Re-Evaluating What is Important to Us.

As suggested by my last post.. I have been going through a crazy nesting phase as of late and have the extreme urge to purge..well my whole house. Days have been spent sorting. Baby items...kitchen items...linnen closet..bathroom vanity. I have also been posting a number of things for sale on Kijiji and having some success with that. Extra days that I have now without going to school or working gives me this little bit of extra time for which I am grateful.

Throughout the process, my budget has also gone under scrutiny and become tightened. I think in the impending arrival of another addition to the family this Spring, it has forced me to re-examine our lifestyle and values. I think a constant theme in my past few posts has been slowing down. And now, I really am. In a few short months I will be back at home, away from working...away from school... fully immersed once again in family life and community life as I will still have a couple of volunteer projects and activities that I will be involved in.

On Decluttering

Photo Credit: Miss Minimalist

Lately I have felt a real need to declutter my life. I'm beginning to feel trapped in my belongings. This desire has come along with my graduate school aspirations to do ethnographic research which would mean living in another place for a period of time. Consequently, I wouldn't be able to bring all the stuff I (we - husband included - although he has far less "stuff" than I) have accumulated over the past 6 years in various apartments and our current house.

Also, with a new babe coming this Spring. It only seems fitting to do some "spring cleaning" while sorting through all of B's old stuff in storage and since moving him into his Big Boy room. It also feels like I have so much more time on my hands since taking a leave from school this Winter.

It feels nice to let things go - freeing really. This weekend I sold our old dining room hutch which was taking up space amongst our new furniture, along with a mantel clock we've had kicking around but sadly no mantel to place it on. Although I loved the hutch - I felt no remorse when it went out the door.

I keep telling myself - only the essentials but alas it is a process. I'm very into this website on the topic.

2011: the Year of the Slowdown

On the 31st we recieved news that foreshadowed a year of slowing down. One of my midwives called with some "non-concerning" news on my ultrasound for baby #2. It appears that I have a very low-lying placenta in this pregnancy. Not officially placenta previa where the placenta covers the cervix, but close. But as a precautionary measure, my midwife advised me to take it easy and of course no intercourse until I can go for another ultrasound at 28 weeks. She was optimistic that the situation would correct itself.

Therefore I have begun the process of taking an early leave of absence from Graduate School. I had hoped to finish off this semester in April. However, I know it would be too stressful and since B was a month early I want to keep this baby in as long as possible. Not to mention I'd have to leave part way through the semester if at 28 weeks I do indeed have placenta previa since I would require bed rest for the duration of the pregnancy.

So 2011... back to working 3 days/week until late March and spending more time at home with this sweet little guy.