Life After Baby

Thoughts

2011-03-26T16:32:00.003-04:00

Writing during one of baby's longer naps reminds me of when I first started this blog. I am grateful to have some time on my hands to write down my thoughts.

We have changed daycares and this week (Thurs.) marks her last day. I have so many worries. Will she adjust to the new place? Will my parents and my hubby get along? Will the new schedule be okay for our family?

Then, there are worries about how my parents are doing too. They are getting older and although they have their health, they have many worries of their own that they shouldn't have to deal with, but do. I think about them all the time and I hope they are okay.

Speak of the the devil, she's up and I have to go!

The Longest Break

2011-03-07T20:49:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been ages...Really. I am back at work (a new school), moved into a new house and somewhat surviving parenthood with a 19 month old now. It's been crazy.

My little one is constantly getting sick from daycare. We are pulling her from the daycare she is attending now to go to anther one. The reason is not because of the constant colds she is catching, but my parents are able to help with looking after her two days a week and with my hubby's schedule, we can switch her from full time to half time daycare! I think it's best for everyone involved. I am very happy with this decision.

She is entering her terrible twos early I am afraid. Lately, diaper changes and outfit changes are a struggle. If you take anything away from her she cries and coupled with teething and waking up early and going to bed later has really taken its toll on Mommy.

She's Walking!

2010-08-14T14:59:00.003-04:00

Okay, two blogs in one day? Well, this one is a happy notice and I have to get it out that my baby is walking!

And with walking comes falling. She has taken quite a nasty fall today. She likes to walk around with a toy in one hand...Not the best walker yet so, she's still unsteady on her feet. She crashed on the side of the wooden end table and bruised her cheek and forehead. I feel so bad when I see her take these spills but I know it's not the first and certainly not the last. I do understand that she has to learn how to walk by falling and watching out for things that can/will hurt her when she falls. Up until this point, she wasn't fearful of anything.

So, my hubby started to rearrange the furniture so that she can't hit herself of the TV by moving the soft automan near it. I don't like this idea because now she doesn't have anything to move around to practice her walking. I told him this, but like many things he is set to, he just ignored and yelled at me. He also went up to sleep when the accident happened and the only time he seems to lend me his help is when she is compliant or hurt. I had her in my arms when he came down and literally took her from me! I don't want this to happen again because I was want her to know that mama is there to comfort her too. Next time, it happens I have to tell him to back off. I hate to say it, but he is a little selfish when it comes to stuff like that. Although, I kinda feel badly for him because he wasn't home when she took her first steps and when she started walking on her own.

I am grateful for being off a year to make sure I didn't miss any of her milestones and whatever extra work I have to do, I do it without any regrets because I know my daughter appreciates and loves me for all the hard work I do.

It's just getting hard to cope with my husband on a lot of issues.

Frustration

2010-08-14T14:43:00.002-04:00

I know it's bound to happen from time to time, but this time I am truly pissed off at my hubby for acting stupid. It started a few weeks ago when I was offered a car seat from my brother to which we totally were thankful for since we were looking for one at the time. Last week, before I left to visit my brother, hubby says to me "you better get that car seat or I might as well go and buy one myself..." how rude is that? So rude...Anyway, I made sure my brother could bring it on my visit and I even got my other brother to install it for me.

I thought all was well, but when I got home the immediate response was, "why did you put it in that car?" Not a thank-you or anything. Well, not even a day went by without him taking it out of one car and putting it in another. I was puzzled by this because does it really matter what car it goes in? I kinda wanted it in the new car because I thought I'd be the one to drive that car more...Whatever, his reasons were wrong weight restriction, defected, more safety in the other car (which we both know is crap) and there's more space in the other car.

So, after he takes the thing apart, he can't put it together! He plays with the damn thing for a whole day and decides that it's defected and uses that as an excuse to go out and buy another one twice as expensive. Says, he's paying it out of his own money so, he doesn't care. I call up my brother to explain what happened and get him to show me how to put it in another day but my hubby keeps pushing the issue with him by asking him how to do it over the phone. My brother at this point feels so under minded and pissed that the work he did was not appreciated (which is true in part of my husband) and he obviously isn't going out of his way to help him over the phone.

I am upset because my hubby has no respect for my brothers...and in turn, none for me. Instead of explaining it to them, he makes me deal with getting it and then doing damage control. I am not going to speak for him. In fact, I told my brothers that he is stupid about the whole thing and the bottom line is, he wants the one he picked out because he feels it's better. I apologized to all involved. I am taking the old seat back tomorrow and hoping never to deal with it again. I won't ever ask for anything from my brothers if it involves my hubby anymore. I promise that much.

As for the battle over which car it goes in? At this point I really don't care, so long as my baby has a seat to sit in when I drive. It does make sense for it to be in the bigger car only because where ever she goes, so does all the other stuff. And it would be really hard for me to carry my school things with all her things in the trunk. And I would only have to drive the bigger car twice a week...If he keeps up with that bargain. See, I am reasonable. I will think about the situation and if I am wrong, I will own it and make a change.

I feel that my husband is a kid on certain things...He puts up a fit if he doesn't like something and eventually we all give in. Whatever. I feel sorry for him.

Happy First Birthday!

2010-08-01T21:04:00.004-04:00

My sweet little girl turned one yesterday. We had a big party for her (30 people)and everyone had a great time. Baby #1 woke up from her nap and was cranky until people started to arrived. Then, it was nothing but smiles. We had lots of food, presents and excitement. All in all, it was a great day. We started playing with a lot of her new presents today. Clothes, toys, wagon (from Mom and Dad), shoes, money and CAKE!

I can't believe how fast time flies. My maternity leave is officially over and I am so grateful I have another month off (bonus). I am a little sad that my baby is one already. I hear from others that it won't be long before she is 10! I can't imagine it.

We bought a house after a chaotic week. It's a beautiful home and now things are set for me to return to work and not have to drive far. I am also glad not to be returning to my old work where people there were so mean and bitter. I am going to be farther from my parents though and that saddens me a lot. But, I know that they are just an hours drive away and I will make an effort to drive out to see them. Not only for my own sake, but because I don't want Baby #1 to forget about her Grammy and Grandpa :)

Things between hubby and myself are okay. I am tired and can't wait to move to and readjust to work, baby and life again.

Baby#1 Is Almost 1 Year Old!!

2010-07-21T21:56:00.001-04:00

Well, it's been quite the eventful year with Baby#1 of course being born, followed by a family tragedy and then my new job, selling our house...And hopefully buying and moving into a new house? My maternity leave has been far from a "year off". If there was a better time to make major life changes, it is now.

I can't believe my little girl is turning 1. I had really wanted to have a party for her and I am so happy that everyone is supportive. We will be having two parties for the first year because we have so many people to invite. On Sat. we will have our friends and my family party. In August, we will have all of my hubby's side of the family. For Sat. we have about 20 people coming and I think for a two hour party it's just the right amount of people and time. I have planned it around her nap so she will wake up, eat and then party! I hope it goes well. We will mingle, talk and eat until everyone gets here and then meet to open presents and take pictures and end with cake! I don't want to overdue it, I want her and our guests to come and have a good time. I think I need more decorations though. Maybe coloured napkins and balloons.

Starting the second year and on, I won't have to worry about inviting everyone. I want to focus on hosting or going out with just the family. Making things even lower key.

Baby#1 is not walking yet, but she is sooo close. She can walk with support, has four visible teeth, drools, climbs, chases, picks up things with her fingers, can feed herself, drink from a sippy cup, swim, follow a good sleep schedule and smile at everyone! She still fights her sleep, poops a lot, takes bites too big for her mouth, loves car rides, strolls in her stroller.

Hubby and I are doing well...We are lucky to have such a good baby. Although, I wish he could help out a little more, but I understand how busy he has been with work and all the house stuff. I have decided not to entertain the idea of another baby until we move, I get settled at my new job, Baby#1 going to daycare and me adjusting to all of this change. Once I feel at peace with my life again, I know I will be ready. Not yet though!

Sold...Again!

2010-07-19T18:53:00.002-04:00

Well, we sold our house again. Hehehe...What a joke. It's conditionally sold until the end of the week when we firm up for real. Tomorrow a house hunting we will go!

NOT!

2010-07-16T19:39:00.001-04:00

Would you believe it, the people who bought our house, couldn't get financing for it so the deal fell through. Our house is up for sale again.

Almost Baby#1's first birthday!!

House Sold!

