Putting Papa to work!

With our latest Dr.s appointment, where the Dr. reassured us that Cocoa Bean looked good and was growing, it finally began to sink in and become real: WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!

With that...let the projects begin!

I have known for awhile some of the projects that we (hahah I) could not live without. One of the project ideas came from a blog I saw (via Pinterest) and I knew that I wanted to create a similar chalkboard and use it not only throughout the pregnancy, but as our baby grew...however, this was a lot easier said than done.

As I began to look for this said chalkboard I could NOT believe how expensive they were. And on top of that, any of the chalkboards that I did find were either too small or simply did not have the look that I was hoping for.

So after a few weeks of searching Nana Ilceski suggested we try to do a little DIY project and make a chalkboard that would fit within our budget, would be about the size we were going for and have the look we wanted...and so our first Home Depot shopping trip (there have been many since) commenced.

After only spending $26.80 on all the materials (a far cry from the $80-$100 ranger we were seeing) the chalkboard project began!

Chalkboard paint, Primer, Door trim (for the frame of the chalkboard) and the 'Chalkboard' itself

Really, this is all it took!!!

Dave was still in study-mode for his step 1, so we recruited Papa Ilceski to help with the task of painting and cutting all the wood!!!

Step 1:
Prepare for some serious spray painting!

Step 2: 
Get one  Papa that is so excited to start making some nursery projects for their coming grandbaby. Oh, and prime the 'chalkboard'!

Priming!

Step 3:
After the Primer has dried, apply the chalkboard paint!

Hahah so excited for the photo shoot!

It's getting closer to the finished product!

 The Chalkboard is finished...now to start the trim!

Step 1 (of trim):
Set up shop!

Step 2:
Let the cutting begin!

Step 3:
Fitting the trim pieces together!

And making sure it fits around the chalkboard!

Step 4:
Gluing and securing the trim pieces together!

Step 5:
Painting the trim!

And finally:

Little Baby Ilceski coming January 2014!!

We're so excited!!! (Taken at 8 weeks).

 And just because:

We also scored an amazing deal on our stroller and car seat...ahhh we are getting so excited!

Daddy getting the goods out of the car (in study-mode attire lol)

The first items bought for Cocoa Bean!

Daddy's excited for the baby and in study clothes..Mama's excited for the baby, the amazing purchases and trying to pretend that I feel great hahah!! (taken at 7 weeks).

More projects are on the way!!!!

Daddy's New Patient Arriving January 2014

 Ok, so to say that I am a little behind on blogging is a bit of an understatement....but, I have a good excuse!

For the past three months we have been keeping (TRYING TO) the biggest secret of our lives...

Daddy checking on Cocoa Bean!  Daddy just finished the step (literally about 2 hours prior and I could NOT wait any longer to announce!!!)

Come January there will be a new addition to our family and we are BEYOND excited!

We're both a littler tired from a long day (Daddy finished the step) but we couldn't keep our secret any longer!

While Dave's parents were visiting Grenada in May, Nana Ilceski took a few 'Announcement' photos for us...this one is right on Grand Anse Beach!

We had a bit of a rough beginning with the pregnancy, something that I think once our baby has arrived I will share in more detail, but it was because of these reasons that we wanted to wait until we knew that everything was fine with Cocoa Bean (hahah our baby's current name...it is a Grenada baby after-all).

So, for three LONG months I stayed off facebook, didn't write a blog and was short in conversation with tons of people...hahah I apologize!!!  Me being quiet and trying to keep a secret is a difficult task!!!

We found out May 5th, 2013 that we were expecting....haha let me tell you that it was a bit of a shock. I would LOVE to say that I had this amazing surprise planned for Dave (hahah something that I literally have been thinking about for years) but we simply did not think getting pregnant was going to happen while we were in Grenada; I had even booked an appointment with my family Dr. for when we returned back to Canada to see if there was something that could be done.  Instead, I simply walked out, after seeing the results, in shock and held the stick out and just stared at Dave...he had no idea what I was doing!!!

It says: PREGNANT!!!

We could not BELIEVE IT!!!  And so this is the result of that 'state of shock':

Number Two lol!!

