SOLD!

Budding Photographer

Chance took this picture. Yes, I let Chance take pictures on my camera. Supervised photos. The strap must be around his neck and he knows to NEVER touch the lens, on penalty of death. When he's done I put the camera AWAY so he can't just wander upon it and decide for himself he'd like to take pictures. This way I get some pictures of me and Karin together, it's nice!

Dinosaur Lunch

What's for lunch, Mr. Dinosaur??

"Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, ROAR!"

Bounce...bounce...bounce...

A friend loaned us their jumparoo. Our jolly jumper is out on loan to another friend. Karin loves to sit in it and bounce, bounce, bounce! This is quite a fancy model and has lots of toys and gadgets and when it moves it activates sounds and lights. Fancy schmancy. We have to book a thick binder under her feet so she can touch the floor though.

Murphy's Law (TMI warning!)

Well I got a new blue shirt for myself. A really nice bright blue v-neck stretchy t-shirt. It was on sale. It was the last one in its size. Destiny. Fate.

I wore it today for the first time. I picked up Karin and cuddled her close....then felt the warm wet and sniffed, and looked down with horror to find a 3" stain of yellow you-know-what smeared across the front of my nice new t-shirt.

Sigh.

Eyes Like Frying Pans

I love thee Wilma, with hair like silk,
Lips like cherries, skin like milk,
Your shell-like ears, your dainty hands,
And eyes so black, like frying pans

And when you in my arms are in,
My love how can you doubt?
I quiver just like geletin,
And sometimes even break out.

You're a perfect peach, my love,
Together we're a pear (pair),
You're sweet, you're nice, you're paradise,
And all kinna stuff like that there.

Cam told me about this poem, written by Fred Flintstone for his wife Wilma. It makes me think of Karin, her eyes are so dark grey they are almost black...like frying pans.

I hope we don't end up like this...

"I would rather go to hell than own it 50 days longer." -- Mark Twain, on his house which took 2 years to sell and eventually was marked down to half its original asking price.

3 showings in one night

Wow, after a 2 day dry spell, we've got 3 showings booked tonight. I put my best effort in, vacuumed the house top to bottom and washed all the floors. Bathrooms are clean, going to dust this afternoon and bake some cinnamon twists. When I go out to buy milk I'll buy some more tulips. Took the leaf out of the kitchen table to make the place look bigger. Sell, sell, sell!!

Visit from Dan, Iryna and Katja

Our friends from Regina came for a visit and we finally got to introduce our little girls to each other. Katja was born end of September, so she is 7 months old. It was really amazing to see how active and strong she is and know that Karin will be there too in just a few months.

3 Months Old

Difference from 1 month to 2 months: big weight gain, huge length gain and her hair lies down a little bit.
Difference from 2 months to 3 months: weight gain, she can sit up now, and smile! Oh...and her hair lies down all the way now (sometimes)!

5th viewing...and curb appeal improvement (??)

Had another viewing last night. Chance and I made sandwiches and cut up veggies and we headed out to the park, where Cam met us. Hung out for an hour, played on the equipment, walked around with Karin in the Snugli and watched a basketball game. Chance kept on cheering "woohoo" everytime a basket was made. No response on the viewing, and no showing booked for today (or tomorrow for that matter). I am starting to get frustrated.

I was feeling like I need to do something around the house, so I went to Canadian Tire today and got some blue paint mixed up and spruced up the trim on the house. There isn't much of it, but it makes a good improvement and at least I feel productive. Also sprung for some new house numbers - the old ones were white plastic and had seriously yellowed. Got some nifty brushed aluminum ones for $15. Managed to get the front railings and trim below the window painted between 4:30 and 6 PM. Karin hung out on a blanket with her toy gym for awhile, then went into her bouncy seat and napped in the shade. Good thing I had her covered head to toe, because the sun was strong enough to give me a sunburn. She is fine though. Cam was impressed with the change the pint of paint is giving the house -- encouraged me to go out and get white stain and roll on a coat of that to improve the condition of the porch as well.

3rd and 4th showings...

Had a showing last night and sound like no luck. It was a gorgeous evening out and Cam's parents were over for dinner and we took our dessert out to the park with us, so enjoyed the time away from home at least. Another one booked for this afternoon, and we've been invited over to a friend's house for supper...so again no disruption.

Second Viewing...

Another one tomorrow morning, perfect timing as I would have been out of the house anyways to get groceries. The first one didn't go so well, evidently. Apparently they were here for about 4 minutes flat. It feels weird that they hated our house. At least we got to go out for dinner as a family, that doesn't happen often.

My friend Kim brought me red tulips today, maybe they will perk up the house a little and get it sold tomorrow AM. I feel like Annette Benning in American Beauty...."I will sell this house today. I will sell this house today. Iwillsellthishousetoday, Iwillsellthishousetoday!!"

First Showing...

6:30 PM tonight, we have a showing for the house! So it looks like we'll be having dinner out, that will be an adventure in itself! I'll be spending the rest of the day making sure the house looks perfect. :)

Perhaps....

