Ha!

Today was a horrible day for traffic.
I wasn't able to carpool with Tray because her boss in town and they toured stores for the afternoon. So I sat in some crazy traffic both on the way to work and on the way home - all by my lonesome. It's like when it rains, people completely forget how to drive & drive like dumb dumbs ... gah.

I did however, receive the best photo from my sister-in-law while I was driving 10 km/h.

Shots, shots, shots, shots, shots, shots!
Errrrrrrrybody! Hahaha.

Yesterday, we dropped Aiden off in Whitby (at my sister-in-laws) for a sleepover extravaganza! He loves being surrounded by his boy cousins (Justin-10, Dylan-8 & Owen-4), and by the buckets of toys in their home. I always miss him when he's gone (such a sucker for the little bugger!) but we know he's having the best time.

Saturday

Nothing like having zero plans for the weekend (just the way I like it! - esp. these days).

We took a quick trip to Michael's this morning since I'm starting to work on the details for the baby shower that my mom and cousin insist that I have. I didn't know if it was poor etiquette to have a baby shower for your second baby, but what the heck - our family is the best! I'm so glad that found chalkboard paint in a small size bottle since I've only seen it sold in large pails at Home Depot. So I start this ...

My goal is to use these mini chalkboards for the baby shower as labels for the food! Hoping the paint works and adheres to the wooden planks. Next coat in one hour.

I also picked up this lovely block letter. I have a tendency to look for "Ps" and turn them upside down to make lower case "ds". Need to start filling our home with our touches. It's been 2 years for goodnes sake!

Last night, Aiden and I were all gung-ho about making some chocolate chip banana bread. After I finished sifting the flour ... I went to the fridge to beat the eggs and I was short an egg. Grrr. It kinda felt like when you pour a bowl of cereal for yourself only to realize that you're out of milk - whomp.

So after our taco lunch (all home-made, we haven't bought a meal all week - small win!), I finished the baking and added skor bits to our muffins. Yum.

Perfect kind of Saturday for me.

Finally In Its Place!

Yay! With much effort and the involvement of two families for help - this is finally in its place!
God bless Ryan's soul for surprising me with this fully built one day after work, but those gold wheels - they must go.

Now onto the next challenge ...
We can't seem to locate the mattress that we used for Aiden's crib. How do you misplace a mattress?

A Not So Good Day ...

One of the few things that saves my sanity during the work week is that I carpool with one of my best friends.

Tracy is awesome. I've known her for nearly 8 years now and well she's one of the few people in the world that I can take in high doses. She is caring, nurturing and thoughtful. She's a homebody at heart (just like me), disciplined and determined. I count myself blessed to have this friendship with her & count myself lucky to be part of her life.

Today was my day to drive.
Making fantastic timing along the 401, I suddenly felt weak, dizzy and well just faint.
"Tray, I think I'm going to pass out, maybe even throw up" ... I pull over on the shoulder.
Tray drives the rest of the way to the office (God bless her soul).
My mood swings up and down all day at work. I start to feel better, then I start to feel ... bleh. I just want to keep my eyes closed ... and well maybe lay down. I'm tired, weak.
What makes me nervous is that, our baby may be ready to come - but me, I'm well, I don't feel ready - yet.

Taking it slow tomorrow & working from home.

Ryan has the biggest heart. He has been ... the best husband. Accommodating, patient and kind. (& I'm sure I've tested his limits from time to time). Aiden is my heart. He's so caring when I'm not feeling up to par. "Mama, you feeling ok, Mama? Is baby ok?" (heart melts, instantly)


I'm going to keep a positive outlook. Positive vibes for the health of the baby.
Hoping these feelings pass, third trimester - here we go!

30 Weeks!

The next 10 weeks are going to fly by ... is it too late to say that I'm nervous? lol.

At 30 weeks ...
I'm feeling: big & well emotional (damn hormones). I'm tired again & anxious to start nesting.
I'm craving: nothing specific, but I'm hungry - always
I'm loving: Aiden's curiousity about my growing belly
I'm not looking forward to: labour
I'm most looking forward to: Aiden's first reaction meeting baby

7 weeks of work left.
SEVEN!

Let the countdown begin!

Gap Casting Call 2012

The odd's are truly one in a million, but hey - you gotta at least try.
So, for what it's worth ... I submitted an entry for our dear Aiden.

