Happinnessis on the way!

I am 32 weeks pregnant. So two more months to go! And I am so excited! I feel great. I want to meet my little guy already, look at him, hold him in my arms. I miss those tiny – tiny fingers, that toothless smile, those eyes studying everything around. I miss breastfeeding, rocking a baby to sleep and even waking up at night motivated by the only thought: that somebody else needs ME and only ME!

We haven’t decided on the name yet. We are trying to find a name that would sound pretty much the same in three languages: Russian, English and French.

So here is our top-five names:

- Matvey

- Anton

- Vitali

- Viktor

- Kirill

….

Yours,Irina:)

Happy Mother’s Day!

Dear Moms!

Being a MOM is the most challenging but the most rewarding job in the world!

I wish you all patience, wisdom and LOVE! Enjoy every moment of your motherhood!

 

Yours,Irina:)

CUBA!

In April my mom came for a 2-week  visit and took Ivan and myself to Cuba! My husband couldn’t come with us because he just started working for a new place a month ago. Instead, my friend Marina, her little girl Amira, Marina’s mom and brother came along. So we were 5 adults and 2 kids.

It was my first time in Cuba. We went to Cayo Santa Maria and stayed at the hotel “Cayo Playa Santa Maria”. It was very nice overall and definitely worth $700 spent. The beach was superb, the food was much better than I expected from Cuba. The resort was nice, the staff was very friendly.

Although, I wouldn’t say I had a perfect vacation. First of all, the sea was only calm for the first two days. After that it was very rough with high waves. But the first two days Ivan didn’t even want to hear about going in the water or even walking on the sand. He was so scared, everything was so unfamiliar. He needed me close by all the time and ideally holding him in my arms.

A couple of days later he got a little bit more comfortable and went to play in the sand. But the moment I would leave him with my mom he would start asking for me. So I had to be with him all the time.

And then he got too comfortable, especially playing in the pool. So he would push me away, he would try to go to a deep part on his own, he would run around. So basically I couldn’t get my eyes off him. I was on a 24-hour watch.

The meal time was a different story. As soon as we get to the restaurant Ivan starts screaming asking for food immediately!!! So I had to run to the buffet to get him smth to eat. Then I’d feed him. But as soon as he is full, he doesn’t care about staying patiently in a high-chair for at least another 10 minutes and letting his mommy eat. NO! Now he would scream asking to get out. So I basically don’t even remember what I ate. By the end of the trip I was craving my husband’s home food. The best moment of the day would be lunch. I would put Ivan down for a nap at 11:45. At noon I would go to the nearest restaurant and have my quiet 15-minute lunch (yes, I was leaving Ivan in the room on his own! Not cool! But I had no choice. I had to think about another little guy in my tommy who needed food as well)

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There were a lot of nice and fun moments of course! And it was a blast to watch the two kids together (it was actually the best part). Although I came to a conclusion that it’s too early or too late to go on this type of vacation with Ivan. It might be fun but not relaxing at all.

Yours,

Irina

28 weeks pregnant!

It’s about time to post a little update on my second pregnancy!

I’m 28 weeks pregnant. 2,5 months to go. Due date is August 5^th. And it’s a BOY!!!!

24 weeks

The first trimester was quite challenging. At my first ultrasound I was told I had Placenta Previa. So my OB told me strictly not to lift anything heavy (including Ivan), not to have sex, not to do anything physically hard. So for 8 weeks I felt very limited. But luckily by my next check up my placenta went up and life became brighter again!

The first 4,5 months I was sick all the time. Felt very weak and tired. I felt like my body was not ready for another pregnancy so soon.

I don’t focus on this pregnancy as much as I did when I was pregnant with Ivan. Being pregnant with Ivan I was noticing any change of my body, I was talking to him, I was blogging about him, I was writing letters to him, I was reading to him. This time I often even forget the fact that I am actually pregnant.  I get irritated that I feel tired in the evening, I have mood swings sometimes and I am not happy with myself for it. My husband has to constantly remind me that I am actually pregnant and I should take it easy. And it’s ONLY 2.5 months left till I become a mom again and nothing is ready! We haven’t even picked up a name yet. Almost, but not 100% sure. I have to reorganise our apartment and free some space for another baby. Oh, where to find time?!

And I still can’t believe I am gonna be a mom again!

26 weeks

Yours,

Irina

Ivan is 18 months old!

My son turned 18 month yesterday! He is a big boy now! His weight is 12 kilos and his height is 83 cm.

