Twenty-Two Weeks Later.

Life in the second trimester is pretty good. Cravings are still carbs and sweets although I am getting better at eating vegetables and making smoothies with lots of greens. I love my growing belly and love mornings with Kyle when he talks to her and nights when he kisses her goodnight.  I don't want to chop people's heads off as much which is a really good thing, although Kyle may say I am still a bit on the emotional/crazy side.

Now that we know we're having a girl (yay!) Kyle and I are going back and forth on names.  We were locked and loaded on a boy name, but can't really decide on what we both like for a girl's name. We have a few in the vault and we'll just have to see what fits her best when we met her. I can only say that her middle name will be Rose, this has a very special meaning to me and is in relation to both my grandmother and great-grandmother. (This may be the only "traditional" part of her name).

We officially started this "nesting" thing.  I've given Kyle a room a month to work on and we (he) just finished the living room. I'm trying to get little things done around the house, like a new photo gallery project in our stairway and organizing cards from my showers and weddings into cute little books.  It's stuff I know I will never get done when the baby comes and yes I know it's three years later on the wedding stuff but better late than never. Plus I plan on doing it with baby shower cards and all cards my little one will receive so I may as well learn how to make them now.

Things are pretty quiet otherwise.  I'm working on a post that I will hopefully get up very soon that talks about all the things people have already said or done in my five months of being pregnant. Like the complete stranger who asked me if I was planning on breastfeeding and having a natural birth (um hello that's a personal question, lady in line at Whole Foods) and the lady who rubbed my belly without asking. Awesome.

Lastly, I head home in just two weeks to celebrate Baby G with my friends on Saturday and family on Sunday!  I'm lucky and beyond thankful to have so many people in my life that want to be a part of this special day and cannot wait to see everyone. It's going to be a whirlwind with two showers back to back and I am looking forward to every minute of it.

Here are some shots of our last few weeks.

I have to share with you a photo of Baby G's first gift!  I registered for these swaddle blankets from mbaby and I must tell you how beautiful they are in person.  They have loops so you can attached to the stroller, you can also use as a nursing cover.  They have extra paneling in the front to keep baby warm too!  I love love love these.  

The Bump goes to Chilliwack Farms.  I love picking pumpkins right from their stalks in the ground.  This place has so many varieties of pumpkins to choose from. Next year we'll have our little girl with us!

The Hubbs.

Our picks!

Phase one of Halloween at The Gaulins, where we are expected to get over 250 kids!

My fur babies.

Craving Of The Week: pumpkin ice cream.

We have so many local ice cream and gelato shops here in Vancouver. Always shop local, it's so worth it.

What We're Rocking Out To: aka my super random playlist.

Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata

Fitz And The Tantrums - 6 am 

Toussaint Morrison - Baby I'm Bad Weather

Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place

The The - Uncertain Smile

The Police - So Lonely

Shuggie Otis - Strawberry Letter

The Roots - The Seed

Regina Spector - Us

New Edition - A Little Bit Of Love

Baby girl can hear us now and I love to play music for her.  Her and I have little dance parties and I am always blasting music in my car (well, in between listening to Howard Stern which I know I am going to have to stop when she is in the car and is old enough to understand what he's saying).  Kyle is also learning how to play guitar (swooooooooon) so he can play to her too.

~Mrs. G

Daddy, Get Yer Shotgun Ready.

We're having a girl!

First off I have to say that I am beyond thankful that we have a healthy baby.  That scan scared the shit out of me and I really don't know when I have been that nervous.  I really didn't care what the gender was as we were sitting there with the dead serious tech revealing nothing. All I wanted to know was that we had a healthy peanut growing with all 10 fingers and all 10 toes.

But let's not kid ourselves — when the Dr. told us we were having a girl, I screamed!  Kyle and I just cried and held each other, I'll never forget that moment.  

Truth be told, I knew long ago when we started trying that I was always meant to have a girl.  

Let me just say what a great father Kyle is going to be to our little girl.  He takes such good care of me - I know this little girl is going to be so loved, so protected and yes so spoiled. I cannot wait to teach our little one to snowboard and Kyle will of course have her surfing in no time.

