KissKus

Good things

Another weekend came and went, which means that lots and lots of decorating has been done. Just ONE more week before my self-imposed deadline and then the house will have to be finished!! Will we make it in time?! Stay tuned ;)

Anyway, this has made me so happy. We finally started painting the nursery and I think the colours turned out wonderful! My Mum turned up with the curtains yesterday and they look great too (tick of the list). She's now frantically sewing away at the cot, which will be finished on Sunday... go Mum, go!

We also managed to buy a new secondhand but perfect Maxi Cosi, which is a great relief to me, because I was freaking out that we wouldn't be able to transport the baby if I needed to go to hospital (another tick of the list).

We're also truly enjoying our new dining table and chairs. The table is so big and light... we love it!

And, it's perfect for folding the washing! Especially baby clothes... look at me go (washing baby clothes... another tick of the list)!

So, I'm 36 weeks and I think I'm finally starting to unwind. I've been feeling very stressed lately, because we were still so unprepared. However, I'm at last starting to see light at the end of the tunnel. I can now start to look around and enjoy all the progress we made instead of only focusing on all the jobs that still need doing. A very nice change!

Physically, I'm feeling pretty well too and I'm actually feeling less pain than a couple of weeks ago. Getting out of bed is a challenge though, but once I get going things are alright. I'm actually really surprised that this pregnancy I'm in better shape than with Simon, even though I'm much heavier. I have no complaints!

The baby isn't moving around so much any more (since there's no more room), but when he does the kicks are very powerful. It sometimes makes me jump up from my chair. This baby also has the hiccups a lot! Five times a day is normal! I'm really looking forward to meeting this new little person that's been keeping us all busy for 8 months now... just a few more weeks!

A magical place?

Well, we're back from Disneyland and let me tell you that the weather was simply magical! So sunny and warm... absolutely wonderful!!

And the rest of Disneyland? Well, I wouldn't exactly call that magical.
It wasn't so much of a disillusion, since I didn't expect much beforehand, but I did find the commercial tackiness a little overwhelming. After entering the park we spent the first 40 minutes or so looking for an attraction... all we could see were shops crammed with ridiculously overpriced souvenirs!

The first attraction we decided to queue for (it was SO busy) was A Small World. It was as if I suddenly stepped into a nightmare: the scary pink and gold sweetness and all those annoying children's voices singing the same song over and over and over again... wow, that was impressive in its own special way!

The hotel we stayed in was fine. It was built as a small town in Western style. The room wasn't big, but comfortable enough and it had a bath, which the children enjoyed very much (I took a bath as well... never did I feel more like a whale). It was lovely to spend a night so close together.

On Sunday morning we got up early. Because we were hotel guests we were allowed to enter the park at 8.00 a.m. (it normally opens at 10.00 a.m.). When we got there around 9 it was already incredibly crowded. Michel went into Space Mountain, which was quite a spectacle according to him. After that we went queue-hopping for a couple of hours.

We took a lunch break and watched the masses stand in line to be photographed with several Disney characters. Now that was entertainment! Thankfully, both Amber and Simon wanted to have nothing to do with these characters with their huge scary plastic heads. Simon started whimpering as soon as any one of them came near us and we had to take a few detours to avoid them when they all came tumbling out of the train after the Parade.

The attraction we all enjoyed most was a lovely old river boat (it was real!)... it was so wonderful and relaxing to stand on deck in the sun.

While Michel and Amber decided to check out the Haunted House, Simon and I sat down on a bench where he happily played with the two sticks we found (he's a collector!). Those were his souvenirs of the weekend and I couldn't have been more proud of him, because he truly didn't desire anything else!

For Amber it was more difficult to resist the temptation of all the kitsch goodies that were shoved into her face every step of the way. I couldn't blame her at all, but we bought nothing.

All in all, we had a great weekend together as a family. It was a very welcome break from all the stress and work at home and we enjoyed every minute of that.  I don't think we'll ever go back to Disneyland again, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world!

Au revoir!

Tomorrow morning (apparently before dawn, if Michel has his way) we'll leave for Paris!!
Yes, that's right... PARIS!!

Well, alright, not quite the capital of France itself, but Disneyland Paris.
Although I'm not a great Disney-fan, I'm looking forward to spending two whole days with my husband and children doing something other than working on the house. Besides, this trip is more or less free, since it came with the car... I'm not complaining!

I'm even looking forward to the 5-hour journey. I've always enjoyed being confined to the car with my loved ones... except when the children are whining, needing pee... etc. ;))

So hopefully we'll be able to relax and enjoy it. If the weather is as nice as it was today then I'm sure we will.

Thankfully I'm feeling a little less stressed out already. Wednesday morning at work I didn't make it past the receptionist's desk. I was so tired and sore that when she asked me how I was feeling, I started crying right there and then. She was so kind to me, she phoned someone and said I wasn't able to work anymore and then she sent me home. After a couple of hours in bed I felt not so disappointed in myself anymore, after all I had just one more week to go, so I nearly made it till the end. I do feel that I really need to get a little more rest now; it's not just wise, but a necessity.

Anyway, have a lovely weekend everyone! I'll be back in a couple of days with a full report of our trip!
Bissoux!!

The photos btw are some of the tissueholders I've been making these past weeks... I've got a little factory going on here :)

Back to normal

The Christmas decorations have been cleared away, Amber's back in school, I'm back at work and tonight we're having hutspot for dinner... finally things are back to normal and what a relief it is!

Simon and I are no longer sick and thankfully the flu seems to have passed the other two by.

It's time to concentrate on our house now, we have exactly two months to get everything organised and to get properly prepared for baby's arrival. It's do-able, but we have to get a move on.

