Mixing Motherhood and Life

2013-06-27T10:46:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is the last day of school for my little grade one, and we are pumped for a fun summer. We are going to camp, camp, camp and camp! We are still mobile, and planning to visit a number of campgrounds this summer. We have plans to visit Yogi http://www.jellystonens.com/, South Mountain http://www.southmountainparkcampground.com/, Ponhook http://www.ponhook.com/, and the Plantation http://www.plantationcampground.com/ so already our summer sounds pretty fun!

Do you camp? We would love recommendations on some new places to check out.

Happy Summer!

There is LICE in your kids school!

2013-02-20T21:36:00.001-05:00

No matter where you live or what school your kids go to, I guarantee there is lice in their school. Even if it is not in their classroom, yet, it's on the playground, in the lunchroom, and at their afterschool program. The schools are no longer doing healthy head checks on a regular basis. So - it's all on you, moms and dads. And unless you all get it under control, it is going to continue to go around and around.

I've discovered that the medicated shampoo sucks. It does nothing. BUT - I've also discovered that Coconut Oil is the miracle cure. Seriously. It dissolves the lice and even most of the nits, making clean up much easier and repeats more infrequent.

So, you need to check your kids head. If you don't know what it looks like, look it up. If they have it, believe me, it won't take you long to find it, once you know what you are looking for.

If they do have it - here is your guide to getting rid of it the first time. Believe me, if you mess this up, you'll be repeating these steps within ten days.

1. Put your kid in a fresh pair of pjs. Go to the bathroom. Take a bottle of coconut oil, and massage clumps in your hand until it is liquid. Completely saturate every strand of hair with the oil. Seriously, lube it up. Cover the head with a shower cap and leave it on until morning. Added bonus - the smell of the coconuts will get on the child's pillow, and it is a deterrent, minimizing the risk of lice crawling back in there.

2. Get your vacuum and start in the child's bedroom. Bag up stuffed animals and Barbie dolls to be put away for a while. Strip the bed and vacuum the mattress. Vacuum the floors, wash the blinds and the furniture, get some new bedding on there and send the kid to bed.

3. Do the same with all floors and surfaces in the house. Put anything you can in the wash, and dry it for at least a half an hour. Don't forget jackets, scarves, hats, backpacks, lunch bags. Vacuum couches, and pick a chair for the child to own for a week. Put a clean fitted single sheet over the chair and call it the child's throne. Don't let them in bedrooms, besides their own, if possible. Think about all the places the child has been, and that you have been during your clean up. Make sure you change your clothes a lot as well.

4. In the morning, wash the child's hair. You won't get all the grease out, but that's a good thing. The smell is a deterrent, and the grease will help French braid their hair, the hair style the kid now has to have forever and ever. If you did a good job with the oil, there should be no living thing in the hair. You'll likely find some nits, but not nearly as many as were there. Use your finger nail to put out any remaining nits. Remember, the better job you do with this step, the less likely another cycle of lice will develop.

5. Buy a shampoo with tea tree oil. You can use tea tree oil around the hair line until you get some. Advise your child not to hug their friends, not to share clothes or outer wear, and to be cognisant of where they put their outerwear at school - to keep it separate from the outerwear of others as much as possible. Our school has advised putting hats and mitts in sleeves, I've seen other schools with containers for each child to put these in. If something is lost - abandon it or get it from the lost and found yourself with a plastic bag. Girls like to play with each other's hair, especially when there are in line. Advise your child not to participate in this. Lice has changed me, it used to make me happy to see little children hugging and laughing with their hair free and dangling... now I get the heebie jeebies.

6. Buy many different interesting and colorful hair clips. Tell your child to get used to how they look with their hair up, and never wear it down to school ever again. Seriously. Most girls I've seen in the schools wear their hair long and loose - a real lice magnet.

7. Sleepovers. Sigh, so fun, but also so great for the transfer of lice...

8. Think about all the other places you go that people have laid their head... the movie theatre seats, the hats and hair accessories at stores, the bus, the passenger seat of a car or cab... I'm sure you can come up with more. Also, indoor activity centres and day cares - think about nap time! Ick I can't think about it anymore. Oh - helmet rentals!

9. When you do find out you have it, please call everyone you know and tell them. If not, all you are doing is opening yourself up to dealing with it over and over, because your child not only got it from somewhere, but how long did they have it that you didn't know, and who did they give it to? Beg the school to let everyone know that lice was found on a student - they won't give your child's name, and hopefully the parents will all check their kids. I know it can suck to have to say "my kid has lice, and sorry, but she was at your house for a play date yesterday, so you gotta' clean too" but believe me, the parent would rather know sooner than find it later when it's an even bigger mess.

