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My Life in Numbers

November 19, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

I’m not normally a numbers girl, but something about portraying my life in numbers works for me. So – tra la, tra la – I’m joining Greta from GFunkified for My Life in Numbers:

2 – the number of children I have

1 – the number of times I’ve been in labour

1 – number of C-sections I’ve had

1 – number of VBACs I’ve had (wahoo!)

349 – the approximate number of pickles I ate during my first pregnancy

12 – the approximate number of pickles I ate during my second pregnancy

290 – the number of diapers we’ve changed since Ethan was born

129 – the approximate number of hours I’ve spent playing Lego with Connor

4 – the number of medications I was on during the worst of my PPD breakdown

1 – the number of medications I’m on now

16 – the number of years I’ve been addicted to sleeping with white noise

2 – the number of solo backpacking trips I’ve done

3 – the number of times I’ve attempted to jump out of an airplane

1 – the number of times I’ve actually jumped out of an airplane (the other times were thwarted by weather, not fear)

0 – the number of tattoos I have

3 – the number of piercings I have

1 – the number of piercings I used to have and no longer have because HolyMotherofGod it hurt and I had to get my dad to remove it so I didn’t have to go to the emergency room

2 – the number of schools I went to between kindergarten and Grade 12

48 – the number of people in my high school grad class

3 – the number of siblings I have

2 – the number of half-siblings I have

0 – the number of grandparents I have who are still alive

3 – the number of half-marathons I’ve run

2 – the number of degrees I have

3 – the number of languages I know

17 – the age I was when I first met my husband

14 – the number of years my husband and I have been together

8 – the number of years we’ve been married

1 – the number of dogs we have

1 – the number of fish we’ve owned (RIP Gilligan)

47 – the number of times a day I tell Connor to be gentle

27 – the number of times a day I wonder if my slightly antagonistic relationship with Connor is scarring him for life

22 – the number of months I’ve been blogging

12 – the number of months we’ve lived here (almost to the day)

32 – the number of days until my 39th birthday [Edit: my husband has informed me that I’m actually only 37. Huh.]

Filed Under: Randomness · Tagged With: lists

Grace in Small Things: #8

October 11, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

I need to write, but I’ve been choosing sleep.

I don’t know what to say anyway.

I need to write about Ethan’s birth, because I think it’s a story that needs to be shared. I need to write about this first week, because I need to make some sense of it. I need to remember all this by writing about it here, but that will have to wait.

For now, a gratitude list:

Newborn smell.
Little boys who have become big brothers and really, really like helping.
Sisters who never fail to step up.
Husbands who get it.
Peri bottles. (What? Whoever invented these deserves an award.)

***

In other news, I’ve got a post up at Just.Be.Enough today. It’s about feeling like I’m not as much of a mom as those who take care of two kids on their own. I wrote it before Ethan was born and I’m not sure how I feel about this now, but it’s still something I’m pondering. Come read.

Filed Under: Happy things, Motherhood · Tagged With: Grace in Small Things, gratitude, lists

Grace in Small Things: #7

August 30, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

After yesterday’s whine I decided it was time for something more positive. Today, a bit of a gratitude list:

Friends who give me maternity clothes. I didn’t have to buy summer stuff and wearing the clothes makes me think of them.
The cool nights of late summer.
Ultrasounds that tell you your baby is growing fine.
Visits from friends.
Having a clean car – inside and out.

I don’t know why he does this on days I have to get up, but I did enjoy the cuddles.

Waging a battle against embitterment and taking part in Grace in Small Things.

Filed Under: Happy things · Tagged With: Grace in Small Things, gratitude, lists, perspective

Things I took for granted before I was pregnant

August 29, 2012 by Farewell Stranger ·

You’d think since this is my second time being pregnant I’d be more used to all the stuff that comes with it.

Nope.

I’ve realized that I took a lot for granted before I was pregnant. Like, you know, being comfortable. And also:

Doing up a pair of pants around my waist.
Being able to see my bikini line when I shave.
Peeing on MY schedule and not every four minutes because someone is sitting on my bladder.
Picking things up off the floor.
My ribs. I never really thought about them. (I’m sorry, ribs. I’m well aware of you now that you have a foot lodged in you. Which I really shouldn’t complain about because a foot is better than a head.)
Sleeping on my stomach.
Sleeping on my back.
Sleeping without heartburn.
Being able to turn over when I’m sleeping without hauling another person with me.
Eating without wondering if I’m going to be able to choke it down.

There are others, I’m sure, but that’s probably enough complaining for now.

I’m not even especially big this time – the opposite, in fact, as I keep having to get this babe’s growth checked because I’m measuring small. (Apparently he’s fine.) But I feel big. Or maybe just awkward.

In any case I’m trying to appreciate all this and remember what it’s like while wondering if I’m really going to make it to the end without going nuts.

6 1/2 weeks to go…

PS I know, I really should post a belly picture. I promise to try to do that soon.

PPS I also have a post up at Just.Be.Enough about how I’ve banned parenting books. Can you relate?

Filed Under: Pregnancy · Tagged With: lists