Baby Billington's Bedroom

Well Chad & I tackled the baby's bedroom last week, painting it this lovely yellow. Well, ok I thought it was lovely on the colour swatch, it matched nicely with the boarder we got for the baby's room so I thought surely it would be great on the walls.

Lets just say that the first coat was horrific! I wanted to cry! The greyish colour underneath was coming through and Chad & I both realized just the extent of novices we really were at painting. I called Mom before the second coat went on, looking for moral support. Of course she gave it to us, telling us it would look much better with a second coat. Still we were skeptical. The second coat did look a lot better, but wow was it bright! it actually reminded me of a cool lemonade colour...and I still wondered if I would be able to bring the baby home to THAT! Poor poor baby. We thought maybe a few days would help it wear on us. Not so. Everytime we walked down the hallway it was like a slap in the face! Keeping in mind the rest of our house is done in earth tones you'll understand a bit of how crazy bright this was.

Well we decided to try to warm it up. I still wanted yellow, but not that cold bright yellow!-- yikes! So last night Chad & Doug (have I mentioned yet Doug is home from Europe? It is always great to have him around to help me tease Chad, he's here for a visit and to celebrate Savanna's 2nd birthday) tackled the baby's room with yellow colour #2. I was so thankful I didn't have to swallow fumes for hours this time around, and they had picked up another roller so things went a lot faster! The boys saved the day and Baby Billington is certainly indebted to them forever for not having to come home to THAT! It is still yellow, but much better. I'm so excited to get some furniture in there, and the boarder up! the Process begins! as much as I don't like process.

Someone asked me Sunday night what I thought of pregnancy, and as is characteristic of me, I decided to be candid about the situation. Pregnancy has it's cool moments for sure, but on the whole, I've got to say I don't really have much time for it. I mean all the aches and pains, the nauseousness, swelling, headaches and other unmentionables... but more than anything for me it is that cursed word "process". I'm kind of a jump in with both feet kind of girl, not too into waiting around for things to happen, or long transition times and guess what? Pregnancy is a LONG TRANSITION TIME! I'm sure in the end it's all going to seem totally worth it, I'm excited about getting to know Baby Billington, this little person who's bound to be so cool....I'm just impatient I guess. So the grand synopsis for me is generally that pregnancy means process, and for this Heidi-girl, process is hard to do well!

Here's a cute pic of the boys saving the day with the new paint job!

Kaitlyn's 2nd Birthday

Kids birthday's are just so much fun! Especially when they are your neice's. So Kaitlyn turned 2 last week. Hard to believe. She's so much fun, we were really looking forward to going down for her birthday party this past weekend.

Friday afternoon we drove down and picked ourselves up a Hungry Man's Supper (yes, Chad was so excited for his 1 pound of frozen food!), then I took a nap when we arrived in Elgin. Mom & Dad were later coming home so while Chad prepared for her sermon Sunday, I lazed around. When Mom & Dad arrived home, they had a Hummer with them. Dad was dreaming a bit I guess and wanted to see what it was like offroading. Chad had never been up to the top of the mountain to see the lights so we went for an Elgin icecream and then headed up to see the lights. It's actually really neat, you can see the Petticodiac lights, the Salisbury Big Stop lights and Moncton lights all from atop this mountain by the grave yard. Dad told us ghost stories of the area (heavily embellished by him) on the drive up and on the drive down (keep in mind it's close to midnight and pitch black on a country road) we saw this light down in the ditch/cliff thing. So Dad & Chad decide they need to go check it out and see if there is someone lying half dead down the ditch or something...no such luck (?). We went back home and Dad & Chad stayed out stargazing (how romantic- I saw a shooting star!) while I entertained Mom as she finished up Kaitlyn's poncho she was making her.

Ok so truth be told we stayed up until close to 2am while Mom finished it, but it was gorgeous, and if you know my Mom at all (and Chad informs me the apple doesn't fall far from the tree), late night projects symbolize so many special events and gifts of love throughout my lifetime!

Saturday morning arrived early enough after such a late night. We drove in town for Kaitlyn's party and she was anxious to show off her new "big girl bed". This was her major birthday gift and she loves having the room to move around, and of course the ability to crawl out of bed and poke Mom in the shoulder in the middle of the night!

She loved opening her gifts, although it became apparent that opening one gift and then moving on to the other to play later, just is a really strange concept, especially when you're 2!

My baby was kicking up a storm inside of me and every time April put her hand to my belly the baby would kick it so hard April's hand would jump! it was funny, I've never seen the baby react so much to someone's hand on my stomach! So April decided she should explain to Kaitlyn that Aunt Heidi had a baby in her belly. She took Kaitlyn's hand and put it on my belly hoping the baby would kick and Kaitlyn would feel it, but no luck. So April continues explaining about the baby in belly. Kaitlyn took the bottom of my shirt and tried to pull it up. I patted it back down and said I thought we'd keep my shirt down and then Kaitlyn started crying, great big aligator (however you spell that) tears. We couldn't figure what was upsetting her so much, she kept saying "Baby, Juicy, Baby Juicy". April & I kept staring at each other trying to figure out what was upsetting her so much, until Mom (with the most earnest look on her face) looks at me and says "Heidi, she wants you to give the baby a juicy! Now keep in mind my Mom would give Kaitlyn the moon if she could and you might be able to conjure up the look on her face as she said this to me. Just as serious I reply "But, but Mom...I can't give the baby a juicy", then and yes only then, does the hilariousness of the situation actually strike both of us (keep in mind we had very little sleep the night before) and we start laughing with absolutly no control, tears pouring down our faces. Poor Kaitlyn she didn't know what to make of it all.

All that said, Kaitlyn is now 2 and as cute and wonderful as always. We headed out for home after quite the feed at supper time finding it hard to believe that our little neice is now 2 years old. Wow, how these 2 years have flown by.

And Savanna is next! 2 comes for her in just a couple of days!

just another "ORDINAARY Heidi-day"

Yesturday I headed into the doctor's office to check out the swelling, blood pressure etc. issue from the weekend, that left me looking like Voldemort from Harry Potter with my red-slit eyes. There my doctor having gone over all my information said that it looked like some fluke sick thing over the weekend but he wanted to monitor my blood pressure and swelling for a few days to make sure nothing wonky was going down and they'd do a urine analysis. So ok, I guess that's fine, I just LOVE hanging out at emerge for days on end having funny tests run on me!

Well I thought I got started on the right foot today, until it came to breakfast (oh right that's not so far along is it?) Anyway, Chad was in a rush to get to Staff meeting and I had to go into Emerge for a blood pressure test etc. so he had made me some toast with peanut butter and LOADS of strawberry jam, for the road. I hope in the car, demon possesed eyes just a gleeming in my burnt orange shirt and slop, the whole thing right on my shirt, litterally the toast was clinging to my shirt. It was really quite disgusting. Chad contained himself as I quickly got changed and we headed in (he was only 4 minutes late, I thought that wasn't bad considering).

