Monday, March 31, 2014

Walking

I'm not sure which phase is worst in pregnancy: the first trimester smell food and feel like you're going to throw up all the time or these last few weeks when you really want to get it over with and want the baby out already! 
Even though it will rain everyday this week, I'm going out on a walk every morning for as long as I can until my legs feel like they're going to give out (which is actually not that long...). Let's see if I can get things started! 

Can't see my feet...

Friday, March 28, 2014

Bed sidecar

Baby, where art thou? When will you show yourself? Everything is set and ready to go... except for the baby, apparently. She is liking her stay at Hotel Uterus. 

We have her bed ready, attached to ours...
We are anxiously imagining what it will be like to have a little baby in there. My husband says it reminds him of the motorcycle sidecars:
I think it's a cute image. Now we have a little passenger to tag along with us in life. 

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Nesting 3

 It took me quite a few evenings, but I finally painted a "message" for our baby. I got the idea off Pinterest and stenciled it onto a canvas. This is our joint parenting "sentiment"... we want to just help her grow, not mold her into who we want her to be, but whoever she already is. 

I've been thinking about why we're here on earth and it's a scary thought. I do think that being creative is important, even if it's just creating a dish to eat for dinner. Because God created us and the world... and tapping into our creative side taps us into the big mystery of creation. We're made in His likeness, so our ability to create is important. 

 

Monday, March 24, 2014

39 weeks and counting

This weekend we tried to stay at home as much as possible to rest, get our things in order and possibly spend the last weekend at home without a crying baby. Things are still not completely in order, but I don't think they'll ever be. And I wish she'd just come already! 

We had a "gourmet" ;) breakfast in bed and a yummy, easy-to-make quiche...
39 weeks and very IMPATIENT! 

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

St. Joseph's/Father's Day

Today is Father's Day in Portugal. They celebrate it here on this day because it's St. Joseph's Day, liturgically speaking. Today not only can I celebrate my own father, but for the first time I can celebrate the father of my... daughter! 

She's still in the womb, but my husband kept asking, "What are you two going to make for me?" :) So I decided to make a card, and he was touched! I got the picture off of Pinterest, printed it out and glued on a picture of one of her first ultrasounds. Then I wrote some reasons why he's already a fabulous dad... because there are a lot of them!

  

Monday, March 17, 2014

Sun and sand

The first signs of spring have arrived. 
The first bloom of my orchids... 
And the sun came out like it hasn't iu a long, long time and people flocked to the beaches here in Lisbon. So did we! 
38-week belly... the final countdown! 

Friday, March 14, 2014

Nesting 2

The baby's stuff... and there is a lot of stuff... is almost all organized... hooray! She could be born at any moment, but it has been nice of her to stay put until now. 
I haven't had time for everything, but I was able to put up some decorations on her wall. And we all know decorations are the most essential, right? I hope she'll like it as much as I do. 

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Childbirth blessing

Did you know there is an official blessing for before childbirth? I was happy to find this out and happy to receive it last Sunday after mass.  Among other things, it asks for a "happy birth". Let's do this baby...! 

Thursday, March 06, 2014

Nesting 1

What does it feel like to finish a project that took two years to complete? (I blogged about it a year ago!) Okay... it was like an hour every six months. But still, it took forever and I almost quit about 372 times. Now it feels like... a relief! 
Introducing my piano cover, embroidered by... moi! 

Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Ideas for Lent on IgnitumToday

Five Ideas for Lent

March 5, AD 2014
In case you are still needing some inspiration for Lent, here are some ideas you could find interesting. Lent isn’t only (or even mainly) about “doing things”, but I do think it’s good to plan and prepare such an important season.

Keep reading at: 
http://www.ignitumtoday.com/2014/03/05/five-ideas-lent/

Crown of thorns tutorial

1. Collect or buy long sticks and soak them in hot water for 30 minutes for easier bending/breaking. I soaked mine in the bathtub and they hardly softened, but it helped a little. 
2. Tie them together in circles and overlapping each other. 
3. Arrange them as desired and tie them again to each other where needed. 
4. Use toothpicks or break off the ends of skewers, like I did. 
5. Paint them. I "mass painted" mine in a cup: rubbed them around in paint, then laid them out on a paper towel to dry. 
6. Arrange the toothpicks in your crown. It helps to have a plate underneath so you can move the crown afterwards. 
 
7. Admire your work of art! We are using ours this Lent as a sacrifice crown: we take out a thorn every time we consciously make a sacrifice, thinking of Christ. 

Monday, March 03, 2014

Three at the pool

We've started a new family tradition of swimming on Sunday mornings when we can. My swimmer husband is my coach. We are trying to prepare. He keeps saying, "come on, keep going.... labor will be 24 hours!" Scary. 
I am excited about how in a short while I can walk around in the kiddie pool (behind me) with our baby. I think baby swimsuits are the cutest ever.