Wedded Bliss

Today is my wedding anniversary. My fourth wedding anniversary. I find that a little crazy. (And not in a bad way.) I am so ridiculously blessed to have the husband I have. Jonathan is my perfect match even though I don't always see that. He is quiet and thoughtful, I talk too much and often without thinking. He can be impatient, whereas I can be too patient. I make quick judgements about people, places, or things and he takes his time and examines all the facts. He measures twice and cuts once - I just start cutting. We are both growing frustrated waiting to be parents, but he has never once blamed me or judged me when I started crying at the news that someone we know is expecting.

Neither of us is perfect, I know that. But I also know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are perfect for each other.

These are memories people!

You know how in the movie Can't Hardly Wait Melissa Joan Hart's character runs around with her year book getting indignant because people don't seem to grasp its importanc? "These are memories people!" she shouts at one point. Well, that's me. Sort of.

I love pictures. I always have. I was the first one of my friends to have a digital camera. Our teenage years are mainly immortalized in my photo albums. I still love taking pictures and think that they're a wonderful way to preserve memories. I take my camera almost everywhere and my phone is full of pictures of my family. (Especially my fur babies.)

When I was a kid my parents took us to get our pictures done professionally (usually at Sears) every year just before Christmas so they could mail out family photos with their Christmas cards. As my brother and I got older (and less cute) the pictures became infrequent. Now, every year, I drag my husband to get professional pictures taken.

He put up with the engagement photos and the wedding photos, but the next summer I decided I wanted a family photo that included the cat. Eventually he gave in and off we went to a studio downtown. The pictures turned out great but it was traumatic for all three of us. (Plus we paid a ridiculous amount for the pictures, and waited far too long to get them back.) The following year I searched for a photographer that would come to our house and I found Tammy.

We've now had photos done by Tammy five times now, and I've never been disappointed. Her prices are super reasonable and she is the least pretentious person you will ever meet. My husband hates having his picture taken, but you'd never be able to tell from looking at the finished product.  I always feel like more than a client with Tammy.

I highly recommend having portraits done professionally on regular basis. I don't think it's an investment you'll ever regret.

And those of you in the Halifax area should definitely consider having Tammy (http://infinitecreationsnaturally.weebly.com/) take your next family photos! (You can find her on Facebook too.)

Domesticity

I am trying very hard to turn over a new leaf in the cooking and cleaning department. (Do I sound like a broken record? I know I've said this same thing before!) I spent Monday night and yesterday morning getting my house clean. Not spotless - but clean enough that if my mother-in-law decided to pop by unexpectedly I wouldn't be absolutely mortified. Today I planned our meals for the next week, got groceries, made a couple freezer meals, made breakfast sandwiches for the week, and baked some chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter frosting for my husband.

I need to remember to start doing one or two things every night so that on Wednesday when I'm off I don't have a huge list of things to accomplish around the house. (And maybe I can spend some time spiffing up my blog.)  It was nice today not to have to worry about a ton of cleaning. I'm going to vacuum and dust my living room, but that's all that really needs to be done since I've done little bits over the past couple days.

On a sort-of related note, I'm in the market for a new slow cooker. I'd really like one with a timer. Most recipes say 4-8 hours and I'm gone from the house for nearly 11 hours each day. Anyone have any thoughts or recommendations?

Tuesday's Tunes

So, my music taste has always been a bit different from my friends. I've always been a total pop lover, and most specifically a boy-band lover. While my tastes have broadened somewhat now that I'm an adult, there will always be a spot in my heart for my absolute favourite boyband, the Backstreet Boys. I am totally thrilled that they have a new album coming out this month so of course I had to share their new single here today.



Any other boy band lovers lurking out there? Any albums coming out this month that you're excited for?

Summer Lovin'

Top: Hubby and I in the pool. (Can't believe I'm posting a
picture of myself in my bathing suit!) Bottom: Hubby tipping
 his brother off the floating chair and into the pool.

We finally got some summer weather here in Halifax! The past four days have been absolutely gorgeous. (Almost too hot, though I hate to say that after all the rain we had in June!) We spent three of the past four evenings relaxing in the pool or on the deck at my parents' place. Today my husband's two younger brothers came and joined us. The three of them were just like big kids playing around and splashing in the pool. Daisy came too and splashed around in her kiddie pool and relaxed in the shade. It was so nice to actually spend some time outside in the sunshine.

We're heading to Prince Edward Island this coming weekend to visit hubby's brother and his wife. They're in the process of adopting two children from Africa and there's a chance that they'll be heading over there before the end of the summer so we want to make sure we spend a little time with them before they go. They're two of the loveliest people I know and we always have a great time when we get together. I'm really looking forward to a weekend away too.

Attempting to be productive...

Daisy licked the spoon when I
was done mixing up her treats.
She can't wait until they're frozen!

One of the nice things about my job is that I get a day off through the week. The downside to that is that I work Saturday when my husband is home but I still enjoy it. It gives me a chance to read and relax, or get some house work done.

I decided I should try to be productive today since I spent my day off last week at the petting zoo with a friend and her son. So far I've done a couple loads of laundry, a load of dishes, bought groceries, put supper in the slow cooker, and made some frozen treats for Daisy. Hoping to get my bathroom cleaned next and maybe do some vacuuming. Though I might just take a nap first...

PS: The recipe for the frozen doggy treats is here if you're interested. I made them last summer too and she goes absolutely crazy for them. And it's much cheaper than buying doggy icecream at the store.

Cancelling the Pity Party

I got some news yesterday that really upset me. And I was upset because the news upset me. Confused? A family member announced yesterday that's expecting a baby. And I am so happy for her. She's going to be an amazing mother, and her husband is going to be a fantastic father. They are truly lovely people. However, Jonathan and I have been struggling to conceive for almost three years. So instead of being happy for them, I had to leave the room before I started crying.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening wallowing in self-pity. (I did manage to say congratulations before we left, but I know my behaviour was ridiculous.) I sobbed in my bed while my husband walked the dog. I honestly don't know the last time I cried like that.

This morning I woke up feeling a little foolish. How selfish am I? What is wrong with me that I can't be happy for friends and family who are experiencing one of the most joyful times of their lives? And what about my husband? How does it make him feel when I behave like that? Time to cancel the pity party and get on with life.

God's timing is perfect - I'll have a baby when (and if) I'm supposed to. For now, I've decided to try and finally develop that routine I've been talking about for months. I'm going to try and get myself healthy. Will eating better and exercising more make me get pregnant faster? Maybe, or maybe not. Will it make for an easier pregnancy when the time comes? Definitely. And if I don't get pregnant is there any harm in being healthier? Well that's just a silly question...