Buying a house is stressful. Add in a mortgage company that sucks and the stress instantly becomes doubled (at least). That sums up the previous week. On the plus side, we now have a mortgage broker who, in two conversations, gave 100% more confidence to Andy and I than anyone at ING had done in 5 days. If we had left it in ING’s hands, I am nearly certain they would have lost the house on us. That, my friends, is a big NO-NO. They will be hearing about it.

2.

Our Cathedral Gala Week was amazing! We had such a great Carnival (Andy and I were on the committee that organised it) that kicked it off, and the events over that week were huge successes! An amazingly busy and successful week of celebrating…this week was supposed to be a week of relaxing for staff…

3.

…So instead of relaxing, Monday afternoon one of the solar-paneled windows (the highest ones in the building), cracked in half and fell to its doom in front of the sanctuary in the worship space. The biggest blessings in this: the space was completely empty when it happened. It wasn’t the actual stained glass that fell, but the clear glass that it’s sandwiched between. So instead of a week off for many of the staff, this required some emergency-situation response from a number of them. I just can’t even imagine how horrible it would have been if it had happened during any of our major celebrations, which ended just the day before! Blessed, truly blessed, that no one was injured at all. While we have a temporary-relief solution at the moment, making the space safe to continue our Masses in (and weddings), it will take awhile to assess and evaluate the state of the rest of the windows to make sure that they are not going to cause the same problem.

4.

I am so glad we’re getting sun again – the week of rain was really dreary. Saying that, I immediately think of some of the places I’ve lived…notably, Vancouver, Prince George, and Ottawa, and I simultaneously realise that I’ve been truly blessed with the amount of sun we get here in Saskatoon over clouds and rain. I still dislike a week of rain.

5.

We own a house. Officially. How crazy is that? I’m still not sure I fully believe it. Though every time I hear the neighbours beside us blast their music (ahem….as in, as I’ve been typing this), I so can’t wait to get out of here. June 22nd baby.

6.

We’re looking for recruits for helping pack. And move. Any takers?

7.

I have been desiring homemade cookies lately, but I’ve hit a significant problem: I don’t have a desire to make them, no matter how simple the recipe is. If anyone’s willing to contribute some homemade cookies to my cause, you would be forever remembered in a post here on my blog.

UGH!

As it is, I am sitting here waiting to receive phone calls back from two crucial people in this process. I have been waiting for an hour. At least Spencer is napping happily and carefree. The blessings of the ignorance of youth.

Any helpful/happy thoughts to get us through this week?

I don’t know when it started when I had Spencer, but I do remember getting this burning feeling at the back of my throat, kind of like it’s starting on fire, whenever I got hungry. It would seem that this is a consistent trend at some point in my pregnancies. I sit here now stuffing my face with strawberries, bananas, yogurt and honey, as I couldn’t even finish this post without satisfying this hunger.

Just ask Andy – he’ll tell you that my appetite has increased to double what it was last week and beyond. Friday night at our youth event, I ate 4 pieces of pizza. I mean, I was full after them, but I can usually hardly eat 2. I guess this baby is on a growing kick…we shall see if it continues or lessens off for awhile..

So now my problem is this: trying to find healthy food to stuff my face with rather than all the carbs we have lying around the house. My craving for food isn’t usually limited to a specific type of food, I’m just looking for something to fill my belly. Though I’ll be honest, red peppers are really not appealing still (even though I’m not nauseous anymore), and we’re on a tight budget right now, as we’re trying to a) save for a good down payment on a house and b) for my mat leave.

So, any good suggestions out there for quick, healthy, less-carb snack foods?

Yes. Yes, that is snow on the window. You can probably get an idea where the photos might lead…

Basil & tomatoes on the left, chives and chives on the right. The chives are fine.

Sunflowers and green onions on the left, basil & tomatoes on the right. The green onions are fine.

My sweet peas. They seem to be reasonably okay.

It didn’t even get below 0 (C) when it snowed, and the forecast did not (conveniently) show snow for the forecast. But it seems to have killed my work in most pots. It was all of my basil, but not all of my tomatoes. Not by a long shot. So I’m disappointed, but not crushed.

Our sick pajama-clad boy

In other topics, I’m looking around for a doula for the birth of this babe. I have a lead, so I’ll hopefully hear from her soon and see if she’s taking clients at the time I’m due, as well as figure out what her fees for services are. I am sad that (so far) I won’t have a midwife this time. I cannot speak highly enough of the experience I had in Ottawa with the midwives, and I know that I won’t be getting that same care and attention with my doctor, as good as she is. It would be nice to have another advocate with us in the delivery room.

Doulas continue to intrigue me; while in Ottawa I remember thinking that profession can have such strong spiritual ties, it would be an interesting vocation to be called to, especially as a Christian. It still perks my interest, though I don’t know if I’d be much suited for it. Something to keep in mind, though.

Snuggle-time

If you’ve been following me on facebook, you probably know that Andy and I put an offer on a house. Unfortunately it wasn’t accepted, but we’re not too down on it. Basically what it came down to is that if it’s not in our financial scope, it’s not the right place for us, no matter how close it is. Though it was nice. We hardly expected to find something so nice in our price range. We’re okay with that though. Something better for us will come up when it’s time.

Wishing you a joy-filled day!

Many times when I catch myself thinking of the baby, it’s usually in reaction to thinking about Spencer. I look at my little boy, who really is not so little anymore, and I think, ‘I love him so much, how can I love this new little one just as much?’ At this point, while this babe is still growing in my womb, it is too far beyond my experience to imagine. But I have no doubts that it’s possible.

