Call to Readers

The purpose of this post is two-fold.

1. That photo I put up in "Round 2" is goofy, and I don't want it to pop up anymore when I open the page.

2. I noticed on my cluster map that I now have a 100+ dot and 10+ dot in Ontario/Quebec!

My geography isn't great when the provincial lines aren't drawn, so I can't exactly tell where the dots are, but I know some relatives back East have been reading lately! So I wanted to say a big HELLO to them, and thanks for reading!

I've opened up my comments so that anyone can comment (you don't have to register with blogger first), so here's your chance to let me know who's reading!

Round 2

As you can see from the "baby ticker" above, I am 15 weeks! What does this mean? I'm in my second trimester!

I'm not as sick, not as tired, but still obsessed with food, and even more excited!

We're getting prepared by reverting back to "baby stage" to remember what it was like. Mmmmm soother pops (thanks JLo)!

Beauty Takes Time

About 5 years ago, Colin's mom gave us an orchid plant. It was an offspring of one of her plants. Just a baby, only a 2 inch tall green stem.

I am sure it is the slowest growing plant in the entire world. I've literally grown thousands of Mexican Hat plants since I got the orchid.

During the first 3 years, it didn't even double in size. It still looked like a lonely and awkward green stem. It survived 2 moves, even though each time I just about threw it out because I thought it was a dud.

It only started to grow when we moved to our house. I guess it likes its spot by the kitchen sink. It got to be 6 inches tall, but no signs of any flowers. To tell you the truth, I'd stopped looking at it, because there was nothing beautiful to see.

Then a few weeks ago, Colin noticed that it had a tiny bud!

We watched the bud closely, watered it dilligently, and saw this beauty emerge!

A lesson in patience with a sweet reward.

My Dancing Fling

This post is about 10 months in the making, and Amanda motivated me to finish it. She talked about how if you are a dancer, it's very hard to stop. I agreed wholeheartedly.

When I was 6, I started Highland dancing. As a kid with an endless amount of energy, I found I really enjoyed jumping around! I loved the bagpipe music and the beautiful kilts.

Highland dancing has a certain number of dances (I estimate 15) with 4 different costumes. All dancers learn the same dances the same way, so dancers all over the world are doing EXACLY the same thing you are doing. There are even comittees that get together to "change" the dances ever so slightly to keep you "on your toes". For example: Instead of looking to the side when you make a turn, THIS year, you look ahead. A picky detail to see who's paying attention to the rules and who's not.

I was hooked on competition from the first time I stepped on the stage. I had been in some musicals and choirs prior to this, so I already liked being on stage. In the first competition, I won a gold medal in the Sword dance, so I knew I'd be back for more.







At a typical competition, each dancer did 4-6 dances, then awards were given out from 1st place to 6th place. They were so much fun! I competed an average of one to two times per month, and went on 2-day competitions to Kelowna, Parksville, Bellingham, and many others. I loved how it was a family event, even though I was the only one dancing. My dad and sisters would sight-see, and my mom would faithfully watch every move I made. She was always encouraging, and was always proud of me.

Up to 12 years old, I think there were 2 competitions I entered where I did not get a medal. But then, my love for dance was tested.


At that point, I advanced to the "Premier" category, which is the highest level of competition. Once there, you compete against the best dancers in the province who are your age.

Unfortunately, there were a LOT of dancers my age who were among the best in Canada, and even the world! So when I joined that caliber of competition, I suddenly stopped winning. In the first few years, I didn't win a thing. I struggled with the thought, "What's the point? I'm never going to win". But the more I struggled with it, the more I realized that I do not dance for the medals or trophies, I dance because it's part of me.

My dancing became an act of worship. As I stood in the wings ready to go on stage, I'd thank God for giving me a body that was able to dance, and I'd dedicate each dance to Him.

After a lot of hard work, I started winning again! I worked so hard that my teacher took me and another dancer to Scotland for a month to compete there! But that's an entirely different post.

Highland dancing is extremely hard on the body! The "dancing season" lasted 11 months, and I was guarenteed to get shin splints at least once per season. A lot of the dancing is done on the toes, and I think I've broken all my toes at least once. After the first few, I didn't even go to the doctor. I'd just tape it with a popsicle stick so it would heal somewhat straight and get back to work!

