Dear Alexiss
You are doing so well! After being sick for a week, you're finally getting some much needed sleep. Boy did we all get a bit cranky, eh? I'm sorry I get impatient sometimes. I have a hard time keeping up to you some days, so full of life and wonder, while I'm old and sometimes too set in my ways. From the time you were born, our lives have drastically changed from acting like an old retired couple, almost boring in our contentment, to spending our time caring, sharing and playing, laughing and exploring the world again.
This is a good time to remind you to take care of yourself when caring for others. Don't use me for an example right now. The healthier you are in mind, heart and spirit, the more you can selfishly give to others in their times of need without burning yourself out. You also provide better care when you're in top shape yourself. And you never know when someone will need you to care for them, hopefully it's not your old parents too often.
The speed that you learn amazes me, and you surprise us every day. It reminds me of a quote I found online some time ago:
Don't worry that children never listen to you, worry that they are always watching you.
Robert Fulghum
This week you patted your head when Daddy asked you about your bed head, who knew! But we're onto you now that we know you're starting to understand things! I can't help but laugh when you bring me your bottle and iTouch to tell me you want to take a nap. At this rate, you won't need to talk for a long time. Today you pointed to an apple, and when I gave it to you, you munched on it whole! Later in the day you picked up something you thought was garbage and brought it to the cupboard, opened the cupboard and put the garbage in the garbage can! Not to mention how much you're liking using the potty, even if it only is playing sometimes.
Keep learning kiddo, you're doing great, you will do great, no matter what you end up doing in life. You are you, and that's good enough for me.
Love
Momma
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
How I spent my winter vacation
It all started with a light bouncy step as I left work to pick up Mark's Christmas present, I was looking forward to some good food, laughs and...extra sleep. Boy did I get that all wrong! Alexiss came down with a fever on Christmas Eve day and company had to almost fend for themselves, it's a good thing I managed to get the lasagna made and oven ready or they'd only have tons of garlic bread and salad to muster up.
For Christmas dinner we ended up with ham and eggs cooked by Matt, super yummy and super appropriate, since the crock pot with the turkey cooked cycled off sometime during the day and wasn't cooked in the least. Whoops. It's something to add to the turkey dinner stories at least, everyone's got one. :)
Well, it's now the 30th and Alexiss is still sick, temperature is gone, rash been and gone, now it's the residual runny nose and coughing keeping us all on edge. She's finally getting her appetite back too, I think me chasing her around with food and pedialyte annoyed her and Mark enough for her to concede.
Poor girl, I remember getting sick often on holiday's as well, it's no fun at all. New great toys and no energy to really play, the fun and games the past few days has been all about shoes.. putting on our shoes, on her, on us.. walking around, taking them off. Oh yes, a real barrel of laughs, even better after she figured out today how to open the front shoe closet, uh-huh.. no hiding away her favorite plaything of the week.. *sigh*
Well, off to knit.
For Christmas dinner we ended up with ham and eggs cooked by Matt, super yummy and super appropriate, since the crock pot with the turkey cooked cycled off sometime during the day and wasn't cooked in the least. Whoops. It's something to add to the turkey dinner stories at least, everyone's got one. :)
Well, it's now the 30th and Alexiss is still sick, temperature is gone, rash been and gone, now it's the residual runny nose and coughing keeping us all on edge. She's finally getting her appetite back too, I think me chasing her around with food and pedialyte annoyed her and Mark enough for her to concede.
Poor girl, I remember getting sick often on holiday's as well, it's no fun at all. New great toys and no energy to really play, the fun and games the past few days has been all about shoes.. putting on our shoes, on her, on us.. walking around, taking them off. Oh yes, a real barrel of laughs, even better after she figured out today how to open the front shoe closet, uh-huh.. no hiding away her favorite plaything of the week.. *sigh*
Well, off to knit.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
And.. twirl!
As Mark puts Alexiss down for bed, I'm finally getting a chance to update the blog again. These past few months have left little time and I think Alexiss is actually giving me ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). I can't seem to concentrate and sit still for too long. I think part of that is because when I do seem to settle in, something happens to make me change focus all to often, so that the concept of sitting still for to long has become so foreign and fleeting that I don't trust my opportunities enough, and sit and wait for something to happen to tear me away... never really giving the real opportunities a chance to flourish due to anticipation of what may happen.
She's changing in so many ways, from temper tantrums to dancing to actually pooping on the potty! This weekend I thought I'd try the potty and what a success it was, I don't expect her to wander that way when she needs to, but she gives enough hints that there's enough time to get her there. It's gotta be so much easier than trying to stand and poop in a diaper!
Getting pictures and videos is becoming harder as well, since Alexiss is way to interested in technology to stand and smile, instead she wants to play and put the lens cap on, unless there's something else to keep her challenged, it doesn't take long for the camera to become much more interesting. We did manage to catch her dancing this weekend, she has a few books that play music when you press a button, she got so good that she knew when the song would stop and stopped twirling enough to press another button. Dancing has been keeping her more busy than her toys, and pulling the chain to turn the night light on and off... and doing up her seat belt.. and pressing buttons on just about anything... and turning the dial on the humidifier.
Alexiss loves the outdoors so much so that, since picking up a few words and forgetting them at around 8 months, that she now says her version of "outside" as she brings us her shoes, our shoes, jackets and points to the door. Last night we went out, I couldn't resist her, and she was content to stay in my embrace and look at all the Christmas lights in the night.
Well! Mark is back out, tonight's bedtime was a bigger success than the two hours it took me last night. I guess I can do some dishes and call it a night. Maybe I'll get some time to read! Still no time to knit yet though. lol.
Today on my way home, I heard this Christmas song, and thought Alexiss would love it. I was right, she twirled and twirled!
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
The Judds
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains 'til the break of dawn
Into the land of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star the hope of grace
For the redeemed, the good and the blessed
Yonder in glory when the crown is won
Jesus is now the star divine
Brighter and brighter He will shine
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
She's changing in so many ways, from temper tantrums to dancing to actually pooping on the potty! This weekend I thought I'd try the potty and what a success it was, I don't expect her to wander that way when she needs to, but she gives enough hints that there's enough time to get her there. It's gotta be so much easier than trying to stand and poop in a diaper!
Getting pictures and videos is becoming harder as well, since Alexiss is way to interested in technology to stand and smile, instead she wants to play and put the lens cap on, unless there's something else to keep her challenged, it doesn't take long for the camera to become much more interesting. We did manage to catch her dancing this weekend, she has a few books that play music when you press a button, she got so good that she knew when the song would stop and stopped twirling enough to press another button. Dancing has been keeping her more busy than her toys, and pulling the chain to turn the night light on and off... and doing up her seat belt.. and pressing buttons on just about anything... and turning the dial on the humidifier.
Alexiss loves the outdoors so much so that, since picking up a few words and forgetting them at around 8 months, that she now says her version of "outside" as she brings us her shoes, our shoes, jackets and points to the door. Last night we went out, I couldn't resist her, and she was content to stay in my embrace and look at all the Christmas lights in the night.
Well! Mark is back out, tonight's bedtime was a bigger success than the two hours it took me last night. I guess I can do some dishes and call it a night. Maybe I'll get some time to read! Still no time to knit yet though. lol.
Today on my way home, I heard this Christmas song, and thought Alexiss would love it. I was right, she twirled and twirled!
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
The Judds
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shining far through shadows dim
Giving the light for those who long have gone
Guiding the wise men on their way
Unto the place where Jesus lay
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star the hope of life
Guiding the pilgrims through the night
Over the mountains 'til the break of dawn
Into the land of perfect day
It will give out a lovely ray
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star the hope of grace
For the redeemed, the good and the blessed
Yonder in glory when the crown is won
Jesus is now the star divine
Brighter and brighter He will shine
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine upon us until the glory dawns
Give us a lamp to light the way
Unto the land of perfect day
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
O beautiful star of Bethlehem
Shine on
Dear Lil Mizz A
My dearest baby girl
I hope this is one of many letters I write to you over the years. I'm writing because time passes so quickly and there's always going to be things I forget to say, or things that I don't have time to say, or even times I say it and you aren't in the mind frame to take it all in. So I'm using your blog as a place to leave little notes to you that can be looked at in the years and decades to come.
There's lots to say already, so much advice, words of love and a need to protect you, but one day those words will come, today all I want you to know is that, no matter what.. I love you. I've been saying it to your Dad for years and meant it, and the same goes for you. As you grow, explore and make decisions, know that I'll be standing behind you, giving you strength to make those decisions the best you can at the time and trusting each decision will bring you to where you need to be in life. Through watching other moms with older children it looks to me like a mother's love is sometimes hard to show because of our hopes and dreams for our little ones, but no matter what my first reaction is to anything that happens. Know that, no matter what... I love you.
You'll find people who may try to steer you certain ways out of love, my love has always been and always will be different. I will listen, I will ask question and I'll try to guide you to finding your own answers before telling you what I think those answers should be. It's just the way I'm made, and doesn't mean that either way of loving is wrong, it just is.
So remember, no matter what... I love you!
Love Always
Momma.
I hope this is one of many letters I write to you over the years. I'm writing because time passes so quickly and there's always going to be things I forget to say, or things that I don't have time to say, or even times I say it and you aren't in the mind frame to take it all in. So I'm using your blog as a place to leave little notes to you that can be looked at in the years and decades to come.