2010-07-03T10:35:00.003-04:00

Well, with our house a little under two weeks on the market, we have sold. Now, I am not terribly happy with how much we sold it for (although we have made over $60,000 profit), I think we could have pushed for more and gotten it. However, as my hubby and agent said, we just don't know how the market will be in a few weeks and if we would get any more offers. So, we settled and we are moving!

Now, we have to look for a house. We know whereabouts, but we have to find a house. For me, I just want to a move a little closer to work. It's been a big month...I changed work place, we found daycare for Baby#1, bought a new car and sold our house.

A little feedback first on how my orientation went at work...I love my new work and the people who work there. I have a positive feeling about this place and I know I will enjoy it far more than where I was. Do you know that I wasn't even invited to the year end party of my old work? That really pissed me off and made me feel sad and hurt that nobody thought of me (wanted me there) after I have worked with them for ten years! I got a pity call the next day and apparently a few of them want to have a party for me next week. BULL SHIT! I wouldn't go there even if they paid me! I spoke to a co-worker about it the other day and honestly let her know how it made me feel to know that they didn't even think of me. I told them if it was something I had done. I was never the type to say what is on my mind, but I was able to say what I needed to say because I know I never have to work with these people again. Yesterday, I had an e-mail from another co-worker wanting to get together with me this summer....Um...Let me think about this....NO!

My old place of work was surrounded by negative, jealous, angry people...I don't need to keep any friends there. In fact, I would much rather forget about them all. It's time for me to focus on my new work and make new friends there.

Baby#1 is doing great! She isn't walking yet, but everyday is an adventure. It's hard to keep up with her. She is napping and sleeping well :) I am able to do my own thing while she sleeps. I am confident she will be fine at daycare. I have to plan for her first birthday party...Don't know what I would like to do. It will probably be a dinner gathering at a Chinese restaurant since we have so many people to invite and I don't see us hosting at the house.

I will definitely get back to you once I figure everything out.

A New Car

2010-06-19T20:27:00.001-04:00

We just bought a new car today. I knew it was coming as my old 94 Tercel was on its last leg. It finally died on my hubby yesterday and instead of putting more money into fixing it, we decided to buy a new car! So, we did...Today!

A lot of new changes to my life and it's all happening so fast. I hope it's okay to go through these changes one after the other so quickly...Job, house for sale, new car. I want things to slow down a bit!!

I am super excited and can't wait until we get it on Thurs.

New House = New Problems

2010-06-18T19:36:00.005-04:00

It's been a while since my last blog, so let me catch you up.

Baby #1 is doing well, she is now 10.5 months old! I can't believe how fast she has grown-up. She is eating everything (still purreed and some chunky bits) and starting to enjoy finger foods (cheese, cheerios and baby biscuits). Today she tried homo. milk for the first time. I am happy to say good-bye to the formula and hello to saving some money! She doesn't nap for long now and it's hard to get her to take that first morning nap. I heard that as babies get older they don't nap as frequently. She doesn't sleep readily at 7:30pm either. She hangs out in her crib and plays and babbles to herself before falling asleep around 8:00pm. She is crawling and standing and climbing everywhere! I think she will walk soon. She has had a few falls (nothing serious) that have left some scrapes and bruises. I think it bothered Mommy more than it bothered her. She is growing out of her stage 3 diapers (weighs 19.8 lbs.) and peeing out of them...But I want to go through all the diapers before cracking open the stage 4s. This might not be a good idea though, if it means I have to do more laundry!

As for me, things have settled down quite a bit since all the craziness of job applications, resumes and interviews. I am waiting for the first meeting at the end of the month to get myself ready. I have a lot to do and want to get in and set up as soon as I can. Learning to enjoy what's left of the summer as my maternity leave comes to an end.

As if I haven't had enough on my plate lately, we are selling our house and moving soon...Well, it all depends on how fast we sell our townhouse here. I think in the long run it is the best situation because it means I will be getting even closer to work. We also have to find daycare for Baby near by. NEAR BY is the key to my motivation to moving. I am so tired of driving so far, moving away from my hometown and family to live out here. I feel like I have given up so much with no real reward in return.

Lately, I have been feeling more and more like a single mother. I rarely see my hubby as he is at work or too tired from work to do stuff with me (or the baby). And on his days off, he takes more work! I know he is working hard for the family, but money won't get back time missed with the baby. I am the one going taking care of the house, baby and myself. What will happen once I start work? Well, I can tell you this much, I won't be stressing about the house. I am sad to send little Baby to daycare, but I know I will be the one to wake up and get her ready and take her everyday. It will be a major adjustment and I really don't know how it will work out. I will need a lot of help around the house and with the baby that's for sure!

I have a friend who doesn't work full time, but has two children and her husband doesn't help out and I would hate to see the same thing happen to me. Although, I've always been one to organize and I will have to learn to prioritize and adjust. It's hard though, when you know things are rough now and it's just going to get harder.

Are any of you out there in the same position? How do you handle the baby, work and home? I respect all the single moms out there...I don't know how you do it.

Dress and Job

2010-06-01T21:31:00.000-04:00

Well, first of all...The dress did not fit. Not by a landslide! I will choose to wear a skirt with a blouse and some cute sandals instead.

I got the job transfer. Yes! Finally!! Went into school to visit staff and students, set the record straight and say my goodbyes.

Can't wait to open this new chapter in my life.

Dress

2010-05-28T11:14:00.001-04:00

Well, the dress didn't fit. I have to go out and buy another one in time for next week. It's so depressing not to be able to fit into any of my clothes from my pre-pregnancy days. However, I have been keeping up with my exercising and have even gone out for runs. It has been quite hot these past few days, so I have gone out early with the stroller for walks before the sun got too strong.

I know I told you I had plans all set about going back to work etc. but another idea came into fruition two days ago. Something through my work union that allows employees to "swap" positions if their bosses also agree to it. Well, I found someone who works where I'd like to work and she wants to work where I am working, so we have agreed to meet with the principals to see if they will agree to the swap. Unfortunately, I am not feeling that my principal is as excited about this as I am because she has to do some work, but it's worth a try and I am going to yet another interview this afternoon.

I am not nervous, rather I want to get it over and done with so I can get on with my summer holiday and not worry about this anymore. This is my last option.

Will post later to let you know how it goes.

Going to a Wedding

2010-05-24T10:31:00.003-04:00

Going to a couple of weddings this summer and I want to look fabulous! I want to see all my friends and show them just how much I have taken care of myself...Hehehe...When I really know that I have been slacking in the exercise dept.

Well, it's a really hot day today and I took Baby #1 out for a walk early after her first bottle. I did a brisk walk twice around our "complex" and the sun was already beating down on us and thought it was enough for her, although I really should have gone around one more time. Maybe I will go for an evening run when hubby returns from work? Will do my stomach crunches after writing this blog.

I have done so much already today and I feel great. It's true what they say about moving your body, even if it is only for a little bit. I want to try my sun dress today and see if it fits...I'm a little nervous as it was a good fit before I had the baby and I haven't worn it since. If it doesn't fit, I have to go out and look for one. I know I won't fit in my little black dress...Maybe it's time to go out and find another one?

Let you know how it all goes and fits!

Getting Back

2010-05-22T13:28:00.001-04:00

Ugh, I have to admit...As much as I was enthusiastic about getting back into shape and going for a run everyday, I have been lazy this past month with all the job interviews and such that I regret wasting my time and energy on that and not on getting back into shape.

I started back up again yesterday. I hate the flabby skin around my tummy and thighs. I just want to look slim again. I am convinced that there is no way to lose weight except to eat healthy and exercise.

I have the whole summer to work on this and I will try my hardest.

Blister on Lip

2010-05-15T18:18:00.003-04:00

Well, Baby #1 seems to have a blister on her upper lip. It looks just like the blister she used to get when she started bottle feeding but, it can't be the same because she is now 9 months and has not had a bottle/breast blister in ages.

Just before it appeared, daddy pulled a piece of skin off her lip...Could it be an irritation from that? Yikes!

As for the final round of postings for work? I decided to stay at my current workplace because we seem to have snagged a wonderful daycare for Baby #1! I can't throw her chances of daycare away to something as fickle as these job postings.

Strike Two

2010-05-12T00:02:00.002-04:00

Well, once again...No call backs after the two interviews. I am so tired of applying and being told "you're such a good candidate" and then being disappointed when I don't get a call. One more round of applications to go and then it will be final as to where I will be returning to work in Sept. Now that I know what the people at work really think about me, it's hard for me to feel motivated to return. I have sent them updates on how I have been doing on mat. leave and just two people are writing back to me...It sucks. I wish I could work in an ultra cool environment and love my job.

