. I know better than to wake a sleeping baby. I would never do such a thing. Nope, Not Me!

When I got home from the doctor's office, I DID NOT get so excited I almost cried when I realized we had extra money in the bank so that I could relax and we could order pizza for supper. I am never to tired to cook my wonderful family a healthy meal. Nope, Not Me!

On getting home from the doctor's office after walking what felt like miles. I DID NOT decide that I had carried this pregnant belly around long enough and leave the few groceries on the counter to put away today. Nope, Not Me!

When getting Princess Belle ready for Day Camp today, I DID NOT look around and find myself unable to find clean socks for her to wear. And I DID NOT decide that it was summer and she could wear some sandle type shoes with no socks and send her off that way. Nope, Not Me!

The five best prenatal yoga postures

2009-07-05T20:32:00.001-02:30

• The Pringle. Lie on your back with a can of chips balanced on your stomach. See if you can eat them all before you fall asleep.
• The Sneeze. As the sneeze approaches, squeeze your knees together, breathe in and out, and try to remember what it used to feel like to "hold it in." Keep this pose while you hobble to the bathroom to change your underwear.
• The Calf Cramp. Try to stretch around your belly and rub your leg while simultaneously screaming loudly enough to wake everyone in your zip code.
• The Pesto Burp. Bring your chin to your chest and exhale as silently as you can through your closed mouth. Reward yourself with a nice, meditative Fudgesicle.
• The Sleeping Hip. Lie on your side until you lose all feeling. Roll onto your other side and repeat. Namaste!

Saturday PhotoHunt - Pink

2009-07-04T13:27:00.002-02:30

Saturday Photohunt this week was Pink. Given that I have two beautiful daughters, I have a LOT of pink pics. But today, I am going back and posting pics I took in August of last year when Princess Magpie was less than one month old.

Connection

2009-07-03T08:50:00.002-02:30

I think I have mentioned here in that this pregnancy came a lot quicker than I expected. Since it took soooo many years to get pg with Princess Magpie, I just expected it to take longer this time. so when I got pregnant so quickly, I was surprised. This pregnancy took on a dream-like, unreal feel to me. I mean, it makes no sense because I am crazy sick with it, but I had difficulties connecting that to a real live baby growing inside me.

Well last night, for the first time, I spontaneously spoke to my baby. I was watching a show and the baby was born with breathing troubles and I looked down at my belly and said, "Pumpkin you make sure you stay in there until you are completely cooked and ready to be out here, okay?". I looked back at the show and realized what I had done. I had connected with my baby. For the first time. For the first time, I really knew that there is an actual baby growing inside me. (I mean I knew intellectually all along but now my heart new too). Tears started forming in the corners of my eyes as I realized. I felt actual love for my baby.

This may sounds silly but I spoke to Princess Magpie as soon as I got the positive test. She was real to me right away. As was Daniella, the baby I lost. I have always had a very strong connection to my babies, even when I was pregnant. It bothered me that I didn't have that yet with this baby. And I couldn't understand why other than the shock of how quickly it came just made it feel unreal. But now, that isn't so anymore. I am having those wonderful moments of connection that I love so much.

Princess Belle's Appointment

2009-07-02T22:39:00.002-02:30

I am tired tonight. We took Princess Belle to the Pediatric Development Specialist today. The results were confusing and surprising. There will be more testing and appointments, but I don't really know what to think right now.

Wordless Wednesday -- sneaking tv peeks

2009-07-01T13:59:00.005-02:30

Click the pic above to get to other Wordless Wednesday Participants.

For more Wordless Wednesday go check out 5 minutes for mom and 7 Clown Circus!

Homeschool update

2009-06-30T17:13:00.003-02:30

I got a big box in the mail today filled to the top with the Provincial Grade 2 Curriculum. It is quite in depth and heavy but I am going to wade through it over the next little while. I hope to get the books soon if I can as well so at least I can prepare for September. I also found out that if I want to, they will allow me to do the A Beka curriculum. So, I will think about that as well. I am on two hands, I will either go ahead and purchase the A Beka or I will try the Provincial Curriculum for this year, and then if I don't like it, go to A Beka next year. I am not sure. I hate that they make this so complicated for me!

Belly Pic

2009-06-29T13:39:00.003-02:30

I am finally sharing a belly pic. I have to warn you that I am ginormous!!! I am not sure why I am soooo large and round this time. I must be growing another really big baby in here, even if I would love a small little bundle of joy this time. And embarressed as I am by just how big and round I am right now (and trust me, as bad as these pics are, it actually is all belly), I am going to share my belly pics anyway. So here I am at 12 weeks pg.