There's lots to say already, so much advice, words of love and a need to protect you, but one day those words will come, today all I want you to know is that, no matter what.. I love you. I've been saying it to your Dad for years and meant it, and the same goes for you. As you grow, explore and make decisions, know that I'll be standing behind you, giving you strength to make those decisions the best you can at the time and trusting each decision will bring you to where you need to be in life. Through watching other moms with older children it looks to me like a mother's love is sometimes hard to show because of our hopes and dreams for our little ones, but no matter what my first reaction is to anything that happens. Know that, no matter what... I love you.
You'll find people who may try to steer you certain ways out of love, my love has always been and always will be different. I will listen, I will ask question and I'll try to guide you to finding your own answers before telling you what I think those answers should be. It's just the way I'm made, and doesn't mean that either way of loving is wrong, it just is.
So remember, no matter what... I love you!
Love Always
Momma.
Dear Santa
Dear Santa
Hello, me.. again, second year in a row, pretty impressive, eh? I don't really want anything this year since 1) I have fun playing with stuff like diapers, humidifiers and anything else that doesn't fit the "toy" description and b) there's nothing I really really want... well, except for the Baby Einstein CDs Momma lost a month or so ago.
It's been a good year overall, lots of learning and getting frustrated, and oh, those teeth! But these days I'm dancing, doing my own seat belts up and sleeping (most nights). That's being good, right? Can I still be on your "nice" list if I'm not asking for anything?
Travel safe, I'm sure I'll have a list for you next year! Oh, and tell the Reindeer they can have my carrots... uck.
Love
Alexiss
Hello, me.. again, second year in a row, pretty impressive, eh? I don't really want anything this year since 1) I have fun playing with stuff like diapers, humidifiers and anything else that doesn't fit the "toy" description and b) there's nothing I really really want... well, except for the Baby Einstein CDs Momma lost a month or so ago.
It's been a good year overall, lots of learning and getting frustrated, and oh, those teeth! But these days I'm dancing, doing my own seat belts up and sleeping (most nights). That's being good, right? Can I still be on your "nice" list if I'm not asking for anything?
Travel safe, I'm sure I'll have a list for you next year! Oh, and tell the Reindeer they can have my carrots... uck.
Love
Alexiss
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The blog wins again!
Over knitting of course. I really don't have much time to myself anymore, Alexiss has been wanting all of my attention, even if it's just sitting with her while she plays. Of course, if I decide to do more than sit, she wants to get involved, so I ... just.... sit...
Alexiss has a new little boyfriend, Kaleb has been around since I first started taking her to Moms and Tots but recently they've started to talk and "hang out". Today it seems, Kaleb saw Alexiss out and about the neighborhood and cried until his mom brought him over to share a romantic wagon ride with her.
This is what happened when we tried to get a video of her dancing (she's only done it a few times so far). The blackness is Alexiss trying to put the lens cap back on.
Hard work pays off and practice makes perfect when it comes to high chair seat belts, it only took her a year to learn to snap it together, and was she ever proud of herself! The first success had us looking at each other amazed before Mark grabbed the camera to see if we could duplicate it. (sorry for making you all turn your heads, it's a good way to force you to stretch!)
To conquer some nasty diaper rash I'm trying to get Alexiss to drink more fluids, after tonight's fun and games drinking from my cup, it just be the way to go instead of trying to follow her around with a sippy cup.
Here we are showing off Alexiss's new winter duds.
Alexiss has a new little boyfriend, Kaleb has been around since I first started taking her to Moms and Tots but recently they've started to talk and "hang out". Today it seems, Kaleb saw Alexiss out and about the neighborhood and cried until his mom brought him over to share a romantic wagon ride with her.
This is what happened when we tried to get a video of her dancing (she's only done it a few times so far). The blackness is Alexiss trying to put the lens cap back on.
Hard work pays off and practice makes perfect when it comes to high chair seat belts, it only took her a year to learn to snap it together, and was she ever proud of herself! The first success had us looking at each other amazed before Mark grabbed the camera to see if we could duplicate it. (sorry for making you all turn your heads, it's a good way to force you to stretch!)
To conquer some nasty diaper rash I'm trying to get Alexiss to drink more fluids, after tonight's fun and games drinking from my cup, it just be the way to go instead of trying to follow her around with a sippy cup.
Here we are showing off Alexiss's new winter duds.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Home with my girl on a Wednesday
Here I sit on a coolish Wednesday morning, looking at the snow on the ground and waiting for Bubba to wake up. She's roused a few times but I guess she couldn't muster the motion to totally wake up. Tea in hand and finally getting a chance to update. Although I suspect that she'll wake before I'm finished, and this screen will sit for awhile, half done and waiting.
Friday we go check out a day home in Carseland for Wednesday's. It's the little things that impress me and make me feel okay about people, when I was on the phone with this woman yesterday, Bev, kids in the background were gently and nicely asked to quiet down for a few minutes so she could talk... and they did... and she thanked them. Yeah, the little things.
What a spin our lives took this year, and what a challenge! I didn't always handle things with the most love and humor in my heart but we all got through and now find more reasons to laugh together than to struggle. Even nights with three bed times aren't met with the same frustration and approach, I still confirm it's bed time, but if Alexiss doesn't settle we find things to laugh about until she settles in. Usually the laugh and the talking is enough to settle her in, stuffed puppy in hand and cuddling galore.
When Alexiss was first born, my faith in anything spiritual took a dive just because it seemed I could not get a break...nor would I always take a break when offered. Sleep deprivation is a baaadd thing. Some may have said post-partum depression but I knew it came back to missing something that I loved, I love sleeping! These days I can't sleep from worry, but that's different, it's not someone else not letting me sleep.
(by the way, she's up and muttering.. I'll have to go soon...)
These days, my faith is back, but my trust is not. I can handle bad things in life that happen to me, I can tough through them, learn from them and not hold resentment. I'm not so trusting with Alexiss's life. I don't always trust in faith that things happen as they should, I don't always trust that everything is for a reason. I want her to have good things in life, to not struggle, to not be pained, I want her to have love, laughs and life.... end of story.
There was a time in life, I took everything as it came, I lived with no regrets, I let the past go. I didn't fear or resent death, it was a part of life. With my Dad dying so young (I'm much older than he will ever be) I know we are mortal and age isn't always a factor. I lived that if I died tomorrow that I'd be okay to go onto the next phase of my journey. Now, not so much. I'd be pissed right off.
(ohhh, she could be brewing a "package" for me first thing this morning. Good thing to get out of the way I think, eh?)
I still worry about SIDs, (silly at age one, I know), that's what keeps me awake, listening to her breathing through the monitor.
It's had a similar effect on Mark, but in case, he's become more thankful for what he has and has a new motivation for life, to watch Alexiss grow and provide all he can to ensure that happens, love, a roof over our heads and food on the table. There is a new worry in there as well. Ah Mark, what an amazing man he is! So grounded and centered, so balanced. Never imposing his thoughts on others, never judging. I'm glad Alexiss has him for a Dad.
(okay, I must go and see what she's up to and start our day home together. Chances are we'll be chasing pets, eating... maybe napping... and walking from room to room. Her new thing is to grab something cloth in both hands. That provides a huge tripping hazard, so Mark and I hold up the slack behind her and follow.. from room to room to room to room.)
Happy Wednesday! I'm going to go spend it with my baby girl!
Friday we go check out a day home in Carseland for Wednesday's. It's the little things that impress me and make me feel okay about people, when I was on the phone with this woman yesterday, Bev, kids in the background were gently and nicely asked to quiet down for a few minutes so she could talk... and they did... and she thanked them. Yeah, the little things.
What a spin our lives took this year, and what a challenge! I didn't always handle things with the most love and humor in my heart but we all got through and now find more reasons to laugh together than to struggle. Even nights with three bed times aren't met with the same frustration and approach, I still confirm it's bed time, but if Alexiss doesn't settle we find things to laugh about until she settles in. Usually the laugh and the talking is enough to settle her in, stuffed puppy in hand and cuddling galore.
When Alexiss was first born, my faith in anything spiritual took a dive just because it seemed I could not get a break...nor would I always take a break when offered. Sleep deprivation is a baaadd thing. Some may have said post-partum depression but I knew it came back to missing something that I loved, I love sleeping! These days I can't sleep from worry, but that's different, it's not someone else not letting me sleep.
(by the way, she's up and muttering.. I'll have to go soon...)
These days, my faith is back, but my trust is not. I can handle bad things in life that happen to me, I can tough through them, learn from them and not hold resentment. I'm not so trusting with Alexiss's life. I don't always trust in faith that things happen as they should, I don't always trust that everything is for a reason. I want her to have good things in life, to not struggle, to not be pained, I want her to have love, laughs and life.... end of story.
There was a time in life, I took everything as it came, I lived with no regrets, I let the past go. I didn't fear or resent death, it was a part of life. With my Dad dying so young (I'm much older than he will ever be) I know we are mortal and age isn't always a factor. I lived that if I died tomorrow that I'd be okay to go onto the next phase of my journey. Now, not so much. I'd be pissed right off.
(ohhh, she could be brewing a "package" for me first thing this morning. Good thing to get out of the way I think, eh?)
I still worry about SIDs, (silly at age one, I know), that's what keeps me awake, listening to her breathing through the monitor.
It's had a similar effect on Mark, but in case, he's become more thankful for what he has and has a new motivation for life, to watch Alexiss grow and provide all he can to ensure that happens, love, a roof over our heads and food on the table. There is a new worry in there as well. Ah Mark, what an amazing man he is! So grounded and centered, so balanced. Never imposing his thoughts on others, never judging. I'm glad Alexiss has him for a Dad.