Baby #1 is doing so well. The pool water was too cold for a swim today so we vegged out at my parents' house. It was fun. She can crawl, sit up, clap her hands, chew solids and feed herself Mum mums. It's so much fun to be around her now. I can't wait until she starts walking!

After all this job stuff is over next week, it's time for me to plan her first birthday party! I can't wait to move on and move forward.

I jokingly tell my hubby and parents that my maternity leave ended when I started to apply and look at postings. It's true, but I shouldn't be wasting my precious time with her moping around and feeling bummed out! I only have a few more months left before I have to go to work and Baby #1 has to go to daycare and we will have less time to spend together.

It's time to appreciate what I have and not take it for granted...There are people in the world who are without a job and have a small baby.

Stay tuned for more updates on the last posting and how that turns out.

The Waiting Game

2010-05-06T18:04:00.000-04:00

Well, I got two interviews from the 12 applications I sent out. I went to both interviews today. I think I did really well on the first one because I didn't bomb on the questions I bombed on in the first round. The second one didn't go too well because I felt I didn't have experience in one of the positions and the interview just didn't have a good flow.

I have to wait now until next Tuesday to find out whether or not I will got it. I really hope I do get it. It's time for a change and it's about time that I find work closer to home. Out of all the interviews (only 4), I really liked today's first location. I would be happy to accept it if they offer it to me.

Baby #1's first choice daycare is on the way and close by. It would be perfect.

The Waiting Game

2010-05-05T12:59:00.001-04:00

So, the roller coaster ride of applying starts again. Round two this time. I have applied to 12 positions this time (half of what I applied to in the 1st postings). I will keep you updated as to how I do on the interviews.

Still on waiting lists for daycare and today we went to visit one that was amazing! The cost is amazingly high as well, but there's no price we wouldn't pay to have our baby looked after carefully. It's a waiting game for this too.

A Disappointment

2010-04-29T19:59:00.001-04:00

Well, no call back from the interviews. I have to admit it's really disappointing. I still have two more chances and two more times I have to go through this very stressful process. I hate the idea of spending the last few months of my maternity leave applying for a job. I thought I was okay with the idea of not getting the job, but my hubby keeps bringing it up and suggests ways I should interview etc. which I know he means well, but is driving me nuts. To top it off, I have caught a horrible cold.

On a wonderful note and the only thing that can bring me out of this horrible bad luck is my little baby girl. She learned to crawl and is crawling everywhere now! As much as it is a wonderful milestone, I am now constantly on the go following her around and making sure she is not getting into a lot of trouble.

Feeling Deflated

2010-04-26T21:09:00.002-04:00

Well, no other calls for interviews. This means, out of 25 applications, I only got 2 call backs. Went to two interviews today.

The first one was at a very affluent community and you could totally tell everyone working and attending there was all about money. The interview was hard...A panel of three people and 5 questions. I didn't do well on some of the questions and felt like I was running circles at times. They just didn't seem like "my" people.

The second one was the total opposite. A small organization with not a lot of money. The interview went really well, even though I missed on one question. A lot warmer atmosphere and nicer people to work with. The problem, the structural surrounding that I am going to work in isn't the way I like it.

What to do? At this point I don't think I will get any more interviews for this round. Odds are I will get the job from the second interview, but do I want to give up what I have now (which is better) for distance alone?

Here are my options. Take it and try it. If I don't like it, post out next year. Try second and/or third posting and if all else fails, go back to Lanor.

Hey if any of you reading this have suggestions for me, please help!

First Round of Job Postings

2010-04-23T12:10:00.001-04:00

Well, yesterday I sent out 25 applications to find a job closer to home. Interviews are held next week and I should know if I will be transferred by the end of next week. I have really mixed emotions about this change in my life...I think it's best to move work closer to home and ultimately move our home to where we would like to live and raise our family. That's my #1 goal right now. I will miss my old work though because it was close to my home town and I had been working there for 10 years! At the same time, I welcome change in my career and am totally open to a new assignment...Something I would not entertain a few years ago.

I will keep you posted and hope for the best.

Published in Canadian Family Magazine

2010-04-14T15:20:00.004-04:00

Hmmm...A blog that's not about Baby #1. That's okay, if it wasn't for her I would have never written an article that won in Canadian Family Magazine!

I was shocked to see that my entry on breast/bottle feeding won. What was funny about the whole thing was the fact that I didn't tell anyone about it and my mom got the magazine and read the article and thought, "Wow, this person sounds just like my daughter..." And she saved the magazine for me to read!! I picked it up not thinking anything of it because I had not heard from the magazine editors for weeks and then I saw my entry. I am still super excited and happy to be in a wonderful magazine with all Canadian content for mothers.

Now, on to some other stuff. By the way, Baby #1 is fine. She has a tooth now and perhaps the one next to it is coming out too. She is fast asleep now as I type. I am writing today to ask people out there to help me with my blog. I'd love to add some photos or clip art pictures to jazz it up a little, but I don't know how to do this. If you're out there and reading my blog and perhaps you have a blog yourself or you're just good at setting up blogs, please send me some advice and help.

Picking Poo With A Q-Tip

2010-04-10T15:23:00.002-04:00

I never thought I'd blog about this, but yes...It finally happened. Natty was so backed up today that I had to "help" her by picking out the poop with a Q-Tip.

I knew things weren't going to go smoothly when she didn't go poo at all yesterday and after pushing for 10 min. there was no movement in the poo coming out. She was so tired of pushing that she curled up on the floor and started to suck her fingers (a sign of self comforting). It wasn't even a question of how gross or smelly I thought it was, I had to help my baby pass the poo or she would be miserable!

It was a messy job, but after picking away at it a bit she was able to push out the rest. After that, I fed her a spoonful of prunes and her next poop was back to normal! Voila, the prunes do work. I think I should feed her a spoonful of prunes everyday just to keep this from happening.

They don't tell you this stuff at the hospital and no one tells you what to do when it happens. I do appologize for the grossness of this blog, but I figure if I went through this, there must be other mothers and fathers wondering what to do and how to prevent this from ever happening again.

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T12:08:00.003-04:00

Well, it's Easter holidays and we celebrated Natalie's first "little girl's" Japanese doll festival at my parents house yesterday. I love my mom for hosting this time. It gave me a chance to relax and be a guest for once.

I always love visiting my parents house with Baby #1, but this time it was special because both my brothers were there too. Although our family is a strange one and there are tensions between members of the family, this was a great way to come together.

Baby #1 was fabulous! No time to go for a swim this time, but plenty of time to jump on the Jolly Jumper and just make everyone smile.

On a really good note, I think I have figured out what was causing her to scream and cry after eating...Not so much the formula, but the amount of food I was feeding her? Maybe I was giving her too much to eat. After adjusting the amount of solids, I am finding that she is quite content and has regular poos. Not the stinky, runny, out of the diaper type poos. Also, she is pooing once a day...Which is better than 3-4 times a day.

I hope this information is helpful to all those mothers who are starting with solids. It's really hard to know the amount, but I think with a little experimentation, I have it right.

A Swim Date

2010-04-02T09:19:00.002-04:00

I took my baby for her first swim at her grandparents' condo yesterday. I was amazed at how well she did. I was afraid at first that the water would be too cold for her, but it didn't seem to upset her. After dressing her in her swimsuit, we put her in a tub of warm water and then took her to the pool. I think it was because she was already wet that being put in the water didn't bother her. She was definitely unsure about it at first, but then she was a natural. Kicking her feet and waving her hands in the water. I was careful to keep her face out of the water though.

We were in the pool for 15 min. and then we decided it was time to get her washed up and head for home. What was strange was her reaction out of the pool. She cried more when we took her out of the pool than when she was in the pool. Even though we had her tub filled with warm water and we used the same soap to wash her, she was wailing. Could it have been the bench we used to dress her on that was too hard? Was the water too cold for her? It will be interesting to change some things the next time we go to see if she handles things better.

It was definitely a 3 person job. My mom and I had to get dressed first, and then get her from my dad and then while in the pool, my dad was in charge of pictures and again waiting to get her once she was all washed and dressed.

All in all, a great experience and I'm sure she enjoyed it as well.

Is Watching Television Dangerous For Infants?

2010-03-31T20:42:00.004-04:00

I am trying to limit the amount of TV I am showing to Baby #1 because of what I learned from a close friend of mine who also has a little baby. She tries hard not to show her baby any TV because she says it causes the brain to switch attention too quickly just the the images on the TV screen do. Therefore, a child would find everyday stuff boring. I've been online reading the research that has been done on infants watching TV and developing ADD later in life. Although the results are inconclusive, why put my baby at risk?