Good Luck!!

Pintrest

2012-02-19T15:27:00.001-05:00

I am amazed at how much I've found that has affected my life on this website. Seriously, if you haven't signed up for this site, do it. I have found ideas for kids activities, Sunday school activities, school stuff for myself, renovation ideas (not that I am barking up that tree any time soon!). So I guess I just wanted to send out a little shout out for this website and get you all pin-ing. Cheers!

Just discovered pintrest

2012-01-31T21:42:00.001-05:00

More to follow....

Waiting for an exam to start is the most boring thing

2011-08-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

My computer is ready. I've read over my notes. I have water. My sitter is here and briefed. There is 11 minutes before the exam starts. I'm bored.

This is it though!! Final exam and then almost three weeks of freedom before I start 4 new classes. (I know I just said freedom, and I know you are rolling your eyes because really, how much freedom does a person really have when they have a baby, a five year old, a big dog and her niece on weekdays... but it lightens my load a little for three weeks so it can still be considered partial freedom.) And trust me - I have packed those three weeks! We are going to Magic Mountain on Sunday, camping next weekend, I have tones of cleaning and organizing to do, and I have to get myself ready for university, my daughter ready for grade primary, and my son and dog ready to be without me for a couple of hours four days a week! But I am not behind on the prep work - I just counted and I have 73 juice boxes, a diaper box full of granola bars, and another filled with pudding and fruit cups. We wont have to buy lunch snacks until after Christmas!

6 minutes to go... I did get a lot done today; laundry folded, dishes done, vacuuming, bathrooms cleaned, and even did my own pedicure! I was a bundle of nervous energy, I had to focus on something!

I know I am rambling, I know it is nothing interesting, but I just have to keep my fingers busy while I wait... 4 minutes... I should log off here and get my screen open. Wish me luck!!

Do not disturb

2011-08-09T21:19:00.000-04:00

Here's the scenario: you are at home, the baby is in bed, and you are reading your daughter a bedtime story. The door bell rings. The dog goes nuts. The baby wakes up. You go to the door. It's someone looking for money.
This happened last night at 8:30. Now I live in a busy residential neighborhood filled with young families. I'm sure I am not alone in thinking that anything after 7 pm is too late for soliciting of any kind. Now in this case it was a charity organization. It seems to happen a lot lately, people soliciting, to the point that I am considering a sign. I
Is that a deterrence still? Maybe I'll put a sign out saying I am broke, or I don't carry cash. I never give at the door anyways, unless it is Girl Guide cookies (especially the chocolate covered mint ones - yum!). And I really don't carry cash so it really is a waste of their time to ring my doorbell. Maybe a sign is in my future. "Don't bother, this old hag won't give you a cent."

GAIA baby products

2011-07-16T14:06:00.000-04:00

Nathan is still having trouble with cradle cap, and I am wondering if it is tied in with the acid reflux. He is very sensitive to soaps and detergents, and even baby oil, which I used on his head on the doctor's advice and his head was red for two days afterwards. So yesterday I made a trip to Planet Organic on Quimpool road and picked up some all natural shampoo and body wash. Used both this morning on Hailey and Nathan, and I used the body wash myself, and it was awesome. Nathan's head looks a little better already.
The products I bought were GAIA baby products. You can find the company website here.

I'll update on these products as we use them. So far, so good! Meanwhile, I am putting feelers out for a Naturopath experienced in dealing with children and/or acid reflux (or GERD). If you know anyone in the Halifax area, or better yet, have dealt personally with someone and you can share your experience, I would be very appreciative. It is not easy to look through the phone book and trust a stranger with the health of your child. But I'm afraid I just don't know enough about foods and products to figure out if Nathan has an allergy or sensitivity to something that is causing his issues.

Ramona Quimby

2011-07-15T22:10:00.001-04:00

For Easter, my mom and dad bought Hailey the entire set of Ramona books. Each night, at bedtime, Hailey and I read a chapter of one of the books. I love love love Ramona. She is so misunderstood, and creative, and real. Though when I was younger and I read the books, I don't remember really liking her. I always preferred Beezus. Anyways in tonight's chapter (we are currently reading "Ramona the Brave) Ramona is frustrated because she does not like the first grade, feels like her teacher doesn't like her or understand her, and has just given her parents her progress report. In it her teacher writes some things Ramona thinks are unfair, and Ramona's parents aren't taking Ramona seriously. So she states that she is going to say a bad word. As I am reading this out loud, I am really kind of panicking, because I'm not sure what she is going to say and if it really is a bad word, I am trying to make a decision on how I am going to handle it. After all, Hailey is only 4. I am certainly not going to swear. I should have known I had nothing to worry about, however, as the bad word is "guts". I laughed, I couldn't help it. Here I was expecting this awful word. I should have trusted both Beverly Cleary and the times that the book was written. Anyways I highly recommend reading these books with your kids. Ramona is such an interesting character and the adventures she gets herself into are so funny.