(okay, I must go and see what she's up to and start our day home together. Chances are we'll be chasing pets, eating... maybe napping... and walking from room to room. Her new thing is to grab something cloth in both hands. That provides a huge tripping hazard, so Mark and I hold up the slack behind her and follow.. from room to room to room to room.)
Happy Wednesday! I'm going to go spend it with my baby girl!
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Up she goes!
My options for today's nap were knitting, putting away clothes or updating the blog. The blog won, well.. family won. :) It's great to hear that all of you are enjoying the blog, I feel bad that I don't get much time to update it, and when I do it's usually only pictures, but then, that's what you're here to see, no?
Here's the reason I don't get much time in a day anymore..
the lil peach is totally mobile! Friday night she surprised us by standing without anything to help her! I made such a big deal, she kept it up. The crab walk only lasted one night before she had it totally mastered. Now there's no stopping her!
Last week was super busy with Halloween. Last year she was way to young to go out, we did little more than put her jack-o-lantern bib on her. This year I found the cutest bear costume!
Olive is working out great! I heard from another Mom that goes to Moms and Tots and she said Alexiss and Olive are getting along wonderfully. Day care is hard to come by out here, specially someone you can really count. We're still having problems on Wednesdays, Olive can't do it on Wed. Mark stayed home one week, and I found a neighbor last week, this week is up in the air.
This is us trick or treating, we visited Krista. This is the woman that watched Alexiss this past Wed.
Marv (pictured) and Grace gave Alexiss her first sucker, she knew just what to do...and we knew just when it got to the stick to take it away. Marv and Grace host the weekly Bible study Mark attends.
This is just before going out trick or treating. It took some work to get a good picture. Alexiss was being a bit fuzzy..oh..fussy. heh.
Alexiss and her brood. Puppy, baby and puppy all in hand and settling in to watch some Baby Einstein before bed.
Cindi and Matt came for a visit, this is Alexiss eating her first Dorito. She was so charming, she would swap her soppy chip for Matt's crunchy chip then give him a kiss. How could a guy resist!
Here's the reason I don't get much time in a day anymore..
the lil peach is totally mobile! Friday night she surprised us by standing without anything to help her! I made such a big deal, she kept it up. The crab walk only lasted one night before she had it totally mastered. Now there's no stopping her!
Last week was super busy with Halloween. Last year she was way to young to go out, we did little more than put her jack-o-lantern bib on her. This year I found the cutest bear costume!
Olive is working out great! I heard from another Mom that goes to Moms and Tots and she said Alexiss and Olive are getting along wonderfully. Day care is hard to come by out here, specially someone you can really count. We're still having problems on Wednesdays, Olive can't do it on Wed. Mark stayed home one week, and I found a neighbor last week, this week is up in the air.
This is us trick or treating, we visited Krista. This is the woman that watched Alexiss this past Wed.
Marv (pictured) and Grace gave Alexiss her first sucker, she knew just what to do...and we knew just when it got to the stick to take it away. Marv and Grace host the weekly Bible study Mark attends.
This is just before going out trick or treating. It took some work to get a good picture. Alexiss was being a bit fuzzy..oh..fussy. heh.
Alexiss and her brood. Puppy, baby and puppy all in hand and settling in to watch some Baby Einstein before bed.
Cindi and Matt came for a visit, this is Alexiss eating her first Dorito. She was so charming, she would swap her soppy chip for Matt's crunchy chip then give him a kiss. How could a guy resist!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Love! Love! Love!
I'm starting to understand why couples have more than one child, Alexiss has become a cuddly loving sweet adorable beautiful funny silly light of my life little person and I love who she's becoming. I never want to be without her.
I cannot seem to listen to news stories of young toddlers anymore, good or bad. It's too close to home and I personalize way too much. The bad ones turn my stomach. So much promise, potential and love in young toddlers. I even found myself smiling at a couple and their 6 monthish son in the grocery store. Some of the smile was out of love and some was out of support.
This morning she woke me, so I went about the normal routine.. diaper, bottle, blankets and cuddles. Now, I'm always cold when I'm tired, so thought nothing of it, my concern is usually for Alexiss these days, so I went to the thermostat too turn up the furnace a bit. A few presses of a button and... nothing! A quick look at the temperature to discover it was 17.5! I was sleepy so it took a few minutes to register that the furnace wasn't working. bah.. I'm thankful it wasn't too cold last night. So, on went the gas fireplace, opened went her door and back to bed I went!
We're fortunate to have a local jack-of-all trades. He's here now, Alexiss is napping and I'm hearing the whoosh of the furnace! A good day I must say!
I leave you with a few pictures (not of Alexiss) that I think are beautiful.
I cannot seem to listen to news stories of young toddlers anymore, good or bad. It's too close to home and I personalize way too much. The bad ones turn my stomach. So much promise, potential and love in young toddlers. I even found myself smiling at a couple and their 6 monthish son in the grocery store. Some of the smile was out of love and some was out of support.
This morning she woke me, so I went about the normal routine.. diaper, bottle, blankets and cuddles. Now, I'm always cold when I'm tired, so thought nothing of it, my concern is usually for Alexiss these days, so I went to the thermostat too turn up the furnace a bit. A few presses of a button and... nothing! A quick look at the temperature to discover it was 17.5! I was sleepy so it took a few minutes to register that the furnace wasn't working. bah.. I'm thankful it wasn't too cold last night. So, on went the gas fireplace, opened went her door and back to bed I went!
We're fortunate to have a local jack-of-all trades. He's here now, Alexiss is napping and I'm hearing the whoosh of the furnace! A good day I must say!
Awww, my little camo panted mechanic in the making! Aren't we proud Pops?
Out in the wagon! Alexiss lurves her wagon!
The baby with her baby! So cute!
Talking of love, I'd read a study done of the effects of the word "love" on water. Seems the molecules reacted differently when the water was in a clear container with a piece of paper with "love" written on it (facing inward). So I put a sticky note on my water bottle at work. For some strange reason I mentioned it to a male co-worker.. who now has "Love! Love! Love" on his water bottle.. and has been singing "Love, Love, Love" by The Beatles all week. Positive energy is such a strong thing!
Out in the wagon! Alexiss lurves her wagon!
The baby with her baby! So cute!
I leave you with a few pictures (not of Alexiss) that I think are beautiful.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Our little girl is growing up!
Big week with lots of showing off!
Still no time to do anything more than post pics and videos, but having fun at any rate!
Still no time to do anything more than post pics and videos, but having fun at any rate!
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sleep shnack, sleep sack!
Today I went out and bought a sleep bag, you know it's something I need when I go out after work shopping, heck, anytime I go shopping.... it's something needed.
The night's are getting colder and Alexiss's room along with it. I for the life of me thought "Why wasn't this a problem last year" before remembering we meandered around her big crib in our room last year.
Monday night, three bed time's later and 12:00 at night before getting her settled, Tuesday night a wake up "come warm me" cry at 1:30. Needless to say... this Momma couldn't put words together to make a sentence at the end of my workday today. (Typing words is so much easier than actually making my lazy tongue say them)
I came home last night to Alexiss wanting to play and Mark lying on the couch curled up freezing cold (it could have been the 102 F temperature... ya think?). So tended to him, I did, play, I did, cooked and pureed food, I did.... dishes.. I didn't. bah! So there!
Well, bedtime looms. Oatmeal bedtime shnack and hopefully a dry sleep bag to try out tonight!
The night's are getting colder and Alexiss's room along with it. I for the life of me thought "Why wasn't this a problem last year" before remembering we meandered around her big crib in our room last year.
Monday night, three bed time's later and 12:00 at night before getting her settled, Tuesday night a wake up "come warm me" cry at 1:30. Needless to say... this Momma couldn't put words together to make a sentence at the end of my workday today. (Typing words is so much easier than actually making my lazy tongue say them)
I came home last night to Alexiss wanting to play and Mark lying on the couch curled up freezing cold (it could have been the 102 F temperature... ya think?). So tended to him, I did, play, I did, cooked and pureed food, I did.... dishes.. I didn't. bah! So there!
Well, bedtime looms. Oatmeal bedtime shnack and hopefully a dry sleep bag to try out tonight!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Happy Birthdayyyy dear Alexiss (Ali, Lexy, Bubbaaaaa)
I've had best intentions to update, at the very least with pictures, since returning to work, but I haven't had the brain power or physical power (typing does take energy ya know!). I figured it had gone on long enough and while Mark puts Alexiss down tonight and the dishes air dry, I thought I'd pop by to share birthday pictures..... it's the least I can do.. really...
Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthday to you...
Happy Birthdayyyy dear Alexiss (Ali, Lexy, Bubbaaaaa)
Happy Birthday to you...
Well, heh, Alexiss is still awake, Mark didn't make it and my second attempt didn't make it either. Alexiss has had a cold and I suspect she's just plain uncomfortable. So, it's going on 9:30 now. You know I totally understand why parents can wake up their teenagers when the teen sleeps late. It's payback for all the long nights when they are babies.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Happy Birthday lil one!
Whew, no time these days to update, but I DO have some pictures and videos of Alexiss's first birthday and lots of thoughts.
I look around at the few 2 year olds that I know and I'm awestruck knowing in only a year Alexiss will be doing the same. The beginning of the year didn't go quick, but it picked up speed at around 7 months. The first 7 are now a blurr of being tired, overwhelmed and just keeping up. At the time I thought it would never end, but now I see just how short that time was..even if it didn't feel like it while I was living it.
She's standing! Uncle Gerry and Aunt Jacqueline bought her a toy that she stands at, and lo and behold, she forgets to hang on and before we knew it.. she was standing. I don't think she's caught on yet though.. shhhh.