And number three!

Three pregnancy tests later and we started to get really excited!!!

Pregnant in Grenada!

We're so EXCITED!

Going out the night we found out we were pregnant...and couldn't tell a SOUL!!! So difficult!

We have waited for this for years (literally) and are feeling beyond blessed!

Cocoa Bean's first set of 'scrubs'! (Auntie Pammie sent these to us in Grenada at Christmas!!! She was on to something!)

Our first ultrasound in Canada, when we got to finally hear our baby's heartbeat, was on May 21st, 2013. 

Cocoa Bean at 6 weeks and growing with a strong heartbeat!!!

Unfortunately, I had to come home early from Grenada while Dave stayed back to finish up his finals; it was a very emotional and stressful time to saytheleast.

But, thankfully through prayer and begging,  our ultrasound technician allowed me to bring my Ipad into the ultrasound room and have Dave skype in; with his parents who were visiting in Grenada.

Hard to make out...but Dave took a screen shot from the computer while we skyped. They are hearing Cocoa Bean's heartbeat for the first time!

Dave finally made it home to Canada and this was his 'WELCOME HOME DADDY" surprise.

Cocoa Bean's First photo, Grenada Chocolate (since we were in Grenada when we found out) and before we left England I bought these two little outfits to surprise Dave: I love Daddy and of course a Newcastle United Jersey!

And Mitch greeted Dave at the door! When Dave proposed 6 years ago, Mitch was wearing this same 'tuxedo shirt' and had the ring (in a bag) around his neck! Now he is announcing the babies arrival!!!

 And now begins our journey of parenthood...prepare for the incoming posts lol!!!

On this episode of...

Grenada grocery shopping:

On Sunday I needed to get a few groceries. It was one of those mornings where I did everything possible to get out of going, but in the end, a hungry husband and an empty fridge won.

I got the essentials ready for the grocery adventure: wallet, grocery list (and the back-up list of meals for the items that simply cannot be found that week...TIG), backpack, and reusable bags.  Forgetting any of these items, as anyone without a car in Grenada can attest to, means an even sweatier walk to IGA and back.

Usually, if I only have a few items to purchase, I head to Foodfair which is only about a 2 minute walk from our apartment. However, since it was Sunday, the only store open (really, the only store open near Grand Anse) was IGA.

I did the dreaded walk (I know, being a bit melodramatic) and searched for the items I needed. I decided to splurge that day and buy 6 cans of soda...we totally didn't need this, but after the last couple of weeks we have had, we could use the sugar lol!!!  Surprisingly, I found what I was looking for with ease (I have stopped looking for butter, altogether) and headed to the check-out. 

As the items started going through check-out I thought: "maybe today I will take a reggae-bus home". I was exhausted, sweaty and just plain cranky...maybe a reggae-bus would make my day (yes, never thought I would think that either).  As I stepped out of IGA guess what I saw....NO REGGAE-BUSES IN SIGHT!  I started the walk home and thought "really, not one bus doing the slow drive by asking 'hey pretty lady, want a ride'?" Yes, this pretty (sweaty-mess) lady did want a ride...where were you reggae-bus man?

By the time I reached the end of the street, near CIBC (for those who are all too familiar with this walk) I decided I could just suck it up and make it home. As I am nearing closer, counting my final steps to freedom, I suddenly realize my bags are much, much lighter and this is what I discovered....

The entire bottom of my reusable grocery bag had ripped open and my groceries were now up one end of the sidewalk, with cans of soda rolling into traffic. (It is moments like these that I must remember to always pack my camera).

Let me tell you, when you spend a small fortune on 6 cans of soda, you better believe that I am running after them all; those suckers are liquid gold.  Thankfully, we only lost one can. I was too embarrassed to chase after it, as it rolled along the road, against the sidewalk, spraying soda in every direction.

For those that may have heard about the crazy white lady running after her groceries on Sunday afternoon, yes it certainly was me!!

The hole

Down a soda

hahah they were all dented! Thankfully no one ran over any.

The inside damage

Until our next Grenada adventure...