Today:: July 25, 2013

Outside my window... is a freshly cut lawn, a bucket of water with assorted squirt guns ready to go, and a beautiful sunny day.

I am thinking... that it would be nice to sit outside and write this, but the battery on my laptop doesn't work properly.

From the kitchen...oh, our beautiful kitchen.  Newly renovated, with a long open counter top, and a pristine cook top and built-in oven.  From the kitchen comes peace and possibility.

I am wearing... a comfortable khaki skirt and a bright maternity shirt that sits snug across my bursting belly.

I am creating... time to write and reflect in the few moments when my head seems to be clear and my space quiet.

I am also creating...decorations and paraphernalia for Kai's birthday - glow-in-the-dark slime, ooze, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle pinata, treat bags...

I am going... to get a long overdue pedicure today.  Aaahhhh...

I am reading...very little right now.  I just got a set of Lisa See books that I would like to start and am listening to an audiobook, but mostly I'm just getting things done and resting in turn.

I am hoping...that I get a few more weeks to enjoy the peace and ease of a beautiful summer before our sweet new little one comes along.

I am hearing... very little.  A great sign.

Around the house...Kai's party preparations on the go, the kitchen awaiting a few paint touch-ups and a pendant lamp before the renos are officially complete, more organization than I have felt in a long time.

One of my favourite...moments is carving out some time to write.  I wish I was in the mental space to do it more regularly.  Often my pregnancy brain is fuzzy, as I expect again my new mommy brain will be soon enough.  Just a moment here or there to think about and appreciate the little things and people surrounding me.

A few plans for the rest of the week... a positional ultrasound to tell where this little one is laying, baking cupcakes, a backyard party.  How I love summer!

Vegucated

Last night I watched an hour long documentary on Veganism.  The producer challenged three New York City residents to take on becoming vegans for six weeks.  As I watched it, I began to remember why I make some of the choices I do and I was challenged to further consider adopting even better eating habits. 

This was not the first such documentary I have watched.  I have seen Forks Over Knives, Food, Inc. and many similarly-themed videos and TED talks.  We have long tried to purchase ethical food, organic fruit and vegetables and non-medicated, free range meat.  We rarely eat red meat, and since Kai's birth, we definitely have taken strides to eat more balanced, vegetable-inclusive meals.  Do I occasionally still get tempted by the great bargain meat at Costco? Absolutely.  Do I still enjoy dairy in all its forms?  Yes.  However, Vegucated has made me reevaluate these choices.  Do we need dairy in our diets?  I still need to see the research.  Are copious amounts of soy-based products to replace meat and dairy healthy?  Again, need to check into this.  I want to make conscious choices and I appreciated the brain-rattling that documentaries give me.

Many things these days seem out of our control.  From the installation of new Smart meters to the 'cleanliness' of the air we breathe, our environment is affected by each and every one of our decisions.  We do many little actions on a daily basis that help or harm our surroundings.  In becoming more aware of my actions, I will continue to strive to understand the effect of our food on our bodies, animals, and the environment step by step and continue to slowly make positive changes to my habits.  Do I always make the perfect choice? Absolutely not, but I do my best with the knowledge and tools I have.

Proud Mama

The little moments sneak up of me.  The moments that are unexpected.  The ones that make me so proud.  Perhaps I don’t give Kai enough credit, or perhaps I have seen him around water so much that I make assumptions.  Kai has never been a water baby.  At 4 ½ he still doesn’t like to get his face wet in the shower.  So imagine my surprise and awe when he put on his swimsuit at our place in La Mesa and joined Oliver (and their daddies) in the swimming pool.  Once he found that kickboard, he was happy as a clam, splashing around and playing.  And then the next day, going on a water tube ride at Sea World.  Followed up by a roller coaster at Legoland! 

Kai has always been adventurous, but now there is no question that I am more nervous for him than he is...

I am so proud of you, my little guy.  Keep stepping into adventure.

