32 and Counting...

I turned the big 3-2 on February 20th... it was a relatively quiet but lovely day filled with paint and maternity clothes shopping, a movie while curled up in our new ginormous bed, Indian food (mmmm) and awesome music played ridiculously loud by my husband in a tiny club littered with extremely amusing people.

I don't feel 32 but then again I really don't know what it's supposed to feel like. I guess I believe the saying 'You're only as old as you feel' and if I was held down and forced to pick an age that would be impossible so let's say I feel twenty-something. I'm still figuring out out who I am and now that mommy is zooming to the top of the 'categories I fall in' list I have even more figuring out to do... I don't think that's a bad thing though, my hope is that my entire life will be full of self-exploration and discovery.
I was just looking over my list of 32 Things and although I didn't get to all of my goals I'm still stoked that I managed to accomplish some big ones (making a baby, completing a tri-athlon, running a 5km race, and teaching on my lonesome to name a few). I'm going to create a list of 33 New Things so you may see some of the goals that I didn't reach pop up on the next list!

Here's the final results of my goal wish list, I've added some comments in italics.

32 New Things to Do Before I'm 32

1. replace the most hideous light fixture on earth that I complain about every time I look a picture taken in our kitchen *a definite for my 33 list because I hate the light as much today as I did yesterday and the day before that and the day before... you see where I'm going with this.
2. learn to embroider *didn't get around to it but I will
3. Yoga *considering signing up for a class since my doctor suggested it today when I went in for a pre-natal visit
4. complete a triathlon *still feel fabulous about accomplishing this one
5. send a secret to Post Secret *realized I don't have any terribly juicy secrets that I want to share with the world (even secretly)
6. 30 km bike trek *early pregnancy and crazy long bike rides didn't mix well for me - picture me at the side of the road with my head between my knees while rocking back and forth as my sister-in-law asked "Do you think maybe you're pregnant?"
7. keep a diary for a solid two weeks
8. go hiking *one day
9. send one package a month to a faraway friend *don't think I managed to get one a month off but pretty close
10. try Geocaching *putting this on hold until my little man is here and ready to explore with me!
11. learn the names and uses of 10 local herbs/wildflowers *never did make it to out on one of Tina's nature hikes and knowing me I would have forgotten the names within a week anyways but I'll work on this one over time
12. make curtains they're simple but they're up!
13. paint the basement *planned for March break
14. sew something I can wear *definitely on the next list
15. paint the hallway
16. yum. make chocolate lava cakes from scratch.17. play Dance Dance Revolution *I can't believe I didn't do this! One day...
18. go see a band I've never seen in concert
19. recreate mom's amazing creamy cauliflower dish
20. swim 50 laps (no 20 one day and 30 the next does not count)
21. drive a scooter/vespa
22. make a baby (fingers crossed) *Woooooooo hooooooooooo!23. go snow tubing *Ummm pregnancy and flying down a snow covered hill on a rubber tube don't mix
24. begin and complete Teaching of the Blind Part 1
25. make a curried dish from scratch *why make it when you can buy such yummy pre-made sauces?
26. put up outside Christmas lights on the house *using the preggers card here again, oh and Mike's broken foot
27. take a pole dancing class *meh
28. make a track with Mike *definite for the next list
29. go roller skating *figured roller skating for the first time in 20 years might not be such a good idea with a baby in my belly
30. teach a class all on my lonesome
31. volunteer
32. run a 5km race

How is your list coming along?

Tick, tick, tick

It's hard to believe but my birthday is in just 28 days. 32 is quickly approaching and as of 5 minutes ago I had only crossed 7 things off of my list of 32!! I've now wiped a few more off:

31. volunteer - I spent an afternoon last weekend at my old university assessing applications (experience profiles and essays) from wannabe teachers. It was definitely an interesting experience and I wish I could share some of the highlights with you but I can't... let me just leave you wondering and imagining by saying the words: Santa's helper.

