Thirty, Flirty and Thriving.

It has been quite a big week this week.  I turned 30 on Tuesday!  Whoop whoop *insert fist pump*

Its now Saturday morning and this preggo is feeling a tad exhausted - from all good things of course!

Tuesday, my husband was able to take a break in the morning and come home to surprise me with flowers and chocolate (yum yum)!  H was feeling a bit under the weather so she napped for 2 hours.  Which meant, the morning of my 30th was glorious - down time and a surprise that involved flowers - you really can't go wrong with that happening on your birthday.

Tyler also made me grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for lunch - a perfect pairing to the rainy day it was outside.  Then that evening we went to Truffles sans Bananarama - she stayed at home with her auntie :)

enjoying some espresso with dessert - such  big man with such a little cup - love ya!

Then Thursday I had a shoe party!  Nothing beats getting 3 pairs a shoes for uber cheap because you hosted a shoe party.  Seriously people, if you have someone who does that in your city - do it!  Head over Heels is the company and I got these 3 beauties!  Which can be added to the Uggs I got from the hubber for a bday/mother's day gift.  Let's just say that 30 has been very good for my shoe wardrobe thus far.

And then to end off the week, the lovely and talented Mrs. Erica B made a FANTASTIC meal for us and some friends.  By fantastic I mean - I think I'm still full because I ate so much.  Thick sliced pork shops with a maple glaze, asparagus, baby roasted tomatoes, prosciutto wrapped figs with goat cheese, devilled eggs (which happens to be the key to my heart), and bruschetta.  I'm still drooling at the thought of that goodness.

Needless to say, it has been a wonderful week and I've been overwhelmed with thankfulness at the amazing people I have in my life.  Thankfulness at where my life is at.  And thankfulness for the opportunity to celebrate in such a big way.  I've been bombarded with love from great friends and family and I just can't get over how proud I am of all of the people in my life.  When I sit and think about these people (and I've been doing a lot of that this week) I'm just so proud of who I have to influence me, to help me make decisions, to impact me and my family, to bestow wisdom and grace and love in my life.  I'm am just truly, truly grateful for them and am overwhelmed with the thought of it all.  I know it sounds vague to put it that way but I just feel there is no other way, in this moment, to express to each and every person, what it is I love about them.

So thanks, dear and wonderful friends, for making this milestone such a blessing and such a happy point in my life. 

Cheers! 

Answers, of sorts.

Well, we got some answers folks.  Turns out the little miss has a very teeny tiny portion of one of her chromosomes missing.  So teeny tiny, in fact, that a regular DNA test wouldn't have caught it.  What does it mean?  Not much.  It explains some of the struggles she's had but tells us nothing about what she'll be facing in the future.  Which is kind of fair, really, because what parent ever knows what their child will face in the future?

They asked us to go for more testing just to see if they can figure out some more answers regarding mutated genes, missing pieces, etc., etc. - all stuff I don't understand.  And the more I think about it - I'm not sure we really NEED to know those answers.  They are wanting to look to see if maybe our next little babe-in-womb will have the same mutation.  The only way to really find that out is for me to have an amniocentesis done (I'm not sure that is correct way to use that term).  But we're not interested in that.

So that's that.

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We've now moved on to more important things like riding in wagons.....

Tea parties with our dolly....

And swimming in our ginourmous pool.

Gamma

This weekend Gamma Forrest came for a visit.  We've been a little spoiled because this is the second time in the span of a month that we've had her come - unfortunately, Gamps couldn't make it out this time.

Its been so nice seeing Hannah get to hang out with my mom - they are buddies, of this I am sure.  This morning as I was carrying H down the stairs she decided to chant "Gamma Gamma Gamma Gamma".... 'twas pretty cute indeed.

The two of them made the trek out to Osler to visit me at a sale, they went and bought farmer's sausage and cabbage rolls (did I mention we've been a bit spoiled??), they played at home and went for a walk.  It made me so happy that they got to do ordinary things like this together because Hannah doesn't get to see her Forrest grandparents very often (travelling 6 hours with a baby - which usually turns into an 8 hr trip - just doesn't happen regularly).  And for some reason, I think that doing ordinary things helps people get to know one another other better.

This is now one of my favourite pictures.  They were just having so much fun goofing around together and hanging out.  Warms my heart :)

Genetics

First of all, thanks to everyone for the congrats.  We're super excited for this new babe to join our lives!

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I'm not sure there is an eloquent segue from that post to this so I'm just going to jump right on to the new subject....

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Our little peach had a genetics appointment yesterday.  To sum it up, all I can really say is that it was incredibly interesting.  And I'm very interested in finding out what they come up with.  The doctors are sending our DNA to the States to get analyzed - how crazy is that!

Also, something important that I need to preface this post with is that Hannah is fine.  This has been something that we've waited a year and half for because she's not high on the priority list.  And basically, the reason we're pursuing this information is so that we get some answers (to many questions) and hopefully use those answers to look to her future.

