tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84516322024-03-22T01:10:33.516-04:00Leslie's Favorites(AMERICAN SPELLING'D!!!) Part IILeslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-52812408847510693122011-12-05T22:03:00.008-05:002011-12-06T07:45:07.182-05:00God-Given Potential ::An Introduction to Whole Hearted Prayer::<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUCXHu2LkHiDtvKC24nRBlWx7re383lNOiJF9I11WoAvAsUUiqfnElYlBZeCha9EyddzGRfHtp7zybd-zHENkEQdlf-Alx-9Ogj1E5ft4VVTTbkY3dFMr2iqE5o3CsgUM6w9Q9g/s1600/Girl+Praying.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUCXHu2LkHiDtvKC24nRBlWx7re383lNOiJF9I11WoAvAsUUiqfnElYlBZeCha9EyddzGRfHtp7zybd-zHENkEQdlf-Alx-9Ogj1E5ft4VVTTbkY3dFMr2iqE5o3CsgUM6w9Q9g/s400/Girl+Praying.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682860319514686866" /></a> It's 10:00pm and I should be setting down my Bible and I should be hitting the pillow. My eyes are red, my belly is empty (because I filled it with garbage) and I am restless in my spirit. After a bout of stomach flu and a week of stretching myself thin, I decided to have a "me night". <div><br /></div><div> I am grinning and shaking my head at myself right now. The irony. Isn't it interesting how to "reward" myself for this uphill climb of changing our diet for the better, I am going to punish my body. One hot dog in the belly and a second one (which I couldn't bring myself to eat) in the garbage. After which I consumed a hash brown and washed it down with a mouthful of sugar-free diet coke which had been left behind by a guest. This entire meal challenges every fibre of common sense. I can't call it a meal. I take it back. This lapse of judgement breaks every rule for eating in a way that glorifies God, and now I can see just how much I can be impacted by what I eat based on how I am feeling physically but especially mentally. I am restless and feel down.</div><div><br /></div><div>After my feast what did I do? I decided to read about parenting. I am all for making educated decisions. I agree wholeheartedly that breast is best, cloth over disposable, etc. etc. But L is formula fed (I will be blogging about our breastfeeding experiences and our local public health department later). I had 2 ultrasounds during my pregnancy. I gave birth in a hospital and I had an epidural. I did what I did with the small amount of knowledge I had and out of the panic and uncertainty of a mom experiencing a first birth... but as I read I have felt so condemned. Do we get vaccines? Do we introduce this food or that? Did we filter the water enough? What detergent do I use? Where did my clothes come from? What are my pots and pans made of? And given all of this, will my son be autistic? Will he have ADHD? Will he be sickly?</div><div><br /></div><div>Every day I am washed with a wave of the next thing I need to be careful of. I feel overwhelmed. I feel inadequate. I feel lost and am left with this sinking feeling that I am losing a battle to give my family the best start. But NO. I renounce that in JESUS name. Me, my son and my husband will live in glorious God-given health because my Jesus is big enough. I need to do my best and I need to be educated but where my best falls short, I need to stop worrying and I need to trust that the Lord is bigger than environmental toxins, carcinogens, mental disorders and anything else of concern today. I'm not talking "eat a big mac and pray I don't get fat" kind of thing. I'm talking about hard working and plugged-in parents, doing what we can and feeling pressured to do more and to do it better. Are you following me? Have you felt like this?</div><div><br /></div><div>And so where my energy and my resource and my knowledge runs short, I lift my arms in desperation to the One who can do it. I reach upward to the One who has numbered all of our days, who snuffs out sickness and disease and who is waiting to bring me and my family into the fullness of all He has for His human creation.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Our journey to meet our God-given potential begins with acknowledging God's power. </i></div><div><br /></div><div>To move with God's power I need to pray in God's power. For this, I need my whole heart. I need to be focused, I need to pray expecting to see the results and I need to pray persistently.</div><div><br /></div><div>Friends, I invite you to listen to <a href="http://andydell.podbean.com/mf/web/tettff/Prayer_with_the_Whole_Heart.mp3">this message</a> by Mel Bond. This message has helped me to pray more effectively. I'm not endorsing Mel Bond - just this particular message. Let this post be an introduction to my first look at God-Given Potential. </div><div><br /></div><div>And with that, I am going to get off of my couch and snuggle in next to my sweetie for a good night's sleep.</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-30618769835206880952011-11-25T16:19:00.002-05:002011-11-25T16:24:48.673-05:00Family photos at last!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrDiZBOoR-GB1ptbYjFCBx16VHhUWxMUvGjoZQsQhyphenhypheno9mVO97x4jcapKJfcF3fP6b4cq22Q0RmTDOx3_jH0mOwHgOfL-6aiZtV3A4ne2E9BO16AXycSVhdRFL9ht6-KniIUpE1g/s1600/DSC_4915.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbrDiZBOoR-GB1ptbYjFCBx16VHhUWxMUvGjoZQsQhyphenhypheno9mVO97x4jcapKJfcF3fP6b4cq22Q0RmTDOx3_jH0mOwHgOfL-6aiZtV3A4ne2E9BO16AXycSVhdRFL9ht6-KniIUpE1g/s400/DSC_4915.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679047477644538530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDTg2MG6p0cggkSQ6kxTKgufb7qDuGEvCEEke2SVG7SRuqAAfaiHABz8CxzcTqNmuztzfF9halAkfjw9JxZDQcynhzfD41O4dWMiYaE0BIpCqDGL9XE1qTqyENwjXUj5tkZaMXQ/s1600/DSC_5015+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDTg2MG6p0cggkSQ6kxTKgufb7qDuGEvCEEke2SVG7SRuqAAfaiHABz8CxzcTqNmuztzfF9halAkfjw9JxZDQcynhzfD41O4dWMiYaE0BIpCqDGL9XE1qTqyENwjXUj5tkZaMXQ/s400/DSC_5015+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679047471542304402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj7pM9TtSBA5Qrd36NZg6XkSEsEJRUWZhlU7CWD1BVvO0vXL8iqlb_Ri1auiV_r9WfTYc3-RTmie-WWormS6QTIsZyysRMPEwIWbaW6_ONe4NycGa296nxMnBCugiSHSVnyM0WQ/s1600/DSC_5084+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDj7pM9TtSBA5Qrd36NZg6XkSEsEJRUWZhlU7CWD1BVvO0vXL8iqlb_Ri1auiV_r9WfTYc3-RTmie-WWormS6QTIsZyysRMPEwIWbaW6_ONe4NycGa296nxMnBCugiSHSVnyM0WQ/s400/DSC_5084+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679046867013878082" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGnndp3igos3ekdrPP7SkDtA3hwh4QZzLCI7E77gWHUjhhjD97rpKCVw3MalZR5oBsZx8GsqGvXsV-jvumvH73FGeThs-zwuyjDXYBzoMa_abV5YX2FCgzK9BtbcCpqm_RW5sJQ/s1600/DSC_5112+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGnndp3igos3ekdrPP7SkDtA3hwh4QZzLCI7E77gWHUjhhjD97rpKCVw3MalZR5oBsZx8GsqGvXsV-jvumvH73FGeThs-zwuyjDXYBzoMa_abV5YX2FCgzK9BtbcCpqm_RW5sJQ/s400/DSC_5112+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679046861814084402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eTGub1XiO5fcSQC4jL2aMleuxUCXzW2QB0YvNfHhuACq6J-JmX_9VIX6WsUVlO8GfYgNQZ_NXv-iHReT8-yFaRMGgHbYwNnUTpKQA-qAuZcGqTXx88yfIYsAoWsB4arOPk8LtA/s1600/DSC_5132+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eTGub1XiO5fcSQC4jL2aMleuxUCXzW2QB0YvNfHhuACq6J-JmX_9VIX6WsUVlO8GfYgNQZ_NXv-iHReT8-yFaRMGgHbYwNnUTpKQA-qAuZcGqTXx88yfIYsAoWsB4arOPk8LtA/s400/DSC_5132+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679046850943580802" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRxqj4aP2D-Tf_OxKLE1APP8-6geGnh2YIa1QUkIY5HCujNWq2cK8NSrr2ySguHTmYGPS4s9WfcgErDAvOlJL2NsI-I0GNo_mEeCOGF01TuVbCBOqintYA_uVnQx1HAHJBg_Tgw/s1600/DSC_5140+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRxqj4aP2D-Tf_OxKLE1APP8-6geGnh2YIa1QUkIY5HCujNWq2cK8NSrr2ySguHTmYGPS4s9WfcgErDAvOlJL2NsI-I0GNo_mEeCOGF01TuVbCBOqintYA_uVnQx1HAHJBg_Tgw/s400/DSC_5140+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679046849302514434" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-eTZy5B5gp8ErrBppEWp8eJtD8EKDjoFxE6BAYuxMteJRoSppZNGSIFtiVG1CMANQYVo-aAPWFlQsZbvA-xvZkrM-9wbw-YMMUbmk5PBfu7yyVvbp3dJXXIthO24PpmfrvoUfA/s1600/DSC_4992+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-eTZy5B5gp8ErrBppEWp8eJtD8EKDjoFxE6BAYuxMteJRoSppZNGSIFtiVG1CMANQYVo-aAPWFlQsZbvA-xvZkrM-9wbw-YMMUbmk5PBfu7yyVvbp3dJXXIthO24PpmfrvoUfA/s400/DSC_4992+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679046845414343890" /></a>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-56945467361986149472011-09-25T21:43:00.003-04:002011-09-27T21:10:02.271-04:00God-Given Potential<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-KaOl613Rk_MV1rYf5NkouPEiY-TQN_ZzXQCyTxAwd3Vg-kbKC_uSb5ik1fiFkGMnk9nBcuZzmUQQyq5h4Lwnq3I2c-9bn_Aw4EhwypygV08cAL_VdQ3t5tJEA1ZCDBVaNIFAw/s1600/beinspiredwebSmall.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-KaOl613Rk_MV1rYf5NkouPEiY-TQN_ZzXQCyTxAwd3Vg-kbKC_uSb5ik1fiFkGMnk9nBcuZzmUQQyq5h4Lwnq3I2c-9bn_Aw4EhwypygV08cAL_VdQ3t5tJEA1ZCDBVaNIFAw/s400/beinspiredwebSmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657210467587854898" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>After a lot of prayer, discussion and attending a few lectures and meetings run from various places we are ready to take the full plunge into what we believe is the way the Lord has intended us to live. I speak specifically for Joe and I, but we also have felt the Lord's leading to make it a family mission to engage others in this journey as well. He designed us. He has a plan for us, not just in spirit but in body. <div><br /></div><div>We need our bodies to be functioning at 100% in order to experience and accomplish all that he has for us, and 100% doesn't just mean no symptoms. It means being looking down the road and seeing a healthy self at age 70, 80, 90. 85% of North Americans will either die of cancer or heart disease. 85%! Being a mom has made me ask an important question: Is the way I am living setting me and my family up to be part of the 85% or part of the 15?</div><div><br /></div><div>I look forward to discussing this with all of you.. all two of you maybe? hah. Even if one person reads, I'll be happy. Please stay tuned as I begin this new series.. Complete with the resources my family has discovered and with confessions along the way-- sharing truthfully how all of this is going for us as we implement some much needed change.</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-44156005287852249482011-09-11T22:24:00.002-04:002011-09-11T22:30:07.363-04:00He paints a beautiful picture. Doesn't He?