Westcoast Woolies

Blogging vs Facebook

2010-02-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Good thing about Facebook: you connect with people in your life or on the periphery a little more.
Good thing about Blogging (and I include the lurky kind of reading I do in this too): you connect with people you probably would never meet in real life, broadens the world, makes connections just a little bit.

Frickin' Facebook

2010-02-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

I caved, I joined Facebook. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Clearly a week moment. Maybe even too many glasses of wine, I don't know. True was overcome by the whole FaceBook glamour. I would keep in touch with friends I don't see much! I would know what is going on! I would be with the "in" crowd.

If you haven't joined, don't it is a load of crap.

Here's the thing: some of it is true. I love that I have a better glimpse of friends' lives who live further away or who I don't see as often any more. That's cool. My sister in law (to be) and I have had some chats because of FB, that's cool too.

But what the hell is the rest???? People I haven't seen in years, decades, suddenly "friend" me? They don't send an email - Hey how are you? Where are you these days? etc etc. They just click the button" Friend Request. Then suddenly, if I accept, they see everything about me, fine, but also every time I comment on someone else's stupid FaceBook page. Yes, EVERYONE of those "friends" sees what I write to someone else. And I see the same. Quite frankly I don't give a flying S*&T about most of what I see when I go onto my home page: So and So commented on So and So's Pictures. So and So is now friends with So and So!!

God I sound like my mother with all the So and So stuff. See? It is making me mental. I have considered deactivating my account, but see? Somehow they have me hooked enough I just can't do it. But the polite side of me also can't "Ignore" every stupid boring Friend Request. It is giving me anxiety!

:) I guess I much prefer the anonymous world of blogging where high school and old boyfriends can't find me, I can rant in peace more or less, and I can resist the urge to turn into the high school self I once was.

It's the New Year, now quit eating and start walking!

2010-01-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

*****Read on UnPCMama, I am referring to my bad habits in the title, this is not another rant post*****

Time to stop indulging. So hard. Sigh. Have to get back on track to lose another 5 lbs of pregnancy fat. I swear if I do it again (not saying I will, just saying...) I will eat less so it is not such a struggle 18 months later. If only I had curbed my appetite a little I might be back to pre-pregnancy size by now. Ah well, back to lower carbs and more exercise!

Summary of our holidays:
1. Lots of family visits, drinking, friends etc. Lovely time Christmas Eve at our place with friends. We all paid for it with the flu bug which entered through some vector that evening. Christmas day fun here, presents were crazy, my boy not interested at all in unwrapping anything, content to zip around grandparents playing with every new thing that came out of shiny paper. Passed on the flu bug,.
2. Dec 26-29 Everyone sick with various stages of severity. Upset stomach, feeling of exhaustion, throwing up. In Mom's case hospitalization because she needed more medication (she has Addison's disease and diabetes).
3. A period of indecision about visiting Mr W's relatives in Vernon. Bought new tires and then couldn't afford to go, but couldn't have gone without new tires. Gaahhh. Stayed here, got cabin fever because we needed to get out and it was raining. Tried to overcome but so hard when dark and rainy! Mr W and I spent some along time shopping one day after dropping boy off at grandparents place, that was nice and helped a bit.
4. I am writing a proposal for work. So need work. So don't know what will do with boy if I get it. Will have to juggle something with Mr W's work. If get it will be super busy for a few months but it will be worth it. Don't know if I have a chance, am highly qualified (it doesn't require a PhD let alone 3 of them, because my team has 2 other PhDs on it), but everyone needs work these days.

That's about it. Started knitting Sunday Socks and am enjoying the challenge and short-term results of it.

Shortbread

2009-12-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

Holiday weight tip #1: Don't make the shortbread, rum balls and chocolate weeks before Christmas, they disappear! Whose idea was it to get a head start on the holiday baking anyway? It is alllllllll gooooonnnne! Sheesh. So now I have to make more. Made ginger cookies yesterday and am making batch #2 of shortbread right now.

Here is my Grandma's recipe:
1 lb butter
1 cup sugar
4 cups flour

Knead 20 minutes, roll out thickly and cut out shapes. Bake 325 degree oven 15-20 minutes.

My cousin and I were saying the other day that we can't figure out how Grandma had time with 5 kids (all only 1-2 years apart) to knead shortbread for 20 mins. I asked Dad the other day and he said they all looked after each other, most of the duties going to his oldest sister.

