We're having a Boy! Well, we are pretty sure anyway. We had an ultrasound yesterday morning, and it was the coolest thing in the entire world. Seriously. It was so awesome. He's just floating around in there, spinning around, moving his little arms and legs, just hanging out. And you know what? I did that. Him. Because of me. Seriously, how cool is that?!? It's awesome. I'm excited.
So yeah, we are having a little bean. Some people choose not to share, but screw that, I'm having a little boy! I don't think we'll share the name though(when we eventually choose one). Skippymom and C Lo had some good advice in a comment a couple of posts back about that. It is really easy to judge a name when it isn't attached to anything but the concept of a child. It might not be a concept to me, but it is to everyone else. People are less likely to judge a name when it is attached to an actual baby and they have a point of reference for it.
So there you have it. We're having a cute little baby boy, and I couldn't be happier.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Ultrasound!
Tomorrow morning is our ultrasound where we find out if it is bean or beanette. I'm pretty excited! It'll be the first time I've seen our little bean, and it's gonna be awesome.
I'm not sure what I want more, a boy or a girl. I've always wanted a girl, but since the beginning of the pregnancy I've been torn. Meh, it's gonna be awesome no matter what. :)
I'm not sure what I want more, a boy or a girl. I've always wanted a girl, but since the beginning of the pregnancy I've been torn. Meh, it's gonna be awesome no matter what. :)
I love gardening
I can see why people say gardening is therapeutic. After spending all day Saturday and all afternoon on Sunday at our garden plot, I understand; you just get into this trance and totally zone out.
Saturday morning I started around 10:30 and decided I was going to till the entire plot with a hoe and a rake, instead of using a rototiller. Two and a half hours later I was finished and the plot was looking great. The time just flew by. When I first started I was wishing I had some tunes, but that thought quickly subsided. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and I'm working in the dirt with my hands. It was beautiful.
I also love all the old people out there. Our community garden has a little over 100 plots, and I'm sure the average age is about 70. We have this cool 85 year old Yugoslavian guy across from us. When I was working alone Saturday morning he came over to talk with me, well, talk at me, for over an hour. He told me about the war (WWII), and how he was in the Yugoslavian army, and fighting the Nazis, and moving to England after the war, and marrying an English girl, and how his brother-in-law, who also lives in Winnipeg used to be a Nazi and hates him because he is Yugoslavian. I also learned that he is 85, and worked until he was 73 in construction because of his arthritis and how keeping moving and working kept the arthritis away. He also told me how Canadians can't get pissed when people speak languages other than English and French because Canada is built on multiculturalism and we need to own that, not fight it. So after all of that, I still have no idea what his name is. :) It makes me laugh. He's such a nice guy, and we now call him Mr. Slav.
All the old people out there are glad we are there. They always make comments about how they are so happy young people are getting involved in gardening.and they also are quick to offer advice. TONS of advice. About every aspect of gardening. It makes me laugh.
I love gardening.
Saturday morning I started around 10:30 and decided I was going to till the entire plot with a hoe and a rake, instead of using a rototiller. Two and a half hours later I was finished and the plot was looking great. The time just flew by. When I first started I was wishing I had some tunes, but that thought quickly subsided. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and I'm working in the dirt with my hands. It was beautiful.
I also love all the old people out there. Our community garden has a little over 100 plots, and I'm sure the average age is about 70. We have this cool 85 year old Yugoslavian guy across from us. When I was working alone Saturday morning he came over to talk with me, well, talk at me, for over an hour. He told me about the war (WWII), and how he was in the Yugoslavian army, and fighting the Nazis, and moving to England after the war, and marrying an English girl, and how his brother-in-law, who also lives in Winnipeg used to be a Nazi and hates him because he is Yugoslavian. I also learned that he is 85, and worked until he was 73 in construction because of his arthritis and how keeping moving and working kept the arthritis away. He also told me how Canadians can't get pissed when people speak languages other than English and French because Canada is built on multiculturalism and we need to own that, not fight it. So after all of that, I still have no idea what his name is. :) It makes me laugh. He's such a nice guy, and we now call him Mr. Slav.