Then I went to Emerge, I wasn't exactly sure how it would work, I knew they told me to page my doctor who would come and take my blood pressure. So I did that, but they actually gave me the whole yellow band and everything treatment. Then I waited. My doctor arrived and checked my blood pressure and swelling which was great and told me my urine analaysis came back and the protein that had been showing was not a problem. Great! I think, off scott free! (well with the exception of the demon-eyes). Then he tells me the big old BUT. But they found sugar in my urine (or as I told Cherri today, urine in my pee--I really am loosing my mind) and he wanted to monitor this now. Even though I passed my sugar diabetes test 2 weeks ago, he thinks it's best we do it again and be sure. *sigh* I don't get it, what's the deal, lets just get over this hump and carry on people! Don't get me wrong I'm glad he's watching things, especially if there is trouble, it just seems like such a waste of time having these little problems, and it's hard not feeling like a looser, like you did something wrong...

So thats ok, I did a little work this morning, had lunch with Chad and then came home to do laundry and pack up for Willow Creek Conference and I'm left to face my peanut butter and jelly smeared burnt orange shirt, and I start gagging at the smell of it as I try to wash it out abit before I put it in the wash....and I can't help thinking to myself, is it not a bit of a freak of nature thing that I, ME, HEIDI DAWN CARSON BILLINGTON, and 7 months pregnant and going to be a Mom. I mean really, I know I'll love this baby to bits and do my darndist, but when it comes to general mothering skills, do I have what it takes? I mean I can't even keep the whites of my eyeballs white, and the sugar out of my pee, not to mention wash the peanut butter and jelly out of my shirt! What am I thinking! But thankfully you don't need a degree in peanut butter and jelly management to have a child, we'll just love him or her to death and pray he or she grows up smarter than us and can at least make fun of us a bit!

Vacation Camping Adventures

Well, as it is past time for bed, I have suddenly become inspired to blog about Chad & my vacation last week. Nearly last minute we decided to take one of Chad's weeks of offered vacation after all and go camping (saving the other 2 for 'baby time'). Ok, ok so I will NOW admit that camping at nearly 7 months pregnant might not be the most intelligent or informed decision, ahhh but how hindsight makes so much sense! But being Chad's "Adventure friend" as his Grammie B was introduced to me in our early dating days, it only made sense to embark on a "different", pregnant adventure.

Friday night we were supposed to head out to Elgin for a sleepover with my sister Angela, her husband Adam and my neice Kaitlyn at Mom & Dad's, and I had dreams of a campfire (we attempted one last vist but it wouldn't let up raining). We were all gathering there because Saturday was my sister April's housewarming party and they live near Elgin and it would be a chance to visit. But with the heat making me miserable, a full week, and a very busy work day Friday, and the prospect of packing up the car for a week of camping, by the time we got home I was unbearable and could do nothing but sit in a cold tub of water and cry away my heated misery. So we headed out Saturday morning instead, which as much as I wanted to go spend Friday night, was a much better plan for the ol' prego psychee.

Saturday we arrived and although it was hot and I was swelling despite my compression socks, we had a good time at April's housewarming. Angela & Adam headed up to Mom & Dad's to give Kaitlyn some supper before heading home to Moncton, but she fell asleep on the drive and they let her snooze, giving her a late supper and decided to spend the night instead of going home, which of course went over really well with all of us, we got our sleepover anyway! AND Dad put on a campfire for us (Kaitlyn's first) and we had a blast! (although I must admit that sitting for any length of time on a hard log bench by a raging fire on a warm night was not working so well with the pregnant lady. Anyway, I got my campfire in! Sleeping in aircondition, is a beautiful beautiful thing, ahhhhh how beautiful to pull a quilt up over this ol' pregnant body and enjoy the cool, artificial air.

Sunday we had a lazy start (or at least I did). Chad went to the Elgin country church for a riverside baptism service and he said it was great. We visited and played in the afternoon and then Mom & Dad, Chad & I headed out for a country gospel concert in Petticodiac. I haven't heard music like that in quite awhile and I enjoyed a lot of it. The baby did too, kicking up a storm. I think he/she likes music, which makes me very happy! We hadn't had supper, so after we went out to the BigStop in Salisbury for supper and some good 'talk time". We also ran into Chris O and the gang headed back from prison visitation.

Monday morning Chad & I got up after Mom & Dad got off to work, and I had a nice long bath (Mom & Dad have a massive tub and it felt so good to just float around in the water for awhile). Stealing a dozen cookies we headed in town for lunch and to pick up groceries. We ate at East Side Mario's, one of my favorite places, splitting a yummy dish. Groceries & Car packed up we headed for Ponderosa Pines in Hopewell for some camping. I was really excited, I love to camp, and Chad must have been too (it was so difficult to discern this though) as he was singing at the top of his lungs and making up songs about camping, pines and things all morning. We arrived late afternoon, took a good while deciding on our camping spot, set up and called it good for the day.

A couple things about camping in this particular area & pregnancy. I have NEVER seen horseflies like this before. The mornings were sooooo thick with mosquitos, only letting up in the afternoon for armies of horseflies (leaving massive welts everywhere imaginable, including my butt, how they got there I'm not sure) and hornits, letting up in the evening to welcome the mosquitos back until 10pm, when finally there was a bit of outside peace and we could have campfire! Also, althought the bathrooms are quite decent, for some reason they are located in the center of the campground closest to all the RV camping where they have there own bathrooms....leaving the tenters to the beautiful spots facing the bay, but with the worst managed outhouses I've seen. Couple this with the realization that in the heat of the day there is no where cool to go lay down when you're pregnant, and that if one does get down at any time to lay on the airmattress on the GROUND, getting up again is quite the workout and highly unrecommended if at all possible to avoid. I have been unable to make it through the night without at least one bathroom trip since I found out I was pregnant, but somehow in this instance, my body knew that is was just not feasable and it MUST wait until morning.

Tuesday we woke up bright and early, as only happens naturally when I'm camping. Chad cooked us a great FRIED breakfast and then we lazily went and got cleaned up for the day. I had the worse shower ever, Chad an amazing one that he tipped me off on for the next day (such a good man!).

For some reason we often to do the friend potatoes, balognee (however you spell that), eggs thing for camping breakfast but I think once a year is really enough for this. Due to perhaps a bit less planning than ususal we ended up with several days of this kind of breakfast, and as great as it was the first day, it was equally gut rentchingly gross the last. Better planning next time!
We headed in to Alma where we'd heard about this great little pizza place called Saprano's, the decor inside is really really cool, with wanted posters up, and all their employees dressed up cool, and the garlic fingers was really the best I've had, if you like garlic fingers you really want to go to Saprano's and try them. The dough is delich and the pizza was so pretty.

We got one with 3 different coloured peppers on it and it was obvious presentation mattered here. the serivice was also incredible here, I can see why their reputation is already hitting the high roads as the place to go for pizza!

Then we went for a walk and perused the giftshops, steering clear from the used bookshop, I so love those places it is a death trap for me!!! (Plug for the chicken barn in Maine! one of my most favorite places!) and then I had to take Chad to get a famous sticky bun as he'd never had one and it was always one of the highlights driving through Alma on the way to Fundy Park as kids.

