It seems like the pages have turned to a new chapter over the past week or so!
I finished up work, celebrated my birthday and the season changed to spring.
I finished up work, celebrated my birthday and the season changed to spring.
I'm so glad I went with my gut and followed that voice telling me to end work mid month and (two months before baby at that.) For those of you that don't know, I run a dayhome (a daycare in my home.) That in itself has been such a blessing and valuable chapter in my life. It marks my return to work after kids and starting what I thought was my dream job. It brought great moments and unexpected challenges, most of which came about during pregnancy. One day, I'll write about it in detail, but for now I'll say I knew it was time for that chapter to close, despite it being much shorter than I ever imagined...
With my birthday days away, it felt like the perfect time for a new beginning. We kicked things off with a weekend getaway! Which was actually a boys trip for Matthew's hockey tournament but we tagged along in celebration of my fresh start. It was our first time in Invermere, BC and it was beautiful! We would love to go back in the summer and experience camping season there on the lake between the mountains!
It was a cute little town and welcomed us warmly for the tournament. The boys had a blast on their team Could Be Worse and considering they came from all over, and hadn't played together, they made out not too shabby with a third place finish! A sun shining Saturday and St. Patrick's Day green beers made it all the better for them ;)
Meanwhile the girls and I soaked up our "adventure" watching games, exploring parks + views and treating ourselves to yummy eats ;) There was a little bakery right around the corner from the rink which made the perfect pit stop for some birthday doughnuts.
Although most of the weekend was busy with hockey (and hangovers,) Matthew was more than ready for a soak in the hot springs on Sunday when the games had wrapped. Just north of the town was Radium Hot Springs. The girls loved swimming in the snowfall in the naturally heated outdoor pool! It was a lovely way to end our trip.
My birthday was spent driving back to the city and relaxing. Matthew cooked me a delicious BBQ supper and surprised us with cheesecake for dessert. I returned to some lovely happy mail waiting to be opened, too. Everything seemed like a perfectly aligned gift to new beginnings - from inspiring reads to baby clothes! It left my heart feeling grateful.
The next day Spring began. It might not look like it in Calgary but it felt like a much needed "shift." I really felt like this marked the blossoming of a fresh start for me. While in Invermere, there was a powerful New Moon. If you've been reading the blog or following my Insta posts, you may have seen that I've embraced sharing my interest in the moon and astrology. I've made journaling new moon intentions a regular thing. So while I was away, even though I didn't pack my journal, I took time to write down my visions for the next six months or so. I couldn't help seeing the choice to end work when I did and it's link to the timing of the moon (and my birthday and the season.) It was like it affirmed the new path I was on.
Cluing up another year and closing my dayhome seemed like a proper ending to let go of the past and embrace the new. There's so much I have been dreaming of and planning to share and now I can move forward with that! My next Vlog is coming soon ;)
In the meantime, I'm in full on spring declutter and organize craze doubled with nesting mode. I'm ready to get things together and ready so I can enjoy the rest of the time relaxing and soaking up moments with my girls. I'm hoping Spring will have truly arrived by then and we can spend more time outdoors... I'm already loving the longer daylight, boy does it make a difference for me!
I feel 'lighter' being done work and looking forward to what's to come but I've also been hit with that third trimester exhaustion lately... It's hard when I want to "do all the things" but find myself needing to slow down. After our weekend away and many indulgences, I'm trying to get back on track with cleaner eating so that I can feel better. I also had to go for a second glucose test to screen for gestational diabetes. My sugars were slightly elevated the first time so I went back for the fasting test that takes a few hours. Here's hoping it was just to do with what I ate the first time around.
Other than that, I've been feeling good. I really enjoy being pregnant (overall)! This pregnancy has been different though. It's been hard to tell if it's due to circumstances or third baby problems. For example, I have yet to experience stretch marks * knock knock * but this time around (prepare for potential TMI - I shrug it off ha) I have varicose veins..... annnnd higher up than my legs. Meh. It's from all the pressure and blood flow to baby. And apparently it's quite common, but new to me. I'm really hoping it goes away, in time, postpartum. I think this circulation issue is also bringing on crazy leg cramps in my sleep! Again, another thing that I didn't experience with the girls but is hitting me this time. Sleep is definitely getting more challenging these days, too, with the large belly. I'm prioritizing going to bed early. Plus it helps not having to wake for work, although I do still love my morning me time ;)
As for other things baby, we are struggling with boy names! We are not on the same page at all... or can't find one that sticks. There's still time, but that nesting feeling makes me want to decide right now. We're good for girls names and in general these seem way easier to pick. Names aside, I'm super excited about the anticipation of who this little babe is growing in my belly!
Hmmm in other news around here, (since the words are flowing as I type, despite this post turning in to a novel...) our big girl, Halle, has lost her first TWO teeth! We had a dentist appointment a few weeks ago and discovered she had four wiggly ones. Of course, that week, she lost her first bottom one. Then, not even a week later, the other one followed. It's kind of a bitter sweet parenting moment... She'll be five next month... Losing teeth seems like such a step from being a young child to a big kid... I really love seeing her personality grow though! And I'm so excited for her and Autumn to both be big sisters soon!
I suppose, a whole new chapter for them... for all of us, is about to unfold...
:)
...Keep checking back to read all about it!
XO
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