30. teach a class all on my lonesome - Welllll I haven't taught a full class of 20 plus kids but that's because I managed to snag a FABULOUSLY wonderful job as an itinerant hearing teacher. I teach hearing impaired students one on one but I'm knocking this off my list because technically I'm teaching a class - it's just a very teeny tiny class. I love my job and hopefully things will work out so that once my maternity leave is done I can return to the same position. Fingers crossed!

7. keep a diary for two solid weeks - I've been writing in a diary for the last three months! I certainly don't write daily and sometimes it's more like every two or three weeks but it still counts. The diary is for Smidge: I'm writing my feelings, thoughts and memories of my pregnancy. My plan is to keep writing once Smidge has arrived; I'll use the diary as a place to keep track of important dates and cute things Smidgie does.

12. make curtains - I made some semi-decent curtains for my bathroom upstairs so that Mike no longer has to worry about my nightly "shows" for the neighbours. I'll post pics soon!

Woo hoo! There are four more ticked off the list!

Another Course Bites the Dust

photo credit: Akash K

My oh so lazy body and brain are thrilled to announce that my Additional Qualifications course Teaching Students who are Blind Part 1 is FINITO!! Another thing to check off the list.

A slightly insane part of me is considering taking another course in January because I know next year it will be waaaaay more challenging to do but we'll see... What I really feel like doing, and what I have been doing very well lately is to sit on the couch while sipping on a hot chocolate. That reminds me, time to plug in the kettle.

We Did It!

Take that as you will. hehe


Mike and I have fabulous news to share and if you haven't figured it out already take a close look at the photo above: I'm pregnant!!!!!!! Three months today! It has been killing me keeping it quiet for this long but today we had our first ultrasound and saw the little peanut's arms and legs, brain and heart so it's time we shared our news with the world!

My due date is June 18th 2010 and the day can't come quick enough, that being said I am loving being pregnant and have a feeling once I can feel the little one move I might not want this pregnancy to end.

Life couldn't be any better than it is right now!

Although I will continue to update Gingham Skies on a regular basis I've started a baby blog as well where I'll stick to baby stuff! Feel free to stop on by and check it out: Just a Smidge.

Oh yeah and that means I have wiped one HUGE accomplishment off my list of 32 Things to do Before I'm 32 AND it explains why a few of the other items on my list will remain there until I'm 33. No snow tubing, rollerskating, 30 km bike ride (I nearly barfed after 10 in September) and the 50 laps might be pushing it.

Isn't our baby just perfectly perfect?!

Paint Hallway: Check

photo credit: matthew moss

What a week.
I can knock off another one of my Things to Do Before I'm 32 thanks to a friend who took on the horrific task of painting our hallway. We paid him but he did it for a helluva lot cheaper than anyone else would have: what a freaking nightmare.

We bought our house four years ago from a family who bought the house 4 years earlier from the builder. The house was a model home originally. What have we learned about model homes in the last year? Model homes = shortcuts. My guess is the builder wants the house up fast in order to show it and therefore puts the pressure on the contractors to get things happening quickly. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the contractors just suck and it has nothing to do with the builder. Either way we have been finding little things here and there that are the result of lazy contractors and it's annoying. The latest find has been the most expensive so far (thankfully) and I'm seriously hoping it's the last 'surprise'. The insert whatever rude name you choose here who put up the wallpaper chose to skip priming the walls and stuck the wallpaper directly to the drywall. Brilliant.

For those of you who are thinking the same thing I originally was, "so what?", the issue is that you can't remove the wallpaper like you typically would because applying water to the wallpaper means also soaking the drywall which doesn't like water. Drywall and water pretty much equals mud and falling down walls.