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF3rG-W1qg7n1Cv1PNq23nEvI_cmJ4YplIhrQx34lAGchL0dYKbSQcUzRmTu0jtRShZCtiUzatlvnW960zdQRbWY79jdUbF_cm3GA3PvQbdaQLv2c5ZLvD_uOD5oI7bOP6ojKPw/s1600/DSC_9493.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 366px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeF3rG-W1qg7n1Cv1PNq23nEvI_cmJ4YplIhrQx34lAGchL0dYKbSQcUzRmTu0jtRShZCtiUzatlvnW960zdQRbWY79jdUbF_cm3GA3PvQbdaQLv2c5ZLvD_uOD5oI7bOP6ojKPw/s400/DSC_9493.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651293956580769202" /></a>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-37441060312993931352011-09-07T08:48:00.002-04:002011-09-07T08:58:55.923-04:00AutumnizingSo, from time to time (every few days) I take a gander at a few of the blogs that my friends keep. Not five minutes ago I logged onto <a href="http://wildoatsandsugar.blogspot.com/">WildOatsandSugar</a> to exclaim "come ON MamaOat.. get moving and give me something else to read!" Immediately afterwards I paid my own blog a visit to discover that I'm a filthy hypocrite and that I haven't posted in over a month myself. That said, here I am and I'd like to discuss "autumnizing", which is the act of preparing ones home for the cold months while the weather is still warm enough to spend long periods of time outside. <div><br /></div><div>My "autumnizing checklist":</div><div><ul><li>Sorting through the summer clothes and packing them away</li><li>Cleaning our windows, inside and out</li><li>Purging-- finally dropping that growing pile off at the donation store and then starting the second lap around the house to pack away any unnecessary visual noise (will be blogging about visual noise in a few days.)</li><li>Cleaning our oven and kitchen cupboards.. getting rid of any unnecessary kitchen clutter</li><li>Organizing our front all closet</li><li>Tilling and mixing compost into the soil for next year's veggie garden</li><li>Cutting back our perennials </li></ul></div><div>That's the start.. What do you do? </div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-25454570333745389512011-08-06T12:13:00.004-04:002011-08-10T00:07:18.940-04:00God is.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxCvcTkBuvmM2ehyzwNWzPzMRJBIfl2Km7tLq_57YZY6LrafzsOpD_byeGmbeLKA9yRLIDHHa_J9DL7XxHxKQUl2-mpHH0lr7xZe30LeLLhGbaWtQyVYctzqZI0bp6wTgPX4Dkg/s1600/open_hands.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxCvcTkBuvmM2ehyzwNWzPzMRJBIfl2Km7tLq_57YZY6LrafzsOpD_byeGmbeLKA9yRLIDHHa_J9DL7XxHxKQUl2-mpHH0lr7xZe30LeLLhGbaWtQyVYctzqZI0bp6wTgPX4Dkg/s400/open_hands.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639073990078581026" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;">
<br /></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">For one reason or another I haven't written in a while. To be honest, there is not a whole lot to share right now other than times continue to be tough financially speaking but our Lord is faithful.</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-40742203256255088452011-07-12T15:20:00.003-04:002011-07-12T15:34:16.529-04:00"On a picnic we will go for it's summertime you know, and we love to spend our Sundays in the park!"<div>It's birthday time for me! I'm 26. Considering myself a year older isn't as weird as usual because in a case of extreme pregnancy/baby brain, I forgot my age and so I've mistakenly been telling people I'm 26 for the last several months. It wasn't until yesterday until Joe said, "Woah! You're going to be 26." To which I replied, "Wait a minute. How old am I?" That's when I realized I'd been misleading people. I'm sure I'm not the first this has happened to. Right?... Anybody?<div><br /></div><div>Whether I'm 6 or 26, one thing remains the same: My love for picnics. The original plan had been to get a sitter, go on a picnic and then go canoeing. The threatening rain clouds and our tired & sorry selves put a damper on those plans. Instead, we went as a family for a shorter picnic at a lovely garden just south of us. Afterwards, we brought baby home and while our neighbour kept watch, hubby and I went for a bike ride on the new bike I got for my birthday!</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB2q9iWi7srMl8WLkytdRY4QgkOJETotXFjZsjGNOPdobfCyCxtsM5WQDOk3pQyngrwrNg3QBHL1QV_4DKyVQ7aGjk4u_JSnGfEX3qAig9EgkfDUZmo6bWKn4d3R33bbabDeHxQ/s1600/DSC_8684+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTB2q9iWi7srMl8WLkytdRY4QgkOJETotXFjZsjGNOPdobfCyCxtsM5WQDOk3pQyngrwrNg3QBHL1QV_4DKyVQ7aGjk4u_JSnGfEX3qAig9EgkfDUZmo6bWKn4d3R33bbabDeHxQ/s400/DSC_8684+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628550573972092770" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS880pJ0bdTiZ4Uy3NYhZNq3achxcNkbXaKegACxZMNPOO9bkrSuGwRn6jrvPq5h6alfNZFyDVBnyq2JnluX_1Ok4g0GRpAE5mq1zIgZx1z5u4syvmqoYyGR1yQ5gIwMQrjRYjQ/s1600/DSC_8698+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwS880pJ0bdTiZ4Uy3NYhZNq3achxcNkbXaKegACxZMNPOO9bkrSuGwRn6jrvPq5h6alfNZFyDVBnyq2JnluX_1Ok4g0GRpAE5mq1zIgZx1z5u4syvmqoYyGR1yQ5gIwMQrjRYjQ/s400/DSC_8698+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628550555992150098" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hHdbB5cg5CzifTF7Vf9pz84eBiBHi3TXLE5fLlTlruWBA7oQVePN0JztCrzf83HVc9fvR5B-vpCEa9TRG2i_hNKUpcT4a-pfOxAwDnCR6C_6RAY0RiExWzwDZvSEnXG7UH9NyQ/s1600/DSC_8686+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hHdbB5cg5CzifTF7Vf9pz84eBiBHi3TXLE5fLlTlruWBA7oQVePN0JztCrzf83HVc9fvR5B-vpCEa9TRG2i_hNKUpcT4a-pfOxAwDnCR6C_6RAY0RiExWzwDZvSEnXG7UH9NyQ/s400/DSC_8686+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628550541802292578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQG3GcgipV5uyNAWlg-lXYzCwOnXSFy4gGEeq6ceqqruT0ZwHcV4vp7MQt4fNl5j4CiKVjCXZ-ycUh_xWZBhf2zmO6LhDm6rQh1ljFNsFqB7nb6db0iWLv985RQ3tmUi-z_4lwQ/s1600/DSC_8709+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQG3GcgipV5uyNAWlg-lXYzCwOnXSFy4gGEeq6ceqqruT0ZwHcV4vp7MQt4fNl5j4CiKVjCXZ-ycUh_xWZBhf2zmO6LhDm6rQh1ljFNsFqB7nb6db0iWLv985RQ3tmUi-z_4lwQ/s400/DSC_8709+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628550526584953682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKSs8QfpbML6ff62vSUz5PxonfMWinp6rGGVzg3Q899LtUACI8EmxbavIQkNbvnCvN-7tDDFAFY05hjKTLL8jUAXJUF9K92tGiUdnSYw4uz-pTUWuTQpwimJD8z9m2qNXLhAdRA/s1600/DSC_8705.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSKSs8QfpbML6ff62vSUz5PxonfMWinp6rGGVzg3Q899LtUACI8EmxbavIQkNbvnCvN-7tDDFAFY05hjKTLL8jUAXJUF9K92tGiUdnSYw4uz-pTUWuTQpwimJD8z9m2qNXLhAdRA/s400/DSC_8705.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628550515043976098" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Oh. And Charlie came too. :)</div><div><br /></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-8811427305162328662011-07-06T14:48:00.005-04:002011-07-06T15:10:15.212-04:00Tasty, Tasty Tabouli<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs_O9wu4xLtNdfFMzhd7xH6WqEmfYevdWcmH91Esi0pluByRjnpt_MOry7W-7_89yL2joTRvRNUjC7ZehLAiCztr-tp6Z-P0NHqr4omyB-dtJL046YhXYgrlgi9X8AfrQOV9kgA/s1600/tabouli.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLs_O9wu4xLtNdfFMzhd7xH6WqEmfYevdWcmH91Esi0pluByRjnpt_MOry7W-7_89yL2joTRvRNUjC7ZehLAiCztr-tp6Z-P0NHqr4omyB-dtJL046YhXYgrlgi9X8AfrQOV9kgA/s400/tabouli.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626313363002955202" /></a><div><ul><li>2 cups of cooked and cooled quinoa (pronounced keen-wa)</li><li>1 cup of chopped fresh parsley</li><li>1/2 cup chopped green onions</li><li>2 tbsp chopped fresh mint</li><li>1 clove garlic (minced)</li><li>1 tbsp fresh chopped basil</li><li>1/2 cup lemon juice</li><li>1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil</li><li>Handful of chopped red or yellow pepper</li><li>Handful of chopped tomato</li><li>Salt & white pepper to taste</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Let it sit in the fridge for an hour or so to let the flavours combine. Yum! We use Bob's Red Mill quinoa. Quinoa is not only delicious but it's packed full of super great nutrients. You can read about it <a href="http://happynutritionist.com/quinoa.html">here</a>. I make a bowl of this stuff and we snack on it for a few days-- its great to eat a scoop here and there, and we also enjoy it as a side dish. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Note: The quinoa cooks up better if you rinse it to get the starchy coating off. A piece of cheesecloth works the best for this. The first time I made it I lost a bunch of quinoa during the rinsing process (i made the mistake of trying to use paper towel) and so when I added the olive oil and the lemon, it seemed a little waterlogged. By the next day, the juices had been absorbed. Feel free to add less oil and lemon juice though if you're not as keen on the lemony taste and want it to be a bit more light and fluffy.</div><div> </div><div>I hope you enjoy this dish! It's got an amazing texture as well as bright and cheery colours for bright and cheery summer meals. Bon Appetite! </div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-69906498923054409912011-07-04T10:45:00.007-04:002011-07-05T12:27:21.787-04:00Home is where the heart is.<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFMwAyhPzLz9LqSpVlWNT-hncHbLwRBTqAtuDms-zYajpmgHlNPjVspC6qDSBHbvjy0lTAM_1Y9apfmTPTzI0zcszJlgo-leOhO2e_r7oHwWpoIVcX5u0KJutzwv3O6xMiXuFdg/s1600/home-is-where-the-heart-is.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFMwAyhPzLz9LqSpVlWNT-hncHbLwRBTqAtuDms-zYajpmgHlNPjVspC6qDSBHbvjy0lTAM_1Y9apfmTPTzI0zcszJlgo-leOhO2e_r7oHwWpoIVcX5u0KJutzwv3O6xMiXuFdg/s400/home-is-where-the-heart-is.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625520343230770898" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Joe's parents said goodbye to their house of 15 years last week after a bit of a nightmare. It was a rude awakening to see just how greedy people can get. Upon noticing an error in the paperwork, the man selling my in-laws their new house decided he wanted more money before he would agree to correct the error. This happened literally, in the 11th hour. This man has been gouging them and hassling them since February but since they need the shop for my father-in-law's business, they didn't have any other choice but to play along. The real estate agent offered the man a cash incentive (out of his own pocket) if he would just give my in-laws the house and stop giving them a hard time. So in the end, they got their key the same day they would have to vacate their old house. It was scary for a while since they didn't know what to do with all of their things and they didn't know where they would all stay when faced with the possibility of being "homeless". <div><br /></div><div>I got to thinking though. A house is just a house and home really is where your heart is. It was interesting to try and imagine our family in their situation. What if there was a fire and we lost all of our stuff? What if we were homeless? What would that feel like? I realized a few things. 