Oma and Opa are here visiting and helping out this week. They've been working hard and I'm sure they'll need lots of naps on Saturday when Mark and I are home before heading for the mountains!
I'll try to find some time this weekend to share some bday fun with you.
I look around at the few 2 year olds that I know and I'm awestruck knowing in only a year Alexiss will be doing the same. The beginning of the year didn't go quick, but it picked up speed at around 7 months. The first 7 are now a blurr of being tired, overwhelmed and just keeping up. At the time I thought it would never end, but now I see just how short that time was..even if it didn't feel like it while I was living it.
She's standing! Uncle Gerry and Aunt Jacqueline bought her a toy that she stands at, and lo and behold, she forgets to hang on and before we knew it.. she was standing. I don't think she's caught on yet though.. shhhh.
Oma and Opa are here visiting and helping out this week. They've been working hard and I'm sure they'll need lots of naps on Saturday when Mark and I are home before heading for the mountains!
I'll try to find some time this weekend to share some bday fun with you.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Ahhhhh, weekend!
This week of work was a lil rough, rougher for Lee-Ann though. She was up sick all night Monday, so Alexiss and I stayed home on Wednesday, and it was a good thing, Alexiss wasn't feeling up to snuff herself and kept me hopping and cuddling all day. Tuesday night it continued, Alexiss wouldn't sleep, I finally got her to sleep around 3:00 on the Momma Pillow.
Mark, the sweetie, stayed home with us on Wednesday since we were both a lil bit of a whiny tired fussy mess. But! All is back to normal, including Alexiss taking after the Momma for sleep habits. There's a few things I was hoping she'd take from Mark, sleeping being one of them. Mark gets tired and NOTHING can keep him up! But it wasn't to be, so I'm left with two insomniacal people in the house. Once I get Alexiss finally settled, then I have to work on getting me settled. At least I understand and know some things that help me sleep, to help her sleep.
We're off to Calgary today, Mark's work is hosting a BBQ for employees and family. I figured after all they've done for us with Alexiss that we could at least let them meet her face to face instead of Mark and I always meeting requests to see new pictures. Of course, we'll take some pics today too!
I've had an idea mulling around for a business in the area and my internal clock is telling me now is the time. Funny, I didn't have any kind of biological clock for children, but I do for business. I guess some of the drive for me is the long days at work and being away from Alexiss. I think, with some help, if I can get it going, in a few years I'd be able to stay home...or at least bring Alexiss to work with me. We'll see, the idea has been around for a few years and I've put it off, I'm hoping I can make it further than just thinking about it this time.
Mark, the sweetie, stayed home with us on Wednesday since we were both a lil bit of a whiny tired fussy mess. But! All is back to normal, including Alexiss taking after the Momma for sleep habits. There's a few things I was hoping she'd take from Mark, sleeping being one of them. Mark gets tired and NOTHING can keep him up! But it wasn't to be, so I'm left with two insomniacal people in the house. Once I get Alexiss finally settled, then I have to work on getting me settled. At least I understand and know some things that help me sleep, to help her sleep.
We're off to Calgary today, Mark's work is hosting a BBQ for employees and family. I figured after all they've done for us with Alexiss that we could at least let them meet her face to face instead of Mark and I always meeting requests to see new pictures. Of course, we'll take some pics today too!
I've had an idea mulling around for a business in the area and my internal clock is telling me now is the time. Funny, I didn't have any kind of biological clock for children, but I do for business. I guess some of the drive for me is the long days at work and being away from Alexiss. I think, with some help, if I can get it going, in a few years I'd be able to stay home...or at least bring Alexiss to work with me. We'll see, the idea has been around for a few years and I've put it off, I'm hoping I can make it further than just thinking about it this time.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Home Today
Sunday night (Monday morning) Alexiss woke me up for a midnightish shnack, so I survived a Monday with what I am starting to call naps, even though they are at night.
Lee-Ann was up sick all night, so today Alexiss and I stayed home. No napping for me though!
I managed to get a teaser picture of her halloween costume though! The other picture is her and her "hat".
Gotta run, she's been up from her 15 min nap for awhile and is calling.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Back to work!
As I sit here, Alexiss napping and me eating the one harvested tomato out of the garden, I feel thankful.
Alexiss and I both had a good week. I found waking her up in the morning the hardest part of our new schedule but Alexiss was a trooper. This morning she was a bit of a clingy suck, but I enjoyed it.
Still no news on the job posting I applied for, but I've got patience, in the meantime I'm doing small things to help people out and get things off of their desk.
The first day back was easy, ignorance is bliss, right? The second day Alexiss and I both put up a bit of a fuss in the morning, but Lee-Ann (the woman taking care of Alexiss) texted me all day to keep me up to date, she even sent me a picture of Alexiss and Ryan (Lee-Ann's 2 year old) out for a wagon ride.
You know.... I didn't change one poopy diaper all week!
I do start stressing out near home time, hoping the day isn't too long for Alexiss and wanting to get back home to her. Mark worked a bit of overtime so I picked her up two of the four days. She really is a cutie!
Yesterday I ran around all morning trying to catch up on housework, and Alexiss refused to take a nap. I got lots done, which reminds me.. I should be doing something, shouldn't I?
Alexiss and I both had a good week. I found waking her up in the morning the hardest part of our new schedule but Alexiss was a trooper. This morning she was a bit of a clingy suck, but I enjoyed it.
Still no news on the job posting I applied for, but I've got patience, in the meantime I'm doing small things to help people out and get things off of their desk.
The first day back was easy, ignorance is bliss, right? The second day Alexiss and I both put up a bit of a fuss in the morning, but Lee-Ann (the woman taking care of Alexiss) texted me all day to keep me up to date, she even sent me a picture of Alexiss and Ryan (Lee-Ann's 2 year old) out for a wagon ride.
You know.... I didn't change one poopy diaper all week!
I do start stressing out near home time, hoping the day isn't too long for Alexiss and wanting to get back home to her. Mark worked a bit of overtime so I picked her up two of the four days. She really is a cutie!
Yesterday I ran around all morning trying to catch up on housework, and Alexiss refused to take a nap. I got lots done, which reminds me.. I should be doing something, shouldn't I?
Monday, September 5, 2011
Krazy for Kits!
We're home from Vancouver (Kitsilano), everyone is tucked in and I'm not far behind but I wanted to pop by quick to give a short version of our week.
Alexiss loved all the cuddles and attention and barely played with the toys we brought. She was too busy climbing stairs, up she goes, down she goes, up she goes, down she goes. Uncle Garnet and Aunt Shelley came everyday for their dose of the cuteness that is Alexiss. She was loved and spoiled (all three of us were spoiled) by Aunt Jacqueline and Uncle Gerry and we were treated to a super cuddly visit from Aunt Patricia, Uncle Nick and Cousin Laraine!
I was baffled by a geocache at the end of the street, but was determined. It took Mark bravely touching something that made me squeamish.... a ugly lotsa legged grossly opaque colored disgustingly huge bug key-chain. I had seen it (and a hairbrush, an empty yogurt container among other things) but wasn't convinced it wasn't real and dead.
There were tons of walks to Kits beach! Alexiss loved swinging on the swings for the first time and dipping her toes in the ocean for the first time.
While Alexiss stayed at home with Uncle Gerry and Aunt Jacqueline; playing in the sink/tub and introducing them to her favorite Baby Einstein movies, Mark and I even went out on a "date", we brought a new card game and sat at a restaurant to eat and play.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity and the time, the memories we made this week will be talked about fondly for years to come.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
..and it starts
Alexiss has picked up (on her own) what to do with the food she doesn't want... leave it for Rex of course!
*sigh*
Worst day... ever.
Alexiss has increasingly gotten crankier and less willing to cope. I suspect all the "iron fortified" baby food and formula is the root of the problem, add on the mini heat wave we've been having and neither of us are sleeping well. Alexiss gets in this horrible cycle of not pooping, not eating, not sleeping.
This morning she woke at 5:00 and wouldn't settle back down, the reason.. she was finally going to push through and poo (thank goodness!). She finally settled back in around 7:00 and slept until 10:00, which really put any kind of schedule out the window. So again, we cycle through trying to sleep, not sleeping, not eating, not drinking a bottle. She's been crying and cranky since 11:30, when she was getting tired and ready for another nap.... NOT! Instead she was cranky and it was getting later, so I thought at 12:30 to try lunch.. NOT! After having food spit out at me and her cranky and tired, it was natural to try to get her to nap again... NOT! She finally fell asleep again at 1:30. Now I'm tired and cranky and don't want to do jack. I'm forcing myself to update the blog when I'd much rather drink tea and play silly little brainless games, I should be taking a shower or something, but ya know... I really don't feel like it at all.
So, I'm left wanting to go and get new formula and cereals that don't have as much iron in them and not being able to. What a frikken day. Alexiss won't give me a chance to get anything extra done to help her out. *sigh*
Thank goodness my phone locks when closest or someone in China would've gotten a garbled text.
Alexiss and Links finally had a bit of a confrontation. I'm really thankful it wasn't worse than it was, boy was Alexiss surprised! Oh, that reminds me...Alexiss has been saying "cat" and "dog". As soon as I can I'm going out to buy Links one of the cat tree house/scratch post things. He's been scratching at the carpet and pulling up the fibers, not a good thing when Alexiss helps clean all the things up on the floor by putting them in her mouth. And this way he can have some of his own space free from little hands.