I am so excited to head home next month and celebrate Baby Gaulin all weekend long with my friends and family.  The love and support they have given us has been amazing.  

Feeling elated, blessed, excited, and most of all in love...

~Mrs. G

Boozy Brunches For All Things Baby.

Bump Watch 2014 in full effect.

These days are filled with endless questions to all of my mommy friends on what their must-haves have been during their most recent pregnancies. What do they love as far as strollers // car seats // cribs // bassinets go?

A couple of my friends just had their second babies and it's a baby boom out there with friends expecting their firsts in Dec/Jan/Feb!  I am loving being surrounded by so many preggo mamas - all the help and support we are all giving each other is amazing.

I have become a research fend and have done so much reading //comparing // fact-checking // pricing that I feel I can open up my own baby store at this point.  There is still so much to sort out and learn, but I am starting to figure shit out as I go along and things aren't so foreign to me anymore. And Pinterest, let's not even get started on the baby boards I have created.  Feel free to check them out here.

What I wasn't prepared for was how involved and opinionated Kyle was going to be. The first day of stroller and car-seat shopping left me in a complete overwhelmed fog.  But by the end of day two we knew what what wanted and what we didn't want.  And Kyle made the call. Funny thing is, most of my friends also said their Husbands took over when it came to the strollers.

Our conversations pretty much went like this:
Me: They Stokke is one of the best strollers out there.
Kyle: It looks like a golf bag carrier and there's no way I am pushing that thing around.
Me: I also hear great things about the Uppababy and the Bugaboo.
Kyle: Is that them? (test drives) I don't like four-wheels and it doesn't feel sturdy.
Me: The BOB, most of my friends all use the BOB stroller?
Kyle: It looks like camping gear on wheels.

Well, I can tell you that we picked one and we both absolutely love it!  And I agree three wheels are way better than four (for us anyway). We are making our way through the stores and having a blast doing it.  I love that Kyle looks forward to shopping and registering for our little peanut and asks if this weekend is "crib weekend". Dear lord help me because I am loving this crib from Oeuff and naturally this one from Kalon Studios. I know that last one is stupid expensive- it's more of my dream crib, but as Kyle says, if it lasts for up to four years, it makes sense.  Oh, do I love him :) P.S. This is our first so going overboard is totally justifiable right? I should add that I am scouring Craigslist for dressers because I want something unique so it's not like I am trying to go all Beyonce with the nursery.

Other baby products I have fallen in love with is anything Aden + Anais.  My friend's turned me onto this company and for good reason, they make great stuff.

In other pregnancy news, I am feeling pretty good aside from a few massive headaches. I feel like my diet has only consisted of pasta // enchiladas // tacos // burritos // meatloaf and mash // oatmeal // bagels with cream cheese tomatoes and capers and frozen yogurt. Seriously, Kyle is trying to get me to eat vegetables and salads and it just isn't happening.

The best chips in the world!  And yes, I have had people ship them here.

Lastly, we finally find out what we are having in two weeks!  I am so excited and to be honest I would be happy with a boy or a girl.  Of course a little mini me would be awesome, but so would a little boy who would be the best little man in the world.

I was going to share a few "blooper" pics from our announcement shoot but I really just love this one photo so much.  I knew I wanted to do something different than the typical announcement and wanted to get our dogs involved since they're such a big part of the family.  We laughed so hard at Maggie trying to stay and not jump in after the duck all while Cody was bored and just wanted to roll around.  This shot is just so typical us.

~Mrs. G

The Fine Art Of Doing Nothing.

I am getting really good at this whole relaxing and don't overdo it stuff.  Like right now. Right now I'm sitting on my deck in the cutest little beach house watching the waves crash below me.  Kyle and I came to Tofino this holiday weekend, which is on Vancouver Island in BC. Our weekend has consisted of surfing (well Kyle has been), chilling on the beach, getting massages in our room and eating at some of the best places in town! The fire is going and Kyle is cooking his famous Picchi Pacchiu sauce (well, famous to me anyway).  Life is good. Oh did I mention no dogs...yep they're at home with the pet sitter. Thanks Jana!!

