I grew...

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I used to be able to see my toes, I had to lean forward to get this shot!

...overnight! Well, my belly has arrived, and as I round (literally) out my 21st week, my Dr. assures me that I am right on target! HAHA! Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant, but when it starts to get hard to bend over, I know that I have a long road ahead of me. Or when someone comments that I must be having a big baby?! Really?!

I think that is my biggest pet peeve while being pregnant; the comments of passerbys. Nice comments are welcome, not so nice comments, the kind that you say in your head, but don't usually vocalize, those are the comments I hate! So people, please keep those remarks to yourselves, you never know how a hormonal pregnant woman may respond, and it could end very badly for you!

On a brighter note, hubby and I have a full week ahead. A full week of completing Gray's big boy room, among a variety of other 'house' projects. Ah, a week off from work, or rather from my 'job', not from work...but I can't wait!
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Rainy Days

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Rainy days inside mean creative planning by mom. Not sure if I was successful but we did manage to find a few things to do...between playing chase and peek-a-boo.

I've always thought these kind of shots were cheesy...but couldn't resist once Gray started lining up all his teddies on the couch...one by one though, they all landed on the floor!

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Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

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The Santa Claus Parade was last night..it's official...the Christmas Season has now started! Gray was more interested in the kids around him (I tell you he's going to be a great big brother!) then the bands and floats...

Intently watching...waiting...

until the first big truck came by!

 Oooooh!

Even though my tree was up last week, it is now starting to feel 'a lot like Christmas!' Sitting here with my hot chocolate, smelling my banana bread in the oven...it's that homey feeling that makes the holiday season so great! While Gray naps and I put my feet up for a bit, I almost forget about the 4 loads of laundry that I have on the go, the pile of crap I have tucked away in the other room and the mounds of papers I have to go through and sort. For one second, it's just me and my computer...mmmm...

On a side note, Gray's big boy room is in progress..we've got his bed and bedding, and the moving of all my scrapbooking stuff is in transition...where do I put it all? I wish we had one extra room..but unfortunately, the dining room will be the new base for my scrapbooking, so I am in the process of cleverly hiding as much of it as I can, amongst the Christmas decor! Here is a start...

 That's all for now friends! Hope everyone is having a beautiful weekend!

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Drum roll....

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...and the lucky random commentor chosen for the Photocard Giveaway is Jen aka " The Brown Bunch"

Our youngest son is now FULLY potty trained!! Even night time trained! No more diapers for us! Any mom knows,this is VERY exciting news!:)

Congratulations! I can't wait to make your holiday photocard! I will contact you for more details!

Thank you to all the commentors!

Lot's of ideas!

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Since we found out we are having another boy, my head has been filled with all sorts of ideas for a new nursery. Actually, that's a lie..I've been dreaming about it for a while, although the pink and frills have turned into shades of blue and maybe not so much frills! I love the room we have now, it's sweet, gender neutral and practical. Buuuuut...when the opportunity presents itself, I have to take advantage of it, right? Since this will be little 'Pea Pods' room for a while, we might as well finish it off with a bang. Once Gray moves into his big boy room, hopefully in the New Year, we can start the process. I am torn between the bright colors that I am usually attracted to and the more muted tones of soft grey and beige...so I may just have to come up with something that marries the two! In the meantime, my dreaming has resulted in a file on my computer full of beautiful rooms...

Photos courtesy of Chic & Cheap Nursery and Ohdeedoh

Photos courtesy of Etsy- Sellers are listed above

Oh, and it's not to late to be a part of my Holiday Photocard giveaway! You have until November 18th!

Click here to learn more!

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The Reveal...

Our little Pea Pod is gonna be a boy! :)

Excitement...and a giveaway?

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YAY!!! A giveaway!! I've never had one before but I thought what the heck! Its fun, it's exciting, and it's free!

But first I want to share some other exciting news, which in a way is kinda related to my giveaway...