My last twenty-something birthday

2011-07-14T21:05:00.000-04:00

I'm reflecting on my last couple of days of "twenty-eight". This weekend I celebrate my last twenty-something birthday. You know how I feel about birthdays! But, there is not much planned. No regular birthday week. Maybe some dinner plans when hubby gets home Monday.
I used to think thirty was so old. Ancient really. I always wondered how it would feel to be old. But I don't really feel old. Sometimes I have to remind myself of my age, that I am not a kid or a teen or even a young adult. Maybe it is because I regularly hang out with people who are older than me, who have already crossed the threshold into "thirty". It seems like I am always the baby of the group, so I see myself as the young one. It's rather odd to think this way, now that I am analyzing it, because I did everything so early; married at 23, kids at 24 and 28. I know it's not that early, but it's certainly early by today's standards. Many people my age are only starting now to settle down and start families, and I have a little girl turning 5 this summer! Where did the time go.
I find the passage of time all the more surreal when I look at my little boy, who reminds me so much of my little girl when she was his age. I can distinctly remember holding her on my chest as she slept. She would lay that way for hours and she was so warm and smelled so sweet. My heart would swell as I held her, knowing I should put her in her crib, but unable to let the tender moment end. The little guy doesn't snuggle the same way; we tend to laugh and play more than Hailey and I did, but our moments are just as tender and his smile is the sweetest I've ever seen.
He's getting two little teeth, and you can see them when he laughs - which he does often. He has the nicest disposition, as long as he is not hungry or wet or sleepy! In many ways, now that his acid reflux is under control with medication, he is an easier baby than Hailey was. He seems to be more content.
I should be watching a lecture right now. I'm a little behind with the lectures, and you and I both know I won't be watching any lectures during birthday weekend! I'll have to double up next week...
Speaking of birthdays, what do get for a child who has everything? I always want to get Hailey something spectacular, but I am out of ideas. The only thing I can think of is a personal DVD player for road trips. Yay? Nay? Ideas? Input is both welcome and encouraged.

Happy Birthday to the best Mother on the planet

2011-07-06T21:48:00.001-04:00

It is a very special day. A few dozen years ago, a wonderful lady was born. My mom.
My mom is the best. She is kind, loving, forgiving, helpful, intelligent and beautiful. There is nothing she wouldn't do for me, my dad, my sister or my kids. Really, she would help anyone in need. She is a definite role model (esp at being a Mom, I mean look at the awesome job she did with me!) and I strive to be as great a mom as she is (but I'll never be able to sew or iron as good as she can!!). Happy Birthday Mom. Thanks for spending the day with me and my brood.

It was a great day for a birthday. So hot today! We went to the public gardens, and it was beautiful. The kids were funny; they asked as we were walking through if I remembered to bring food for the ducks, and I reminded them that we cannot feed the ducks (there is a great book about Gracie the Public Garden duck - it explains the dangers of feeding them in a nice little story), Unfortunately not everyone has read (or heeds) the signs at each entrance to the park, as there were people there feeding the ducks with their kids. I quietly giggled with the girls that those people must not have gotten the memo, and tried to make them feel good about doing the right thing. Not an easy thing when they are watching other kids feed the ducks loaves of bread. (click here to read about Gracie's book) Nonetheless, it was a lovely morning at the garden's followed by lunch at Park Lane, where the girls tossed their pennies in exchange for whispered wishes, and then an ice cream at DQ to cool off. Nathan was really warm, so he cooled off when we got home in a nice bath, and spent the rest of the day in only his diaper. We finished with a BBQ and some trifle - delish. A nice change from regular cake, without losing out on the cake altogether!

I should give a little "shout out" to my new class at the Mount (English 1171) since I mentioned my blog during class today and may have some new visitors (I am a shameless self-promoter!). Going to "class" in your jammies while laying on your bed is another experience altogether!

HOW TO: Make mom's "famous" trifle.
It's all in the layers.
The bottom layer is pound cake. You can make your own, make a box, or buy a pound cake. Easy-peasy!
Next comes the lemon pudding.
On top of that is a layer of fruit - I like to use the very cherry canned fruit, but really you could use whatever you wanted.
Top it with a layer of whipped cream and BAM! you've got yourself a trifle. Mom puts pieces of mandarin oranges on top in a little pattern to dress it up. Easy to make and super delicious. Cheers!