It has been years and years since I've been in that bakery and had a sticky bun, and I was so excited to get my hands on one(well ok, Chad actually insisted it made more sense to buy 6-- always the bargain hunter). Then took the windy scenic drive back to camp. A nap found me exhausted and overheated so we called it a day.

Wednesday morning we woke up really early to go hit the low tides at Hopwell Rocks, Chad had never been there before. I must say I never remember it being that muddy. We had fun walking and climbing, but again I must admit that it is a lot harder to do when pregnant. As I was climbing over once bunch of rocks, one lady suggested I might not want to do that and go into premature labor. I'm sure I looked at least a bit rediculous, but did slow down sum realizing, falling as a pregnant lady wasn't so cool either. The hike back up the stairs and up the trail was a bit much and again with the overheating, sun etc. But we had fun! We had a picnic lunch and then went into the gift shop and information center, but I was whipped. Unable to find a spot in the shade to sit we called it a day and went for some icecream. When we arrived back at camp I was soooo hot, we pulled on the bathing suits and crawled in the pool where we lounged, cooling off, until it was cool enough outside to carry on. It was here I also became the expert horsefly killer and Chad through all caution to the wind and got himself severly burned. That night the mosquitos were especially bad so Chad & I sat in the car reading until 10pm when he could finally venture out to build us our last campfire. How I love campfire! It seems we have the best time, and the best conversations around the campfire. THe moon was so beautiful across the bay too, and what a view we had!

Thursday morning, as much fun as I had I was glad to pack 'er up for home, bed, and flushing washrooms just down the hall. We drove into Moncton for ribs at Montana's (one of Chad's favorites, and a newly found one for me) and then headed for home. We didn't do much Thursday night, I honestly was pooped.

Friday we got up and ran the roads for my pay check, visited Chad's Grampy B who turned 90 last weekend, and stopped off at Chad's Grammie B's as she had offered us her airconditioned car for our drive to Houlton for the baby's wall paper boarder. We were late on the road but had planned to have lunch in Houlton at our favorite little restuarant with Jukeboxes. Arriving near the boarder suddenly a storm came flying through, blackened sky, rain pellets and all the power and electricty GONE. We went in to get our money changed at the Border place, and there wasn't a lick of light, luckily they still changed our money for us but I couldn't go pee, the bathroom was pitch black, so I decided to wait for the restaurant on the other side. We sat in the line for at least 15 minutes watching lighting, thunder and heat lighting crash through the skies, rainings pouring so hard. It was quite the show.

When we arrived in Houlton, EVERYTHING was down, streetlights, all power, EVERYWHERE, and I needed to pee soooo bad, I was regretting not going in the dark back at the border. Surely, I thought, someone will let me pee, but I was wrong, finally we got one man to open up the door of his gas station to tell him I needed to pee desperately and was nearly 7 months pregnant, but he refused to let me saying there was no water to flush. I couldn't believe it!!! I was in such agony!!! I threatened to pee in the parking lot, and he seemed quite fine with that but there was no way he was going to let me pee in his store without water to flush. Finally we found a tourist place where they didn't care and a gas station later down the road where we could purchase some munchies for lunch. A short visit, we returned to Fredericton.

Chad had it in his head that this was the night to buy and airconditionar, (of course I was not complaining!) so we went from store to store pricing them, comparing the, and finally at 9pm coming home with one. I was whipped! We got the house in order for Mom & Dad, Nanny & Grampy to come up the next morning to help us lay flooring and hit the sack. Until at 1:30am I woke up not feeling well. I got out of bed and debated if I was going to be sick or not, I don't vomit very often so it seemed like it wasn't going to happen, but I had horrific heartburn so went hunting for some TUMS, which I absolutly detest, but I thought anything was better than that heartburn. As soon as I took the TUMS in my hand, I knew I had seconds to make it to the toilet bowl, and I vomitted like never before. I felt like someone was ripping my face apart, it was horrific! Finally at 2:30 it came to an end and I slipped back into bed.

Saturday morning I woke up to find that not only was I an absolutly swollen mess, face, hands, feet, when I vomitted I had broken the blood vessels in my eye balls, turning the whites bloody red--- soo sooo gross! (they tell me I'll ONLY look this way for about 2 weeks as they heal) So, looking demon possessed I invited my family into my house to help lay flooring. Dad, Grampy & Chad worked their tails off all day laying flooring and I must say it looks great! Mom, Nanny & I did a bit of shopping and a lot of talking (and Mom even got to feel the baby kicking) and had a good, but very long day. They headed back for Moncton around 11:30pm and Chad & I hit the sack.

So that is the long and interesting adventure vacation I took as a pregnant woman. I must say I can probably summarize the entire trip with this one phrase I gave Chad when he snuggled up to me in the tent one night, "you want snuggling, you get this pregnant woman a hotel!". Having said that, the camping was totally my idea, and we had a pile of fun, even if I wouldn't recommend tent camping and pregnancy together!

25 weeks pregnant (6 months 1 week)

2 years married

It's our 2nd anniversary can you believe it! Chad spoiled me rotten this year (I don't mind at all though, lol!) About a month ago we finally found a China pattern we both loved, so we wrote down the name and hoped over the years to aquire a piece or two along the way, China is soooo expensive! Anyway Chad knew how much I wanted some China for our special dinners and stuff and this morning I woke up to a tea cup from our China set for our anniversary (Chad informs me that 2nd year of marriage is the China anniversary). I was soo sooo excited, for me this meant we were actually going to work at getting pieces over time and he was on board with the idea! I was so happy. So after oooing for a bit I went and had my shower, he had his and then came into the bedroom and asked me what I would think if he had another present for me.

I wasn't sure if he was teasing or not, the china tea cup was so much anyway and we don't have much money for presents, but at the same time if he did have something else I didn't want him to not give it to me or take it back or something! So I told him as much and then he brought out another Royal Dalton box with the 3 other plates in it! I was soooo sooooo soooooo excited, and I thought he'd gone off his rocker spending so much money, and I couldn't figure out how he had spent so much when I take care of the money coming in and going out!

I carefully walked out to the kitchen to set it all up on the table to see what it looked like with our flatwear and crystal wine glasses! When I turned around he had put my favorite piece of all down on top of the plate, the soup bowl. (take a look at how pretty it is! It's my favorite!) I was soooo overwhelmed and I love love love it! Since we found the set a month or so ago he's been putting a little bit down on layaway every chance he got, if he picked up groceries that cost $14 he said it cost $20, when he got his milage check from the church he didn't tell me about it and put it down on the dishes and then his camera he bought in April went on Sale and he got the difference back, and didn't tell me and put it down on the dishes! He's been hard at work for me to know nothing about it!



When I stopped gawking long enough, we packed up and headed to Woolastook for a picnic and swim. What a great time we had! We had a yummy picnic then Chad laid down for a nap, and I tried, but man it is really impossible to get comfortable lying on the hard ground when you're 6 months pregnant! So I sat up an read until he woke up and we went for a swim. Woolastook is great, not only is it where we got engaged, but it seems people have kind of forgotten it exists and there weren't very many people there. I decided against jumping off the bridge (seems I've lost a bit of my daring personality with my pregnancy) but we had a great time. We stopped in to visit Chad's Grammie in Upper Kingsclear on the way home and then headed home to clean up and go out for dinner.