- His sleep routine is the following: 7Pm to 7AM and 1.5-2 hour nap in the afternoon. Afternoon naps have become a little more challenging and there was a period of about 2-3 weeks when he wouldn’t fall asleep during the day. But we finally figured the best time to do it and the best way to make him fall asleep. So now it’s back to normal.

- He eats very well in general. And he loves pretty much anything. He doesn’t really like vegetables actually so the only way to make him eat them is to grate them (like zucchini, squash or sweet potato), add an egg, some cheese and flour and bake it in the oven.

- As of April 1st he started another class at the day care (18-24 months). At the same time he started doing part-time. So on Mon, Wed and Fri he is at the day care, and the rest of the week – at home. Honestly, I don’t think it’s working  well for us for a number of reasons: 1. he can’t get used to the new class completely. 2. On Tuesdays and Thursdays it’s my MIL who is watching him and I don’t think he likes that very much. 3. Because of the two reasons above, he’s been struggling with some separation anxiety lately: when there’s someone visiting he always sees danger that I might go away and leave him with this person (that includes my mom and MIL). That makes him very nervous and as a result very irritable. So I think as of next month he’ll go back to full-time schedule.

- Can’t brag about his speech abilities yet. He talks a lot though. All the time ….but we can’t understand what he’s saying:(

- He’s got 12 teeth!

- Ivan loves music! He is a dancing machine. Seriously!

- Ivan loves books! There is no bedtime without me reading him a story. He loves looking at books on his own as well!

- Ivan loves cars…and truks…and actually any type of transportation!

- Oh course, like any modern baby Ivan loves phones and pretending he’s talking on the phone.

- He loves helping out: he would help us vacuum, unload the dishwasher or the washing machine or unload the groceries.

- He is stubborn, impatient and independent. And very sweet and nice at the same time.

- Ivan loves cuddling. He loves hugs and kisses more and more now.

Yours,

Irina

February in pictures

Here are the main moments of February:

-  Shopping at Ikea for a table for Ivan

…and then putting it together

… here comes the first guest!

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- being attacked by the frogs

…and playing with pots and pans…

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 - Getting all dressed up for a formal day at the day care…

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- dancing with the shadow

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- and falling asleep on the living room floor for the first time…

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- enjoying simple family meals

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- and spoiling our taste buds with desserts…

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- – watching the snow falling…

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- and buying a new canon lens!

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- being goofy…

- and serious…

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We hope you had a great February as well!

And wishing you all a great March!

15 weeks pregnant!

I’d like to apologize to all my blog readers for leaving some very important news unnoticed!

Well, it’s better late than never, right?! So let me officially announce that I am 15 weeks pregnant with my second child.

I didn’t want to announce it before my first doctors appointment (Jan 22). And then I got very sick and didn’t wanna be even close to the computer. And so busy with Ivan and my studies…blablabla. Anyways, I am very sorry!

I found out I was pregnant on November 28th, 2012. People keep asking me if it was planned, because, you know, my son is only 15 month old, and apparently it’s kind of crazy to be willing to get pregnant again at this time!!! So let me tell you the truth: it WAS planned. Probably my body is not completely recovered yet, but I’m so ready to do it for Ivan and for my future child. Being an only child to my parents, I always wanted to have several children myself. And I wanted them to be very close at age.
So here we go… I was surely excited when I found out I was pregnant. Any nervous? Yes! Even though I knew what to expect, two kids is not the same thing as one.

My first trimester was the same as being pregnant with Ivan:
- feeling tired
- sensitive to smells
- very sentimental
- having those pregnant dreams (very colorful, very detailed, and super crazy)
- growing an early pregnancy belly. Oh I hate this stage so much! It’s when you don’t look pregnant yet, but you look like and feel bloated. (I remember, when I just got pregnant with Ivan and still didn’t know about it, I had that belly. And I was stubbornly doing crunches every day to get rid of it, but it wouldn’t go away. I was so devastated. Poor me, I didn’t know it was one of the first signs of pregnancy:))
- craving certain foods. In my first pregnancy I was craving “poutine”, baked potatoes, pizza and all other bad things. But this time these were salads and fruits I was craving.

There were some negative moments in my first trimester as well. First I got sick with gastro. I suppose I got it from my son because most of the kids and staff in his daycare got it as well.