A week off and nothing to do

2011-06-28T14:56:00.000-04:00

I've been waiting for this week of freedom for a month - no school and no upcoming events to get ready for, no renovations, just sun shine and rest. But I am finding myself slightly bored and wishing for a lecture to watch. Am I nuts? I think I am.
This morning we did have a lot of fun hanging out with a school friend. She has a pool in her yard and the kids had a great time swimming - Nathan was in a pool for the first time! He loved it. So now I am in "convince hubby" mode - we need a pool. He is all about nice grass and trees and plants in the yard, while I say PAVE IT and get a pool! Just think - no need to mow! And no need to drive anywhere - the fun would be a hop skip and jump away, right in our own backyard oasis. Who's with me!!??!! I always wanted a pool when I was a kid, but my dad wanted nice grass and said a pool would ruin it. He is right of course, but boo hoo to nice grass and yay for a fun summer in a backyard pool! I sound like a radio commercial. But how to get the hubby on board? Any ideas are welcome!
On a side note, I wrote all my finals last week and it was intense but I think I did ok. I know I got a B+ in Psych, which is especially nice considering I wasn't sure I would even pass it. I had a little trouble with the assignments but I did well on the exams. Not sure about History and English. This term it is only two classes instead of three so I should be able to devote more time to two and maybe do a little better.
The kids are doing awesome. Hailey had her preschool graduation on the weekend, and she did awesome. She was a little over-animated, of course, but she had a great time and she was adorable. Nathan had a special day this weekend as well as he was Baptized, and he had water and oil poured all over him and he didn't say a peep. He's such a sweet little guy. He was all dressed up in a little linen short suit with a sweater vest - so cute.
My mother in law sent home a cute little book for the kids the other day. It's called "Silly Snacks, cooking with kids" and features the Sesame Street gang. My little girl loves it. We are picking up the stuff today to make some Popsicles.

I'll update with a review on the recipes as we go - she made some little jelly sandwiches yesterday by cutting out the bread with cookie cutters.

baby teeth, good grades and preschool graduations

2011-06-10T21:56:00.000-04:00

What a month!
Let's start with the baby. Growing like a weed! (I always wanted to use that old saying) He's finally putting on some weight. Plus, he's got a big ol head now to hold that big beautiful brain of his. He's doing quite well lately, even tempered and in good spirits. He has the most beautiful smile with two little dimples, and his face just lights up when someone talks to him. He is rolling over and trying to crawl, loving his jolly jumper and exersaucer, and trying his darndest to get himself some teeth.

My sweet little angel is about the graduate...from preschool. I know, it seems a little wonky, but moving up into big school is a pretty big deal with you are 4-going-on-5. They have been rehearsing for this cute little ceremony where they will do some dance numbers and get a certificate. I'm planning to take the little pumpkin out for lunch afterwards to celebrate. And in September - grade primary, or "maternelle". *sniff sniff* My little ducky is growing up.

School is crazy. CRAZY. But for the most part I am keeping my cool and doing well. All assignments are done except one (due in 2 days - argh!) and I am up to date on all my studying. But finals are fast approaching and I am getting a little scared! Mostly scared for history, because I have only done two assignments for that class - no tests - so I have no idea what to expect. Only 2 weeks left really and then BAM! I'm done... well... for a week and then on to two more classes! I know, it's craziness, but it's fun and interesting and challenging, and what more can you ask for really? And since there are no daytime classes, I can study at the beach!

Wake a sleeping baby?!? Are you crazy?

2011-05-16T20:41:00.000-04:00

The insanity that is my life just got crazier - I started school! What was I thinking??? To be honest, I wasn't. I'll blame it on mommy brain and leave it at that. I'm three weeks into the semester and I am overwhelmed! I'm taking history, English and psych, and because they are summer classes they are condensed, which equals major work loads. The upside is at the end of the summer I will have 2.5 units under my belt! And, the July/August semester I am down to two classes, so I'll get some relief there. It's not going badly or anything, although I am a little behind on my lectures, I am keeping up on the material, tests and assignments. Luckily all my friends are done university and can edit my papers! It's not that easy to juggle a 4 year old, infant, and dog with school work, but I imagine it will be even harder when Nathan is crawling!! He slept a lot today so I was able to get quite a bit of work done.

He's actually been doing quite a bit better with his acid reflux over the last week. The doctor switched his medication to Prevacid, and my husband discovered that he would benefit from taking it later in the day, because his episodes happen more often in the late afternoon and early evening. Today he only had one twenty minute episode and barely any spit up. I consider that a great day!

We have a nice little sign of "summer" in our yard - the trampoline is up! I heard through the grape-vine that there may be some sun in our future, and I'm looking forward to spending some time with the kids and the dog in the yard. My favorite parts of summer happen in the yard - children playing, BBQ, tropical drinks and chimenea fires - and don't forget the marshmallows!

