Project 365 (February) Week One

Early morning in our pyjamas. She wanted a cuddle.



He has been quite the bookworm lately. He is one his third thick novel at present.



I found this lovely frozen creek when walking to a friend's home.



A rose I made out of candy for my cupcake party



Finally finished and bound my "Countdown to Christmas Album"



Getting buried in the snow drifts alongside the road.



They make a great dish washing team!

Spreading the love

Today was sticky and sweet for many different reasons. The foremost being the fact that I made over 80 cupcakes today from scratch and didn't burn one batch. Hurray! I successfully made my first red velvet cupcakes as well as some vanilla and devils food cake.




I also whipped up some supremely delicious cream cheese and coconut butter cream icing. I couldn't help but lick my fingers, and by the end of the day I felt like I had sugary blankets on my teeth. Amelia certainly had her fair share of beaters to lick.



Amelia helping me wash the pile of dishes afterwards. Note the sweet, tiny, itty bitty two day old braids I managed to scrape together. Oh, and the tulips my thoughtful husband bought me. *love*





I will most likely have photos from my cupcake decorating party on Saturday - camera permitting of course.

Writing my "birth plan".

I use the term "birth plan" loosely as I know that birth is a lot like life and not something that can be controlled or easily dictated. We make plans.... life happens. So let's call this my "birth preferences". I didn't write a "birth plan" with Amelia as my midwives and doula were so thoroughly aware of my wishes that there was no need to record them on paper. This time around it will necessary to have something in writing so that my doctor and nurses know what I would want.

My Birth preferences List
I understand that labour and birth are unpredictable and ultimately I want the health and safety of both baby and I to take precedence. When possible I request that procedures be explained thoroughly (benefits and risks) and also, I would like to be included in the decision making process. Below are the items that are important to me. Your help with these is very much appreciated. All of the requests are for a normal labour, birth and postpartum period.

Labor
- I would like to have as natural experience as possible - freedom of movement, intermittent monitoring and a saline lock instead of an on going IV.

- Being in the hospital, I know that main medications are available. Please accept my request that medications not be offered to me. For personal reasons, I am striving for an unmediated labor and delivery. If I desire medication or an epidural, I will be the first one to ask for it!

- I would like the room as dark as possible.

Birth
- Please to not direct my pushing with counting or yelling "push" to me.

-I strongly prefer a tear to an episiotomy

- I would like to be an active in the birth as possible, including bringing the baby up to my chest.

Baby care
- Please delay weighing until after baby has nursed.

- Please preform all newborn procedures on me.

- No erythromycin eye ointment, please.

-No vitamin k injection (unless bruising or trauma occurs).

Cesarean (Should this be required)
- Please use double layer sutures when repairing my uterus.

Well there it is. Hopefully is it clear and succinct. I didn't want to be too wordy or sound like some kind of granola hippie (although I kinda am) :0)Now all I can do is mentally and emotionally prepare for the marathon ahead.

Writing my "birth plan".

December Album (finally finished)

I just finished uploading my completed Christmas Album to facebook. Hurray!
It feels really good to finally finish this project. Most of the pages have been completed for some time but I had run out of printer ink for my journaling pages. I also had to wait for the bind it all I ordered to arrive so that I could put it together. It would take far too long to individually upload each of the album pages so I am just going to post a few of my favorites....

































More mini albums to share in the next couple of days.......

Some sweet inspiration

I officially started making Valentine cards today. Amelia and I were sitting at my craft table this afternoon, rolling out play dough when I decided that I would try and steal some time to play with paper.You see, I am utterly and completely behind on making cards for the "card a month club" I started with a bunch of girlfriends. I have not had the motivation or creativity to design cards for some time but suddenly today I was itching to cut and glue paper. Weird. Hopefully I will have them in the mail by next week.



Last year I hosted a little cupcake making party for a couple of moms and their children. This year I have decided to make it an "adult only" event. On the menu..... red velvet and vanilla cupcakes frosted with butter cream and cream cheese icing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.



My momma bought me a great cupcake book for Christmas and I am looking forward to trying out some of the techniques. These roses made from candy look like fun to make.





Coconut covered cupcakes are always a favorite of mine.

Oh Swoon......

I was browsing mls.ca this evening while waiting for my soup to cook and I came across this delightful little house. Oh *sigh* *sigh* *sigh* ... it makes me swoon. Can I move in tomorrow? I love the red stairs, the hydrangea bushes, the old style windows and the fact that the workshop is detached from the house. I loooove it!





We haven't met with a mortgage broker yet, but I have a rough idea of what we will be able to afford. Our dilemma at the moment is deciding whether to buy something brand new with good resale or something older with a bit of property. This particular home is closer to the downtown area but it has a huge yard with fruit trees.

On the other end of the spectrum are these new homes with beautiful floors and kitchens but pathetic yards.