My cousin Rhonda is getting married this weekend, so my Aunt and Uncle are here to celebrate. They came over last night to visit. Alexiss loved them! They loved Alexiss! All was good, until it started getting really hot in the house and a day of not eating, sleeping and pooping caught up with Alexiss. All the pictures I took are fuzzy, but I'm hoping my cousin will send me copies of pictures she took.
Okay, whiney mess is awake and... whiney. Gotta run.
Okay, whiney mess is awake and... whiney. Gotta run.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
More or less, a good week.
It was a bad end to a week last week and for the life of me I couldn't figure out why.. turns out two weekends without having Mark spell me off in the morning was a little too much for me. One Saturday morning having Mark home allowing me to sleep in made all the difference in the world.
Hold on... gotta make a hot tea while Alexiss is napping... mmmm
Okay, so it's been a good week (lacking sleep and the attitude that results....me, not Alexiss) more or less.
More clapping, dancing and wandering the halls. Less bottles, dishes and time to update the blog. More "helping" with laundry, which really means more folding (over and over again) for Mark (and I).
I'm getting ready to return to work, and like most unknown upcoming events in life, I refuse to forecast and put expectations on how it's going to go. I had an interview last week for a new job posting at Raytheon and am waiting to hear back. Alexiss is adjusting amazingly well to the day home, it hasn't even phased her, if anything I think she's enjoying having other kids around to watch.
What is making me nervous is getting my arse to work after a rough night. I have a feeling the hot evenings and cool nights are what is waking Alexiss. When I put her down for the night, it's hot, so I don't put blankets on her. Then when the house cools (around 2:00ish) she gets cold and wakes. I keep thinking how wonderful it will be when she can grab her own blankets. Last night when I went to check on her she was sleeping with her bum up in the air! So cute, if it wasn't so dark and I didn't fear waking her, I would've snapped a picture to share.
Her first birthday is quickly sneaking up on us! We've decided to go typical Ryderson style and have a quiet birthday celebration with cake. There was one Star Fairy cake that is very fitting of Alexiss's full name, but, for some reason, the image wasn't exactly right. On her own, Alexiss has taken a liking to sunflowers, stopping (and sometimes kissing the page) when any sunflower image comes up in a book, soooo it's either sunflowers or a Blue's Clues theme since Blue has been a major part of our year. Then we'll have more cake and another small celebration with Oma and Opa when they come through on their way to Nanaimo.
Next week, we're all on our way to visit Great-Uncle Gerry and Great-Aunt Jacqueline in Vancouver, and hopefully get to visit Great-Aunt Patricia, Uncle Garnet and Aunt Shelley. I'm excited to share Kitsilano with Alexiss, it's a spot that holds many good memories and with that, much magic and happiness.
We've been getting outside more, here's Alexiss "playing" in the grass with Cindi (whom I lovingly refer to as The Second Momma)
Hold on... gotta make a hot tea while Alexiss is napping... mmmm
Okay, so it's been a good week (lacking sleep and the attitude that results....me, not Alexiss) more or less.
More clapping, dancing and wandering the halls. Less bottles, dishes and time to update the blog. More "helping" with laundry, which really means more folding (over and over again) for Mark (and I).
I'm getting ready to return to work, and like most unknown upcoming events in life, I refuse to forecast and put expectations on how it's going to go. I had an interview last week for a new job posting at Raytheon and am waiting to hear back. Alexiss is adjusting amazingly well to the day home, it hasn't even phased her, if anything I think she's enjoying having other kids around to watch.
What is making me nervous is getting my arse to work after a rough night. I have a feeling the hot evenings and cool nights are what is waking Alexiss. When I put her down for the night, it's hot, so I don't put blankets on her. Then when the house cools (around 2:00ish) she gets cold and wakes. I keep thinking how wonderful it will be when she can grab her own blankets. Last night when I went to check on her she was sleeping with her bum up in the air! So cute, if it wasn't so dark and I didn't fear waking her, I would've snapped a picture to share.
Her first birthday is quickly sneaking up on us! We've decided to go typical Ryderson style and have a quiet birthday celebration with cake. There was one Star Fairy cake that is very fitting of Alexiss's full name, but, for some reason, the image wasn't exactly right. On her own, Alexiss has taken a liking to sunflowers, stopping (and sometimes kissing the page) when any sunflower image comes up in a book, soooo it's either sunflowers or a Blue's Clues theme since Blue has been a major part of our year. Then we'll have more cake and another small celebration with Oma and Opa when they come through on their way to Nanaimo.
Next week, we're all on our way to visit Great-Uncle Gerry and Great-Aunt Jacqueline in Vancouver, and hopefully get to visit Great-Aunt Patricia, Uncle Garnet and Aunt Shelley. I'm excited to share Kitsilano with Alexiss, it's a spot that holds many good memories and with that, much magic and happiness.
We've been getting outside more, here's Alexiss "playing" in the grass with Cindi (whom I lovingly refer to as The Second Momma)
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Three! Two! One! Go!
Three - only three bottles today
Two - two poops today!
One - one job interview
Go - Going to bed!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Good!
A good weekend and a good start to the week.
The weekend was spent with good friends (where I learned a good lesson), I made some good food and a good cake (after I found a good online weight to measurement converter). Tonight ended with me resorting to swaddling Alexiss again in the hopes of a good night sleep for both of us.
Matt and Cindi came for a visit, Mark and Matt went golfing and enjoyed a night and Cindi and I stayed home and chatted while I made a few salads for the next day. I learned that I'm really trying to hard to tend to everyone else and not myself. So from now on, Alexiss can learn to eat and sleep a bit more independently without a super quiet background and Mark can learn to "Alexiss". I was maaaAAAd, trying to get it all done.
I made a Coca-Cola cake, I'd found the recipe online and couldn't wait to try it out. It was yummy and super moist, but there wasn't a huge Coca-Cola taste to it. Next time I may try cream-soda instead.
Coca-cola cake
250 gr (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
250 gr (2 cups)self-rise flour
300 (1 1/2 cups)gr sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoon cacao powder
200 ml coca-cola
75 ml milk
2 large eggs, at room temperature
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cacao and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar on medium speed until airy and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition (scrape down the sides if necessary). Still on medium speed, add the cococa-cola and milk and mixing until well incorporated. Add the flour,baking soda and cacao. Make sure that all the ingredients are well incorporated but do not overbeat. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat. Spoon the batter into the single cake pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
For topping
60gr (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoon coca-cola
3 tablespoon cacao powder
200 (7/8 cup !?) gr powdered sugar, sifted
In a medium bowl, combine all topping ingredients
Well, I'm getting while the getting is good, Alexiss is still sleeping and I'm on my way. Good night!
The weekend was spent with good friends (where I learned a good lesson), I made some good food and a good cake (after I found a good online weight to measurement converter). Tonight ended with me resorting to swaddling Alexiss again in the hopes of a good night sleep for both of us.
Matt and Cindi came for a visit, Mark and Matt went golfing and enjoyed a night and Cindi and I stayed home and chatted while I made a few salads for the next day. I learned that I'm really trying to hard to tend to everyone else and not myself. So from now on, Alexiss can learn to eat and sleep a bit more independently without a super quiet background and Mark can learn to "Alexiss". I was maaaAAAd, trying to get it all done.
I made a Coca-Cola cake, I'd found the recipe online and couldn't wait to try it out. It was yummy and super moist, but there wasn't a huge Coca-Cola taste to it. Next time I may try cream-soda instead.
Coca-cola cake
250 gr (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
250 gr (2 cups)self-rise flour
300 (1 1/2 cups)gr sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoon cacao powder
200 ml coca-cola
75 ml milk
2 large eggs, at room temperature
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cacao and set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the butter and sugar on medium speed until airy and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition (scrape down the sides if necessary). Still on medium speed, add the cococa-cola and milk and mixing until well incorporated. Add the flour,baking soda and cacao. Make sure that all the ingredients are well incorporated but do not overbeat. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overbeat. Spoon the batter into the single cake pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
For topping
60gr (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 tablespoon coca-cola
3 tablespoon cacao powder
200 (7/8 cup !?) gr powdered sugar, sifted
In a medium bowl, combine all topping ingredients
Well, I'm getting while the getting is good, Alexiss is still sleeping and I'm on my way. Good night!
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Day number two - home care
To keep Alexiss in the habit, now that we've met and like Lee-Ann, she's gone over there again today for a few hours and next week we're going to try two half days (one of which will be an interview at work for a new job posting).
Yesterday went very well, she said Alexiss cried a little, but nothing inconsolable or nothing distraction couldn't solve. At one point she said her daughter was running around playing hide and seek with Alexiss, which produced laughs so big that Lee-Ann had to make sure she wasn't crying!
I'm really liking her, both days she's asked me about saying goodbye to Alexiss, making sure it's how I want it to be without making judgement when asking and seemingly happy, or proud even, of my reply. I don't want it to be a huge episode making Alexiss feel like it needs drama, nor do I want to slip away and not let her see me go. I think that's a very healthy way to go. I do give her a kiss goodbye and let her know I love her, but don't cling to her and let her know this is okay and no big whoop to get concerned about.
Today I don't have as much time, we were late getting over there because Alexiss woke up a bit late from her morning nap and then proceeded to eat lunch slow as well, I figure.. what's the rush, as long as she goes over for a few hours. Lee-Ann also has some running around to do this afternoon, so she asked me to come back around 3:15...again, no problem. I think the major thing is the drop off and being without me, I don't think Alexiss will really fair worse or better if it's 2 1/2 hours or 3.
