Multitude Monday : March 31, 2014

Did you have a wintery, stormy weekend? Here in Nova Scotia, I don't think we are going to see the end of bad weather. I'm a big-time homebody, but even I'm starting to get stick of being stuck in the house. Over the past week, I've only left a handful of times - which is starting to make me a little shack-happy. Thankfully, Dan was off for the weekend, so we got to stay all snuggled in together, which was extra-wonderful since he'd been away for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Since it's Monday, I think I'll tackle another Multitude Monday. What's that? In case you're unfamiliar with the concept, or new to the blog, I'll explain the theory behind it. Each week, I like to list ten things that I'm currently thankful for. It's a great way to start my week off on a positive note, especially on Monday morning - which is usually a down-in-the-dumps time of the week. Feel free to chime in through the comments, on your own blog, or in a journal - you could even list a few things on your fridge as a gentle reminder this week.

Here's a list of the ten things that I'm currently thankful for:

741 - an adorable, beautifully illustrated book that I purchased for the baby last week. It's a tear-jerker that I couldn't resist!

742 - Cold Tangerines, a delicious read that I've been slowly consuming over the past year. 

743 - little bits of handmade art, both made by myself and purchased, scattered throughout our home that add so much personality to our space.

744 - an entire evening last week devoted to creating. I forgot how much I miss the simple task of making something with my hands - and the joy of a finished product.
745 - a quiet, peaceful Monday morning, slowly chipping away at my to-do list.
746 - music, both newly discovered and old favourites, that keep me company and help me to focus.
747 - finding the perfect Bible verse to send in a note to a special friend in a time of need.
748 - being surrounded by a supportive family and husband - something I should never take for granted, as there are so many other that don't get to experience that amount of love.
749 - the generosity of friends with offers of hand-me-downs (which I love!)
750 - the grace of God that allows us to see our decisions that didn't feel right at the time, blossoming into blessings.

What are you thankful for today?

Happy Monday!

Little Lentil : 34 Weeks

My, my, how the time keeps getting away from me! Bad, procrastinating mama. As of today, I'm 35 weeks, but I'll share last week's update anyway. (I'm storm-stayed inside, with a big old snowstorm going on here in the Maritimes. Might as well make good use of my time!) It's fun for me to learn what's new in the baby's world each week, and these updates will be a fun keepsake for the baby book that I've yet to get started. 

Baby's size this week: Butternut Squash (image via Medicinal Meals & More)

Here's what's new for this week:

Week: Thirty-four

What's going on inside: This week, according to the development studies, the baby can recognize and react to specific songs! Isn't that mind blowing? If born between now and 37 weeks, unless the baby has any other health concerns, they're generally fine! (Just a bit teensier than anticipated.) They're continuing to focus on gaining weight, and their eyelids are open when awake, and closed while sleeping.

What's going on outside: I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable, which is to be expected. My energy levels are pretty low - and no wonder! It's hard work creating a human! :) Dan and I are both getting really excited to meet our little one. I received a free package of baby essentials in the mail today, and I smiled at the name of the diapers: "little snugglers". I can't wait to meet my little snuggler!

How big is that lentil? The baby is approximately five pounds this week, and between 18-20" long. They should be around the length that they'll be when born, they're just beefing up. In comparison to an object, the baby is around the size of a butternut squash.

Total weight loss/gain: I haven't been tracking it for the past few weeks. At my doctor's appointments (within the past month), I have been gaining a pound a week, which is right on target. Considering that the baby is gaining about 0.5lb per week, it makes sense!

Food cravings: No cravings this week. It's getting harder to eat when I'm hungry. We have stools at our kitchen table, so eating requires hunching over a bit, which the baby seems to love. They kick me in the ribs for most of the meal… so there isn't much room for the food to go. I've been attempting to eat smaller amounts at regular intervals to compensate.

Best moment this week: We set up our bassinet on Monday! Dan's grandfather made a cradle for Dan's oldest sister, and it's been used for each of his siblings, and each of his sister's kiddos. It's pretty special to be able to use it for our little one, too. I'm not sure how long we'll use it for, but we have a crib in the basement that we will set up in its place once it's time to make the transition. It's neat to see the cradle in the corner of our bedroom!

Happy Wednesday!

Multitude Monday : March 24, 2014

(Cheese alert.) It's Mmmmmultitude Moooonday time!

