New Year

I heard what was supposed to be a funny resolution on a radio show today:
To be just as fabulous in the next year. (or something along those lines)
The co-host was making fun of this - as if the speaker is less than fabulous. (You know how radio co-hosts taunt one another.)
But I think it's a great resolution. It speaks to one's ideals of oneself. Obviously none of us are perfect (I'm so darn close though!), but if we view ourselves as good, if our expectations are that we are/can be fabulous, then I believe we're much more likely to succeed in manifesting our inner "fabulosity". (I love making up words, don't you?)
Thus, my new year's resolution is to be just as fabulous in 2008 as I was in 2007!

I am looking forward to the next year... Right now, it's much better than looking back or dwelling on recent events. We're trying to move on. Focusing on baby works wonders for this process. I've taken up knitting for baby again (finishing projects) with a passion that I didn't expect to find after a busy December of finishing Yule gifts. We miss Gryphon terribly. Monkey and Fenwick are taking up the slack with cuddle time. Gryphon has already been added to the ancestor altar with a cast of his pawprint and his photos added to the cat-ancestors album that rests there.

We went to see The Golden Compass Friday evening as a distraction. (Chris, let me know when you want to go since I owe you a babysit for cancelling Thursday.) It was very entertaining. The costumes were great too - full of things one could knit... I wasn't surprised to find that I'm certainly not the only knitter to have been inspired. There are already patterns available online and people are talking about what they'd like to reproduce in knitting forums. (But first I must finish current projects...)

I just finished my first sock. One whole froggy baby sock. Now that I've done one, the matching second will be a breeze. I'm also finishing up a lovely wool soaker using a soy-wool blend of yarn in "spring garden" colours. (Among several other knit/crochet projects...)

We hope you have fun celebrating the arrival of the new year and wish you a Fabulous year ahead!

Farewell Gryphon

Gryphon passed away last night.

We arrived home after the holidays to find him listless - sleeping all of the time, but occassionally moving location. I was able to get him in to see the vet yesterday, but it seems it was too late. He was severely dehydrated and cold (the vet tech thought her thermometer must be broken). He had also lost 10 oz. His internal systems were already shutting down. We hoped we might save him. I had spent the afternoon cuddling with him while I waited for the appointment, and left him with the vet overnight for further testing and IV fluids. X-rays revealed his lung tissue was full of fluid which needed to be cleared for him to breath. So, despite being dehydrated, he needed to be on a diaretic to clear out the fluid. He was put on warmers to try and raise his temperature too. The vet called this morning to say Gryphon had not made it through the night. We spoke with the vet to see if any more had been learned about the cause of death, but there were few answers. It wasn't cancer or FIP. It may have been a slow-developing allergic reaction to something. It is very unlikely to have been something contagious that Monkey or Fenwick could have, which was one of my concerns.

It was all so sudden - just as when we came home summer 2006 to find Jenny unable to move because of a slipped disc in her spine. Gryphon was even in that same spot when we first found him. And I think I knew then that he was leaving us.

At 5 years young, I wasn't expecting this. I thought he would be the baby's companion for many years to come. Gryphon was, by far, the greatest cat in the house.

Now Robin is the only male in a household of females.

I don't foresee us getting another cat in the near future. We never really intended to have 3 in the first place. Usually when one passes I feel that there is an opportunity to rescue another. However, with a baby on the way, now is certainly not the time to adopt a new cat.

Boxing Day - back home

We had a wonderful holiday with family and hope you did as well! We're home now, back with the kitties - who as usual were not disturbed by our absence. Monkey did not destroy anything. As a reward I gave her a gift bow. My cats are easy to entertain.

We learned a new card game with my grandparents and during our last game I almost pee'd myself laughing - a first ever for me! Yes, it was that funny, but mostly I think it had to do with being pregnant and a confined bladder space combined with a lot of abdominal movement. I wonder what baby thought of it all...

