Coming Soon...!

ten little fingers,

ten little toes,

two little eyes,

one little nose!

but boy or girl,

nobody knows!

P.S.: for the record, that's how it's going to be till the baby is born! Due November 2018!

The Details

Baby toesies and handies are some of the most delicious things to enjoy in your child... ♥

Out and About with Papa

This past winter and spring has been somewhat Hubby-less as he has had a couple of extra jobs he could only work at late in the evenings or on Saturdays. Therefore, it was with joy and excitement that Bia and I headed out with him last Thursday for a day together in the countryside/mountains. He had a small job to complete in a beautiful part of the country, so after he had finished we had the rest of the day to spend together among grass, rivers and hills.

Experiencing flowers for the first time! She also loved walking barefoot on the grass. I got to make her very first daisy chain! 

"That mountain over there is... (insert mountain's name)"

What a joy it was to go out once more among the beauty of creation with those whom I love best!

Hubby should finish the extra jobs soon, hopefully before the summer ends, so I am looking forward to more outings with him and Baby! ♥

Introducing...

...our first addition to the family:

Our baby girl Abigail Sofia (Bia for short), born January 24th at 17:14 hours and weighing 2,76 kg!

I know this blog post is more than four months overdue, plus I have no idea whether this blog is still read by anyone. However, one of my favourite sayings is "better late than never". Amidst giving birth in a different country to that where I live, becoming a mother, still being a wife, and catching up with studies, housework, and - yes, sleep, I haven't really had a chance to sit down and write on the blog.

Now I have, and I take the chance to let you know about this huge change in our lives! Little Bia is a funny, sweet baby who has just started to sleep well. She started out tiny, and is now wearing six and nine month old clothes. Everything that she manages to grab goes into her mouth, and she loves cooing, squealing and screaming. True to her name, she fills our days with joy!

I Am Not Alone

Running errands and talking on the phone,

I am pleasantly reminded that I am not alone.

Little tiny hands, a precious rounded knee

pushing and twisting that no one can see.

Oh sweet child kicking up your heels,

it is our little secret that only I can feel.

I look forward to your birth,

when I can kiss your skin,

but for now I will just smile,

as I feel you play within.

- Author Unknown

Introducing Alistair and Tristan

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I decided it was high time for a new pet. We had been long talking about getting a pet rat (influenced by my sister, who already had one and recommended it as the best option), and due to my birthday coming soon I asked my husband to get me one for me as a birthday gift.

Then, after much reading and research, we decided two rats would be better than one as they are very sociable animals, and two rats give about as much work as one. It follows that Alistair and Tristan came to be part of our pet family.

In their case, a picture is worth a thousand words. I'm so glad we got them! They are so sweet, loving, funny, and endlessly curious and adventurous. They never cease to surprise!

Tristan... he is white with grey patches.

Alistair. He is white with a black head and patches.

They enjoy being on my shoulders. Alistair was almost falling
asleep there... and Tristan was curious about the flash.

Part of the awesome cage the hubby included in the gift...

I'll keep you updated. I take plenty of pictures and videos of them as we play or they sleep or explore... What an adventure!

Happy New Year

Dear family and friends,

While the previous year transitions have not meant anything else to me other than time with my family and plenty of music and laughs, for some unknown reason, I have looked forward to changing to 2016 very much, and was very expectant. Now we are here I feel unexplainably joyous and excited, and, excuse the cliché, but I literally can't wait to see what is ahead of us.

To all of you, many blessings and much happiness in this new year we've started. I hope your time is full of everything you need and may you be showered with love!

Three Weeks...

...of Mediterranean beaches to walk along and pine tree forests to hike.
...of sunny, mild weather and not too cold temperatures.
...of bird watching outside the kitchen window at the diverse little 'uns that come to pick at fallen olives.
...of visiting old friends and enjoying catching-up conversations over a cuppa.
...of walking among cobbled streets in old towns and (yes!) taking pictures of worthy-of-note details.

...of staying at my parents' in my old childhood home!

This trip has been long-awaited and hoped for, and it doesn't seem real that we are actually here, that we've actually been here since Monday! Time is flying and I am trying desperately to enjoy every second of our stay here. I know that the parting day will come and we will ask ourselves, WHERE did the time go? Therefore, here is me, leaving in a rush so that I can drink in the beauty of time in Catalonia.

Wedding Pictures Pt. 3: Getting Ready (Details)

The one year milestone is definitely behind us. We had a beautiful First Wedding Anniversary in Bulgaria (more to come on this, perhaps...), and my expressions of "I can't believe it!" and catchings of breath are over (or perhaps not so frequent).

However, I still enjoy going over the wedding pictures so much! I enjoy writing these posts because I get to look at them once more and each time I remember a small detail I hadn't noticed before. I love the small details that give meaning to a bigger picture, so these pictures are special to me.

Without further ado...

Hairclips and other things...

The special rose-centered accessory that the ladies who sewed my dress gifted me with.

Watching, waiting...

Tying...

