The Mindful project days #317-323

The Mindful project day #317

 

Today I finally got the answer for my job interview. I didn't get it and even thought I had expected this answer (competition was fierce) it still bummed me out a bit... it was, professionally, the only thing going in a positive direction.. 

 

I am grateful that my husband could lend me his ear and shoulder to vent-off and also brought me this beautiful flowers:

 

Bo, thank you for all the support you give me!

 

The Mindful project day #318

Always grateful for thrifty finds!

 

Also grateful to whomever decided to make this donation to my favourite second-hand shop!

 

I plan to breastfeed and hopefully I will be able to. This bottle- and jar- warmer will make our life a bit easier (we don't have a microwave) when we have to warm-up expressed milk. Besides helping mums increase milk production, according to what I read, expressing milk will also allow the dad to occasionally take over feeding thus giving the mum some me-time but specially strengthening the dad-baby bond.

 

3 euros!! and yes, as the sticker says in order!!

 

The Mindful project day #319

I am very grateful for the kilos of rhubarb that my parents-in-law brought us a while back.

 

From: https://bakingwithgab.com/2014/09/07/vanilla-rhubarb-jam-and-fathers-day/

 

Besides the rhubarb curd I have also made rhubarb jam. I am quite happy with the final result, not too sweet with a hint of orange. It goes extremely well with goat cheese.

 

 

You can find the recipe I followed here: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/86346/rhubarb-jam/print/?recipeType=Recipe&servings=32

The Mindful project day #320

Grateful that we were invited to meet the newborn of our first pregnant-fellow couple to give birth.
Amazing birth story to a beautiful and healthy baby!

The Mindful project day #321

Handmade gifts!

Our original pregnancy group was mainly compose of 4 couples. I have decided to knit a little hat for each of the newborns. One I already gave away, two more are waiting!!

The Mindful project day #322

Gorgeous full moon!

The Mindful project day #323

Grateful that my baby is OK inside my tummy!

 

So I am past my due date (AHHHHHHHH) but I am still feeling well!

 

From: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/274015958551886301/

 

I've had some pre-labour signs such as belly-cramps and "butt-contractions"(where the baby presses very hard on the tailbone) but they are not rhythmic so they came for a while and then they are gone for a day or 2. The midwife says they will wait 10 more days and then I will probably have to be artificially induce. This is an option that I am not fond-off as I have read that with artificial induction labour is lengthened since its not something your body "choose" to go into. 

 

To naturally induce labour I am walking a bit everyday and using the stairs more often, quite an achievement as we live in the 8th floor!!!!. Of course sex is also said to help... doesn't hurt to try right ;)  plus we are considering Stripping the membranes. In this procedure, the midwife will try to gently separate the amniotic sac from the wall of the uterus which releases hormones that can trigger contractions.

 

Fingers crossed!!

 

That is it for now, wishing you all a great week!

The Mindful project days #311-316

The Mindful project day #311

Our Flor's "tortitude"!!

Despite demanding lots of attention, our little Flor has a lot of personality and is still very playful which is something I would like her to keep as she grows older. My eldest sister-in-law offered her several toys, the favourites being small plush mice. Cannot tell you how often our little Flor drowns them in her water bowls (yes, she has more than one. Apparently cats are very lazy when it comes to drinking water so we were advised to keep several bowls around the house).

Don't really understand why  she does this as afterwards she does not play with them because they are soaked!!!

 

 

Does this also happens with your cats??

 

The Mindful project day #312

Grateful for cuddling moments like this!

Soon, I will be sitting next to them cuddling our little bundle-of-joy!

The Mindful project day #313

The Dutch sky and its clouds!

 

"Holland may not be known for its beautiful weather, but it is known for its beautiful skies. The lovely cumulus clouds inspired many famous Dutch painters in times past. Which is why art lovers know them by the name ‘Ruisdael clouds’ after the famous 17th century Jacob van Ruisdael." In http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/article/dutch-skies.htm

 View from our living-room

 

 View from our kitchen

So, if yo visit the Netherlands don't forget to look up!

The Mindful project day #314

 

I am grateful that despite being on my last days of pregnancy I still feel fit enough to have a bike ride with my hubby.

 

Truthfully, it tired me more than usual but it was good to be out and enjoy the good weather. On our way back home we stopped at a cherry-selling stand and had a box of delicious cherries!

 

From: http://contined.nl/en/our-products/fruit-ingredients/sweetened-dried-fruit/tart-cherry/

Cherries are one of my favourite fruits! If left up to me I would munch-up a kg of cherries in one go, no problem!!

The Mindful project day #315

Grateful that one of my sister- in-law is an amazing photographer and was willing to do a belly-photoshoot with us.

 

Here are same examples of her talent and the great photos we have:

 

 

There are so many ideas on the internet (pinterest, etc) that you can use for inspiration, you just have to find a friend or relative with a neck for photography willing to "snapshot" this happy moment of your life!

The Mindful project day #316

Buying my husband a gift for our 7-year anniversary!

Have a lovely week, see you!

The Mindful project days #304-310

Hello,

In my final weeks but feeling quite OK, heavier and slower but fine!

 

The Mindful project day #304

 

Grateful that I could make new pillows for our couch before the baby arrives!

 

This last week I had a bit of an energy boost and was able to push through this small craft project. I had done the two small pillows a while back, with curtain leftovers but we wanted a big one for the back as the couch is quite deep and not as easy to seat.

 

The only thing I bought new was the fabric for the back pillow. I was able to reuse the filling of the inside pillows from the other hundred pillows we had around... (yes, I also wanted to reduce the number of pillows we had!!) to make new ones.

 

I am quite happy with the final result, now let's hope our little catzilla does not destroy them!

The Mindful project day #305

I am very grateful that I can take a nap everyday!

Let me start by saying that I never liked naps, not even as a child! Since I am pregnant, they have become more of a necessity, after lunch I just feel this energy deep and nap for 1-2h. It actually does wonders for my energy level and my ankles...and after I can accomplished much more things around the house!

 And of course my nap-buddy is always with me!

The Mindful project day #306

Decorating my house with things that I make.

I did this drawing back in 2001!! Its based on the sculpture "Pietà " from Michelangelo.

 From: http://www.artbible.info/art/large/447.html

As I said before in this blog I am not religious but this sculpture appealed to me when I first saw a picture of it.

The frame is another thrifty treasure (1 euro) I found!

Now where shall I hang it???? Coming soon!

The Mindful project day #307

I am grateful for the support my husband is giving me during this pregnancy!! Love you Bo!

My due date is almost here and I have to admit I am feeling a bit scared...

 From: https://pinterest.com/pin/678355338107411676

The Mindful project day #308

I am grateful for a smooth pregnancy and the kind caregivers we have!

 

Yesterday my baby moved a lot, also during part of the night which is unusual for him. We were afraid that in the meantime he had turned head up again so I contacted the midwife. She very kindly drop by our house in the evening to check and gave us some peace of mind, he's still head down!!!

 

Now let's hope labour follows the same trend!!

 

The Mindful project day #309

I am grateful for the life we have as it is filled with what matters!!

The Mindful project day #310

I am grateful for the few rays of Sun I caught today!

Was in need of it! As a Portuguese I am definitely powered by solar energy!!

From: http://www.seia.org/policy/distributed-solar

Have a wonderful week!