And then one beautiful morning I wake up and watch my husband still sleeping (he had been coughing and sneezing for the past couple of days). And then he sneezes in his sleep right in my face!!! Well, my pregnant and still breast-feeding weak body couldn’t even try to fight all those  microbes and I got sick the very same day. By 8pm I had a fever of 39,3, terrible sore throat and abdominal pains. As it was Friday evening, I didn’t have a choice but to go to the emergency room. I spent there the rest of Friday and half of Saturday. They ran million tests on me and didn’t find anything that could cause my abdominal pains. So the doctors’ verdict was: the flu. I was prescribed flu medication and sent home. Two weeks later, I am still recovering.

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The BEST news is that Ivan is almost weaned. I was was very scared to even start weaning him. He was such a boobie fan! But I guess, he started realizing it was time to let it go. I was breast-feeding him 4-5 times in 24 hours: after his daycare, before bedtime (6PM), 10-11PM, 3AM, 5AM. So we started with skipping one night feeding, then another one, then the after daycare feeding, and finally the early morning feeding. So now it’s only bedtime feeding that is left. And it took us maybe a week and a half and very reasonable amount of tears!!!!

Yours,

Irina:)

January in pictures.

As you remember, one of my NY resolutions is a 365-project, wich means this year I take at least one picture a day. This year the theme of my project is our family life.

The first month of the year was a “so-so” one. First Ivan and my mom got sick, then my husband and then it was my turn. I was also studying a lot as I went back to school to do my Advanced French Program at UQAM university. In terms of the weather, it was a cold grey month overall. So we spent most of it at home. Hopefully next month will be more exciting! But for now, here is what our January  looked like…

January 1. So ready to open NY gifts

January 1. Ivan is playing with his new doggy.

January 1. “Look, mommy, it’s a doggy”

January 1. Mommy loves her new tea set.

January 2nd. Ivan’s simple solution to an annoying laughing dog (Video)

January 3. Working on my restaurant Business Plan.

January 4. Visiting Russian Consulate.

January 5th. Shopping for a new ceiling lamp for the living-room.

January 6. Shopping at IKEA

January 7th. Mommy’s first day of school!

January 8. Poor Ivan is sick!

January 9. Got my husband a father’s day present – tix for the Anthony Bourdain’s show

January 10. Ivan learns to do “high-five”

January 11. Baking Danoise

January 12. Saying good-bye to granny Natasha

January 13. My men surprising me with breakfast in bed

January 14. Ivan is enjoying his bath!

January 15. Working on the NY resolutions

January 16. Ivan loves strawberries!

January 17. Trying out the potty

January 18. Mama passes her driving test.

January 19. “Oh, so full, can’t breathe!”

January 20. Ivan playing with water and food colorants

January 21. Just enjoying each other

January 21st. Listening to the baby’s heart beat (Video)!

January 23. Ivan is playing with his magnets

January 24. Mama is sick

January 25. Mama gets really sick, so that she has to go to the emergency room

January 26. At the emergency room again. Checking if the baby is fine.

January 27. Both sick. Trying not to get Ivan sick too

January 28th. Mama’s Birthday!!!

January 28. Mama’s Birthday lunch at “Le Nil Bleu”

January 28. Lunch at “Le Nil Bleu”

January 28. Lunch at “Le Nil Bleu”

January 29th. Ivan is obsessed with the washing machine. (Video)

January 30. Daddy’s new work place

January 31st. Crazy winds in Montreal

Wheat-free dessert!

At the beginning of January we had a big reunion with our family members from Toronto. As everyone usually loves my baking, I couldn’t leave them without something sweet. So I made some Vanilla Cupcakes. Turnes out,  it’s been a little over a month that half of our Toronto family has been on a wheat-free diet. So only two of them could enjoy my cupcakes:( Oh nooo, why didn’t they tell me?!

Apparently, this wheat-free diet is one of the latest trends in healthy-eating. It all started after they read a book “Wheat Belly” by William Davis, where he tells about the numerous positive effects of a wheat-free diet. And our relatives confirmed that after being on such a diet for a month, they already feel much better.

Being on this diet doesn’t mean you have to say “NO” to bread, pasta, pizza and pastry forever. You can simply substitute wheat flour with some other flour, like almond flour, rice flour, quinoa flour, etc…

So the other day I was going through my baking recipe book in search for something I could bake using some egg-whites sitting in my fridge. And I found this amazing recipe of a wheat-free cake. (Next time they come to Montreal I’ll make this for them!)

“Danoise” (recipe taken from the French pastry book “Petit Larousse Pâtissier”).

