Thankful Thursday

Its been a long time.  20 days, actually.  Oh thank you,third trimester, for being busy and full.  Speaking of thanks...

 Thank you Narina for being an awesome big sister already and reading your little brother books in the morning while mummy wakes up.

Thank you for the chance to work on some new craft ideas for Christmas even though it isn't November yet.

Thank you lentils and noodles for the 15 minutes you gave me to make dinner without an over tiered freak out.

Thank you Jayne for introducing our kid to pumpkin carving and giving me the innards to roast!

Thank you Narina for being excited to see cows every day.

And for learning how to use your body to climb and explore.

Thank you to the wind for changing directions.

Thank you for the space to find time to make dolls.

Thank you pregnancy for the urge to declutter and organize baby clothing.

Thank you baby girl for coming into the room and exclaiming "Look mummy!! I'm beautiful and cool!"

And for your smile.... you are so fricken fantastic sweetie.

Seeds and Harvest Time

Growing up in suburban Calgary, Alberta, Canada, we always had a garden. A small suburban garden with pretty flowers that were different every year.  My parents sometimes had a small vegetable bed where tomatoes and beans struggled to grow in the short hot summers.   We had a large lilac shrub and a crab apple tree.  Those were pretty much the regulars, everything else was bought at the beginning of the season from a garden centre and when it died it was pulled.  My husband comes from a long lineage of alpine flower enthusiasts.  When we were first together he had two planters of narcissus that he had gathered from around Europe with his father.  They were being babysat by a friend who had outdoor space.  She had them for years.  The thought of having a friend look after plants for years with the intention of getting them back one day was really outside my comprehension.  Plants were disposable.  To my husband they were projects and things to be rescued.  Often coming home with a rough looking half dead plant from the supermarket and spending the time to help it recover and flourish on our windowsill.  

 

 

Then we moved to the country and were able to use a little bit of land to plant a garden.  A garden, as I have mentioned already in past posts, that was completely eaten by rabbits this year.  All except for some garden ornamental flowers and two year old spinach bed.  Then the pots started showing up.  Little pots full of seeds.  Instead of ripping out old flowers and plants when past their best, Dan leaves them to die fully and then collects the seeds.  

Check out these seed pods: 

Can you guess what flower it is from?  I’ll give you a hint.  It is a perfect plant to collect seeds from on Michealmas. Come over to Natural Kids Blog to find out. 

This Moment

A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Misty morning thoughts

 

The UK has had some pretty hot days as of late.  Hotter than it has been in a century some say. It makes the most amazing mist in the morning.  The unaltered photos in this post were taken at about 8 in the morning. By ten my feet are so swollen and I am dripping in sweat.  It isn't the best thing for a gal as pregnant as myself.  Boy am I pregnant.  Today we found out our boy is head down and in a great position.  He is average weight and is doing really well.  I am sure feeling how well he is doing with a lot of body discomfort.  I can't believe I only have 7 weeks to go.  It seems so long and so short all at the same time.   

 

I have recently started a hypnobirthing class.  It is one on one, which suits me well at this stage, as I really don't need or desire a group learning environment as I tend to absorb other people's worries. So far it has been a great move and I already feel like I am gaining a new perspective on the way I voice my birthing experience.  I have dolls flying off the shelves and am moving ever closer to a few winter craft fairs that I will be showing at (not selling but having a friend sell for me).  Life is moving.

We have had Daddy home for a few days but as of tomorrow he will be gone for a full 3.5 weeks.  I am trying to not think too much about this because I could really use support with our budding 2 year old personality, but life is life.  If I can manage to get a good night sleep I find the tantrums, hitting, "no no no" stuff amusing and wonderful as a stage of development.  Usually, though, I have had to go to the toilet at least 5 times, have had braxton hicks for a couple hours and am awake by 6.  Sigh.  At least I look all round and glowing.  ;)