My recipe which makes half the above, but then if you eat it all you have to make more:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup icing sugar
2 cups flour

Knead 10 minutes or until you can't stand it any longer. Or the baby wakes up. Roll out thinly which makes them crispy and seemingly less calories. I cut them out with little cookie cutters, again less calories/cookie, just try not to eat more because of it. Bake at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

To be honest this bunch isn't getting rolled out at all. The icing sugar made it light and fluffy and I think I am just going to spoon it on the baking sheet. I tried this with a few the last batch and they were just as yummy!

Christmas movies

2009-12-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

I never thought I had a Christmas tradition movie. I like to watch some of the kids' specials but nothing that I watch every year, year after year. Except I was wrong. I do! It is a movie Mr W and I watch year after year and it is a bit embarrassing to admit: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This year when they lit up the house the baby had just woke up from his nap (note to self, he isn't a baby any more!) so we pointed out The lights! The lights! The lights!

Yeah read into it all you want, I enjoy it :)

Dear Christmas

2009-12-18T14:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Christmas,

You are only a week away and once again I feel bested by you.

I see you coming with the first damn Christmas ad the day after Hallowe'en. Revelling in spookiness, candy, and a carpet of freshly fallen leaves, I laugh, I scoff, and then I happily ignore you.

A few weeks later the Christmas Fairs start. What fun! Seeing all the crafts and homemade goodies. I go, I browse, I am calm, for Christmas is still but a glimmer on the horizon. I may buy a few things, but my list is not made, the money not earned, and so I am once again happy in my ignorance, my procrastination.

Suddenly it is December. Everyone starts talking about Christmas holidays, finishing work "before Christmas", the weather turns, the snow falls, I can feel your breathe cold and tingly on my ears. Santa appears, I bake, I make a wreath. The lights the lights the LIGHTS MAMA!!! We trim the tree, enjoy time with friends and family.

One week to go, I have done pretty well. I have shopped for almost all, braved the sour faces in the stores, shelled out my carefully saved money for gifts. Laden down with a child in many layers of clothes in a stroller which won't stroll on mall floors, I laugh at the busy, the bustle as people push by.

But this morning it happened. After paying too much for a Blu Ray disc (where did DVDs go??) I had a moment, the moment that comes every year. I pause, I gulp, my hearts starts a-beating like crazy. It is the curse of the unprepared. The moment I wonder: will I have enough presents? will they like them? have I spent enough? too much? why didn't I start making presents in October, or even better August?

I am fractured. I am trying to sit quietly with a cup of tea, stop the panic about you Christmas, ignore the work proposal I should write (sometime before Jan 5). Enjoy the time, the lights on the Xmas train with my son tonight. His joy at not things (it may be the last year) but at living and learning and running and screaming and laughing.

Signed, another weary soul

PS I must remember, cure to quell the panic as always at this time of year is a spiked cup of cheer!

Reconnect

2009-12-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

I have had two nice reconnection with friends in my life over the past month. You know those friends which through just life circumstances you see less. And I think more importantly, have less chance to laugh with, again just because of whatever else is going on with everyone.

In November I flew (for the first time) with the Little Man to PG to see a good friend. She and I used to talk on the phone DAILY. And I mean religiously. Our husbands often came home to our respective houses to find us gabbing while.... cooking, knitting, working on the computer etc. Since these various life things happened though we talk much less, but I wanted still to go see her and have a chance for a visit with the Little Man. It had been 7 months since we had seen her and I figured it was time.

And it was a really nice time. We ate, drank lots of wine, walked her dogs and pulled the boy in the sled. Chased the boy around her non -child-proof house.. and laughed. We got to do all the things friends do in a few days, and it was fun. Even the plane ride with the little guy was just fine (poor Mr W. was nervous the whole time we were in the air because he hates flying and didn't like us doing it alone).

While there I remarked I loved her pillows, they were so soft. So yesterday we came home to a delivery from Sears- our Xmas present - new pillows from my friend! Very cool and very funny at the same time, I laughed about it. Mr W said "What's up with that did you tell her you liked her pillows a lot?" Yep.

Anyway, also spent a nice, child-less afternoon (Mr W had the boy) with one of my cousins. It has been forever and a day since she and I spent any time together without husbands and/or baby. We went to one of my neighbours (not the tree haters) who runs a pottery studio and decorated Xmas ornaments. It was great! And again, we had a chance to chat, catch up, and yes laugh.

When the days are dark it makes it so much better to have a laugh. I have wonderful friends, including a best bud only a street away (UnPCMama) and the chance to reconnect with some of these people has been lovely. Will go now maintain my sugar/alcohol high and eat some more chocolate while drinking wine (Fuzion apparently the latest craze, pretty good for $9 a bottle!).