It's hard. I have to admit, I LOVE watching TV and much of my day is spent sitting in front of it with my baby. We also have placed our baby in the Bumbo chair in front of the TV and she watches it! She loves 3 commercials and a few shows on Tree House. My hubby and I have agreed that we should start to wean her off it because we would hate to have her ADD. What scared me about this is the fact that I know a friend who has a son who is severely ADD and she told me all he did as an infant and child was watch TV. His language development was also delayed.

Scary stuff...I hope my baby isn't going to develop ADD...I hope making this change will reverse some of the damage already done.

Blogging With Baby Next To Me

2010-03-30T09:22:00.001-04:00

I never thought this would be possible. Baby #1 is sitting next to me (on her Bumbo) watching me Blog. Her poos seem to be getting better, but last night she pooped out of her diaper and was still fast asleep! I felt horrible waking her up, but when I saw just how dirty she was, I had to put her in a bath. She didn't complain and went back to sleep as soon as I finished bathing her.

Bananas, appple sauce and prunes are now not in her diet this week and she seems to be happier. I will have to monitor the situation and perhaps omit these items from her diet.

Thurs. is a big day. Baby #1 and I are going to go swimming for the first time. I shall be back to blog this momentous occasion after we return from our day at the "spa"

Just Keeping It Short

2010-03-23T19:47:00.000-04:00

Baby #1 had a great day today...It's hard to believe that it's been so long since she's had a good day. Two poos and all her naps. Although her naps are short (an hour tops) she did go down for them today.

It's almost 8pm now and I think she's ready for bed. I hope she sleeps well tonight.

No Napping!

2010-03-17T17:14:00.003-04:00

Well, she's not that grumpy after feeding anymore...I figured it had to be the change in her formula. Seeing as how she is not 7+ mo. old, I thought I should change to stage 2 of the formula she's used to drinking. Ever since this change, I've noticed that she is just not well after feedings. I changed back to her original birth to 12 mo. formula and things are back to normal.

But, what's strange with Baby #1 lately is she has stopped napping. It reminds me of when she was a newborn and never took naps. Well, that's back again. She's not grumpy unless I try to place her in the crib. Screams and refuses to sleep. So how is she at night? The same, in fact her bedtime has changed to 9pm and not 6:30pm. She is awake by 8am in the morning.

How can a small baby go without sleep for so long? I dunno...

My Little Grumpy

2010-03-14T16:44:00.004-04:00

Baby #1 has been extremely grumpy the past few days...She's having trouble eating, pooing, sleeping and just being her happy self. She used to be a happy go lucky kid and this teething thing has gotten to the both of us :( She's miserable and I can't imagine what she's going through, but it's been tough on me too.

She doesn't enjoy eating lately. Sometimes her mouth hurts so much she screams when the spoon touches her gums. I try to give her cold fruit puree and cool apple juice to soothe her sore gums.

She screams when she has to go poo. Kinda like she did when she was constipated, but the poo isn't that hard. She also has been having these explosive diarrhea type poos. They leak out of her diaper onto her onesie! This leakage has happened three times now. Good thing is, she is so comfortable and happy after wards.

She's napping now and even that has changed. She likes to bury her face in the bumper pads and this is stressing out daddy. I tried to remove the bumper pads and we know where that lead to. I tried to sleep her in the middle of the crib away from the edges and she manages to push herself to the corner. Two things that I have started. One, lie her width wise so she can't grab too much of the fabric and use a crochet blanket to cover her. So far, so good. I mean she's not burying her face now.

In terms of pain relief, I have tried teethers, cool vegetable to chew on, Sofie and Tempera. Tempera is the last resort and I have had to resort to it at least once a day. It seems like the end of the day is better

I hope her teeth come out soon so she stops drooling and returns to her happy self.

Nothing Like Family and Other Stuff

2010-02-25T20:12:00.003-05:00

Okay, so two blogs in one day? What's up with that? I've just lots to share.

So, the other night was my hubby's grandfather's 90th birthday celebration. I was of course worried about Baby #1's temperament especially after a similar outing proved horrible. Maybe it was because we were surrounded by family and although I felt indifferent about the whole gathering, Baby #1 was fantastic! Everyone loved her and wanted to hold her which was great for us because this meant we could sit and enjoy others' company and eat. She did get cranky around 9:30ish (3 hours past her usual bedtime) and didn't go down for a nap. I gave her a bottle because at this point she was long over due for a feeding and then all was great. It was time to go home and when we put her in the stroller this time, it was light's out immediately. The same even after changing her diaper and placing her in the crib.

Which leads me to other stuff...My baby loves to sleep with her face pushed against the bumper pads. I know it's not good to have them, but the reason why we decided to put them in was because she kept pushing herself to the corner of the crib and banging her head against the bars of the crib. So, as per daddy's request I took them off tonight with the hopes that with a blanket by her face she would cuddle that and be okay. HELL NO! She cried bloody murder two times in a span of 30 min. I had to rescue her and hold her to keep her from crying her head off. I had also put the bumper pads in the wash so they were still wet! To top it off, my dryer is broken (no tube for output air). Oh God, she would not sleep without things back to normal, so I did what any mother would do...Operate the broken dryer and put the bumper pads back!

After I got her crib put together, I placed her in it and she went to bed. Simple as that. No crying, no fussing. She just put her face to the corner and her fingers in her mouth and she was out.

It makes me smile when I think how similar she is to me. I too like things a certain way and if it works, I don't want it to change. And I have to say, it feels great when I do something I feel is going to make things better for her and it does.

P.S. I told her I was sorry for changing things and that I would change things back so she could go to sleep. I know she was listening and could totally understand.

The Bumbo Chair

2010-02-25T09:56:00.002-05:00

It took my husband and me a long time to give into this chair...At first we thought, how can a chair be so expensive! For a while I was using Baby #1's highchair as seat, but now I use it exclusively for her feedings and would like her to associate the highchair with feeding time. So...We gave in and paid $65 for the Bumbo chair.

At first Baby #1 didn't like it and she cried when we put her in it. Now, she has gotten used to it and likes it very much. Just a word of caution, she can get herself out of it so, supervision is necessary with this chair. I just wish it wasn't so darn expensive!

Looking For That Balance

2010-02-20T09:04:00.004-05:00

I've always been that person to want the fairytale ending to everything. After having a baby, I was still trying to be that way. Now, I can say that I am okay with the idea of finding a peaceful middle.

I love my life the way it is now...Although, I can't say I did when I first had the baby. It was hard. I felt alone even though I have a good family and husband. Now, I have settled in my new routine and have managed to cope with my new responsibilities. After talking to a friend who's going through a separation and knowing of a lady who is really having a hard time coping with feeling overwhelmed with all she has to do has got me thinking that there are a lot of people out there just like me. I have had my moments and still do at times, when I think why can't my husband help out more, why isn't he home more. But the truth of the matter is, I am the one on maternity leave...I wanted to be on leave a year to be with my baby. Doesn't that mean doing the majority of baby work? I've always been the one to cook meals and do most of the cleaning before the baby so, this is something that hasn't changed after the arrival of Baby #1.

Here's a list of the things I do on my own: Cook, laundry, dust, bottle and food preparation

Here's a list of things my hubby does on his own: Cars, home improvement and fix ups, vacuum, garbage, drives where ever we need to go

Here's a list of the things we do together: Diaper change, bathing baby, grocery shopping

Overall, I think he's pulling his weight and supporting me. There are rough times and sometimes it's me doing some of his things, but it's not all the time. I guess my friend was right in saying that maybe we do need to sacrifice some of our needs and like my dad says, put up with each other for a marriage to work. My friend admits that she hasn't given anything up for her husband and for their marriage and that's perhaps the reason why things went wrong.

I guess no one's marriage is perfect and if you throw a baby in the mix of things, you're bound to have some rocky days, weeks...And months. But, this is normal and I think that anyone who says, it's not has got bigger problems in their marriage and relationship.

I think being a SAHM/SAHD makes things harder. I think the partner begins to expect that things around the house and baby just be done by the one person who isn't working. As much as I wanted to be a SAHM before I had a baby, now that I see what happens to them in terms of expectations and emotions, I'm kind of glad that I am going back to work. It gives me some time away from the house, baby and husband to go out and enjoy something that is my passion. Only to come home to a lovely house, baby and husband. It also puts ownership on my husband to own up and be a mutual helper in household chores and child rearing. Again, it's all about balance.

