It’s July 2nd today…

This date is not so significant in itself- it’s not my birthday (yet! the 7th); it’s not Canada day or US Independence Day. I didn’t get up to too much today, other than some cleaning and organizing and random things preparing for an exhibition I have coming up in September…Oh, and a quick show down on Granville Island as part of the Jazz Fest happening right now. But none of this is really that significant.

BUT, if you recall this post, the significance is that I have now completed month 5 of pregnancy, and am exactly 4 months from the due date of this little Peanut. And let me tell you- I’m getting out there. My belly is unmistakably pregnant. I’m tired, a lot. The baby is kicking, also a lot. A crib has arrived in our household, (thanks to a generous friend), but it’s kinda freaking me out to see it here already. Well, I guess this is why we get 9months to percolate to prepare for the change. But what is the intense, almost overwhelming feeling I’m experiencing? Oh right: Imminence.

And adding to the fun? I seem to have lost a significant portion of my functional brain cells out my ear somewhere in the last week. I think the ant infestation we are experiencing had something to do with it. I believe my brain cell crumbs have been carried off and are now being used to feed a growing colony of creative, silly, ant-lings… Much to the chagrin of their mothers, no doubt.

For now, me and D-man will continue to enjoy our last child-less summer, and watch in amazement as my belly continues it’s outward journey. Lots of travel and camping planned for this entire month- the highlight in July is a week in TOFINO!!! of surfing, sand, and camping with some of the greatest people on the planet. Gotta figure out the sleeping situation, as I’m not sure a thermarest will suffice. But really, I’m most looking forward to walking into the surf shop and seeing the look on the clerk’s face when I try to squeeze my meatball into a wetsuit.

Good times ahead.

I’m back from Lasqueti Island, fully relaxed and feeling (as to be expected) more pregnant than ever! The gals commented as we boarded the ferry to come back to Vancouver on Saturday afternoon- “Dori, you’ve grown!” Hmm… yes… Well, I think that after an ocean view week of art making and loving conversations with 4 other amazing talented women artists, the growing happened more than just in my belly.

Here’s some highlights from the trip:

The cabin we stayed at was at CY’s mum’s place, and the garden was filled with the biggest and most fragrant roses I’ve ever seen…

One day while out exploring, we found a huge colony of star-fish practicing their afternoon yoga:

Sunset on Lasqueti, taken from Boot point.

The oldest arbutus tree on Lasqueti- giving it a hug, I could hardly get my arms halfway around it’s base… It’s a biggie!

Unexpected beauty emerges from the simplest ingredients:

Raiding mother’s closet to play dress-up:

And now back home, I dragged D-man to the big Hawk’s street garage sale yesterday and found my dream table! Solid wood, round, with an extra leaf. As you can see I’ve already made it my own… My piles of stuuf spread fast and furious onto unused surfaces. Oh- here’s the yarn from the above photo in progress, and I see my belly made an unexpected appearance in the photo:

Pregnostic update: I’m officially 20 weeks, which means I’m halfway through the journey. Which actually means very litte, considering I’ve got quite a bit more growing of this Peanut. Just seemed significant the other day when I announced it to a friend “I’m halfway there!”… Not sure if that’s a feeling of victory or just a statement of condition- but as I feel challenged most days of my life- why does time go so fast? I’m enjoying the growing belly, the wiggly kidlet, and friendly smiles from other mothers, oh so very much.

Peanut, I’m already missing this special time together.

Hi folks, just want to post a little progress update on the clay eating project I’m in the middle of… I mean the baby growing project, ahem.

Here’s some photos for you:

I’m growing a watermelon?

Trying on a dress for a wedding this summer… will it still fit in 2 months?… hmmm, I think some alterations might be in order. Nevermind the growing belly- I won’t even tell you about the boobs!

Here’s our little dude, with fingers up by it’s face- we saw it suck its thumb, and wiggle all around during the ultrasound. We don’t know if it’s a boy or girl, don’t want to find out until it’s born. A bigger surprise I couldn’t imagine!!

Here’s a shot of the little dude’s spine, as baby was curling around. Just a wiggle worm, I feel the baby moving all the time! Dustin hasn’t felt it yet, but soon enough, no doubt…

And here’s the little dude rockin’ out to some heartbeat jams!

Was that a fun tour of my belly or what?! Outside AND inside- jeez you sure get your money worth at this blogspot.

Ciao!

Summertime has come to Vancouver full force! And I’ve reached into the 5th month of pregnancy- how does it go so fast? I’m trying to enjoy each day as much as possible, and yesterday was a PERFECT expression of how lovely it is here in the summertime- how about a recap?

A slow easy walk to the studio around 10am, stopping for a strawberry gelato ice lolly at the little Union Market halfway there. Oh so slurpy good!!