WW

Lights! Lights! Lights!

2009-12-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

First thing in the morning and practically the first thing at night this is what we hear these days:
Lights! Lights! Lights!

The Wooly Little Man is fascinated by lights and is even more so since we put up Christmas lights inside and out. He runs to the front windows and wants me to follow yelling "Lights! Lights! Lights!".He has yet to experience the Christmas tree but I expect it to blow his mind on the weekend. Not to mention that "Tree! Tree! Tree!" is frequently heard on our dog walking adventures.

Outside we splurged a little and got 3 LED strings for the front of the house, and allocated the old, fading blue icicle lights (which I sentimentally hang on to from a cold clear winter living in Arizona, decorating my little abode on my own in anticipation of Mr Wooly (dating days) and my family visiting over holidays) to our huge Oregon Grape tree/bush at the front of the drive.

Since I am rambling a bit, I also love the Oregon Grape bush. We live down a long driveway which is part of a 3 house strata (own the land, share the driveway) and our direct neighbours in the middle hate any tree and native vegetation. They recently cut down a huge cottonwood tree right on the property and have proclaimed their hatred of the Oregon Grape, but since this is shared, have to put up with it unless we agree otherwise. So I revel in decorating the damn thing evil Christmas spirit that I am.

Anyway off to walk the dogs before it gets dark. Little Man also loves walking and is getting really good at it out in the forest. Had a nice ramble with UnPCMama and her boy this morning already, but did it without the pooches so better go do the duty.

Don't be stupid, get vaccinated

2009-11-03T16:37:00.000-08:00

I find myself thinking this over and over again when I hear about people, including those in "high risk" groups, who tell me they aren't sure if they are going to get vaccinated against H1N1.
It's harsh, I know, and I had to come out and say it out loud (in print) because I don't say it out loud to anyone, as I try and be supportive of other people's decision making. But last night I received an email from a friend with more anti-vaccine BS that I had to debunk (it fell on deaf ears, does no one believe in SCIENCE anymore? Why would you believe your friend who heard it from a friend before SCIENCE?), and I realized I may have had enough. No more Ms Nice Guy. Just call me ProVaccine Woman.
WHY?
Hear's why (and maybe since someone reads this, they too will vaccineated because I said so. SHEESH. Instead of actually looking into it for yourself!).

- In Canada and the US, 2-5% of confirmed H1N1 cases have caused hospitalization (according to the WHO). Since August 30, 2009, about 4% of confirmed H1N1 cases have resulted in hospitalization in Canada.
- There have been 17 deaths in Canada during this period (92 since the beginning of the pandemic), which is about 0.3% of those infected. Four of the 92 deaths reported were children under the age of 16.
- Since the beginning of the pandemic, about 60% of those hospitilized had underlying health conditions, 26% were pregnant and 80% of those who died also had underlying conditions.
- The risk from having an adverse reaction to the H1N1 vaccine is 1 in 1 million.
- The current risk in Canada of dying from H1N1 is 3 in 1 million**, 3 times as high as any possible vaccine risk. (But our flu season isn't over. In Australia, the risk of death was 8 per 1 million people).
- The risk of hospitalization is much higher at 52 per 1 million people.

Primary Reference here.

It isn't just about you. One study estimated that vaccinating up to 70% of the population would limit an epidemic of H1N1. What does that mean? It means that because you got the vaccine you are not going to be passing to flu on to someone who might die from it. Such as your pregnant friend who didn't get vaccinated. Or your relative with diabetes. And you lessen the burden on the health system!

The bottom line as I see it: The risk of severe complications and death is not high, but it is a preventable risk. As one blogger pointed out, the risk of death from a car accident is higher than the risk of death from H1N1 (you will see I don't agree with his math because our flu season has only started). However I say this: You wear your seatbelt EVERY TIME you get in the car, a vaccination is like a seat belt since it reduces your risk of death.

Go ahead my small section of readers. Take me to task. But I am getting my son vaccinated as soon as possible. I don't see it as a worthy risk to take to not to.

** Calculated as: 92 deaths / Population of Canada 33,832,410 / 1 million

Freecations

2009-08-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

I have a new blogger friend unpcmumma who is also one of my real life most awesomist closest I-don't-know-how-I-would-get-through-week-without-you friend and neighbour (which makes it better). Oh and our boys are exactly 2 months apart in age so that is even cooler. The peer pressure to get pregnant in 2007 was immense, hence the 5 boys all born within months of each other (you know who you are baby encouragers!!!).

