Moments I REALLY, REALLY LOVED Lately.....

(In addition to this "baby-is-sleeping, Phil-is-out-watching-football, bed-to-myself, cup-of-tea-in-hand" thing I have going on right now....)

Strolling through the Avenues with my first pumpkin spiced latte of the season.  And sporting Nan's "coffee cozy" en route, of course!  (But in the spirit of honesty, I have to confess that I don't particularly like this beverage all that much.  There's just something HOMEY about it that I MUST HAVE.)

Having a Saturday afternoon ice cream party with the family.  The whole Baskin Robbins to ourselves and cat slippers to boot!

Watching Nory snuggle up with gentle souls like this one.  I feel like she just KNOWS.  We love you, Uncle Nasser!

Aunt Dana.

This weekend we were reminded, once again, just how awesome it is to have family living with us abroad.  We may not see Aunt Dana all too often, but when we do, we have THE BEST TIME EVER.  She's a super fun person to eat fake corn on the cob with, empty out an entire container of pens with, or sort through coins in a wallet with........

Snuggling up for "night night".  Ha!  Ya right.  If you've ever tried to put this child to sleep you know FULL WELL this is simply a game!

Doing the "freaky face".  Ah-hem, the face that I HATE, HATE, HATE.  She feels compelled to do it whenever she talks to Grandpa on Facetime.  Why?  I don't know....

WE LOVE YOU, AUNT DANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

24 WEEKS!!!!!

And I can't believe it.  Pregnancy #2 is going by much more quickly than pregnancy #1.  We are going to be a crazy family of four in no time at all :)

Today I went to the doctor for a regular check-up.  Things to note:

1)  She didn't say that I "got too fat" this month.  WIN!
2)  She believes this baby is MORE ACTIVE (yes, MORE!) than Nory.  I'm thinking she'll settle down come January - once she realizes how hectic this big old world is (fingers crossed? ha!)...
3)  She also says that Goose LOVES the breech position.  Hence why I randomly have to go to the bathroom IMMEDIATELY.  
4)  We are unsure of how to proceed in terms of medical care.  The doctor who delivered Nory has switched to a private clinic and my current doctor is recommending doctors from a different hospital.  I'm not sure what the best move is for us yet, but I'm happy that there are many moms around here to ask for advice!

I'm feeling great.  Minus the cold that swept through the house this past week and left me semi-exhausted.  A bit of upper back pain.  Some sharp pains here and there the odd time.  But I'm still pumping out lots of steps and I'm hoping to attend a zumba class this afternoon!

But first, it's that time of the week!  TIME TO BAKE!!!!!!  I'm so happy that this weekend activity was instilled in me as a child.  It feels so good to watch my family enjoy a fresh batch of muffins, cookies, loaves, WHATEVER!

Happy weekend to all of you back home! XOXO

Stranger things HAVE happened....

It's almost 5 o'clock and I've decided to make my first tea of the day.

Well.

Look what the fresh box of PG Tips had waiting for me!  I burst out laughing and immediately thought that someone who knows me ALL TOO WELL had this particular box made JUST FOR ME :)  Thank you Coincidence Gods (or Phil?)!!! What a lovely way to kick off this tea party event :)

Lunch-Making....a new A & C :)

We have finally found success in the packed lunch department!  I'm not sure why, but in the past it has been a last minute scramble for leftovers in the fridge, granola bars, apple sauce, or crackers.  It was a "Shoot!  What about lunch?!" sort of thing as we were leaving the flat, rather than a top priority which it absolutely should have been.  I mean, Nory's food has always been prepared in adequate time (because I want to make sure she's eating certain things throughout the day), but ours was just not viewed with the same level of urgency.  That is until we found THESE.....these beautiful lunch containers from where other than Pottery Barn Kids!

Since purchasing these lunchbox gems, I'm having a lot of fun putting our snacks together the night before work.  Finding different coloured foods to fill each little part - and make the finished product look so organized and pretty - involves the creative process and I've always been a fan.  I've also found this eating arrangement to be ideal for grazers like me.....or for those who only have 5 minutes here or 5 minutes there to get some energy into them (ah-hem, ALL TEACHERS)!