...the garden might look something like this....

Too excited to sleep

Here's our house, looking all spruced up and green-y...MLS photo number 1!!


Karin woke up at 5:30 this AM and I nursed her and she went back to sleep but while I was nursing her my brain was on fire thinking of all the things we've got to do in preparation for selling our home...now I am wide awake!

So I hit Google and found some good tips for moving and packing, etc. I am itching to start. We had a stinky supper last night and I guess that was appropriate as that will be out for now. BBQ is OK, cold food is OK...I guess seared ahi tuna and wasabi mashed potatoes aren't OK. But it was pretty tasty last night! After eating all that wasabi last night I wondered how nursing Karin would go this AM....but she didn't complain. We'll see in a few hours whether she's got an upset tummy or not.

So, today this is my plan:

1) Organize the 3 piles of stuff sitting on my sewing desk. It is mostly papers, but also some photos, socks, printer cartidges and a tub of body lotion that is nearly empty.

2) Sort out the guest room. Right now it is full of boxes of baby clothes. I need to decide what I want for Karin, what I will give to 2 friends who are expecting babies (one in May, one in October). The rest goes into a box that says "Once Upon A Child" and I'll take it to the local consignment shop and get rid of it.

3) Have breakfast.

4) Clean the kitchen floor. Last night's supper, while searing the tuna, spat all over the place. Including the floor. Then we walked on it. So there's a bit of a sticky feeling going on. Plus it'll help get rid of the tuna smell. :) Get Cam and Chance to vacuum the basement.

4) Nurse Karin once more and then go to the YMCA. Kids to the babysitting room and Cam and I to spin class. Pick up the kids and take them to the pool. Karin and I will probably only stop in for a few minutes as she will have to nurse again.

5) Lunch when we get home. I should probably thaw some soup this AM. It's a good thing I'm making this list!!

6) Clean the kitchen shelves. Even if we don't end up selling the house and have to stay here for another year or two or whatever, it needs doing. I think the last time I did it might have been a year ago, so it's not bad, but the pots leave a black residue on the shelves (they are white). It wipes off easily.

7) Nap time. Probably all of us.

8) Go to the park with the kids. If it's windy we'll take Chance's kite. If it's not, we'll maybe take his t-ball set.

9) Supper: hamburgers. Oh....that reminds me. While I'm thawing the soup, I should thaw some hamburger. It's a good thing I'm making this list!

First Giggle

So...I was rolling around with Karin on the floor, and then she giggled for the first time. My heart broke into a million pieces, it was the sweetest sound! The girl can't stop giggling either...she just randomly laughs and waits for everyone to crowd around her to coo and tickle and fuss.

Disappearing Tupperware...

Every day I swear we have less and less tupperware! Missing lids, missing bottoms, aarrggh!!! There has to be some way to stop this!!

Easter Dress

Here is Karin very happy to be decked out in her Easter duds. Karin is my little dollie, I love playing dress-up with her. I loved playing dress-up with Chance too...but now he insists on wearing 1 of 3 t-shirts: Spiderman, Transformers or Lightning McQueen.

Allergies

Pollen, pollen everywhere! Antihistamines + breastfeeding = no no no. Sniff.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Good Friday: Maybe make hot cross buns with Chance.

Saturday: Spend the morning at the Y. Cam and Dani taking a fitness / circuit class, kids in babysitting then to the pool. Maybe even Karin and I will go swimming this time. Dying Easter eggs in the afternoon.

Sunday: Easter treat hunt. Will probably go to the park to play with Chance's tee ball set. Also plan on an afternoon walk in Fish Creek Park.

Monday: Neighbour's kid is here because the dayhome is closed. Not sure what time she plans on dropping him off but I'm betting it's going to be before 7. It will be a long day. But he will entertain Chance...we'll see!

New favorite dessert...

Yogurt & Granola Banana Splits

In a small dish, scoop in some plain yogurt. 3% Balkan style if you have it...it's the best.

Drizzle on some liquid honey.

Top with fruit...strawberries, bananas, pineapple, mangoes, blueberries...whatever you have.

Put on another spoonful of yogurt.

Crumble up 1/2 a granola bar on top.

Yum! I like this even more than ice cream. Cam and Chance loved it too.

Monkey See, Monkey Do

No caption necessary, I think.

Crumbs

Chance has had poor luck keeping his supper on his plate these days...some times I swear there are more crumbs on the floor than went in his tummy! Also he has been playing up the "I need help" story more and more often...we haven't fed him his food for a long time. Anyways, when we do help him eventually, he often spits the food out claiming that we made the bites too big. I swear he can gag on command...maybe he just gets it from me...I've been known to have a pretty sensitive gag reflex. Anyways, it's disgusting. Tonight I made him clean up under his chair as there was broccoli bits and vermicelli everywhere. This photo is from another supper...I can't remember what we ate but it too ended up all over the floor.