Category Archives: Life

Pregnancy #2: 13 Weeks

How are you feeling?

The most common question a woman hears when she tells the world she is pregnant. I can happily say that I am feeling great! While I was pregnant with Calvin, and also feeling wonderful the entire time, I kept reminding myself, “every pregnancy can be different, so keep your expectations low for next time!” But I am experiencing the exact same things this time as last. My nose is a tiny bit more sensitive (last time it was the compost that did me in, this time it is raw meat), I have mild nasal congestion that leaves me with dry lips every morning (this showed up before I knew I was pregnant last time and I thought I was getting allergies; I had no clue it could be a pregnancy symptom until one of those daily What To Expect App daily updates a few weeks later), and I get choked up far too easily while watching TV (examples: scenic shots of the Alps in Amazing Race and when couples purchase a home in House Hunters).

I feel really blessed that pregnancies go so well for me because I know that is definitely not the case for everybody.

One symptom that I wish I had more of is cravings. It feels like a myth to me. Something women come up with just so that they can eat crazy things all the time. I have never felt the need to go out and get a burger Right Now! or eat midnight snacks. Is this really a real thing? I wish I was a better liar so I too could get away with it . Although I think my desire to eat yummy, bad foods is outweighed by my desire to save money by not making spontaneous purchases.

Something that has been different so far in this pregnancy is that I am not as tired as I was last time. I attribute that to not working at 7AM every morning and having to walk 20 minutes (or closer to 30 by the end of the 9 months) uphill after 8 hours at work. I remember a few days of going to bed for the night around 6 or 7.

One other difference is that I never remember how far along I am! How many other women can attest to the fact that you really don’t pay attention to those little details like how big the baby is every week and what new function they are learning in there? I still have the apps, but I don’t check them. I actually just had to open one now to enter my due date to see how many weeks I was supposed to name this post.

3 Replies

Family Photo of Four

Almost a year ago, on April 18 (I remember the date because it was Tim’s birthday), we took this little family photo while watching a Canucks playoff game:

We decided to replicate it this past weekend when my parents were here and we were dressed up similarly:

But we didn’t stop there. We had to make sure everybody was accounted for:

That’s right! We are bringing another little Canucks fan into this world, due October 21. You probably caught that fact in Calvin’s birthday post, but I couldn’t decide how to announce it, so I just did it both ways!

We are so excited! So is Calvin. He just doesn’t really know what he is excited about.

4 Replies

One Year of Calvin

It’s already been a year. What?!

A year ago, at 10:14 PM on Friday April 13, 2012, Calvin William joined our family at a long and lean 7lb2oz and 21.25″, and he has been the best baby ever! Excuse me while I take a moment to brag here…

Calvin has always been a generally happy baby, quick to smile and very slow to get sad or angry. He kept my laundry piles small by not spitting up much and peeing during diapers changes no more than 5 times in his whole life! No PeePee Teepees needed here! I think the last time he did it, he aimed at his mouth, so he decided it’s better just to hold it until I am done. Sure, he still doesn’t sleep through the night, but I don’t care. He never gives a fight when it’s bed time, and wakes up chatty and happy in the morning. It has been so much fun seeing how much there is for him to learn, and watching him actually learn it! In the past few months it has been especially fun with him becoming more interactive, sharing toys and trying to feed me his food. Currently he is in a copy cat phase, mimicking head movements, actions and sounds.

And what is a one year post without a pile of photos depicting everything he has done up until now? Nothing! So without further ado, sit back and enjoy!

Stinking cute baby face.

First family photo.

Celebrating daddy’s birthday at 5 days old.

1 month – Very first Mother’s Day…

…on which he smiled for the first time!

This is not a smile, but it sure is cute!

With his good pal, Hobbes.

Daddy graduated!

He loved the Jolly Jumper…honestly!

His favourite thing was always, and still is, riding daddy's shoulders.

His favourite thing has always been, and still is, riding daddy’s shoulders.

Got baptised at Grandma and Grandpa’s CRC church on July 8. He still looks like a boy while wearing a dress, right?

Reaching!

Happy boy.

Taste testing his toes.

Going for a drive (while stopped in the ferry line up).

5 months - Sitting for the first time, like it's not big deal. It obviously was to me!

5 months – Sitting for the first time, like it’s no big deal. It obviously was to me!

Getting packed up for the big move.

Ready to hit the road for a long drive!

Mmm…food!

Sleeping in funny positions.

6 months – Pulling himself up…

…on everything!

Up on all fours.

Making a snow angel.

7 months – Pushing himself backwards and getting into sticky situations.

Back on the coast, near the ocean!

First Christmas.

Becoming a virtuoso.

Finding mommy’s potato bin.

Being a goof.

Mastering the maze.

Sleeping with his bum in the air.

Figuring out how toys work.

And finally, becoming the…

Happy birthday, Calvin! We can’t wait to see what you will all learn and get up to in this next year!