That being said, if I don't get the job done before I go to bed, there's NO CHANCE it will get done at 4:30 in the morning!  I suppose the time it takes me to put them together is a bit of a drawback....but if I can motivate myself after dinner each evening, it's 100% doable :)

Alright, it's BED TIME!!!!  The morning seems to come extra early around here.  We hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!! XOXO

The Name Game.

It's really, super hard guys.  I mean....there is so much to consider:

Is it adorable?  Do we both like it?  Is it easy to say?  Is it easy to spell?  Is it any of the names that we decided WERE NOT GOOD ENOUGH for Nory?  Is it familiar , yet not too common?  Does it go well with our last name?  Does it go well with some proposed middle names?  Does it go well with Nory?  Does it have a good meaning....or at the very least a neutral one?  Does it remind us of someone we've taught?  Is it too similar to so-and-so's name?  Could it be altered in a rude way?  What are the possible nicknames?  

It goes ON and ON and ON.  But....GUESS WHAT?!  Today we happened upon a name that we both actually liked!  We've put it up for "testing" and will be using it around the house to see if we fall in love with it.  And NO - we will not be revealing the name until she is officially HERE!  There's got to be SOME element of surprise and since you already know it's a girl, you are going to have to hold out for the name :)  I WILL tell you that we've been calling her "Goose" because Nory has been affectionately called "Chicken" since she was extra tiny :)

We are SO, SO excited to meet you, Goose!!!!!!

Love, Mama and Dada
XOXO   

Don't hit me. I'm just being honest.

We don't do dishes anymore.  We don't put away leftovers anymore.  We don't make our bed anymore.  We don't put away clean clothes anymore.  We don't steam iron our work clothes anymore.  We don't unpack water bottles into the fridge anymore.  We don't pick up toys resulting from an all-day-Nornado anymore.  We don't even sort laundry or take out the garbage, which are jobs that Phil previously INSISTED on doing himself.  And sometimes, we happen upon things that make a random Saturday morning - where you're rushing into school to get some planning done despite feeling like you've been hit by a mac truck - feel like CHRISTMAS MORNING..............

Time spent finding the lid?  ZERO MINUTES!

     
God bless the wonderful woman who allows us to have more quality time with our daughter than we ever could have imagined as working parents. 

WE LOVE YOU KUMARI POPPINS!!!!!!!!!!!

In case you need some....

I have a cold. It's gross. But lying on the couch I came across the best motto ever!!!

This house is FULL OF LOVE.  Pumpkin-oatmeal-chocolate chip cookies are baking in the oven.  All that's missing is the tiara.  Two of them.  For now.  Until January.  When we require three.

Also....it's basically fall, right?  My billion cans of pumpkin on the baking shelf tell me that this is true.  If only we had the sweater weather and colourful leaves to accompany it.

PARKINSON OBSESSIONS.

Eleanor:  CATS.  It makes me cringe to even say that word because she legitimately says it AT LEAST 100 times a day.  She has cat slippers, cat books, cat toys, and requests to watch cat Youtube videos on my phone whenever she sees me with it.  It's getting out of control, BIG TIME.  One might even call it an addiction based on the meltdowns that ensue if Nory is not instantly gratified with something "CAT". (Somebody help a Mama out!)

She wants to wear these EVERYWHERE - inside AND outside!

Lindsay:  CRUNCHY PEANUT BUTTER.  This is strange, strange.  I have always preferred the extra smooth variety, which changed drastically two weeks ago as I reluctantly used the crunchy peanut butter that the school placed in our flat upon arrival this year.  We were all out of the good stuff, so I had no other choice but to use up what was remaining in the cupboard.  Well.  What a LUCKY experience that was!  It turned out to be quite the hit with me and my bump :)

Phil:  Daddy Daycare.  A group that consists of men in our building, their respective children, and NO WIVES (well maybe sometimes)!  They meet up almost daily at the pool or in the courtyard where the kids swim, blow bubbles, play in the sandbox, do sidewalk chalk - whatever - while the "Daddys" sit and socialize.  The kids love it.  The dads love it.  The moms love it.  Hmm, perhaps it's an obsession we all have.....

A little reminder as to where we live.

After reuniting in the courtyard this evening.....

