Today my hubz turns 31, and for whatever silly reason he is not excited about it. He has been a little down in the dumps and I think that maybe the thought of both turning 31 and becoming a father all in the same year is making his head spin a little bit! So it is my goal to make today as AWESOME as possible for him! He woke up this morning to fresh coffee and a silly birthday message spelled out for him on my Light Bright (yes that's right bitches, a Light Bright! Scored it for $3 at a thrift shop!). I have a wonderful gift for him that I am SOOOOOOO excited to give him, and tonight we are going out for a fabulous sushi dinner, his favorite. So if you feel like it, can spare the time, wanna share some love, wish Ryan a Happy Birthday here. Last night the bug wished pappa an early happy bday. Ryan was lying with his head in my lap, face smooshed up against my belly, talking to the baby, when whooompf! He got a kick to the face, LOL! Of course at this point they are more pokes then kicks, but I think it was the bugs way of telling Daddy to snap out of his funk because he is AWESOME!

In crafty news I am currently working on some tattoo inspired embroidery pieces for Vagina Day, I mean Valentines Day. So keep your eyes open for a big shop update soon!

It has been raining here, a lot. And when I say a lot I really mean it. It is gray and wet and cold and I am sick of it and looking forward to spring! I have always been affected by the weather, and as much as I love Vancouver I hate being sopped in by rain/clouds/fog/gray. So lately I have been watching this video A LOT as it is all about SUNSHINE! Glorious, wonderful, positive, happy sunshine! And I think we can all use that from time to time. So for this weeks "Tuesday Tunes" it is just one video, one song, by one artist. I hope it will inspire you to live your day a little bit more positively and put a bounce in your step. It always works for me.

I am posting this the night before, after coming home from a long wet and thoughtful walk in the rain. Im cooking up some Cambells Tomato soup and recalling a time when I was so poor that I lived off the stuff for a month. Breakfast, lunch and dinner its no joke. You would think Id hate the stuff, but I dont. It is chicken soup for my soul, reminding me to be grateful for the little things. Like warm soup in my belly. What little things are you thankful for?

PS: If yall are getting sick of the Franti videos I apologize...I am obsessed! But I really do believe he is good for the soul!\


Peace, love and pickles my darlings

Here is an update on the bug and I as we begin our 21 week together. Went for my first ultrasound last Friday and I was soooooooo excited I thought I would burst! It was pretty wild to see the bug actually squirming away inside me, well squirming is an understatement. The kid was literally bouncing off the walls! The technician was getting frustrated as it was really hard for her to get the images and measurements she needed, it took over an hour! But every once in a while Ryan and I would be rewarded with a clear hand waving, or a cute side profile, but as soon as we saw it, it was gone again in a blur of movement. Ryan swears he saw some jazz hands in there, lol. We were happy to hear that everything looks normal and healthy and the bug is growing at a healthy rate.

Unfortunately though my placenta is not in the best position. Now here is where it gets confusing...the tech said I had major placenta previa in one sentence but in the next she was saying low lying placenta. What this means is my placenta has attached it self on top of or low down/near too my cervix. This can complicate matters as it would be in the way of the baby coming out and could cause blood loss if a vaginal birth was attempted. It gets further confusing because she also alternated between saying the placenta was "attached" to my cervix and was "touching" my cervix, but that either way I would "need a c-section" which is not necessarily true! As far as I can tell from the research I have done one is considered more serious then the other, but in the majority of all cases the placenta will move up as the uterus grows and expands. The main difference being that if it is just touching the edge of my cervix then it doesn't have to move as far in order to be deemed a safe distance. This is the best simple definition I have seen online. As much as it upsets me and makes me anxious I am trying to keep it calm and cool until I hear form my midwife as really the tech shouldn't be giving me medical advice to begin with! So positive thoughts people! Cross all your fingers, toes and your eyes too!

Despite the joy of seeing the bug finally (and wowza really feeling it squirm around, although still too subtle for Ryan too feel) I am a grumpy bear these days. Watch out! Without copious amounts of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream, I bite!

