Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Milestones

Sweet Thing has hit a bunch of milestones lately, including going from a sitting position to her knees, learning to wave, cutting her 1st tooth and her 2nd a few weeks later, her first word DADA, and now her first sign MORE.

We only just started signing less than a week ago, so this is extremely exciting. I haven't had a real good chance to read the book, so I personally don't know very many signs. But "MORE" is the sign I have been using the most, I use it after each cheerio and after a few bites of whatever is in her bowl.

This morning she got chunky-apple-saucy-something-er-other (some sort of cross between a puree and chunks of apple). Apparently she loved it because she signed for more after each bite. Of course the sign was not perfect. For those of you who don't know the sign its kinda like when you make your hand look like the beak of a bird (or someone yapping) with both hands and you touch them together like they are kissing. That is the sign for "MORE". So Sweet Thing's version was kind of just putting her hands together.

And how I know that she was actually signing and not just playing? She never puts her hands together unless she is switching toys to the other hand. So to me it was pretty obvious. Of course I called Sweet Husband as soon as I saw her doing it. I think it's important for him to feel included in the excitement even if he isn't there at the exact moment. I think hearing the excitement in my voice over the phone, is the next best thing.

I'm so tossed up about my feelings. I'm so ecstatic when Sweet Thing learns something new, like to make noise when you tap her mouth or to pick up a cheerio with her forefinger and thumb, yet at the same time, It's also sad. She isn't a tiny baby anymore who sleeps through everything. She doesn't need me to put my hand under her head when I pick her up. She's getting so big and its absolutely amazing to see her grow and learn. I love seeing her bright eyes every morning ready for the day.

It's the greatest accomplishment to see something you've created do such amazing things.

I feel the most overwhelming love when I look at that Sweet little girl.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Purple Princess

There are always photo contests going on on Facebook. I normally just upload a pic I've already taken. But yesterday I decided to take some new ones, and try to be a little artsy. The pictures turned out ok. Except for Sweet Thing squinting in every picture because of that darn sun that we wait around all year for, and then complain about when its in our eyes.
But I did something I don't normally do. I photo-shopped them. I think they turned out pretty nice. I only did a couple to choose from for the contest, I really like them.


By the way Sweet Thing's middle name is Violet, so I have an obsession for purple things for her. Doesn't it suit her well?

By the way anyone who is a fan of the group Ottawa Cloth Diapers can vote for Sweet Thing.
Go here to like Ottawa Cloth Diapers and go here to "like" the photo.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Roasted Chicken and Pizza Hut

Last night I made a DELICIOUS roasted chicken with gravy, potatoes and beans. It was so good, Sweet Husband left before it was even ready to eat!
Hmm? Warm roasted chicken dinner?, or 23km mountain bike ride?
Needless to say Sweet Thing and I had a lovely dinner together, she ate her avocado and I had my chicken dinner. It was actually really nice eating such a fabulous meal with no other adult company.

To make it up to me, Sweet Husband told me Sunday was my day, we would do whatever I wanted to do. So knowing me he suggested we go to Nanaimo to do some shopping (read: WINDOW shopping). Although I did buy a pair of shorts because I am in desperate need of some summer clothes that fit my post-pregnancy three-sizes-bigger-than-normal butt.

I also got my wedding rings cleaned and inspected, and a new back for my diamond earing.

And after all of the exhaustion of walking mindlessly through the mall, we decided to go for lunch.
Pizza Hut was restaurant of choice. Sweet Thing got to sit in a restaurant high chair for the first time.
Oh she just looked like such a big girl!

Sweet Family looking up at the ugly '80s style light fixture

Note: Sweet Thing's Cheerios in a baggy. She loves her Cheerios!
Note: Sweet Husband's shirt, that was his fathers day gift from Sweet Thing, her sweet little hand prints at 7 months old.

All in all it was a nice, relaxing day with the family.



Saturday, June 26, 2010

"More" "Milk" "All Done"

We just borrowed a book from the library about Baby Sign Language(BSL). The book outlines how to start BSL for any age baby. It gives you cartoon illustrations for each sign to make it super easy to figure out. They also say that a baby that signs will have an IQ of an average of 12 points higher than non-signing children (not that it at all matters).

For me it's about communicating, and also just adding another element of interest and fun into our day. I struggle quite often with finding things to occupy our day. Which really sucks because my daughter gets bored super fast.

So we are going to start off with some basics, adding them into everyday things, like making the sign for 'milk' when its time too nurse. Signing 'more' when she is done eating her last cheerio, and 'all done' when she's had enough. Also some others like 'changing' when its diaper change time, or 'dog' when Ellie comes near. I think it's going to be fun, especially when it clicks and she starts signing back.

This is the first book I found on the subjec when I went to the library, and I know there are many more, but this one seems to be doing the trick. Check them out here.

Anyone have any experience with BSL? Have any tips or tricks? I would love to hear them, Leave me a comment.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Burn to Tan

Ahhh! Don't you just love the sun? It is finally nice here, after much cloudy rainyness the last...well as long as I can remember, really. I went to my usual stroller class on Thursday, I was outside for about 3.5 hours. It was so beautiful out, and I am officially burnt to a crisp. OUCH! Its definitely not the worst burn I've had in my experience with the sun, but it's been a while since I have burnt. period. It is nothing like the one I endured in 11th grade, oh let me tell you about that. Typical teenage girl with her best friend, tanning in the backyard with music blaring. We must have been out there on the hottest day that summer at noon for 3 or 4 hours. My chest burnt so bad it had litterally bubbled! I had blisters on my chest from the sun, now that is cooking. Luckily my friends dad had this miracle stuff to put on it, and by the next morning it was the most gorgeous tan ever! I have yet to find more of it. Not that I would go burning my skin in the sun intentionally just to slather it with miracle goop, and come out with a glowing tan, but.... just incase.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

I WON!