We couldn't leave the wallpaper up because it was beginning to peel at all the seams and this has been one of the top things on our TO DO list for quite some time so we decided to bite the bullet and TO DID it. A job we knew would be a pain in the ass turned out to be a ROYAL pain in the ass. The facing had to be pulled off the walls leaving a fuzzy paper base, that base then had to be painted with oil based primer in order to seal it, this left us with fuzzy primed walls which had to be sanded. The sanding led to a house covered in teeny tiny particles of oil based paint dust. Lovely.

One week later (he thought it would take 1.5 days) I felt like a gypsy living out of bags and spare room surfing (thanks to the fumes) but our wallpaper was down, paint was up and the house was covered in oil based paint dust. Today the house is finally looking better - we spent 5 hours yesterday cleaning up every tiny piece of dust we could find: the spring cleaning I never got around to this year has now been taken care of.

PHEW!

CIBC Run for the Cure

This morning Jo and I completed the CIBC 5 km Run for the Cure. This run/walk is Canada's largest single day fundraising event for breast cancer research and awareness. While ticking off another item on my list of 32 New Things I managed to raise $500 to help a cause that affects far too many women. I have walked the 5km with a group of colleagues the last few years (5 now, I think) but this year Joanne and I ran it and we managed to cross the finish line in 30 minutes.

Breast Cancer is a terrible disease but it is one we can conquer! Education and early detection are key components in the increase of survivors so please take the time to read the information I have pasted below - I've borrowed it directly from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Facts About Breast Cancer in Canada

• In 2009 22,700 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• In 2008 170 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• If a women lives to age 90 she has a 1 in 9 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime
• The current 5 year survival rate is 87%

FIVE STEPS TO BEING BREAST AWARE

1. Know how your breasts normally look and feel.
   
2. Know what changes to look for.


3. Look and feel for changes.
   
4. Report any changes to a doctor.
   
5. Go for a free mammogram if you are of the appropriate age, or if recommended by a doctor. By finding breast abnormalities in the early stages, mammograms can save lives. Women at the appropriate age can get a free mammogram through their regional breast screening program.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel can help you be aware of changes that should be reported to a doctor. Most breast changes will not be cancer, but still should be discussed with a doctor. Changes to look for include the following:

• Changes to the size or shape of one or both breasts.
  
• Unusual, persistent pain in the breast or armpit area.
  
  
• Swelling under the armpit or below the collarbone.
  
  
• Nipple changes, including change in the shape or position of a nipple, or a nipple that becomes pulled inward (inverted).




• Redness.




• Discharge from one or both nipples.




• Lumps or thickening.




• Skin changes, including irritation, rash or scaly skin.




• Dimpling or puckering.

If you are not sure if a change is significant, check again after your next period, or a few weeks later if you are no longer menstruating.


LOOK AND FEEL
There is more than one way to check your breasts. There is no right or wrong way, and no need to follow a particular routine unless that is what works for you. Choose a way that is comfortable for you:

One way to check both breasts is by moving your middle fingers in small circles from the outside of the breast to the nipple. As pictured, cover the surface of each breast, and also check the areas above and below the breasts, including the armpit.

• Each whole breast.




• Above and below each breast.




• Under both arms.




• Men check the same areas.

Become informed about the significant changes to look for in the breast.

Share this information with the women AND men, young and old, in your world!! Prevention is key! Together we CAN fight this battle!

I ♥ U2

The U2 concert in Toronto on Wednesday night was the best concert EVER! They sounded unbelievably fabulous live and so did Snow Patrol who opened up for them.

I snagged a few of Joanne's pictures to share with you because in all of the shots I took with my cell the boys look like they're on fire and I don't mean "on fire" as in "damn they were so good they were on fi-ah!"

We were ridiculously close to the outer circle of the stage. Bono was in panty tossing distance in the shot below but I'm a classy lady and of course I chose to keep my gitch in place rather than whipping them at him.

I expected some serious lecturing from Bono on the horrible happenings in Africa and the generally brutal state of the world - which I should add I wouldn't have disagree with or frowned upon, I admire a star who uses his platform to make a difference rather than simply giving away cash for the tax break - but instead the focus was on what positive change has taken place since the global community has begun to work together to make a difference. Very cool.

