Shopping to renovate a house is SOOOOO much fun. So far, we have bought the cork flooring for the bedrooms, the slate tiles for the entryway, the central vac, garage doors, garage door openers, hardwood floors... we have to take advantage of the home renovation tax credit! And today: appliances! But first, we're off to Kingswood to let LP burn off some energy at gymnastics... He has been a little motor-mouth lately, never stops talking. This morning already, he tried calling GM and tante 'Manda on the phone, and now keeps asking: "Maman, c'est qui qui va venir nous visiter? Isabelle, Chistine, Mai-Eve, tante Venise et Mon'oncle Mac! ... ok maman?" This boy likes action and company! So Marc, you might want to call your nephew... but we'll also have to schedule a visit to go see the fam soon.
I'll post the "before" pictures of the house soon...
1.30.2010
1.27.2010
moving, renovating and not being a good mother
We're in the middle of moving right now, we get posession of our new house on Monday, Feb 1 and although we're pretty excited, it also means a shit load of work. We have 10 days in both houses, before we have to be out of our current home. So we are not just moving, but doing loads of renovations in the new place before we move in. We're not getting everything done we want, we figure we only have time to get the bedrooms done (which means new cork flooring, paint, new doors, lighting, closets...) and some stuff on the first floor (like getting rid of wallpaper, accordeon doors -yes!-, and some painting. Kitchen, bathroom, new windows and hardwoods throughout will get done in the summer... and the basement and outside of the house, we have not even started to think about yet. I'll have to learn to live with the AWESOME kitchen which includes gold-fleckled green tiles and brown-green cabinets (yes, this is a color, and it looks amazing in a kitchen when you add yellow to it) and GORGEOUS bathroom which has a mustard green tub and 70s style cabinets...and gold fleckled countertops of course. Oh, and the hanging gold lights just top it off wonderfully. Oh, and the entryway which has panelling and pink carpet as accents.
But we are pretty excited about making this as much of a green, sustainable home (and lifestyle) as we can, given that it's in town and older. We are already cutting down on the commuting so we're already scoring points there. We have a park 10 minutes-walk away, same with the groceries, and school and work are also very close. No more huge driveway to snowblow (JM is happy, do we even need a gas guzzling snowblower now?), or huge lawn to mow (Chris can go back to her manual lawn-mower, which really is great in case you have never tried it. It's quiet and you don't stink of gas or grass when you are done... and supper cheap of course.) Not sure if there is room for a veggy garden, at least not the size we had before, but we'll try something, an excuse for a compost at the very least.
An energy advisor is coming next Tuesday to do that door, air-blower test and take a look at the whole house. Then we can get moving with other renovations, such as adding insulation to the roof and potentially changing the eating system to something more sustainable. JM is pretty interested in the geo-thermal systems... we'll see.
And now onto the topic of not being a good mother this week. It started this week... I... decided... to let JS sleep on his stomach!! (Gasp) I know. If you are not a parent, you probably have not been bombarded with all the advertising about how you MUST put your baby to sleep on their backs now. From what I understand, research suggest that it decreases the chances of your baby dying of this cribb death syndrom or something. I get the safety issue and promotion about that to the general public. But man, does it ever make you go through a major guilt trip if you don't follow! Mommy guilt is so easy to get though. This advertising is on diapers, baby clothes, toys, the doctors and hospitals all have the paperwork and pamphlets they hand out and although only about 10 years ago the rule was to lay baby on their stomach, now it's pretty wrong and not in baby's best interest. Ah! But JS sleeps INCREADIBLY well on his stomach... 4 hours at a time and he even drools he sleeps so well. And if you know JS, he is a grunter, all he does is grunt in life so far, even in his sleep. I think it must be the equivalent of a cry for other babies. Must be a deVink thing. That's why he even can't sleep in our room, he keeps us up! But when he sleeps on his stomach, not a sound. I mean, he just goes to sleep, not a grunt. So, I decided to be labelled a bad mom for the sake of my (and JM's) sleep at night and my sanity during the day. It makes that we are all a happier family. So there, I needed to get that out. Yes, I sleep my baby on his stomach.
And that's what's going on in my head today... not too exciting compared to what was going on 3 weeks ago. But I'm still happy mommy-at-home world is back for a few months...