Anyway, long way to say that unpcmumma was mentioning that she returned from vacation housesitting at a friends place in the big city, which reminded me of my wonderful freecations this summer.

Freecations are vacations that are free (so simple I know). The key is that they have to feel like a vacation though, it can't be going somewhere for free but feeling just the same as you would were you at home. Something has to loosen the responsibility, allow you to relax, get a different perspective on life, find new mental stimulations (granparents work well for this) and/or sensory experiences (eating sand on a beach you haven't been to before for example) for your child etc.

The boy and I have had many great freecations this summer. So voila, 3 example freecations in print and picture:
1. Trips to Vancouver when Mr W. was working over there. Involved visiting twin cousins, seeing the local beaches and outdoor pool, window shopping in the big city, eating cheap and good sushi, walking the seawall, and visiting Stanley Park.
2. Visiting my parents up in Qualicum when they were staying (for free) at my aunt and uncle's beachfront cottage. The afternoon we arrived the sun came out, first time in days, and all we did was relax on the deck watching people on the beach and the tide come in. It is a magical place, we were lucky to have the chance to visit thanks to v. cool relatives.
3. Lake adventures up on Mara Lake in the Okanagan when Mr W's sister and family rented a condo on the lake and took us out in their boat. Now the trip up was not free, but the day at the lake was all due to the generosity of family. We didn't stay with them, but stayed with Mr W's parents in Vernon (free!).

Clearly freecations of this nature are reliant on the kind nature of other people. I know that there are freecations (camping!!) that are not, and I have enjoyed these in my time as well. I once took 6 weeks to canoe down the coast of Vancouver Island, staying entirely free along the way, purchsing only food and alcohol along the way. I hitchhiked from Jasper to Inuvik once too, rarely paying for a campground, even hopping a train.But I am older, have a kid, like some comforts.
The key is to return the generosity when you can. Pass it on.

Birthstory

2009-06-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Baby,

I am starting this tonight, a few weeks before your first birthday. I am feeling surprisingly sad tonight realizing how quickly you are growing! I just put you to bed in your own room for the first time and this is making me sentimental. It is bittersweet- tonight your dad and I have our room back for the first time since July 2, but it also means you are getting to be a big boy.

On the night you were almost born...
It was hot. The day had been about 30 degrees Celsius; the night wasn't much cooler despite all the fans blowing.
There were lights on everywhere in the house. We thought you were going to be born at home, but you had other plans.
There was a swimming pool in our dining room, but it was too hot and I didn't want to stay too long in the warm water.
Your dad was everywhere and always by my side at the same time. He was strong, yet scared. Me too.

Two days before you were born...
July 28th, at 7 pm, while lying in bed watching tv, my water broke. I panicked- did this mean I was in labour?
Your dad called Jane the midwife. She calmed us down. She said Relax, Sleep, it could be awhile before things started to happen.
We slept. At least I did, your dad said later he couldn't sleep much at all.

The day before you were born...
July 29th, around 730 am, Jane called to check on us. We discussed inducing, but I said no.
She said walk, drink some castor oil, start thinking of babies being born.
In the sweltering heat we took the dogs for a walk in Cowichan Bay. I waddled 2 kms, very uncomfortable. It was so bright my eyes hurt. It all felt very surreal knowing we would see you soon.
Mahone swam and swam in the water.
Later that day I drank the drink and it made me feel weird.
I mowed the lawn in the heat.
Still no sign of you.
We waited.
Around 4 pm you decided it was time to start arriving.
I watched more tv. Breathed through the pain. Started my hypnobirthing. We called the midwife. She came.

On the night you were almost born...
I listened. To hypnobirthing music. To midwives. To pain. To my strength.
I dealt with it. I kept going. I held on. I took breaks when I needed them. I resisted moving.
I walked down the driveway and back to shift you. So long. So painful. Each fence post a crutch through the surges. Your dad's hand.
Trying to be quiet in the dark.
Hoping for progress. None to be made. Using aaallllll my energy to make you budge. You didn't.