All the old people out there are glad we are there. They always make comments about how they are so happy young people are getting involved in gardening.and they also are quick to offer advice. TONS of advice. About every aspect of gardening. It makes me laugh.
I love gardening.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Some Gardening Updates
Here's a little update on our gardening adventures so far.
Chris and Mama Bean in Winnipeg
We'll have some more pictures in the coming days. It is pouring rain today, so hopefully when it is done, we'll go out and take some pics (providing it isn't too muddy)
Chris and Mama Bean in Winnipeg
We'll have some more pictures in the coming days. It is pouring rain today, so hopefully when it is done, we'll go out and take some pics (providing it isn't too muddy)
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Lessons from Our Garden
Alright, things I learned today.
A 1500 sq.ft garden (which we thought was 1800, but it's actually 25x60, not 30x60) is much more manageable when it is split into 10 mini gardens. We now have 10 150sq.ft gardens and it seems much more manageable.
It is much easier to till a 1500 sq.ft garden with a roto-tiller, than by hand. I knew this going in, yet I did it by hand anyway. It would have taken 20 min and cost $25 to have the dude roto-till it, but instead I did it with a rake and a hoe. A hoe that I proceeded to break in the process.
When working outside for an extended period of time, one should wear sunscreen, preferably SPF30 or maybe even 45. Just because it is windy, and doesn't feel very warm, doesn't mean you aren't getting burned, just ask my epidermis. You can call me Lobster Boy for the next couple of days.
There are a lot of politics when it comes to community gardens. This morning I saw a dude yelling that he'd been screwed over as I received a lot that is totally covered in weeds. It had something to do with people he pissed off last year, and he wasn't happy about it.
Tomorrow I will post some pictures of our garden. Mama Bean has a list of everything we are growing and a map that she has drawn up of it. She said she will post it tomorrow, so I'll be linking to it when she does.
A 1500 sq.ft garden (which we thought was 1800, but it's actually 25x60, not 30x60) is much more manageable when it is split into 10 mini gardens. We now have 10 150sq.ft gardens and it seems much more manageable.
It is much easier to till a 1500 sq.ft garden with a roto-tiller, than by hand. I knew this going in, yet I did it by hand anyway. It would have taken 20 min and cost $25 to have the dude roto-till it, but instead I did it with a rake and a hoe. A hoe that I proceeded to break in the process.
When working outside for an extended period of time, one should wear sunscreen, preferably SPF30 or maybe even 45. Just because it is windy, and doesn't feel very warm, doesn't mean you aren't getting burned, just ask my epidermis. You can call me Lobster Boy for the next couple of days.
There are a lot of politics when it comes to community gardens. This morning I saw a dude yelling that he'd been screwed over as I received a lot that is totally covered in weeds. It had something to do with people he pissed off last year, and he wasn't happy about it.
Tomorrow I will post some pictures of our garden. Mama Bean has a list of everything we are growing and a map that she has drawn up of it. She said she will post it tomorrow, so I'll be linking to it when she does.
Friday, May 22, 2009
ICLW
It is ICLW (I come; [but] leave [as a] we, International Comment Leaving Week) and I thought it would be a great way to come across more blogs out there in the wide world of the internetz. (see graphic to the right)
So here's a run down on ICLW. Mel has a list on her blog where people sign up, and for one week the people on the list go around visiting other people on the list and leave comments on their blogs. Commenting week runs from the 21st to the 28th and everyday you are supposed to comment on 5 blogs and return 1 comment for a total of 6 comments per day. It is open to anyone, and has been running since sometime in 2008.
The lady (Mel) that started this whole thing is a big IF (infertility) blogger (and even has a book), so naturally that is the community that she has surrounded herself in, and that flock to her. Now I know nothing about IF, adoption, pregnancy loss, and all of the things that surround that. I started finding more and more of these types of blogs when looking for other parenting-type blogs and pregnancy blogs in preparation for the birth of bean.
