Seasons Of Change.

Peonies from the garden

Adjusting to the seasons here in Canada is not unlike adjusting to the birth of our new baby--sometimes it's simply pleasant, others it's darn right difficult. Coming from a place that had only one meteorological state of being--70 degrees and sunny--means that any season experienced here is more than we are used to. Throw in a super long, white and frigid winter, a delayed, humid and rainy spring and a super late summer (that of which from what I understand does not begin until July) and you throw us into a virtual seasonal tailspin.

We survived the heaps of snow, but I am not promising that we'll make it through the blooms of spring. Dean and I slather our peeling and chaffed noses in moisturizing cream nightly--seasonal allergies are driving us battier than our two and a half year old throwing himself on the ground in a fit of simultaneous devastation and rage for the fiftieth time of the hour. Trust me, I am talking real batty.

The question is, we survived winter with one child . . . will we survive the remainder of spring with two? While both spring and a new baby bring with them sweet and delicate little treats for the senses to indulge, it's the uncontrollable variables--like the pollen count and a toddler named big brother--that lead me to doubt my, our, ability to cope sanely.

What will the flowers of spring look like come summertime? Probably a lot like Dean and I will--withered, frail and a wee crispy around the edges. But, only time will tell. Only time will tell.

Happy Daddy Day--2011.

Our Father's Day weekend in pictures. Last year's Daddiness Day was spent in Malibu with only one wee tot. This year's in London, Ontario, with a real big boy and a real wee tot. Oh, how things can change in a single year.

Hope that yours was equally lovely. And a happy blog-belated Father's Day to my Dad, the most wonderful dad and Poppop anyone could ask for.

All In A Good Day's Play: Summertime Fun, Summertime Fern.

Summertime Fun.

Summertime Fern.

Welcome To The World, Fern Adele!

It's been almost a month since I last posted--but for good reason-- we've had the baby! Welcome to the world, Fern Adele!

So better late than never...here's the official post: Weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and 19 inches long, our beautiful baby girl, Fern, was born at 12:49 p.m. on May 19th at our home and in the water under the loving care of an amazing team of midwives, doula and husband. My mom and Fern's big brother, Noah, were also present for the amazing occasion.

In short, the birth story is as follows . . .

I awoke to the "popping" sensation of my water breaking at 6:30 a.m. I showered and made blueberry banana walnut pancakes for the family. After we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, the morning passed quickly as mom and Dean filled the birthing pool while I walked around the house breathing through light contractions and helping to prepare our home for the birth. My doula and midwife arrived at noon just as the contractions were beginning to grow uncomfortable. Active labor quickly began and after only a short time of working through increasingly strong contractions on my hands and knees, I felt Fern bearing down. Following a quick exam that determined I was 10 cm dilated, I entered the birthing pool. 20 minutes or so later, Fern was gently born in the water on her own terms without so much as a push! It was an amazingly peaceful and beautiful experience.

I have so many pictures to share but just no time to comb through them right now. All in good time, all in good time.

Wordless Wednesday.

All In A Good Day's Play: The Star In The Making Even Though We Left Hollywood For Canada Edition.

Chillin' like a shaded and mouse-eared guitar playin' villan.

An Egg-tastically Homemade Holiday--And Other Easter Fun!

Half a dozen homemade crocheted eggs and hand-sewn mommy and baby felt bunnies for Noey's Easter basket. For the quick and easy egg pattern, visit this cute crafty site: "Easy Makes Me Happy".

Easter Friday at Thames Park.

Easter Saturday after the Children's Museum egg hunt.

Easter Papa at the bunny ear craft table.

This month has been a trying month no doubt. Turning 32 took a deep backseat to a quick stomach flu bout followed by the month-long influenza that I had been battling...which all proceeded two popped ribs. The pain of that, my fellow readers, rivaled that of natural, pain-med free, childbirth--no joke. It seems that a deadly combination of pregnancy (when women's bodies produce the hormone, relaxin, which naturally loosens the joints) and strenuous and rigorous bouts of yard work, yoga and nighttime coughing is what did the dirty work. Dean took the week off work to allow me rest and several chiropractor visits--my ribs are thankfully, thankfully on the mend.

But with with only a month or so now before our little bambinette arrives, there is little time to rest. I have so many crafting projects in the hopper before her arrival that the list extends to several pages of my notebook. Of these, I have at least finished a few of the Easter ones that I had in mind--sans the crocheted Easter basket for Noey, which will just have to wait until next year!

So far this holiday weekend has turned out to be lovely. We had been enduring continued wintry and blustery days of rain mixed with hail and flurries this week. But, tomorrow, Easter Sunday, it seems is forecasted to be sunny and warm. So, off we'll head for a third day of enjoying the great and fickle Canadian outdoors.

Hoppy Easter to All!

Little Baker Boy.

A serious little baker boy,
standing on a wooden red chair,
clad in a wee turtle apron,
for added fun and whimsical flair.

Making homemade shortbread with mama,
in shapes of animal fun,
to quickly devour without a crumb left to spare,
when the cookie making is all said and done.

The Big Chill.

Things have cooled down here at our hustling homestead for many reasons.