Ingredients:

Icing sugar – 150 gr

Almond powder – 135 gr

Egg whites – 5

Granulated sugar – 50 gr

For the butter cream:

Butter, soften – 250 gr

Water- 2 ounces

Sugar powder -140 gr

Eggs – 2

Egg yolks – 2

Instant coffee 10 gr

Fore the decoration:

Almonds sliced and roasted

Icing sugar

Preparation:

Mix and sift icing sugar and almond powder. Whisk the egg whites using a mixer. Add granulated sugar, 1/3rd at a time. Continue whisking on medium/high-speed untill you get  “meringue”. The whites should be all cloudy and foamy at this point. Stop the mixer. Add the mix of almond powder and icing sugar, a little bit at a time. Don’t whisk the meringue, just lift it with a spatula and spread the almond powder/icing sugar mixture evenly.

Preheat the oven to 170 C. (338 F)

Cover the baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the batter in a pastry bag and make 2 circles of 22 cm. Start from the center and go towards the edges making a circle. Bake for 35 minutes and let it cool.

Prepare Butter Cream.

Put the butter in a bowl and using a back of a wooden spoon stir it into a creamy consistency. Pour water in a little saucepan, add sugar and bring to boil on medium heat. Let it coom till it reaches the temperature 120 C. Whisk the whole eggs and egg yolks using a mixer. When the syrup is ready pour it very slowly into the bowl with the eggs and continue whisking till the mixture cools down completely. Then add instant coffee diluted in water.

When the cream is ready, spread it on one of the disks and then place the other disk on top. Decorate with roasted almonds and icing sugar.

Note: For this recipe it’s recommended that the egg whites sit in the fridge for 3 days before making Danoise. Another note, you can also make little cookies instead of a big one.

NY / life resolutions

It’s January and it’s time to make some NY resolutions.

My NY Resolutions:

1. Be more patient!

No comments on this one.

2. Start doing yoga.

I’ve started doing yoga several times in my life. I tried different yoga studios. Did it for a bout a month every time. But I never got the point of it. It just didn’t work for me quite well. Especially the breathing part. I just CAN’t switch my mind off. But I’ve been feeling so restless lately, so “on the edge”, because of all those pregnancy/after pregnancy hormones, that I feel a strong need in some sort of meditation. I know If I don’t start working on myself emotionally, I will crack at some point. So I decided to go back and try it one more time. Because it works for so many of you, right?!

3. Go swimming at least once a week.

It’s been about 5 months that I haven’t been doing any exercises. I used to swim a lot when I was pregnant with Ivan. When he was born, I was doing my home work-out. Then I started doing aqua-fitness with Ivan. And now – nothing. I literally don’t have no time or energy for this. Which is not a good reason, I know. So I really have to start doing at least something, especially since I have a swimming pool in the building!

4. Stop saying “I want a divorce”

)) Yeeeep, it slipped out of my mouth a few times. And I’m not proud of it.  At all.

5. Do a 365 Project. 

Last year I was doing a 365 project of Ivan. Every day I would take a picture of Ivan. And it was wonderful to see his little changes every day. Now I know when exactly he learnt to grab a toy, when he smiled at me for the first time, when he started crawling and so so on – it’s all in my pictures.  This year I decided to do a project 365 of our family. So I am taking pictures of what our family is up to every day. I will also post my monthly report at the end of each month.

6. Devote every Sunday (or Saturday) to my son and to my family.

This one is the HARDEST on the list. I can not relax, I can not do nothing. I am always up for something. I always have things to do. But now, since my son is at the day care all week long and I see him only in the morning and in the evening, I fell I don’t spend enough time with him. And he misses me. I can see that. So I decided that I really need to make myself one day-off a week and spend it PLAYING with my son. And it would mean no computer time, no studying, no working, no :”Wait a minute Ivan, I need to do the laundry” or “Wait Ivan, I need to do the dishes”. I mean, if he doesn’t mind watching me do this – fine. But if he starts whining – I’ll stop.

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I also have my Life resolutions list that I add up to regularly.

Life resolutions:
- Kiss my husband in the middle of the skating rink in NY city
- Take part in “amazing race” show
- Open my tea house
- See Toco Toucan in nature (not at the pet store)
- Have a wedding ceremony with my husband in Maldives
- Learn tango in Argentina
- Fly by a private jet
- Go on a cruise around the world
- Spend at least 1 month in Italy
- Spend the retirement somewhere warm and sunny
- Try $5000 champagne
- See lavanda fields from air

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Never stop dreaming!