Its really difficult for me know where to start with this....  I guess to put it into a paragraph: Hannah has had several "abnormalities' (for lack of a better word), that have lead her doctor to believe that she has some sort of syndrome or genetic disorder.  By several, I would say there are about 5 or 6 prevalent things -  like her being premature, her low birth weight, her heart stuff (I think I've talked about that before on this blog).  A lot of these things have resolved themselves or proven to be of no concern, but there were/are enough things going on that it probably isn't a random coincidence.

By identifying what it is, we will be able to determine if there are common medical issues that could present themselves in the future.  For example, if we know she has a certain syndrome that typically will struggle with thyroid issues in the future, then we will know to keep that on the radar.

So that's basically what is going on.  I'm not going to delve into detail about the things she's dealt with already in her short little life but I am definitely open to talking about them.  So if I run into you on the street, feel free to ask away!  I won't be offended.  It would just take quite awhile to be able to explain everything on a blog!

This is our smiley champ after the whole appointment was done.  She's such a trooper - she was so patient with the doctors while they poked her.  And then we had to pin her down so we could take her blood (that was the most traumatic part of the morning).  They took her blood like they take an adult's blood and we had to pin her down while she was bawling - not a good time!  But as you can see, this was 5 minutes after and she was fine.  She really is my little hero.

Percolating.

Well, I suppose I haven't written a post in awhile.  It hasn't been intentional.  I've been 'busy'.

I'll give you some hints as to what I've been doing.

• It involves sleeping.  A lot.  Like a LOT.  Like, I'm talking bedtime is 7:00 - and right now I'm staying up waaaay past my bedtime to write this.

• It also involves eating.  A lot.  Like, at least 7 meals a day.  Sometimes more.

• It also involves plenty of nausea.  A lot.  But I won't go to into those details, lest I become a 'whiner' and bore you all with those stories.

Yes folks.  I'm percolating a baby!  Perhaps 'percolating' isn't the best term to use.  But I'm growing one in my belly!

I'm just about 12 weeks along and it looks like its going to be a Halloween baby.

So if you haven't heard from me, if I've felt at all neglectful, I do apologize.  However, if trimesters decide to be kind to me, I'm hoping I'll be back in action in a week or so!  Woo hoo!

That means I'll be able to stay up late enough to go a movie!  Hunger Games, anyone?

Leap Day

This is what Hannah said when I told her Leap Day only happens every four years.

P.S. This is for all of you out there who think Hannah doesn't cry or get upset.... what she was really mad about was that I wouldn't let her look at the screen on my camera after I took some pictures...

Staycation

Bliss is a holiday at home with no agenda other than to spend time with each other.

Tyler has this week off and I was able to get a couple of days to join him.  We had originally planned to go to BC to see some friends but we weren't quick enough on the draw to transform this opportunity into our vacay 2012.  While it was a little disappointing not to go anywhere, it turned out that our staycation was such a blessing - one of those weeks where you think you'll always remember it, but you can't really pinpoint what it is you vow never to forget.

We didn't do much.

Hannah stayed the night with her grandma.  And Tyler and I lived it large - basking in the moments of silence, of no worries about whether our child was eating enough, or if her diaper needed to be changed.  No catering to the needs of anyone; but explicitly to what we, ourselves, desired.

And boy did we eat some good food.  That's what we do when we are kidless - we go to the best restaurants and enjoy delicious food.  And after that we meander down the streets aimlessly with no agenda other than to observe and experience the day.  Visiting shops and chatting with friends, looking at needless things, weaving lazily back and forth down the sidewalk with our coffees in hand.

Eggs Benny anyone?

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Once Hannah was back (after being dearly missed - one night away is enough for me) we spent some time with friends and explored the mall together...

We had picnics on the stairs.

And we baked cookies.

Yummy, delicious chocolate chip cookies.

This weekend had a bit of nostalgia attached to it as well - maybe that's why I don't think I'll forget it.  It reminded me of being a little kid in the summer, hanging out with family and playing with friends, not having anything to worry about other than just being together.

It reminded me of Saturdays when the house would smell like baking - every single Saturday I was embraced by the sent of cookies, squares, cakes and breads.

This was the first time I've baked anything with Hannah and while she's a little young to help, it really was a special time - she added the pre-measured teaspoons of baking soda and salt and she tried her first chocolate chip.  Her response was 'more?' as she tapped her chest, communicating a polite little 'please'.

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I found my old tea set this weekend.  I forgot I even had it but as I was reorganizing the basement storage room I came upon an old bike helmet box.  I remember getting that box filled with all sorts of goodies from my pen pal and long-time friend in San Diego.  And now, it protects my first 'heirloom' that I get to pass on to my daughter.

Oh the sweet, sweet memories that can be triggered by the simple smell of sugar and chocolate baking in your oven.  Or the new memories you create just by living an ordinary day with those you love....