Dad and Daddy Working Together

2010-02-18T20:12:00.004-05:00

So, today my dad is here to help my husband work on the back splash in the kitchen. I have to be honest in saying that my husband doesn't really "click" with my dad and I can feel the tension...I don't know what it is and I know it's not my dad. Ever since the baby was born and my parents came to help out (which was my request and I truly appreciated it) my husband was totally distant and cold towards them. I can't put my finger on what the problem is and I dare not ask. I hate feeling almost embarrassed by my husbands attitude towards them at times. I don't push for my mom or dad to come and visit us unless they really want to, or my husband invites them (like Christmas and other special holidays). It's sad and I feel like crying every time I think of it, but it's almost better this way because if I try to push it, things almost always go horribly wrong.

So far so good. I mean, there are times when I think my husband talks down to my dad and it's hard for me to see my dad not stick up to him...He's so patient and I love my dad for knowing what's going on, but taking it and avoiding conflict. My mom and dad aren't getting along well at home either. After my brother came back to the picture and brought all these problems with him, my parents have had to put their retirement life on hold and "babysit" my older brother. It hasn't been good on their marriage and my mom can be extremely hard on my dad. I can see it and I was glad to be able to talk to my dad alone yesterday and tell him how much I noticed his patience on the matter. My dad puts up with a lot and he really doesn't have anyone to talk to about how hard it is for him.

I love my dad more and more as I get older. I understand his sacrifices and I can see just how hard things are for him, but he never complains.

There's Still A Lot Of Love

2010-02-15T14:44:00.003-05:00

So, yesterday was Valentine's Day and up until I met my wonderful husband, I hated this holiday. The day before Valentine's Day, my hubby said to me, "Are we doing anything for Valentine's Day?" I said, "Nah, it's okay". I was feeling a little down in the dumps and tired. He texted me from work later that day to ask, "Do you want to go out for dinner on Valentine's Day?" I told him that I would much rather prefer to make a pot roast, open a bottle of red and relax. He was happy with that and he told me that he would have dessert ready. Hmmm...Dessert?

The day before V-day, I spent a great afternoon with the baby making cupcakes with chocolate icing and candied harts on top. Baby #1 added her special touch by drilling holes in the top of a few of them with her fingers! I also got a Valentine's Day card for both baby and daddy. Nothing elaborate, but special since it was Baby #1's first Valentine's Day, and I do love my hubby!

So, anyway back to the big day, when my husband came home he had picked up a beautiful Edible Arrangement bouquet and card. This bouquet was made of fruit and salad greens were used to add to the design. It was the most beautiful thing I had seen. I had to take pictures of it before we started eating it. We had a lovely dinner, put baby to sleep and enjoyed the rest of the evening diving into the fruit (some covered in chocolate).

My husband is so caring and he's so sweet. He totally knows what makes me happy and how to cheer me up when I'm down. Although there are times when he makes me mad and sad, it's stuff like this that makes me the happiest wife and mother.

Is Motherhood All It's Cut Out To Be?

2010-02-14T13:31:00.003-05:00

I'm following another mommy blog and the issue of having dad help out more around the house and with the baby has got me thinking and reflecting on my own situation. Does my hubby help out with baby duties as much as I think he should? No. Am I bitter and angry about it? No. Does it bother me? No. Why is this the case?!

I knew that the moment I had a baby my life would change. I would become even busier than ever. I am a very tidy, organized, goal oriented person (Blue-Gold personality) who hates change...How could it be that the biggest change in my life isn't causing me to be down right miserable with my life and running out to get divorce papers? I do wish my husband can help out more, but sometimes it's just easier to do things myself. I can't possibly complain about my hubby not helping if this is my attitude. However, there are a few things that my hubby does that I think he can do himself without my help and therefore alleviating my stress.

Here’s an example. When my hubby helps with the diaper he often says “can you get the wipes”, “can you put her clothes back on while I go wash my hands?” It’s like, come on…I might as well do it myself! I don’t know the last time I got all that help when I had to change my baby’s diaper. Now, I just put all the diapering stuff close to the play place so he can grab it without asking me for help.

Example two: Whomever said that bottle feeding will make it easier on moms because now the dads can help out with the feeding process was WRONG! On a good day, my hubby will give one out of four bottles to the baby. I make all the bottles the night before and keep them in the fridge. Now that my baby is eating solids, I am also making purees for her and freezing them. Hubby has yet to feed her any solids. As for the bottle and food prep. I don’t mind doing it since there is a lot of measuring that goes with it and it’s just too hard for me to explain it to him.

Example three: Bath time. Well, this used to be daddy’s job all the time. Now, I’d say he does it half the time. Partly because he’s at work and can’t be home in time to give her a bath. This is one task where I don’t need to help him at all. My hubby loves to give our baby a bath and does a great job! But I’m the one to cut her nails, do the lotion massage and get her dressed after wards.

There’s a heck of a lot more examples, but I’ll spare you the details. I guess what I am trying to say is, sometimes we enable our husbands to act the way they do by not telling them something is wrong and that we need more of their help. Easier said than done though because I’m not one to ask for help. But, how are they supposed to know we need help if we don’t ask for it? Some husbands are really in tune with their wife’s needs, but this isn’t my case at all. I’m learning to be honest by saying, “Hun, it was a horrible day. I need your help.” I’m so lucky to have a husband who doesn’t ignore my pleas for help and pitches in the best he can. We appreciate what we do for each other and for the baby. I think this is most important in our relationship.

It’s no surprise that we do so much on a daily basis because we are at home with our babies most of the time and we love doing it I’m sure SAHDs would say the same thing. So, in the words of a close friend of mine, “don’t sweat the small stuff” and “work smarter, not harder”.

P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Jealousy Is An Ugly Thing

2010-02-04T19:48:00.002-05:00

Being off on maternity leave and currently writing a resume thinking of posting out and transferring schools for work has got me thinking...Who really cares about Mrs.___ at _____JMS?

I was always well liked by the students and parents of my school. The only school I have worked at for 9 years. Now, that I am off from work and missing out on the daily gossip in a female dominated profession I have a totally different perspective on my colleagues now that I am looking in from the outside. I've always been the one to send out these update e-mails with pictures letting people at work know how and what I've been up to and only a handful of people at work actually write back. Also, they don't really tell me what I'm missing and what's been happening. Is it just me? Or is this normal? I send them out because I actually care to let them know how I am doing and that I think about them daily. A part of me wants to stop all communication, but that's not me and it would suck if I didn't post out this spring and had to go back.

I studies in psychology that some people don't like hearing about others doing well...So, maybe they are jealous to hear about what I am doing on my time off? My beautiful baby? Happy and fulfilled life? Oh well...It sucks to be them.

A bit of venting tonight, sorry.

Trying to Wean Baby #1 Off Noise

2010-02-04T14:10:00.002-05:00

I am going to try to wean Baby #1 off of the white noise that I so desperately depended on when she would not sleep. Why change a good thing? Well, I am hoping that she will be able to sleep in other peoples' houses and my grandparents house when we go over to visit and it gets late. So far, Baby #1 has had horrible experiences staying out late because she refuses to sleep when it's her bedtime (7pm). I think one of the problems is, is that we have her trained in her crib and with the white noise. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have a sleeping baby on a routine rather than to have a baby that NEVER sleeps through the night or take naps during the day, but it's got me thinking that perhaps she can be trained to sleep without the comforts of home sometimes.

I will give it a try now.

Also, I'd like to report that Baby#1 can fully turn over from her back to her belly and from belly to back. She also can hold her bottle when given formula. Eating solids is also going well. She's had rice and oat cereal, carrots, sweet potato, parsnip, peas, and butternut squash. I went out to buy another case of Baby Cubes to start her on fruit next week. I am excited to try her in the swimming pool too! I bought a pair of Tushies swimming pants. Just need to get a t-shirt her for top and we should be ready to give swimming a try.

Dusting Off The Old Resume

2010-02-01T22:34:00.002-05:00

Today, I finally bit the bullet and started to write a resume. I'm not quitting my job, but I will be looking to post out of my current work location to another location closer to where I am living now. Of course I have another 6 months on maternity leave, but I don't like to leave important things like this off. Not a procrastinator.

Baby #1 was awesome today, she let me type away and actually listened to me read over my resume. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it turned out...It's not everyday that you are asked to talk about your strengths and experiences in one page! It was hard to write about myself.

Wish me luck, I hope I get transferred :) This will be an ongoing blog topic for sure.