I've been added to a Treasury List on Etsy! Your probably thinking, big deal, whippdi do...but you guys, this is a big step for me, that means, someone has been looking at my Etsy shop and not just my friends and family! I got a lovely message the other day saying one of my cards was going to be added and I am so excited!

Check it out for yourself here.

Anyway, back to the giveaway. It's funny, I know a lot of other blogs that do weekly or even daily giveaways, and if I see something that interests me, I enter..it couldn't hurt, right? Well, this morning I got an email from some big wig company saying how they wanted to advertise on my blog, and in doing so they would provide a giveaway. I know! Crazy! I was a little apprehensive about the whole thing and in the end decided not to do it. But that's a whole other story, but it did get me thinking...so, in trying to get my name out there, I have decided to take a similar approach and giveaway a free custom digital photocard!! You can use your favourite family photo, a shot of your kids doing silly things...you name it, I will make it work. Better yet, it's just in time for Christmas, so you can print it off as a Chirstmas card and your done!

Just a few samples of what can be done!

How to enter:
Just leave a comment below before November 18th telling me what has happened in your life recently that has stirred up some excitement! Christmas perhaps? First snowfall? One random commenter will be chosen and announced on November 19th.

The most exciting part of my week is yet to come...soon... I promise... :)

Tis' the season

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The sound of jingle bells in my head...ahh yes, Christmas is in the air. And, although I am enjoying the wonderful fall air and do not wish the snow to come any sooner then Christmas, my boxes of Christmas ornaments and reindeer are weighing on my mind. My vision of what this Christmas will look like is taking shape and with the rush of the season, I am hoping that it is spent with friends and family and just enjoying each other's company!

I'm off to a slow start as I deal with a teething toddler and a house that is in a rearrange/redecorate mode (yes, Gray's big boy room is in the process!), I did manage to go hunting for cedar and dogwood to spruce up my urns outside! My growing belly and I also got a bit of crafting done the other day...

Check out my Etsy page for more details!

Stay tuned...BIG posts are coming this week...including the reveal of our baby's sex! So exciting!!

Just Being

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"Having a lot on my plate, but dropping it all for moments like these..."

I stumbled across this on one of my all time favorite blogs Enjoying the Small Things. Kelle is so inspirational and she has a such a way with words. This part of her blog fit perfectly with the discussion I had with Mike last night. We were sitting on the floor in the living room playing with Grayson after supper. For a split second, I thought to myself, why can't this happen all the time? So I asked Mike when the last time was that he actually enjoyed something-by enjoyed I mean, with no other thoughts, worries, looking at the clock. Just simply being. He couldn't remember, and neither could I. I went shopping a few weeks back with a good friend, but I was on a mission with a shopping list and had only a few short hours...so did I really enjoy myself? It was great to see her and be out of the house, but there was always something in my head, something I had to do. This past weekend we were away at my parents for my brothers wedding, and I think I half enjoyed myself.  I don't think Mike and I bickered at all, Gray was happy and had no tantrums, but as soon as we arrived home. It was like a bomb went off. Everything rushed back, the dishes, the stacks of papers on the table, the cat hair on the couch, bills to pay. I felt as though life was hitting me in the face again, taunting me for being away for so long.  It's a continuous circle that never stops. So how do you do it? How do you drop your plate and carry on? Maybe I am afraid of the crash...but I know those moments where you truly enjoy yourself make up for it, right?

So when was the last time you enjoyed yourself, just simply being?

  After note: I wrote this a few weeks back and it's been sitting in my drafts folder. Since writing this I have decided to take action...with a positive attitude! Gray has become quite the little helper too, he loves sweeping and vacuuming... although, its more entertaining then useful...but that's OK! I am trying not to let the small stuff get in the way of the big stuff. It's a state of mind that I am not familiar with, but on this very fine Monday, I am going to TRY! So here's to a week of reading books, playing peek-a-boo and just being! Oh, and the Christmas decorating countdown is on...it is Nov. 1st after all! :) Wish me luck!
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Happy Halloween!

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A few festive pictures taken around the house on Halloween!

My cute lil' Robot!

Hope you had a spooktacular Halloween as well!!

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