Lindsay:  (screaming) PHIL!!!!!!!!! 

Phil:  (panicked) What?!  Is everything okay?!!!

Lindsay:  Yes!  Marc Jacobs just called!!!!

Phil:  Who?

Lindsay:  Marc Jacobs.  They say I haven't been into the store in a while and they are hoping I stop by this weekend to browse their new collection.

Phil:  (laughs, smacks his forehead, and walks away....)

This is NO JOKE, People!  And for the record, today is our very first PAY DAY of the 2014-2015 school year ;)

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR (DECAF) TEA.

*  You'd see a BIG OLD GRIN on my face because Nory is having an "I LOVE MAMA" day.  These days are rare and I'm soaking up every single moment.  (Sorry, Phil, but you're going to have to suck it up for this one day only!)

*  Yesterday was strange because we didn't get to see Nory for the ENTIRE DAY.  She was sleeping when we left for work at 5:30 and was sleeping when we returned from work at 8:30 p.m. (due to an open house).  A work day is so much easier when you can return home to a little one who acts like it's Christmas morning upon your arrival.  Oh well, the plus side to staying in town all day long is seeing your long lost sister for dinner between work day and work evening!

Nory was a MASCOT MAGNET at the mall today.  All five of these guys came running over to play with her as we were walking by :)

*  Nory is 19 months old today!  In honour of this major milestone, she got a new bathing suit (the old ones are too tight!) and some cat slippers.  She also got to see Auntie Gem, Uncle Steve, and Grandma Barb for breakfast at the IHOP!  SPOILED! :)

*  Speaking of milestones, I am 22 weeks today!!!!  (And I have the back pain to prove it!).  I really meant to take a bump picture today and I am DETERMINED to take one tomorrow.  We're struggling with the name game this time around and are hoping that something wonderful comes to mind sooner rather than later.  Wish us luck!

*  Text messages that say "we're on Guiliana and Bill!!!!!" are really fun ones to receive (thanks Gem!).  Seeing the episode you are on, by surprise, while having your post-dinner tea is also an extraordinary experience.  Turns out Bill's Kuwait visit made the cut!  And we made the guest list for the event last spring!  YAHOO!

*  Making bento lunches is SO MUCH FUN.  Eating them is SO MUCH FUN too.  The bizarre thing about this is that they are always healthier than the average lunch (in our experience, at least).  Since when do the healthy options legitimately WIN you over?!

*  This afternoon I made dark chocolate pumpkin loaf (HOORAY FOR THE FALL-IDAYS!) and banana coconut muffins.  I have yet to try the latter but the former is DELISH! 

*  Nory is a total daredevil these days.  Climbing from one couch to another, jumping off her chair - face first onto the floor, dancing on the coffee table, standing nice and proud on top of her lego bin.  Ugh.  It's like an all day fear factor and the worst part is how she looks at me with this sassy grin before beginning any of these dangerous activities.  She KNOWS I hate them...

*  Weekends go by so quickly it seems.  Tomorrow morning Phil has his first basketball practice of the school year and I am going into school to get some work done.  We'll pick up some groceries afterwards and then rush back home to Nory.  Oh - and Cathy and Shahid are coming over in the afternoon!!!

*  The Biggest Loser aired this week and we're all ready to watch episode one before bed (that is....IF I can keep my eyes open!).  The return of other shows we love is always an exciting part of September :)

Enjoy your weekend, Canada!  We love you! XOXO

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR (DECAF) TEA.

* First - and some might argue most importantly - tonight is the first official "FOOTBALL SUNDAY" of the 2014-2015 season.  Phil and Nory have been sporting their Lions gear all evening, while I have become suddenly inclined to cheer for the Cincinnati Bengals (a heartwarming story related to the team won me over).  Apparently the team I've decided to cheer for is not that good (ah-hem, neither are the Lions), but I have decided that their franchise is good at life and so I'm going with it.  GO LIONS!  GO BENGALS!  GO-ing to bed before a game even begins at 8 p.m. our time, HA!!!!!