Across the street was this left-behind trike patiently waiting for it’s owner to return. It wants to zoom!

After several productive hours in the studio preparing new pendants for upcoming summer sales, I headed back into the hood to meet up with Valerie at her place. We were meeting up with the other gals downtown, so we had a little walk ahead of us in the hot sun. Her suggestion to stop for a snack for the walk was perfect, and I declare that the strawberry gelato ice lolly is my new fav summertime pregnancy treat.

In the 28*C heat, we headed downtown to meet the rest of the girls at the Vancouver Art Gallery for drinks and planning! Val, Lisa, Carlyn and I had just enough time to wander around in awe looking Reese Terris’s Ought Apartment, and the stunning photos by Adreas Gursky. I HAVE to get back and spend some time with old Dutch Masters, but there is plenty of time, since they are here until Sept… Anyone want to join me?

After art, we headed up to the Gallery Cafe to meet Mira and Sharon for some serious planning- oh, if you haven’t been to the Gallery Cafe at the VAG, it is HIGHLY recommended, a gorgeous view, nestled into the rooftop of the VAG, great food, the patio is perfect for the summer.

So, planning! Next week is our annual Women’s Art Retreat, and this year we are heading to Lasquiti Island, (via 2 ferries!) for 7 days. I’m planning on taking paper and pastels and doing some good old fashion plein air painting/drawing. See what comes out of it, it’s been a while since I’ve put my hand to paper… I can’t wait!!

And I’m looking for a good seafood chowder recipe, if anyone has any recommendations?

Pregnancy update: I think I’m hitting that ‘golden time’ in the pregnancy, I hear this is when you’re feeling highly productive and active- jeez, I’ve waited all my life for this feeling.

And we’ve got our ultrasound tomorrow evening, get to see the little Peanut in action! Stay tuned, I hope to post an image or 2…

Off to work! Ciao for now.

The 8 straight days of the Vancouver Children’s Festival finished yesterday- I was again (5th year running!) the volunteer coordinator for the Face Painting tents. Favourite kid all week- a little sassy 9 year old boy wanted me to paint a campfire and a stick with roasting marshmallows. IT WAS RAD!! When I finished, he loved it, but asked if I could make the marshmallows more toasted and brown? I was happy to oblige. We high-fived and off he went…

But after all of that, today was a much needed and much deserved recovery day. I LOVE the hard earned days like this: woke up and laid in bed until 11am, then went downstairs and laid on the couch until 1pm, then did some dishes, laundry, a quick shower, then laid back in bed again until around 4pm. Nice, hey?

Then I FINALLY managed to head out the door to get some groceries and back in time for my Art Girls Take Over The World (AGTOTW) meeting at 7pm. I was hosting the meeting tonight, so really I just laid on the couch for another 2 hours and talked to some of my fav women about art and meaning and it’s purpose in our lives.

So now I have a week off (other studio projects on the go, of course) and then the Surrey Kids Fest starts. More face painting! But this next event is contained to 3 intense days… And I’m seriously hoping the volunteers are as awesome as the ones this last week at the Vancouver festival- after 5 years of working as the face painting coordinator, this was the BEST year of volunteers- really top notch artists, and some really good kids. (almost all of them are high school students.) My faith has been restored in 15 year olds… how long do you think that will that last?

One of the interesting and unexpected side affect of being pregnant while working at a children’s festival is that I have been much more aware of all the: pregnant women, the happy (and not so happy) families, the dads spending the day with the kids, the brands of strollers, the adorable shoes for toddlers… I’m gaining some kind of ‘mommy tunnel vision’ with this slowly growing belly of mine… heightened awareness for sure. I have a feeling it’s only going to get more powerful in the upcoming months (years?).

Dustin just told me that he’s wondering how many times we’ll use the word “poopy” in the next 3 years. And how tuned in we’ll become to the wide range and variety of “poopy”…

And the big news of the week- I started to feel the baby moving a couple days ago- I had gotten home from a 10 hour day at the festival, exhausted, and I laid down on the couch for a rest (a theme in my life, apparently)… Dustin was sitting in the chair next to me, chatting away, and there it was- the feeling of little butterfly wings flapping around in my belly. I know that’s where the baby is, cause I can feel my utereus expanding- right now it’s a hard cantelope shape rising up, just under my belly button right now. I smiled and had a couple tears, knowing that this is just the beginning of experiencing the movements of my child, and I can’t wait until Dustin can feel it too.

Baby Peanut has been joining me in my dreams, and still remains a gender-neutral character, full of giggles and cuddles. But the little nut hasn’t declared their intention to me yet- boy or girl?

Oye, it’s late! Taking these souls to bed.

Ciao for now.