My most memorable broken toe story? I was at a competition warming up before the sword dance (the hardest one on the toes) in the wings backstage when I heard a SNAP! Ow! I was next on stage, so I went up, did my dance with a smile, and didn't wince until I was off stage. I still had more dances to do that day, so I iced it until my next dance, and continued like nothing was wrong.

My main physical problem affecting dance is plantar fasciitis. The only way to describe it: it feels like someone is running a thousand knives up and down the bottom of your foot. It was really painful and I'd leave some of my competitions almost unable to walk.

I was determined though. So determined that I almost missed my own grade 12 grad dinner and dance! I had a VERY important competition that day! It was the 3rd (and last) in the series, and I had won 1st place in all dances for the other 2 competitions. So there was a chance I could win the best dancer of the series. I wouldn't want to miss THAT!

I went behind my boyfriends back to the competition, won the trophies, and hurried back to see if the limo was still waiting for me. My mom did my hair in the car, and I changed from a kilt to an evening gown on the Port Mann bridge! The limo WAS still waiting, but the boyfriend wasn't too impressed! Oh well.

Despite my determination, my body told me that it had enough in 1999. So I retired at 20. But I achieved most of the goals I had set for myself, and stopped at the top of my game.
- I won a medal in the Provincial Championships
- I won 7th overall at the "everyone EXCEPT Scotland" World Championships
- I danced in the World Championships in Scotland

The medals and trophies are in some box in the attic, probably never to be seen again, the beautiful kilts are sold off (sniff), and parts of my body are permanently damaged, but Highland Dancing is still a part of me, and I'm glad I did it!

Valentines Miracle

"Valentines Day" does not hold good memories for me. From sending "secret admirer carnations" in high school that weren't appreciated, to hopping from restaurant to restaurant for HOURS because someone didn't think to make reservations, my Valentines haven't been great.

I don't like the expectations. Or how you have to feel a certain way on a certain day. What if you wake up on the wrong side of the bed? Will the carnations and box of chocolates you receive make you feel "lovey-dovey"? Not me. I'd rather have the $50 that he's spent on the flowers, and I've just lost the weight I gained from Christmas chocolate (although, I'll still eat a few).

Every Valentines turned out to be a disappointment, single or in a relationship.

When Colin and I had our first Valentines Day he could not hold his excitement when I told him my view. He's off the hook. We haven't had a typical "Valentines Day", although I still didn't let him work on the boat yesterday.

This year, however, Valentines Day has a whole new meaning.

I took the day off, because I was scheduled for an ultrasound. Colin was able to take a half-day so he could come with me.

We made a delicious breakfast, and had a wonderfully relaxing morning together. Then off to the ultrasound. I was so nervous.

Will there be 2? Will we hear the heartbeat? Will it look normal?

Words cannot describe the experience. It was the most incredible moment I've experienced in my whole life! We saw it (one, not two!) move around, wave it's arms, suck it's thumb, s-t-r-e-t-c-h, and kick it's legs! It's perfectly symmetrical, and all it's parts are proportional to the others, right down to it's 1.2cm long feet!

It has functioning lungs, heart, kidneys...everything is working well. It seems content swimming around and hanging out, but she did say it was quite an active one!

Surprise, surprise.

We even got 6 photos to take home and show off. I already have a favourite!

As we watched our very much alive, and tiny unborn baby, we had a reality check. A great one! There's ACTUALLY a living thing growing inside me! Also, we realized how much of a miracle God performs with each little baby He creates.

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Thank you, Lord, for our little miracle.

Vancouver on a Dime

Last week, we recieved a phone call for "Colin or Nancy". I always give these to Colin, because I know they're trying to sell me something. This particular company got our phone number from a draw Colin entered to win a Hummer, we think at the PNE.

Usually Colin has hung up by about 30 seconds, so I was a bit skeptical when he was still talking to the guy after 15 minutes. When he'd hung up, he said to me, "We're going to have an adventure on Saturday".

WE? Oh great. What did he sign me up for?

We had to go to a meeting with a salesperson from "Point to Point Destinations", a timeshare company. For listening to their 90 minute presentation, we were promised some great free gifts: 2 Canucks tickets, a $25 gift certificate to Milestones, and a voucher for a 2 for 1 cruise with Carnival Cruises. I thought, "yeah right". But it will be an adventure, so we might as well go for it.