I have been gettin lots of headaches, having a hard time sleeping, and my anxiety is THROUGH THE ROOF! Hearing about my placenta really didn't help. And my energy levels, dear God I think I have a vampire inside me sucking me dry! I got a brief window of the second trimester return of energy and "glow" and that quickly passed leaving only tired, pale, dark eyed, grumpy ol me! Humph! I havent had the energy to even sit at my craft table so my Etsy shop is sitting neglected and it makes me sad.

1.   My favorite quote is: Oh gosh! I have lots!

    "Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but she did it backwards and in high heels" Faith Whittlesey

"Well behaved women rarely make history" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

"The world will know and understand me someday. But if that day does not arrive, it does not greatly matter. I shall have opened the way for other women" George Sand

"Are strippers just a conduit for straight men to relate to each other sexualy?" Sarah Ketherine Lewis

"Loneliness is simply a misunderstanding of Solitude." 

But by far my favorite of all time is:

"When he shall die,
Take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun."
— William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

2.  A bad habit I have is: starting projects and not finishing them!!!!   

3.  The first time I felt like a "grown up" was: Dudes, I am 30 years old and pregnant and I STILL don't feel like a grown up! I'm freaking Peter Pan man!     

4.  Weekends are: for crafting and creating and bannana pancake breakfasts in bed!  

5.  When I was a child I wished my name was: nothing other then what it was! I never met anyone else with my name and I liked it that way  

6.  I wish: It was 3pm already! Our Ultrasound is today and I can't wait to meet the bug!       

7.  A secret I have is: I think Nicolas Cate is sexy . Yes I know he is totally weird looking, but he ooooozes confidence

Thanks again for the fun blanks Lauren!

I recently found this blog, and was inspired. As often as I can, I am going to try and make Thursdays a day to be thankful..."Thankful Thursday!" Its a good practice to take time to think of all the little things that one is thankful for amidst all of the crap that life can often throw at us. When faced with some of my darkest days, this simple practice has literally saved my soul. Now, being pregnant, I just think that more positive vibes I feel and send to the bug the better. So on that note, I am thankful for:

• feeling the bug kick for the very first time! I was lying in shavassana during my pre-natal yoga class when all the sudden I felt a squirm. Out of habit I placed my hand on my belly as I was lying there only to find that I could faintly feel the squirm. So I pressed down a wee bit firmer, and a POKE! Then it moved to the left, so I followed it. Pressed down with my hand and POKE! This game of cat and mouse went on for about 5 minutes or so with me crying silent tears of gratitude and giggling like a fool.
• my husband who has been patiently teaching me how to drive all week. Yes I am 30 years old, pregnant, and still don't know how to drive
• being able to eat chicken again! Oh man I was getting bored of pork. Thankfully the bug has relented and granted me some chicken now and then as long as it is covered in sauce.
  
• the long walks I have been taking with my Aunty Carla, good for some serious bonding time
• LA Ink. Yes LA Ink, it has filled the void that coming to the end of Hero's caused and I am happily addicted to watching people get inked
• finding the purrrrfect gift for my husbands 31st birthday, I cant wait to give it to him!

What simple or mighty things are you thankful for?

Once you start looking for cute baby items on Etsy, I am telling you its hard to stop! So much awesome, its overwhelming to the senses! I LOVE IT! Here are some screen shots of a couple treasuries I have started, if you click the image you should go directly into the treasury. If you know of any other awesome kid friendly crafters please do share!

Weeeeeeeeee so much fun! Ryan and I have also started planning our "Babymoon" we are hoping to go for a long weekend in Seattle! We found a really nice hotel with cheap rates and an indoor pool for el prego to float in! Add on a massage and some cheap USA shopping for important bug items, oh and of course a visit to Pike Place Market! Havent been there since I was a kid!

Here is what I am listening to this week.....

In high school I was really into trip hop and down tempo music. Massive Attack was always playing on my headphones, especially when I was drawing or painting.