But let's be serious, he's truly apple of our eyes, xx.

"Do you think baby will like this Mama?"

In great anticipation to be a big brother, Aiden has been asking me if he could buy baby a gift (how do I resist that!). So I took him to chapters today (because I promised if he was a patient boy at the doctor's office we would go).

A: Do you think baby will like this Mama?

C: I think baby will like whatever you get!

A: I like this one. It's so comfy.

C: Sure, what do you want to name the giraffe Aiden?

A: Ummm, Giraffe.

Sold!

That Damn Orange Pop

As mentioned earlier, I had the past 3 days off from work - which have been beyond glorious. It was like a snippet of what's ahead - my Maternity Leave, and I couldn't be more thrilled. The countdown begins, 7 weeks of work left! (which also means, 7 weeks to find and successfully train my replacement ... joy)

The text message that Ryan sent to me yesterday was in regards to something that's going on within my pregnancy. Until now, things have been "perfect" - nothing much to worry about, nothing to be startled about (kind of the way I like it). But of course, things are aren't what they seem - and we have to trust in God that things will always work out in the end. Maybe I'm overreacting ... maybe.

A few weeks ago, I took my Glucose Test, typically done during 24 - 28 weeks of pregnancy - where you drink a orange pop like drink (but not like orange pop - cause orange pop is kind of more delicious) and draw blood after an hour. This test / screening is to check for Gestational Diabetes - a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy. A week or so after taking the test our (family) doctor called me to book an appointment to discuss my glucose test. (insert nervous shake here, anything that the doctor won't tell you over the phone can't be the best news, right?). So I went for my appointent and apparently my results were high - high enough that I needed to go for further testing. My initial reaction was disbelief. Mainly because I truly felt as if I was "healthier" this pregnancy - not giving in to every single little sweet tooth craving, but eating well, normally. I was shocked. The thought of a "problem" with my baby or myself for that matter - erks me. You can say that I'm not the best person when it comes to crisis-type situations. I was sad. Just cause. I felt like I failed ...

I had my OB appointment yesterday and again, minus the whole glucose thing - all was "perfect". Baby's heart beat is strong (melts my heart every single time), my size is good and well, all was going "according to plan". I was going to take the suggested gestational diabetes test, part 2 - but my doctor failed to tell me I had to fast for 12 hours (a pregs lady fasting for 12 hours - stay outta my way!) I ended up going first thing this morning. They drew blood when I first arrived (to test my total blood count), I had to drink that orange pop drink (tastes even worse when it's the 1st thing you consume in the am) and they drew blood every hour - for 2 hours. & food and drink was not allowed - gah. So my dear buddy Aiden and I waited and waited (& I anxiously and starving-ly watched him have all sorts of snacks that we packed for him in his backpack). Hoping the results are ... OK. and that we're OK.

Thank God I have the best family. 
& that Ryan and A are always there to make sure that I'm the happiest (also because it's in their best interest to do so!, lol). We'll get through it together right? We always have, & we always will.

You're My Favourite Husband

Hubs sure knows how to make a preggo lady cry!
Sometimes all you need is a few words to remind you, just how blessed you are.
& for a man of little words, this sure said a lot.

Life is good, indeed.

Mission Baby Crib - Fail ...

I've taken Mon-Wed off this week (mainly because I have days to take before May 1st, or they'll expire) but also for my sanity. 29 weeks and counting - I'm starting to feel more exhausted and my attention span / patience, well - it's pretty much little to none. Hence, the day off from work - lol.

We ventured off to Dear Born Baby, a baby specialized store in Thornhill to get our baby's crib - the crib that I must have. Only to be beyond disappointed to hear that it wasn't going to fit in our car ...
Oh & trust me, I got it from Ryan - he wasn't as mad (disappointment) in me that much because I'm with child (lol), but until normal circumstances - I would've been toast.

But as I mentioned, I have to have this crib. & it seems near impossible to find in the GTA. But I luckily in my google search for "Jenny Lind Toronto", I stumbled across a fellow Torontonian blogger Lindsay who spilled the link! Thank goodness! - & no shipping costs to incur - win! Yes, I paid for the crib anyway - since I knew, it would be (had to be) mine.
EDIT: my cousin who live 10 mins away from Dear Baby Born has graciously offered to pick our crib up!