Ben and Kai

Ben and Kai...I don't know what it is with these two boys, but they just have to be friends.  They met when they were one year old at Playhouse daycare centre, spending every weekday together for almost two years.  When Ben left to go to his new daycare, Kai was beside himself and had a really had adjustment.  It is like Kai thinks Ben is his brother, and he definitely calls Ben his best bud.  Since leaving Playhouse almost two years ago now, they only have the opportunity to see each other every few months at most.  Days and months just get busy until Kai cuddles up to me one day with a sad face and says he misses his Ben.  So Tammy and I get on email or the phone and set-up a playdate.  As Ben lives now with his family in Coquitlam, it is a little more challenging to get together, but it is worth it to see them run and give each other a giant hug as if they haven't seen each other in years.  I don't know what it is with these two boys - they laugh, they share without fuss, they run around like tornados and couldn't be happier together.  I haven't yet had to step in to stop fighting or tears as they get along like two peas in a pod.  Who knows what the future will bring, but for now I wish them many more years of such a simple, easy friendship.  As Kai said in his email to Ben, "Kai loves Ben.  Ben is my best buddy."

A Conversation with Kai

After seeing this on Ali Edwards' blog, I had to try it.  It's not as pretty as hers, but it serves the same purpose.

Kai at 4 1/2 years old



My favourite food is:  pineapple

My favourite movie is: Transformers (note: He has never actually seen this movie.  I think it is Cars 2.)

 
My favourite cartoon: Finn McMissile (note: This means Cars 2.  His current favourite cartoon seems to be Pound Puppies.)




The coolest person on Earth is: Ben

My favourite thing to do at daycare is: play outside and inside

The thing I do that is most awesome is: wrestling

If I could change my name it would be: Kai Ninja (note: recent fascination with Ninjago)

My favourite place to go: everywhere

My favourite colour: red (see Ninja note above.  The red ninja's name is Kai.)

When I grow up, I'm going to become a: red ninja

The rule of my parents I like the least is: time out for not listening

My favourite music is: Beastie Boys and the Police

My favourite books are: the Ninja books

Words that describe me: marvelous

When I was little, I used to: be hungry and thirsty

My favourite season: Valentine's

My favourite snack: chocolate

The food I do not like is: onions

My best friend: Ben

If I had one wish, it would be: to get an Ironman suit

My best memory is: tickles

Thoughtfulness

Sometimes a word, an idea comes to me without apparent cause or reason.  Thoughtfulness is that word this week.  We have hosted one and been to two dinner parties in this past week and it is has reminded me how wonderful it is to get together with people for no other reason than to be together.  Yes, these dinners were to 'celebrate' Christmas and the New Year in theory, but mostly I appreciated being with friends and family, as these times often seem too few and far apart.  So why then does the word thoughtfulness come to mind rather than togetherness?  Perhaps because it would be nice to share with those dear to me their importance not only during the season designed for this, but throughout the year.  It seems we are so busy living and doing, or at least I am, that I don't find time to simply think of others and their lives - to catch up on a girlfriend's trip to New York, to send well wishes to a colleague whose father is ill, to check in with my new niece and nephew.  The thoughts enter my  mind, but my tiredness from the day or poor memory due to over-multitasking prevent me from taking action.  So, if you are reading this, know that I do think of you.  Now I just have to take the next steps...

40 days of yoga...one day at a time. Week One

Day 1: Saturday, October 27th.  8 a.m. Hatha with Beverly. Catherine came with me.

An easy entry into what could be a long physical hall.  Mostly stretching, nothing too challenging.  Hips tight afterward, but my good old foam roller and a hot bath helped with that.