Devine Dining

2010-01-31T23:39:00.002-05:00

Today was take two of going out with Baby #1. The difference this time was that we were going to have dinner at a friend's house. It went much better. She didn't sleep at her normal bedtime and when we tried to put her down, she cried and we had to hold her, but at least this time we could put her down on the floor. I think it was 10pm when I tried to put her back in the car seat and although she protested, a little rocking made her fall asleep and then, I just draped a blanket over the entire car seat and left her to sleep in a quiet dark room. Not a peep out of her this time :)

When we got home, she was so tired she didn't even wake up when we moved her from the car seat to her crib.

I can honestly say I enjoyed myself tonight.

Disasterous Dinner

2010-01-30T11:12:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I had probably the worst night out with Baby #1. Well, it was our fault for taking her out at the time when she is usually winding down for the night and we were just heading out. It was our friend's baby's 30th day celebration. The minute we got there she started up crying and screaming to be taken out of her car seat. We had to walk her in our arms the entire night! She didn't even want to sit on my lap. The night went on and she wouldn't go to sleep either. To top things off, she was drooling so much that her entire bib was soaked by the end of the night! It just got worse and worse. I barely had anything to eat or drink and my husband and I had to take turns holding her.

The table we were sitting at had a young couple and people who didn't really speak english. I felt bad for not socializing with them, but Baby #1's screaming and crying was the only thing on my mind. My husband on the other hand had NO problem eating and talking with everyone.

I finally took her out of the restaurant and forced her in the stroller and walked up and down the halls of the shopping plaza for 40 min. before she finally fell asleep. It was 10:30pm at that time and it was 11:30 by the time we got home. Never, EVER again will I take her out to a restaurant past her bed time. Lesson learned.

Baby #1 Constipation Issues

2010-01-26T16:42:00.002-05:00

Okay, so Baby #1 didn't go poo for a day and yesterday morning at 5AM the poor child woke up wailing! She normally sleeps until 8:30am or so and never cries like that. I woke up to find a jaw breaker size poo in her diaper. Sorry for the graphic analogy, but it really was firm and round. It wasn't her usual bowel movement. Usually, she goes later in the morning and it's greeny, yellow or browish green and a lot runnier in texture. After this poo, she was able to settle herself down only to wake up after a half an hour to poo again. This time, a little softer. Then after her usual cereal and bottle she pooed again! A normal poo this time and she was all smiles there after.

I called my mom out of concern and she told me that it's probably constipation due to her new diet. She is eating 2 tbs. of cereal now. So, yesterday I steamed and pureed some carrots and tried to give her a little water before she went to sleep.

This morning, things are back to normal. No constipation and she seems to like eating carrots for the first time. She likes it mixed in with her cereal :) I am so excited to introduce Baby #1 to new foods. I can't wait to steam and puree some more yummy veggies.

When You're Shopping At Lululemon...

2010-01-20T14:01:00.003-05:00

I went to another Lululemon location today to attempt to exchange my running gloves. I was pleased to find that the location (although very far from my home) had the S/M size in coal gray! I asked them to hold them for me and they did.

On the phone, the lady said they could not guarantee an exchange without looking at my gloves first. I was worried that they would find something wrong with them, but all was okay. I hadn't worn them at all-except to try them on.

So...Here's a little blurb on how to shop at Lululemon with 100% satisfaction:

1. Do your research online. Find out colour, design, and size. Read the reviews too.
2. When you purchase something from the store, try them on. Walk around in them. Try one size smaller and one size bigger to really get a feel of your size.
3. Get the complimentary hem only if you are 100% satisfied with the product, as you can't do exchanges or returns after they are hemmed.
4. KEEP the receipts and tags in case you need to return or exchange.

I'm looking forward to my next purchase from this store...Once I save up enough money that is! Overall, I'd say it was a good experience.

A Word On Lululemon

2010-01-19T15:32:00.003-05:00

Okay, I love the products at Lululemon so much so that I have purchased a pair of groove pants and running gloves....$150.oo later! But I have to say, I am a little disappointed with the people who work there and the way they should be teaching their customers about their products.

I didn't know that there were other designs and colours available in my size for the groove pants. I only found out after I checked their website! I love my pants, but I would have loved to have the pink or blue coloured waistband. I also got them hemmed which means, no more exchanges or returns.

When I went to buy the running gloves, they had the colour I wanted but not the size! On the web, it says O/S (one size). So, I thought it was okay, but when I checked online there was also a S/M (small-medium) size! My gloves are M/L (medium-large). What sucks is, I lost the receipt! I called the store today and they do offer exchanges, but they don't have the size I am looking for. I have two more stores to call and I will have to drive out of town, but I really want to get them in the proper size.

Oooh, I know it's a small thing, but it feels like it's taking me a while to get my hands on my Lululemon stash!

Getting Back To Shape

2010-01-17T17:25:00.002-05:00

Feeling a little more fabulous than last week because I started to workout. Not running, but just doing little exercises to tone my tummy and thighs. I will be looking for a treadmill or eliptical machine in the near future and looking forward to getting my cardio back to where it was before having a baby.

I heard someone say this somewhere, it really doesn't matter how much you exercise, so long as you move more than you did yesterday! It's so true.

Exercise does make you feel better (emotionally). I think it's time for me to get back to shape and feel good about myself!

A Treatment For Baby's Dry/Scaly/Red Skin

2010-01-15T17:59:00.003-05:00

Okay, so finally I think I have found some medication that works to treat my baby's dry skin. After Baby #1 was born, within a few days I noticed that her skin was breaking out in a rash that quickly spread from her forehead, face, tummy and knees. Up until now, I have tried everything. Baths every other day. Losing the scented soaps and lotions. Fish oil. Double rinsing laundry.

I think it has to do with the fact that Baby #1 is not breastfed, but bottle fed. I think it's some sort of allergic reaction to the formula. I have friends who are exclusively breastfeeding and their babies have the most soft, beautiful skin!

Anyways, after visiting the doctor for her 2 mo. shots, I was given a hydrocortisone cream 0.1% which was to be applied 3 times a day. There's a lot written about the use of this medication, but I was told it is completely safe for babies. Excited to try it, I did. Unfortunately, there was no change to my baby's skin condition.

At her 4 mo. shots, I told the doctor that there was no improvement and he prescribed another cream called Hydroval 0.2% What a change! After one application of this cream, Baby #1's skin cleared up. The redness was gone the next day and there were no bumps. So, for all of you with the same problem, please ask your doctor about Hydroval. I only use it when I see a flare up starting.

As for the dry skin on her head...Believe it or not, a little Head and Shoulders works wonders. She barely has big patches of dry skin on her head now.

Now, you too can enjoy baby soft skin.

Major Spit Ups

2010-01-14T18:31:00.003-05:00

Ugh...Today isn't a good day...I must have cleaned up half a dozen major spit ups. It's been nothing but a big mess all day long! Baby #1 seems to be hungry enough before I give her a bottle, but after she's done, a huge amount seems to come up and out! I haven't increased the amount of formula I give her and I haven't started to feed her cereal in the evening either. I guess she's just having an odd day.

I hope I don't have to run the laundry again tonight.

A Message To You, My Reader

2010-01-11T16:56:00.003-05:00

If you have been reading my blogs from the start you will know that I am fairly new with blogging and Twitter. Here's what I don't understand:

On Twitter-How come when I tweet, nobody tweets me back? Are they seeing/reading my tweets?

On Blog-How come I have followers, but they never comment back to any of my blogs? Am I not making the blogs public?

So...Here's my attempt at seeing if you (my readers/followers) are really there :) If you are following my blog please let me know by posting a comment after this blog. I would love to know if my blogs are being read by people out there. And...I would love to get some assistance on how to use Twitter and/or improve my blog.

Success!

2010-01-11T16:43:00.002-05:00

Okay, another attempt at clothes shopping for pants and...I got two great pairs of dressy pants from Reitmans (one black, one ash grey), and a nice pair of Roots capri mantra pants (black). They were also bought on sale or via gift card :) I have to say that my clothing size went from S to M and two pant sizes up from my pre-pregnancy size. All done in 2.5 hours and one very poopy diaper. I have to say, it's wonderful to be able to try out clothes in a spacious fitting room. Reitmans, Roots and Old Navy has great change rooms for moms with strollers and/or walking children. Thanks to these stores and many more that have us moms in mind!

Still looking for a pair of cords and Lululemon long yoga pants, maybe tomorrow when I go out with my mom...My mom...I talked to her today after yesterday's horrible phone conversation and we didn't even talk about it. Which is fine, I don't want to bring it up, but I felt some anger/embarrassment in her voice. I just hope it wasn't directed towards me. It occurred to me that her way of dealing with conflict is too simply stop or disconnect. For example, if a gift exchange between two people didn't go well (ex. Christmas, birthdays) than, don't give any gifts to that person anymore. If a trip wasn't fun with someone, don't go with them again. If a stay at someone's house didn't seem welcome, don't go there anymore. For her, it's all or nothing. I hate that. I wish she could be more flexible and not take things so seriously. Really. I don't know why I feel I have to report on her today, perhaps I don't want to become like her.