I don’t know if this is something a mother (or father) goes through from baby one to baby two, or if it’s a continual back-of-the-mind question even as more babies come. Perhaps after experiencing the growth of one’s own love from one baby to two, the next time around the belief is a little more full of confidence. But I’m not there yet. I just have my energetic little boy (who is now laughing at his own burps quite extensively) and this little one whose kicks and punches are starting to become more forceful.

I have no pictures today; our camera has, in my opinion, gone to a better resting place. In its place we just received a hand-me-down from a friend of ours just yesterday. It is much smaller and convenient to carry, which I’m hoping increases our use of the camera.

My plants continue to grow, I did much transplanting on Monday, and I’m hoping the basil and tomatoes survive the prairie winds. While it’s wishful thinking (the forecast is rain), I’m hoping this weekend to transplant the rest of my little plants. They’re just getting far too big for the little planters. I think I almost tried to kill them this week; I forgot to water them for a few days, so a few of them are in pretty rough shape. However, plants are hardy things. Or at least the ones I’ll left will be.

That’s my mid-week update. Oh, and if you have any name suggestions, we are (and by that, I mean I am) compiling a list. I have no idea where we’re heading this time around. Suggestions are always welcome, as long as you aren’t offended if we don’t use any of yours . Happy Thursday!

I haven’t been as on-the-ball about taking photos as I’ve wanted to be. I captured a few this week, but not as many as I was hoping to.

My garden is doing mostly well. There are a number of seeds that decided they didn’t want to sprout at all; the lavender and the strawberries have indeed been the most fickle out of all of them, but they are finally sprouting, even if they are few. I’m not as lucky as Ginny, who hosts the Garden Journal, to have my strawberry patch blooming already (oh, what joy that would be to see at this time of year! Something about living north on the 52nd latitude…), but my sweet peas and my sunflowers are providing great joy at watching them grow so quickly!

(My Sunflowers and Sweet Peas)

I transplanted a number of my plants this week, and to my sadness, also thinned out my tomatoes. I really didn’t expect so many to grow, so I really had more than what I was expecting to begin with, but it feels so wrong to throw out perfectly good seedlings. Well, I didn’t throw them out, I gave them to my friend Kate. At least they’re going to someone who’s likely to make them grow.The Sunflowers and Sweet Peas thrived in going into a bigger pot; within 2 days they had doubled in size. They’ve been my comfort plants, I seem to be able to rely on them to give me a good show.

The greens onions I transplanted don’t seem to be doing as well as I’d hoped. Perhaps they’re one of those plants that doesn’t like transplanting.

(green onions beside the sweet peas and sunflowers)

The tomatoes were, for the most part, thinned to two seedlings per container; they’re still mostly in the small containers I started with. I moved about 10 of the Romas into their own pot though.

(transplanted Roma tomatoes)

(thinned out tomatoes)

(I haven’t worked on these tomatoes yet)

Since a number of the seeds didn’t grow, I emptied their pods and replanted the thinned tomatoes in most of them. I still have a number of them to empty still. Perhaps once I’m done transplanting these to bigger pots I’ll start planting more seeds…maybe more sweet peas…they’re just so darned sweet!

We’ve been enjoying my mom visiting with us this week. Tomorrow afternoon she heads back to her home, but today we have our last celebration together with homemade pasta and then finishing off with watching the latest X-Men. I’m looking forward to our amazing evening!

For more Saturday Garden Journals, visit Ginny’s website, Small Things.

1. Nana and Spencer looking at photo memories

2. Joy! Found an Easter egg!

3. “This one! This one” – having issues gettin the wrapping off

4. Found another!

5. Sooo tasty!

6. Chomp!

7. Playing with the Spencer-sized soccer ball Nana got him for Easter

8. Someone got tired of running

9. Spence likes kicking the ball around!

10. Relaxing with some videos while supper is getting ready

11. Turkey supper!

Wishing you the best Easter Octave!!

I’ve finally nearly finished this project for my new niece! Adam & Myrica – I expect to send it next week!(diapers and wipes go into these pockets)

I’m so thrilled with myself for actually for actually finishing it. The inspiration hit when I was downstairs doing some laundry, and I thought, ‘Spence is sleeping, why don’t I look over my material and see if I can find something useful for the project.’ See, the problem was that I was intimidated by the material I was intending to use for the strap. It was too flexible and thin to really stand the wear and tear that it was going to get. So I looked through my box of material and I found some jean. Well, that will hold up just swell, won’t it? Especially if I add stabilizer, I thought to myself.

(The change mat folded up to tuck into the diaper pouch)

So the jean is what inspired me to finish the project. All that’s left to do is add a couple snaps to close the thing (alas that I completely forgot to add a velcro tab to close the pouch, but at least I came up with another idea). Poof! Project done!

(This is what the final product will look like when it’s pouched)

Thus ends this long, long journey of creating my own pattern (even if it’s based on something else) and putting it together. I’m not confident I’ll attempt something like that again. I’d have to be pretty inspired to do so. I hope Adam & Myrica can make good use out of it. And I pray that my handiwork actually lasts the wear and tear of using it.

Any other projects out there?

I’ve planted tons of tomatoes; I wasn’t sure if the seeds would grow (there wasn’t a percentage on the package of how many one can expect will grow), and sweet peas, cause I love their scent. I’ve also got rosemary, thyme, oregano going (how can a garden not have them?), and my one true joy are the strawberries. I used the whole packet just to make sure at least some seeds took. I really want homegrown strawberries. Also there are chives, green onions, lemon balm and sunflowers.

We’ve decided to stay with containers for growing them to maturity. It might be a little tough, but I’m certain we’ll make due

I’m joining with Ginny at Small Things in her garden journal; I’m hoping that I’ll be able to keep this going. Do you have anything growing this year?