Are people in Toronto reading my blog???

I ask this as mum reports that she saw in the birth announcements that there was a Sienna Elise (we are Sienna Ellice) born on the 13th of March. Too funny! There have been Sienna Elizabeth's and Sienna Maria's which were both contenders for us too... great minds think alike I suppose. Well perhaps it's a popular name in Toronto but here it's quite unusual so we're okay I suppose :)

It's not been dull here at baby central as between all the normal things we have now taken on, we are contending with a certain furry creature's hormones... I can't say that it doesn't make me blush to mention but certain dogs have been furiously humping sharky... quite disturbing if you ask me... but it adds to the madness so it's no surprise in the timing...

Great motion going on in the house today. Unlike most people who seem to put together the crib months before the baby arrives... we've waited until today. Up until now she's been sleeping in the bassinet of her pram. At the cost of the pram it's a good thing that it's got a multi-purpose use!

Little miss got some good use out of her fab outfit that my seestor bought for her yesterday. It's so cute! Lilli thought so too...

Happy Birthday to me!

I had a brilliant day yesterday, first char and lisa arrived from Canada with their students for a visit. Char brought some goodies from mum and seestor which was fab! Then we met up with peeps on a sunny terrace and spent the afternoon together. It was a lovely day! I can't think of any way better to spend my (one day early) 32nd birthday! My friends are such sweethearts and bought me a lovely selection of giftage from fab gym gear to pashminas and handbags and tops and necklaces! I even got a tap! yes you heard right a tap! Mini me works for a fab bathroom design company and got me this beauty...


purdy!!!!!!!!!!!!!


the canadian ladies!!!

So yes... I'm now convinced that birthdays get better with age!!!

Enhorabuena seestor!

So yes, my sister and her husband successfully purchased a new house. It's on a lovely little street not far from where she lives right now. It has a huge garden with a tree house and a hot tub! I can't wait to visit it! At this rate, they may have moved by the time we get to Canada for a vist! We were however mildly horrified when we did the math and figured what they payed for this lovely house with a massive garden in Brampton would only buy us a 35 square metre studio flat here (or a 1 bed flat if we were lucky)... How depressing is that? Ah well, we'll keep feeding the piggy bank and playing the lotto (long term financial planning baby!) I jest, I jest.

Fredu did a big upload of pics he's been stashing on his camera so stop reading here if you're not up for a baby and dog overload...

Don't say I didn't warn you!


Everybody needs a tummy for a pillow


Sleepy furry thing.. and sleepy not so furry thing


Yea there is lots of sleeping... but this one is my favorite! She looks like she's sleeping on a cloud


Morning chats


daddy cuddles (and fab pillow cover that maria knitted for us while she was here... sadly some bad dog shred it and now there is a great gaping hole in the middle... I am very sad about that)


Oh yea, she's bad! She's sporting her skull and crossbone t shirt... won't fit for much longer so we're enjoying it while we can. Lilli is no phased... her bone is just too yummy to put down.

I'm not sure if I'm safe here now...

only because the jehovah's just rang our bell... I mean woa... we live on the 4th floor (with a principal) meaning pretty much the 6th floor in North American standards, and we sure don't have a lift... but this did not stop them for marching all the way up to invite me to join a meeting this very friday! I quickly picked the lint off of my mummy brain and responded to them in English saying that I was sorry but my spanish was really bad... The poor lady had no clue what I was saying and scurried away! Ah ha! I tried the very same tactic when they came to the door in the flat I live in, in Lyon when I lived in France... but the sneaky holy rollers spoke English! Actually on second thought, maybe it was the ferocious dog that I have that was barking savagely from my arms that scared her off...

Mental note to jehovah's... stay clear of english speaking chihuahua owning flat dwellers!

There is in fact a queue...

as there does not appear to be any room left atop of my bosom this morning....



Clearly not much will get done today at this rate... but hey it's warm and sunggly so that's what matters no?

Mum sent me this picture of her house (or what is left of her front lawn) yesterday... Am I missing Canadian winters you ask? Why, I do believe the answer would be a resounding NO.


