I can have a crafty blog post too!

I like to look at those crafty blogs and admire the gals that do all that cute stuff but I usually just walk away feeling bad about myself because I'm not that clever or patient. I have been doing a bit of crafting and creating myself lately so I thought why not post about it and have a crafty blog of my own! Here are a few things I've been working on lately:


This is a baby blanket I made for our new baby (green cause we don't know if it's a XX or XY). It's a simple blanket but I'm really proud of myself because I had no idea how to do a mitered corner and I learned for this project.




At one of the programs we go to Porter has learned a little song called Slippery Fish so I thought how cute it would be to make him some little fishies to go along with the song. Each little fish gets eaten by the one just bigger than it until they are all inside the whale. They would be much cuter with faces and I had intended on giving them at least eyes but Porter has been playing with them and I haven't yet taken them away to finish them. They are so loved as is they may just end up face-less permanently.



I saw these little buddies on a blog and decided I must make Porter some, they are too cute! A friend and I got together and made 2 each, a couple for each of us. They took a little longer than we thought (we did make FOUR!) but it was worth it, Porter loves his "topato head."

I felt better already

So after throwing up all. night. long. I was understandably laying on the couch still feeling icky this morning. I had nothing in my stomach and was rather parched when Porter sat beside me and asked me to put a Super Why show on for him. I said "I'll put on a Super Why and then mommy needs to get a drink of water." Without any hesitation he said "I'll get it for you momma!" I asked if he said he'd get me a drink and he confirmed that yes he would. If that wasn't too cute I waited to see what followed. He jumped off the couch and went into the kitchen and I wondered what used glass he was going to find to fill up with luke warm water from the tap for me. Not my little man - I heard him grab a chair and drag it across the kitchen floor, open the cupboard where the cups are, clink around some glasses and get down from the chair, open the fridge and it wasn't until he couldn't quite push the button on the water dispenser that he hollered "I need your heeeeelp!" Neil helped him push the button and then Porter carefully walked the full glass of water back to me sitting on the couch. Like seriously, he's two, that was so adorable. What a thoughtful little boy who loves his momma.

Irony

So..... uh... funny thing. In talking to Laura, who I mentioned brought me the beautiful blue pashmina from London, I discovered something. She told me that when she washed her pashmina for the first time it bled like crazy. I did a little more investigating into the load of laundry and found a sock with some blue all over it. You can't tell because the jogging pants are a ridiculous color of pink but it's dye from my BLUE PASHMINA on them! Oh my word. I was so grateful that nothing had happened to my pashmina and all along it's the pashmina's FAULT! That is irony.

WTH?

Seriously, I'm so mad! I did a load of laundry and as I was pulling it all out of the washer I came upon this:

Ok, they're not my favorite pair of jogging pants (although they DO say "wild thing" on the hip...) and it could have happened to a much more devastating article of clothing, but I'm totally annoyed just the same. I have no idea what it is, it's all over the front and all over the back and yet not on a single other piece of clothing in the same load (including my favorite blue pashmina that Laura brought me back from London. The same one that after like how many years I JUST washed for the first time because I was scared it would lose some of it's beauty. Yes, that one, the one that if this had happened to I probably would have just drunk the whole bottle of bleach sitting on the dryer right then and there.) It looks like grease, like I was working on our car or climbing through our ducts (I haven't done either recently) and it won't come off! I washed them again and nope, nothing changed. Into the garbage they went. I'm mad.

Programs

I am impressed at the programs for toddlers and pre-schoolers that Lethbridge has to offer. There are a variety of programs and at a variety of facilities (do people use that word "facilities" - I think it's a Rec Therapist thing.) Aaaaanyway - Porter and I have enjoyed Babes in the Library in the past but I wanted to take him to more programs now that he is a little older and especially since we have a baby on the way and I may refuse to leave the house with 2 children for quite some time once it arrives. I looked into a few things and it seems as though I can keep Porter busy almost every morning of the week! The programs we have chosen to attend are PACT (Parents and Children Together) at the Family Center on Monday mornings, Time for 2's at the library on Tuesday and Gym Time at the YMCA on Friday mornings. I think Porter will really benefit from getting out and about and I'll feel like I'm being a good mom. If anyone would like to join us it would be great to have some company!

One Last Look at 2009

I stole this from Laura who stole it from someone else. I enjoyed reading hers and wanted to do one of my own. I thought since I have neglected my blog for the last 4 months it would be a great way to start the New Year!

1. Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember making any last year but I'm sure there were some things I thought of that I needed to improve on. Since I can't remember them I'm sure I didn't improve on them, that's pretty sad. Yes I made some for this year and I've written them down! :)

2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my bff's just had a baby this last weekend. I am SO happy for her and so proud of her!

3. Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully no.

4. What countries did you visit?
We had no idea how great 2009 was going to be for us! We went to Mexico TWICE and spent some time in the US too. We had a great time traveling this year.

5. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A long term plan. Well, we had one but it changed - now we need another one.

6. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
I think the months of October through December because we had Neil home so much and were able to spend all kinds of time together as a family. It's been so great.

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think being able to pay off all Neil's student loans and get out of debt. That was really exciting for us. I also funded our first Mexican trip strictly from the sales of my nursing covers, I thought that was pretty cool.

8. What was your biggest failure?
Gawl just being lazy I think. I was pretty idle with my time for parts of the year and I wish that I had something productive to show for those hours.