1) Stuff is just stuff and there is no guarantee it will always be there. The Lord says to store up treasures in heaven where moths and rust don't destroy and where thieves don't break in and steal (Matt 6:20) 2) I can choose to be content and to have joy despite my circumstances. </div><div><br /></div><div>These aren't new thoughts, but it's always nice to be reminded.</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-4465292517681788682011-06-29T22:36:00.010-04:002011-06-29T23:06:28.556-04:00Things to be happy about (in no particular order)<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR0XlfZ2yE-l8zo55oImWAeUaIusiQ5ZmkmmZNU_n7J1nxQ-JD6JRlL6nVmimnOY8VryXPjpK7tK1OxtJnk-TPOYrWk6Yay7i1-sm-ee1klafec1QW6SDt7GOSNKtVTB2MI55ow/s1600/DSC_5940+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmR0XlfZ2yE-l8zo55oImWAeUaIusiQ5ZmkmmZNU_n7J1nxQ-JD6JRlL6nVmimnOY8VryXPjpK7tK1OxtJnk-TPOYrWk6Yay7i1-sm-ee1klafec1QW6SDt7GOSNKtVTB2MI55ow/s400/DSC_5940+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623842039846558786" /></a></div><ul><li>My beautiful pumpkin asleep in his crib</li><li>The snoring beagle on the couch</li><li>A husband who loves, cherishes and respects me</li><li>Our purple living room</li><li>Being rescued by my Abba father</li><li>Cloth Diapers</li><li>Sharing our home with those in need</li><li>Being available</li><li>The copious amount of cheese in our fridge</li><li>Eating the veggies we planted, tended to and finally harvested</li><li>The large Manitoba Maple in our backyard-- who joyfully rustles and keeps our entire yard shaded</li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXWIK1lfyo">Jon Foreman</a></li><li>Trying new recipes</li><li>The golden sunlight that bathes our bedroom and the nursery each evening</li><li>Middle-of-the-night snuggles with my best friend</li><li><a href="http://www.molliekatzen.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipe=zuccanoes">Zuccanoes</a>!</li><li>Epsom salts</li><li>Provision</li><li>introspection</li><li>Biographies & documentaries</li><li>Seeing real miracles with my own eyes</li><li>Evening walks to watch kids play soccer in our local park</li><li>The library</li><li>Playing chess with my husband and then learning where I went wrong</li><li>Free healthcare</li><li>Genuinely caring about how someone else is doing when you ask "how are you"</li><li>Sushi</li><li>Warm and toasty feet</li><li>Saving money by doing it myself</li><li>Creative expression</li><li>Nice long naps</li></ul><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoXWIK1lfyo"></a></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-75321873955486654232011-06-29T09:03:00.004-04:002011-07-06T15:14:34.133-04:00Inventory<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PSALM 32 (NLT)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14332" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">1</sup> Oh, what joy for those<br /> whose disobedience is forgiven,<br /> whose sin is put out of sight!<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14333" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">2</sup> Yes, what joy for those<br /> whose record the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; ">ord</span> has cleared of guilt,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NLT-14333b" title="See footnote b">b</a>]" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: 0.5em; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2032&version=NLT#fen-NLT-14333b" title="See footnote b" style="color: rgb(101, 19, 0); text-decoration: none; ">b</a>]</sup><br /> whose lives are lived in complete honesty!<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14334" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">3</sup> When I refused to confess my sin,<br /> my body wasted away,<br /> and I groaned all day long.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14335" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">4</sup> Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.<br /> My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.<br /> <i>Interlude</i><br /><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14336" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">5</sup> Finally, I confessed all my sins to you<br /> and stopped trying to hide my guilt.<br /> I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; ">ord</span>.”<br /> And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.<br /> <i>Interlude</i><br /></p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14337" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">6</sup> Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,<br /> that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14338" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">7</sup> For you are my hiding place;<br /> you protect me from trouble.<br /> You surround me with songs of victory.<br /> <i>Interlude</i><br /></p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14339" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">8</sup> The L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; ">ord</span> says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.<br /> I will advise you and watch over you.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14340" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">9</sup> Do not be like a senseless horse or mule<br /> that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”</p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14341" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">10</sup> Many sorrows come to the wicked,<br /> but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; ">ord</span>.<br /><sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-14342" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">11</sup> So rejoice in the L<span style="font-variant: small-caps; ">ord</span> and be glad, all you who obey him!<br /> Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!</p><p>Joe and I did an inventory of the weeds we've let sprout up and grow in our lives. It was humbling. It was hard. We each listed our own on paper and then prayed and asked for forgiveness of the Lord and of each other. Throughout our 3 years of marriage we've done this a few times. I think the thing that makes it work is that we do this when things are "going well". We don't wait for problems to develop because it's not a productive exercise when you're caught up in the emotion of the moment. We decide to do it on a regular run-of-the-mill evening so that we can have a calm and somewhat objective look, and it's suprising how easily we fool ourselves into thinking we're doing a great job and we're not making ANY mistakes and we're SO SUPER AWESOME! But then to start digging leads you on a rabbit trail of seeing all the things we've let slide, all of the ways we've compromised and how it has effected our relationship with God and our quality of life day to day. We're not going looking for troubles, but we are keeping ourselves in check and trying to prevent the pride that can easily erode a marriage and the important relationship with our Saviour. When we root out the weeds, the crops can grow more bountifully. </p></span>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-52424384407479018832011-06-25T15:43:00.010-04:002011-06-25T16:02:56.513-04:00Let there be Light<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL1Z3Z1qDui8hdQsILn2DRnn0AHBtBXvO4dawv3w42_TnZ5y7x6g_jryEQQUm4idQ82rgLvfoDmDNNx7QUpHUWiAAJIWG-VqCUv-biecBaZpSCCV9MsXstkiWPpc5p5zUpQbU8Q/s1600/light-bulb-moment.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 368px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL1Z3Z1qDui8hdQsILn2DRnn0AHBtBXvO4dawv3w42_TnZ5y7x6g_jryEQQUm4idQ82rgLvfoDmDNNx7QUpHUWiAAJIWG-VqCUv-biecBaZpSCCV9MsXstkiWPpc5p5zUpQbU8Q/s400/light-bulb-moment.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622248912854397506" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTL1Z3Z1qDui8hdQsILn2DRnn0AHBtBXvO4dawv3w42_TnZ5y7x6g_jryEQQUm4idQ82rgLvfoDmDNNx7QUpHUWiAAJIWG-VqCUv-biecBaZpSCCV9MsXstkiWPpc5p5zUpQbU8Q/s1600/light-bulb-moment.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>It's overcast (again). Joe's out makin' money for our family (again). What's different? I'm having a balanced day I think... And I sat down with the Word and jumped in (though I'm ashamed to admit it, for the first time in over a week). Ephesians was calling my name through a crowd of friends and family who reject my dear friend, Jesus. Through a sea of blanket statements and assumptions I was able to hear Him when I sat down in my quiet living room. Babe asleep in his crib, husband at work; it was me, the beagle and my Bible on the couch. I began to read.<div><br /></div><div><blockquote>I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called - his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. Ephesians 1:18</blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div>Then He said to me: I've called them too.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I've made this my prayer and am committing this verse to memory. Instead of feeling hopelessness when someone makes an ignorant statement or assumes, I am going to pray for light. I'll pray that they'll realize they've been given confident hope and that they've been called too. </div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-89229244887054769012011-06-16T19:07:00.005-04:002011-06-16T20:16:11.789-04:00Our "Must Have" Baby Items<div>Friends Naomi and Katrina have done this and I decided to follow suit and share a small list of things that help us get by. The items featured below are the life-savers at our house.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipLehwgTTO23EhEEG-oIz3iIfQ3X-J4o_ubd2DfHl0lOcL9Ih6xv-3K6HoutPJjnb3akYOcOQIL9kWWSditwItd3t_pgfH7G-ljZGs-B7EKXyJYFGm3nOPJQmYuKIPc3mEote9g/s1600/natursutten_ortho_s_packaging_web.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 273px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipLehwgTTO23EhEEG-oIz3iIfQ3X-J4o_ubd2DfHl0lOcL9Ih6xv-3K6HoutPJjnb3akYOcOQIL9kWWSditwItd3t_pgfH7G-ljZGs-B7EKXyJYFGm3nOPJQmYuKIPc3mEote9g/s400/natursutten_ortho_s_packaging_web.