We went to this new little Italian place down on King Street. The decor is great and the food was awesome too! We had this snowcrab warm dip thing for appetizer, and then split this bell pepper, garlic, olive oil, rosemary, basil angelhair pasta thing-- it was sooo great! For dessert we ordered this warm chocolate ravioli (however you spell that!) stuffed with cream cheese--- oh my! I can not adequatly express to you how wonderful it was! AND because it was our anniversary they gave us the dessert on the house! We were both completly impressed with the place and will definitly go again and it wasn't that pricey! They have these $5 salads on their lunch menu that look great! and you can go and try their cheeses and fruit for just $5 as well. Sounds like we need another visit there!

After that we walked along the river for awhile before I had to pee too much to keep going. What a great anniversary. The day was absolutly perfect.

Chad felt Baby B kicking!

Last night after I went to bed Baby B was kicking up a storm! The last few weeks when I feel the baby moving I'll get Chad to come over and put his hand on my belly to see if he can feel it too. Up until this point he thought he might have once, but not since. Last night however, I had never felt the baby kick with such vigor before and Chad felt Baby B kicking! It was neat to be able to share that with him! So far it has just been me and Baby B, but it was really neat to be able to have Chad feel him or her kicking too, and man did he or she ever kick up a storm! It's so reassuring to feel the baby kick and move, I like it, even if it is a bit like "alien" or something!

So thankful for this dream...

I had a lovely dream last night. Have you ever had one that kind of brings things together for you, resolves something for you? I remember my Mom telling me of one she had during a really difficult time in her life. One of her most favorite Aunts came and walked with her in a garden in her dream, assuring her things would be alright. I remember Mom telling me how she drew so much comfort from that dream.

Last night I had something similar happen to me for the first time. I dreamed I was having lunch with Katrina in a beautiful garden, on a gorgeous day. I have deliberatly not written about Katrina on this blog until now, I guess things seemed unresolved for me up until this point, a tender spot, and honestly (although I try to be honest and myself on this blog) I didn't know that I could be honest about my feelings, so I chose to say nothing. I think I'm ready now.

I was telling Katrina, in my dream, that I had never imagined I would see her looking so beautiful and radiant and full of life again (I can't describe in words how wonderful she looked). I was telling her how it bothered me so much that they (the nurses in the hospital)hadn't let me in to see her, to talk with her when she was in isolation. I told her I was glad to at least have the memory of her big smile when Chad showed off my pregnant belly to her in the window of her room.

Then I started to cry and told her how I had really believed she was going to get her healing, from God, through the doctor's or a transplant..that I couldn't believe she was gone, it didn't fit with what I thought God had in store for her. I was sure she was going to get her healing. She stood up from the lunch table, so beautiful and radiant and came over and gave me a huge, tight hug and told me, tears in her eyes "Heidi, I have my healing." and I woke up. It brings tears to my eyes to think of it now, but I feel more at peace. How I wish she had been able to see our baby born. How she loved Chad & I and was so supportive. How full of life she was. And now she is with God, and she has her healing.

Canada Day Long Weekend in Elgin

I had a fabulous long weekend! As school just ended on Tuesday, and I've yet to find some work to hold me over for the summer and fall until Baby B comes, and Chad wanted to bring Angela's wedding pictures down to her, we decided to head off for Elgin (my parent's stomping ground) and Moncton for the weekend. It's been a long time since we've been able to actually go for a visit and not just a 24 hour run for an event!

Friday, Chad got off work early and we headed over to check out Sharon & Gary's new digs (Chad's parents). Very nice I must say! The bedrooms upstairs are huge! All new laminate flooring (I'm so jelous! we're looking at putting laminate in the baby's room this summer) and Sharon has a beautiful kitchen with lots of cupboard space and considering the fabulous cooking she does, she'll put it to great use!

Compression socks in toe, Chad & I headed out around 3pm for Moncton, but first we had to make (yet another) emergency stop at an Irving bathroom, for me (and a slushie of course!) and then back home because we'd forgotten the prints Chad had made for Angela to see what the pics will actually look like.

So finally on the road, slushie in hand, relieved of the bathroom and thinking we surely must have everything now we headed off. Arriving in Moncton around 5pm we stopped off at the Superstore for a few ingrediants as Chad was going to make a special stirfry for Angela, Adam & Kaitlyn in their new home.

Kaitlyn is such a doll! I love her to pieces! She of course entertained us (she's quite the actress) the entire time we were there, and I think Angela & Adam were very happy with Chad's work as photographer. He did a great job! I'm so proud of his work! Around 9pm Chad & I headed off for the mountains of Elgin where we stayed up talking with Mom & Dad until after midnight when we finally hit the sack. Poor Chad, after everyone was settled in, I thought he was snoring (he does this once in a blue mooon at home) so I poked him (which usually stops him right away) but he just kept on snoring and snoring, so I kept poking and poking until I finally realized it wasn't him that was snoring at all! LOL! Poor fella! Needless to say he was tired enough he didnt wake up.

Saturday morning we got ourselves together and headed in for lunch at Dad's favorite spot The Irving Bigstop. Here we had a yummy lunch (and onion rings!) and then met Angela & Kaitlyn to go shopping. We did a little looking around, Dad & Chad took Kaitlyn and Angela, Mom & I looked at Maternity and Baby things. Us girls headed off to the Motherhood clothing store where I was treated to great sales and some beautiful clothes! I laughed so hard as I tried on different maternity clothes. One pair of pants, i didn't understand went above your belly an I started laughing in the change room telling the girls we had a problem. I opened the door with the crotch of the pants hanging between my knees and everyone in the store got a good laugh as they explained to me that this pair of pants was not supposed to hang on my hips! Angela suprised me and bought me some nice capri's that do sit on your hips and mom got me this really nice two piece brown, blue etc. stripped outfit and I bought myself a shirt (that matches the capri's really nicely) and a white skirt. I walked away with beautiful clothes and I had fun adding up how much they would have cost if they hadn't been on sale, and how much I actually spent.

We then went to Costco so Chad could buy us a huge box of frozen chicken breasts, and the brought a pizza back to Angela's for supper and so Mom & Dad could see the pictures. Chad then headed back to Fredericton for church the next day and Mom & Dad & I headed back to Elgin. There we watched the movie Flika until late and hit the sack. I must say I had the best sleep in a long time that night, I was actually comfortable! and woke up around 10am to shower up before the new Lewis family came up.

It was so precious I wanted to cry. Angela & Adam & Kaitlyn pulled into the yard Sunday afternoon and Angela got Kaitlyn out of the car and gave her her little pink suitcase and she just came serious as can be all by herself, down the driveway to the house. She looked so cute coming for her first sleepover at Grammie & Grampy's since the wedding. Dad (Grampy) was going to set up the tent for them to sleep in (her first camping experience) and we were going to have a bonfire (her first bonfire too). All afternoon she and Dad (Grampy) played and worked together setting up the tent, bringing the garbage to the road etc. Finally she fell asleep for a nap in the wheelbarrow, that's our country girl.