But we are pretty excited about making this as much of a green, sustainable home (and lifestyle) as we can, given that it's in town and older. We are already cutting down on the commuting so we're already scoring points there. We have a park 10 minutes-walk away, same with the groceries, and school and work are also very close. No more huge driveway to snowblow (JM is happy, do we even need a gas guzzling snowblower now?), or huge lawn to mow (Chris can go back to her manual lawn-mower, which really is great in case you have never tried it. It's quiet and you don't stink of gas or grass when you are done... and supper cheap of course.) Not sure if there is room for a veggy garden, at least not the size we had before, but we'll try something, an excuse for a compost at the very least.
An energy advisor is coming next Tuesday to do that door, air-blower test and take a look at the whole house. Then we can get moving with other renovations, such as adding insulation to the roof and potentially changing the eating system to something more sustainable. JM is pretty interested in the geo-thermal systems... we'll see.
And now onto the topic of not being a good mother this week. It started this week... I... decided... to let JS sleep on his stomach!! (Gasp) I know. If you are not a parent, you probably have not been bombarded with all the advertising about how you MUST put your baby to sleep on their backs now. From what I understand, research suggest that it decreases the chances of your baby dying of this cribb death syndrom or something. I get the safety issue and promotion about that to the general public. But man, does it ever make you go through a major guilt trip if you don't follow! Mommy guilt is so easy to get though. This advertising is on diapers, baby clothes, toys, the doctors and hospitals all have the paperwork and pamphlets they hand out and although only about 10 years ago the rule was to lay baby on their stomach, now it's pretty wrong and not in baby's best interest. Ah! But JS sleeps INCREADIBLY well on his stomach... 4 hours at a time and he even drools he sleeps so well. And if you know JS, he is a grunter, all he does is grunt in life so far, even in his sleep. I think it must be the equivalent of a cry for other babies. Must be a deVink thing. That's why he even can't sleep in our room, he keeps us up! But when he sleeps on his stomach, not a sound. I mean, he just goes to sleep, not a grunt. So, I decided to be labelled a bad mom for the sake of my (and JM's) sleep at night and my sanity during the day. It makes that we are all a happier family. So there, I needed to get that out. Yes, I sleep my baby on his stomach.
And that's what's going on in my head today... not too exciting compared to what was going on 3 weeks ago. But I'm still happy mommy-at-home world is back for a few months...
1.26.2010
...some are delightful (???) ...not this week.
"Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age, sex, color, class, or religion, children must have the opportunity to learn that within each range, some people are loathsome and some are delightful." Margaret Mead
Ah yes... those are the glasses I feel I have to wear this week to help me stay positive on some issues! My girlfriend Kelly always has some cool, insightful, inspirational, tips and things to get your spirits back up when the mommy world is a bit more challenging on some days.
Oh yes, and Kelly's oldest daughter has an awesome, cute blog... she's 8!! And very bright. Take a look.
You are one awesome girl Chloe, keep it up!
blogorcomedy.blogspot.com
Ah yes... those are the glasses I feel I have to wear this week to help me stay positive on some issues! My girlfriend Kelly always has some cool, insightful, inspirational, tips and things to get your spirits back up when the mommy world is a bit more challenging on some days.
Oh yes, and Kelly's oldest daughter has an awesome, cute blog... she's 8!! And very bright. Take a look.
You are one awesome girl Chloe, keep it up!
blogorcomedy.blogspot.com
Matching PJs / Des jumeaux en pyjama
Mémére avait un mignon cadeau pour les garçons: des pyjamas identiques. Les voici allongés sur notre lit hier soir en regardant Dumbo... ok, Louis-Pascal regardait Dumbo et j'ai fait poser Jan-Sébastien avec lui, mais il semble pas mal intéressé quand même! E merci Sandra!
Mémére had a cute gift for the boys: matching PJs. Here they are watching Dumbo before bed last night... ok, LP was watching Dumbo and I posed JS, but it still looks like he's into it! And thank you Sandra!
Mémére had a cute gift for the boys: matching PJs. Here they are watching Dumbo before bed last night... ok, LP was watching Dumbo and I posed JS, but it still looks like he's into it! And thank you Sandra!
Louis-Pascal est vraiment un bon grand frère...
LP is taking to his big brother role quite well so far...
1.18.2010
Some pictures / Quelques photos
Quelques photos diverses de la première semaine avec Jan-Sébastien...
Some random pictures of JS's first week...
1.09.2010
Nouveau-né / New Arrival
It is with great pleasure that Christiane and I would like to announce the arrival of the newest addition to the family. Jan-Sébastien Guérette deVink was born on January 7th at 00h57 weighing 7lbs 9oz. Mother and baby are both doing very well and are back at home. Labour was a relatively short 4 hrs and went as well as one could hope. Louis-Pascal has adjusted well so far to the baby and likes to bring the baby one of his "doudou" (blankies) when the baby is sleeping. 2010 will certainly be an exciting and eventful year for all.