Summer is also birthday season, and Hailey is already planning her fifth birthday. FIFTH BIRTHDAY?!? Yup, my little angel isn't quite as little anymore. And of course my vow last summer to ease up on the crazy birthday parties is meaningless... it's her FIFTH birthday! Such an important birthday simply NEEDS to be celebrated to the max. (see postings from last August for insight into why we vowed to end the crazy birthday parties...) She asked for another carnival party, but that took at least 6 months to plan, so we will see.

And, I've taken enough personal writing time for one day - time to hit the books!

Hippity hopity Happy Easter!

2011-04-20T18:52:00.001-04:00

It's almost time for E. Bunny to arrive, and my girlie is very excited. A couple of weekends ago we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at my sister-in-laws - it was so fun! She did an amazing job organizing it. The kids decorated cup cakes and eggs, and then found the one thousand eggs scattered over her front lawn! Even the bunny made an appearance. A great day filled with great friends and great memories.

This year Hailey has started going to church and gave up candy for lent. I wasn't sure how she would make out, but we are almost finished the 40 days and she hasn't even asked for candy! Sometimes she will ask if an item qualifies as candy, but if I say that it does she just forgets about the item and finds something else to snack on. I was very impressed when she stuck to fruit at the egg hunt party when there was candy right in front of her, and kids all around her eating it. I am pretty proud of my little sweetie, and I think she learned a huge lesson about sacrifice. I also think that the two of us will be in a sugar coma Easter morning! (I gave it up as well).

I have the Easter stuff all ready in the basement, and I'm super excited to put it out. I always fill the small plastic eggs with toys and hide about 25 of them around the house. I had to get a couple of things for Nathan so Hailey didn't think the bunny forgot him, so I picked up some teethers and a couple of boxes of baby mum cookies!

My husband will not be home for Easter this year. Actually, he hasn't been home the past couple of years, but we always tricked Hailey and had the "bunny" come when he was home, and not on Easter morning. But she is too old to pull that prank on, so he will miss out on the hunt this year, which is kind of sucky.

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter filled with family and fun and relaxation. :) Cheers!

Oh 2 am, I thought I was done with you

2011-04-15T01:41:00.000-04:00

The middle of the night and I have not spent so much time together over the last month since Nathan has started sleeping through the night, but here I am at two am with a fussy baby. And it's all my fault. You see, he normally has a bottle at some point between 7 and 9, and then goes to sleep for the night. But last night (or tonight, depending at how you look at it!) he fell asleep before this bottle and didn't wake up for it - until now. A smart, thinking ahead mommy would have woken him up and reminded him that it was time to eat. This mommy was so happy to see him sleeping, and wouldn't dream of ever waking him on purpose. So here I sit, waiting for him to digest before I try to get him back to sleep.

My poor little duck is still having quite the time with his acid reflux. It is so hard to see him in pain and not be able to do much about it, but the Ranitidine is currently working well, until the next growth spurt. He has a hard time in the late afternoon and evening, when I guess he is digesting from the day and a lot of acid is forming in his belly. Mornings he does ok, and so we usually spend them shopping. He loves the stroller and I love my VISA!

So I have this not so secret obsession with all things Twilight. I don't talk about it often, except with a select group of like minded individuals, because I truly have become the dreaded Twi-Mom, and it seems so typical. But I have to express my excitement at the release of the guide to the saga. I have barely made it through the opening interview, as what infants mother has any kind of reading time?!? But I am loving every word and every opportunity to escape to this fun little fantasy world.

In the opening interview Stephenie Myer talks about finishing that first book before realizing that you have become a writer. A close friend reminded me of the story I have been writing for about 15 years, one that I fleshed out quite a bit last spring, but that got pushed to the side to make room in my brain for the fact that I was growing my family again. The characters in the story are so real to me, as they have been living in my head for so long. It feels wrong to not finish the story, but it seems like I have made a real writing-faux pas. I mapped out the ending. Since I did that I have had a really hard time getting the words onto the page, as it doesn't feel as natural anymore. It's like I've decided where I am going to take it and now it's no longer the characters determining the story. I think I was too worried about the wrapping up the story in a tidy fashion. If I ever get the chance to get back into the story, I think I will toss that outline in the trash and open up the possibilities.

I feel like I can't end this blog without a picture, so here is my little girl at Sugar Moon Farms sampling a maple syrup sucker (it was really neat - they poured the hot syrup onto the snow and the kids twirled it around their popsicle sticks) while she was there on a class trip.

Baby baby baby

2011-04-04T15:31:00.000-04:00

I am sitting on the couch with two free hands - it's amazing!