I gots mah hot tea and I'm off to pick something to clean and something fun. I think I may write out those prayers I picked out for Alexiss before we visiting Ontario and put them up. I've got a neat new Wild Notes notebook, that with a special pen, shows up in different colors. It's kinda like how, as kids, we would color with all different crayons, then color over it with another crayon (usually black, blue or a dark color), then we'd draw with something a little sharp that would pick up the darker color and reveal the bottom color.
Oh.. and kill a few annoying flies.. grrrr
But first, let me see if I have some cuteness that is Alexiss to show ya... diapers hanging out and all!
Okay, fly swatter, special pen and tea at hand..off I go!
Yesterday went very well, she said Alexiss cried a little, but nothing inconsolable or nothing distraction couldn't solve. At one point she said her daughter was running around playing hide and seek with Alexiss, which produced laughs so big that Lee-Ann had to make sure she wasn't crying!
I'm really liking her, both days she's asked me about saying goodbye to Alexiss, making sure it's how I want it to be without making judgement when asking and seemingly happy, or proud even, of my reply. I don't want it to be a huge episode making Alexiss feel like it needs drama, nor do I want to slip away and not let her see me go. I think that's a very healthy way to go. I do give her a kiss goodbye and let her know I love her, but don't cling to her and let her know this is okay and no big whoop to get concerned about.
Today I don't have as much time, we were late getting over there because Alexiss woke up a bit late from her morning nap and then proceeded to eat lunch slow as well, I figure.. what's the rush, as long as she goes over for a few hours. Lee-Ann also has some running around to do this afternoon, so she asked me to come back around 3:15...again, no problem. I think the major thing is the drop off and being without me, I don't think Alexiss will really fair worse or better if it's 2 1/2 hours or 3.
I gots mah hot tea and I'm off to pick something to clean and something fun. I think I may write out those prayers I picked out for Alexiss before we visiting Ontario and put them up. I've got a neat new Wild Notes notebook, that with a special pen, shows up in different colors. It's kinda like how, as kids, we would color with all different crayons, then color over it with another crayon (usually black, blue or a dark color), then we'd draw with something a little sharp that would pick up the darker color and reveal the bottom color.
Oh.. and kill a few annoying flies.. grrrr
But first, let me see if I have some cuteness that is Alexiss to show ya... diapers hanging out and all!
Okay, fly swatter, special pen and tea at hand..off I go!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A sh*tty post
Ahhh, you knew it was coming sooner or later, didn't ya? Ya can't talk babies without talking about regularity. The moms I've talked to don't seem as concerned, or aren't as verbal, as me.... planning around letting Alexiss have quiet time to poop. They all seem to go about their days without a thought about it, maybe their babies poop no matter where they are, who's around or what's going on, but not our Alexiss, she needs things to be juuust right, always has.
Over and above planning outings around naps and eating, pooping really rules my day - if I can go grocery shopping, if we go for a walk, if I get to sleep at a decent hour. Is it really any wonder that I'm constantly preoccupied and sticking prunes in her gob?
It's nights like tonight that warrant my concern. We started bed time at 9:00, she was really tired, she was ready but her body held us up. Annnd it's now 11:00 and I just got her to go down (hopefully for the night) because she had something a'brewin and things weren't quite right, the ambiance of the room, the movie perhaps or just her being generally distracted.
All I got to say is.... Good night!!!!
Over and above planning outings around naps and eating, pooping really rules my day - if I can go grocery shopping, if we go for a walk, if I get to sleep at a decent hour. Is it really any wonder that I'm constantly preoccupied and sticking prunes in her gob?
It's nights like tonight that warrant my concern. We started bed time at 9:00, she was really tired, she was ready but her body held us up. Annnd it's now 11:00 and I just got her to go down (hopefully for the night) because she had something a'brewin and things weren't quite right, the ambiance of the room, the movie perhaps or just her being generally distracted.
All I got to say is.... Good night!!!!
Bedtime music
Last night I wanted something different than Corb Lund, so I played my Faerie music from Fairy HeartMagic by Gary Stadler with Stephanne.
l've searched the mountains, the forest and the sea,
Seeking the homeland, of my memories.
Haunted by visions, longing like the sea,
Time passes by me, and still l am not free.
Lift the veil of Elphame, let me see the light
Lift the veil of Faerie, guide me home tonight
How can I soar alone, when my wings are at rest?
I yearn to be there in the land of the bless'd
So light me a candle, watch the dark shadows fade.
And I must journey on, for the choice 1 have made
Lift the veil of Elphame, let me see the light
Lift the veil of Faerie, take me home tonight
My lone heart guides brings me home through the night
Carries me onward, and into the light
To wander the shadows, to see the truth from afar,
To sigh in the moonlight dancing magic of stars.
Lift the veil of Elphame, let me see the light
Lift the veil of Faerie, guide my way tonight
Oh me! Oh! My!
Since we don't have any kind of television plan Alexiss watches some shows through Netflix and bought DVDs. Last week, while shopping at Toys R Us I noticed some DVDs on sale and bought some updated Blues Clues for her and spotted a show called Bunnytown. BIG HIT (with Alexiss and with the Momma and Daddy).
Here's Pinky Pinkerton! A portion of Bunnytown, there's also singing dancing puppet rabbit and two silly men like old silent movies (no video of the two men on youtube, sorry).
Here's Pinky Pinkerton! A portion of Bunnytown, there's also singing dancing puppet rabbit and two silly men like old silent movies (no video of the two men on youtube, sorry).
Another first - day home trial run
We're going to try starting Alexiss slowly at a day home across the street for when I return to work. We've been talking back and forth with a woman across the street who's offering a day home, Lee-Ann, for over a week, the few neighbors I talk to and trust have given her good recommendations and we met up with her yesterday. I asked about first aid, snack time, play time, nap time, discipline and a few more things and she had answers that I could see Mark and I saying... so... today Alexiss went over for a few hours to try it out, that's trying it out for all of us.. me, Mark, Lee-Ann and Lee-Ann's two children.
She has been over there for an hour and a half and so far.. no phone call with Alexiss screaming for her Momma in the background. It's exciting and I'm enjoying my time but there's also a part of me that's nervous and sad.
So far today I've:
Yep, still multi-tasking at an alarming rapid rate.. but it's different, I know I can go-go-go so it's letting me focus-focus-focus.
These are my notes for Lee-Ann... and everything boring you may have wanted to know about my time during the day with Alexiss.
__Eating__
Breakfast - 2 or 3 tablespoons baby cereal
- yogurt
- fruit
Lunch - protein
- fruit or veggie
- pasta or cracker
- soups or casseroles
Snacks - cheese or yogurt
- fruit or veggie
- cracker
Fruit - ripe cubed soft fruit, peel removed - banana peach, plum, cherry, mango
- puree apple sauce (homemade or jarred)
- jarred apple/strawberry, apple blueberry..etc
- pureed jarred prunes at least once a day
Veggie - sweet potato, squash, carrots
-puree leeks and kale or spinach
-jarred squash, beans and apple, veggie and rainsins
protein - steak, meatballs
-I'm going to try tofu and beans (again).
-pork
-chicken to a lesser degree
crackers - rice puffs
-cheerios broken in half
-adult crackers broken up, she likes flavored bread type crackers
-whole baby rice crackers (Mum-mums)
Bottle - 1 scoop powder to 2 oz hot tap water - water first, then add powder
- 2 or 3 a day when she's cranky and nothing else is wrong. or if she's eating and
doesn't want food to eat but pulls at your shirt and reaches for your face.
- Nestle Good Start, two circles on front in purple and yellow
(easy to digest and omega 3&6)
Sippy Cup - water, no juice (only super special occasions)
- I just started offering her homo milk for lunch and afternoon snack
__PLAY__
crawling
walking with help
playing with toys
sitting quietly
__Napping
__Other__
diapers size 5
only use zinc for a rash
if no rash, use nothing
I'm not a huge clean freak, I wipe her face and hands after eating but if her clothes are a little dirty I leave her. I usually change her clothes after two meals/snacks. I do sometimes use the sink and tap to clean her hands and face after eating.
___________________________________________
Now off to cuddle with a cat!
She has been over there for an hour and a half and so far.. no phone call with Alexiss screaming for her Momma in the background. It's exciting and I'm enjoying my time but there's also a part of me that's nervous and sad.
So far today I've:
- Steeped a hot tea while taking a shower, complete with scrubbed feets and shaved armpits. (too much information, I know, but ohhh so true)
- Mopped the floor while cooking a nice turkey bacon and egg breakfast (super late, I know, but ohhh so true)
- And between it all, I've socialized on Facebook and now I'm sitting here, quickly updating the blog.. which by the way had a whole 72 views yesterday! We don't have that much family, either someone has viewed pages over and over again , gawking at the super cuteness that is Alexiss (it wasn't me, honest, I did gawk a few times but not 72!) or there's something quirky about how blogger.com tracks views.
- Oh.. and had Fringe (a tv show) running in the background
Yep, still multi-tasking at an alarming rapid rate.. but it's different, I know I can go-go-go so it's letting me focus-focus-focus.
These are my notes for Lee-Ann... and everything boring you may have wanted to know about my time during the day with Alexiss.
__Eating__
Breakfast - 2 or 3 tablespoons baby cereal
- yogurt
- fruit
Lunch - protein
- fruit or veggie
- pasta or cracker
- soups or casseroles
Snacks - cheese or yogurt
- fruit or veggie
- cracker
Fruit - ripe cubed soft fruit, peel removed - banana peach, plum, cherry, mango
- puree apple sauce (homemade or jarred)
- jarred apple/strawberry, apple blueberry..etc
- pureed jarred prunes at least once a day
Veggie - sweet potato, squash, carrots
-puree leeks and kale or spinach
-jarred squash, beans and apple, veggie and rainsins
protein - steak, meatballs
-I'm going to try tofu and beans (again).