Jan (pronounced "Yann") is Dutch and was JM's grandfather's name. Louis (as in Louis-Pascal) was the name of Chris' great grandfather.
C'est avec grand plaisir que nous souhaitons la bienvenue au nouveau-né de la famille. Jan-Sébastien Guérette deVink est né le 7 janvier à 00h57 pesant 7 livres, 9 onces. Maman et bébé sont tous les deux en bonne santé et sont de retour à la maison. Le travail dura seulement 4 heures en total et sans complication. Louis-Pascal s'ajuste très bien à l'arrivée de son frère et aime lui apporter ses doudoux (ses couvertes préférées) lorsqu'il dort. 2010 sera certainement une année pleine d'exitement et d'aventures!
Jan (prononcé "Yann") est Hollandais et fut le nom du grand-père à Jean-Michel, comme Louis (dans Louis-Pascal) fut le nom de l'arrière grand-père à Christiane.
Jan (pronounced "Yann") is Dutch and was JM's grandfather's name. Louis (as in Louis-Pascal) was the name of Chris' great grandfather.
C'est avec grand plaisir que nous souhaitons la bienvenue au nouveau-né de la famille. Jan-Sébastien Guérette deVink est né le 7 janvier à 00h57 pesant 7 livres, 9 onces. Maman et bébé sont tous les deux en bonne santé et sont de retour à la maison. Le travail dura seulement 4 heures en total et sans complication. Louis-Pascal s'ajuste très bien à l'arrivée de son frère et aime lui apporter ses doudoux (ses couvertes préférées) lorsqu'il dort. 2010 sera certainement une année pleine d'exitement et d'aventures!
Jan (prononcé "Yann") est Hollandais et fut le nom du grand-père à Jean-Michel, comme Louis (dans Louis-Pascal) fut le nom de l'arrière grand-père à Christiane.
1.04.2010
Start of week 40...
The start of week 40 today.
Still no baby.
I have had enough; who cares if my actual due date is 6 days from now, this little bundle has to vacate now.
Still no baby.
I have had enough; who cares if my actual due date is 6 days from now, this little bundle has to vacate now.
1.01.2010
Bonne Année ! / Happy New Year!
Bonne année à toutes et tous! Hier soir ne fut pas un grande célébration pour nous. Christiane est épuisée et malade avec un mal de gorge, Louis-Pascal a un nez qui coule et Jean-Michel ne veut que se promener dans les bois avant que la tempête arrive demain. Donc nous sommes allés nous coucher avant 11pm!! Pas une gang trop intéressante dernièrement.
Happy New Year everyone! It was not a very exciting evening last night for us. Chris is exhausted and sick with a soar throat, LP has a runny nose and JM just wants to go trapping before the storm hits tomorrow. So we actually all went to bed before 11pm!! We are a very exciting bunch of people lately.
En tout cas, que 2010 soit une année remplie de bonheur, de santé et de beaux moments pour vous! De notre côté, 2010 est à date une attente pour un nouveau membre de la famille. Donc voici une photo de Christiane et sa bédaine qui a presque terminé sa 39e semaine... ne pas trop manipuler, elle pourrait éclater n'importe quand!
Anyways, I hope 2010 brings all of you health, happiness and great times! 2010 for us so far, is waiting for a new addition to the family. So here is a belly shot, Chris at 39 weeks almost completed... and with a belly that looks like it should not be handled or else it will pop!
Happy New Year everyone! It was not a very exciting evening last night for us. Chris is exhausted and sick with a soar throat, LP has a runny nose and JM just wants to go trapping before the storm hits tomorrow. So we actually all went to bed before 11pm!! We are a very exciting bunch of people lately.
En tout cas, que 2010 soit une année remplie de bonheur, de santé et de beaux moments pour vous! De notre côté, 2010 est à date une attente pour un nouveau membre de la famille. Donc voici une photo de Christiane et sa bédaine qui a presque terminé sa 39e semaine... ne pas trop manipuler, elle pourrait éclater n'importe quand!
Anyways, I hope 2010 brings all of you health, happiness and great times! 2010 for us so far, is waiting for a new addition to the family. So here is a belly shot, Chris at 39 weeks almost completed... and with a belly that looks like it should not be handled or else it will pop!
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