I am SO excited!!
I won a Nifty Nappy Diaper and a Woolie Wrap from Glimpse Reviews.
The diaper and cover are provided by Little Monkey Store in Langley, BC
I am very very new to cloth diapering (I currently own only 6 diapers). And I do not own any fitted diapers or wool wraps, so this will be new for me. I am very excited about it! I've heard wool is a very effective system for nighttime.

Thankyou so much Glimpse Reviews and Little Monkey Store, you are helping build my stash!

And while we are on the subject of giveaways I would just like to mention all of the other great giveaways Glimpse Reviews is currently doing. The newest one would be for Cheeky Umbrella. OH these are absolutely adorable! They are so chic and trendy! If you owned one of these awesome umbrellas you would spend as much time out in the rain as you could! They have cute or funny sayings on the inside of the umbrella. What a sweet little touch!

How about a Canadian made cloth diaper! Glimpse is also doing a giveaway for a $25 gift certificate for Cloth Diapers EH! They make some really nice diapers, with some super cute designs! (ends July 1st)

More Giveaways on Glimpse Reviews (Check them out, so easy to enter):

-Sea to Sky Babies: Small Wet Bag (ends June 30th)
-My Lil' Package: Nursing pads (ends June 29th)
-Green Bean Baby: Organic girls dress (ends June 28th)
-Ringley: Ringley Natural teething toy (ends June 24th)
-Funky Fleece: Ladies Wrap (ends June 22nd)
- Helene Klein Accessories: Flat wallet (ends June 21st)

Well I am off to enter these giveaways! Wish me luck :)

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

New Blog Design

So Love Stitched is doing a giveaway for a free blog makeover from Dumplin Design Studio.
Go check out her portfolio, she's done some cute stuff including the Love Stitched Blog.

I'm crossing my fingers I win, because as you can see, my blog is extremely sad. Not to mention I only have 1 follower....and that's myself. Oy!

It's ok, I just started blogging.

Anyway go check out the giveaway! And cross your fingers for me!

Monday, June 7, 2010

Scintillating piece of flesh...

Read this ...

Did you read it??

......

read it? good

ARE YOU F&*%!$*^ KIDDING ME????

Breasts were made to nourish a baby, not to be a "scintillating piece of flesh"

And if a marriage suffers because of a mother nursing a baby for a normal amount of time, then there is something else wrong with the marriage or something phsycological in either mom or dad. Breasts can be multi-functional. Mind you some women and men are not comfortable with it. But honestly, suck it up! Breastfeeding is such a short period of time in the whole scheme or things. And if it seems like too long, then your mindset needs to change.

"Taking the breasts from the husband"?? Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the breasts on MY body belong to ME...not my husband, not even my baby.

The key is balance! Obviously if you are breastfeeding and completely ignoring everything else, then yea, the marriage will suffer.

Ok...you want me to put a blanket over me and my baby in MY OWN home, so we can pretentd that things haven't changed and my husband will still be able to get hot over me? I don't cover in public, I am certainly not covering at home. What a crock! My husband is supportive of my daughter breastfeeding, and if he wasn't I'd tell him to shove it!

Our bodies are first and foremost a device to reproduce and therefore nourish our young. By no means should those bodies NOT be for pleasure. How about a balance?
Who is so dense that they cannot distinguish between a time to nourish and a time for fun for a man and woman?

How do you think couples have mulitple children when they breastfeed for 2, 3 or 4 years and beyond?

As for the part that men shouldn't witness the birth from down below. Sure, it's not for everyone, but my husband watched and he thought it was amazing. We've had no problems with that being traumatizing in any way shape or form.

And of course we can't have a post bashing breastfeeding without the encouragement of bottle feeding!
Unless it is 100% physically impossible for a woman to breastfeed or lactate at all, I don't believe in bottle feeding(formula).

#1 Breastfeeding
#2 Expressed milk from mother
#3 Expressed milk from another woman
#4 Formula

Thats the order of what is best!

So the conclusion.... Rabbi Shmuley Boteach is an IDIOT!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Baby Fair

Yesterday my little family and I went to a baby fair!!

They had tons of booths set up, with anything and everything to do with babies. Cloth diapers, amber teething necklaces, scholarships, ultrasound, clothes of course.

I specifically remember the tutu's and all the cloth diapers. Speaking of cloth diapers, we bought our very first, actually three. Baby Kangas with Jamtots inserts. So my stash is made up of 4 diapers total, the 4th being a Smartipants I won on a blog giveaway!

We just finished a cloth diaper trial, and I have to say I really liked it, and if my husband allowed it, it would definitely be my new obsession. There are so many types and brands to choose from, and the colours are so vibrant and the prints are just so fun. I even love the wet bags, not to mention they are good for things other than putting dirty diapers in.

The only complaint I have with cloth diapers in general is the bulkiness, and how funny it looks when there are pants over those bulky diaper. I think I just need to invest in some Babylegs or any of the other brand of baby leg warmers.

Now I just need to figure out how to wash the diapers for the first time before I put them on the babe. I can't do a whole entire load with only 4 diapers in it, not to mention the washer probably wouldnt work properly anyway.

Off I go to read stories to the babe. And if the weather gets any better, go rollerblading.