I'm loving the simplicity of this crib & the fact that it didn't break the budget. Here's some photos of inspiration / the must-have crib in action:
1. Apartment Therapy
2. Hub Pages
3. Project Nursery
4. Design Pad
5. Lay Baby Lay
6. Aubrey & Lindsay

I feel in love with Lay Baby Lay's design a while before I was pregnant - didn't realize until now that it was the same crib! Loving all these inspirations - with 10 weeks to go, it's time to get cracking!

Busy Beeeees

Definitely not liking the fact that we've been busy!
Work x2 busy, family busy, planning busy, creatively busy, life busy!

& our weekend this weekend is jam packed.
Taking a few days off from work, but there's not much time to relax.
Hoping to cross some big things off our list!

I'll be back, promise.

The End of an Era

I was attracted to classic lit because the stories we were telling were about these kids, in this time and yet these quotes from hundreds of years ago applied to their current situation. 

-Mark Schwahn, creator - writer - producer - director, One Tree Hill

& that's the very reason why I have been beyond captivated with the story lines, the characters, the music, the show. As if the moments of their lives with slightly intertwined with ours. & as if how they were feeling, what they were going through mimicked our own feelings and thoughts. One Tree Hill resonates with people on a very personal level & there's something truly powerful about that. Is it silly to feel that way? To feel so connected to a piece of tv history? It's funny because we often lose ourselves in the things we love - but we also find ourselves there too. The show aired in the pinnacle of my teenage existence. In 2003, I was awkward and naive, turning 18 and just entered my first year of university. To have found something like OTH at such a vulnerable time in my life where scenes of the small moments were really the big moments and where life was portrayed not perfectly, but realistically coupled with witty remarks and the perfect backdrop of music ... it was beyond nostalgic.

So as we say goodbye, I feel a sense of calmness and thankfulness to have found, like many adoring fans - a tv show for God's sake that was able to provide love, laughter and life learnings. This is truly the end of an era. & what a run it was.

Do you ever wonder if we make the moments of our lives?

Or if the moments of our lives make us?

Well in 9 years, plenty of moments have defined us. I'm sure I've missed a good bunch, but I'm sure I'll be marathoning sometime during my Mat Leave, so this list may become longer!

Lucas vs. Nathan - "This is for my Mom"
Music: Rest in Pieces - Saliva

Haley & Nathan's 1st Kiss - "You shouldn't have done that Nathan"
Music: Dare you to Move - Switchfoot

State Championship - "It's you. When all my dreams come true, the one I was next to me, it's you."
Music: Heartbearts - Jose Gonzalez

Senior Year Bonfire - "I'm the guy for you Brooke Davis"
Music: Move Along - All America Rejects

Rachel Naked in Lucas' Car - "I wanted you to fight for me"
Music: n/a

Nathan's Press Conference - "I promise you, I've never been happier"
Music: n/a

Ravens Play Oak Lake - "God I love this game"
Music: Unsatisfied - Nine Black Alps

Stepping up - "When you fall in love with someone and they forget to love you back"
Music: The Adventure - Angels and Airways

Rain Storm "I was hurt Haley, but I was still proud of you. Everyday."
Music: Missing You - Tyler Hilton

To all the moments & to the memories.
Goodnight Tree Hill.

A List of 12: Foods That I'm Craving!

Since this is the first of my "list series" ... I'll do a bit of an introduction. As mentioned before, I'm a sucker for things that will aid the blogging process. (But I must admit, I'm proud of my consistency thus far!) I've chosen to do "a list of 12" mainly because of the year that we're currently in, but also because it's truly a number that's so significant in my relationship with Ryan. We met on August 12. Our first date was on October 12. He asked me to be his girlfriend on January 12 (lol). and then 6 years later, we got married on January 12. Just a little "Ryan et Charisse" history for ya!

Okay, back to the purpose of my post ... and in not particular order ...

1. Chips & guac (homemade is the best!)
2. Panera's mac & cheese
3. Gas station slushies
4. Green mangos & shrimp paste
5. Skor bits on my ice cream
6. Root beer
7. Pumpkin seeds
8. Macaroons
9. Any & all seafood
10. French fries
11. These
12. Froyo

I have to say, in terms of cravings, this pregnancy is much more tame than my first one! Even Ryan agrees, minimum late night runs for him!