Time flies by so quickly, there are many days that I am cleaning up from supper and realize I spent the day in my pajamas. There are so many days that don't contain enough hours to get everything done, and others that I wish were shorter so I could sleep longer! Really I should be cleaning my house instead of sitting on the computer, but I am spoiling myself for a couple of minutes. The floor will still be covered in dog hair when I am done!

Nathan is the chattiest child! He is always practicing his ahhs and ahh-goos. Hailey was a very early, very good talker, and it looks like her little brother will be as well. I can't wait to find out his thoughts and his preferences. I can't wait to teach him songs and rhymes and prayers. I already love his smiling personality.

I've taken as much personal time as today will allow!

My little angels

2011-03-22T06:55:00.001-04:00

Nathan at 8 weeks - just before his first needles!

Hailey and Nathan - snuggles <3

Thirteen weeks and counting

2011-03-22T06:52:00.000-04:00

I finally have a minute to sit and type. My sweet little guy has been having a hard time over the past two and a half months. Turns out he has acid reflux, which I'd barely heard of in babies before but now I am finding more and more parents whose children suffer from this. He is on Ranitidine, which helps until he gains a little weight and then it's off to the doctor to get the medicine increased, and at least 4 or 5 days until the increase takes effect in his system. Poor little guy. I had acid reflux when I was pregnant with him, and it was terrible, especially at night when I was laying down.

So right now he's doing pretty good, his belly is full and his bum is clean, and he is laying on the floor under his little arch talking to some butterflies. His big sister is keeping him entertained. He just loves that girl. When she is around, he watches everything she is doing with a huge smile on his face, laughing and squealing when she pays attention to him. It gives me goose bumps to watch them. I try to memorize the moments so I can recall them in a couple of years when they are fighting and slamming doors!

My other sweet little monkey had another female right-of-passage on the weekend. She found some makeup scissors on the bathroom counter and decided she'd like to have some bangs. She now has very very short boy bangs. The only grace is that there is 6 months or so before she is a flower girl in my sister's wedding, so there is time for them to grow. Each person, well, each female that sees her little hair-art has an anecdote of their own about cutting their hair as a child. In fact - I did this myself, although I was older than Hailey and definitely should have known better - I had was upset with some hair falling out of my french braid, so I cut them off, giving myself some serious side burns as they grew back in. Now that I'm not so angry over the incident, I'll have to take some photos. They will be great wedding material in 20-ish years!

He's Here!

2011-01-28T14:24:00.000-05:00

It's been hard to find a time that I have two free hands for typing, but I finally am here to announce Nathan's arrival. He came on December 31st, just as planned, and was a healthy 8 lbs 2 oz. During the day he is a wonderful baby, sleeping a lot, eating on schedule, and being generally adorable. At night however, he becomes a fussy, hungry, wide eyed baby who wants to be constantly held and rocked. So, that sleep I was seeking last month? Still not here. But he is lovely and I love him dearly.

Hailey has been having a bit of a time adjusting to life with a sibling. I expected her to dislike him or resent him for the attention he gets that she craves. But she adores him, always wanting to snuggle with him, talk to him, sing to him, and stare at him. It's me that is on the receiving end of her wrath. She tells me I don't like her or that I am mean to her because I can't play with her or because I can't get her whatever toy or snack she is seeking. She struggles with being in a different room than me, or worse, on a different level of our three level house. She is getting better, after a couple of huge breakdowns, and with me learning to be more organized so I can carve out time to play with her one on one. I've also been encouraging her in her solo play, trying to stretch the time that she will stay in her room playing alone.

All in all, we are both trying to make the big adjustment that comes with a new, helpless little baby. I am still getting some help from some wonderful people in the way of sleepovers for Hailey and some housework help for me, because after surgery there are many things I can't take care of myself (although I've been cheating a lot). And the poor dog is getting the short end of the stick - I can't walk him so he's been a little mopey lately. But in a couple of more weeks I will be cleared for walking and exercise and eager to shed the last ten pounds that didn't disappear instantly with the rest, and Bentley and I will be walking buddies again.

And so this is Christmas!

2010-12-25T04:03:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas! Did Santa find you? He found us...

I am trying to be patient while my family sleeps. After all, it is only 4:30. It would be wrong to wake them up and tell them Santa came... wouldn't it? I've been awake since 3-ish. Time is CRAWLING by as I sit on the couch and stare at the tree. I checked - Santa ate his cookies and drank all his milk. He even set up Hailey's gift so she could see it and play with it as soon as she wakes up.

Bentley got his gift last night - a new bed! I figured at almost a year old, it was time to try a nice bed again. He chewed five or six of them before I gave up and gave him only blankets. This is a nice big round one from Costco. He slept all night on it, until he heard me get up and came to join me in the living room.