Don't Sweat The Small Stuff

2010-01-10T16:02:00.004-05:00

I hate to admit it, but I have parents who have been married for over 3o years and they absolutely hate each other. I grew up thinking divorce was the worst thing in the world and looked sadly upon friends who came from broken families. Seeing how miserable my parents are around each other now, I wonder if they should have gotten a divorce.

Being married with children now, I don't think it would be the end of my world if they decided to split. Maybe they would live happier lives and I wouldn't have to be in the middle of all their problems. For instance, today I called my mom and spoke to her for a bit when my dad picked up the other line and started to talk to me. My dad had just a little something to say, but my mom got mad because he interrupted her conversation and she ended up hanging up the phone! Dad didn't have anything to say except that mom was overreacting. I agree...It's such a little thing to fight over and I didn't care that dad picked up the other line. Unfortunately, this really bothered my mom. I called back and told her this, but she just wouldn't hear it. She was pissed. Well...Maybe she should tell dad how she feels and how it makes her feel when he jumps into her conversations.

Really, I have no time to resolve fights that my 60+ year old parents are having...I have a baby, husband, home and myself that needs tending to.

Oh, I do feel for my mom and wish she could see just how silly she is sometimes...Don't sweat the small stuff...Life is too short.

Gotta go! Baby is crying.

Drop In At A Drop In

2010-01-08T20:49:00.003-05:00

Today, I went to a community drop in for the first time with Baby #1. It's a free drop in and I went with a friend of mine who has two children of her own. Baby #1 must have known that she was going somewhere different because she was up at 7:00am for her bottle and slept an hour before we took off at 8:45am.

Baby #1 was very good. She didn't cry, but then again she didn't leave my sight. The teacher in charge was very nice and quickly showed me around. The other "mothers" mostly kept to themselves and their kid(s). When my friend arrived, we just found a spot on the floor and spread out a blanket for our babies to play on and just watched the other children play. They offer snacks for toddlers and there was tea/coffee available for the grown ups.

I don't know if I'd go there everyday, but certainly once in a while with a mom friend. Especially during the winter when the weather is too cold to do much outside.

I like the "program" that I have with my baby. Here's what a typical day looks like for us.

8:30am-Wake up for diaper change and bottle.
10:30-Wake up for some Family Channel while Mommy has her breakfast.
11:00-Breakfast for Baby #1 (rice cereal) and bottle, carpet time/play place, Mommy cleans house.
12:30pm-Baby stretches and tummy time, diaper change, carpet time, nap, Mommy makes lunch.
2:30-Wake up for lunch bottle, play place, Family Channel, Mommy has lunch.
3:00-Diaper change, Story time, carpet time/play place, Family Channel.
4:00-Stroller walk, carpet time/play place, bath, snack bottle.
5:30-Diaper change, Family Channel.
6:30-Dinner bottle, carpet time/play place.
7:30-Diaper change and bed time.

I do admit there's a lot of time spent with Baby#1 on the carpet with the TV on (more for me than for her). She doesn't stare at the TV all the time though. She is rolling around and playing with her blanket or toys. Are there other moms out there who have a suggestion as to what I can do instead of having the TV on?

Disappointment

2010-01-05T19:49:00.003-05:00

I never thought going shopping could be such a disappointment. Today, my husband gave me a couple of hours to myself to go out shopping for new pants. A couple of hours was NOT enough time for me to find pants that fit me.

I know pregnancy changes one's body and it's almost impossible for an average woman to get back to the size, shape and appearance she was pre pregnancy, but I have to admit I was not prepared to feel the way I did today.

I'm an average, healthy 31 year old woman and I do like to exercise from time to time. Jogging, walking, crunches, lunges and sports. I am looking for a nice pair of black dress pants and a pair of yoga pants (capri and long). I just wasn't happy with anything I tried on today. I was so sad to find that I am fitting into clothes that are 1-2 sizes bigger than my pre pregnancy size.

I don't want to buy something that just doesn't look or feel right, so I didn't purchase anything. I think I will be scoping out Lululemon and Roots for yoga wear (I got some great gift cards this Christmas) and I will try another Reitmans for black slacks. Wish me luck!

I started my crunches and lunges today...With the hope that I will be able to fit into my pre pregnancy pants

The Best Sound In The World!

2010-01-04T16:00:00.003-05:00

For all of you who have a newborn or who have had a baby, would you agree that the best sound in the world is a baby babbling and cooing? Baby #1 is just playing by herself and making the cutest sounds. It's the sweetest thing in the world. I can't help but smile and talk back to her in baby talk.

You have to understand that Baby #1 was not always a "happy" baby. She constantly cried until she was 2 months old. She never napped until she hit 3 months. Now, she seems to be in a happier place. Until she gets hungry, tired or dirty that is.

I am enjoying motherhood now that I am 5 months postpartum...It took me a long time to get to where I am today and I can honestly say, I feel more like myself again.

It's the new year now and I'm looking forward to seeing Baby #1 grow and reach her milestones. I'm looking forward to getting myself back into shape and growing my hair out longer (no more new mommy hair style).

Baby #1 Starts The New Year With Soilds!

2010-01-01T11:30:00.003-05:00

Baby #1 started cereal yesterday, but she really ATE it this morning. A whole tsp! It was the cutest thing. She had a little difficulty keeping it all in her mouth the first few spoonfuls, but I found that if you angle the spoon up and almost let it drip into her mouth while she is facing up (with her mouth open), it goes down easier than feeding her face to face.

I'm so happy that she is eating more than just formula...The formula smells awful and it tastes worse. The cereal looks, smells and tastes good :) Hehehe...I'm one of those mothers who must taste everything for herself before it is given to baby. I can't wait to feed her again! I never knew just how much fun it is to feed her. She also drank her entire bottle after wards (as she should) so I was very happy. I am going to be careful to teach her good eating habits and manners. So, I make it a point to feed her at the table. Giving her the bottle is different. I like to hold her for that because it's comforting and it's the only time I can pick her nose! Once she starts drinking from a cup, it will be different. I would like to see her eating more and more at the table with us.

She's just chilling in her play place now, biting on Sofie's ears and occasionally smiling and kicking as I type this. She is so precious.

The debate over whether or not to get a highchair was solved. No highchair necessary as she has this three in one space saver chair that just straps onto a kitchen chair and it works just fine. It's wonderful as it doesn't take up anymore space than a chair at the table and it converts to a booster chair when she gets older. You can easily take it off the chair and she can sit in it on the floor (a better alternative to the costly Bumbo chair). Another plus with this highchair/seat is that it is easy to transport and set up. If anyone is further interested in the product, please let me know. I can write a little more about it in another post, or send you the details via e-mail.

Farewell 2009

2009-12-31T16:35:00.004-05:00

Christmas has come and gone and now it's New Year's Eve. What are we doing tonight? Hehehe...Probably nothing out of the norm for a family with a new baby. Make dinner, feed Baby #1 her last bottle of the night and tuck her in. Eat dinner, watch TV with my hubby and probably fall asleep on the couch. I will set the alarm so we can be up in time to watch the countdown!

It has been a big year for me. I think I will call 2009 "The year I was pregnant". I can only remember being pregnant and then having the baby. It was a HUGE event in my life and I will never forget what a year it has been.

It has not been a very good year to some. 2009 was also the year that a sibling of mine's life changed forever and although he is still struggling with what he faces, I hope the New Year brings some closure. It's also the year that my parents' relationship took on more stress and hardship. It's also the year that I've supported a dear friend through her separation from her husband.

So...What will my New Year's resolution be? It will be to make the most of the time I have off while I'm on maternity leave. I want to be able to take good care of the family (myself, hubby and the baby). This means getting back into routine and looking forward to fitting in a little vacation in there somewhere...Since I am a teacher I NEVER get to travel outside of peak vacation time when flights are super expensive. That's it.

Have a wonderful New Year to everyone who is following my blog! Thanks for your support. I plan to keep up with my blog and learn more about Twitter and blogging in the New Year. Suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Sofie the Giraffe

2009-12-29T13:42:00.003-05:00

Tip of the day: Try to re introduce some of your baby toys to the baby after he/she gets a little older. Don't be too quick to put them away!

