week 23

(my husband likes to take crooked pictures)

ten good things

ten good things about being pregnant this week:

1. prenatal yoga (twice a week!)
2. yesterday was the first time a complete stranger asked when my baby was due
3. only one pair of my old pants still fit and all of my shirts are nicely snug
4. I finished knitting my itty bitty baby sweater
5. next I'm going to knit a pair of booties
6. eggs benedict and The Rainbow restaurant in general
7. thai chicken noodle bowl for lunch from Toy's Thai
8. the baby kicking along with Pink Floyd in the car
9. back rubs
10. belly rubs (now I know how my dogs feel!)

xo

Mondo Beyondo: part II - intentions

In the year 2008 I intend to:

learn how to care for a newborn baby.

evolve my relationship with my husband to include this new little person.

continue to evolve my creative businesses and increase my profits.

grow a kick-ass garden in my backyard.

create, build and set up my new studio in the renovated garage.

find new and better ways to live comfortably in a small house with two adults, one baby and five dogs.

read more. learn more.

continue my conscientious approach towards food and consumerism.

laugh a lot. cry a little. and be inspired by one little thing everyday.


Now for the Mondo Beyondo part:


In 2008 I intend to...

take steps towards creating my own design empire. I will be three steps closer to being the next Martha Stewart, only I will be so much cooler. And not as stuck up or prissy.

Someday, I'm gonna be big. (but still small)

xo

Week 22

Just a photo for now.

xo

Mondo Beyondo - Part One

(copied from the Superhero Journal blog)

1. What do you want to acknowledge yourself for in regard to 2007?
(What did you create? What challenges did you face with courage and strength? What promises did you keep to yourself? What brave choices did you make? What are you proud of?)

2. What is there to grieve about 2007?
(What was disappointing? What was scary? What was hard? What can you forgive yourself for?)

3. What else do you need to say about the year to declare it complete?

Question #1
I want to acknowledge the fact that 2006/2007 was a year of change and of growth.
I ended a six year relationship with my ex-fiance because I finally had the courage to admit to myself that I deserved better. I knew it was not what I wanted and I had the courage to change even when it was very difficult. I'm proud to say that I listened to my gut feelings and didn't waiver when it came to getting what I wanted. I am proud of the fact that I moved out on my own, in my own place, without a job or any sense of security and I survived just fine.
I am extremely proud of the fact that I faced my fears and reached out and apologized to someone that I should have made peace with long ago. I finally forgave myself for the way I had treated this person in the past.
I am proud of myself for recognizing true love when it knocked on my door and not being afraid to follow my heart completely, albeit abruptly. I planned a wedding and got married (two completely different and separate tasks) The wedding was a huge success; perfect in every sense of the word and getting married was the best moment of my life. In May, I lost our first baby and I am proud of myself for dealing with this blow fully and unashamedly. Now I am proudly pregnant again.
I started 3 different businesses on Etsy.com and I am happy to report that they are all three profitable. I expanded and evolved my jewelry business to better suite my creative needs and it is more prosperous than I imagined it would be.

Question #2
I grieve the loss of my grandfather who died unexpectedly and before our wedding. I only hope he can see how happy I am. I also grieve the loss of our first baby. I forgive myself for being so hard and demanding when I should have shown myself some understanding and compassion. I forgive myself for breaking someone else's heart. I forgive myself for feeling like I let old friends down.

Question #3
I am grateful for the old friends I have found and their unconditional love. I am grateful for my dogs, all five of them who bring me endless amounts of joy and laughter. I am grateful for this house that my husband built and the fact that I can call it my home. I am grateful for the sunshine and the snow. For the rain and the grass. I am eternally grateful for my new life.

Last year, I bid you adieu.
Thank you for teaching me and for letting me learn.
Fondly,
Whitney


Your turn.
xo

today's 10 good things about being pregnant

So here I am.
It's 8:45 I'm dressed and ready to go to my first yoga class (finally) and it's cancelled.
No big deal, really, I guess I'll go on Friday instead.

What is it about doing new things that is hard?
Sometimes, if I don't think about them (the new things) too much and don't have all of this time to plan and imagine what they'll be like, it really is no big deal.
But other times...
ask me if I like doing yoga (yes)
ask me if I want to get out of the house meet some more pregnant mommies (yes)
ask me if I'd like to go and just stretch for an hour (yes)
but ask me if I want to go to a yoga class right now and I freeze (well, um, maybe, um).
What is that?

A fear of the unknown. I've struggled with that. I like to know as much as I can about something before I do it.

I'm happy to say that being pregnant is different.
I'm excited to learn as I go and fly by the seat of my pants. It's like an adventure. A private adventure just for me and my husband. The more the baby moves and the more I learn about things that have to do with actually living with this new little person, the more excited I get. As you know, in the beginning I was a little dismayed by the books filled with all the what-could-go-wrongs and I swear everything I read only talked about annoying things that could happen when you're pregnant. Like hemorrhoids and varicose veins. And back pain and heartburn. And stretch marks and gum disease. I still haven't found the book that points out all of the good things but I have begun to watch for them. So here is:

Today's 10 Good Things About Being Pregnant:
1. Feeling the baby move.
2. Watching my tummy move when he kicks.
3. Knowing he's a healthy little boy.
4. Learning about baby wearing.
5. Second hand maternity clothes shopping.
6. Knitting little sweaters and hats for my boy.
7. Always having a comfortable place to put my hands.
8. Big sexy boobs.
9. Sea salt scrub on a growing belly.
10. Delicious homemade food.

Remind me next post to tell you about my mom's recipe for quiche.
I will admit, I am addicted.

xo

week 21

Not much news on the belly front.
It is definitely growing faster these days. We'll have to start taking pictures twice a week!
Here's a couple other ones:





Today, I go back to work.
I had a lovely and much needed holiday vacation followed by some slight interruptions (Mick tore out his new stitches, I had to re-run the electric dog fence so that Gretta and Charlie would stop escaping...)
But this morning I'm back at it.
Expect tons of new jewelry, loads of new vintage stuff and a little bit of an updated look.

But first things first, what should I have for breakfast?

xo