Progression

 A tiny bump progression. I will try to put them all together in a few more weeks. I thought I'd be one of those people who puts on the same outfit every Friday and poses in the same place to see the progression, but I do not have time for that. Some weeks there are no pictures, and that's ok. I like the ones I have. I'm 32 weeks 3 days, and getting to be a bit uncomfortable. I still don't feel too huge most of the time, but am nervous that I could still get gigantic over the next two months. Luckily my stomach feels squished and I won't over indulge too much over the holidays.

July 25th, Old Navy fitting room...12 weeks, 3 days.

July 28th, at Oak Bay Spa with Bethany.

Heartwood Studio.

Bethany's Bachelorette, I was d.d. for the wine tour. 

Next time I'll be sampling all those delicious wines.

Aug. 19th 16 weeks.

Tea for Mom with Q. & A. a belated Mother's day gift.

Sept. 2nd.

Sept. 16th 20 weeks. Half way and feeling small.

Checking out the Kinsoll Trestle Nov. 6th.

Life Lately

I've been thinking back on the past few Novembers and where I've been. 2016, EA in Victoria, 2015, Eaton Arrowsmith School, 2014, Victoria Nature School, 2013-2011, UVic BEd program, 2010, Camosun. So many different schools, different roles, different jobs, different homes.
Being pregnant makes me want a bit of consistency, but adventure also. I don't want to hunker down for the next 20 years working on my teaching career in one spot. Last night Will and I were talking about Australia, maybe I could do a teaching exchange there. Maybe we will stay here for the forseeable future, who knows. All I know is that I want to take this kid on road trips, sailing, and adventures all the time.

Tod Inlet, the water was the most amazing tropical green (thanks algae). We took the speed boat out to Musgrave Landing, then over to Portland Island. We ended the day here with a swim.

The countdown is on, and this baby is growing. So far everything has been smooth and normal. 

At James and Nadely's wedding in July, holding baby L.

 Pumpkin picking (I love this photo of us).

Off to Salt Spring for Will's birthday.

 We said goodbye to JR and hello to Dan the Jeep.

 Halloween 2016. Pumpkin carving at Q&A's. Trick or treating in their neighbourhood is the best. The first house we went to gave out full sized chocolate bars.

I just can't handle him. We don't see the boys as much right now since it's dark out so early. Hopefully they come and visit soon.

 Hikes in East Sooke Park.

 This was a very, very, very good weekend. One for the books.

 Unloading while we wait for Dan and the crew to arrive on Portland Island.

 We shot off the potato canon, flew a kite, and were attacked by mosquitoes (except for Dan, who wore a bug net hat).

My ridiculous pose.

The time line is a bit off on these but I don't feel like rearranging. I'm just finishing this up now on Sunday. I have two weeks of work left, I have a cold, and I am ready to be done. Hopefully I don't go too stir crazy before this baby arrives.

A Day Over Half Way

Today I am 20 weeks and 1 day pregnant. It doesn't feel real even though I've seen the baby on the ultrasound, heard it's heart beating steadily (146, while it slept uncooperatively), and even begun to regularly feel it move around. It's the strangest point of finally looking 'pregnant', and not just as if I've been indulging in ice cream on the daily.

I haven't had any strange cravings, but I definitely want healthy food. Nothing too sweet, nothing too salty, just satisfying and nutritious. I want Haagen Das Vanilla ice cream, and green smoothies. My iron  is high, my blood pressure is fine, and I feel normal right now. I like going to bed early, but I'm also up really early. 

It's the first rainy Saturday we've had in a while. I've been up for a couple of hours. I've looked at all the things I like to peruse on the internet. I've made a cup of tea and brought my book out to the couch (Miriam Toews' The Flying Troutman). 

In a couple of weeks I'll begin my new job as an E.A. with the Victoria School District, and hopefully not have to do too much child care on the side. Except for the boys at the games, because that isn't work to me.