Saturday morning came and we headed downtown for 10am. We sit down with the salesperson in a room full of tables of others doing the same thing. As soon as we sat down, she said, "Do you know why you are here today?".

Colin is bluntly honest. He said, "Yes. If we listen to your 90 minute presentation on timeshares, you're going to give us Canucks tickets".

Judging from her reaction, this is the first time she's heard someone that honest.

We were asked to try and forget about the tickets, and keep an open heart and mind, to which we agreed.

The presentation was fun, as she had us talking about our past vacations, and what we liked about them. We even got to go across the street and tour one of their suites on the 15th floor in the Rosedale Hotel! It was beautiful, and the view was outstanding, with floor to ceiling windows in the bedroom!

I was taking notes of how to be a good salesperson, because she certainly was! She would take my jacket and hang it up when we left the office, address us often by our first names, and try to put herself into our shoes by asking us well thought out questions.

I offered the fact that we were expecting our first child because I thought it would make it clear that we don't have the kind of money for this kind of thing, but she turned it around and used it to her advantage. "Your kids will want to go to Disneyland when they hear their friends are going, and if you have the timeshare points, you can go for free! How else will you be able to afford to take them?".

The system did sound good, and we might have even said yes if our kids were at the age of being able to enjoy a vacation (and if we had the money). At the end of the 90 minutes we had the "number talk", which they convieniently leave until the very last.

While we were talking numbers, I was noticing the other groups in the room which were wrapping things up. When one couple left, the salesperson did a "shooing" motion behind her clients back!! I couldn't believe it! Another escorted his clients out the door and then the two were discussing their "sales" skills and what they could have done better to lure a sale.

Real professional, people! Save it for the lunch room!!

Back to our table: the moment of truth. Are we going to do it?

Colin, being his honest self, said that he will not be pressured into spending a chunk of money without a few days to think about it. Of course she declined this and her attitude turned from pleasant to rude. I didn't really care, because we were upfront and honest from the beginning. But when she said we are throwing away our kid's chances of having great holidays I got upset and was ready to leave. Who gives her the right to judge my parenting skills? I think I am being a better parent by declining this money trap!

She gave us all the free gifts we were promised and then sent us on our way. Colin forced a handshake, or else there would have been none. And I had to find where the coats were, and search through them to find mine. All of a sudden she did not feel inclined to help a pregnant woman with her coat anymore!

Once we were out, we looked at the stuff she gave us, and to my surprise, everything was there! The only difference was that the restaurant gift certificate wasn't for Milestones. It was for the Macaroni Grill, which is one of my favourite restaurants! The tickets weren't in there, but there was a voucher for 2 tickets any game within a 2 week time span.

After a quick 2 for 1 lunch at Subway, we walked to BC Place stadium, where the Boat Show was. Before the whole "timeshare" thing happened, we were already planning on coming down for the show. Just as it was our turn to go up the the counter to pay for our tickets, the couple in front of us said to each other, "We could give this to someone", then thrust something in our hand. It was a 2 for 1 coupon to get in to the Boat Show! We didn't even have time to realize what it was before they hurried away, so I hope they heard the "thank you" I yelled after them. It really was our lucky day!

The boat show isn't the most exciting show for me. Instead of the garden tools, landscape displays and interior design booths that are part of the Home Show, there were the displays of fishing rods, down-riggers and yacht toilets. I do like looking at the boats though, and dream of which one we'll own someday after someone else has owned it for 20 years.

Maybe we'll take it to our timeshare.

Once we got into the stadium area, it was no surprise to see which section was the section that blew off a month ago. Looks a bit cleaner than the rest of the roof, eh?







We walked around for a few hours and got so exhausted that we had to start heading home (My current level of energy is nowhere near where it used to be). On the walk back to our car (which was in a cheap lot a few kilometres away), we stopped at GM Place and picked up our Canucks tickets. The voucher worked!





So on March 4, we'll be going on a romantic date to the Macaroni Grill, followed by a Canucks vs Wild game at GM Place!

And the cruise? Well, maybe we'll use it and maybe we won't. It may be hard to fit it in before the baby's born. But I'd do this all over again for the free date night!