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No not at all, I have been very healthy this year including during this pregnancy. I feel so blessed to have not been sick at all. My family is very healthy right now and I'm grateful for that.

10. What was the best thing someone bought you?
Neil bought me a new stove this fall. I love it, I can actually boil water and fry bacon!

11. Where did most of your money go?
To pay off Neil's student loans. It wasn't the most fun way to spend our money but it was such a relief to kiss that goodbye!

12. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Mexico twice - once to an all inclusive resort and once on a cruise with some of our friends. ALSO - getting pregnant with baby #2!!

13. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Summer Girl by the Stereos. In a round about way we know the drummer of the band so it was kind of a soundtrack for our summer, as cheesy as it is.

14. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? I'm definitely not sadder! I really feel like our lives just keep getting better and better, I'm going to say I'm happier.
b) fatter or skinner? Bleh, way fatter.
c) richer or poorer? Hmm, well we're out of debt so in the long run that means richer right?

15. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Taken Porter to visit the seniors.

16. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spent time on facebook or the internet in general - although when you're home alone every night for 5 months there's not much else to do.

17. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I did! I met some new and WONDERFUL friends that I definitely love.

18. What was your favourite TV program?
I really enjoyed watching The Bachelorette with the girls in Winnipeg. I always enjoy ANTM as well. This year I really fell in love with 30 Rock too, I've always enjoyed it but now I think it's brilliant.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No I don't.

20. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Zeus

21. What was your favourite film of this year?
Stardust. I know it's a few years old but somehow I completely missed it. We watched it this summer and I think it's adorable.

22. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went out with some of my girlfriends and then came back to the house for cake with some other family and friends. It was a great 27th birthday.

23. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Hmm I can't really think of anything, honestly 2009 was pretty amazing for us! I have a lot of friends and family that are far away and I think being able to see them more would be awesome.

24. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Well the last half has been anything stretchy and comfortable. I usually try to stick with hip and trendy... cause I'm so hip and trendy?

25. What kept you sane?
Neil and naps.

26. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Well I love my MJ and this year he passed away so I spent a lot of time appreciating him.

27. Who do you miss?
I miss Colin and Cynthia and wish they weren't so far away. I miss Jodi and Jo too, I always do.

28. Who was the best new person you met?
My APX wives, I love them all.

29. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009?
Money isn't everything and it never lasts as long as you think it will. The really important things are family, friends and health. Money comes and goes and you can be completely happy with or without it.

Bragging

Can I just say I have the best husband in the whole entire world?! He gets up every. single. morning. with Porter so I can sleep in. I don't know of another husband like him.

The last leg

Well we have less than a week left on our adventure here in Winnipeg and although I am SO EXCITED to be going home there are a few things about it that I am going to miss. I know I've really been hard on Winnipeg so I thought I'd list a few things that I've really enjoyed this summer (some of them have nothing to do with the actual city... haha!)

- Kildonan and Assiniboine Parks
- The Shopper's Drug Mart right across the street (that's been amazing- I don't know how I'm going to function at home without it, Jace and Vicky are going to need to stock up on a few things!)
- Making some of the best friends EVER, we have had such a great summer together and have become life long friends. I love them!
- Going out for dinner once a week
- The multicultural ward we attend, I love all the different colors
- The CRAZY Winnipeg drivers and how there are parked cars in the far driving lane all the time, not to mention the insane pot-holes
- The Forks
- The warm, humid evenings
- My glass-top stove
- Borrowing movies from Adam's endless and impressive collection.
- Checking the Mobile Report 50 times a day (you think I'm exaggerating) although I'll be SO glad not to have to!

It really has been an amazing summer but of course there's no place like home. We're on the countdown now!

Zeus

Ok I think I've made it clear that I like music, like I reeeeeally like music. Last night we went to the Royal Albert Arms in Winnipeg (in a sufficiently sketchy neighborhood, I was impressed.) to see one of our faves Cuff the Duke play. Their opening band was a Toronto based band called Zeus and I am telling you they completely stole the entire evening for me. It's really been a long time since I've been this excited about a new musical discovery and I had to share. They've only released a 5 single EP but have a full length album in the works and I tell you I can't wait. Head over to their myspace and website and have a listen (and watch the videos). Their cover of Genesis- That's All is brilliant and was even better live. You're going to think I love them just cause of their Beatle boots..... that helped, I'm not gonna lie.

I can't say enough, just go have a listen.

jive talkin'

I cracked up tonight when I put Porter's new bike jammas on him and he smiled and said "awesome!" It made me think of all the funny things he's been saying lately and how smart he is getting with his expanding vocabulary.

One of my favorites is when I hand something to him, or do something for him and he says "you're welcome!" I tell him "no, you say thank you, I say you're welcome," and he says "thank you, you're welcome."

Whenever he bumps into me or Niles or the coffee table he says "woops, sorry!"

In the morning he comes in and tugs on my blanket and says "Out! Out! Upstairs!"

When anything is found a little misplaced he calls it "silly" - "silly car," "silly Niles," "silly cup."

He calls his flip flops "hop tops" and LOVES to have them on.

Every day when Neil leaves for work he says "Daddy, work, gone!" That's after he's already told me Daddy went downstairs to shower.

I am enjoying him so much right now and love to have little conversations with him. I am constantly amazed at how much he knows and what he is picking up.