-pork
-chicken to a lesser degree
crackers - rice puffs
-cheerios broken in half
-adult crackers broken up, she likes flavored bread type crackers
-whole baby rice crackers (Mum-mums)
- try anything except eggs, nuts and shellfish
- there isn't much she won't try except things with a skin like corn, beans and peas
- She likes to self feed cubed food but may need help with slippery fruits. I usually let her pick away and shove fruit or veggie in her mouth in between. She just started spitting out what she doesn't want to eat.
- She sometimes grabs and tries to use utensils, she needs help dipping the spoon. She sometimes tosses the spoon, sippy cup or plate. Sometimes I don't bother with a plate and use the try on the chair.
- If she's too tired or cranky she may want a bottle instead of food.
- Sometimes I put dressing/sauce on mozzarella cheese, meatballs, pasta, etc
- balsamic vinegar dressing, garlic salad dressing, or tomato sauce
Bottle - 1 scoop powder to 2 oz hot tap water - water first, then add powder
- 2 or 3 a day when she's cranky and nothing else is wrong. or if she's eating and
doesn't want food to eat but pulls at your shirt and reaches for your face.
- Nestle Good Start, two circles on front in purple and yellow
(easy to digest and omega 3&6)
Sippy Cup - water, no juice (only super special occasions)
- I just started offering her homo milk for lunch and afternoon snack
__PLAY__
crawling
walking with help
playing with toys
sitting quietly
- shows - Baby Einstein, Blue Clues, BunnyTown
- we have a bouncer, she may like the exersaucer
- baby einstein and bouncer is comforting to her (or sometimes her "bathroom")
- country music is also a comfort to her, specially Corb Lund
- I play all kinds of other music, tribal, instrumental, meditation, rock, 70s..etc
__Napping
- she doesn't fall asleep on her own yet
- rocking, dancing, tapping, music help her sleep
- if she paws at you, she wants a bottle or clean diaper
- naps are usually 1 1/2 hours followed by quiet alone play time in the crib (if she's babbling away having fun) for a 1/2 hour
- if she only sleeps 15 min it's usually because she needs to poo. Try Baby Einstein and bouncer or floor
- she's usually pretty sleepy in the morning and naps shortly after breakfast. Sometimes again around 1:00 and usually around 3 or 4
__Other__
diapers size 5
only use zinc for a rash
if no rash, use nothing
I'm not a huge clean freak, I wipe her face and hands after eating but if her clothes are a little dirty I leave her. I usually change her clothes after two meals/snacks. I do sometimes use the sink and tap to clean her hands and face after eating.
___________________________________________
Now off to cuddle with a cat!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A huge first!
This morning! she! fell! asleep! ON HER OWN!!!!
I was on the computer while she was in her bouncer (buying some TV series on DVD and a growth chart for her) ... and then I noticed that it was quiet... I looked over to see this:
Monday, August 8, 2011
Another one for the box collection!
It shouldn't have taken me this long to show off the earthy ammolite box Gramma bought Alexiss on our trip home to Ontario to add to her box collection. There's also an ammolite piece and a phantom crystal to put inside. I didn't think at the time, that ammolite is from the home, the Rocky's. Gramma bought her a little pouch with a dream catcher on it too, it's hanging in her room.
Just Another Manic Monday
As I sit here, shirt wet with tea Alexiss decided to spill on me as I drank and dried yogurt on my pants from this mornings breakfast (probably some in my hair too), I listen to her sleepy breathing on the monitor and look around at the shambles my house is in. Tupperware strewn across the floor, a tea towel on the floor used to quickly clean up the tea, the tv with "no video signal" jumping around on the screen, waiting patiently for me to start Baby Einstein, again and the apples on the counter I was planning on making a crumble with. Oh yeah, and the cutlery drawer sitting atop the counter from when I broke it last week. Everything in disorder, nothing totally tidy...and it's not gonna be for a long time I think.
Silly me thinking this year off would be organized, I'd get all the housework and yard work done, and weekends would be for play time with family. Weekends are still about working hard to get laundry and other things done.
Alexiss has been sleeping more during the day, but playing hard in between. Some of that is alone play time and some is me standing and wandering behind her shielding her from disturbing the pets too much as she crawls or walks (with my help) through the hallways. The dog food has become a major interest, to Alexiss and to the cat, I've been guarding it for days.
Opening and closing doors have been the fun thing to do lately, her feet get in the way a bit...and sometimes her head, but ya gotta learn somehow. I watch closely to make sure her fingers don't get in the way of it shutting though! Here she is at the front door, she's been working hard on reaching the door knob but likes to peer out at the world too.
She just started with hanging her tongue out of her mouth this weekend, I think she's cutting another tooth, it seems the two go hand in hand.. or tooth and tongue. heh. I think we're up to 8 teeth!
...and I present you with the one knitting project I managed to finish for Alexiss in a weekend. I also managed to finish the hat, cowl/scarf and fingerless glove set I started way in the beginning of the year.
Silly me thinking this year off would be organized, I'd get all the housework and yard work done, and weekends would be for play time with family. Weekends are still about working hard to get laundry and other things done.
Alexiss has been sleeping more during the day, but playing hard in between. Some of that is alone play time and some is me standing and wandering behind her shielding her from disturbing the pets too much as she crawls or walks (with my help) through the hallways. The dog food has become a major interest, to Alexiss and to the cat, I've been guarding it for days.
Opening and closing doors have been the fun thing to do lately, her feet get in the way a bit...and sometimes her head, but ya gotta learn somehow. I watch closely to make sure her fingers don't get in the way of it shutting though! Here she is at the front door, she's been working hard on reaching the door knob but likes to peer out at the world too.
She just started with hanging her tongue out of her mouth this weekend, I think she's cutting another tooth, it seems the two go hand in hand.. or tooth and tongue. heh. I think we're up to 8 teeth!
...and I present you with the one knitting project I managed to finish for Alexiss in a weekend. I also managed to finish the hat, cowl/scarf and fingerless glove set I started way in the beginning of the year.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
The world gets bigger...and so does the bumps and "nos"
Yep, we're still here! On the move and touring the house. While we've child proofed most of the house (yes, Gramma and Pops, we installed the gate at the stairs) the dog dishes don't have a better spot, and for some reason is soooo interesting! Alexiss is learning what "no" means when there's things around that the Momma forgot to put away, it seems like all I'm doing is moving thing out of her way or picking things up that she decides she doesn't need anymore.
Days are filled with touring the house and eating times between nap times. Alexiss, while not a picky eater, doesn't always feel like eating what's given to her, so eating usually ends up with me finding a few more things on the fly to give to her. From the time she started eating solids, she was holding her own spoon, but lately she's working on mastering actually using the spoon for food. Bath times have also increased since after a meal it's the easiest way to get her clean again.
Alexiss has a new nickname! Prunella! Thanks to Uncle Don and my inner need to keep Alexiss regular, prunes have become a staple food for at least one or two meals/snacks a day.
At her 9 month (which was actually at 10 months) doctors check up she weighed 21.13 lbs and measured 29 1/4 inches long. She's outgrowing her carry car seat so I shopped around and settled on a new big-girl car seat, it's still sitting in the house but she's loving climbing up and sitting in it. I keep wondering if she'll like it as much in the truck, since she won't be able to peep over the top to talk to me. Well, it'll only be a few months before she's allowed to be forward facing. I'm starting to understand when people say "they grow so fast", it really didn't feel like it was fast when she was a newborn, but since she's hit 9 months... she's really taken off.
There's so many new things, it's hard to list them all and remember little milestones, I really should pop in more and leave shorter updates to keep track. She wasn't very interested in walking until last week, I was trying to coax her having her face away from me, and I don't think she knew what to do, but last week I let her face and follow me... then the fun began. In only a week she's already more stable and enjoying it, so much that sometimes she'll crawl up to me and grab both of my hands to give me the hint that it's time to go a-wanderin.
Her coordination is improving greatly as well. She has now learned how to use both hands together to get something done, and has fun "putting away" her little piggy and cow into the soft barn, I say putting away in quotes because they don't stay put away for long, usually she doesn't even let go of them before pulling them out again.
Her rambles are usually one constant mumble for the day, but yesterday she started momomomom and dadadada, switching back and forth. She can also "ruff" and tries to "meow" and her mooo is more like mmmmmm, but she's working on it. It's still hard to distinguish when she's babbling or meaning to say something but I swear I've heard kitty in there too and a few more things.
Days are filled with touring the house and eating times between nap times. Alexiss, while not a picky eater, doesn't always feel like eating what's given to her, so eating usually ends up with me finding a few more things on the fly to give to her. From the time she started eating solids, she was holding her own spoon, but lately she's working on mastering actually using the spoon for food. Bath times have also increased since after a meal it's the easiest way to get her clean again.
Alexiss has a new nickname! Prunella! Thanks to Uncle Don and my inner need to keep Alexiss regular, prunes have become a staple food for at least one or two meals/snacks a day.
At her 9 month (which was actually at 10 months) doctors check up she weighed 21.13 lbs and measured 29 1/4 inches long. She's outgrowing her carry car seat so I shopped around and settled on a new big-girl car seat, it's still sitting in the house but she's loving climbing up and sitting in it. I keep wondering if she'll like it as much in the truck, since she won't be able to peep over the top to talk to me. Well, it'll only be a few months before she's allowed to be forward facing. I'm starting to understand when people say "they grow so fast", it really didn't feel like it was fast when she was a newborn, but since she's hit 9 months... she's really taken off.