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618968406539100226" /></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipLehwgTTO23EhEEG-oIz3iIfQ3X-J4o_ubd2DfHl0lOcL9Ih6xv-3K6HoutPJjnb3akYOcOQIL9kWWSditwItd3t_pgfH7G-ljZGs-B7EKXyJYFGm3nOPJQmYuKIPc3mEote9g/s1600/natursutten_ortho_s_packaging_web.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipLehwgTTO23EhEEG-oIz3iIfQ3X-J4o_ubd2DfHl0lOcL9Ih6xv-3K6HoutPJjnb3akYOcOQIL9kWWSditwItd3t_pgfH7G-ljZGs-B7EKXyJYFGm3nOPJQmYuKIPc3mEote9g/s1600/natursutten_ortho_s_packaging_web.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">The pacifier!! I struggled with this for a while because the jury seems split as to whether or not to introduce a pacifier right away. I finally had to pony up and make a decision based on what I thought was best for me and my baby. A few days in I realized that Liam was using me as a pacifier. He would stay at the breast even though he wasn't drinking and really didn't have a very good latch. He would fuss if I took him off and would remain there indefinitely. It was frustrating but once we finally decided to give him a pacifier, he was much less fussy.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipLehwgTTO23EhEEG-oIz3iIfQ3X-J4o_ubd2DfHl0lOcL9Ih6xv-3K6HoutPJjnb3akYOcOQIL9kWWSditwItd3t_pgfH7G-ljZGs-B7EKXyJYFGm3nOPJQmYuKIPc3mEote9g/s1600/natursutten_ortho_s_packaging_web.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx-O2xElTPHvwb-UyDjX74INlOsiR6BZAebvd1DH9fyG9FQdCODSvass1sIBKIZI_5JS4p8n7eQUIaJsSkC7QVDvhdGzXb3jg7W5HpV09b_cMck6FiB8yrOrnIDNUnTEThBGHvQ/s1600/moby_wrap.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikx-O2xElTPHvwb-UyDjX74INlOsiR6BZAebvd1DH9fyG9FQdCODSvass1sIBKIZI_5JS4p8n7eQUIaJsSkC7QVDvhdGzXb3jg7W5HpV09b_cMck6FiB8yrOrnIDNUnTEThBGHvQ/s400/moby_wrap.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966890478107762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Our Moby Wrap is the single most important thing we own where Liam is concerned. This is what we turn to when we need him to be well behaved or when we need him to go to sleep. We've made it through weddings, church services and shopping trips with this magical baby carrier. As soon as he goes in and is given his pacifier, he's out like a light guaranteed.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW5CndiYQetwOFYsPu-4psRE-0eQgswBYUbkIXSJ01sYWiB8zQaufHnVuv2eKQDBU8Ly6ozOJJG5NTBTV__gSNXVjEuq9ed_vHbjyiUcFu159PKKWr9XEGU3q_VcshtcElVHYLg/s1600/Fisher-Price-Luv-U-Zoo-Deluxe-Musical-Mobile-Gym-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW5CndiYQetwOFYsPu-4psRE-0eQgswBYUbkIXSJ01sYWiB8zQaufHnVuv2eKQDBU8Ly6ozOJJG5NTBTV__gSNXVjEuq9ed_vHbjyiUcFu159PKKWr9XEGU3q_VcshtcElVHYLg/s400/Fisher-Price-Luv-U-Zoo-Deluxe-Musical-Mobile-Gym-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966885655936594" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This Fisher Price Luv-You-Zoo play mat is great for both interactive play and solo play. I often sit on the floor with Liam and we sing songs and play finger games, but if I want to whip up a few dishes I can turn on the music which also features coloured blinking lights and a spinning mobile.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq9ddHECQpgnKCtr8wfS3N0lrfhxQRJLUqnptocUPlvYiZCW6kpbuGpgOA9cs11Ph_h8jj_uGay4MpE9pMDkKteYJpZ6OjaGsdgy-ilwX6m0Uh3nDgjDXUk1f4GRlvfVWH_hHYg/s1600/Turtle_bouncer.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 380px; height: 380px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjq9ddHECQpgnKCtr8wfS3N0lrfhxQRJLUqnptocUPlvYiZCW6kpbuGpgOA9cs11Ph_h8jj_uGay4MpE9pMDkKteYJpZ6OjaGsdgy-ilwX6m0Uh3nDgjDXUk1f4GRlvfVWH_hHYg/s400/Turtle_bouncer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966877936693362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I'm sure most moms have one of these. There's nothing super special about this brand, but this is the one we happen to have. It's the Bright Start Turtle Bouncer and it has worked well for us because he is seated in a more upright position than some of the other ones, which is great because he's getting to the age where he wants to look around at everything. He's also super excited about the dangling toys. This chair also features a vibrating mode. Ooooo. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO98UGIYkueZ9AnalqYW7iyO4-sMdX6Rr1Y_lYdEIFh5bkwp16R9sBnrxVGQ_Fk1aFUPWqL1gGwm1gxNcoBvX5skHK_4wTuGx9ZdD5E7eUz5DztHCFsqJM_XzY9hRT-9fEwMw2ug/s1600/Lamaze+Doll.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 218px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO98UGIYkueZ9AnalqYW7iyO4-sMdX6Rr1Y_lYdEIFh5bkwp16R9sBnrxVGQ_Fk1aFUPWqL1gGwm1gxNcoBvX5skHK_4wTuGx9ZdD5E7eUz5DztHCFsqJM_XzY9hRT-9fEwMw2ug/s400/Lamaze+Doll.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618966871004627634" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This Lamaze Doll was given to us second hand, but he's super infatuated with it. The dress crinkles and there is a rattle attached to the front. It also has the rings in her hand that Liam can grab onto. The thing that makes this particularly functional is the hook coming out of the top. I hooked it to the Bright Start chair today with the other dangling toys and I've never seen him content for so long. He was staring away at all of the patterns and grabbing at her dress. </div></div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-38593726562958982852011-06-14T22:28:00.006-04:002011-06-15T00:02:53.081-04:00Scrapbooking Fun: Label MakingToday I just HAD to make something. I'd bought a spice rack at a garage sale for $5 and gave it a bit of a face lift. I can't justify putting a lot of money into a new spice rack but I also don't enjoy rummaging through a box in my kitchen cupboard to find the spice I'm looking for. A few hours later and TA-DA! I also made a label for the jar that we keep the baby formula in and a label for our cake stand.<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbKKR64GLa_r3wzlovEpirzZhjJo7lrNnVmcTeLqz4wWchIa3YXnCKtYl8rAQ4b06IODmnu9cpnC4Nxu9SBgmwM3Nuor39cK6ilJXEMJxc7HeMzIKd6MOxpZZQjytmr2O5R2uGVA/s400/DSC_5740+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279371012605602" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1wyZednLcG0I5rsbLL1hT3Q1UA3C9f6vlHi1eHaOHmcd6s5KnmhoazqWcYAUhvk1mcqMGf78KEaCCymBsXlA_np4wbhlHFv1w4-DzvQcV4ix12dzzbHC6hqdsO53Qh2EaJXtgw/s400/DSC_5781+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279176116396690" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFshSI3GYEClDD-VNjnXnCu180hlBNJG3gS9pcwKB5p83tBWAQmrQxHFLm7lVBmcYzgpyuNTgbaQwRxWLJ_S5buEu5DA6TuMCeQaNsjqiph3eh02JgpSO07iSbvC8fgN2y71oUg/s400/DSC_5779+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279171219859858" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPli7EATVZL3ZwMDi-jELUkZtnyEuMy_S6emoigBOZECllLKz-dAEXnLNJEkZcuP8uJ5juSRlgmOGa6mrje_s45-n7bGfK9sNn9ijpGfh4uKUTkgdbPI7fAvdLD1s4LqRDBFfPGg/s400/DSC_5784+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279158287627906" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5udLj0jBqmLxTgO3JsWNqstZJ1-lXgFsNEBe0X7DIMZjA5jY1Vsn4leS5pAlva2586B9RrvX5rNANUvQl8Dwjkvit5YlTxsKdKRz0o8JVkDZjTpx71L6tOm57CDpJutsyeLnzg/s400/DSC_5800+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279149473151170" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_W-u7GNErWGO2Kheq10XCn-O03XXp0gZceptOhql28S1fjWSETDgxzb5xx8_bOjtA6Yn2KwQsKN6ixzZ3B1hcKsdD1tql1fgHGab90juTZ4KiHoMUpuLYb7G4HCIrl_Urb2Uutg/s400/DSC_5804+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618279142004438738" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh2WfHN93Asrq1EzMf2CHzX7IM-Id1QEhCTDlAuIUWahO6xw8f-elwwVbhUNa_dVID7VcuY0BFDs8a7yRPU-7U1cqvGeIhIfMv2W7mfcCCCFTTC9wxauEwKbR7knw6f-iSkP6rw/s1600/DSC_5811.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh2WfHN93Asrq1EzMf2CHzX7IM-Id1QEhCTDlAuIUWahO6xw8f-elwwVbhUNa_dVID7VcuY0BFDs8a7yRPU-7U1cqvGeIhIfMv2W7mfcCCCFTTC9wxauEwKbR7knw6f-iSkP6rw/s400/DSC_5811.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618280413107889746" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RpqXYtISrU1pWSq8TkegMdLtYox3A0NWsZhxJSxDb0Fk-vHG0td-abY67hFY-YiZ8MNoGxN2I44KGhLbhkf47Vtq6HTqSsVlyK4u07hLg_m3IGW2VJMSloIoLmaLu9cCuizcLQ/s1600/DSC_5812+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RpqXYtISrU1pWSq8TkegMdLtYox3A0NWsZhxJSxDb0Fk-vHG0td-abY67hFY-YiZ8MNoGxN2I44KGhLbhkf47Vtq6HTqSsVlyK4u07hLg_m3IGW2VJMSloIoLmaLu9cCuizcLQ/s400/DSC_5812+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618280407934290818" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxsRctxmVBzTKVWzesCqUoQDfj_o8uzPyvzIXH7BVwOVzpzSggFkvHObfPXFy5Mdgmml4vYuUREHPJBKW8wY_jki-W65Hf2Ii6lwfv2h8cLZwZMgc5s2ZzN0MMNyu5G2FC3vSPQ/s1600/DSC_5814+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxsRctxmVBzTKVWzesCqUoQDfj_o8uzPyvzIXH7BVwOVzpzSggFkvHObfPXFy5Mdgmml4vYuUREHPJBKW8wY_jki-W65Hf2Ii6lwfv2h8cLZwZMgc5s2ZzN0MMNyu5G2FC3vSPQ/s400/DSC_5814+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618280399598619250" /></a><div><br /></div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-54079002515039530982011-06-08T09:57:00.003-04:002011-06-08T10:45:36.417-04:00Liam's Birth Story<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytfbNNgTadcXM681PmBx_hInN3kQT2EaZ2l2b9X0oecrg6MRSwyy7rd7VDHHOEJzZqRjGhv9QEGxoCuqRmibQZ-dpMP5TokbkIUD9gb_eg9Ru5P8l16rb5bTyX4r4aGP7X5YT/s400/LiamAnnouncement.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850144754650450" /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was the first week of March I’d been having Braxton hicks contractions continually for a few days. They occurred every 8-15 minutes but weren’t painful and weren’t regular. We went to see our OB, Dr. Joutsi, who informed us that the baby had engaged and my cervix was 80% effaced and 2cm dilated. Joe and I were excited-- Joe was especially excited to hear that Baby could arrive “anytime in the next 12-24 hours”. Dr. Joutsi told Joe not to go to far from home which meant he couldn’t go down to school in the city and he also had to miss a sales meeting for work.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We got home and called to let my mom know what the doctor had said. She ended up driving down with my brother Matthew that night. We waited and waited. We went to the mall and walked around to try and get things moving, we played some card games and board games and we watched some movies but nothing more was happening. Just these painless but very tight braxton hicks contractions. Matt ended up catching a bad cold at the mall and so he went home while mom stayed down with us. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCrRPF9Z8-XCla5-qDHGoTVAiCGtHcCrgn1b2ePBIHfCGFHKv9eyeswm1kP8UkqU9q42OKDjOXhoiBCd1hoXO33Czv_gJM-DeLf7PvwZwyANyD_WvPUwKUbHZwfXn0gtnVkw6/s400/195157_505123003977_168600057_30124435_4116745_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615852138839686546" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Board games with the boys while we wait for Liam to come</span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Things continued on like this for nearly a week (it seemed like forever!!) until March 9th at 4:00am when my contractions started to become painful. I woke up and knew that this was the beginning of labor. I couldn’t lay down anymore because it was too uncomfortable and so I went into the baby’s room with a blanket and some pillows and set myself up in the reclining rocking chair. Eventually they became even more painful and so I woke up Joe and he came into the room with a chair and blanket of his own and got comfy beside me so that I could hold his hand. Charlie, our beagle, came and wanted up on Joe’s lap because he wanted to be close to us. So there we were at 5:00 in the morning-- Joe and I in chairs side by side with our beagle on Joe’s lap, breathing through contractions that were now painful but still not regular.</span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MYhm9E-h6JFRmaxvOwGIFJKR59HGPOLQBpaKg5kLUH8emQmJUH-pMyAZw1e8qhGF7cAPojNtK083BeBgoYGhLeqKab7APXRsm5EP1809b17xbiyxBYY6Xc-2nyW5WoWSktvK/s400/DSC_2084.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615852857265884594" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Labouring in bed with Charlie, my "hot water bottle"</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">These painful contractions continued for a few more days and my dad came down to visit us and then went back up to Owen Sound to wait things out until the baby arrived. Things were more intense and continued to become more painful. I could no longer talk through contractions and they hovered around 10 minutes apart but didn’t get any closer. They even spaced out a bit every once in a while which was discouraging. Because they were occurring so frequently, I was unable to get any sleep. I dealt with the pain by taking hot baths and I had found a comfortable position in the corner of our new L-shaped couch that a family from our church had given us a few days before. Joe and Mom took turns staying out in the living room with me at night to hold my hand when I was having a contraction. They also wrote down the times when things seemed to be getting “regular”. I had gone 3 days without any sleep and finally on Saturday, March 12th at about 10pm I decided that enough was enough and we should just go to the hospital to at least see what was happening. We called Joe’s brother Jake to come over and watch the dog, and then Joe, Mom and I went to the hospital.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When we got to the hospital birthing unit at South Lake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket and it was almost empty! There was no one in the triage room and I was able to see the nurse right away without having to wait. The nurse came in to see us and she did an internal exam. Sure enough, I was 4cm dilated so they admitted me! Next thing I knew, I was in our birthing room and 15 minutes later a doctor came in and broke my water. It was all happening so fast!!</span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdmxKn_3o9CSfFAHD0FALrhvdshQPpZZuxgc1_tk6X0iSMZDozH1hWFXAWvi4IwoEbfCEHJlHZK7aIn6auTEEXWd8fqOo3QAWIkrNkLb8sj3vMhVBx4qRE6kW5svYAdR1Uwen/s400/DSC_2110.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850152296060674" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">After my water broke real labour began</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After my water broke, the contractions still hovered around the irregular 10 min mark, but they became even more painful. I was unable to sit or lay down and so I walked around and labored for a few hours on my feet. Every time a contraction came, I walked over to the counter in our room and I put one hand on the counter, and Joe held my other hand to support me on the other side, and I leaned forward and breathed. I was very quiet during contractions. I just focused and breathed and stayed calm. I prayed a bit too and I felt more relaxed as the Lord reminded me not to tighten my muscles but to just let things go when a contraction was coming-- sort of like when you relax your muscles as you go to the bathroom. This helped a lot and I could feel the baby moving down. Joe was so supportive-- telling me that I was doing a great job, that he loved me so much and even that I looked beautiful. I also spent some time in a hot shower to deal with the pain. Eventually though, because I hadn’t slept in days, I was too tired to stand and I knew I would be unable to get comfortable sitting down so I decided I wanted to have an epidural.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A nurse named Lin came in to start an I.V. and then the anesthesiologist came in around 3:00am to do the epidural. Joe was holding my hand and I sat with my legs over the edge of the bed and leaned into a pillow tucked against my tummy. He froze my back and then I felt a lot of pressure in my spine as he put the needle in. It was absolutely terrible and I was quite vocal about it-- not screaming, but lots of “owwwwwww!! and ahhhhhh”. Joe wasn’t watching the procedure, but my reaction made him light headed and he said he started to feel pins and needles as the blood drained from his face. He waved my mom over to hold my hand and said he felt like he was going to pass out. Lin took a look at him and snatched him away, making him sit down in a chair so he wouldn’t faint and fall on the floor. </span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI6P0AFvenjqZ9Qg256oCtwwsqWS2SsaWqhkNMGcJnwWoD7It9_GSA8H0GbEy4OFijbgryDB5mJoZld3sLVySbzcW_C4JGMQ2aHc446vknE2tJDSrARU3QNJ2-ROwtsI5Fix3/s400/DSC_2125.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850591280361474" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Nurses administering oxygen</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After the epidural was in, I became much more comfortable and for the first time in days, I wasn’t feeling any pain. I was so much more relaxed and finally feeling great so I got really chatty and was so excited. Mom and Joe were feeling really tired though because they’d been awake with me the last few days too and they kept telling me it was time to be quiet and take a nap because I would need my energy. Finally we turned out the lights and I was able to get some sleep. Joe slept on a fold-out cot beside me, and mom tried to get comfortable in a chair, but eventually gave up and went into the waiting room to stretch out on a bank of chairs. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In the morning, a new nurse named Joella was on duty. She kept calling me “Mama” instead of by my name and she was extremely nice to us. The contractions were still not regular and I’d only dilated a cm more since they broke my water the night before so she started me on Oxytocin. By mid afternoon things were cooking and I was able to start pushing. I was able to control the epidural myself and so I took it easy on the dose in order to be able to feel when to push. Joe’s mom arrived for the delivery and everybody had a job to do.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I was on the hospital bed with Joe holding one leg, Joella holding the other and my mom/Joe’s mom were at each shoulder to assist me in leaning forward while I was pushing. I started pushing and things were going well. The mom’s (Joe’s and mine) were right into it and had been holding the back of my neck instead of supporting me behind my shoulders as they were supposed to. Whenever the nurse told me to push harder they responded by pushing me forward by my neck more and more. Hey guys, she’s telling ME to push. Not you! They readjusted and then things were more comfy.</span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Z0vs9G612Mredl0apDgd2RvOy1cnAHNNi1Juyrq2ASbzs9hPugGRmOkJSNgCIFiDMmrtWWhMBDVCd_jalBw4hVbwlEa5p1WFCteZsZgtOTNhoABE1mzHITXktGWosI5BP_jX/s400/DSC_2132.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850163545391746" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Mr Squishy get weighed-- 8 lbs 4 oz!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">45 mins later, Dr Dervaitis came in to deliver the baby. His head came out and there seemed to be lots of room, but his broad shoulders ended up being a problem. Out of nowhere a slightly panic’d nurse ran to the phone and called for more help. Before too long there were about 8-10 nurses working away at setting up emergency equipment just in case and Joelle hurriedly hoisted herself up onto my hospital bed. She straddled my waist and faced my feet. Using both hands she pushed with her entire upper-body down onto my stomach to squeeze him out as the doctor pulled him by the head to get him out quickly since he was turning blue. Originally Joe was going to cut the cord and then the nurse was going to set him on my belly so I could see him, but because of the situation, she quickly cut the cord and passed him to the team standing by with oxygen. For a while there was no cry and Joe was starting to get worried. So much was going on that I didn’t realize there had been any problem. Next thing I knew, I could hear the sound of them slapping the bottom of his feet and then the first cries came out.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was a trip. It wasn’t a super emotional instant love connection. It was just this bizarre Twilight Zone experience-- one second there wasn’t a baby in the room and now there’s a baby in the room. Where did it come from? As ridiculous as it sounds, I was shocked to see that there actually had been a baby in there. It’s like some part of me doubted it until I actually saw him with my own eyes. All I could think was “Woah. What a trip this is. Totally bizarre. There’s a new person here that wasn’t here a minute ago.” </span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0z7T1RKp6ftERhdr9hfxpftAzlRfegWTNNXx3zM-_5OpGD_VMw6jeDm7j93wWG3v5rNXM2NN20c6OP6XqyJMrPO9n5VQ15Ff_uIcc4nQndU2wqNK16zdgEdJ5sK5RdWOMiZ-1/s400/DSC_2133.