Since it's Monday and all, it's time for Multitude Monday! To read all of my past Multitude Monday posts, click here. I've been working my way up from zero, and this week I'm topping out at 740. Multitude Monday is a fun way to keep track of your blessings, as small (or as large!) as they might be. It's a great way to start off the week on a positive note and it helps you to notice the little details in your daily life. Feel free to chime in through the comments!

This week, I'm thankful for:

731 - having Dan home after he was away for work for three days - I don't know how my parents can do three weeks at a time with Dad being away for work.
732 - a clean kitchen after a yummy supper on "meatless Monday". I'll share the recipe with you, too.
733 - discovering cute fabric fat quarters in my stash and cutting them up for a little sewing project.
734 - organizing a shelf in the linen closet so all of our extra toiletries don't topple out on top of our heads.
735 - the joy of mason jars. Seriously, what can't those bad boys contain?
736 - spending almost the entire day at my parent's place yesterday - half of which was spent napping on the couch :)
737 - texting with friends and sharing a laugh or two, even if it's not in person.
738 - the smell (and feel!) of clean towels and sheets. I can't wait until we have out own place and I can dry them on the clothesline!
739 - this may sound crazy, but the forecasted storm later this week. I don't have anywhere that I need to be, and as long as my laptop is charged up, I can get lots accomplished if I'm snowed in.
740 - finding deals for the bebe via Kijiji. People that purchase everything new are seriously mis-guided. Second-hand is where it's at ;)

How about you? What are you currently thankful for? Do share!

Happy Monday!

Doors of Quebec City : Part 3

I know that I don't usually (if ever!) post on Saturdays, but I couldn't resist waiting until the weekend was over. Today is the final instalment of my series on the doors of Old Quebec City. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 to see the other photos that I shared earlier in the week. Dan and I spent a week in March of 2013 visiting Quebec City and strolling through the streets. I captured photos of almost 50 doors, which I hope to put together in a photo book.

I love the thought of having the photos that are special or meaningful to me in print. Too often I leave my photos on the camera, computer, or hard-drive - what good are they doing there? We have one shelf on our bookshelf in the living room that is dedicated to photo albums and photo books, large and small, both handmade and purchased, and it's so much fun to take the time to browse through special memories. These door photos are meaningful to me, not just because of the beauty of the architecture, but the memories that the photos evoke. I want to remember the special trip that Dan and I took, and how relaxing it was to simply explore a new city and enjoy each other's company, uninterrupted, for a solid week. The fact that the memories will be supported by cheery looking doors doesn't hurt, either :)

Without further adieu, here's Part 3 of the series:

The only door photo that I took in landscape orientation - I couldn't resist the bicycle in the shot!

Have a lovely weekend!

Doors of Quebec City : Part 2

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I am sharing photos of the beautiful doors that Dan and I discovered last March while visiting Quebec City. The lovely architecture of the Old City was incredible - so many awesome photo opportunities. It was difficult to not be a complete tourist and take photographs of everything. Most of the time, I had our camera in hand, and Dan had our cell phone camera - we took so many photos over the week. We spent hours walking up and down the cobblestone streets, strolling in and out of shops and galleries - lots of people watching, too. Who can resist a bit of that? :)

Here's "Part 2" of the doors of Quebec City. Enjoy!

Do you have any favourite doors? Do share!

Happy Friday!

Doors of Quebec City : Part 1

In 2013, Dan and I spent our March break (I had a week off from classes, and he took vacation at the same time) in Quebec City. We travelled by Via Rail train from Moncton and spent the week in Quebec. We stayed at a little boutique hotel in Old Quebec City right across the lawn from Chateau Frontenac! If you are every traveling to the city, I highly recommend Auberge Place D'Armes as the place to stay - it was an awesome experience and great value. 

While in Quebec City, I was determined to take as many photos as possible with my then brand new Nikon dSLR to get lots of practice in. I wanted to take a series of photographs that I could put in a photo book. The photo book hasn't happened yet - I should get on that! We walked the city for the entire week, and on our travels, I discovered that Old Quebec City is home to some of the prettiest doors that I have ever seen. Some doors were colourful, some traditional, some original, but most were unique in some way. Over the next three days, I'll share the photos that I took with you. Hope you enjoy the architecture of Quebec City!

Happy Thursday!