I also love me some good old hip hop. Not the stuff that is coming out now....although there is a time and a place for dancing to cheesy top 40 rap/hip hop. But true hip hop is about LIFE. These are some of my favorite examples:

Guess I am feeling nostalgic these days. What are you listening to? Oh yah and one last video...just for the girls xoxo

PS: If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter you may know that I am clearing out all my Etsy stock to make room for some fun new products this spring! There are only 3 mini Dah-Duhs left!!!!! They are only $10 and made from all eco-friendly materials, check em out here!

PPS: I am currently thinking of creating a fun, online class teaching people about art journaling. Different techniques, tips and inspiring topics to get the creative juices flowing. I have done a few online courses on it myself, and I love how it can help get me out of creative ruts! It often leads to me experimenting with all sorts of new media types as well. How many of you would be interested in this? The cost would be super duper cheap, like $5...just to cover the cost of some extra books I am going to grab to benefit us all. I will also create a Flickr group where we can all share our pretty pages and each week I will post my personal fave from one of you here on the blog.

Well folks, I made it to the halfway mark! The bug and I have now been together for 20 weeks and two days, and guess what!? I finally felt a squirmy squirm! Actually it was more like a giant WHOOSH and then some bubbles popping. The cute thing was I started feeling movement the night that Ryan was due hoe from his business trip to Chicago, its like the bug knew Daddy was coming home any minute.  In other news have started doing some "window shopping" with Ryan to get an idea as to what sort of stuff we would like to have for the bug. Here are some of our current fave finds

The Beco carrier. I love the patterns and how light weight it is. Although I would love it more if they could face out when they are older too.

Ryan really likes the Lumi Love Panda Nightlight

I am currently looking into Moses baskets for the newbie days, to have the bug with us in our room. I am not a fan of co-sleeping personally, but I do understand the need to have the child near by especially in the early days of learning to breastfeed. I like that this can be right beside our bed, but the basket can also be lifted off the stand and carried from room to room as needed.

J'adore!!!! I love the Tripp Trapp Stokke high chair! It pulls right up to the table so baby can eat with the family, has a foot rest for fidgety feet, and can grow with the child from toddler years until they are 10+!

Last but not least I am pretty impressed with the First Years Wave Stroller. I was originally leaning towards the Bugaboo Bee, but this is half the price and wait until you see what the handle bar does!!!!! So cool! Sadly it is not available in Canada but Ryan and i are considering a mini road trip down to the states to buy one

I finally got around to creating something for Project Re-Style, cozy, cute and warm leg warmers. I love the sweater I made them from, but it was pilling and had holes in it....so I busted out my sewing scissors and some ribbon and got crafty!

It was super easy too, I just cut off the sleeves, took them in a bit near my calf, and sewed on the ribbon. I like the cuff of the sweater around my ankle as it keeps the cold air out and helps create a nice slouch. What do you think?

1. I feel happy when: I have days and days and days stretched ahead of me with no deadlines, no responsibilities, no obligations, no where to go and no where to be. Like when I was in Bali for 2 months. That was pure bliss. I loved being asked "Kami, what do you want to do today?" and being able to answer "Whatever I want!" That made my heart sing!      

2.  I get silly when: Ryan and I are doing something fun like going on a road trip, or camping, or decorating our Christmas tree. he makes me silly   

3.  Something that makes me sad is: watching old people eat alone in restaurants. Seriously it makes me cry, and then I can't eat. I always wonder why they are alone? Did their spouse die? Where is their family? I can't eat in a Whitespot or I have a bloody nervous breakdown at all the single old people diners!      

4.  Something that makes me annoyed is: When someone is clearly mad at you for something, or annoyed for some reason, but says nothing to you. Instead you get a truck load of attitude and a cold shoulder followed by "I'm fine". GET OVER YOURSELF! Ugh so immature. I hate that!  

5.  A time that I've been truly surprised: ugh, finding out I was pregnant!


6.  I am so thankful for: RYAN! God he has been away all week in Chicago and I really miss having him home with me. His travel for work is nothing new, but it is so much harder to see him go now that I am carrying his child in me.       

7.  I feel loved when: well honestly I feel loved everyday. Thanks to my loving husband and beautiful family

Thanks once again Lauren! Why don't you guys go join the fun over on her blog....