Lovin' the Sunshine!

I am really happy that it's starting to be nice outside. I mean even if there is only one or two nice days a week, at least spring is here once a week. That's pretty cool.

I never claim to be technologically savvy. A computer I'm not to bad with, I can work quite a few programs at an above average level.
Phones are my nemesis though. Especially iPhones. I have a Samsung S3 Mini, so in reality I'm sure it's not so different, as they are both touch screens and have apps and yada yada. But on Monday night I tried to use an iPhone to time some pre-hockey drills. (I would have used my phone, but I had accidentally left it at home... go me).
So even though the app is pretty much the same on both phones, under the clock icon, I could NOT find it. I just sat there swiping away, panicking that I needed to find it fast to get rolling on all the testing I had to do. Thankfully the 7-year-old standing behind me new exactly where it was, and he just took over and found it for me. I'm pretty sure he thinks he's smarter than me now.

So as you can see, I'm doing really well with this whole pregnancy brain thing. Just this morning I tried leaving the house without my keys. I had the grocery bags, the thing everyone forgets, but no keys.

Above is me about a week ago around 23 weeks. I'm now at 24 (obviously), and yesterday I had my first doctors appointment at the maternity care clinic, where I met one of the doctors who might deliver the wee one. 

In case anyone is wondering I have gained a total of 7 lbs. so yes I am actually gaining weight. Both myself and baby are doing quite well. 

So far I'm pretty happy with everyone (medically) that I've met, and I am appreciating the thoroughness of the system. 

To be honest I don't have a lot questions or concerns to go in with anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm one of the low maintenance patients, but still, I'm impressed with the friendliness and care I've received so far.

The only complaint I really have at this point is my lower back and hips are pretty sore. Mainly my hips just feel like they are falling apart, and that is an odd feeling.

Not uncommonly, sleep has started to be an issue because of shifting body parts, and I was trying to use regular pillows to get comfortable and hold myself in one position. That did not work though, as apparently regular pillows are really easy to kick off the bed and end up half way across the room. So I had to go out and pick up a body pillow and I will say it is helping a lot more than I thought it would.

On the cravings front, I'm definitely addicted to frapucinnos. It's an actual heavenly moment the first sip I take of one each day.

I'm still not craving pickles, and Jason is still waiting for me to crave pickles.

Baby is beating me up from the inside and packs quite a punch for something that weighs just over a pound. Baby also enjoys stretching full out which is one of those extremely weird/wonderful things of pregnancy.

Feel free to place any bets on the sex of the baby, because we are not finding out until it pops out.

I will take this time to wish all mother's a happy Mom's Day as it is coming up. Thanks to my Momma for the countless things she has done for me over the years! I really do appreciate everything and love you very much.

I also just realized that this time next year I will be a Mom on Mother's day... and my Momma will be a Grandma! (and if you've talked to her in the last few months you will realize that being a grandma is a huge accomplishment to her.) Glad I can help with that. :)

Peace&Love

Chow

21 weeks, Over the Half Way 'Bump'

I think the title of this post is pretty cute.

Anyway it's true, I am 21 weeks preggo and I'm finally starting to look preggo!

Even though I don't look impressed in this picture, I am happy about it. I just really need to concentrate when taking pictures with my phone. Probably why I don't take selfies. Or it could be I think selfies are stupid, and a perfect example of a self(ie)-serving generation. But that's another rant for another day.

I'm definitely feeling some baby movement and it's getting more and more intense every day. I like to freak Jason out by wandering around with my belly showing, talking about the movement as much as I can. Scary for him, entertainment for me. I'm sure he'll get with the program once the wee one is here, until then, I should start hiding baby paraphernalia in his stuff. Maybe a diaper (unused, don't be gross people) in his lunch bag. That should make his day.
On the plus side, Jason is being super sweet and making me supper almost every night, even though we have total opposite schedules and diet plans. His plan is no carbs, mine is any food I want. It's working out wonderfully, because if I had to cook for myself, I'd be eating a lot more take out.

Not much in other baby related news. I have plans for the baby's room, but have done nothing to start them yet. I'll wait until coaching is over and I have more free time.

I heartily enjoyed last weekend with quite a few of the ladies from my family as we partook in a girls weekend in Canmore. Our spa day on Saturday was the most relaxing pampered time I've ever had or even dreamed of. I can't wait to maybe do another one next year.

This was the view from our balcony. Impressive right?

That is all for me today.

