A pregnant woman's bliss

The very talented writer Elizabeth Bradley honoured me with the Happy 101 award. It requires that I list ten things that make me blissfully happy. Since I am mid pregnancy I will share with you the things that make me happy these days.

1. Sleep - oh if sleep was sold in a jar I would take my life savings and buy every last bit that I could afford.

2. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, nibblies, bites...I guess food in general.

3. Energy to get things done. When I get an adequate amount of sleep I almost feel like my old self and am able to cross off of tasks from my to-do list.

4. Jodi Picoult novels - this is a new joy I've discovered. My close friend Lesa loves Picoult's novels and told me about them.

5. Baby kicks - recently I've started feeling movements from the baby inside. It is the BEST part of pregnancy. Related to this is hearing the baby's heartbeat at my monthly midwife appointments.

6. Deaglan and Shaune - they are my love, my home, my life.

7. A clean house.

8. The smell of Gain detergent.

9. Picking Deaglan up from daycare. It's the best part of my day seeing his snotty little face again.

10. Moments I stop and realize I will soon be mother of two.

I would like to tag some of the wonderful people I read daily:

Kelly at My voice, my view

Jenn at T Rex Mom and Dad tales

Ginger at Flowers and More

Christy at A Lil Welsh Rarebit

Gerri at Peace and Love

Vicki at Vicki Unplugged

Jenn at Monkeyland

Secret Agent Woman at Blogging Incognito

Wendy at Adventures of Nurse Wendy

Kat at My Girls and Me

If you have a note on your blog that you don't want to receive awards please forgive me and feel free to ignore me.

New Sun

Did you ever stop and look at your life and wonder how you got so damned lucky? Today I thought a lot about the overwhelming sadness going on in Haiti. I also went to the hospital and saw this perfect tiny foot of the little boy growing in my tummy.

the foot in the sand is Deaglan's this summer at the beach.

Progress report

My pregnancy's progressing pretty well. I'm almost 19 weeks and the nausea is gone (halleluja!).

Life is pretty normal except that every week I find myself scrounging for something different to wear to work. My maternity clothes from the last pregnancy have lost their appeal - most of them seem dingy and out of date and since I already feel that way, I don't need my outfits advertising it.

As I mentally prepare for the arrival of the new person, I waiver between a calm excitement and outright panic. On the one hand I think of how amazing it will be to be a family of four and have a tiny baby to snuggle again. However there is also the fearful part of me who wonders how I will be able to take care of two without letting one suffer. I know it's been done before and I know it's possible but still the fear of the unknown is not lost on me.

I was going to wait to potty train Deaglan until the last half of my maternity leave - we're so fortunate in Canada to get a full year off - but lately he's exhibiting signs that he might be ready now. Whereas he was having a BM every day, a few weeks ago this changed to every 3-4 days. In between he is at times doubled over in pain from gas. His diet hasn't changed - he's no champion vegetable eater but I manage to get some good grains and fruit into him daily and tons of water. He's showing other signs too, so this week we bought some underwear and have begun the training. Lots of fun as you may remember if you have kids.

This second pregnancy is so different for me than the first. The last one seemed magical with each new phase unfolding as I read about the wonders going on in my body each day. This time I feel an overwhelming need to make sure Deaglan is getting all of me as often as I can give it. I've read too that husbands are less interested in the technical aspects of the second pregnancy and that's certainly true for us. Although Shaune is concerned about my well being I can tell it's not as magical for him this time around either. Both of us are thinking about that first little while when you have no idea how to comfort the new baby, aren't getting any sleep and aren't sure if this is what you thought it would be.

I've had some great advice from friends with more than one child though and would welcome any tips from you veterans out there!

Forever young

May the good lord be with you down every road you roam.

And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home.

And may you grow to be proud, dignified and true.

And do unto others as you'd have done to you.

Be courageous and be brave, and in my heart you'll always stay

Forever young...

May good fortune be with you may your guiding light be strong.

Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond.

And may you never love in vain and in my heart you'll always remain

Forever young...

And when you finally fly away I'll be hoping that I served you well

For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell.

But whatever road you choose, I'm right behind you, win or lose

Forever young...

-Rod Stewart

Happy Birthday Puppy we love you!

Birthday for Two

Deaglan will turn two on Christmas Eve. We've tried to separate Christmas and his birthday by holding a party a week or so prior. Then on Christmas Eve we will celebrate it again with Shaune's family. Here are some of the best shots. I would have included more but most of us had one eye closed or were just putting our forks into our mouths when the camera turned on us.

Shaune didn't fail us and put out a delicious spread as usual including freshly made vegetarian sushi, shrimp cocktail, his own guacamole and taco dip, meatballs, bruschetta with goat cheese, cilantro, tomato and kalmata olive, and much more.
Thomas was included of course and Deaglan has talked of little other than blowing candles. (I made sure to grab the cupcakes from the back rows to serve our guests).

The arrival of Cousin Asia was greatly anticipated and the two hardly left each others' sides. Asia is almost seven and Deaglan easily thinks she is the greatest person ever to live.

I'm sure next year Cousin Farrah will be joining in the running and screaming.

It was a fun day and we want to thank all of our friends and family for making it a wonderful celebration.

Prologue

I've never been a big fan of Christmas but know that this will not do in my near future. It's not the essence of the holiday that I disdain; it's all the hype and marketing that comes with it. When people ask if you if you're ready for Christmas what they really mean is - are you finished buying. I know that this is what it has come to mean in our society.

Luckily I still have a little time to grumble because Deaglan doesn't quite get it yet. Oh we've been doing our due diligence - pointing out Santa, teaching him a few carols, decorating our house and getting him excited about the tree and lights. But I'm still trying to figure out what angle I'll take when he really does understand. I'm not naive, I know that Santa and presents and all the magic surrounding that will be a part of it but I don't feel all that passionate about it.

On the other hand I don't want it to be all about Jesus and his birth either. We have a manger scene on display and Deaglan is quite fascinated by the baby but only because it is a tiny toy-like figure that he would like to get his hands on. The truth is, I don't know if Christmas has ever held real meaning for me.

This year at work we sponsored a less fortunate family and gave them a "Christmas" meaning we bought gifts and food for them. And within our family we took half of the budget we had for each other and helped out a family member with bills and groceries. This all felt pretty good.

I want my children to enjoy Christmas but I don't want them to get completely lost in the 'getting of gifts'. I like the idea of giving to where it's needed. Someone at work suggested that instead of giving the boss a gift why don't we donate some money on his behalf. Others didn't like this idea. Grumble.

I'll have to change my tune by next year for sure. I'll have two little ones by then and one will be fully charged for the season. I'll let you know what angle I've taken then. I hope I don't totally sell out.

Deaglan is wearing a turtleneck sewn and sent by our beautiful friend Jenn at T Rex Mom and Dad Tales. We love it!!

Sunday Citar

I've always loved the first two lines of this Khalil Gibran poem. But recently I read the entire thing and it stopped me. It is rich and layered and inspires me to be the best parent I can be. I hope your Sunday has been simple and happy.

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Kahlil Gibran