Now that my baby is almost 5 mo. old, she loves to play with Sofie the giraffe! It fits in her hands and she loves to chew on the different parts. Another toy that Baby #1 loves is her rattle. She played with it since she was able to grab things. Something as simple as a blanket is also great fun for Baby #1. She loves to hold and lick the corners of her favourite blanket.

I was so worried that all the toys we got her wouldn't be used, but she is learning to grab and shake and these new toys are coming in handy.

Christmas Dinner

2009-12-26T13:20:00.004-05:00

So...Did everyone survive Christmas with the family? I wanted to leave a quick blog updating what I thought would be a horrible Christmas dinner with the family. Well, I'm glad to say that it turned out quite alright. My family came, hubby's friend and aunt's family came and there were no last minute surprises from the in laws (which I really am grateful for since we got notice that they would not be able to come and had they changed their mind, we would not have had enough food, space, etc.).

Highlights: Everyone talked/played games, ate, opened presents and had a good time. Baby #1 had the most fun and the most presents! Everyone loves her so much and I was so glad they could be a part of her very first Christmas. Baby #1 was soooo good! Very little crying and a lot of smiling. There was no awkwardness between my family and hubby's family. It was nice to have them together again, although I would have liked to have the in laws there.

Awkward moments: The gifts that were dropped off by my sister in law the night before and she didn't even stick around to see us, Baby #1 or to pick up the gifts we had for her and her family! And then to open ALL the gifts she got us (about $400) which made our gift to her seem cheap...It 's not about how much you spend, I would have loved to have her join us...That would have been the best present for us all.

Thoughts: Family is family...They may have their problems, they may not agree with you and there might be tensions within each family member and another, but there's nothing like the holidays to get over those humps at least one time a year and celebrate. This year I am so happy to have a wonderful husband, beautiful baby and yes...I not so perfect family that loves me and I love back.

Tired today, I hope Baby #1 will nap well so Mommy can get some sleep during the day.

Hope you all had a nice Christmas, let's enjoy the rest of the holidays!

Preparing For Christmas Dinner

2009-12-23T13:56:00.004-05:00

Oh my gosh, my mom can really stress me out! I can't believe she has issues about the upcoming Christmas dinner at my house. She's not even hosting it and she's complaining about the guests we plan on having. I guess it's true, you can't ever please your mother. Is it just me or do any of you have parents that make you stress out this much? I'm so afraid that she will ruin Christmas for me.

Initially, we planned on having the in laws and sister in law and my parents and brothers over for dinner on Christmas. This all changed and the in laws and sister in law were unable to attend...Okay, no biggy. We will just have to meet up with them next week to do a special belated get together.

So, my husband invited his aunt's family and one of his friends over. I tell this to my mother today and she flips out...Saying there's too many people coming, she has to get the little cousins a gift and because she doesn't drive, she'll have to ask my dad to go out and that she can decline on the invitation to come...Oh my gosh! All this after I told her it's just five people and they don't need gifts as they are just coming for the dinner portion of the evening.

I am thinking it will be nice to have some family from my husband's side over instead of just my family...And besides, isn't the holidays all about spending time with family AND friends?

My parents (especially my mom) are so traditional in their thinking. She doesn't know how to interact in a social event...Taking her out to see a movie is an orchestrated event!

I am at the point where I can care less. My husband and I are hosting and all she has to do is drag her a** to our house and enjoy an evening with her grandchild and family on Christmas.

Ugh...Sorry, but I had to vent.

Thoughts On Being On Maternity Leave

2009-12-20T10:49:00.003-05:00

I wonder if all mothers on maternity leave feel this way at one point of their leave. Baby #1 is almost 6 mo. old and I'm finding that it is getting easier to care for her. When she was 2 mo. old I remember thinking to myself, "What did I get myself into?" Then, everyone who had kids said, "It get's easier, wait until she hits 3 mo." I couldn't believe them at that time, but now that I'm there myself, it really does get easier. Which makes staying at home and caring for her fun and do-able.

I'm not in the situation where I can hire a nanny, or have my in-laws look after her once I have to return to work. So, my husband and I have already started to put Baby #1 on waiting lists to attend daycare (at 1 yr.) and preschool (at 18 mo.). I know it's what many parents do and some parents don't even have the option to be away from work a year and have to put their children in daycare a lot sooner. I guess I am feeling a little worried about sending her off for care. I know she will have to adjust and there are wonderful benefits to daycare, but I can't help but feel a little sad to not be the one to care for her.

Do other mothers who need to rely on daycare feel the same? If so, how did it all work out for you and baby at the end?

For all the Stay At Home Moms (SAHM) out there, I have all the respect for you and you are lucky to be able to continue to be the one to care and raise your little one until they are school aged. What is it like to be home with them? Are there cons that go with the obvious pros?

I guess all babies go through these changes and they indicated how quickly they are growing up!

Thoughts On Friends Before Baby

2009-12-19T13:17:00.006-05:00

Hmmm...Baby #1 is napping and it's got me thinking about things. It's such a shame to see old friends change once you have had a baby. Don't get me wrong, I have wonderful, supportive friends who were and are with me through the good and bad times.

I have a great friend who is a mom to two children, married and she still takes the time to call me if she feels that I am sad, or overwhelmed with taking care of the baby. I am really lucky to have her in my corner. I have another friend who is currently going through problems in her marriage, yet she still makes an effort to spend time with me and talk. I really do feel lucky to have such nice friends in my life, I just hope I am returning the same friendship that they have given to me.

Then, there are the few who change after you have had a baby. I don't know if it's because they are jealous or not, but they just don't care to be considerate anymore. I mention this because it's the start of the Christmas holidays now and it's surprising to see who can't even make an effort to send a hello, or Christmas greeting. In this day in age where e-mails and text messages are read and sent in a second, there really is no excuse. I'm not perfect and yes I'm sure I have changed after having a baby, but I don't think I've changed for the worse.

I guess I'm just a little disappointed to find that people I thought were good friends, really aren't. Oh well, I guess it takes events like this to realize who's who.

Christmas, Just One Week Away!

2009-12-18T18:48:00.003-05:00

So, with Christmas one week away, I was really happy to see that the alphabet book I ordered from Shutterfly arrive! It looks amazing. I worked hard to make this photo book and it looks like a real book. A little costly ($45.00 Can.Dollars), but I figure it will be the only gift from me to Baby #1 and we can all treasure it forever. Even my husband said it looked amazing.

This year, we are hosting Christmas dinner at our place again (3yrs. in a row). With the baby this year, I was really hoping that my family would step up and be the host, but due to some family issues my parents are not in a festive mood. Do we all have family issues? A black sheep in the family?

Anyway, I just have to buy one more present for the in-laws and then I am done! The malls are pretty but scary to walk around in with a stroller these days. I can't wait until the crowds are gone and the hype is over. Although, it is exciting to celebrate with the new baby this year.

I will have to give you the update on how dinner unfolds.

Bleeding, But From Where?

2009-12-12T11:03:00.002-05:00

Today after feeding Baby#1, I noticed a little blood in her spit. It was not bright red in colour, rather it was brownish-red diluted in her spit. It was coloured enough to stain her spit up cloth. Where could it be from? I checked her lip and mouth, but I see nothing bleeding. Have any of you experienced this?

Back To 3am Feeding?!

2009-12-11T08:27:00.003-05:00

I don't want to sound like I am complaining here, and I know there are many of you who are still waking up at odd hours of the night and early mornings to feed...But, I am finding myself up at 3am to feed Baby#1 again. Baby#1 is great, she was sleeping 12-13 hrs. a night for us, until just after she hit 4 months. Is this normal? I heard of the 4 month regression and could this be it? When will it pass-if ever?

White Noise

2009-12-10T15:25:00.001-05:00

Who would have thought that noise for us is soothing for a baby. I was told by a friend that white noise can sooth a baby to sleep. Basically, it's tuning your radio to a static channel and turning up the volume as loud as the baby is crying. It works! For all you new Moms who need a little relief from a crying baby, give it a try. You can turn it down or off once the little one is off to sleep. Baby #1 naps for about a half an hour. Just thought I'd share.

Welcome To The Wonderful World of Blogging

2009-12-10T11:38:00.003-05:00

This is huge! I'm a new Mommy to a wonderful baby girl born on July 31, 2009. I am starting this journey of parenthood and it's tough, scary and at times very rewarding. I think there are a lot of other moms out there in the same position. Why not share our experiences and opinions through the world of blogging. This is my first attempt at blogging.

Baby #1 is now 4 months old. She was breastfeeding for the first 3 months, but prefers the bottle and is now fully bottle fed. How much should a baby at this age be eating? Right now, she feeds every 3 hrs. about 150ml.