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1.18.10

Reno Update #347

Well kids, We are close to finished the biggest project we’ve ever taken on.   Ever.  Our kitchen is fully functional again, and not only is it functional, but it’s dang pretty too.

Our AMAZING new countertops arrived last Thursday and I still find myself going in the kitchen to just steal a look at them.

We still have our fair share of work to do: painting, backsplash, lighting, baseboards – but if you compare it to what’s already been accomplished, it feels like the finish line is within sight.

What do you think?

Filed in: Home renovations | Life
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January 18, 2010 - 11:27 pm

Co - Congratulations!!!!!!!Great Job.

January 19, 2010 - 6:21 am

Lisa D - WOW! FANCY!!! LOOKS AWESOME, can’t wait to sit at the bar and have a cocktail, or tea or cake, something…
Well done. Kitchen party time!!

January 19, 2010 - 9:17 am

Auntie Kris - It looks amazing! You should post a before and after shot, because that is a HUGE change. Gorgeous. Great work!

January 19, 2010 - 9:18 am

Auntie Kris - What’s all that white stuff on your BBQ, by the way?

January 19, 2010 - 7:37 pm

Auntie Lizzie - LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to see it in person!

January 21, 2010 - 1:29 am

Dominik - awesome !!! Simply awesome !!!

1.18.10

I love mangoes

It’s mango week.  Frank the Baby is apparently as big as a large mango, weighing in at just over a pound.

I figured that since I hadn’t updated in awhile, you might like to know which fruit our new little bundle was most resembling at this point in the pregnancy.  We are past the halfway mark and almost 6 months along!  Craziness.

Both Frank the Baby and I are feeling fabulous.  What they say about the second trimester being the easiest has certainly been true this time around.  I have tons of energy and after spending most of the first trimester drifting off into sleep (sometimes at inappropriate times), I can finally keep up with my energetic preschooler without complaint.

Stay tuned next week’s update when Frank grows to the length of a cob of corn.

Filed in: Friends
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January 18, 2010 - 11:14 am

Auntie Kris - Excellent…I like the fruit comparison. What is the final fruit/veggie? GMO eggplant? Maybe a pineapple?

January 18, 2010 - 7:05 pm

shannen - Eek! A pumpkin.

1.15.10

The Bean and Ballet

Both Jaia and I have been looking forward to her starting ballet class for months.  We bought her slippers and tights in November and, hanging in her closet since she was wee, was the leotard that I wore as a little one when I was in ballet class.  She’s been dressing up in the whole outfit as part of playtime a couple of times per week.  It’s adorable.  She switches from tutu to tutu (she has three or four) and she prances around practicing her pirouettes and pliés.

So when last night finally rolled around, she could barely contain herself.  We got dressed early, had a special supper (snapped a few pictures) and were out the door.  She was one excited little ballerina.

Jaia is shy and I worried a little that she wouldn’t want to stay in the room without Dan or I, but she completely surprised me by waltzing into the room and waving goodbye as I stood there.  I left to go into the hall (Dan and I were the only 2 parents who followed the rules and stayed out of the room).  After 25 minutes, I could not contain myself anymore and snuck in to take a peek.  I tried to find her in the circle of girls whose reflection I could see from the stairs, not wanting Jaia to see me and get distracted, but I couldn’t see her.  So I crept up 2 more stairs and there she was, standing away from the others dancing to her own reflection in the mirror and having a blast.

I burst out laughing.  There are oodles of pictures of me completely not following along in my ballet class, showing off for whoever would watch.  So Jaia comes by it honestly.  Turns out she’s just like her mama.

I went back into the hall to get Dan and then we both smiled as we watched our daughter march to the beat of her own drum.  She danced to her heart’s content, but did not follow the group even once.  She’s nothing if she isn’t an individual who does what she wants and last night, she didn’t want to walk in a circle and act like a bear or a frog.  She was in her ballet suit, in a tutu, in ballet class.  She wanted to dance, and dance she did.  I couldn’t be more proud.

Here are a few of my pictures of my little ballerina and the rest are up on flickr.

Filed in: Big events
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January 16, 2010 - 12:43 am

Auntie Jenny - She melts my heart…

She looks like you, Shan in so many of those pictures!

Love the story. I can just see you two peeking in on her 🙂

Miss you guys.

January 16, 2010 - 12:56 am

Auntie Jenny - Nice bday pictures by the way! Dominik has a good eye.. 🙂

January 16, 2010 - 5:24 am

rachel - Absolutely gorgeous photos. Just love it. And I too remember at age 3 not wanting to be a bee or a frog but to dance!

January 16, 2010 - 11:12 am

Sarah - I’m so happy she had a blast!!
xo

January 18, 2010 - 10:50 am

Auntie Kris - SO adorable! I wish THE BANK didn’t block Flickr…I’ll have to wait until I’m home tonight to check out the rest. I love her!! I had the opposite experience in ballet class at her age…Mom showed me into the room, they closed the door (with Mom on the other side of it), I burst into tears and that was the end of it. I’m so glad Jaia had such a great time. 🙂 She’ll have to show me her moves the next time I’m in Ottawa.

1.14.10

Ballet Class…

…was awesome.  I have a fantastic story to tell – but not tonight.  I’m exhausted and want to do it justice.  Check back tomorrow for an update and pictures, oodles of pictures.

Goodnight.

Filed in: Uncategorized
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January 15, 2010 - 7:27 pm

Auntie Jenny - I’m waiting for pictures!! 🙂

1.13.10

oh my…

This morning at 9:30 am I dropped my baby off at her first preschool class.  She was brave as can be until I opened the door to the class and she stopped dead.  I basically had to pull her through to the other side.  She immediately hid behind my legs and my heart sank.  We’d been talking up the experience and I thought she would be excited rather than terrified.  But I saw terror in her eyes.

Thankfully, after a quick pep talk and a reminder that I would be right outside (a lie, but a necessary lie), she warmed up.  The nametag with the pink star sticker helped, too.  She went over to play with a doll castle with some other kids and I stood back by the door to watch for a few seconds.  A man struck up a conversation with me, asking if it was Jaia’s first day.  I answered yes as I watched my big girl doing just fine without me.  I don’t know what h said next that hit me so hard, but I had to quickly end the conversation to head out to the car where I CRIED LIKE A BABY.  For a full 5-10 minutes.  Yes, I was THAT girl.

I finally regained composure and drove to the gym, as originally planned.  I had a great work out, but stared at my phone almost the entire time.  And not surprisingly, it never rang.

At 11:15, I headed back to pick up the bean.  When she saw me her face lit up, she ran toward me with arms wide open and gave me the biggest hug she could.  And then taking my hand, she firmly told me that she wanted to stay.  All my anxiety and nervousness instantly turned to pride.  I was beaming with it.

It took a few minutes, but I was able to convince her to come home with me and that we’d come back next week.  Our car ride was filled with awesome stories of new friends and fun adventures.  I became all misty again as I realized that we had officially entered a new phase, one where she doesn’t need her Mama as much as she did just a little while ago.  I can’t believe we are already here.

Up next, ballet class tomorrow.  This is one I’m not worried about.  She’s been practicing and dressing the part for months.  I’ll have an update tomorrow night.

Some obligatory first day pictures (mostly for the grandparents but also because I love them):

Filed in: Big events | Jaia
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January 14, 2010 - 9:16 am

Carole - That is so precious! I’m misty eyed now..:O)

January 14, 2010 - 9:55 am

Dominik - very cute, it always shows how fast time really flies by – and soon she is going to have her 1st driving lessons (with me) …