If you look carefuly you can see the corner of the wooden chair poking out of the snow... I think they've got at least 3 feet!

Eat your heart out...

miss shiloh jolie-pitt! miss S has some lips that are fit to compete with yours!!!

It's not long now

until the clock ticks over to my 32nd birthday. It sounds so funny as I never really imagined reaching this age. I just think back at how when I first started this blog I was 25 and literally a world away from where I am now. It's all good as I surely would not fancy being back there...

The mission of the week besides all the paperwork nightmare that we're still trawling through is to get back to painting. When I first moved here I really wanted to dedicate a big chunk of time to painting but evil day jobs got in the way. I will need to get a baby painting smock to put the wee one in while I'm painting so when I need to pick her up she doesn't get covered in acrylic.

We spent the afternoon yesterday with the lovely mini me (aka Chiara) which was really nice. I simply do not socialize enough lately... but I guess it's mostly due to not being able to balance my new job as mum yet. There is an english play group on Monday's from 11h30 but I've not made it there yet. I'm trying to psych myself up to go but am not so keen on the idea to be honest... we'll see if I make it one day.

Little miss Isabella was christened yesterday. I hope the snow held off for them as they have been getting quite large amounts of it lately. She was to wear the same dress both my sister and I wore when we were christened too. I want to have miss Sienna baptized but I can't imagine we'll be ready for that anytime soon as the paperwork we've already got to surmount is large enough... can't imagine adding anything else to the list right now.

And before you know it...

You're left with pretty much nothing to write about that does not concern dog or baby...

sigh...

still trying to think...

Instead of actually coming up with anything shall I instead direct you torwards the fab new spring collection at my new favorite shop... Springfield Mum bought some great jeans and a beautiful jacket there before she left... I'm waiting till my shape stabalizes before indulging but there are some lovely things there it's a shame the website does not do it justice. I had always thought it existed throughout europe but seeing from the site it seems to only exist here and in south america...

I'm still waiting for the go-ahead before returning to the gym... they say I've got to wait two and a half months before going back! Apparently however, I am allowed to start swimming as of next week so at least I have that to look forward to!

Our lovely neighbour upstairs has moved out and is soon to be replaced by the owner of the building's daughter. I wonder if she knows there is a puppy and a newborn living directly below her? I wonder how long she will last? More aptly how much longer we will last here, seeing as she has way more pull in the politics here. I hope to god the latter is not the case as I can't bear the thought of moving again!

While my mum was here we indulged in the lazy afternoons spent tending to the baby on the sofa by watching Dame Chocolate (first with mute on and making up what the crazy characters were saying) and then finally with sound on with me providing a running translation of what trouble Rosita was getting into in today's episode. I still find myself ringing my mum to update her as to what is happening :) I just think it's hilarious the whole mexican soap opera... they are so similar to the american ones... including long drawn out pauses with the actors gazing into the camera. But our favorite character had to be the old lady who is played by a not so old actress... she requires an ear horn! I mean hello? who in wardrobe thought that was a good idea? By the second day we were begging for them to kill her off just to be rid of the sight of it. All I can tell you is that I know who is getting the best gag gift for their birthday this year.... tee hee!

Things here at casa bebe

Seem to be done in groups these days. I just love this picture of my mum bathing Sienna. You can see that Lilli is right there supervising. I also know that one day my child will murder me for putting a picture of her in the bath on my blog... I will take that risk.



We've finally finished the pile of thank you cards that we made for all our friends for their generous gifts! The concept of thank you cards just does not exist here so we made them ourselves and even resurrected the colour printer which was gather dust atop of our wardrobe. Juan Antonio's mum in Majorca did a massive knitting project and sent us a huge selection of cute little things to keep Sienna warm. I just love this pic of her... purple is her colour.

I think I'm feeling decidedly numb...