Mom, meanwhile, was busy in the kitchen preparing food, cake, supper etc. for Monday when April & Trevor were going to join us all for a big Canada day bbq. She worked tirelessly and I believe I did at least 4 loads of dishes! and there were more than that done in that span of time! We all watched Barnyard, the movie together and then had supper and Mom continued on the cooking sprea. Around 9pm she was making Black Forest Cake and the cake was cooking in the stove and smelled so good I had to have some so she convinced me to make brownies instead (just a mix from the dollar store but they tasted soooooo good), so that was our bedtime treat by the time the cooled. I had been waiting to see if the rain would let off so we could still have our bonfire but just as soon as it would clear it would start to down pour again, so no bonfire this time around. We'll have to do that another time I guess. Dad & Kaitlyn entertained us playing bass and soprano recorder and harmonica. And Kaitlyn thought Chad (by this time he had returned from Fredericton) was just the best thing when he started stomping his foot and dancing around the livingroom with her! She says "Chad" in this matteroffact voice, and "Heidi" in this sweet little voice, and of course the more we laugh, the more she does it. What a clown! Finally we all went to bed.

Kaitlyn had had a full day and she actually stayed in bed until 10:30 Monday morning which meant we all slept in as well. Later in the day Chad & I went for a trek through the mountains and trails, Elgin is so beautiful. We scooped out the farm house going up for sale behind Dad's property and dreamed a little dream of having a family retreat for the summer. 10 acres of land are going along with it and there is a trail that meets between Dad's land and that one. It would be so nice to have...but alas it is unlikely it will be ours, but it is still fun to dream! We came back to Mom & Dad's and rested a bit (I MAY have overdone the walk a bit) and Mom got to getting things ready for supper (what a crazy worker!) April & Trevor arrived just as Dad was taking the burgers and pork ribblet things of the grill and what a feast we had! Mom had made my favorite potatoe salad and I must say I had way too much, but it was soooo good!

Anyway around 8:30 we tore ourselves away and headed for home. What a fun weekend! I'll cherish this one for years to come and close my eyes and see Kaitlyn coming with her little suitcase! I can't imagine your long weekend was as great as mine but hope you had some fun!

Baby Billington's newest photo shoot

Here is today’s ultrasound picture. The technician said it was our “alien” picture. The head is on the left and the face is turned to face you, so you can see the two eye slots and where the nose is. Below those are the ribs on one side.

Today the technician was just checking the heart and facial features. They could see the 4 ventricles of the heart pumping perfectly, the cavities in the brain and all sorts of things. When she was trying to get a picture of the baby’s lips and nose the baby kept moving it’s hand in front of it’s face, I think we have a tease in the family. Wonder where he/she gets that! LOL! It was neat to see his/her arms and legs moving!

Our summersaulting Baby B.

I've thought a few different times in the last weeks that I've felt the baby move, kind of like a large bubble moving around inside, but Sunday night I was absolutly sure! It was really neat acutually. I had helped lead worship and when I sat down I was hot and tired. I got comfy in the pew (if that is even remotly possible) and settled in to listen to Chad preach. I don't know if it was because the baby heard his/her Daddy preaching or what, but I could feel the "bubble" rolling and rolling around in my belly and it went on for a long time. I kept staring down at my belly, and putting my hand on it wondering if I could feel the baby moving from the outside yet, but nope, just on the inside, but did he/she ever turn and roll! it was really neat and it will only get more neat I think as the baby gets bigger and moves more often! It is hard not to get more excited now that I'm getting bigger, seeing ultrasound pics, hearing heartbeats and feeling movement. What an interesting, strange experience! Maybe the baby will do some flips for us tomorrow at our ultrasound! I hope we get some more neat pictures!

Compression Socks

So last Tuesday I had a follow up appointment after our intial ultrasound with our Doctor. We got to listen to the baby's heartbeat again and he measured my uterus, interesting fact, the amount of centimeters you measure should be very close to the amount of weeks you are pregnant! Anyway, we had all the other check ups including my blood pressure which still remains nice and low etc. We also discussed my "swelling".

Ever since Angela & Adam's wedding my feet have been swollen, to the point where most of my shoes don't fit. I don't want to stretch all of my good shoes out so I've been wearing mostly flipflops--very lovely! Anyway noone has said anything to me at work, I honestly think I can probably get away with a lot now that I'm pregnant. Anyway, the good ol' doc. tells me that I one thing I should invest in for the summer is compression socks, which he assures me are very fasionable and can be found at Shoppers Drug Mart. These socks are used to help against varicose veins, swelling etc, by pushing the blood back up into your legs. So especially where I'm on my feet a lot at school and stuff we decided it would be a wise investment. Now, I'm not so sure about my doc and fashion but I've got to say these socks aren't quite "MY" style! oh well. Now I'm an old grannie with compression socks that rise up to my knees!

Angela's Wedding

Angela is now a married woman! Although tired and sore in many places I am also so happy. Angela and Adam were married yesturday and what a beautiful wedding it was! There is so much I could say, but I am still so tired and not even really sure where to start. Angela was definitly the most beautiful bride, just radiating smiles. I know people always say this, but there was something so special and glowing about her. Adam too, was so happy, smiling and adoring Angela. He seemed stunned at her beauty and even overwhellemed at what they were committing to each other, but as the Pastor even said of both of them in the cermony several times they were both "so ready".

Saturday morning went relitivly well. None of us slept as late as we could have, all of us a little anxious to get the day started I guess. We were staying with Nanny & Grampy in town and Nanny had made us all a huge breakfast of juices, coffee, tea, milk, breakfast casserolle, some sort of maple toast casserolle thing...we were not walking away from there hungry!

Chad (the photographer and my husband) headed off to meet up with Adam for some early morning photo's and Angela, April & I headed off to get our hair done for a couple of hours. I always love this, having someone else do my hair! Angela's looked so sweet and I think we were generally all pleased. I took so long of course, as the hair dresser said "you have so much hair!" it amused her to find out I had had none for so many of my first years.

We arrived back at Nanny's around 11:30 to finish getting ready and Nanny (of course) had a pile of lunch sandwiches, cookies etc. for us to eat. Mom, Dad & Kaitlyn, Trevor and Chad had also returned so it was a full house! We ate up and then all started getting ready. Unfortuntly for me the new bra I bought with 4 different ways of using the straps was not working for this dress at all, in any of the strap positions! So Trevor (great brother-in law that he is) actually drove off to walmart to get me transparent straps just a half hour before it was time to go (did you know that was even possible! I certainly didn't) Besides that, things were running close to on time and April was highly amuzed that we had both bought the same black shoes without knowing it to match our dresses, and similar eye make up. Angela gave us both the cutest "bow" necklaces and earings, for standing up with her as she "tied the knot".