This time next year I doubt we will have a quiet Christmas morning. There aren't many gifts under the tree - Michael and I scaled back Christmas a lot the last couple of years, and we normally have at least another family's gifts under the tree as well, which is not the case this year. This is the first year in my whole life that I am not waking and opening gifts with my parents. I know, I am 28 years old and I have my own family now, but it's still really weird to be doing this without them. Plus, I wrapped all mom's gifts from Santa, and I really want to see what she thinks of them. She doesn't know it, but Santa "forgot" one of the gifts here at my house, so I will be able to at least see her reaction to that. And I plan to have my webcam all ready to peek in on them when they wake up.

My sister isn't home for Christmas, but I imagine she is having a lovely quiet Christmas with her fiancee. It's their first Christmas in their new home together. I am missing her and I know she will be missing home, but I hope she enjoys her holidays. I will be seeing her in about a week and luckily she is staying here so I will be seeing a lot of her.

I only have a week left as two tonne tony. Nathan will be delivered New Years Eve at 7:30 in the morning, supposing he doesn't try and make an appearance before that. I am hoping he hangs tight - I could use another 6 days of relative peace! Although I am getting a little sick of the swelling in my feet and ankles, the heartburn, the sore, stiff back and the fatigue. I was looking longingly in the Sears catalog at regular clothing. I know it will be a little while until I am back into my own clothing, but at least I can wear regular clothes fairly soon.

I feel like we are pretty organized and ready to go. Nathan's room is almost ready - Mike bought a blind but was sold the wrong mounting hardware, so we will need to make another trip to the hardware store. I'm also having issues finding a curtain rod and topper that I like. But there really isn't any hurry, as the bassinet my sister in law lent us is here and will be in our room for a while anyways. The hospital bags are packed, as is Hailey's overnight bag for her stay at Grammy and Papas. Not too sure what we are doing with the dog yet, whether he is staying here or at my parents, but he's not too hard to get organized. The car seat is chilling beside the door waiting for it's new occupant. And I packed a Happy New Year banner to brighten up the hospital room.

Now we just have to finish off this waiting game!

Kids and Santa

2010-12-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

Does your kid like visiting Santa?

Mine never has. Mind you, she's always been a bit weary of strangers. And this year she has decided that the Santa's you meet in the mall and on the parade float are not the real Santa, but rather men dressed up as Santa. She watched her video email from "Santa" the other morning and then called my mom. She told her that she made the good list, and that Santa knows what she wants for Christmas, so she doesn't need to tell the fake mall Santa.

I remember being in elementary school and finding out that there was no Santa from an adult and being traumatized, so I wanted to try and do some damage control with this whole fake Santa thing. I told her that while she is right, the other kids likely don't know that the mall Santa's aren't the real article, and not to discuss this with them. The entire class is going on a field trip to see a mall Santa next week, and I am not sure how that is going to go. Also, on Sunday my work is having a kids Christmas party and there will be pictures with Santa. I will gage her reaction then and let her teacher know.

Did you do a video for your kid? Hailey was so excited about hers, she watched it twice that morning and has asked to watch it again. I love how they allow you to add photos and information. She loved it when Santa told her she'd been a good girl this year, because we'd been chatting about the naughty and nice list quite a bit lately. I hate using the "Santa is watching you" threat to get her to behave, because she will ask specifically "is Santa watching me now? Did he see me at this time?". I was chatting with a co-worker the other day who told me his little guy was asking if Santa could see him on the toilet. It is a sort of creepy concept. I told her that Santa stays in the North Pole but that he has lots of elves that help him assemble his list.

What do you tell your kids? Let me know at allisonleannegray@gmail.com.

Oh Ranitidine - will you marry me?

2010-11-26T14:06:00.000-05:00

Wonder drug. Ranitidine. I swear it.

I talked to my OB yesterday about all the aches and pains and nausea and sleeplessness (basically, I reiterated every whine I wrote the other day...) and she has so many lovely suggestions that have made my life better in just over 24 hours, but none as wonderful as Ranitidine. I told you about the heartburn, it was terrorizing me, keeping me up at night, making me nauseous and achy. I was popping 8 and 9 tums a day (the bottle says 2 max...) and I wasn't getting much in the way of relief. But BAM - one Ranitidine and I have the best sleep I've had in weeks, and today I am more energized, happier and less achy.

Why oh why didn't I say something sooner???