On the morning you were born,
Dawn, pale blue, pale gray, pale rose.
Driving through town. Not stopping at lights. Your dad controlled but fast. Jane right behind.
Hospital. Can't sit in the chair- who makes wheelchairs without padding????
Slowly walking to delivery ward. Stopping. Starting. Straining.
Arrive. Bed. First IV ever. It is ok.
Nurses, doctor, new faces.
Same old same old no progress only the same old same old
EPIDURAL.
Afraid of needles.
Scared.
But what could be worse? Pain is BLACK WALL. Harder to get through.
Tried to rip you from me, NOT RIGHT.
Kind man, anesthetist. Gentle. It is ok, needles. needles. needles.
What is this? Where is the pain?
I cry. Why? No pain. Black wall, black wall......... goooonnnnne.
Go ahead, get my baby!!!
Cheerful, happy, relieved.
Your dad? Happy, there again (disappeared for a bit while I was in my head). Woozy, seeing things I can't.
Fourth? time lucky, you are HERE. In my arms, slippery. Blonder. My boy, my boy, first glimpse. Dad it is our boy!
I love you I love you I love you

Mom

Walking around the house

2009-06-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

The baby is independently walking around the house now- has started only over the past few days. Has gone from standing up at a table to navigating from table to chair to couch to....door, oh my gosh almost out the screen!!!! Yep, have to suddenly watch very closely and have started to move ANYTHING that he shouldn't be into. Electrical cords, computers, papers, any non-board books (he eats the paper pages).

Baby's first birthday is fast approaching and we are having a big hoopla. Mostly family and a few friends, big and small. We hope it will be a nice day and are planning to go to the beach and have a bbq.

Mr W is still working 5 days a week in Vancouver. He has been there almost 3 months! We are surviving on both sides. Makes it harder now that the baby can quite clearly say "Hi Dada!" (and to the right person!). Baby was playing with the cell phone this morning saying "Dada! Dada!" when Mr W phoned. I answered and I think the baby was just too overwhelmed by it all and sat down and started crying. Good thing Mr W comes home tonight :)

I have been busy looking for bits of work. It is tough, I seem to get extra stressed about work right now. I have no plans on how I would work if I got any- i.e. no daycare lined up. I don't even want daycare. Mom says she will help out, so I think I will also look for a nanny. Of course I say that but have made no move in that direction. I feel he is too little to be in daycare a few mornings a week, but lots of kids are in daycare at that age. If I have a choice, I think I will try and find an alternative in the meantime.

On the creative side, I made a book for baby's first birthday, based on a song we sing. I also am still knitting up a summer top in the hopes I might get to wear it soon! Will post pics if I do.

Baby Talk

2009-04-23T08:45:00.001-07:00

The baby seems to go through talking phases. One week he is screeching loudly, pleased with how loud he is. The next he is content to babble away to me, his favourite words being Dadada dada and Bababa. When I point to myself and say Mama he occasionally will make a sound that a mother might think is "mama" but I am not sure he gets it yet. Sometimes when he sees the dogs though he says something that sounds truly like "Dogggssssss!"
He also sings. He has been singing since he was only a few months old. The first time was when his Grandma was rocking him to sleep singing "Hushabye Hushabye Baby" and he started quietly saying "heh heh heh" along with her. These days he turns on the music on one of his toys and does something similar but with a lot more confidence.
I didn't teach him sign language. Partly because I think we communicate pretty well. If he is really thirsty he moves his mouth a certain way (or grabs my breasts for milk... not so cool). If he is tired he rubs his eyes. If he is bored he starts hollering at me and looking at me pointedly (Mom my toys are sooooo boring!!). If he is hungry he lets me know too. We communicate. He understands what I am telling him more each day. Pretty cool :)

Shhhhhhhh, the baby is sleeping!

2009-03-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, there have been some changes around here. But only recently. Up until two days ago I was wandering around half crazed from lack of sleep, at times found staring off into space as I thought "So THIS is what being a little insane feels like", trying just to get through each day without too much stress and/or tears. Chocolate was my coping mechanism, amongst, of course, the support of my husband, friends and family. I knew things were bad when my friend phoned "just to check in" after a long chat about how little sleep I had been getting.

But not to jinx anything, I am not saying things have gotten all perfect around here, and I fully realize that I could once again have sleepless nights. I am just saying, things might be getting better (touch wood).

I was all ready to let the baby start to cry it out at night. I was shocked to realize that since I hadn't been doing that, I was actually parenting in a style I hadn't intended. Now there is nothing wrong with attachment parenting, I just hadn't intended to be following this method. But I was, and it was wearing on me.

Fortunately I got a very good book out of the library which outlined several reasons why a baby might not sleep at night, and one of them was because they are "Snackers" who are used to eating frequently throughout the day. The book suggested that I could try to spread meals out a bit during the day, with the result that the baby would want to eat less at night as well. Magic. Day one, I did this with no protest at all from baby, and the night was... better. He still woke up but I was able to pat him back to sleep very quickly in his crib. I fed him twice at night (rather than 4-6 times!). Day 2, last night, I only got up twice to soothe/feed. Oh my that is ok!