We arrived at the church about 10 minutes late (which really isn't bad at all, you have to keep the groom waiting a little while). But Kaitlyn was not in proper sorts (and likely way way over tired). She was quite cranky and wanted to walk down the aisle with Mom (Grammie to her), but then changed her mind. It didn't look like she would walk down with me (she just wanted Grampy) until the last minute when she grabbed my hand and started yanking. The pastor was trying to hold me off until the music started and I should have just taken Kaitlyn and started but I waited. The grand organ started and scared Kaityn to death and she started howling and only wanted Grampy, so much for that, she was not coming with me. I went down to the beautiful organ music and Kaitlyn's howls, then April followed and there was no way Kaitlyn was coming with her either, then Mom started back up the aisle a bit and Kaitlyn saw her, and howling she ran down the aisle for Grammie. Not ideal perhaps, but she got down there and Dad walked the beautiful Angela down to Adam. It was a beautiful cermoney (especially after Kaitlyn calmed down and began playing around the altar).

Then we took off for pictures. I'm excited to see them. Chad was doing their pictures and I think he did a fabulous job. When he gets home from church today he's going to unload the memory cards and we'll see what we have, but he definitly got some good stuff. It was such a treat to just watch Angela & Adam together, especially after everyone else left and Chad was just taking pictures of them. Really it is such an intimate moment (one of the most intimate that anyone else gets to see) and Chad just got to nearly pretend he wasn't there in some cases and just take lovely pictures. It also gave us a bit of time with them alone which was special.

Then to the reception for lovely food and some laughs at Fishermans Paradise. I had never eaten there before but it was great! I had the Steak dinner, wow it was nice and the soup and salad beforehand was amazing. There was Cheesecake for dessert with coffee but Nanny had made Angela's cake and it was far better. What a load of beautiful work Nanny did! Adam passed around the most unique Hershey's chocolate bars, that said HereTheyAre and their names on the front. Then on the back the ingrediants list was all percentages of love, laughter etc. Even the barcode on the back was their wedding date--- too cute! April & I did a combo speach thing with funny Angela stories and welcoming Adam to the family which was fun! April, I think should take up a job as Mediator or Contract Negotiator, you should have seen her trying to get everyone but herself up there telling stories about Angela! Soon enough we decorated the car with lilacs and toole and they were heading off for a few last pictures with Chad out with the sunset and river-- totally gorgeous! And the last Carson girl is married off, and very happy!

Tired, but happy Chad and I headed off to Nanny's where I got into my pj's for the drive home. I realized that there is a different tired when you're pregnant and lugging a nearly 5 month baby in belly around with you all day at a wedding, up early, down late. As I crawled out of the car into Nanny's to get into my pj's my body nearly spoke out loud to me with a "we're done", more of a statement less of a question! LOL! It was neat because although Chad was taking pictures for Angela & Adam he was showing me love by doing so. I was so proud of him, and so filled with love! Of course he is also amazing at what he does, he has a real talent for it, and I love to see him doing something he loves, even if he was exhausted and then had to head off to church early this morning.

A beautiful end to a beautiful day.... me snoring in and out of sleep on the drive home.

Guess Who? :) and ultrasound stories

I decided it would make the most sense to give myself some much needed rest the morning of the ultrasound. I had to have 4, 8oz glasses of water in by 9 o'clock, but I thought that shouldn't been to difficult as I drink a lot of water (of course I wasn't taking into consideration just how hard holding all that water for 2 hours was going to be). So at around 8:30 I got up and started drinking. I did really well actually. I figured after I got the water and some breakfast in I would take a nice, soothing, long bath to focus my attention on something other than the fact that I needed to pee.

Now upon further contemplation I can see the lack of wisdom in taking a bath and sloshing around in warm water when ones' bladder is full, but at the time it seemed like a great idea. Anyway, needless to say I could hardly stand myself while taking the bath and decided that although it was a definite battle of the will and I would be victorious, I should nonetheless cut the bath short. This description hardly expresses the emense discomfort and selfcontrol I was trying to excercise at the time, as I spoke harshly to myself, prayed to God for help, it was quite the moment!

So I stood up to shower and when I did, I peed. It is mortifying, but I'm sure (NOW) that I'm not the only Mom who has peed, but at the time I was so upset with myself, giving myself a tongue lashing about being a terrible parent with no self control, and if I couldn't even do this right, and we got a terrible ultrasound picture because of my lack of self control, how would I ever be a good parent. As is often the case with me it was quite dramatic.

So i got out of the shower and for penance made myself drink all of the water again, hoping it would have time to fill up my bladder in the next hour before we had our appointment. Upon further reflection, again, I could have figure out that my bladder would probably still be full of water and this step was not so necessary, but in the heat of personal disgust, it made sense to drink it all again.

We arrived at the hospital just on time to sit in admitting, my bladder quickly filling, only to find out we should have gone right to radiology. Arriving in Radiology they have that pull tab process of getting signed in. We pulled tab even though there was noone in line and Chad was muttering, ok it was too loud to be considered muttering, about not needing to stand in line. I was trying to hush him down when another patient came through and took the next number and they called his. Chad then proceeded to flip out saying loudly "wait! we were next, wait!" Iw as mortified, as I believe the next patient was as he quickly said "oh, ok, you go ahead." Ah my overexcitable husband. he wasn't angry, just excited.

Then we had to wait, and wait we did, for 45 minutes. My bladder at this point hurt so much, I put my hands down my pants to pull my pants away from pressuring my stomach (cute picture eh?-right) anyway, I had decided that this was the ultimate test of parenthood and if I couldn't do this, I couldn't really be a good mother at all, so I was determined. Meanwhile Chad is trying to get me to have my picture taken infront of the ultrasound sign, or discuss some article, or what I would like for lunch, I could do nothing but concentrate on not peeing myself and the agony I felt. So instead, Chad makes friends with all the people in the waiting room, finding out when they are due, what their stories are etc.

Finally! they called my name, I went in and laid down on the bed and it is true that it really isn't so painful when you're lying down. Anyway it only took the technician a minute before he informed me I was way too full (I explained what I had done and he shook his head telling me I would have likely still been full enough had I not drunk the second load of water) and he told me to go pee it off. I thought, with fear and trembling, he was going to tell me something crazy like I've heard them tell others about just peeing a bit off, I knew there was no way I could do that.
When I returned, feeling much relieved, actually like a new person in may ways, he proceeded to do his work for 20+ minutes until he called Chad in. Then he showed us the baby's hand and arm, foot and spine and head, also we saw his/her heartbeat beating nice and strong around 160 beats. It was pretty cool, although it felt way too short, I would have liked to have seen more. he then printed us off these two pictures and booked us for another ultrasound June 20th, because he didn't get as good a picture as he wanted of the heart. Pretty neat eh!

Baby Billington 17 weeks, 6 days: June 5th, 2007

Look! A dream come true! I have my own lilacs!

so tired

It's been an interesting week and I'm tired. Tuesday and Thursday night the choir was out at the studio recording. What an interesting process. I realize that some people really are not open to constructive criticism... I wonder how they make out in their jobs, relationships etc... I'm the strong opposite in this situation, I firgure if someone isn't telling me how to better do whatever I'm working at they are doing something wrong! that doesn't negate of course, the importance of delivery...but I'd really rather know if I'm doing something wrong then find out later in a worse way. So recording was interesting, and a very very long time to stand on your feet!