There's so many new things, it's hard to list them all and remember little milestones, I really should pop in more and leave shorter updates to keep track. She wasn't very interested in walking until last week, I was trying to coax her having her face away from me, and I don't think she knew what to do, but last week I let her face and follow me... then the fun began. In only a week she's already more stable and enjoying it, so much that sometimes she'll crawl up to me and grab both of my hands to give me the hint that it's time to go a-wanderin.
Her coordination is improving greatly as well. She has now learned how to use both hands together to get something done, and has fun "putting away" her little piggy and cow into the soft barn, I say putting away in quotes because they don't stay put away for long, usually she doesn't even let go of them before pulling them out again.
Her rambles are usually one constant mumble for the day, but yesterday she started momomomom and dadadada, switching back and forth. She can also "ruff" and tries to "meow" and her mooo is more like mmmmmm, but she's working on it. It's still hard to distinguish when she's babbling or meaning to say something but I swear I've heard kitty in there too and a few more things.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Calming the beast within
It's been a rough week for both Alexiss and I, she's not wanting to eat or sleep which means, in the end, both of us cranky and moody, don't get me wrong, she is napping, and she is eating but both aren't as enjoyable as they can be. While I was putting her down for her morning nap yesterday, all I could think about was having the time to have a hot breakfast of a fried egg on toast. What I got was an awake Alexiss and PB on bread.
Last night I decided to try tapping into our primal spirits, letting them free as well as soothing them with music. I downloaded some tribal beats and some Chakra meditations, and I'm relieved that she seemed to be reacting to both.
I played the tribal beat this morning, which had us both swaying and dancing.
Then for her nap I played the soothing meditation music and she's soundly, peacefully sleeping.... mmmm, maybe not.... she's stirring... bah, I hope there's some left over dinner in the fridge for me instead of having ANOTHER PB on bread meal. Gah...
Last night I decided to try tapping into our primal spirits, letting them free as well as soothing them with music. I downloaded some tribal beats and some Chakra meditations, and I'm relieved that she seemed to be reacting to both.
I played the tribal beat this morning, which had us both swaying and dancing.
Then for her nap I played the soothing meditation music and she's soundly, peacefully sleeping.... mmmm, maybe not.... she's stirring... bah, I hope there's some left over dinner in the fridge for me instead of having ANOTHER PB on bread meal. Gah...
Saturday, July 23, 2011
The right tools for the job
With a front loading clothes washer, the washer tends to have a "smell" after awhile. I've tried a cleaner called Afresh, and it was.. okay.. but not perfect. I found one by Tide this week and loved it!
I just switched from dishwasher tabs to a Cascade lemon liquid, after seeing what a bang up job it did on my Mom's dishes.
I'm starting to realize that handy dandy one-use pouches aren't all I thought they were.
The big find this week was an eco-friendly infomercial cleaner claiming to clean even nail polish off of a carpet called Winning Colours out of a Barrie, ON. It can be used anywhere where water can be used. I have a sample pack and have yet to try it out, but, by youtube videos, it's the most amazing stuff since Oxy and D 17 (or whatever it was in the tube in the 80s)
It's available at: Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse, Zellers, London Drugs and others already supply Canadians coast-to-coast
I just switched from dishwasher tabs to a Cascade lemon liquid, after seeing what a bang up job it did on my Mom's dishes.
I'm starting to realize that handy dandy one-use pouches aren't all I thought they were.
The big find this week was an eco-friendly infomercial cleaner claiming to clean even nail polish off of a carpet called Winning Colours out of a Barrie, ON. It can be used anywhere where water can be used. I have a sample pack and have yet to try it out, but, by youtube videos, it's the most amazing stuff since Oxy and D 17 (or whatever it was in the tube in the 80s)
It's available at: Home Depot, Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Lowes Home Improvement Warehouse, Zellers, London Drugs and others already supply Canadians coast-to-coast
Go. To. Bed.!
What a night! We had about 10 bed times last night, and some of those were after a finally successful bedtime and at 1:00 last night. Sorry for not updating more this week, but Alexiss is keeping me super busy now that she's mobile and I took some time during nap times for me this week. Yep, I actually got some knitting in! There's a book that's hit the waves called "Go the F**k to Sleep" a friend shared a video of Samuel L Jackson reading it and Mark and I laughed. It's for adults and based on older kids but the premise is close.
Every day is something new. She's matching up like items and turning them over in her hands, she's motoring around on foot holding onto furniture but her mode of transportation to get from point A to B is still crawling. My favorite this week is monster noises, I did manage to get a video but have to figure out how to share video's on the blog. Now when I tell people she's a monster (jokingly) she's actually proving me right. heh. One (point) for the Momma!
Last night's dinner was rewarding, compared to the usual fuss and me having to make two meals when the first goes horribly wrong to her taste buds. We all shared a pasta, meatball and carrot dinner, I knew she liked it cuz it took her almost an hour to be done!
Grocery shopping is a lot more fun now that Alexiss is sitting in the big-girl cart instead of her car seat or me trying to navigate a grocery cart amount of groceries on her stroller. She was so proud of herself the first day we tried it she had a smile the whole time. The next time I even managed to go grocery shopping and walk around in the WalMart too. Life is getting easier in some ways.
It's been relatively cool, but we had a few super hot days that made us all a bit uncomfortable. One night Alexiss couldn't get to sleep. I finally got her to sleep around 12:00 by sitting outside with her. The mosquitoes were happy, I was free game since I had my hands full and couldn't swat them away, their kids ate well that night I'm sure! The next day during a 5 hour power outage (read: no working fans) nap time meant me going down into our unfinished basement (yep, Mark's working on it) to get her to fall asleep and when she did fall asleep she was getting cold.. but not cold enough for the upstairs, sooo The Momma sat half way between the basement and the main floor...on the stairs and verrrry uncomfortably for almost 2 hours! Ah, how we love our kids, eh? We also spent time outside feeling and watching the wind (yes, you can.... ever notice how the leaves russle, the plants swoosh? That's watching the wind), Alexiss is still getting used to the wind and it has a fun effect on her, she stops what she's doing and gets all excited. Mark took some pictures of us on the front porch, in one she looks totally freaked out, but I assure you, she was enjoying it. Mark laughed for a day or two over the photo he got.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
A great weekend!
Yesterday I woke up to greet my daughter to a black face and no idea, okay some idea, how she got it there. Yep, she started gnawing on her yummy crib! I couldn't get a picture because sadly, the camera that Oma and Opa gave to us decided to malfunction and won't turn on. Soooo... today we all went to Strathmore and I was determined to get a new digital camera that has video and good quality. It's a FujiFilm FinePix S3400. The woman at The Source was helpful beyond belief, and...shhh... just found out she's expecting.
I gotta tell ya.....Mark saved a dragonfly yesterday from a spider's web! That's all, no story, just remarkably sweet. He also let me crashed out early while he put our darling little daughter to bed. She's starting to sleep through the night again, thank goodness.... all the better to wake up chipper and a'hungry for some more crib railing. heheheh
I gotta tell ya.....Mark saved a dragonfly yesterday from a spider's web! That's all, no story, just remarkably sweet. He also let me crashed out early while he put our darling little daughter to bed. She's starting to sleep through the night again, thank goodness.... all the better to wake up chipper and a'hungry for some more crib railing. heheheh
Friday, July 8, 2011
Home again, Home again..jiggity jig!
What a whirlwind of a vacation! Alexiss traveled so well that I had comments from people on the plane how good she was...and that was just on the plane. Although she was getting tired of the constant visits near the end she held in like a trooper and never took it out on anyone, smiling and being social amid her irregular and jam packed schedule.
She grew so much in the short time we were gone, her hair started growing in, she started really crawling (I do miss the zombie crawl though) and pulling herself up in her crib! The standing in her crib is the biggest shock and bestest greeting! Thank goodness she didn't start that until the last few days at my parents because we had penned her in at the trailer using totes and piles of clothes/blankets on the pull out couch before the playpen/crib arrived and the crib wasn't very deep. I think I have the image ingrained in my mind of the one night at my parents; just as I was settling in for bed and playing on the iTouch, Alexiss started rousing. I figured if I was quiet enough she'd fall back asleep...until I heard the familiar "come-get-me" cry. I turned on the lights to her standing looking at me, patiently waiting for me to get my act together and realize she wanted a midnight shnack.
The visits! Oh, the visits! It was non-stop, sometimes two visits in a day! It was so fun to see everyone again and share Alexiss with them, she was a hit...which was a good thing..since I was often busy and distracted. Mom loved showing everyone what a great reader, or rather page-turner she is. The toys! The clothes! I can't believe I managed to get everything packed and home, Bill helped with the packing-puzzle the morning we left, if it wasn't for him I'm sure I would've had to leave some things behind.
St. Thomas was our first stop. Alexiss really enjoyed her time with Oma and Opa, the walks through the park and the fun and games, the BBQs and meeting family and friends. It was super special to have all of Mark's friends home and gathering and laughing together. Again, I was distracted making sure we were packed for a day/night out, getting her fed, changed and just general baby duty that I didn't always get much of a chance to visit.
In Niagara I reconnected with so many good long time friends, part of me wanted to just stay and tell Mark to pack up and move. Upon returning to Calgary I realized Carseland is still home.... if only here and there were closer.
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