Speaking of my OB visit, I got some lovely news that has cheered me up quite a bit. As you know we elected to have a repeat cesarean section on New Years Eve. You also know that it was not an easy decision for us, but rather the lesser evil. One of the less pleasant parts of my first cesarean, performed in a hurry at the George Dumont hospital in Moncton, was that I got a glimpse of Hailey before my husband was summoned to take her to be weighed and measured. I didn't see them again for about an hour, while I was stitched and taken to recovery. I learned yesterday that at the IWK, the baby and the support person stays with the mom the entire time in the OR, travels with her to the recovery room, and only then are the scales brought in to record the babies size and weight. I am happy to report that I was told that things are much less traumatic, much more easy going and precise. So while I am still not looking forward to the spinal and the recovery, I am getting more and more excited to meet my new baby boy.

See you soon Nathan!

Message from Santa

2010-11-25T13:07:00.000-05:00

There is a great little site that you can send a message to your kids from Santa - it's super cute.

Here is Hailey's video:

http://www.portablenorthpole.ca/watch/guest/ZrjJlfI_xE1yUIjqYI7QUw

And here is the link to send them to your loved ones! http://www.portablenorthpole.ca/home

Sleep - my elusive friend

2010-11-24T08:00:00.002-05:00

An Ode to my missing sleep...
How I miss you oh rest
With your sweet tranquil dreams

Uh...

Do you know how hard it is to write an Ode when you haven't had enough sleep in weeks and weeks?

Last night, Hailey had a bad dream and crawled into our bed. We have a Queen size bed. In theory, the three of us do actually fit into this bed. However, Hailey rarely sleeps like a normal person with her head on the pillow, preferring instead to wiggle until she is perpendicular to me with her feet and knees in my back.

Meanwhile, Nathan has decided 4 am is a great time for Boxersize classes, and is giving it to my guts, ribs and bladder.

It is no wonder I come to work looking like a zombie day after day. And then someone will so nicely tell me that it is nature's way of preparing me for the sleepless nights with a newborn. Lovely.

My memories of being pregnant with Hailey are mostly repressed, as I detested that pregnancy as much as this one, but I do remember sleeping. A lot. We had two cats then, and they loved to sleep as much as I did. It was the life.

So just to get it off my chest and maybe make my peace with it, I am now going to whine about my aches and pains...

Between the back pain, indigestion, fatigue (my iron is low again), nausea (the iron pills BLOW), and issues with the laxatives (to counteract the damn iron pills....) I am miserable. And counting down... 3 weeks and 3 days until work is finished, and 38 days until Nathan comes (5 and a half weeks!).

Ok, need to inject some positives into this post.... Got my haircut last night. I was really torn, because I love having long hair, but I have no time to do anything with it, so I needed to chop it in favor of an easier cut. Melissa did a lovely job and I feel a little weight lifted from my shoulders (literally...she thinned it three times!). So that's one less thing for me to worry about. See - I can be positive!

Nathan will be one of the last 2010 babies!

2010-11-18T07:54:00.000-05:00

We got our delivery date - December 31.

It's very different knowing the date your baby is coming (assuming he doesn't make an appearance before that!). With Michael's line of work, it is nice knowing that he will have a little over a week with the baby before he goes back to work. And it's nice knowing that as long as Nathan doesn't come early, Michael will be home for the delivery. I can plan childcare for my 4 year old for the day (thanks Mom!) and know that she will be able to come and see us when we are back in our room.

Planning a c-section is very odd. When I was pregnant with Hailey, it never once occurred to me that I would have a section. Sure, I read that chapter in my what to expect book, but I had had zero complications during pregnancy, and no one in my family had had a c-section. But as trouble free as my first pregnancy was, my labour was awful. After 17 hours of back labour and zero progression, Hailey went into distress and I was rushed to an OR.

It wasn't an easy decision to plan for a second section. There are risks due to scar tissue, and let me tell you, recovering from surgery and learning to care for a newborn at the same time - not the easiest or loveliest of tasks. But I've been so hesitant to try again and grow our family after the first experience, for fear of the same trauma. At least this way we know how it will all end up, because we've been through it before. It's rather heart wrenching to try to deliver naturally and not be able to do it. I don't think I could handle hoping for things to go right and ending up back on the table.

So we have a delivery date. December 31. Nathan will be one of the last babies delivered in 2010. Because that date is the cut off for school, we will have more choices of what year he can start. If he's ready for primary at 4.5, we can sign him up. If not, we can wait for the following year. And figuring out his age will always be a piece of cake! Ok, so maybe some of these "positives" are a little silly, but thinking them up has certainly been therapeutic for me, especially when the thoughts of epidurals and surgery become overwhelming. So I finish work in 4 weeks and 2 days, and Nathan comes in 6 weeks, or 44 days.

His room is almost ready. We have his crib together and his clothes in his dresser. I have to get a blind and valence, and put up some pictures, and then it will be ready. I will be sure to post a pic or two when it's done!