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850171789524338" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Daddy sees Liam face to face for the first time</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After they confirmed he was alright (except for a super squishy face and a big bump on the head), Joe and I took some time alone to get to know each other as we’d requested when we were admitted. The hospital staff were very accommodating and respectful of our wishes which we appreciated very much. Before too long we welcomed our first visitors: Joe’s siblings, Jay, my parents and Joe’s parents. Everybody took pictures and the grandparents took turns holding him. When the visiting was finished, I was moved to a semi-private room. This was a huge answer to prayer because I didn’t want to stay in a ward room with a bunch of other people. We couldn’t afford a private or semi-private room, but thank the Lord, all of the ward rooms were full so we got upgraded... and our neighbors went to Canadian Bible Church and we had some mutual friends! To make things even more amazing, we ended up with a completely private room for the second half of our stay because our neighbors checked out in the morning and we didn’t get any new ones. We ended up with a private room for the rest of our stay and didn’t pay a penny! It was a really neat experience. Praise the Lord!</span></span></span></p><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VG8pwM08hs8H_7MNXnkjY6ccBNrU7Oqb9HQN7qJ6Nik1h2L0PAtx1e3oaBipvtY2edDn0qWHnwiox3Aej5SAlFfFLYXGTXmE2GjKuAH6-uT19KvI8O1_gxbzj4-OdqN_FPDL/s400/DSC_2165.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615850187022531954" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Cuddles with Mommy shortly after arriving in our hospital room</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Joe stayed until 11pm each night and then came back the next morning to stay during the day. He did this until we were released on Tuesday, March 15th. During our stay we had visits from my parents, Joe’s grandmother, his mom and his aunt. Paul and Jane, friends of ours from church, also came. The meals weren’t too bad, but it was mass-produced hospital food none-the-less. I had cereal, cheese, milk, an apple and banana bread for breakfast, turkey, soup and squash for lunch and shepherds pie for dinner. Joe’s mom brought us sushi though which was a welcomed treat! </span></span></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpxJDE48xZMRW8WcjXUX7t1dBw07k4ApfJGL98hLhhIoA4TDoNw9bpGKAccu5psoQg9rOXZkv_jT77yIrwrob9OIMEM_JS4QAsLe-1tUcNCWMO33Bm7VAb5Ykqozf6zDqbowFr/s400/DSC_2159.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615848823901178978" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">The Men: Proud Grandpa, Daddy, Pappa and Liam</span></div> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The nights were a bit hard because we’d been having trouble with breastfeeding and so Liam was a bit jaundiced and cranky. He slept in a little cradle beside my bed and the nurses came in to help with the feedings throughout the day and night as needed. It was nice to have their support. When checkout day came around I went in for a shower while nurses popped in and out with paperwork and to do various tests for Liam-- like hearing and some bloodwork. I had one of those special “moments” as I stepped out of the shower and into my room to see Joe quietly rocking Liam in a chair in the morning sunlight. Everything was still and quiet and Joe was singing him “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. It was the most precious thing I’ve ever seen in my life and that moment will always be ingrained in my memory. </span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj978SVBL0OZKjUcwvLHv1AU10LGVpvKZJmINT15DS8hnjXNUQeASBJtcBl8JO4fbZ2EA7vKsy8y417qTM7zGB6k9ofBSMCSwgj1WmBelgHZK0uSxhk_8CEmyjFUSgPpTbtpn5h/s400/NewBabyLiam.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615852131490767970" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Liam's squishy face</span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">We were welcomed home by my mom and dad who had worked really hard to clean our house top to bottom so it would be nice for us when we came home. My mom had made a banner that said “Welcome Home Baby Liam”. We curled up on the couch and it was an afternoon of feedings, cuddles and dirty diapers. Joe’s parents and siblings came by in the evening for a visit. My mom ended up staying with us for the week to help with meals, dishes and laundry. I was so thankful for her support and Joe was also super supportive and encouraging. For the first two weeks I felt awesome in the mornings and had energy during the day but then by the evenings I felt really down and depressed. It was up and down as my hormones adjusted. </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With the pregnancy and delivery behind us, I am thankful for my beautiful baby boy, for my supportive and loving husband and for our families who pulled together to take such good care of us and shower our new family with so much love. </span></span></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDU9acXKFfmPMtyZVsx6unhncvtlT22IVcthkBAwPYopLuLwjA42zhIrUwXMQhWq3ewid2vgh4rP-2vJeQwTMBbZmeDLxETAUoXW6UEza7p9j7nWL6wUNpI-kDWic2vpHSt8g/s400/DSC_4280.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615848870286620594" /><div><br /></div></div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-75013548719147946752011-05-24T19:47:00.004-04:002011-05-24T20:19:36.788-04:00Cloth Diapering: Introducing gdiapers<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BXjt9NVIkvisj_B36aAwFyTQbTFtCUIw56cNSZU0aPeDJOjHyrDS_wh0-jWgBKcjpH2214g1a1LZp0Kr43i9OHRIGnp9UmeTZ7iI0jIty2wj815y696RUNuj2bQ-eZQwwLdpbw/s1600/gdiaper-green.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BXjt9NVIkvisj_B36aAwFyTQbTFtCUIw56cNSZU0aPeDJOjHyrDS_wh0-jWgBKcjpH2214g1a1LZp0Kr43i9OHRIGnp9UmeTZ7iI0jIty2wj815y696RUNuj2bQ-eZQwwLdpbw/s400/gdiaper-green.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610441569225785666" /></a><div><br /></div>After doing some research and in-store browsing, we're getting our act together and giving cloth diapering a try. Thankfully we kept our eyes open for great diaper deals while I was pregnant, and we are 10 weeks in and haven't had to buy any diapers. As our collection of disposables dwindles, we did some number crunching and decided to invest in a cloth diapering system.<div><br /></div><div>I had an idea of what I wanted. I wanted a non-plastic cover that was re-usable without having to be washed every time. I wanted something that wasn't bulky and something that didn't have a lot of snaps to do up. After looking around, I came to gdiapers. </div><div><br /></div><div>When gdiapers first came out, they were intended to be the "best of both worlds" in that they have a cloth shell, with disposable inserts that you can flush or compost. This made gdiapers particularly pricy, with 40 inserts running at a hefty $26.00 at my local health food store. They've recently come out with cloth inserts which have made gdiapers a little more affordable and that is what made me decide to give them a shot. </div><div><br /></div><div>The gdiapers consist of three parts: a fabric "little G pant" with velcro tabs, a plastic snap in liner that catches any dribbles and stray poop (these liners wipe down and dry quickly, but each diaper comes with 2 liners so you can swap in a clean one right away), and an insert which acts as the absorbent part of the diaper. The disposable inserts are plastic free and biodegradable, and the cloth inserts have a hemp core with a micro fleece fabric to wick away moisture. We bought a starter kit with two diapers and a few disposable inserts for $40 and gave them a try. They didn't leak, Liam seemed comfortable and they were easy enough to use. (Not to mention adorable.) </div><div><br /></div><div>Once we were satisfied that they would work for our family, we ordered 6 more little g pants online and a few packages of cloth inserts. I was impressed by the customer service the company offers. They have how-to videos posted on their website to show you how to use the diapers correctly in order to prevent leaks, and if all else fails, there's the option of calling the company and having an employee walk me through the process. I watched the videos before I tried to use them and the main thing they stressed was to make sure the liner is in the crease at the top of baby's leg after you put it on. It wasn't that tricky to figure out and Liam's even been able to wear them for fairly long naps (though I have not yet tried them at night). </div><div><br /></div><div>The only down side to cloth diapering that I can see is that they seem as though they might be hot to wear in the summer. Maybe I just have to compensate by dressing him in less clothing. Perhaps an experienced mom can comment.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also enjoy having the option of disposable OR cloth within the same system and have purchased one bag of disposable inserts "just in case". I can see these coming in handy if we're on a day trip and don't want to tote around dirty cloth inserts all day. So for those of you who are in the research stage as I was not long ago, this is what's working for us (so far). Good luck!</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-42679797909894458922011-05-04T22:23:00.006-04:002011-05-05T00:12:13.615-04:00Meal Planning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GxBkR2Ussns3Ee6AHrWqFcVO9rhsRfGXaEaLPNM2UZe8bcLxHGZpKcJM1EJyIKtN49jvoxvIZKN0G1vhkP7SaR14kZ45dCwKiciuShKHENdztbXPCOaLt3kX05ptEmXwyQg9JQ/s1600/Messy_Kitchen_by_rumaiisa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 327px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-GxBkR2Ussns3Ee6AHrWqFcVO9rhsRfGXaEaLPNM2UZe8bcLxHGZpKcJM1EJyIKtN49jvoxvIZKN0G1vhkP7SaR14kZ45dCwKiciuShKHENdztbXPCOaLt3kX05ptEmXwyQg9JQ/s400/Messy_Kitchen_by_rumaiisa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603057367465252978" /></a><br />Today I bought a new cookbook.. This is very exciting for me because this is no ordinary cookbook. This is "The Best of Chef at Home"! For those of you who aren't familiar with<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/ontv/shows/Chef-at-Home/show.html?titleid=82664"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"> Chef at Home</span></a>, it is a cooking show on the Food Network. I absolutely love it because the recipes are easy to follow and most of the ingredients can be found around the average home, but he incorporates a few new ingredients each time. It's a great way to "build your cooking vocabulary"... for lack of a better term. <div><br /></div><div>I've been falling short in a bunch of areas. Providing my husband and myself with balanced home cooked meals has been one of those key areas I want to change. This evening, Joe and I sat down at the kitchen table and hashed out a plan of attack for weekly meals, figured out what we'll be eating and came up with a grocery list to match. Our strategy? A theme a day. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Seafood Mondays</span> - this week, salmon, rice and green beans</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">International Tuesdays</span> - this week, sweet potato curry and rice (recipe from my new Chef at Home cook book)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Chicken Wednesdays</span> - this week, grilled chicken, lentil pilaff and broccoli</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Italian Thursdays</span> (I know Italian is technically international but we like it so much it gets its own night) - this week, shrimp and spinach pesto and penne pasta</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Leftover Fridays</span> - cleaning out the fridge by eating anything remaining from the week</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Try-Something-New Saturdays</span> - this week, shrimp gumbo. (Also from my new cook book) We picked Saturday for this because Joe is home in the afternoon and can watch the baby while I spend extra time experimenting.. And he also has the opportunity to get involved if he wants to so we can explore the preparing of new foods together.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Slow-Cooker Sundays </span>- this week, chicken stew and homemade bread in the bread maker</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to this plan. It gives me a guideline but allows me to keep things simple.. And by having it written out, I'll not feel lost and will be more likely to cook something well-rounded. If you'd like a copy of my <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/maq8580hgbea6q2/mealplantemplate.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">Meal Plan Template</span></a>, you're welcome to print it off and try using it yourself. Choose "click here to start download from media fire" and it will give you the PDF. Let me know how your planning goes!</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-38895656565901405032011-04-29T23:03:00.005-04:002011-04-29T23:27:54.584-04:00A Family Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRSMxZiOKUrXXDrs8pRBeRFNph7y1JHzyo8fWhmT3bum64I6AwaXVKTqm7Px7AeSq-Z1-UoNV1fmUq4u9UQtE6DEYSlRiKXHlu9Wq7gpdLmBzc0QYFDSgIDeXY1em0cKmw9eBOQ/s1600/lemons-are-good.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRSMxZiOKUrXXDrs8pRBeRFNph7y1JHzyo8fWhmT3bum64I6AwaXVKTqm7Px7AeSq-Z1-UoNV1fmUq4u9UQtE6DEYSlRiKXHlu9Wq7gpdLmBzc0QYFDSgIDeXY1em0cKmw9eBOQ/s400/lemons-are-good.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601211812568174354" /></a><br />We've got colds. Liam seems to be dealing with things a lot better than I do. I get grumpy and tired. He's more cuddly but still just as happy with big smiles, which is awesome. Some sniffles but no fever so nothing to be too worried about. I put on the vaporizer in his room and we're hanging out in there lots to keep things flowin'.<br /><br />I'm so sad that we weren't able to go and visit Liam's godparents (Mat and Naomi) today but we're looking forward to a good visit with them and their new baby Ransom next weekend! In the mean time, Joe and I had a lovely time watching the royal wedding and going for a short walk with the baby and dog to get some fresh air. Watching the wedding reminded us of the day we were married and we talked a bit about how we felt. It was really nice. The down time gave us a chance to nap as well which was much needed as we have a busy day tomorrow.<br /><br />Things might not have gone as expected, but we definitely made lemonade out of our lemons!Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-10971712080297945082011-04-28T14:38:00.008-04:002011-04-28T15:22:59.959-04:00Charlie Puppy!<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1gSS91gCxza6t_NMQLw_vvLuNvSUUa-eOewC67u3bZesI2RHR6oleAbWOQMony5rYscqaMnAiiy4TlHvN9mhCZgLZFwRyJ9XqKtpcWyWCtR5_-LIgT7qZ3u19FZ5GO7feenwQg/s400/DSC_5650.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707991512574770" /><div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Charlie. He's our beagle and we got him this week in April 2 years ago from the<a href="http://alice.bmts.com/~osas/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#66CCCC;"> Owen Sound Animal Shelter</span></a>. He's been such good company to both Joe and I, and is so wonderful with our new baby. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank <a href="http://alice.bmts.com/~osas/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#66CCCC;">the Shelter </span></a>for bringing Charlie to us and for providing such a valuable service for the community.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG06cko75TUEaz7FVJlvMb7NK0XdOG6cd_72JsRr6F2tsPX5nYb65MDz2m2teFurhQuH6b-er5kUsA4WK_iFWqnrWHauvSO_Bgyv-ATMgvfeT-TeiAgyAx14OtqztFZrRm5DgJbw/s400/208308_503710584477_168600057_30073548_8344747_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600708826278144834" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">This is Charlie on his very first day at home. He was not impressed.</div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTOXel-IL1kEWNifSPaia2Fgyh0Ssxotabmhy3-uicjHTSh_XSmUAb_5Cmu104A-z_UY_Sexp-bEC8AfC9mWu1xlyJ9taOxJksQyviMjHbF7VXTwDgwihSGP85OkqxldwDopW-g/s400/197480_503710539567_168600057_30073539_377985_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707450247608498" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Charlie discovers the backyard at Joe's parents house.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhwj4pbIHv-zh7GmVbmyusdPExw1UBut6LEphYHF53AYq68WSI7j4aDF-XQBPjGP3AsvJIGnriEGGaYazzqGf_Rq7sn8bP_soCoD-pbAQYAkKE_k30z6hGCMOqPSbB5ihCNOfPQ/s400/11843_503996007487_168600057_30088702_4138098_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707445137152338" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Get it? A "charlie-horse"!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmHcQkNehcisdKsTacUsYvBQk4MfkCugG4nYIXBQUlmfeLI-gBm4QCalaV5dnwJ7aFojrwBKGnxripeXABA4YJ3Ah_ywMGhk1PSkUw7M517mdFRivZ-6eiUncNBj2rvQVWsj44Q/s400/11843_503995598307_168600057_30088697_7932402_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707439724809122" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Some chill-out time on the couch.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTg4U3gW20zb8BluO6UIkct2LGPCGzcgrkb4Hm5CQ51laap16rgFrGD7kSM600LFiwBvDyBp3z1oCuUQyF2K27Qpfnw4RFKXb1PpWOmitZSmcR-UHVu-9B7qj2DpztjA-aQAMEQ/s1600/LesliePuiras_Maternity_1024.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTg4U3gW20zb8BluO6UIkct2LGPCGzcgrkb4Hm5CQ51laap16rgFrGD7kSM600LFiwBvDyBp3z1oCuUQyF2K27Qpfnw4RFKXb1PpWOmitZSmcR-UHVu-9B7qj2DpztjA-aQAMEQ/s400/LesliePuiras_Maternity_1024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600709931560736450" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Charlie was such a special part of our pregnancy and birth experience. He was very careful to check in on me frequently during my pregnancy and spent the first three months with me on the couch when I had terrible morning sickness.</div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmHcQkNehcisdKsTacUsYvBQk4MfkCugG4nYIXBQUlmfeLI-gBm4QCalaV5dnwJ7aFojrwBKGnxripeXABA4YJ3Ah_ywMGhk1PSkUw7M517mdFRivZ-6eiUncNBj2rvQVWsj44Q/s1600/11843_503995598307_168600057_30088697_7932402_n.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOCT4o-CcFXyjw5BkV_MUaSBRzI-a3BhxO5PdXPthGUS-atN_v66UiFiRVRmkpjr6uAIH_muqcCb4QRfI-fKUJy2-PZtV7n-H2lx-odow9w_36rLwY8orNMc96yr9a1Rlj8Q3oQ/s1600/DSC_2084.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOCT4o-CcFXyjw5BkV_MUaSBRzI-a3BhxO5PdXPthGUS-atN_v66UiFiRVRmkpjr6uAIH_muqcCb4QRfI-fKUJy2-PZtV7n-H2lx-odow9w_36rLwY8orNMc96yr9a1Rlj8Q3oQ/s400/DSC_2084.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707438578864642" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I went into labor he was beside himself. He kept checking in to see how I was doing and finally snuggled in under the blankets and put his head on my belly. </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPOCT4o-CcFXyjw5BkV_MUaSBRzI-a3BhxO5PdXPthGUS-atN_v66UiFiRVRmkpjr6uAIH_muqcCb4QRfI-fKUJy2-PZtV7n-H2lx-odow9w_36rLwY8orNMc96yr9a1Rlj8Q3oQ/s1600/DSC_2084.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmAwWzRcdvmjL-aQ2f0BTpvfz8ZAbPdBvMmBuIH9V8iV618U_daquqwDbgvk-3n6GycC0CkRq5anEbctWDcyUw5lFRtlbaGX_ltoFNu5h19RvwEwN2375dQOGGs-DUxZIDuiefQ/s1600/DSC_2081.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmAwWzRcdvmjL-aQ2f0BTpvfz8ZAbPdBvMmBuIH9V8iV618U_daquqwDbgvk-3n6GycC0CkRq5anEbctWDcyUw5lFRtlbaGX_ltoFNu5h19RvwEwN2375dQOGGs-DUxZIDuiefQ/s400/DSC_2081.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600707428120495378" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He was actually very helpful because the contractions were painful and his body heat made the contractions easier to deal with.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br> <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l_lTGS7bDjU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></br><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">WE LOVE YOU CHARLIE! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-76541565194463636782011-04-27T13:05:00.004-04:002011-04-27T13:19:00.781-04:00Our Family Passage<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips2FCTV5-Mscl2Vtjbv-w7iiTV6CG1G2JMlz18vuWL6QXgXxhMWPtZbZTnFFvSxTZDWQgxHmTPn0mMY8fUAJStmOWTMT0gFJIgNSlIN6zLoh-wP9ojQxhRUCFUJgGHlCWkCHwkA/s1600/dirty-running-shoes.