* Nory is feeling (mostly) better.  She is still refusing to eat anything that isn't cold and smooth, so we're thinking she still might have a bit of a sore throat.  Let's hope this nasty bug goes away completely ASAP.  For everyone.  Including all of our sick colleagues :$

* Last week we heard a knock on the door and were surprised to see our neighbours standing outside with fresh apple squares and a bag of FREE MATERNITY CLOTHES!  It was incredibly thoughtful (and delicious!), so I had to return the favour and made them some double chocolate zucchini cookies last night.  I figured that the two cups of zucchini would even out the "double chocolate" part of the recipe......

*  Our internet continues to be intermittent at the house.  Turns out you can't do much without it.  Uninterrupted FaceTime dates are expected (and annoyingly so).  Work material on Google drive can't be accessed.  Forget about Facebook or sports updates.  It has me wondering how we ever lived without the Internet.....EVER. 

*  Nory is currently obsessed with saying "uh oh" and then getting "kissed better".  She purposely drops things and then fakes like she is hurt and requires attention right away.  It works like a charm because we miss the heck out of her all day long and will kiss every single fake boo-boo better until Nory thinks that game is old. 

*  Food processors are serious business.  I had Phil get ours out for baking yesterday and I find this particular piece of kitchen equipment to be both terrifying and fascinating. 

*  We went to the doctor yesterday for two appointments.  The first was an anomaly scan to check that the baby's organs are forming properly.  She passed (BEST REASSURANCE A MAMA COULD ASK FOR)!  The second was a quick check-in with my OB to see how everything else is going.  Turns out my iron is on the decline despite the supplements I'm taking religiously.  Also turns out that I am "getting too fat too soon" as she so phrased it.  I'm bummed about both minor issues because I'm doing everything in my power to make sure my iron is high and my weight is healthy.  Eating right, exercising daily, avoiding caffeine, drinking water......ugh.  I don't know.  Perhaps I just appear to be too big for 21 weeks?  Who knows.  I DO AGREE that this bump came fiercely out of nowhere and it's shocking me equally as much as y'all.  BOTTOM LINE:  OUR BABY GIRL IS HEALTHY!!!!!!!!!

*  We love our new apartment.  It is so great to have the extra space for Nory to play, a pool to cool off in, regular afternoon play dates, and a safe courtyard to run off some energy.  It's more of a drive than we're used to, but we're actually finding our car time a perfect way to catch up with each other before leaving work completely behind us and spending all night as a family.  

The first week of classes was super!

Number one - it was only three days long (lucky!). 

Number two - we got to meet all of our students (and middle school kids RULE!). 

Number three - a kind person brought us cookies at the end of the first day as a "survival" gift (THOUGHTFUL times TEN!).  

We are enjoying the new campus and all of it's lovely GREENERY and we are both beginning to feel more at "home" in our individual classrooms.  The hallways are much livelier when the students are around and the smiles are certainly more frequent.  Ah-hem, "Ummm.....Miss.....do you have a baby in there?!!!!"  Haha.

In not so great news, the germs that accompany a return to school have also been lurking around the flat.  Nory came down with a high fever on Wednesday night and has since experienced vomiting, a running nose, and two sleepless nights.  Phil and I are pretty exhausted and I woke up this morning feeling like I was hit by a legitimate mac truck - totally lifeless and couch-bound for most of the day.  This has put a big damper on Phillip's birthday celebrations (a cancelled breakfast and afternoon tea party) and I'm wondering whether this "coincidence" has anything to do with his birthday wish of NO CELEBRATION WHATSOEVER.  If it is related, I'm hoping he could refine his wish in the future to be a little more kind to the people in his inner circle ;)

We've joked that age 31 has not been too great so far.  A sick baby.  A sick wife.  Intermittent internet all day long.  The first seven pharmacies on a Tylenol run being closed at 4:30 in the afternoon.  And then a traffic-filled drive to a random bookstore to retrieve a three hole punch that has been nearly impossible to find in the entire country!  I think he should take it all as a complement that at age 31, you're just mature enough to handle whatever curve ball gets thrown at you ;)

Here's to hoping the rest of the evening goes smoothly!  Even if it doesn't, if Nory could just sleep a little better than she has been, that would be AWESOME!!!!!! 

Happy Birthday, My Love!  If a pity party is what you were looking for, you got it!!!!

XOXO