Robin stuffed my stocking with adorable baby clothes (Awwww) - two girly items, and several more "boy" tops featuring dinosaurs and dragons and wild animals. I loved it. (Just to clarify, I don't specifically classify such things as being for boys, but I'm sure that was the maker's intentions and how most people interpret the colours and designs.) I also got a fabulous housecoat! I'm very excited - I've been bugging Robin for one for years and reminding him again now that baby is coming. Fortunately grandma thinks like me and knew it would be useful to have a housecoat soon. I also received a lovely glass, star-shaped, hanging candle lantern which we'd like to hang in baby's room with an led tealight inside. It will make a beautiful nighttime lantern.

Robin received several great cooking books, including two for baby/kid foods. This will be great when we start making baby food. Of course he got other wonderful gifts as well (such as a new card game called Killer Bunnies from me), but I'm not going to bother listing everything!

Darla is going to get a new food bowl. We just realized we left her food bowl in St. Catharines. I was planning to get her a new one anyhow, so this is just better incentive. Monkey (and the cats) got sparkly pom-poms. We don't usually do much for pet gifts since the cats have enough toys (and make their own from household items) and Darla doesn't play with many toys.

Merry Christmas Eve

Only one more sleep until Christmas morning - and you know what that means... Christmas BREAKFAST! Yummy french toast and peameal bacon...

Here's a Christmas surprise for everyone:

We has a surprise ultrasound this morning. It was a surprise for us as well on Dec 21 when we were told about the appointment. The images (scanned in when I got home just before I left for my grandparents') aren't as good here. In fact, they're looking a little creepy. Baby looked good and healthy. We'll know more in early January at the next midwife appointment.

The surprise ultrasound was followed by a surprise vet visit for Darla. While visiting my aunt and uncle this weekend she was scratched across the eye by a cat. She has some eye drops and all will be well soon, poor puppy. She doesn't seem too upset by it and is great at taking the eye drops.

We're having a wonderful holiday with family and hope you are as well!!

Yule Blessings, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Mandy and Robin (and Darla, Gryphon, Fenwick and Monkey).

Cheesecake and Diapers

Today's baking will be cheesecake. Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake to be exact - a recipe I got from Brigitte.

Among other activities today (such as seeing the midwife), I ordered some cloth diapers from Parenting by Nature. Yes, I am excited by diapers!! Fuzzi Bunz to be exact.

We hope everyone is having a splendid holidays!!

Diapers and Shortbread

Diapers and shortbread describes the best parts of my day today.

It all began when I had to tidy the spare room / baby room / storage room because my cousin will be needing it on Friday. I had to stow away all the baby stuff strewn everywhere. Not that I have anywhere to store it... I have tucked it all away inside the co-sleeper - that is, inside the playpen that is the base of the sleeper. It's like having a hollow crib, which is very convenient right now. Thinking about it... it will likely continue to be used as storage for items not in use until we're done using the co-sleeper as a crib. Storage space is seriously lacking in this house.

In the process of stowing away baby stuff I was reminded of some things I have for baby and those things that I definitely need - such as diapers. There are so many cloth diaper options! It's been a while since I focused on baby stuff, so I decided to return to learning more about my options. It was exciting and daunting. I think I'll try a little bit of everything to see what I like best :) I updated some items on the Gift Registry and added a new baby registry at Parenting by Nature.com I am impressed by their selection, and PbN is one of few Canadian online stores I could find with the type of items I am interested in (besides Grace's Forever Family shop). [links on the left]

Of course, I didn't spend my entire day with diapers! No, I did work as well, but who needs to hear about that? You'd much rather know that I baked shortbread cookies and macaroons. yummy. Robin was certainly pleased to come home to baking this evening. I'd even picked up egg nog to drink with it. Tomorrow's plans include Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake and something to use up the sweetened condensed milk. (Maybe I should hold off on the cheesecake and make it Friday to bring to Kincardine on Saturday... I'm sure my cousins would agree)

The Holidays have arrived in our home

This is the earliest either of us has ever decorated for the winter holidays. I realize by the standards of many others we are actually "late" in decorating, or maybe right on schedule.