Who says Vancouver's an expensive place?

Yariba yariba!

A number of you were actually disappointed after reading my post with the photo of the "Prego" sauce because there was no secret recipe. So today I will share one of our favorite meals that I created! I think I am a pretty good cook, but have little to no imagination and creativity, so making a meal without a recipe is a big thing for me.

All the meals I make take less than 30 minutes, so this one is quick and easy!

Here it is: Nancy's Mexican Wraps

1.5 cups raw rice
2 chicken breasts
1/2 a pepper
1 cup corn (frozen or not)
Lotsa Salsa
6 wraps (any kind)
Cilantro (optional)
Taco Seasoning

Fillings:
Grated cheese
Sour cream

Start cooking 1.5 cups of rice. By the time it's done, your meal will be too (unless, of course, you are using minute-rice).

Cut 2 chicken breasts into small cubes and stirfry in olive oil until done (5 minutes?). Use a BIG frying pan.

Add chopped pepper, corn, taco seasoning, 1/2 cup - 1 cup of salsa and some cilantro (if using) and cook a few minutes.

Stick on simmer and yell at the rice cooker because you are ready for the rice, but it's not ready to give it to you.

Might as well grate the cheese and get out wraps, sour cream and any other fillings you want (lettuce, beans...) while you wait.

Stand impatiently by the rice cooker and yell some more. Eventually it will be done.

Scoop finished rice into the fry pan and mix it all together.

Pray for the meal before you start filling, because once you start filling, it's hard to put it back down.

Spread sour cream in a line in the middle of the wrap. Put the rest of the fillings on top. Fold up the bottom of the wrap so stuff doesn't fall out.

Eat.

VIOLA! A good meal that took no time at all!

Makes 6 wraps. Take the leftovers in a container to work, and build your wrap at lunch time! MMmm. Tastes just like it did last night!

Enjoy.

A Grey Day

Yesterday morning I was doing my hair before work. As I was trying to get the frizz flat, I spied one wild hair on top of my head that was curling in every direction. It wouldn't stay flat no matter how much putty I applied.

Then I realized.

It was grey.

"It's NOT mine, it CAN'T be!". But when I yanked it, I felt that tell-tale tug which confirmed the unthinkable.

It IS mine.

I didn't have much time to sulk or stand there in shock, as Colin ushered me out the door to take me to the train station.

That night, I was looking in the mirror and noticed a prominantly blonde hair, front and center, above my forehead. "It's funny how shiny that blonde hair is, and how noticable it is from the rest", I thought.

Panic set in as I remembered the drama of the morning. I braced myself, got closer to the mirror, and was distressed to find... it too, was grey!

I'm not even a mom yet and I already have grey hair!

I must be getting old.

Ethical Addiction

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I quit coffee cold turkey. You're still "allowed" the caffeine equivalent of 3 cups per day, but I thought I should be as healthy as possible and cut it out of my diet as much as possible. Haven't had a cup since.

Today I was feeling really sluggish at work. People were asking if I was OK. I was falling asleep at 10am, so I did it.

I had a cup of coffee.

As I sipped it, I couldn't do anything else! I just sat and sipped, enjoying every sweet & warm drop, wishing the cup would never empty.

But now it is, and it sits on my desk beckoning to be filled once again.

Food, Glorious Food!

Starting about 3 weeks ago, my appetite has increased. A LOT. I can't seem to eat enough to feel genuinely "full". I've also had some cravings! Not desperate ones like "if I don't get that donut, I'm going to die", but if I think about a certain food, I immediately start salivating.

Sushi is my main crave. Unfortunately, no raw salmon allowed, but there's so much more sushi has to offer!

Last week I ordered one roll just to cap my craving, and I was obsessed with thinking about how good it was for the whole day. It consumed my thoughts!

I've had all-you-can-eat 3 times in the past month.

My weirdest craving so far has been this:

I actually opened up a can and started to munch. When I'd eaten half the can, I finished off my snack with a bowl of bean with bacon soup.

Mmmmm, beans.

I may have slept on the couch that night.

Lucky for me, the cravings I usually get are for healthy food, which is helping keep my weight gain on track. I do have the occasional craving for one of these:

but so far I haven't given in to it!

I'm finished my lunch now, but am still hungry.

Anyone for sushi?