Yesterday James peered in our living room window at 7:30 am to tell us that they were all going to school early for a pancake breakfast and that he was going to eat 'two wheat and dairy pancakes'. That kid! We both just love those three so much. They've been coming down to the backyard to play baseball in the afternoons. It is definitely some of my favourite times, cooking dinner with the door open, listening to James, Joe, and Will play baseball. Joe runs in to tell me when he hits it, and asks me to come and pitch for them. I love those days.

These kids. Now we have a new one to love, one of our very own, for keeps, forever. We are so excited. It feels so right, we've waited so long. This baby will join us on our 13th year together, and will go on adventures with us, and be an adventure also. Who knows what's in store. So far I know this baby sleeps all day and moves around morning and night. So, we'll see how long that lasts once it makes it's debut.

One Year (& 3 days)

We had our one year anniversary on Monday. I spent some time with Quynne and Alexander at their new place. Mom told me the secret recipe for our chocolate rum cake that she made for Will's groom's cake, so I went home and made a batch of cupcakes for Will when he got home. We went to Shizen for our favourite dinner (sunomono salad, gyoza, rob rolls and a B.C. roll for Will). He's been enjoying the cupcakes all week, and didn't share any with the guys at work.
I've been feeling great, tired, and gross if I don't eat well, but overall really great. I still don't like talking about it, maybe because it's not totally real yet since it hasn't been confirmed. Less than two weeks and we will have something to see and hear! I feel myself stretching and starting to grow, I'm excited for the changes, but a bit nervous too. Which is to be expected.
I haven't heard from the E.A. job, so I am assuming I haven't got it. But I am still holding onto a little bit of hope. We have a busy weekend coming up, having a B.B.Q. on Saturday after Nadely and James's wedding. If we'd had the ultrasound I'd let everyone know on Saturday. But I might just tell Sarah since she will be so beyond excited for us.
I'm hanging out at Quynne's by myself today, going to do a Costco run, then head home to make dinner and start the massive clean up that needs to happen before people come over this weekend.

Another year

Even if I only post here once a year, I will always be glad I did. I'm sitting at work (E.A.S.) thinking about how I could be using my time better. And what a better way than jotting down a few memories before they fade. So, we are married, and life is good, and life is hard. This past year has been great. The wedding was beautiful (it rained, everyone bailed and no bocce was played). But, Richard played Cedar Trees as I walked down the aisle, the night before I hung out with Kim, Jackie, and Hayley until 3 am drinking and talking (and had a horrible hangover the next day). After only three hours of sleep I was woken by the rain on the tin roof of the b&b cottage. Kim brought me a latte, but I couldn't drink it all. Danica saved me with another drink. It was hours of hair and make-up and watching everyone else get soaked while hanging sails to provide some cover. All I cared about at that point was being married under the arch that Will built, and we did.
We both cried, (and I was told so did everyone else), because our vows were honest and full of twelve years of life together. Mike popped a bottle of bubbly, we toasted, kissed, and walked back down the aisle.
I was frustrated by taking group shots, I just wanted to get on with the party. The food was delicious: pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, watermelon, and mac 'n cheese. The drinks were kept cool in an old bath tub full of ice, and all of the prosecco was gone before the speeches. Hayley and Richard played for us and we danced, and cut the delicious carrot cake and chocolate rum cake that my Mom made. Will couldn't find his iPod that had all the music on it so we listened to whatever was playing. At the end of the night Will realized that it was his iPod plugged in all along, he had just taken off the case.
I still listen to the mixes I made, and we shake our heads at all that happened that we hadn't planned on, and that's just how it goes.
So, we are nearing the end of the first year of marriage, which is said to be the hardest. While I don't think it's been the hardest for us, it has had difficulties. It hasn't gone as we'd hoped. I have an amazing teaching job, and we were in the perfect place to start our family after what feels like forever. Well, the school is closing down. Hopefully next year at this time I will have a new amazing teaching job, and our family will have grown. We will see.