I have also stopped feeding him to sleep during the day. And what I thought would be a battle is really quite painless. He sometimes cries a bit, but not for very long at all.

This is all good timing because Mr W starts a job in Vancouver next week for the next couple of months. Meaning he will be away 5 days a week. Tough for him to do, but necessary financially. We are looking a for a place which won't mind baby and dogs visiting from time to time though so we can spend more time together than just weekends.

But yes, baby is sleeping so I think I will go catch up on my reading- I purchased Twilight the other day, and I am hooked!

Sleep

2009-03-06T08:01:00.000-08:00

The past few months I have learned a few things about sleep. I CAN survive on much less of it than I ever imagined. That 3 hours at a time seems like luxury. That I can't nap during the day (I kind of knew that but I managed to sleep when pregnant). That babies sometimes sleep better as infants than when they are teething.

And that there is an emotional response to lack of sleep, which borders on insanity.

The baby is up an average of every two hours every single night. When much smaller he slept through the night, or at least for 4 hours at a time. Then his teeth erupted. Two on the bottom. Two on the top. Then two more on the top. Probably two more on the bottom too, but I am not sure. Comfort for him is nursing close to me at night. How do I deny this? How do I change this? Lots of advice on the internet, from moms who have gone through this before, but mostly just sympathy and reminders that "This too, will pass."

Mr W was away for a week, but now he is home and takes on some of the earlier evening feeds, which helps me. It is nice to only get up 2-3 times instead of 5 or 6.

So we are hanging in there, but sometimes I think barely. Good thing spring is on the way and I can mentally plan my garden in the wee hours!

A little bit debt free... or debt unburdened?

2009-02-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

Today is the closing day for our refinanced mortgage. By taking advantage of lower interest rates, Mr W and I were able to refinance our mortgage, add $45k to the mortgage for debt repayment, and: 1) not increase our semi-monthly payment OR 2) not increase our mortgage term. I played the banks fairly hard I think. Once approved by ING at 4.34% I called CIBC where our mortgage resides to see if they could get us a better deal. They came back at 4.3%, which ING countered at 4.29%. In the end, ING was far superior in response time and customer service. CIBC simply dropped the ball - taking several days to get back to me with an offer, whereas ING responded within hours of my emails. ING also allows to pay back up to 25% a year without penalty, a huge advantage for us to eventually start paying our mortgage down.

So while we are obviously not debt free, the debt burden has been lessened. Our monthly debt repayments have been reduced by hundreds of dollars, and we are saving thousands and thousands on interest. We still have our government student loans to pay off, which now seems achievable. This will be our first debt goal. Our mortgage has amount is still considerably below assessed value too, just in case things start to fall in this neighbourhood. In 2008 our house still increased in value by 6%- a slow down, but not a downturn yet.

Ahhhh spring. Time for reworking the finances :) Mr W is also away welding (although it is -32 with windchill in Prince George- Nancy I guess everywhere slightly north is cold too? Especially compared to the south coast!) which he often does in the spring. My bulbs are up, and yes, today we have a snowfall warning!

Since I have been posting finances lately, and little about the little boy, here is a recent pic from one of our geocaching adventures.

On breastfeeding

2009-02-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

I have had an awkward relationship with breastfeeding the little babe. I can`t say I love it. I can`t say it is the worst thing in the world. There are moments I hate it. Moments it is pretty cool. For the first six weeks it was the most painful thing - the baby wasn`t draining the milk (said the lactation expert) and so I was experiencing pain for several hours after a feeding. Now it is mostly better, although it still hurts sometimes. I like the convenience of it, I like how much the little one LOVES it. Does it keep him up more at night? It must, I am feeding him every 2 hours right now, though to be honest, he used to be a much better sleeper. I love it though, at those moments when I have him snuggled up to me and he is oh so content. Our little world is compressed into a little bit of space which is me and him. I don't know I am going to miss it when it is gone though.

And I must say I think that our society has gone a little too much "pro-breastfeeding" only in that you are made to feel very very guilty if you use formula at all. Yet I see many other mom's skulking in the formula aisle at Wal Mart too. After all, don't we all need a break? Doesn't Dad need the chance to bond with his son/daughter too? Yes, it is possible to pump, but when that was an option for me, it didn't give me the time away from my breasts and breastfeeding I needed (mainly when it was very painful to feed). Sometimes, it is best to leave all the guilt alone, and let people make the decisions for themselves that get them through the day I think.