A fabulous concert by an amazing band. There is definitely a good reason U2 has been touring for 20 odd years: they're freaking phenomenal.

Thanks for the photos and a fabulous evening Joanne!! Thanks to my Michael for the tickets!

Another one of my 32 bites the dust! Yippee!

'Tri'-ed and Succeeded

We did it! All that triathlon training was put to good use this morning: Joanne and I completed the tri in just under an hour. I jumped in the water at 8:15am and Joanne hopped in six minutes later. We wanted to complete the race together so I waited for Jo in the bike transition area which added a few minutes to my time but Jo was kind enough to do the math and my final overall time was 56:26 minutes, which placed me 82nd out of 172 participants - the official results show me placing 116th but of course that counted my wait time.

A super humongous thanks goes out to Joanne who encouraged me to join her in completing a triathlon in the first place. I am sure I would have never attempted this if it wasn't for Jo; having her by my side throughout the event was awesome - she stuck by me even when I suggested she go ahead during the run (I was feeling sick) - and crossing the finish line hand in hand was a truly amazing feeling! All our hard work this summer allowed us to complete a major goal which means I can wipe one of my 32 Things to Do Before I'm 32 off the list! Woo hoo!

32 New Things to Do Before I'm 32

Two of my new fav finds Lovelorn Unicorn & Yes and Yes have inspired me to venture from my regular routine by creating a list of things to do before my next birthday. I've chosen 32 things that I'm fairly certain I will be able to accomplish before February 20th 2010 and I promise to let you know how things go.

Here goes nothing:
1. replace the most hideous light fixture on earth that I complain about every time I look a picture taken in our kitchen
2. learn to embroider
3. Yoga (have tried but it deserves a second chance)
4. complete a triathlon
5. send a secret to Post Secret (thanks Yes and Yes for reminding me of this; it's something I've thought about doing a million and one times)
6. 30 km bike trek
7. keep a diary for a solid two weeks
8. go hiking
9. send one package a month to a faraway friend
10. try Geocaching
11. learn the names and uses of 10 local herbs/wildflowers
12. make curtains
13. paint the basement
14. sew something I can wear
15. paint the hallway
16. yum. make chocolate lava cakes from scratch.
17. play Dance Dance Revolution (I know it's hard to believe but I've never played it)
18. go see a band I've never seen in concert
19. recreate mom's amazing creamy cauliflower dish
20. swim 50 laps (no 20 one day and 30 the next does not count)
21. drive a scooter/vespa
22. make a baby (fingers crossed)
23. go snow tubing (assuming #22 doesn't happen anytime soon)
24. begin and complete Teaching of the Blind Part 1 AQ course
25. make a curried dish from scratch - no bottled curry involved
26. put up outside Christmas lights on the house (mike you'll have to help me out with this one!)
27. take a pole dancing class (it looks like hard work and a good laugh)
28. make a track with Mike
29. go roller skating (it's not entirely new but I haven't been in about 15 years)
30. teach a class all on my lonesome
31. volunteer
32. run a 5km race

Wish me luck!

10 Thumbs Up

I'm working on a list of 32 new things to do before I'm 32 but it's taking me longer than I thought it would.... in the meantime here's a list of 10 things I have done since turning 31 that made me very happy.

1. sat in the front seat of the best roller coaster EVER
2. ate pink cotton candy
3. rode the swings at Canada's Wonderland (finally quenched that thirst)
4. watched monkeys playing
5. jet skiing
6. finished school
7. visited a new place: Huatulco, Mexico8. started running/biking/swimming regularly with my awesome sis by marriage Joanne
9. spent a month with the amazing Tanya10. pulled the goalie - time to make a baby!

I think I might make this one a regular, so often we talk about what we want to do but I think I should take more time to think about the things I have already done (both little and big) that I am grateful for.