Learning how to tie one's tie...

My lantana outside in the garden... so beautiful!

The rings...

The rings on my father's guitar... (Daniel plays the guitar beautifully)

My grandmother's pearls (which I've wanted to wear on my wedding day ever since I received them) along with
my father's guitar and my sweet Verdi, a life-long friend.

My sister attaching the rings to the cushion...

One of my bridesmaids playing the piano...

My sister checking my brother's tie...

Adding baby's breath to the bridesmaids' hair... *-* What a lovely idea!

Oh, what I'd give to re-live the whole day again... so beautiful, so precious, so unforgettable! ♥

The Adventure Begins

Last January my parents presented me with (one-of) their long-awaited wedding present: a brand new sewing machine all to myself! However, even though it's been a little bit more than six months I haven't officially really "used it for the first time" yet. I haven't done any big project with which I could break the champagne bottle and launch the ship!

Things have changed a little lately, though.

For starters, when my husband and I visited my parents back in April my Mum gifted me with a very cute black-and-white checkered kitchen towel (or dish towel) with a big "True love is a big deal" written on it in pink. As the writing was of some sort of plastic printed material, and it occupied a large area of the towel, therefore rendering it unpractical for drying (let's face it, plastic writing doesn't absorb water very well) she suggested I turn it into an apron. I considered it a capital idea.

Then I received some money from my parents-in-law for my birthday to spend on something nice for myself. Some days ago I finally got around to use that while browsing around eBay for general tools and supplies for sewing and specific supplies for the apron design that I have in mind.

Then I declared myself ready to start off my first real project with my new sewing machine.

I've started out by ripping out the hem seams from the towel. At first I thought I'd use the existing seams for my benefit and use a black/white/pink bias tape for the parts I had to cut out, but in the end I decided I could gain a lot by ripping that hem - it would be a good thing as the towel isn't as big as an apron usually is (I was right, I ended up gaining a good 4 cm in length and width!) and use black/white/pink bias tape (haven't decided on that one yet... any advice on that?) to finish off all the hems and have a balanced, symmetrical look.

Now, after having washed it so that the fabric could settle (there were tiny holes left by the seams) I will iron it (upside-down, of course) and impatiently wait for the supplies to arrive.

One Year Today

I fall more and more in love with him every day. I catch myself daydreaming about him and wondering when he'll be home again, all the time smiling at space like a silly school girl.

I still try to write poetry about him and what I feel for him, and can't manage it because I can't think of the right words or expressions that would say it properly.

I sigh when I think of sweet memories of moments spent together, chuckle when I remember one of his jokes, and laugh outright when a clumsy, comical occurrence comes to mind.

There is so much stored away in my memory, there is so much overflowing my heart, there is so much that has filled our time together.

And yet, only one year has gone by...

...and it has been the fullest time of my life. 

I wonder what will come next?

Wedding Pictures Pt. 2: Getting Ready (Him)

I can't believe that almost a year has passed since that happy day... it will sound cliché, but walking in the shoes of those who've said it before, now I know it's true: it seems like it was yesterday. Where has time gone? It flies by too fast...

What better time than now to get lost in memories and flash back to the past, to one joyous day I will always remember?

He, also, was getting ready for the day with a tummy full of butterflies... 

I can always trust him to choose stylish, classic, elegant shoes! (Yes, I'm a shoe fan person...)

*-*

What a dreamy suit!

Trust him to add a personal twist to his attire... he didn't wear the traditional tie, but a cravat.

I've always loved his hands... the hands of a hard-working, caring man.

Did I say dreamy before?!

He got to see a sneak-peek of our engagement pictures (they'd been taken four days before!). Not fair. :P

*Sighs*... what a man. 

My word, I can't believe this day was almost one year ago! It's still so fresh in my mind!

Wedding Pictures Pt. 1: Getting ready (Her)

Today marks the 11th monthaversary of our wedding day... only one month to go for our first anniversary! How time flies...

Late as it is, I still have to fulfill my promise of posting some of our wedding pictures. They were taken by a school-friend of mine with whom we've had good talks and discussions and sharing on the subject. He is quite good at this business, I'm sure you'll enjoy the pictures I share.

As usual, I will follow the "no-faces" policy, so if you're interested in seeing all the pictures, let me know. [smile]

Without further ado, here's part one of the day... she's getting ready for the big occasion!

First dream come true... hair-do, check.

My all-time hair-dresser did a wonderful job with my hair!

See that ring? It looks a little lonely... will soon be joined by a second one! *-*

Finishing touches... a gift from the ladies who sewed my dress.

Surprise! Everyone's at the bride's house!

The dress also came true, thanks to a custom sewer my dad unknowingly told me about.

Check!

Lace-up back... check!

My Mum helping me dress... check!

The perfect white, not-too-high heeled, classy shoes... check!

Rhomboid net stockings... check!

My Mum placing the veil... *-*

Another dream come true... a gift from the parents of one of my bridesmaids, friends from before I was a teenager!

Next coming up... he's getting ready!