Financial Post: Firing the investment specialist

2009-02-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

Previously, Mr W and I had been dealing with an investment specialist at our local credit union. She answered all our questions and we were both pleased to move our RRSPs to be managed through the credit union. But then she left. And I had an uneasy feeling. A letter arrived in the mail in the fall saying the new person would be calling us to discuss our investments soon. Nothing happened. I hadn't received a statement for a very long time, so I decided to make an appointment to discuss my RRSPs and to start the process of opening an RESP for the baby.

The new investment specialist and I did not hit it off. He was late to the meeting, unprepared to talk about my RRSP (ok, the little it is, but still it is my money), had no advice on what to do in "these financial times", and could not set up an RESP because he had to leave at noon. We definitely got off on the wrong foot when he couldn't tell me how much I had originally invested (my principal) compared to what I had in the RRSP today.

He did show me his top 4 mutual funds for investing in an RESP. When I asked about management fees he looked surprised and said I was the first person ever to ask him this. Really? Three of his top 4 mutual funds contained at least one major holding of oil from Alberta oil sands. When I questioned the stability and long-term outlook for oil, again, he looked surprised and asked why I would be worried about this. Since Mr W has worked in the oil patch we tend to follow things closely, and right now things are the worst they have been in a very long time. It does not mean it won't rebound, but with the US, a major buyer of this oil, continues to push a "Buy US" attitude, these companies may never reach the capacity they enjoyed at the height of the summer last year.

I left the meeting feeling very unsettled with another appointment for the weekend to set up the RESP. Once I got home though and talked it through with Mr W we realized it just wasn't going to work. I went online to one of my favourite financial bloggers, Four Pillars, and read through their RESP information. Because Four Pillars and Canadian Capitalist are very clear on how they set up their RESPs I finally understood the advantage of investing in index funds, and managing our own portfolio. As well, MoneySense Magazine, which I received in the mail that day, had an article on the Couch Potato Strategy, giving me more confidence to take this path. I called the investment specialist back (he didn`t answer of course) and left a message to cancel our meeting, saying simply we had decided to look at other options.

We have not set up the RESP yet, being embroiled in mortgage refinancing right this second, but we will soon take the money out of the savings account for the little guy and get it all worked out.

Gardening in February

2009-02-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

I was out in my garden yesterday afternoon for about an hour, so Mr W had to phone his parents who live in the interior to gloat, uh, I mean, tell them about it. I have snowdrops poking their heads up, but Mom has hers in full bloom! Lots of other little things coming up, so I took the opportunity to clean up the dead stems and prune back some of the bushes that got overgrown. Here is a picture of last year's garden in the spring...

I have been hiking quite a bit too, and a few weeks ago my friend and I packed our sons up to the top of one of the local mountains. It was a glorious day and warm enough to shed several layers, at least in the sunshine. We sat at the top for about an hour eating snacks and getting a tan.

The little boy loves to eat eat eat. His first taste of new food is always met by a puzzled look but after he tries it again a few days later he seems to like almost anything. Cheerios are is current favourite, probably because it is such a challenge to pick them up that most end up on the floor, which attracts the dogs to his high chair, and he LOVES the dogs.

Arrives the first tooth!

2009-01-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Says cranky baby, Mom and Dad here is my first tooth! I will fuss about when you feed me, sleep less than usual, and present to you all my general distress at this event.

Christmas events

2008-12-29T19:18:00.001-08:00

I can't believe Christmas is come and gone. It seemed so crazy before Christmas, as usual. When will I ever learn to plan further ahead? Mr W's family STILL have not received the gifts we sent on the bus that were supposed to arrive before Christmas. He phoned today and due to the snow there have been long delays.
Our Christmas was spent at my parents. We woke up to a power outage on Christmas morning so scrambled around trying to pack up and drive to their place an hour away. We got there for brunch, and a nice afternoon opening presents and of course, cooking (mostly Mom!). Check out this picture of the baby with his uncle, wearing the new Canucks jersey Uncle C. got him. Baby had a busy day, and melted down a few times. I ignored the nap cues, wanting to spend Christmas opening presents with the babe. Oh me oh my. Not worth the screaming and crying that resulted!!! The three of us spent the night at a hotel in Sidney since Grandma was staying at my parents so we couldn't stay in the guest room. Next day everyone was meant to come to ours, but snow created anxiety so we stayed until later afternoon and took the little ferry home instead of driving the treacherous, snowy roads.