Due entirely to the fact that it's been two days now since mum left and the reality and the enormity of my life feels so huge it's mildly terrifying. All will be fine of course as it HAS to be... but I can honestly say that after living abroad now for the past seven years, this is the first time that I feel such a strong urge to be back in Canada. It will pass of course as my life is here now... but I think it's the security of having my mum around which makes me crave to have that all the time... I can't even imagine how long it would take to set back up again there... find a job... deal with winter... actually drive a car on a regular basis... I shudder to imagine... thus I guess it's truly what I think it is, just an urge to feel safe as I do when my mum is around. Man, she really does a good job at being a mum!

The waiting continues in the line of all things that are paperwork. Getting the wee one a passport so we can go visiting will take a while as we're waiting on receiving her birth certificate before we can even start to get her a passport... She's got four to choose from so really it's not so bad but since all will require original documentation... we've got to start with one and hope for the best!

Sleep calls... and because it's golden these days... I simply must oblige.

Things here have pretty much slowed right down...

I didn't actually think it was possible... but we're all in various stages of recovery (minus Lilli) from terrible colds. Miss Sienna and I got the lightest version of it but she got it last so she is the one working hardest on recovering...

We had a lovely visit from mum's friend Pauline and her daughter Katherine who flew in from Newcastle. It was nice for mum to see her and us too of course. It's just a pitty mum was so unwell!

While the ladies where here we went out to supper and miss Sienna took the opportunity to wear her over the top leopard jacket (and blanket) She looked so sweet and slept the entire time!


fancy fancy!


yea yea I'm looking in the wrong direction but if you cut out my mum and I it's a love pic of Fredu with Sienna.

Sienna the strong. Not bad for 3 weeks and 1 day old!!!

Twin Peaks?

No believe it or not I'm not writing about my boobs... The other day while in a taxi in a rushed trip to Ikea the driver interrupted our converstaion in the back seat to ask us where we were from as he noted we were speaking both Spanish and English. We answered and the driver was ever so pleased to hear that I was Canadian. He then launched into what I thought was the standard Canadian questions... Is Toronto in the french part of the country... is it cold all the time... is the skiing good... all pretty normal really, until he threw this question into the mix... ' En Canada existe un pueblo que se llama Twin Peaks?' Which translates to ' In Canada, is there a town called Twin Peaks?' I truly thought I had not understood him correctly... However the smirk on Alfredo's face was enough to tell that I had indeed heard correctly... the driver actually asked what I thought he had...

Too funny...

I should have told him my mum was the log lady...

I've really not been very good at this

whole blogging thing... I guess it's only normal seeing that I have quite a full plate these days. I am slowly becoming aware that the time left with my mum with us is running short and within a few short days she will jet back to Canadia land to her normal life. We have been so happy to have her here with us, I think there will be a lot of tears when she finally does go. I can't quite bring my self to accept it yet...

Things are all good. Nothing much to report really as Sienna has been a really good baby thus far and even slept from 1am to 6h30 this morning. A good night's rest is such a treat... but really even on the bad nights it's not so bad.

I've been really lucky thus far as my figure poped back before the end of the first week! I swear to god it's better than it was before I got pregnant... I've never had a completely flat stomach before... quick - bring on bikini season before I re-gain the buldge!!!


Lilli looking like the grinch that stole christmas... while waiting patiently to go for her walk the other day... someone is adjusting quite well to being bumped as the baby in the family but has has tons of extra attention so really... it's not all bad!


Foots in the sun!


Gazing at Grandma! We've got a matching pic like this with my mum and Isabella.


Sleepy ladies


Brown bear jacket!!!

Much hilarity insues...

I think it's safe to say that at least once per day I manage to do something or be submitted to something that makes my mum and I laugh so hard that we cry... Some of these events include:

• Being peed on and then seconds later pooed on by Sienna as I attempted to change her nappy
  
  
• My first go at using the electric breast pump (the noise it emits is comical in its self...) I think we lost it when I realised that the shutters to the window to the terrace was open and if my neighbors in the building across opened their window they would have witnessed the extraction process.
  
