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As I expected, you are running a little late. 6 days late to be exact. It appears that you take after your father and prefer to sleep in. I, on the other hand, dislike tardiness and am really trying to stay patient and calm as we await your arrival. We got to see your sweet face this morning and you looked way too comfortable in there! We know that the doctors won't wait much longer before giving you a little nudge so you will be here soon enough. But I would much rather you surprise us all and come out, like, now.
xoxo
The nursery (finally)
I finally got around to taking some pictures of the nursery. It's pretty much ready to go at this point. All we're missing is a baby!
Since we don't foresee being in this place for more than a year, we didn't want to invest in new furniture that the baby could grow with. We wanted to use what we had and buy a few other items to fit the tiny space. I was careful to only buy things that I knew I could eventually use in a toddler's room or elsewhere in our home: we used our old office desk as a changing table, my walk-in closet wardrobes for storage, painted a wooden chair we found in an alleyway and bought our crib on Kijiji.
There are only three walls in the room since the "fourth wall" is an opening to our room that we've covered with large white curtains. It's actually only 2 and a half walls since one of the three walls has a door (for a floor plan click here). In other words, there is very little wall space to work with so we had to prioritize. I kept the white walls pretty bare and really tried to maximize storage.
Rug by Dwell Studio; Striped canvas bins by Container Store
Ship print by Banquet Atelier & Workshop
Since we don't foresee being in this place for more than a year, we didn't want to invest in new furniture that the baby could grow with. We wanted to use what we had and buy a few other items to fit the tiny space. I was careful to only buy things that I knew I could eventually use in a toddler's room or elsewhere in our home: we used our old office desk as a changing table, my walk-in closet wardrobes for storage, painted a wooden chair we found in an alleyway and bought our crib on Kijiji.
Collage by Erin Dollar; Racoon print by Berkley Illustration
Comforter, made by mom; Mr. Fox pillow by Gingiber; Wreath pillow by Chakra Pennywhistle
Lamp from Target
Print by EvaJuliet
Spicy Sweet Potato Mash
My due date has officially passed so I am now at the stage of pregnancy where one Googles "natural ways to induce labor". Spicy foods are on many lists so I am going all out! Last night Mike and I made this amazing and very simple side dish, based on a recipe from this book, and I just had to share. We had ours with some spicy lamb kebabs and pita bread. Kebabs do not photograph well...
Spicy Sweet Potato Mash
2 large sweet potatoes
1 lime, halved
1 tsp lime zest
juice of 1/2 lime
3 finely chopped scallions
a handful of fresh cilantro
1 tbsp of Thai sweet chili sauce
dried red chili flakes
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
feta cheese (optional)
1. Wash your sweet potatoes, cut them in half and poke them a few times with a knife. Place in a large bowl. Cut a lime in half and add to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave for 15 minutes.
2. While the potatoes cook, mix the rest of the ingredients (excluding feta) in a large bowl and gently mix.
3. When the potatoes have cooked fully, scoop out the flesh with a spoon and add to the dressing. Mash the potatoes and the dressing together until you have a nice chunky mash. Taste and season with salt and pepper. I add a little bit more lime juice and cilantro on top to garnish as well as some feta cheese. Enjoy!
New shoes
When one is 9 months pregnant and basically stuck at home, one must find ways to pass the time. I found that shopping for Spring shoes online is a great solution. Last week I ordered a pair of Madewell's Holepunch Sidewalk Skimmers in black and they decided to make an early appearance in my mailbox this morning. My feet are too swollen to actually put them on but they make me happy nonetheless. The fact that they have holes in the leather means they breathe more and they come with great insoles. I know I'm going to get a ton of wear out of these when the snow melts.
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finish line
I can't believe that we are wrapping up our ninth month of pregnancy. Our due date is this sunday but I've had butterflies in my stomach every morning for 2 weeks now. I wake up and think "is today the day?" Unfortunately, the baby does not seem to feel the need to sprint or to finish this race early. He is getting way too comfortable in there! I am trying to really focus all of my energy on preparing myself for his arrival - as delayed as it may be - so there will be fewer posts on this blog in the next few weeks. But I promise to keep you posted! I am so thankful for all the support and positive vibes that you have all sent our way over the past 9 months. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Giveaway - Winner!
We have a winner in the Cecil and Clyde giveaway: Congratulations to Ashley! You've won yourself a handmade elephant pillow! Thanks to all of you who entered!
Lake John: Pregnancy Real Talk
I've been trying to come up with a few words to describe my side of this baby story. I think, I hope, I've done everything I can to make this as easy as possible for my partner. I've definitely had to come to grips with the fact that, as a man, I can't inherently relate to pregnancy. I have no equivalent experience to use as a compass.
Shoot, Marie-Eve is having a Braxton Hicks contraction. Should I empathize by telling her about the time I ate fourteen tacos at our friends' wedding? No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
I definitely have trouble seeing Marie-Eve in so much discomfort, and I have no doubt that it's nothing compared to seeing her in labour. It's weird for me that Marie-Eve has to go through all of this for something we both get to enjoy. How am I suffering?