We ventured to Toronto, weekend before last, for the first time since settling here in Canada to tag along with Daddy who was presenting at The Canadian Music Week. We stayed at the uber-hip and historic hangout in the Arts District on Queen, The Gladstone, where each of the 37 rooms are custom designed by a different artist. Our room, The E-LE-MEN-TAL, was as fresh and inspired as the sustainable and local fare served at the cafe. Frankly though, it was a quick weekend--too quick. I wish we could have explored more, but we'll be back. We loved Toronto--I didn't want to leave. I was ready to pack up any empty boxes still lingering down in our basement with all of our belongings and head to the nearest brownstone in downtown that would rent to a pregnant mom with a toddler and two cats. I loved the bustling avenues and the plethora of culture, counter-culture, international food, organic butchers and grocers, fresh markets, galleries, eclectic shops, variety, diversity--life pulsing with soul uniquely its own. It's apparent to me now more than ever that I am a big city girl. Bunk me in a big city apartment with a weekend country cabin and I'm in habitat heaven. Really, that combination would make me as happy as pie. This suburban existence? It just ain't for me, eh? Guess I had to give it a try to know it though. Now that I do know, however, our time here in London may feel extra long.

The week following Toronto was a bit of a flurry. We picked up a toddler bed for Noah during a 4-hour jaunt at the local IKEA on the way home. The bed is too-cute-for-words and Noah is simply over the moon about his new nighttime digs. Even when I try to get him to slumber with me for nap time--so that he'll nap longer, thus allowing his weary preggo mama to get some extra shuteye--he insists on snoozing solo in his room, in his own bed. So, just like that, with no fuss, grumbles or bribes, after 2 years and 3 months, our bed now houses just two warm souls through the night--at least for another 2 months or so until the next and youngest tenant moves on in.

This past week was perhaps, however, the chilliest yet. I came down with the flu--my first time catching the flu or being this ill since I was a young child. I never get sick. And Noah, he had yet to have even a full blown cold until this past week. We both miserably muddled through the week. As thawed ground became snow covered once again, I slept through 4 straight days with fevers and chills and sweats and aches and pains and coughs and drippy nose and a searing throat. Dean had to take the afternoons off after he had finished teaching classes each day to come home and watch Noah who was on the upswing regarding his illness, but still needy nonetheless. It's only today, day 8 of this affliction affair, that I am beginning to feel better. Though I am still filling hankies and cringe with every swallow, I am confident that this big pregnant body of mine will evict these germs, hopefully completely, in the coming days.

At any rate, so sorry for the prolonged absence from my dear milieu. This weary mama is hoping that a thaw is upon us for both the inside and outside our weary home of convalescence. We're so, oh so ready, for spring.

The Handmade Home.

Life has been especially busy this past week--but for all of the right reasons. The craft bug had apparently bitten as I found myself using a lot of my down time keeping my hands in full-on making mode.

With my new modest crafting table set up in a cozy corner of the family room and my sewing machine fresh from a much needed tune-up, I found myself inspired to take on several projects at once. I am still very new to sewing and even newer to knitting, so my projects and the finished products can, at best, only be deemed humble attempts with great aspirations. Nevertheless, Noah now has a new fuzzy gray mouse (a craft begun at our Waldorf mom & tot weekly program) for imaginative play to add to his handmade toy collection, our stairwell dons a new curtain (to help prevent the next door neighbors from seeing directly into our upstairs bathroom)--purposefully (I hope that is apparent?) made a little short to still allow in a little bit of sunshine--green linen dishrags, and the beginnings of what will be a doll for Noah (for both imaginative play and in hopes of easing the transition when the new baby arrives--he can have a baby to call all his own).

In the true spirit of handmade craftiness, I began attending a knitting circle this week. It's two-toddler free hours with a gang of old ladies clucking in British accents and a stay-at-home Japanese Daddy friend that recently joined the mommy group I formed here, "The Green Moms of London". Included is a very large and enthusiastic black lab named Huxley and a fluffy unnamed lap cat who is surprisingly immune to all of the yarn flying about the parlor. I think that from the outside we must make for an awfully motley crew. But I have to honestly admit that several hours twice a month of focused and self-indulged anything utilizing my poor orphaned brain sans interruptions and tantrums is so worth it--and the muffins and tea aren't too bad either. Plus, in just 3 months or less, I'll have another human being needing every loving second of my attention and breasts. So, I realize that I better enjoy this taste of freedom while it lasts. And, hell, what else are you supposed to do in this blasted snowy small town?!

All in all, I truly enjoy the process of using my hands to create as much as I enjoy the satisfaction that comes from finishing and using what I've made. One day I'd like to have a truly handmade home--one in which nearly everything has been thoughtfully crafted by me for the use of those I love. But for this week, the dishrags, the mouse, the curtain, and partially made dolly will have to do.

As an aside: For any knitting (as well as crochet, embroidery, paper crafts, felting, sewing, etc.) lovers out there, here is an absolutely beautifully inspiring website based out of SoHo, New York (they own a yarn shop there), that I have longingly drooled over for at least a year now. It is only recently that I may actually be able to try and craft some of the simply magical creations pictured and patterned there: www.purlbee.com. I could comb through their archives for days . . . enjoy!