still waiting

Today was a day we meant to spend organizing and packing stuff up, but instead we had other things that took up our time. One of those things was going to the hospital for some monitoring as suggested by the doctor. Nothing was wrong or concerning to us, it was just a check-up. Everything still looks perfect, his heart is beating normally, and he's moving well. I'm dialated only 1.5cm, so I'm definitely not in labor yet. During the monitoring, I had a small contraction, but didn't even feel it. Alex is supposed to start his new job by next Monday, so we are getting a little stressed that he will end up leaving before us. sigh.

Luc is mid-throw here.

This morning we had to go down to the seafront, which was alive with waves because of a cyclone passing through the day before. We barely got any rain from it, just some big gusts of wind, really. It is supposed to hit Madagascar really hard.

the big move

Most people who read this blog know already that we are moving to New Caledonia. Like soon. It's the reason I haven't posted much in the past couple of weeks. When the plans became solid, we had to start right away with the planning for such a big move. And all I want to be doing in the meantime is nesting or resting. Nesting is out of the question, but Alex makes sure I don't try to do too much during this time. "I'll take care of it! Go rest, you're 9 months pregnant you know", he says to me. But if you know me, you'll know I can't just sit back and do nothing. I think it's in my genes.
There has been so much to think about, with the arrival of baby #2, obtaining a passport for the new little guy, renting out our house, what to do with the stuff we are leaving behind, how to ship other stuff, cleaning up inside the house, packing, the copious amounts of paperwork, saying goodbye to our cat (she'd have to stay in quarentine 6 months if we wanted to bring her with us, and we don't want to put her through that), and the numerous house projects to finish before people start to come look at the house. Alex can't do everything.
On top of that he is due to start work on Feb 20th. Will baby #2 be born in time for all of us to travel together? That is the big question. Also, if I travel alone with the 2 boys afterwards, how the hell am I going to cope with recouperating after a delivery on a 14 hour flight? (Hey Luc, you're 3 now, could you get all those heavy suitcases?) Let's not even think about if there are any complications. We debated for a better part of 2 weeks if we could find a way to get someone here to help and to travel with me. If money weren't an issue....tickets can't be bought until the baby is born. Last minute long distance flights aren't cheap.
Don't get me wrong, we're both pretty excited about this opportunity, but honestly, I find myself thinking, "why not just a few more weeks, please, let's delay!" Not an easy situation to be in, for sure, but it will work out, even if it's not exactly how I pictured the arrival of our second boy. He may not use cloth diapers like I had wanted, and I may find breastfeeding difficult during our move, but as long as we all remain healthy, I'll be happy.
I have been impressed though so far with how Alex and I have worked together in this, and not gotten all crazy-crazy stressed out. One step at a time. That's what we keep telling each other. He is working so hard on the house. Have a look-see:

repainted balcony

working on repainting the exterior

this is our today

Okay, so these pictures are not actually from today, but last week on one of our visits to Jardin d'Etat in centre ville.
This morning Alex left for Mayotte for work and will be back Thursday. Luc and I had a VERY lazy day. We didn't even go down the driveway to check the mail. It was a beautiful day, but we still just spent it inside, laying around, reading, watching "Earth", eating leftovers, taking a long nap, and not changing out of our PJ's. By the end of the evening though, I knew we had to get on with more activity, at least for tomorrow. I was able to make a list of things for the rest of the week with my head all cleared from lounging around all day. Days like today allow me to catch my breath in a way, to prepare, to move on, to recouperate from whatever stresses had accumulated in my/our systems. (I've also finally completely cleared my body of the nasty sinus infection I had for 2 weeks.)
Without giving anything away for the time being, we are expecting some major changes around here very soon. And that's not including the baby boy who's due in 5 weeks! As soon as we have some solid news, I'll be sharing it here with you.
Have a lovely day everyone!

Welcome, 2012!

2011 was a great year for us;
We moved into a house, we made new friends, we learned we were expecting a second boy (only 6 more weeks until his arrival!), we travelled to France to visit family, we adopted a cat (or was it the other way around?!), and we spent a lot of quailty family time together. I realise this is a really short and general list of what happened this year and I'm not saying our lives are always simple, but these things stand out the most. Certainly, there are many, many things that never make it onto this blog that also affect our lives, but one can only blog so much, right?

Luc and Kitty occupied with trains, me and the neighbor using Luc's Play-Doh

I have a feeling that 2012 will be great too, but full of surprises and learning experiences along the way. I will try to keep this blog up to date, but I have a feeling there will be a period of quiet around February and March.

tastes like mango flavored irony here

Take a look at these beauties. Gorgeous, heavily scented, ripening mangoes. Who wouldn't be temped by them?

It has taken me one taste (half a mango added to a smoothie that I shared with Luc, to be exact!) to put me back in my place.

On Wednesday, I picked a huge bunch of mangoes from our tree who is still heavily loaded. I didn't notice until later that some of the sap must have dripped onto my arm, (it was just beginning to rain) and it burned - BURNED!!- my skin. Also, since I had the smoothie, I've been super itchy around my neck, ears, eyes, and the crooks of my arms (what do you call that anyways? the inside of my elbow? no, it can't be that.)

I love me some mangoes, but this is too much. If anyone knows of anything I could do to have my mangoes and eat them too, please, help a girl out!

how to eat a litchi (or lychee)

If you're interested in learning more about litchis, go here or here.

ten things

Maybe you've been wondering where we've been since I haven't posted anything in almost a month. Blogging got pushed to the side for a while as we hosted first Alex's dad; then his longtime childhood friend, Thomas; completed a LOT of home improvement projects (and subsequently began several more!); are currently chasing large, squeaky mice from our home; and took a trip to the inside of the island (my first-crazy I know, since I've been here 3 years now!).
I thought the best way to share our latest adventures with you would be with a "ten things" post, that focuses on 10 recent things that are bringing us joy in some way. Enjoy!

1. as usual, the beach, our beach.

2. surveying surfers

3. a new/old desk (it belonged to Alex when he was a kid!)

4. a Gasy fety with our friend Lalasoa

5. making new friends

6. mother's day snuggles

7. home improvement projects...

8. ...with Luc's help

9. a newfound facination with excavators (and other big machines)

10. rainbows!

If you want to see past "ten things" posts, check out here and here.

Hiking to Pic Adam

Judith and I went hiking one morning for a few hours, and even though I came back with some nasty blisters from my too small boots, it was so worth it to get out there! It reminded me that I should try to do it more often, but I'll look for another pair of shoes for next time. The trail was fairly easy, a bit slippery, and lasted just the right amount of time (3.5 hrs) before we wanted to head back for lunch.

You may want to click on the picture below to enlarge it.

Yeah. Those spiders were big. 

And I had no choice but to run under their webs hoping they wouldn't jump onto the back of my neck.

photos on Easter Sunday

Another beautiful day....

an easter egg balloon garland...

last year's bunnies hopped out of storage...

I'm off to hide the eggs...

Walt found his bunny beer....

relaxing coloring time just before dinner...

Roasted garlic and rosemary leg of lamb, rosemary mashed potatoes, freshly steamed green beans, tomato salad, hot cross buns, brownies, wine, and good friends make this day complete!