I haven't finished clearing off the living room tables (currently covered in knitting and crochet and plants) to unclutter the top of the bookcase, but it will get done... eventually.

Monkey has been very well behaved as far as the tree in concerned. She hasn't tried to climb it at all, nor has she knocked off ornaments. I am very surprised, but I'm certainly not complaining! And it's not that she hasn't been in playful moods - oh she has!

We had a midwife visit earlier this week. From now on we go back every two weeks. Things are looking good, except that I have some extra amniotic fluid which makes me "bigger" than I should be. Baby also gets extra room to move around for now - I'm sure she doesn't mind. It is something we will have to keep an eye on, but the fluid levels should return to normal on their own eventually. I also finally got my self in to see a naturopath this week and she is helping me prepare for the birth as well. I chose to see a naturopath who specializes in prenatal and families.

Today I stopped in at another baby consignment shop (2nd Time Around at Francis & King)to browse - because I'd never been to this one even though I drive past it twice a day taking Robin to work. They carry a good selection of cloth diapers. I picked up the cutest pair of Robeez slippers. I couldn't help myself. They're for 0-3 months and thus in mint condition. They were also half the price ($11) of new Robeez($22). Just look and you'll see why MY spring baby had to have them!

I love orange and I fell in love with these!! So - when you're shopping, keep in mind that too much pink will clash with these booties! ;) Otherwise, I've been good. I only bought one fuzzy, super-soft pink sleeper the other day at Hand Me Downs (on Highland, near our place; next to the pet store I had to go to) since buying the Ergo stuff. And today I picked up two small onesies with the Robeez just because they were cute and made in Canada and $2. Considering how cute baby stuff is... and how quickly the due date is approaching... I think I am restraining myself very well!

Next day addition:

Here is the latest belly art update from this morning. There are two shades of purple (after the blue), which represent an entire month's growth. The rest of the colours mark 2 weeks each.

December Shall Fly By

I am anticipating that December will fly by. I hope so, because we now have only 3 months remaining in the pregnancy and I'm ready to meet baby A.* (Yes, we're at 6 months already!) Of course, if I was A I certainly wouldn't be ready to come out of the womb yet. Development issues aside - it's cold out here! I know, it's cold and snowy across the country - so I'm not going to complain especially. I don't mind the cold and snow so long as it remains consistent. I hate when it melts and refreezes. Darla loves the snow - it's her favourite toy. She likes it when I go out to shovel because I throw snowballs for her. Yes, I shovel. And I don't want to hear from any worriers who think I shouldn't be doing any work. I won't be skiing or such, but I'm perfectly capable of shovelling snow.

School is wrapping up for the term. I administer my exam on Friday and will have the term papers graded by then as well. It shouldn't take me longer than the weekend to grade the exams, which means I'm free and clear as of next week! Just in time to finish up Yule gifts, go see the midwife on Monday, and start celebrating the season.

This weekend I will be at the Grand River All Breed animal rescue's Christmas party. We're setting up photo shoots with pets and santa and, among other things, I am providing the tree. I imagine once I get the tree back home I will want to set it up here. But I'm still worried about MONKEY and the tree... I think I will set it up without ornaments for a week to see what she does and train her (with a spray bottle) to stay out of it! Of course, once I manage to keep her out of the tree I still have to figure out how to keep her from unwrapping any presents. It's easy enough for me to not put wrapped gifts under the tree I suppose, but that takes half the fun out of the Christmas tree and I'm still going to have to store everything somewhere out of her reach. Stupid plastic-and-glue-chewing cat! Why oh why did we adopt that silly kitten?? (I do love her)

In other news, as you can see I cut my hair off again. It was a much needed change. A simple trim just wasn't going to satisfy me. Robin goes back to working evenings next week now that he is almost finished training the next group of workers.

*Note: We don't plan on naming the next child with a B. Just incase the phrase "baby A" made you think along those lines. In fact, now that *I've* thought of that, I can say with confidence that the next child will not be baby B. Anything but B. Maybe 2.