Ok, it's Saturday and I'm late with my entry. But considering this is my first submission in over a year, I think finishing this painting and actually posting it is quite a success for me. In the spirit of Valentine's day, I decided to create a blanket of roses for a beautiful bed of roses. And, wow, am I ever rusty! I will try to get another illustration out for next week. Hopefully I can get back into things and make some improvements soon! Happy Saturday!
Well, here we are. It's February and I've finally got a few minutes here and there to do something for my creative self. Simone is almost 7 months old now and she is sitting up all on her own! Ok, almost on her own. She teeters back and forth and falls over most of the time, but she manages to sit long enough to examine a new toy, the edge of a blanket or her own hands. It is so fun to watch her play and it is even better to make something with my own free hands at the same time.
Lately I've begun to build a scrapbook for Simone's first year. I've resisted this crafty outlet for a long time simply because I didn't want to add another addiction to my list when I barely have the time to knit a square. But with a new baby I've been given so many fun little stickers, paper and a beautiful scrapbook to fill with pictures of my bubby. I can resist no longer...the scrapbooking has taken over our entire kitchen table. Poor hubby only has a small corner for his laptop and books. Sorry!
Anyways, in the spirit of scrapbooking, I've been inspired to create keepsakes of Simone's favourite toys. I didn't want to just take a picture, and I know I won't save the toys forever. So, I decided to paint little portraits of them. They are so sweet and I'll add them to the scrapbook as soon as I'm done. Here is a peek at 3 I finished over the last couple days. It feels really good to get the watercolours out again! Even if it is only one colour :)
And of course I cannot resist sharing a picture of my little bunny - she makes her mama so proud.
Could it possibly be the Christmas season already? I could have sworn that summer had just ended and I was in the hospital staring into the eyes of this new human I call daughter. Suddenly I look around and wonder who put the lights up and where is that choral music coming from? Yikes, I am still in a mommy fog. I now understand the well known saying that goes: "parenting is the most selfless thing you will ever do". I have been living this statement for 5 months now and it has been the most fantastic and insane time of my life. I feel we have won the baby lottery and have received the most beautiful girl that we could have hoped for. I'm sure every parent feels this way when they get to know their babies. It is truly the most amazing feeling.
I am not going to lie to you...things are still incredibly challenging. I feel like I will be sleep deprived forever and may never have much time for myself. I constantly dream of paintings and projects that immediately get shelved in my mental idea log when Simone wakes from a nap or starts cranking for my attention. I suppose it will be awhile before I have the time or energy to do anything other than care for my bubby or sleep. I have many plans for this blog and one day I will achieve them again. I miss posting and I miss finding endless inspiration all over blogland. Until then I will be here at home focusing all my attention on this little delight.
I hope you all have a wonderful Holiday and perhaps you will see more of me in the new year...that is if I can figure out a way to adapt to this parenting lifestyle of broken sleep.
Ok, I've logged onto Blogger 4 times over the last 5 weeks to post an update, and each time as I typed my password, the cries from the baby monitor interrupted any progress I could make. But I'm learning very quickly that life with a baby is filled with interruptions...and messy kitchens and cluttered living rooms and absolutely no more time for myself. I can guarantee this post will have several grammar errors and spelling mistakes, simply because I must type very fast and post before the interruption occurs again!
But how could I get upset with this gorgeous face?? My cousin Christy was over a couple weekends ago to take some photos of our precious girl, and I'm pleased as punch how they all turned out!
What a whirlwind we have been caught up in over the last month! I've never experienced quite an emotional roller coaster since Simone has arrived. We took heed of all the warnings that life with baby would be difficult to adjust to but, wow, I had no idea it would be THIS difficult. The hormonal changes, the recovery from surgery and labour, the sleep deprivation, the constant crying...and then more crying, and let's not forget the incredible challenge that breastfeeding presents. I had no idea it could be so unnatural - breastfeeding is definitely a learned skill. I have now learned it is NOT as easy as those moms at the mall make it look. But one other valuable lesson I have learned is that this period of adjustment is temporary and since we got back from the hospital each week has been a vast improvement from the last and this has made me hopeful! I am certainly looking forward to Simone sleeping 5 hours in one go and I'm even more anxious to see her smile and respond to us. Right now I wonder if she sees me as more than her milk factory and nappy changer - hmm... probably not.
We are home with our new baby girl Simone Helen! She was born last Saturday, July 14th at 9am - healthy, happy and ready to take on the world! After a very LONG labour she decided that she didn't want to come through my pelvis and we ended up in the OR for a C-section. We're home now and happy to be recovering in familiar surroundings.
I've had a very productive week :) No sign of a baby yet, but I was struck with short bursts of energy and a sudden realization of "Omigosh, if I don't get to this NOW, it will NEVER get done!"...This nesting instinct has come and gone over the last month or so, but this week it hit me with new level of urgency. I suppose this means that labour could begin at any moment. My due date is actually July 17th, so theoretically I have 10 days to go, but everyday I wake up wondering if today will be the day. Half the time I'm completely nervous to go through the unknowns of labour and the even more frightening prospect of taking care of another person, but the other half of the time I'm so incredibly uncomfortable and ready to get this extra weight off my body that I want labour to start this very instant! Perhaps in a couple more days I will only think the latter thought...or so I hope!
Well, that's it for now. I suppose I will have another week of projects ahead of me to post for you again...unless I am busy trying to induce labour on my own or I become so fatigued that I can no longer get off the couch OR even better, I go into labour. But, hey, let's not jinx anything :) Ok folks...I'm in the homestretch now. And honestly, I am amazed that I have the energy to sit here and make a blog entry. Lately it seems to take everything in me just to shift positions on the couch - not to mention get up and walk to the bathroom. The computer is a major stretch for me right now! My belly is something to behold - I am in awe at the size it has become and somewhat freaked out to think how this watermelon is going to get out. I read in one of my preggo books that a woman isn't fully pregnant until her belly has corners - ie. the baby's elbows, feet, fists, poking out. I never understood that until the last couple weeks when the alien movements became visible from the outside. We are thinking there may be an alien in there! Yikes!
I'm so relieved that work is done and I'm officially on mat leave - I have been off one week so far and it has been exactly what I needed. Napping, resting, eating and watching movies have been the main events of my daily routine now. Already I miss all my co-workers and the social part of my job. But I don't miss hiding my dozing eyes or fighting to comprehend my colleague's explanations. My brain has completely gone in the last month or so...I really do hope it returns eventually.
Another good part of taking an early mat leave is that I have been able to catch up on some crafty projects and work on some illustrations. There were 3 other moms to be in my department at work and we're all due around the same time. Talk about bonding time with the girls! We all had a great time sharing experiences and comparing our bellies. I am the first of us in line, so I guess that means I'll pave the way - unless of course the baby is stubborn and doesn't want to come out on time! I spent some time last week making more bitty booties and doing some quick knitting for each of them. I didn't do nearly as much as I had intended - simply because I am the worst procrastinator and my energy level is in the pits. But here is what I accomplished:
Assuming I won't go into labour next week, here is a rough list of my upcoming activities: pack bag for the hospital, finish ATC for Flossy-p, finish embroidery for Babelfish, wash all baby clothes and re-organize nursery, nap, rest, watch movies, buy nursing bras and a large maternity knit dress/tent to wear around the house (it's supposed to get up to 27 degrees by Thursday - Lord help me!)...maybe I should add a trip to the YMCA pool...
Thanks to all of you for your lovely comments and emails! It's been so fun for me to share my pregnancy experience here. Thank you for all the support!