We saw yet another finale of the Marriage Course Wednesday night. It has been such a privilge to make this happen and offer it to people. It is a good course, the trick with everything is getting out of the rut and busy with putting it into action!

Tomorrow Chad & I go to a breakfast, usually a monthly mens breakfast in Upper Kingsclear but this time it is for wives as well. Chad is speaking at it. Should be a neat experience. Then friends of ours have a house warming in the afternoon.

There is more but...
I'm sleepy...I think I need a nap.

The Baby Bump

I woke up this morning with a baby bump on my left side. It was so weird! Sometimes I can tell where the baby is in my stomach just by pushing on my stomach. The area the baby is in is usually very hard and kind of tender...I think would be the word you would use to describe it. Anyway, today there was no pushing necessary. Just by putting my hand on my stomach I could feel exactly where the baby was. The left side of my stomach was huge (well it felt huge to me) and hard and full feeling, the right side, sqwishy. Weird eh? This pregnancy thing is really quite strange. I've got a leaner!

Next tuesday we have our ultrasound, that should be neat! I'm looking forward to it. I just hope we can make some features and things out and it's not just some sort of blob on a screen and the technician is trying to make us see things. We'll see soon enough I guess! Hard to believe that I'm already at 17 weeks!

Shelley's Birthday

We had Shelley in for her birthday supper last night. We had all of her favorite foods, fiddleheads, squash and banana bread instead of cake LOL! I think she had a good time, even if it was just with us! LOL! here's a pic of her and her fake birthday smile!

Singing Singing Singing! and the baby moving?

Today was a Singing, Singing, Singing day. At 9am (ok 9:15 for me) the choir gathered for the day to practice our songs for the new SSC CD coming in the fall. We go into the recording studio next week. This should be a neat experience. I wasn't a part of the last CD recording at SSC, so I'm looking forward to the experience. At the same time, it is going to be an exhausting week.

This week Chad and I are busy Monday night(birthday celebrations), tuesday night (recording), wednesday night (final night of The Marriage Course), thursday night (recording), Saturday morning Chad's speaking, saturday afternoon we have a housewarming party and then sunday is all day church again. talk about a wild week, even for us!

Then next tuesday we have our ultrasound. That will be strange and neat. I think I may have felt the baby move for the first time last night. I was laying on my side, finally cooling down (thanks to Chad's ingenous ideas and thoughtfulness) and I felt this blourp, blourp feeling. It didn't really feel like hunger, or butterflies, or even gas like everything I've read told me it would, the only way I could explain it was with a sound "blourp, blourp". The first blourp I just laid there, wondering, the second I thought, "wait a minute I don't have gas :) (I know you wanted to know that), I'm not hungry...that was different"... The third one I said to Chad, "I think I just felt the baby move." It was neat. I'm sure that soon enough I will know for sure. Betty Anne assures me that when I have to stuff the little foot back from between my rib cage, I'll remember back to these days of wondering. :)

Lemonade escapades and other weekend adventures

It's been another busy bunch of time.

Wow, so much has happened, here's a run down. Chad's Nannie Whitaker from Bar Harbor came up to stay with us for a week (we love having her come visit, she is so much fun!) and the whole Billington-Whitaker-Howell crew took off to PEI for Doug's graduation cermony Mother's Day weekend. We managed to put a good many kilometers on our car the first week we had it and it has treated us so well, God has been good to us. While there we also manged to squeeze in 10 minutes at "Cow's" so I could get an icecream and a baby onesie with "Don't cry over spilled milk" for our little one on the way. I was soooooooo excited about this, you can't even imagine...unless you know me and know how crazy excited I can get about the little things.

Mothers day was that Sunday and it was really strange for me. They always give all the mothers a rose on Mothers day, but I didn't figure I really qualifed yet this year, but someone brought me over a rose...then several people made different comments on the way out...some thinking it was sweet I was a mother, others thinking it was a bit premature, I found it confusing. So I went home and had a nap while Chad got ready for his sermon.

The next Saturday Chad & I attached the house....AGAIN. Basically we finished what we had started a few saturdays ago and got the sparebedoom moved over to the study, the stuff from the study moved around, throw out or put in storage and left an empty baby's room...a blank slate for later creativity. What a huge job! We just kept pushing and pushing until finally at 10pm when I bent over and wasn't so sure my back muscles were going to pull me back up, I decided to hit the sac for the night.

Monday was Angela & Adam's wedding shower. We went down to Mom & Dad's Sunday night after Chad finished preaching. Monday morning Mom fitted me for my bridesmaids dress...which, honestly, I'm wondering how stunning I'm going to look, not because the dress isn't nice...the material is beautiful, the colour is stunning...but I just am sooo big. I don't look pregnant yet, just FAT...anyway that is another ramble altogether. Kaitlyn on the other hand is LOADS of fun! I love that little kid so much! What a blast she had out in the strawberry patches with Grampy, and flowerbeds with Grammie, I got some great pics! The shower was great too. Angela & Adam had a great show of support from family and got some lovely gifts, I think they were pleased.
We came home last night for a lemonade escapade. I sat a glass of lemonday down on the coffee table beside my laptop, sat on the couch and reached for my glass only to knock it over, it went for the floor but I thought I would try to catch it, splattering lemonade all over my keyboard. I gasped and was speechless, Chad heard the gasp and flalling around faster than I could even think he jumped from his seat, hung my laptop upside down and pealed out the battery throwing it on the floor (it is at times like these that I see just how very different we are!) So all night and all day today we left it upside down drying out and praying....

Tonight I am happy to announce, Chad took my computer all apart and it looks like it is fine and is opperating quite well. It was a long day wondering and hoping....although I did manage to do all the laundry, fold and put away, go through a bunch of clothes, disgard and reorganize and spring clean the bedroom, walls, windows etc. in the interm!

So that's up to now....so much going on.....

Baby Billington's Heartbeat

Today Chad & I got to hear our baby's heartbeat for the first time. What a strange experience. Don't get me wrong, it was neat, but so strange. All this time we've known we're pregnant but now, now it seems a bit more real. At times I have thought, ok, there is something growing inside of me, but today it was like, wow, there is a little person with his very own heartbeat growing inside of me! A very very different feeling. So Chad & I are just kind of in the "wow" fase I'd say.

Chad of course recorded the heartbeat so we can listen to it as aften as we want. The next big appointment is the Ultrasound, now that will be really strange I'm sure. It was weird though, I have prayed endlessly for this little person since we found out we were pregnant, but today, today I felt like I was starting to love him, it's just so surreal to think there is a little someone, with his own little heartbeat growing inside of me....I guess I hadn't put much thought into it before...I wonder who this little person will be?

We have growth!

I'm soooooooooOOOOOOO excited! I went out to dig around in our flowerbed this afternoon, this was one of last years projects that I started before we went off on our huge vacation and left it untended for about 3 weeks, well probably more like 4 or so, and of course we don't have a clue about gardening, and we have GROWTH!