  
• The time my nipples both simultaniously started leaking while I was trying to get up and get something just before feeding her... I tell you, there is no quicker way to feel humbled then when this happens... We really did laugh so hard that we were both crying.
  
  
• Today while sittle peacfuly chatting with mum who was holding Sienna... we were chatting about the vigorous sucking noises that she was producing from her perch upon mum's shoulder... not but two minutes later I look down to my great horror to find that yet again nipple leakage would be the source of today's hilarity... my left one had spontaniously decided to leak... I guess it's proof at how much nature is still at play in the whole proces

Beyond this we managed to have the first doctor's apt today while also completing the birth registration... a near impossiblity really in Spanish terms so we are indeed pleased.



Snug in the blanket made by My great grandmother Ellice


Sienna in her bouncy chair with blanket made by her grandma maria (and a matching cardie)


I'm a little valentine (well there are hearts on my onesie)... how fab are my hello kitty trousers? Lucky we got another pair for my cousin Isabella


Sleeping with mouth open just like me!


Sleeping with mouth shut but looking very much like my auntie KJ


All bundled in one of my three papooses... this one is from Auntie vero... we are very snug!

Week 1

Wow! that was both fast and slow all at the same time. I can't believe that at this very time last week I was wolfing down a hospital meal with great fervor after having given birth... Pretty amazing times.

It's like a little bit of heaven having my mum here with us... I'm starting to get a little panicy when I remember that she is only here until the end of the month. I will miss her so much!

Well pictures really do say a lot more than words do in most cases... so lets do that....

So she pretty much changes look every day but this is pretty much what we're going with for now... (insert squeel of cuteness here)


Did I mention that my nickname is squooge?


Now here is the father... multi-tasking with both his girls


Serious busniess... thank god on day two the breast pump although totally comedic, helped give some welcome relief to my poor nipples... and of course a chance for Fredu (and Lilli) to feed her.


Sleepy Fredu and Sienna... so cute!



A not so sleepy pic of these two little angels

And just for good measure a fab little short video clip where you can see her smiling... she's not actually smiling as she of course is not yet able... but gassy business allows a sneak peak of sorts of what her smile will eventually look like... I think it's just like mine!

Success!

Yes, my lack of posting was indeed due to birthing activities. Last Friday they told me that they mis-calculated my dates and instead of being a week overdue I was only a day overdue. This was NOT what I wanted to hear... thus Friday afternoon mum and I decided to put the whole thing on the back burner and go for a spot of shopping... That indeed helped lift my spirits.

By the evening we retired home and had a yummy pizza supper and retired to bed. At around 5h30 am I awoke after having a very surreal dream which involved me giving birth to a tetrapack cube which contained a plastic doll... to find that I was having contractions... Then the fun started...

We got up and got ready and roused mum and we arrived at the hospital at just past 7am. They checked me out and were quite pleased to see I was already 5cm dialated... It all happened quite quickly after then... I managed to do the whole thing without and epidural (and no gas or air as they don't offer that here)... quite the procedure... I'm not quite sure I'm ready to reccomend it... but perhaps the happy 'i forget hormones' will come in shortly and all that not so nice stuff will be erased... until then I think it's just my poor short term memory that seems to be erased like an etch a sketch... I can't even remember what I did yesterday anymore.

The two day hospital stay at hospital del mar was brilliant. The service was so good and I don't care how many negative things I've heard, our experience was so positive. We we fortunate to be assigned a private room which was just heaven. They had nurses for everything... they even had a special bellybutton nurse, and then another one to bathe and change her every morning... and for me they even managed to pull out veggie meals (which is a great feat considering we are in spain!). I can't but offer a glowing reccomendation of the place. It honestly felt like a mini holiday being there:)

Oh yes, did I mention the baby? Her name is Sienna Ellice and she arrived weighing in at 3,1kilos and measuring 48cm. She is the spitting image of Fredu. She is like a little china doll. She's currently sleeping more than I could ever imagine which is great... but we are expecting this to be the calm befoe the storm... a good storm at that :)


no really, how on earth did we make something so clever???


