On a lighter note

I thought this was hillarious... I found it on You Tube... an acoustic cover of a 90s dance song. LOVED IT!! HA! I have to say, I prefer the acoustic version.

Watching movies

So I'm actually feeling a little bored this afternoon, Baby C has been sleeping for over 2 hours (definitely not normal around here... but she is cutting another tooth so I figure its best that she sleep through the worst of it!) and I have developed carpal tunnel in my wrists like I did when I was pregnant with Baby C and that makes knitting, or finishing up that crochet baby blanket, or even sewing rather uncomfortable. I've been reading a lot and this afternoon I was watching movies. First up was The Business of Being Born and then I put on Tummy to Tummy (a great babywearing DVD). My reading and viewing habits of late suggest that I am either getting really excited for this new little bean to arrive, or I'm really focused on finishing my course (or a mixture of both).

Scottish Stash

My friend Pete over at Canadian Casual Kilts recently blessed me with this fabulous bag of scraps. There are a lot of long 3-4 inch wide strips which will be fabulous for quilting. I can't believe all the goodies that I have found in here and can't wait to get started on designing a tartan quilt. So many tartans so little time!

52 Books (sort of) :: Week 6

I really enjoyed The Runaway Quilt. I wasn't so sure about it until it got going, but it didn't take long for the story to suck me in.

Now, on Ravelry the rules clearly state that audio books are allowed... So I'm stretching things a bit this week in an effort to not only make a serious dent in my Childbirth Educator Certification course, but to preserve my sanity (because I know I can't do it all this week). This week I will be watching a 6 DVD lecture series. Its basically the CBE certification workshop but since I'm doing the course distance ed I have it on video. I think this can count as "reading" because its 12 hrs worth of lecture, notes will be taken and its not nearly as easy to stay awake watching a lecture on DVD as it is to read a book (or a good video!). So that's my rationale and I've decided that its prerogative to change the rules as I go!

Breakfast wisdom

I seriously burnt my finger tips last night (for some reason I thought it would be a good idea to touch the burner on the stove to check if it was on ... I completely blame it on the fact that the baby must be stealing my brain cells). So today I will be ready and taking pictures. Baby C was so happy at breakfast and decided to share a bit of meal time wisdom... "Give peas a chance." So fitting in so many ways!

Plugging away

I've put a few knitting/crochet and sewing projects on hold.... I need to finish them, but I also remembered about another deadline that I had set for myself. Back in September I decided that I was going to finish my Childbirth Educator Certification course by the time the new baby arrived. I just realized that its mid January and I haven't even picked up my textbook in over a month. I finished my required reading today but still have a 6 DVD video series to watch, not to mention the test and I don't know... planning my ENTIRE curriculum. Good luck to me right? I'm still hoping that I'll get it finished but these days my schedule is so full that there just aren't enough hours in the day. I will be glad when I'm not working 3 nights a week and I can use all that precious after-Baby C-goes-to-bed time to get some work done. Here's hoping!

A little loving

I needed a little loving today... so here are just a few of the things that I'm loving right now.





:: The way the sun lights up this spot perfectly for my mid day knitting/reading while Baby C naps

:: Watching Baby C wobble her way across the room unassisted (then sleep for 2 hours because it was so much work)

:: Spending a little more time at home with Nick and Baby C since I cut down on my evening/weekend hours at work

:: Nesting and getting ready for our newest little babe

:: My "new" kitchen pantry (ie. the conversion of my front hall closet into a pantry that dad so willingly finishing on the weekend!)





:: These banana muffins... so good that I made two batches in a week!

52 Books :: Week 5

Wow, I'm shocked that I'm still going strong and reading a book a week - so far I've done better than I thought I would.


This week:




The Runaway Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini.

52 Books :: Week 4

I loved loved loved Girl with a Pearl Earring. All I can say is thank you Nicole! This week I'm trying something new:

I'm not much of a parenting-self-help-book kind of girl but I've been finding with all the craziness in our schedules lately and preparations for baby #2 I've been needing a few more gentle reminders to slow down and simplify. We'll see if this book delivers!

A little caught up

I am a little caught up these days in sleepless nights, soothing a sick and teething baby, and getting out from under the wall that has crashed down on me that is the third trimester. I am trying to centre myself with starting a new baby blanket (either for our new little one or a friends soon to be little one - haven't decided yet), knitting and trying to get lost, even if for just a few minutes a day, in a good book. Luckily I have the most wonderful, caring, supportive and encouraging husband who is along for the ride.

Baby C and I decided together this morning that we would have a much better day if we both wore pj's... I simply must make us matching pj's for days like today!

52 Books :: Week 3

I am surprised by how much I enjoyed The Sugar Camp Quilt considering my luke warm feelings for the rest of the series, but I am glad that I read it. There was a lot more substance to this story than what I have read in the series so far. I don't want to give any spoilers away here but it was set during the years leading up to the civil war and interwoven into the story is a quilt made by the main character and how it used as a part of the underground railway.



Next up is Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. Every year my sister in law gives me some of her favourite literature for my birthday/Christmas and this year it was 2 books by her favourite author. Its really special to me beause I feel like I get to know her better as I read the words that have meant so much to her.

Taking a sick day

Today I'm taking a sick day. My mom is going to whisk Baby C away to her house to play for the afternoon (yeah!!) and I think that I'm going to sit in my new favourite spot in the entire house, finish reading this weeks book, do some knitting and maybe have a nap. I think I deserve it since neither Nick or I have had more than 4 hours of sleep all week and everyone in the house is sick. Baby C has developed some sort of fear of her bedroom (we think) so last night while we were entering night 5 and hour 2 of her screaming uncontrollably (after being sound asleep for an hour) we cleared everything out... all the boxes of hand me down baby clothes, all the stuffed animals, all the clutter - and miraculously she calmed down. So I guess today reorganizing her room with a minimalist approach is also on the agenda.



But this is good because one of my goals for this year is to clear out the clutter and make this house, and our lives, a lot more simple. It truly is hard (at least for me) to function with so much stuff everywhere.... I need to clear it out and that's what I'm going to do.... when I'm feeling better (and after my sick day).

Goals for 2009

I don't typically make new year's resolutions because by February I forget all about them, but this year I do have a few goals that I would like to accomplish and since I did so well at the few that I set for myself for 2008 (renew my love of creating, finish a quilt, stay at home with Baby C), I thought I'd try it again.

1. Find a way to be able to work at home to spend more time with Baby C and little baby Bauman on the way

2. Finish at least 2 quilts

3. Give more hand made gifts

4. Learn the simple art of canning

5. Eat more locally grown foods

6. Continue crocheting and learn to knit better

7. Read at least 1 new book a month

That's it for now, I might edit and add more later but for now I would be happy if I could accomplish these (or even just the first one as that truly is the most important!).