5 Replies

My Favourite Piece of Furniture

When we were engaged, before we decided we didn’t want to spend money on large gifts for each other, Tim got me the best gift ever!

It was Christmas Eve, and we were at his parents’ house. In the evening, I followed Tim to the basement, not knowing that he did not want me to follow him. I found him in the workshop doing a little painting on a piece of furniture. When he realized I had seen it, he said “surprise! But you weren’t supposed to find out until tomorrow.” But it was still great! I had seen the piece before, in the window of a store I passed whenever I went to the grocery store. This one, in fact:

Thanks, Google Street View.

The Junction. One of Victoria’s many quality used furniture stores. One time in particular, I recall driving to the grocery store with Tim, passing the window and exclaiming how lovely the piece in the window was! So, one day while I was at work, he went and bought it. I think he had to get his parents’ van from Nanaimo to haul it away. And he also made a couple trips up there (1 3/4 hours drive each way) during an 8-hour shift of mine so he could do a little work on it and not have me know. What a great surprise it was!

So we brought it back down to Victoria, and squeezed it into my tiny suite where it served as a TV stand.

This was right before we moved and had a baby. That was the only place we could collect baby things and moving boxes.

In our next place in Victoria, it was still a TV stand, but a little more visible.

Now, in Edmonton, it is the perfect entry way catch-all.

It holds my bag, keys, hats, scarves, gloves, baby shoes, and pretty board games. Inside is where we keep movies and not so pretty board games.

I love it a lot, and it the most useful piece of furniture ever! Now I just need to decide what to do with it now that it is spring. I don’t want to keep all the winter gear out on the shelves (because I want to forget this season exists), but I don’t know what kinds of things I can replace them with. Whatever it is has to be baby friendly of course, since this is one of Calvin’s favourite places to come play when I let him roam free. Any ideas?

7 Replies

A Visit with Oma and Grandpa

Last Wednesday my parents arrived in town after a day of driving through the mountains. They brought with them some chocolate for a late Easter and some gifts for Calvin for an early birthday party. It is always fun to have guests, and family is the best kind of guests!

Here are a few photos of their visit.

Grandpa shares his mate.

Tearing into the gifts. There were lots of clothes and trucks!

A little birthday cupcake.

Saturday morning waffles.

A walk in the cold.

Mom and Dad Thiessen

Snuggly and cuddly.

Go Canucks Go!

Thanks for coming, and you are welcome back any time!

2 Replies

Easter Weekend

I guess we just had a big holiday, hey? Why is it that big holidays don’t feel that big when you don’t have a lot of family around to celebrate? And long weekends don’t feel like long weekends when you are home all the time anyway. But Tim was home on Friday, so we got to hang out for an extra day, which was nice. And he was also home on Monday, but was working. Everybody at his office took it as a vacation day, but he didn’t want to, so it was fortunate that there was work he could do at home.

I didn’t do any decorating or egg painting. I probably will when Calvin is older and can appreciate it, but for now, for me, it is a waste of money. I did buy Tim a $1 chocolate bunny from Walmart though, and hid it. Apparently putting it in a cereal box was too clever though!

On Sunday, we had Jordan and Amy over for a mid day dinner of a delicious ham (the spiral one from Costco that is always so tasty) and salad, and also mashed potatoes and a yummy trifle provided by them. Tim then got a turn at hiding little bags of Eggies (Hershy’s tastier answer to Cadbury’s Mini Eggs) for us. And that was our celebration. I would share photos, but the only one I took was of our food, and you all know what ham and mashed potatoes look like. It was a fun, casual day.

Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian religion, and I am glad that it is recognized by our country, even if it is just an excuse for chocolate and a day off for most people. To me it is about remembering that I have New Life because Jesus took on my punishment for my sinfulness. And yours too! Here are some lyrics from one of my favourite Easter themed hymns:

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

2 Replies

Folding Towels

When I worked at the hotel, I spent a fair amount of time in the laundry room when housekeeping was short on hands. This is where I learned the best way to fold towels. If you are like me, towels would typically get folded in half with the ends together a couple times until it is your desired size.

But I have a way to fold them if you want them to look a bit more attractive in a pile! Here’s how:
1. Fold in thirds lengthwise
2. Depending on the size of the towel, fold up in thirds, like I have done for this smaller hand towel, or in half then half again for larger bath towels.

There you go! The only negative thing about this method is that it is difficult to do in the air, like the tried and true way I used to fold them. You either need table or counter space, or just use the floor.

Here are my guest towels, looking all pretty, waiting for our next guests (which happen to be my parents who are coming tomorrow!).

And when you are consistent with your folding technique, your linen closet will look tidy and organized.

Yes, I also learned how to fold sheets. I do know how to do fitted sheets, but I am not the greatest at it. And I don’t have extras, so I never have to fold any. But if you are interested, my aunt has great instructions on how to fold fitted sheets.

Happy folding!

1 Reply