We needed this little getaway.  The past three months have been a whirlwind of emotions and I just have to say that I am one lucky lady to have the Husband that I do.  He has made nearly every meal for us, cleaned, done all the shopping and taken care of our dogs when all I felt like doing was sleeping. Because really that's all I have been doing is sleeping.  I got pretty lucky as I bypassed the whole morning sickness thing, but I sure as hell didn't bypass the crazies.

Some days I am great, others I have had three modes: I can tolerate you, I want to rip your head off, or I cry - at everything.  Kyle has been able to navigate so elegantly around all three of these and let me tell you he deserves a medal!

So far I hate: steamed vegetables, fish (unless it's fish and chips, then I LOVE fish), avocados, anything raw which is why cooking most meals is out, steak, chicken is sometimes out, some egg dishes and anything curry.  These were all things that I loved.

I love all carbs and sweets.  Remember that Whole30 thing I did?  That is so far out the window it's ridiculous.  My hope is that I get some of my healthy eating habits back in this second trimester. Thank God for yogurt and fruit, because I love that. Most food really just grossed me out. I also have a little bump already.  It could be fat from all the ice cream and pasta, but I had a pretty flat stomach back in June, especially after I did that Whole30.  People say I am having a boy since I popped out so soon, others say it's because I am short and there's really no place to go but out.  All I know is that I can't button my jeans.

Speaking of having a boy, we  won't find out the gender for a few weeks yet.  There's a law here in Canada that prevents the Dr's from telling you until you are 20 weeks...and ONE day.  I considered for about 1/2 a day not finding out at all, when I asked Kyle he laughed.  We have awesome names for a boy and a girl so we're prepared!  Very few people know what names we would go with, I just don't see the reason to announce it to the world quite yet. We could change our mind once we meet our little peanut. Plus people can't talk sh*t about a name or be opinionated once it's attached to a cute little babe.

All in all, aside from the emotions and now the onset of headaches I feel great.  I have a ton of books that were given to me in the past, but I really only read three:  a pregnancy week by week one, The Girlfriend's Guide To Pregnancy and Belly Laughs.  I tend to stay away from What To Expect only because I feel it's filled with a bunch of technical stuff that can scare you. I more or less just skim through most of these anyways.

Anyhow, I am working on a couple of other posts that hopefully will go up this week or next week.  I'm a little all over the place and jumping around so just stick with me.  I totally forgot to link to "Your Pins Are Hurting My Eyes - Part Two" so please go check that out and get all caught up!

Here are a few shots of our weekend so far...I'm going to soak in the tub and do more of this relaxing thing...

Waking up to this view does not get old.

Or ending the day with this sunset.

Tofino Public Market: Relaxing includes shopping and eating for me. 

Getting a shot of Kyle getting the shot.

My love...the most patient man in the world.

My view.

~Mrs. G

Baby G - We're Ready For You.

To say we are excited and thrilled is a huge understatement.  My husband is the most AMAZING person on this planet, I'm so lucky to get to share this experience with him.  He is going to be the best dad in the whole world. He cannot wait to teach our little one to surf, snowboard and golf (someone really wants a boy!) Although I am pretty good at at least two of those things so we all know girls can do ANYTHING boys can do...sometimes even better.

By now you probably seen this announcement on FB or  IG, I am overwhelmed by the amount of love and support, well-wishes and congrats from everyone! It's time to make it blog official and let you all know there are going to be some changes to my little blog.

I hope you'll stick around because I'm going to document this whole pregnancy this thing.  Before, during and after! I've got lots to say and I am sure hilarity will ensue knowing this household.

And getting this shot?  My next post that I am working on is sharing with you the blooper pics!  I laughed so hard looking through all of pictures with these two "trying" to corporate. 

Feeling lucky, blessed, excited and thankful...

~Mrs. G

Your Pins Are Hurting My Eyes: Part Two.

Pinterest, how I love to find inspiring pins from others.  How I love to upload pins of my own and have them inspire others.  And how I love it when I come across pins that are ridiculous.

You can see all of the awesome shit I pin here.

And now, without further ado is part two of: Your Pins Are Hurting My Eyes. 