Sienna in her hospital issued 'taquito' baby wrap


Me and mum... don't I look smug? This was just an hour or so after she was born


3 generations all in one!


No really, there is a father... but he's shooting all the pics...


Sienna with Maria... checking her out.

More to come of course... but I have to try and remember everything... as I said my mind is like a gold fishes'

I am sooooooooooooo past the sell by date...

Just in case you don't believe me... and you think perhaps I'm being sneaky not letting you know that the baby has arrived... here is proof to show that I am not telling porkies. The expression on my face pretty much sums things up.


Still life

Last Sunday while we were walking the beast in the park with mum I snapped this pic of Fredu and Lilli. You can imagine what a lovely spring-esq day it was! Sorry Canadian people... We thought of you and your snow plights as we soaked up the sun!


Park life

You guessed it...

Still no action... not for lack of people asking :) She is such and anxiously anticipated arrival I hope she doesn't come out with a premadona complex... who am i fooling, she will be my daughter *evil chuckle*

I went back to work today for half a day today to try and get some yet to be sorted things out of the way... still a lot to do so I'm guessing she will not agree to arrive until I finish all my tasks... again... she will be my daughter and of course it is a very logical way of thinking about things...

Mum is on the mend, thank goodness! We had a beautiful lunch in the sunshine this afternoon. Temperatures here are nearly 20! Much better than the -23 that she has escaped from... we figure that at least if I can't provide a grand daughter, we're doing okay with delivering the good weather.

Surprise baby showers, Canadian arrivals and more waiting...

To round off the hormonal crisis I had last wednesday... I was totally surprised when Chiara arrived to my flat and insisted that I come downstairs and see her... As you can imagine, this was the last thing in the world I felt like doing... however once downstairs she ushered me to my favorite little cafe around the corner where Alfredo had arranged for all my friends to be there waiting for me for a surprise baby shower! This custom of having a baby shower does not at all exist in this part of the world, thus it was even more special! You can tell by the pictures how run down I was looking but I didn't care as all my dear friends were there and it was so sweet! Even Lilli was there wearing her 'best in show t'shirt'.


The gang!


The giftage!!! (ah yes and an ever elusive picture of my bump)

Thursday my mum arrived! We greeted her at the airport and after some confusion due to the actual flight she was supposed to arrive upon being cancelled... we collected her and took her home. She brought with her oodles and oodles and oodles of things for the bub. 40 kilos of things to be exact! We feel so spoilt! Lots of thank you cards will be written for her to take back with her! Thursday night was the opening of the gallery where I've got my paintings. We mustered up enough energy to stop in... mum stayed home as she was exhausted by that point... I think I've sold two pieces already... all to be confirmed but I'm pretty sure they're sold. I'm not sure how I feel about it really... I think I liked them too much... too late now...

Friday was my due date and the day started with a 9am apt at the hospital. They did the stepford wives style stress test again to make sure the baby is okay. The girl hooked up next to me was in full on labour and having contractions... I was so jelous, I mean she wasn't even due until next week! But what can you do? I finished the test and met mum and fredu and dog on the beach for a walk and then a nice breakfast in the sun.

However yesterday mum came down with a flu and we spent most of the day trying to get her comfortable and on the mend. Poor thing! Today she is much improved and several pounds lighter once would think. Bless her she is so sweet!

The other day Fredu took some pictures of the bump (not really suitable to post on the blog) but when we were finished, Lilli insisted that she too have some pictures done... She sure is pretty!


A model pooch

No action

not for the lack of people asking though... the only thing going on with me is a fury of hormones which have turned me into a hysterical crazy woman. Cleaning my flat seems to help soothe the neurosis but the ever pilling up work load from my real life job is making me just that little bit more crazy!

I've not even made it into the office today for fear of accidently screaming at any of my unsuspecting colleagues... They are all so lovely I would hate myself if I lost the plot on one of them... I'm hiding in the confines of my home hoping that I can get at least a few things done today that will count as productive...

I was sadened today to hear of Heath Ledger's death. It's always so sad when people check out so early... his poor little girl!