Day 2: Sunday, October 28th.  9:30 a.m. Hatha with Dan

A challenging class for me, but feel good.  I remember going to one of Dan's classes a long time ago as he loves 'flow' yoga.  Moving the whole class, one pose to the next.  Challenging because it was hot (as every mat in the room was full) and because it had a lot of arm and shoulder work.  My arms are not very strong, and I had to put them down during a few poses.  I liked the mix during the flow though.  I would like to learn chataranga the proper way, as Dan said your hips never touch and that is not the way I have done it in other classes.  My hamstrings are very tight where they connect to the knee...hoping that they loosen up and that I don't pull them.  Body tired, but feeling good.  My breathing can go deeper and feels better too.

Day 3: Monday, October 29
8:30 p.m. Yin with Joan; Thea came with me

It was really nice to have a later class so that I could take my time to do things such as visit Carrie, Derran and Austen after work first.  The class itself felt WAY too easy for me.  I could see how I might really want this class after a few weeks of the challenge, but the slow, long stretches were a bit boring for me.  I'm sure they helped my body, but I was just hoping for a bit more.  It was good to try anyway.  It was also my first class in a long time  not at Sea studio, so I forgot about the hard floors as Sea has carpet.  I think I like the carpet better for my knees and other bony bits.  It was beautiful when the rain hit the roof of the studio, though...so calming!

Day 4: Tuesday, October 30th
12-1:15pm at Kits Beach Studio with Carolyn

Again, not a big fan of the studio, with it's large windows right along the sidewalk...felt a little self-conscious.  The level of the yoga and the mix of both stretch and strengthen was great.  I really liked this instructor.  My upper body feels  much looser and lighter, and my groin feels much looser as well.  I was worried about pulling my hamstrings, but today's class seemed to work out some of the tightness that I thought might turn into pulled muscles.  VERY happy about that.  My shoulders are feeling like they are back more where they should be too.  Good class.

Day 5: Wednesday, October 31st

Didn't end up going.  Between making sure Kai got out trick or treating and a bad migraine, I listened to my body telling me to sleep in a dark room.  Glad I listened.

Day 6: Thursday, November 1st
5:45pm Hatha with Bernie

So many lessons were learned this day...Usually I take Kai to his 5pm hip hop class in Burnaby, so an early class wouldn't be available to me, and a late one wasn't an option tonight either as Marc was out.  Luckily Kelly offered to meet us at Kai's hip hop and bring him home so I could do this class.  It all sounded ideal, except I hadn't considered traffic.  I spent the whole hour drive (who knew it would take SO long), talking myself down.  "Yoga is supposed to be peaceful, and you're on your way to yoga, so just take a deep breath."  "I know the car hasn't moved hardly at all in three light changes, but everything happens for a purpose.  It will all work out."

Needless to say, I arrived at class 10 minutes late, but still quietly went in and joined the class.  I am SO glad I went.  Bernie was relaxed, funny, and kept making jokes about all the movies that the poses reminded him of - Karate Kid, Spiderman... My body felt great, the mood in the room was playful, and the class was over before I  knew it.

So my learnings this class?  It is better to arrive late than not at all.  And on the yoga front, if I put my hands closer to my feet during downward dog, it focuses on stretching the lower legs.  Hands farther away works on arm strengthening.  Thus, little changes can make a big difference.

Day 7: Friday, November 2nd
7 pm Yin with Whit.  Damiani came with me

I'm not going to lie, I was not looking forward to this class.  I was looking forward to spending time with D, but after the slow-moving, uninspiring Yin class on Monday, I wasn't sure what I was going to get out of Yin.  I was pleasantly surprised by Whit and the spiritual connection he brought to the practice.  He clearly explained the core beliefs and guidelines of the practice, making connections with his own story, writings of others, and opened up ways for us to bring our own heart into the evening and beyond.  He talked us through each pose, read meaningful passages to bring us back to listening to our bodies, and took us to our limits without pushing through them.  He shared with us about the hips being the emotional junk drawer of the body, where we hold unexpressed and closed off emotions, and the importance of opening up both our bodies and our hearts.  I left the class feeling very informed, well opened and joyful.  A great night to end week one on!