This is ALWAYS a bad idea.  Although, I  have to admit that long, long ago when my girlfriends and I went to Vegas quite frequently we did this on one of our trips. Anyway, thank god we were on the "I Love You Man" shit because it was actually pretty hilarious and we still laugh about it to this day.  I'll always remember that I was told that I am bossy and need to be more patient when teaching people how to snowboard.  

I hate everything about this: the fonts, spacing and that comma.  Plus If I called Kyle "darling" he would most certainly laugh at me and tell me to make them myself.

So I want to hate this and I laughed when I found it, but it's sorta growing on me.  I re-pinned to my "Fall into Winter" board just to gauge reactions. I am half-kidding.

Nope.  Not even for a second.  I'd also like to take a wildddddd guess as to where this guy is from...

I am looking at getting another tattoo and I can tell you with 100% certainly it will not be this.  I do have to say that the face is pretty good though. 

The trifecta of bad: bare legs with Uggs, Sparkly Uggs, Uggs.

There are some REALLY BAD maternity photos out there.  This is one of them. I can't stop thinking that the dirt is hair. This is on my do-not-do list for my maternity shoot. And yes, of course I am having one.  I had not one, but two engagement photo shoots. Kyle dreads every moment of these things...

This is too much organization, even for me.  Plus your makeup is not a refrigerator magnet. And let's showcase some better makeup.

Good makeup organization.  Plus I actually use all these brands so I like this version way better.

Upcycling at it's worse.

Wait, no this is upcycling at it's worse.  I can't think of a more comfortable place to sit than a hard ass bath tub with a face staring at me.

Lastly, you need to head over to Bored Panda because they have THE BEST Pinterest fails of all time. Seriously, go here and laugh your ass off.  I've had my fair share of Pinterest fails, like this three-layer birthday cake I tried to make for Kyle:

My version.  The front looked just about 10% better than this.

Pinterest cake-it's so pretty isn't it?

~Mrs. G

This That And The Other: A Recap

Yes, yes and YES!  I completed the Whole30 challenge! I want to say thank you for all of the amazing posts of love and support on FB and my Whole30 IG and thank you for following along on my journey!

My girlfriend Lindsay, who blogs over at Fit & Awesome is interviewing me so I am sure she will ask all the good questions and make it seem way more interesting and informative so I will not talk about it here and instead point you to her site when the article is up.  Bottom line is I feel amazing and I am 100% glad I did it and plan on living a more Paleo lifestyle (well more like 80/20 because girl needs her "Pasta Sundays" and french macaroons). I will also post everything I ate later this week.

Aside from living a clean life for 30 awesome days, I have been nursing Maggie back from her TPLO surgery.  She is 4 weeks post-op and is finally weight bearing and has graduated to 20 minute walks! She is still quarantined to a very small living space in the house, but I started letting her out when I'm home so she won't go stir crazy.  My advise to pet owners:  GET PET INSURANCE.

What else?  Oh we are finally going on vacation!  We haven't been anywhere (aside from trips to Cali and local BC places for long weekends) since Bali and we both are in need of sun, warm water and for Kyle-surf.  We're deciding between Hawaii or Mexico for at least 10 days. Our only window is in September so of course we need to find when and where the surf is best.  I am really leaning towards Hawaii.

Vancouver is really beautiful right now!  I think (THINK) we are seeing the last of the rain for the season, but then again this is "Raincouver" and from what I hear last year was pretty dry and we got lucky so who really knows.  The temp has been around 80-85 the past couple of days so I have been pretty stoked! Festivals are happening every weekend and yes...during my Whole30 Challenge I went to and didn't get to eat any cannolis at the Italian Day Festival.

Kyle just got back from a 4 day surf trip to Tofino Island and I used the alone time to do some gardening, hang with some of my girlfriends and really just veg out.  Things are pretty mellow for the most part around here.  Hopefully I have more interesting news next post ;)  I am working on another post where I call out more Pinterest crap that I see, so stay tuned for that.  I have been a pinning fool lately and have come across some real gems.  It may also be about pinning fails as I have tried many a thing from crafts, to food and they have turned out exactly the opposite of the pictures!

That's all I got...

~Mrs. G