Shoot, Marie-Eve is craving pancakes. Guess I better take her to that southern diner everyone's talking about. Ooh maybe I'll get chicken and waffles. But I ate donuts with her last night... should I just order oatmeal? No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
It's a new dynamic for us because for ten years we've essentially operated as equals, yet suddenly there's this clear distinction in our gender roles. Apart from silly clichés like "Mike is dirty and smelly" or "Marie-Eve has a lot of shoes", the roles we think of as 'traditional' never really defined us. Yet with a baby, they're just kind of naturally revealing themselves.
Shoot, Marie-Eve hasn't slept all night and the baby's hungry. Again! If only my nipples could... No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
For now, life feels very tentative. The shopping's done, the crib is built; the car seat is installed, sort of. The cat is... concerned. There's only so much homework one can do. The anticipation swells like the calm before a storm, and when it finally comes I'll be there to help weather it. It's the very least I can do for someone who is doing so much for me.
That sounds appropriate.
Hey! It's Wednesday. So here's Brooklyn-based Rhye with 'Open', a tender jam that reminds me of Sade. I've been listening to this a lot because, well, I'm an emotional mess.
Shoot, Marie-Eve is having a Braxton Hicks contraction. Should I empathize by telling her about the time I ate fourteen tacos at our friends' wedding? No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
I definitely have trouble seeing Marie-Eve in so much discomfort, and I have no doubt that it's nothing compared to seeing her in labour. It's weird for me that Marie-Eve has to go through all of this for something we both get to enjoy. How am I suffering?
Shoot, Marie-Eve is craving pancakes. Guess I better take her to that southern diner everyone's talking about. Ooh maybe I'll get chicken and waffles. But I ate donuts with her last night... should I just order oatmeal? No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
It's a new dynamic for us because for ten years we've essentially operated as equals, yet suddenly there's this clear distinction in our gender roles. Apart from silly clichés like "Mike is dirty and smelly" or "Marie-Eve has a lot of shoes", the roles we think of as 'traditional' never really defined us. Yet with a baby, they're just kind of naturally revealing themselves.
Shoot, Marie-Eve hasn't slept all night and the baby's hungry. Again! If only my nipples could... No, that doesn't sound appropriate.
For now, life feels very tentative. The shopping's done, the crib is built; the car seat is installed, sort of. The cat is... concerned. There's only so much homework one can do. The anticipation swells like the calm before a storm, and when it finally comes I'll be there to help weather it. It's the very least I can do for someone who is doing so much for me.
That sounds appropriate.
Hey! It's Wednesday. So here's Brooklyn-based Rhye with 'Open', a tender jam that reminds me of Sade. I've been listening to this a lot because, well, I'm an emotional mess.
bed linen
I've been a dedicated fan of all-white bedding for years now. I always said there was nothing that felt as crisp or clean than white sheets on a big bed. Well, this image has me thinking that perhaps I need to open my mind to other possibilities. This gorgeous bed is draped in linen blankets and pillows and I love how the textures look against the white minimalist decor. (via Style Files)
nursery sneak peek
Our tiny nursery is slowly coming together. I am waiting on this large print of a ship by Banquet Atelier to arrive for the wall above the crib but otherwise I think we're almost there! I thought I'd share a couple images I took this afternoon - after all I have been promising pictures for over a month now! I promise to write up a more in depth post very soon, complete with our shopping sources and detailed pictures.
The bedding my mother lovingly sewed.
For more details on the fabric, check out this post.
the long walk
The doctor tells me I have to do a lot walking because this baby is getting a little too comfortable in here. So I've been trying to get out of the house as much as possible, which is no small feat since it takes me 1 hour to get dressed and another to tie my boots. On Saturday, Mike and I put on several layers and drove to the top of Mont-Royal to walk around the woods. It was sunny outside but FREEZING. We slowly walked along the icy paths and took in the views of the city. I had one arm wrapped tightly around Mike in hopes of not falling on my butt and the other was snapping away. I couldn't believe how fat the grey squirrels were. I said it out loud and one of them gave me a look like "that's the pot calling the kettle black..."
39 weeks!
The waiting game
Here we are. Week 38 is coming to a close, as is my second week of maternity leave. Thanks to a bulging belly, a back ache and a blizzard (let's here it for aliteration!), I have not left the house all that much. Although sitting around the house is not exactly my cup of tea, it's been nice to catch up on some rest and to get used to a slower pace of life. Everyone keeps telling me to "sleep while I can" and to "enjoy the downtime" but the transition has not been all that smooth. And patience is NOT one of my virtues. It feels very strange to just wait around for an early sign of labor. I have to continuously remind myself to savor the quiet moments. Here are some snapshots from the last week...
Baking cookies. Eating cookies. These are my most favourite (I always add a ton of walnuts).
Hunting for the perfect decaf latte.
Catching up on artsy indie films our reality shows.
"Woman, please stop following me around the house and taking pictures of me.
Get a life."
Giveaway - Cecil & Clyde
I thought we could end the week with a super sweet giveaway! Remember this post about the adorable handmade elephant pillows? Well Cecil & Clyde are giving one lucky reader the chance to win one of their very own - the same one that we now have in our baby's nursery! To enter, simply leave a comment after this post! The deadline to enter is March 6th. The winner will be announced on March 7th. And be sure to check out Cecil & Clyde's Etsy shop for more gorgeous pillows and handmade goodies! Good luck!
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