So ICLW has grown through this community and of 130 blogs, 95% are about infertility, adoption, loss, adoption, and related topics. It's really cool to see this type of community and the benefits it brings; another benefit of this great thing known as the internet.
I have a small problem though, I feel out of place. I feel like an interloper. I feel like I'm visiting all of these blogs that are about topics that I know absolutely nothing about (though after a couple days of reading, I feel like I could hold my own in a conversation about infertility and the treatments surrounding it), and I feel like I'm intruding on these people's lives. It is a weird feeling, and something I've never come across in all my years of trolling blogs. I leave comments, but they feel weak and pithy. Why would this community care about the words of some random dude who has no idea what they are going through? Some guy that while he is going to be a dad, it was a surprise and hasn't spent thousands of dollars on it.
Now I don't know where these insecurities are coming from as these blogs are written by absolutely wonderful people; wonderful, kind, patient, loving people. I just feel like an outsider. But I guess that is okay, I can't always fit in right? I'm learning a ton about people with perseverance and patience and love and heart. I've come across a number of blogs that I'm really enjoying reading, and will definitely be adding to my list.
So here's a run down on ICLW. Mel has a list on her blog where people sign up, and for one week the people on the list go around visiting other people on the list and leave comments on their blogs. Commenting week runs from the 21st to the 28th and everyday you are supposed to comment on 5 blogs and return 1 comment for a total of 6 comments per day. It is open to anyone, and has been running since sometime in 2008.
The lady (Mel) that started this whole thing is a big IF (infertility) blogger (and even has a book), so naturally that is the community that she has surrounded herself in, and that flock to her. Now I know nothing about IF, adoption, pregnancy loss, and all of the things that surround that. I started finding more and more of these types of blogs when looking for other parenting-type blogs and pregnancy blogs in preparation for the birth of bean.
So ICLW has grown through this community and of 130 blogs, 95% are about infertility, adoption, loss, adoption, and related topics. It's really cool to see this type of community and the benefits it brings; another benefit of this great thing known as the internet.
I have a small problem though, I feel out of place. I feel like an interloper. I feel like I'm visiting all of these blogs that are about topics that I know absolutely nothing about (though after a couple days of reading, I feel like I could hold my own in a conversation about infertility and the treatments surrounding it), and I feel like I'm intruding on these people's lives. It is a weird feeling, and something I've never come across in all my years of trolling blogs. I leave comments, but they feel weak and pithy. Why would this community care about the words of some random dude who has no idea what they are going through? Some guy that while he is going to be a dad, it was a surprise and hasn't spent thousands of dollars on it.
Now I don't know where these insecurities are coming from as these blogs are written by absolutely wonderful people; wonderful, kind, patient, loving people. I just feel like an outsider. But I guess that is okay, I can't always fit in right? I'm learning a ton about people with perseverance and patience and love and heart. I've come across a number of blogs that I'm really enjoying reading, and will definitely be adding to my list.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
My new MacBook Pro
Some days I really enjoy my job. I never wake up dreading going to work, though some days I just want a day off, but that is just in general, not because of my job. And then there are all the perks. Like working with awesome people, and having a steady weekday 8-4 schedule with no OT or weekends.
Today I received my new MacBook Pro (courtesy of my employer), and I'm loving it! The keys are so smooth, it has a sleek aluminum exterior, and a bright, glossy screen. It's beautiful, and so much fun to use. Being a PC user for so many years, I'm loving using Macs as well. It's like a whole new world to learn and discover. It is a pretty slick interface that is quite intuitive built on top of this amazing linux core. When I run into a situation where the GUI is failing me, I just open the hood and delve into the depths (and power) that is the terminal. I LOVE it!
I don't really do anything at home to warrant the extra money it would cost to buy one, (that and I have 3 other more than capable computers) but I'll get as much as possible out of it even though it is from work. We have tons of home-use licenses so I'll be able to use the full Adobe CS3 suite as well as Aperture 2. We even have the new Office for Mac 2008 on it which is fun and new. So much fun!!
