Happy 3rd Anniversary!

Yesterday we celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary! We've come a long way from our first apartment where we had an inverted cardboard box as a side table! We have survived living in tiny 500 square feet bachelor apartments, survived the whole issue of wanting to live on opposite ends of the country (this was a HUGE issue as Rob wanted to settle down in Vancouver, and I wanted to live in Montreal...how we ever settled on Ottawa is beyond me!), survived me being a morning person and him being a night owl, survived Rob wanting to lead a healthy lifestyle, and me LOVING everything unhealthy...and so on and so on. One thing that has NEVER changed is our ability to have fun together. This, without a doubt, has been our glue. Our last anniversary as a twosome...and Bosco of course!

To register or not to register...

It's funny...I had "issues" with signing up for a gift registry for the baby. We didn't "register" anywhere when we got married...Koreans don't do that...they just get money in lieu of gifts. But I agree...the whole idea of registering does make total sense. You get the things you want and need, and avoid getting duplicates and/or things you have no use for. BUT...it seems kinda funny doesn't it? How do you respond when you receive something from your registry? "OH, I LOVE IT!"...of course you love it, you PICKED it. Or "What a surprise!"...no it's not, you PICKED IT! Or "Thank you, you shouldn't have"...again you PICKED IT! It just seems a little weird. Anyway, Rob and I went to Toys R Us to register tonight. It was fun for the first 10 minutes. Then we both got super confused. Besides not knowing what is considered appropriate registry items to pick (can you pick things like diapers and baby wipes?), more importantly we didn't KNOW what we WANTED!!! You would think running around the store with the scanner-gun would be fun, but we just stood around lots, looking around, staring at everything wondering which highchair, which bouncy chair, which swing etc. we wanted. Then Rob asked "Shouldn't you know this stuff? Shouldn't you have researched which ones are better than the rest?" Ummm, no...I've been busy looking online at fun baby-stuff, like finding funky crib bedding and getting ideas about which colors to paint the nursery. We honestly stood there, getting more and more confused, more and more frusterated, more and more impatient and snappy at each other (maybe me more than him). Baby stuff is confusing...so many patterns, so many features, so many name brands, such BIG price differences. And it doesn't help when you don't know what you're having...having to pick everything that would be suitable for a boy or a girl. I am going to have to admit Rob's right, and start researching baby products...any hints and suggestions on what baby products are good, bad, can't live without, and/or a waste of money? I may have to amend my registry...

Happy Birthday Glen!!!

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite boys in the whole world...
I wish I was there to celebrate with you guys tonight...I'm sure the conversation will be fun, funny, and a little nasty...my favorite kinda night! Hope you get lots of presents, eat lots of yummy cake, and drink lots of fruity cocktails! As for calling me "playfully neurotic"...takes one to know one...that's why we get along so well! Miss you lots!

30 weeks...

new baby blanket I bought online from a website called "snugabugblankets.com"...i LOVE it. i didn't want frilly frou-frou baby stuff...and came across these blankets...popcorn chenille on one side, funky prints on the other...the one i bought is called "zen bubbles"...cute, eh? and by the way...they are all homemade...in canada.
baby mobile...after i put it together and wound it up...it started playing the "Rock a by Baby" lulleby, and my eyes started watering...pregnancy hormones at their best.

Belly update! I realized today that I haven't taken any pictures of my bare belly the entire pregnancy...so here it is! 30 weeks...ten more to go...

If it's not one thing...it's another...

Let me start by saying that I have had an easy pregnancy so far. When I hear and compare stories with other pregnant women, I do consider myself lucky. Morning sickness for me translated into just feeling nauseous for about a month...and only 2 weeks of that month was bad. Since then a few extra varicose veins has surfaced, but nothing crazy, my feet aren't swollen, no popped out belly button, no signs of stretch marks (yet)...etc, I am pretty much exactly the same as non-pregnant Joyce, except I have a buddah belly. BUT if it's not one thing...it's another. My first blood glucose test came back with elevated levels, so I had to go back for the DREADED second test last week. It was awful. I felt so sick from the mixture of drinking the nasty super-sweet orange soda and getting three blood test done in two hours, that I had to lie down in the clinic to keep myself from throwing up or passing out (and I took the rest of the day off from work). Yesterday I found out that I DON'T have gestational diabetes...my test came back good (whew!)...BUT...now the concern is that I LOST weight since my last doctor's appointment in August. This is the time in pregnancy where you are supposed to GAIN weight, NOT stay the same, and definitely NOT LOSE weight. It was only a pound, but still...it's freaking me out. My doctor wanted to know what I was doing differently. And no offence, but I think it was kinda HER fault! After thinking I may be at risk for gestational diabetes, I avoided sugar and carbs, as per her recommendation! It's kinda nerve-wracking carrying a baby inside you. A tiny little thing that seems so fragile...being so dependant on everything you do. If I want Starbucks, baby gets Starbucks whether he/she wants it or not (don't freak out, I get decaf...or at least 1/2 decaf once a day). If I want junk food, baby has to eat junk food...etc. I am just praying that this weight loss was a one time fluke and not a sign that something isn't right. The internet is both my best friend and worst enemy in this pregnancy...it has so much info...it "feeds" a paranoid, addictive personality like me, with too much detail on anything and everything pregnancy-related.

Happy Birthday Monkey!

Happy Birthday Edouard!!! I hope you ate lots of yummy cake and loved all your presents! Bosco will bring you a gift next time we come to Montreal, which I hope will be soon. Hope you had lots of fun celebrating your special day!

Love and miss you my little monkey...

mamas-to-be...reunite

Jessica, Sean, and little Peyton made a pitstop for a couple of hours in Ottawa, on their way home to Alberta from their annual trip to Maine. A very short but sweet visit!



Peyton being flirty...











The Jones'













Big Belly Mama's...

Thanks for visiting guys...I know it made for a LONG trip home...but it was super good seeing you guys! Fun talking preggo talk too!