On the event side, baby started eating solid foods with gusto this week. He loves loves loves solid food. Within the week he happily eats rice cereal, banana, applesauce, and squash. Yay baby! He has breakfast and dinner, and the dinner, combined with his bottle, seems to make him almost sleep through the night. If only, instead of waking at 6, he could wake at 7? That would be sooooooooooo nice.

Pics of gifts

2008-12-21T15:55:00.000-08:00

My three sets of fingerless mitts:
The blue set is for a good friend, the pink are for me, and the gray/pink on the left are for my sister-in-law-to-be.

And here are pics of the easy yummy yummy chocolates Mr W and I made. Pictured here is white chocolate, pistachios, and cranberry bark, and milk/white chocolate almond bark. The dark chocolate, almond and cranberry bark didn't make a very good picture, being all brown :)

Baby its cold outside

2008-12-18T18:40:00.000-08:00

We have the Christmas tunes going around here. And the weather is cooperating, it uncharacteristically feels like Christmas with all the snow and chilly weather we have had in the last week. It is quite lovely, I don't mind a little bit of snow once in awhile. This picture was taken with our cell phone which has a 2MB camera yesterday evening as we walked the dogs and enjoyed the sunset out in Cowichan Bay.

We are making several gifts this year. I have been madly knitting fingerless mittens for a few people, including my brothers fiancee (they just got engaged last week, yay!). I had knit one lovely one for her only to find out she is allergic to wool, so lucky me, I will keep it for myself and hope to knit up its partner soon. Each mitt takes about 2 nights to make, not bad, I like instant gratification.

Mr W and I also started making chocolate for his sisters and brother. We bought some fancy pants Bernard Callebaut chocolate from our fancy pants grocery store, melted it poured it over: pistachios and cranberries for the white chocolate, and almonds and cranberries for the dark. It is hard not to nibble, I finally had to put it away so we didn't keep indulging. We need to buy more of the bulk bricks because it didn't go as far as we thought (regardless of our eating the results!), but each brick is almost $10. Told you, it is fancy chocolate. But yummy!! And hopefully all will appreciate the gifts.

Buying gifts (for free) for self - to wrap or not to wrap?

2008-12-13T11:37:00.000-08:00

Mr W and I tend to know every year what we are getting for each other. We often buy it together. We don't always wrap it and put it under the tree. Seems a bit strange, this whole Christmas thing, when viewed this way though. We buy stuff we can't necessarily afford (although past two years have tried to avoid this) at this time of year.... because we have a license to do so- it is Christmas after all.

Mr W just order several books for us all from Chapters, for example. For himself he got a book on playing poker (one of his hobbies), for us both he got a cookbook (even though he does most of the cooking, I get to enjoy the food so we both benefit), for me he ordered a knitting book, and for the wee one, we ordered a music cd. He paid about $1 for all this because we purchased the items with our airmiles. Nice!

But seriously, do we wrap everything up? Or just enjoy it when it arrives? The baby won't care if his cd is enjoyed immediately, or hidden in wrapping under a tree. I am just saying, it is strange the way we do things around here, it is :)

Cranky baby

2008-12-08T20:12:00.000-08:00

We had a cranky baby this weekend. On Saturday we went with my mom's group to ride the Christmas Train. This is the only steam train operating in North America, and it rides around our outdoor forestry museum, about 15 minutes. At this time of year the grounds are all lit up with Christmas lights, and I was looking forward to the outing. Baby was pretty good, met Santa, until the whistle on the train blew as we pulled out of the station, and then he freaked out and started wailing. Poor little guy was absolutely terrified of the sound and cried for the whole train ride. I would get him calmed down and the whistle would blow again. After that he wouldn't settle for hours, just fussed about the house, sleeping in fits and starts until 8 (an hour past his bedtime) when he finally fell into a proper sleep.

Yesterday we took him geocaching, out a logging road. He was pretty good on the hike. Mr W had an adventure on a zip line over a river, and the dogs had a cold swim. Baby, however, started crying on the way home, and fussed for a few hours after that. Teething maybe? Could be. I can't see any teeth yet, but something was up, he is good natured otherwise. Today we stayed calm and mostly in our routines. I work for a few hours in the morning, have lunch, and then 3 days a week I try and walk for 5k around the track nearby. Did it today no problem, it wasn't sunny out, but was mild. We also took the dogs for a walk of course :) Must walk the beasties daily!