Photos are of some felt tissueholders that I made last week... don't they breath "seventies"?!

With a bang

Well, 2008 has been quite eventful so far...

It started on New Year's Eve. Having spent a great time with friends, we woke the children to go home around 2.30 a.m.. We all got into the car and waited for the windows to clear. It didn't take long for us to realise that they were perfectly clear already, and that we could not see further than our car's bumper was due to the "killer fog" that had emerged in the hours before.
Against better knowledge I started to drive, guessing which way to go and hoping we would not bump into anything. After about 50 meters we gave up and Michel walked in front of the car to guide us back to our parking space.
As a modern day Joseph and Mary we knocked on our friends' door and asked for shelter. We crashed on their floor and that was the first night without sleep.

Tuesday night I lay awake worrying a little about the next months of my pregnancy. I was convinced that the baby had turned and was now continually kicking at my stomach... it was soooo uncomfortable!! When I had to rush to the bathroom to throw up I was still under the impression that it was the baby's doing, but after my second, third, fourth, etc. trip to the bathroom it became clear that I had caught some kind of stomach virus. Sorry, baby, for falsely accusing you! That was the second night without sleep.

After a whole day in bed, being sick and nothing else, I went to bed that night with a back so sore it woke me up every hour. That was the third night without sleep.

Yesterday, I still wasn't feeling up to much and luckily my sisters came to help me out with the children and cooking. My body wasn't aching so much anymore though and I longed for a good night's sleep. Once in bed however, I was awake thinking too many things, also the baby was having a kick-fest. When I had finally dozed off Simon called for me. It wasn't long after that that he called again and when Michel went into his room, found that he'd been sick all over himself and the bed. The poor guy had woken up being sick... he was so shocked! After emergency cleaning and showering, we tucked him into his fresh bed and then he was sick three more times in the following 45 minutes. After that I just couldn't sleep anymore. And that was the fourth night.

Today has gone by rather quickly. The washing machine and dryer have been going non-stop. I've been functioning as well as possible. Simon hasn't been sick since this morning.

I'm sure I will sleep like a log tonight -unless someone else gets sick tonight of course ;)

On a positive note, there have been good things too these days, such as Amber's festive make-up

and the new purse that I made and that I like.

I've just been rather occupied. I hope that explains the fact that I haven't yet been round to everyone's blogs to say Happy New Year. So Happy New Year everyone!!

Reflections

On this last day of the year I like to take a look back.
2007 has been a wonderful, beautiful and happy year and I feel so blessed to be able to say that.

The pregnancy, the new car, Michel's new job, all the things the children achieved, time spent with loved ones that live abroad. There were times that we seemed to be living from one highlight to another.

I'm most grateful for the small things, for moments that are considered to be "normal", but really are more special than anything else. Time spent as a family, seeing the children grow and develop. We're all healthy and we love each other... I'm so aware that that is what truly matters in my life.

I can hardly imagine that the next year will be as wonderful as the last, but I do hope so. We have something magical to look forward to: I can't wait to meet the littlest one of our family.

New year's resolutions... I do have a few. In the next three months I want to prepare the house for the new arrival. This means cleaning, sorting, throwing out, painting, sewing and also buying some new furniture. For the rest I resolve to take better care of myself, which means eating healthier and sleeping more.
As for my crafting I would like to make more clothes for the children and I want to continue selling my things. For the rest I just want to go on as I did this year.

I hope that you will all be able to spend New Year's Eve in good company tonight. And I'm wishing you a very happy, healthy and creative 2008!
I see you all on the other side!

A Christmas wonderland

The weather has been very obliging this year and has provided us with a beautiful winter wonderland. Just in time for Christmas. Everything looks gorgeous!

Today the four of us spent a lovely quiet day at home. Michel took the kids out for a refreshing walk, while I stayed at home sewing. I managed to sew up four Christmas presents and I'll be finishing three more tonight. I never thought I'd be able to achieve so much last minute... I suppose it's a handmade Christmas for me after all!

Tomorrow morning I have to go into work for a couple of hours and after that we'll start the Christmas festivities at my parents' house. I'm looking forward to it.

I hope you'll all be able to enjoy the next couple of days, wherever you are and whatever way you choose to celebrate. Happy Christmas!

Ready or not, here it comes

Well, the helicopter has landed and the car is parked... what more could you wish for in a Christmas stable?

I still have a to do-list as long as my arm, but I'm so relieved to have finished my main project: a dress for Amber. Tomorrow she is going to sing Christmas carols in church with her school and I had promised to make her a new dress. It is finished! In time! It was a bit of a bumpy road though... as soon as I'm able to take some photos I'll post them.

It's been absolutely freezing here these past days. Michel and I tried to capture the magic of ice-forming, but unfortunately our camera wasn't really up for it. All those ice-y little "roots" are truly stunning though!

My sister will be arriving from England tomorrow. I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. We'll be hopping around the country visiting everyone.
Hopefully, I'll be able to tick off a few more projects of my to do-list before then!

Home again

We're back from a wonderful three day break.
We're all relaxed, but definitely not rested... there wasn't a lot of time to sleep in between all the fun we had!
To prepare myself for "normal" life again I think I'm going to have a nice cup of tea and an early night!

Off to see the neighbours

Today we're off to visit our nextdoor neighbours.
The ones that live to the right of us. The right of our country that is.

We're off for a long weekend to Germany with family.
We'll be celebrating Sinterklaas, we'll go to a Christmas market and we'll undoubtedly enjoy the good food and drinks of Germany.
I'm really looking forward to it. I think I deserve a break after a whole month of blogging, don't you?!

Amber made a list of what clothes to pack... she did it all by herself; the mistakes are just delicious!