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEips2FCTV5-Mscl2Vtjbv-w7iiTV6CG1G2JMlz18vuWL6QXgXxhMWPtZbZTnFFvSxTZDWQgxHmTPn0mMY8fUAJStmOWTMT0gFJIgNSlIN6zLoh-wP9ojQxhRUCFUJgGHlCWkCHwkA/s400/dirty-running-shoes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600313847506817394" /></a>Having a baby has really shown us a lot about ourselves. Joe and I are getting to see just what "stuff" we're made of. The demands of parenthood serve as a great excuse to slack off in many areas of our lives. "I deserve to eat this." or "I'm going to sit and watch tv today. I've earned it." Moderation flies out the window, and we get selfish with our time instead of investing it in our relationship with the Lord or in our relationship with each other. <div><br /></div><div> That said, Joe and I sat by candlelight in our living room and talked about these issues. We were lead to 1 Corinthians and found a great passage which we are now working to apply to every area of our lives (with God's help). Two great versions of 1 Cor 9:24-27 are posted below: </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-28524" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">24</sup> Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">one</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> person gets the prize? So </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">run to win</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-28525" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">25</sup> All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">eternal</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> prize. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-28526" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">26</sup> So I run with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">purpose</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. <sup class="versenum" id="en-NLT-28527" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">27</sup>I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">discipline</span></span></span> my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. [NLT]</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><p><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12199" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">24-25</sup>You've all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Run to win</span></span></span>. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally.</p><p> <sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12200" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; ">26-27</sup>I don't know about you, but I'm <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">running hard</span></span> for the finish line. I'm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;"> giving it</span></span></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">everything</span></span></span> I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#00CCCC;">staying alert</span></span></span> and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself. [The Message]</p></span></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-72372706466857731652011-04-26T11:13:00.005-04:002011-04-26T11:47:48.497-04:00De-cluttering<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHlcWAEIJ0jDUSHslaZxIdpb6IWesXFe_FQYYG1fqGE-UZYXi8Kjy1HYwLFC2Cy66h09DsFHWbCHmpGPOeFbGvWDZm1ctkiJoEk3u8h_g7V42b3tZDaKjE-NF8yoqigYBmIamFA/s1600/Spring+cleaning+5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 324px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHlcWAEIJ0jDUSHslaZxIdpb6IWesXFe_FQYYG1fqGE-UZYXi8Kjy1HYwLFC2Cy66h09DsFHWbCHmpGPOeFbGvWDZm1ctkiJoEk3u8h_g7V42b3tZDaKjE-NF8yoqigYBmIamFA/s400/Spring+cleaning+5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599919407633032290" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div>What is normal anyway? Whatever it is, I'm not feelin' it. I think it has something to do with sharing the car with Joe and his 13-hour-a-day job. I also feel like our house is too cluttered but I'm not sure what needs to go. A spring clean is in order followed by a garage sale. <div><br /></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-83148120464966482222011-04-20T23:01:00.003-04:002011-04-20T23:10:26.319-04:00Walking a new path<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqJPZ0mtZFG_jmUpVvLRERA8n4gNNwzF-R4fsd9JFUL4mZWAhtqnYOILWUB_djbOPTAt9Z_K3a0CQaot0WQk5OLqjTcaCJ5oO5qmJnGs_NtKeY4_4cC3QZ0-hLE3naLC3Mm7lDQ/s1600/DSC_2371.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqqJPZ0mtZFG_jmUpVvLRERA8n4gNNwzF-R4fsd9JFUL4mZWAhtqnYOILWUB_djbOPTAt9Z_K3a0CQaot0WQk5OLqjTcaCJ5oO5qmJnGs_NtKeY4_4cC3QZ0-hLE3naLC3Mm7lDQ/s400/DSC_2371.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597868201718396418" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div>I am BACK and excited to write again because I have things to write about now. Before now it would have been "still waiting for the baby to come.." but nowwwww.. BUT NOW..!! Liam has arrived and I am working my way up steep learning curve. I hope to keep the topics well-rounded and want to challenge myself to write about more than mommy-hood. I'm a mother now, but I am on a journey to discover who I am beyond that and how who I used to be squishes into this new mommy-shaped box I'm in. <div><br /></div><div>It's a round box.. and it's large.. because that's the only kind of box I'd fit into right now.</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-45027246978900143482011-02-02T18:54:00.004-05:002011-02-02T18:59:32.499-05:00A cooking blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSkT0zN8hKe0NuVA2HPFGh-piA26g-CkHLyN8qJ8K2byBA7a3s_htxUHooqOwd_dvCK328UXIThH8go_F9YGsFdHOLytGtN30yl7US4I9X3GwTnUFfEMjkJXAO5nTd9QmgBXzQ/s1600/cooking.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipXSkT0zN8hKe0NuVA2HPFGh-piA26g-CkHLyN8qJ8K2byBA7a3s_htxUHooqOwd_dvCK328UXIThH8go_F9YGsFdHOLytGtN30yl7US4I9X3GwTnUFfEMjkJXAO5nTd9QmgBXzQ/s400/cooking.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569246148062918770" /></a><br />I know it's been a while. I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant. 4 weeks from our due date, 2 weeks from the "any day now!!" and I'm putting my money on valentines weekend. We've got the nursery ready, I've done my massive clean and spent today cooking/baking up a storm.<div><br /></div><div>Oh, and I started a cooking/crafting blog called <a href="http://made-a-mess.blogspot.com/">I Made a Mess</a>. Had a great time creating it and Joe is going to work on it with me by contributing his critique of the recipes after he tastes. Please sign up to follow. :) It will keep me motivated and keep me cooking.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-72379792504536137082010-09-07T11:28:00.004-04:002010-09-07T11:51:17.352-04:00Updates!<div>Quick updates for those that care to read them! I've been feeling particularly under the weather the last few weeks (morning sickness) I've decided that Joe is going to carry this baby for the last 4.5 months. Thats fair right? Split it at the half-way point? Nobody talk to him about it yet. I still haven't had the right moment to let him know of my decision. :)<div><br /></div><div>Now to the updates:</div><div><br /></div><div>1. An angel has offered to rent us her mother's house for a price we can afford!! The main floor of a bungalow with 3 bedrooms and a huge fenced in backyard! THREE! That's sure a step up from basement dwelling. It means we'll have a bedroom, a nursery and an office! Its a dream come true. We move in October and we'd love some help from anybody who is available to help us paint before we move in.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Joe's headed back to school to finish up his undergrad and then attend teacher's college. He's also currently on the market for a new job and has an interview with a music school to teach guitar! (pray that he gets it!) He's been into chess lately.. obsessed. He's been studying chess and playing chess everyday and he's getting pretty good. He's been reading books and working over chess puzzles. It's been fun to see him passionate about a hobby that challenges him. He's having a blast.</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Baby's doing well. It's now almost 15 weeks old. I can't believe how time flies. In just a few short weeks we will be finding out the baby's gender so we can start accepting the generous donations of baby clothes people have been sending our way. It's amazing to see how much a community can gather together and help out-- offering words of wisdom, clothes, supplies and a helping hand! I'm so very grateful for the generosity of those around us.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. My photography business has been booming this fall. I've been working pretty steadily and am booked solid till the end of October with weddings. I'm also starting to fill up summer 2011 which is fantastic. I'm thankful for the teaching I've received at Seneca and I'm looking forward to returning next year to finish things up. The faculty and students there been a great support and encouragement.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's about it! I can't guarantee when i will post again, as things are very busy. BUT busy is good and I'm thankful for all of the things that are happening right now. It's been very stressful but I've got a wonderful husband to share the load with.</div><div><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3Tfg87HkkSiYqSxaBqyCVAutuDyR9PpFOveFLPNDhT1D_7D2iY9Yalm_v51bHPb_TEX5nDh0-gSdf1-xDtVQqqWJCD_B3rPgsBqVBTyQIuSakoL8JcMl-Ci6HE0s56S77Yy5cw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-07+at+11.47.10+AM.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3Tfg87HkkSiYqSxaBqyCVAutuDyR9PpFOveFLPNDhT1D_7D2iY9Yalm_v51bHPb_TEX5nDh0-gSdf1-xDtVQqqWJCD_B3rPgsBqVBTyQIuSakoL8JcMl-Ci6HE0s56S77Yy5cw/s400/Screen+shot+2010-09-07+at+11.47.10+AM.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514199548421665682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Joe & I volunteering at Summerfolk 2010 in Owen Sound</div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8451632.post-75693338289872573732010-06-28T12:30:00.004-04:002010-08-04T16:33:06.938-04:00Introducing Baby Puiras!<div style="text-align: center;"> Surprise!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Praise the Lord!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHssbqakcbVfHY1ab3AhzoKMj9fNZekPbViiI0zctOiOl-6-mZBq892Dd4xUqJOnGgaVjsyoWh3DZGWEchudfvuCmwmFPyUCM59Miv9Vqz5o2BnUVnyDY6VwCa-WOpJRNtHahbqg/s1600/LesliePuiras_01PregnancyTest_1587.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHssbqakcbVfHY1ab3AhzoKMj9fNZekPbViiI0zctOiOl-6-mZBq892Dd4xUqJOnGgaVjsyoWh3DZGWEchudfvuCmwmFPyUCM59Miv9Vqz5o2BnUVnyDY6VwCa-WOpJRNtHahbqg/s400/LesliePuiras_01PregnancyTest_1587.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487863725975649346" /></a><br /><div><br /></div></div>Leslie Puirashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04144563389116301990noreply@blogger.com3