Peace&Love

Chow

Oh those Monday's

Well considering I started off the day being woken by a ringing doorbell, barking dog, and then stepping in said dogs pee... it's turned out not too shabby.
Did you know they deliver parcels at 7:40 am? I did not. And if they are going to do that, I think a notice should be given. Because my house was very confused as to what was happening this morning when the doorbell rang, repeatedly. Jason almost went to answer the door in my house coat before I told him to lie back down. (Though I almost should have let it happen, but I might have had to cut it off him... now we'll never know).
Jackman, while sniffing the delivery man, managed to pee all over the floor, and I didn't notice until I stepped in it. Who can blame him though, he had also just woken up and was more confused than anyone.

The rest of the day ended up progressing smoothly. I paced myself and actually got some stuff done around the house, put the laundry away, cleaned the kitchen and rearranged everything on the counter, much to Jason's dismay. A few other things done to. Which I'll be honest, seems like nothing, but in the mornings before I go coach, I'm learning to pace myself. If I don't pace myself, I'll be so worn out by lunch that I'll want to just sleep the rest of the day.
And to be honest I did end up napping today, but it was a planned nap so it's okay.

Did some coaching this afternoon. Always enjoyable. Also enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL weather this afternoon. Everything is always better splashed in sunshine.

I'm very much looking forward to a girls weekend coming up. As in I sooooooo can't wait to relax and get a little pampered.

Coming up on Wednesday I will be 20 weeks in. Though you probably wouldn't know it to look at me. Both baby and I are healthy in case you are wondering, things are moving along nicely.  I am pretty sure I'm starting to feel some movements in there to. Kinda like a pulse in my uterus. It's a little weird, the good kind though.

On another side of weird, I watched my dog repeatedly scratch his ear, then smell his paw tonight. I'm not really sure how to feel about that.

It's getting close to my bed time, so I think I will leave you with that tonight.

Peace&Love


Chow

On another note...

I realize that my last entry wasn't as... light, as some of the other ones may have been.
So today we will take a look at the lighter side of coaching.
As many of you may know, I am expecting. (YAY)
I'm 16 weeks along in case you are keeping track.

Well being that I am a little more fragile than usual, I had to tell a few of our power skating groups to be extra careful around me. Basically to remember to use their brakes and try not to slam into me.
With that being said, most of the groups are boys between the ages of 6-12, so they aren't really aware of the birds and the bees yet.
After Lynnell (the other power coach) informed a few skaters that I was pregnant, one of the skaters looked right at me and said
"You're not pregnant."
Somewhat taken aback I responded "Yes I actually am."
"No, you don't look pregnant."
"Well, it's still early, but I am pregnant."
" I don't believe you, I don't think you're pregnant."
And that was the end of that conversation. I just said alright, don't believe me. lol

Just a week later that same kid looks at me and asks "Are you still pregnant?"
Ummm... "Yes, I will be pregnant until August."
He said okay and skated off. I guess he believes me now.

It's much easier to tell the kids to be careful around me because I'm not wearing a helmet, because they can understand that and see it.
This whole pregnancy thing, is a little bigger of a concept.

Another kid asked if I was worried about my baby just slipping out.
I informed him, that no, babies do not just slip out.
And then I quickly made them go skate before any more questions could be asked.

So there is my lighter side for the night.
I am pretty tired, and it is close to my bed time, so I will bid you adieu.

Peace&Love

Chow

Some Parents Children

The other day, as I was heading to the couch holding a box of Cheerio's Jason stopped me and asked if I 'knew how to eat cereal the normal way'. Apparently he's not once seen me eat cereal from a bowl with milk. Always from the box.
I eased his worry, and let him know that yes, I have heard there are alternatives to my way.

In other news, some kids are designed by the devil.
The majority of kids I know, be they family, kids I teach, or other kids, they may be trying at times, but are generally just kids, doing things their own way, being a kid.
Well when a 7-year-old acts like she's a 42-year-old genius with no concept of social graces, it's easy to be convinced there are evil forces at work.
During one session today, while the little skaters were helping me clean up, I missed the beginnings of an altercation between two kids. Apparently they both went to pick up the same pool noodle, and as one went for it she stuck out her arm and tripped the other.
I was busy with a few other skaters for that moment, but I did manage to catch them both holding on the same noodle with a death grip and trying to skate away.
They eventually got up, one claimed to be tripped on purpose, the other... didn't really see what was going on, and was just happy to be collecting pool noodles.
I tried to calm the accuser by saying I'm sure it was an accident, which was my first mistake.
So before I can say much else, she drops off her noodles and skates over to her Mom. She does this a lot (A LOT), so I focus my attention on the accused. The accused listens as I tell her to be careful, and that it's not nice to go for all the noodles (they each had about four already), and that she should leave some for the other kids. She understands and skates off to do the next thing.
Problem solved right?
I wish.
Well the accuser comes back over, and says 'I have a complaint'.
Yes a 7-year-old came back to me with a formal complaint.
She 'complained' that I didn't believe her and I didn't do anything to solve the situation.
I told her that I talked to the other skater and told her to be careful, after she (the accuser) had skated away to her Mom.
Then little miss know-it-all interjects 'that I shouldn't support violence in my group'.
...
I'm sure you are laughing now, but at the time I was ready to unleash some unkind words.