I have to confess, I would love a little baby this time. My Princess Magpie is just so precious and sweet and I wish she would have stayed small a little longer. She is just so big and getting bigger each day. She doesn't feel like she is staying a baby nearly long enough for me. I try to soak it up as much as I can, but given the choice I would maybe pic a smaller baby like Princess Belle because she just seemed to stay a baby so much longer.

Eleven Months Old

2009-06-28T15:32:00.000-02:30

Princess Magpie is Eleven months old now! I can't believe it. Time has really flown by. She is such a joy to have in our lives, so full of giggles and smiles. I am so grateful for her.

Twelve Weeks Pregnant

2009-06-28T15:16:00.003-02:30

I am twelve weeks today and according to the newsletter I got this morning that puts me into my second trimester!!! Woohoo!! Time is going so fast with this pregnancy! I find it surprising that given how sick I am most of the time and the headaches I have had, you would think that time would be dragging by. But it really isn't. I am 1/3 of the way towards having my very last baby. Wow.

Here is what is going on with my baby right now:

Your baby's face is beginning to look more human, even though she is only about 2 inches/5.5cms long from her crown to her rump and weighs slightly less than half an ounce/ 14 grams. The eyes, which started out on the sides of the head, have moved closer together. The ears are almost in their normal position on the side of the head. The liver is making bile and the kidneys are secreting urine in the bladder.

The fetus squirms if your abdomen is prodded, although you cannot yet feel movement. Fetal nerve cells have been multiplying rapidly and synapses (neurological connections in your brain) are forming. The fetus has acquired more reflexes: touching the palms makes the fingers close, touching the soles of the feet makes the toes curl down and touching the eyelids makes the eye muscles clench.

Your doctor or midwife can now feel the top of the uterus, also known as the fundus, low in the abdomen. As you enter the second trimester, you may find yourself donning looser, less restrictive clothing. Soon you won't be able to fit into your regular clothes any more.

First and Last day of School

2009-06-27T08:24:00.002-02:30

Here is Princess Belle on the first and last days of school! Be sure to compare her head to the window behind her in the last two pics.

late

2009-06-26T07:44:00.000-02:30

Sorry I am so late posting, but I am just really sick today. I woke up sick today and I just keep getting sick. UGH, I hate days like today.

Homeschool Update

2009-06-25T09:00:00.000-02:30

I called my contact at the Department of Education and he informed me that I would not be approved to follow the curriculum that I have chosen but would have to follow the provincial curriculum. While I am willing to do that, I am disappointed. In the long run, it will cost me less money, as they will provide my books, but it isn't what I wanted. He did say that I could probably do most of what I wanted to do anyway as long as in the end, what Princess Belle learned met with the guidelines of the Provincial curriculum. AND, I won't get official approval until SEPTEMBER!!!!!! I am going to meet with the school Principal as soon as I can and get as much information as I can on the Grade 2 curriculum, try to get the books ahead of time, and get planning anyway. I am fairly confident that I will get approved once I resign myself to doing the provincial curriculum. It will work out fine, maybe better in some ways. And I can still be creative in my approach to teaching her. The curriculum has never been the problem with her learning, it has always been the environment.

Cloth Diapering

2009-06-25T08:15:00.001-02:30

Prince Charming finally agreed that I could try cloth diapering! (although he probably won't change any poopy diapers) LOL. Now I have to find a cost effective way to get started. Anyone have any advice? I have been looking at some All-in-one, one size, cloth diapers online, but I am open to suggestions from anyone more experienced than I am.

Prince Charming is too funny. His reaction to this whole thing was, "How in the world did I end up married to a cloth diapering, breast feeding, nuts, roots and treebark momma?" He says it jokingly of course and I just laugh at him. I guess I had him fooled into thinking I was normal or something. LOL now that was a neat trick!

Wordless Wednesday -- Musical Toy Reflections

2009-06-24T09:14:00.001-02:30

Click the pic above to get to other Wordless Wednesday Participants.

For more Wordless Wednesday go check out 5 minutes for mom and 7 Clown Circus!

Cutest shirts

2009-06-24T08:55:00.005-02:30

I recently came across this website, LTDChix, that had the cutest t-shirts. They have illustrations that show a mom laughing at the less glamorous aspects of raising a household and as all moms know there certainly are some things about motherhood that are less than glamorous. I decided to get a pink fitted (for after the baby is born) t-shirt that featured Laundry mom because as I have mentioned in the past on this blog, I have a never ending battle to conquer Mount Laundry:

I love the sense of humor in their illustrations and these shirts are a great, humorous look at the reality of motherhood, and keeping a home.