So yeah, my job rocks and so do the perks. I don't know what I'm going to do when bean (or beanette) shows up, and I do the whole stay-at-home dad thing. I think I'm going to miss it. Though I think the perks of being a dad are going to far outweigh those of any job.
Today I received my new MacBook Pro (courtesy of my employer), and I'm loving it! The keys are so smooth, it has a sleek aluminum exterior, and a bright, glossy screen. It's beautiful, and so much fun to use. Being a PC user for so many years, I'm loving using Macs as well. It's like a whole new world to learn and discover. It is a pretty slick interface that is quite intuitive built on top of this amazing linux core. When I run into a situation where the GUI is failing me, I just open the hood and delve into the depths (and power) that is the terminal. I LOVE it!
I don't really do anything at home to warrant the extra money it would cost to buy one, (that and I have 3 other more than capable computers) but I'll get as much as possible out of it even though it is from work. We have tons of home-use licenses so I'll be able to use the full Adobe CS3 suite as well as Aperture 2. We even have the new Office for Mac 2008 on it which is fun and new. So much fun!!
So yeah, my job rocks and so do the perks. I don't know what I'm going to do when bean (or beanette) shows up, and I do the whole stay-at-home dad thing. I think I'm going to miss it. Though I think the perks of being a dad are going to far outweigh those of any job.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Sisterhood Award
Now Mama Bean is just going to add this to the list, but I thought it was totally sweet.
Last week, one of my blogosphere friends was nominated for a blog award called the "Sisterhood Award." You basically nominate 10 people on your blog who's blogs you follow and are written "with great attitude and/or gratitude." It's pretty cool, she writes a great little blog and I've been following here for quite a few years (since she had one kid, and she now has 3) and we've developed this sort of blogosphere friendship which is kinda neat. Blog friendships aren't like real friendships, they take much longer to establish as you are only really reading what they have to say on their blog, commenting and vice versa.
So when she made her list of blogs that she reads and nominates for this "Sisterhood Award" she cheats and adds me. I was a little embarrassed at first, a little surprised, but mostly it was just this warm, fuzzy feeling that made me happy. I write my blog, I update regularity, but I don't tend to put a lot of thought into it. I write from the heart about things in my life, thoughts that go through my head, and whatever else. It is a really cool feeling to think what I write might affect the way someone thinks about something or makes any impact whatsoever in their lives.
So while Mama Bean might consider this another thing to add to the 'list', I think it is an honor.
I'm going to refrain from sending it out to others, as it just seems kind of weird for a guy to be passing on the Sisterhood Award, but there are many others out there that are spreading the love to great bloggers.
Last week, one of my blogosphere friends was nominated for a blog award called the "Sisterhood Award." You basically nominate 10 people on your blog who's blogs you follow and are written "with great attitude and/or gratitude." It's pretty cool, she writes a great little blog and I've been following here for quite a few years (since she had one kid, and she now has 3) and we've developed this sort of blogosphere friendship which is kinda neat. Blog friendships aren't like real friendships, they take much longer to establish as you are only really reading what they have to say on their blog, commenting and vice versa.
So when she made her list of blogs that she reads and nominates for this "Sisterhood Award" she cheats and adds me. I was a little embarrassed at first, a little surprised, but mostly it was just this warm, fuzzy feeling that made me happy. I write my blog, I update regularity, but I don't tend to put a lot of thought into it. I write from the heart about things in my life, thoughts that go through my head, and whatever else. It is a really cool feeling to think what I write might affect the way someone thinks about something or makes any impact whatsoever in their lives.
So while Mama Bean might consider this another thing to add to the 'list', I think it is an honor.
I'm going to refrain from sending it out to others, as it just seems kind of weird for a guy to be passing on the Sisterhood Award, but there are many others out there that are spreading the love to great bloggers.
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