I had noticed the other day that the rose bush looked like it was going to come back, or at least a part of it, and the bleeding heart that I was sure and completly died off is shooting up and, the yellow bush thing is flowering beautifully, our lilac bush as some major blossoms happening and the tiny dead roots from Sharon's last years daffodils have sprouted into the sweetest tiny little daffodils I've ever seen..... then as I was pulling up weeds and pushing around multch, low and behold 5 shoots of lilies (I think)!!! You should have heard me hollaring to Chad, "Chad, Chad come here I found another one!" I'm just sooooooOOOOOO excited! I've always wanted my own garden and I have absolutly no clue about any thing gardening whatsoever, but we might get a couple flowers yet! Woooooppeeee!

Our New Car

At long last we have a vehicle again! thanks to God for getting us a great one in our price range and keeping up away from others that wouldn't have been so good.

Chad's Birthday

The Billington Egg Family

My crazy sister April made Chad & I the Billington Egg Family for Easter. I absolutly LOVE them! Check them out! Baby Billington in the back seat LOL!

Preparing for Baby Billington!

Well Chad & I have been busy these last two days. Last night we got right to work after BUYING A CAR!!!!! Wooopeeee! We've now got a great little Corolla-- praise God! I think it will serve us well. We were so blessed to have everyone helping us out these last 2 months but I must say i am SOOOOO happy we now have our own vehicle!

Anyway, as I was saying before that aside :) Shelley came over (good ol' Shel, always there to help) and we tackled the heavy furniture I'm not allowed to lift (they say nothing over 10 pounds when you're pregnant!), so we got the living room in order and the study furniture cleared out. I washed walls and windows as well, so the living room is in great condition. Today Chad and I tackled the kitchen, pantry etc. Basically we went through and reorganized and cleared out the junk, making room for the baby. It was great, well it wasn't fun at all, and I did take a mental break and physical nap in the middle, but it is great now that much of it is done. So the next big thing to tackle is the odds and ends in the study that need to find a home, then we'll move the spare bedroom furniture into the study to be the new spare bedroom, then the old sparebedroom will be blank slate for a baby's room.

Sounds like a plan....anybody have any great ideas of nursery decorating? We're taking ideas, oh and baby girl names....we haven't been able to find anything we like yet....

Progressing from continual naseau to sporadic projectile vomit?

This morning started off interestingly.... after having 2 days 'sans travail' last week with this blasted sinus, chest cold thing and unable to take anything, I thought I was feeling better, although a far cry from my usual self...but will I ever really see that person again? Anyway, I was actually running just a touch early which is exceptionally strange for me considering my absolute distate of early morning, UNTIL I decided to brush my teeth. For some strange reason, was it the baby, the cold-sickness, the orange juice, the toothbrush or the thought of going to work, I don't know but I started vomitting profusely right in the sink with the running water and toothpaste. I mean this was serious stuff, and I hadn't had anything to eat since 4:00 Sunday, so it was just 1/4 cup of orange juice 10 fold. It must have multiplied in there...anyway my 1st trimester of nausea has stopped I'm just hoping that is not opening up the doors to a 2nd trimester of actual vomit. It really is a disgusting thing!

Having said that, I did manage to get to work this morning, and by 10:30 was feeling somewhat human. What a difficult proffesion to be involved in when you're ill though, really, trying to put on a happy face and teach all these impressionable children, yikes it can be tough stuff!

I made it through the day, came home had some supper and nearly lost it down the sink again and then started playing the piano. It was wonderful! I haven't just stopped and played the piano in so long. What a wonderful way to spend 1 hour 1/2! I haven't felt this refreshed (spiritually) in a long time. How wonderful to just sit peacefully in His pressence, singing and playing for just Him and me.

I am suprised at how much I'm missing Chad, don't get me wrong, I knew I'd miss him, it's just that being quite self sufficient and independant, living on my own for years and I think, ah well, I can handle it, and I can but...I prefer not to. Life with Chad is good, it's great actually. I couldn't have imagined a better husband and friend. He loves me like I never imagined anyone would, he makes me laugh constantly, he loves God wholeheartedly, and he just makes my everyday better. It is sad that it takes him going away for a week to really remind me, or at least make it more obvious to me. I am anxious to have him back home with me (he flies in Thursday night). I am at the same time so excited for this opportunity for him and so anxious to hear all of his stories. At present he is at some retreat in the mountains of Calgary, I imagine it is beautiful and he isn't able to contact me, but I spoke with him Saturday night/Sunday morning at 1am and he had lots to share. Pray for him, that God would speak to him in a special way, if you think of it...

Well I should really head to bed, am I cautious to have more water before bed because I'll have to get up in the night to pee, but at the same time I've been soooooo thirsty! ah the dilema! Tomorrow I've got cleaning, laundry and a sleep in in the works, oh and grocery shopping! sounds like a day eh? and maybe I'll make some more time for me and God at the piano.... tootles for now!

The BIG update

It has been a long time since I've last blogged, mostly because I haven't been feeling well and I've been so tired. As most of you know by now, Chad & I (well me physically I guess) are pregnant, yup 12 weeks. What an interesting 12 weeks it has been! Morning sickness that lasts all day, smells I used to love turning my stomach into absolute upheaval, crackers replacing so many meals (I never want to see another cracker again!), reoccurring naps that last for hours, and yes I want another one! And other physical changes that noone talks about or greatly underexagerates! Now THIS, is an interesting adventure! Certainly not the plan at this point in our marriage, but I'm holding to the fact that many of the best things in life aren't planned.

Honestly though, this last week, with a couple of exceptions, I have been feeling much much better! Hopefully I am one of the lucky ones and at 12 weeks can say goodbye to all-the-time sickness! Of course I do have a list of things to stear clear from: cheese, raw onions, curry, red meat, anything greasy, icecream (can this kid really be ours?)....slushies are where it's at!

I've taken my two choirs (Grade 1 & 2, and Grades 3 & 4 & 5) to the music festival in the last week! What a blast! I was soooooo proud of them! What dollies! and a fun expereince for me. The last time I was at the Music Festival I was competing myself, in Moncton! it's been awhile.

Last weekend, Chad & I went to Moncton to help my sister Angela move. It is hard to believe she is married in just a couple of months! I am so excited for her and pray she has a wonderful marriage. It was nice to be able to help her with some cleaning at the new place, and of course Kaitlyn was a blast to play with, what a fun little girl! She worked tirelessly along side of us, cleaning with her own mop, broom and dustpan! I love to hear her laugh and giggle!

Doug (Chad's brother) is down staying with us for a few days. He graduates University in just a few weeks and then is headed off to Europe for a few months with his girlfriend to see the world! How envious I am! He has quite the route planned out! It should be exciting for him!

It seems every evening for the next while is full with the next run of The Marriage Course, the choir preparing to record it's new CD, family events, wedding showers, moving, getting ready ourselves for our own little one on the way, graduations, the music festival, lesson planning, Chad is away much of May on conferences and staff retreats....sooner than we realize summer will be here!

Well I'm sure that's enough update for now, maybe I will be able to update a little more regularly now that I am feeling better. Later!

My Classroom: The Final Product

As you know I've been working on decorating my music classroom for quite some time. I finally got the pics back, so here's the final product!

Farewell Car

Here we are in Houlton ME, saying farwell to our good ol' Nissan on March break.