I'm going to stop the story there, but it goes on that the accuser/complaint giver and I did not see eye-to-eye the rest of the session. When I tried explaining my side to her mom after another incident, the skater looks at me, looks at her mom and says 'she's lying.'
(The mother had very little to say, I'm pretty sure the child's evil controls the parent.)

Either way it's over now (until I receive another complaint).
And I don't like to see any skaters leave a program or be unhappy with skating, but I really, really hope she does not come back next year.

Okay that's the end of my rant. I hope someone got a little giggle out of that, and I hope one day I will to.
Just kidding, I can laugh now, it was just ridiculous. And all the other coaches laughed a lot, because, well, they don't have to teach this kid.

And that's about all there is going on with me. Well there is other stuff, but there is only so much I post online.

Peace&Love

Chow

It's go TIME!

My most productive hour by far today was after coaching.
I returned home about 10:15 pm, and went nuts. That's the only plausible explanation.
I vacuumed the lower level, gathered all garbage, swept the 2nd level, did the dishes, put away all the laundry, shovelled the driveway, and wiped down one bathroom.
I feel great. It took me just under an hour and a half.
I realize lots of people do housework on a regular basis and have been doing so for years, but man do I feel like superwoman!
Coaching-wise, I'm smack dab in the middle of report cards and assessing right now, and I spent all morning sitting on my arse trying to find a nice 'original' comment for each skater. (After the first twenty you really just run out of variations of 'good job, keep it up!')
But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and only a week and half left until christmas break! Yee ha!
I love coaching, and I do feel lucky to have my passion be my career, but man do I value any vacation time I have to just not think about it for a bit.
In other news I had a wonderful much needed lunch date with Grandpa on Monday, and enjoyed the time just chatting.
I'm looking forward to meeting lil' miss Isabelle Spence on Friday night. I can't believe I've gone almost a month without meeting her!
I haven't even started thinking about christmas yet. I am aware that is fast approaching, but I will do as I have done almost every year, and do all my shopping last minute.
I actually enjoy it. Normally, I'm not a people person I don't do crowds. Mainly because I'm child sized and easily lost, but that's neither here nor there.
But the hustle and bustle time of year is a lot of fun for me. Usually Cheyanne and I go shopping around the 22nd and immerse ourselves in the fun of it all, heading down to Chinook, right in the heart of the insanity.
Can't wait to do it again!
I think that's all I have for now.
Seeing as how I have coaching in the morning, I should probably header to bed soon. All my productiveness has energized me though. We'll see what happens when my head hits the pillow.
Night all!

Peace&Love

Chow

Hey Look at all that Snow!

I have a great story for everyone.
(Warning: do not be eating while reading this story. You've been warned.)

Jackman loves the snow. Not just to look at, or sniff, or frolic in. No, no.
He loves to try and eat the snow, as I shovel it. He needs to catch all of the snow. All of it, every single flake.

So tonight I was out there shovelling the snow, enjoying throwing shovelfuls at Jack and watching him jump and try to gobble it all up.
It was awesome, no wind, just a pretty, calm night, spent tossing snow at my dog. Good times.
I get inside, all pumped up, because I consider shovelling a work out (every day activities people, it keeps you healthy!). I Walk downstairs ready to relax and enjoy the evening.
Jackman follows me downstairs and as soon as he gets on the carpet, throws up alllllll the snow he just ate.
Well, I'm thinking it's not so bad, just snow, or water now. Still not too thrilled about it though. So much for relaxing (I was two steps from sitting down!).
I turn on the light and it's not just snow. It's little teeny bits of whatever he's been eating in the past two hours. And apparently Jason 'dropped' a lot of popcorn.
Oh. And a bandaid. Jackman ate a bandaid.

After I got that all cleaned up, I'm now finally enjoying my night. Let me tell you though, soggy popcorn does not like to come out of the carpet.

And that's my wonderful story for this evening.

Other than that my life has been all about coaching. And it's pretty fun.
There is a competition coming up in Airdrie Nov. 22-24 for anyone who's interested in watching. It's at the new arena's. If you have nothing else to do, come out and cheer on your local skating club!
If you want specific times for some of the Airdrie skaters I can get those to you.

Happy Weekend All! Stay warm and cozy.

Peace&Love

Chow