Question #9

Favorite Flower-

Gerbera Daisies

And Tiger Lilies

I've always loved tiger lilies because of the color. However, I hate the smell of all lilies so they are a favorite for looks only. Gerbera's are the flowers I carried at our wedding so they hold a special place in my heart.

You'd better watch your mouth

Like most 2 year olds, O is a little parrot and it makes for some hilarious situations. There was the time that he jumped off the couch with too much forward trajectory and saved himself by rolling and bounding to his feet. The funny thing was, as he jumped up he yelled, 'Jesus!' in the way you do when you're happy to have made it out alive. I laughed for days about that one. Every once and a while I'll hear him say, "damn it!" when what he's doing goes wrong. The good news is that I haven't heard any serious swear words out of his mouth in a very long time. The bad news is, it seems that even though I'm doing well at not using the F word or other high end swears, I'm apparently not doing very well at completely cutting swearing out. (I say 'I' since I know it's me and not Nick that has that problem.)

If the swearing isn't bad enough, lately when I put him in time out he will start yelling, "Don't beat me!" or "Don't smack me!". These are both things I've threatened him with but never in that context. I have threatened to smack his bum if he's squirming too much during a diaper change for example, but tell that to social services when they hear him yelling from his naughty chair! And my personal favorite: when he gets angry at me and he starts wagging his finger and asking if I need to go to time out. Or when he gives me the big "NO! Do you understand me?"

I admit that it makes me cringe a little when I hear some of the things he says. It's not that I feel guilty, I don't think I'm saying anything really wrong. I don't think he's going to end up in therapy someday because of it and I'm sure I'm not alone in these kind of threats and expletives. But, the words sure do sound different coming out of that tiny, innocent mouth. But most times it just gives me a really good laugh.

Questions #8

Question #8- A picture of your room.

I'm choosing to skip the photo on this one because frankly, my room us UGLY!!! There are many advantages to living in force housing but decor isn't one of them. The whole house is white. And not a nice creamy cloud white. It's more of a industrial grade, yellow tinged white. My room is actually a pink tinged white which is almost worse than the yellow. So you add the paint to the pink, green and yellow patchwork valence, the broken, wooden blinds and the ugliest lamps you've ever seen and it's just not something I want to have commemorated on my blog.

Many families who move into force housing choose to spend money on things to improve the looks of the houses but I just can't do it. I can't see spending money on things that most likely won't have any value to us when we move back down south. We've put things we've brought with us up on the walls but that's the extent of our interior designing. So my house is seriously ugly and I don't want to share it. On to the next question.

Spring-like

It was a beautiful day with temperatures finally above zero. Only +1 but with no wind and warm sun, it was a perfect day to play outside. I think spring is finally coming. The snow and ice is melting quickly and we finaly have puddles to jump in so Oliver took advantage.

This one is for you Kara!



And there is open water at the end of the fiord. See that really thin blue line at the end of the ice? It's getting bigger, I swear it is.

My hope is that this year, spring will arrive before summer does. It would be really nice to celebrate Canada Day without our winter jackets. Despite the cool temperatures I'm happy that I live in the arctic at the moment. At least we have lots of sun. My family in New Brunswick have been rained on every day for what seems like a hundred days with no end in sight. I keep telling them mother nature is just getting all the rain out of the way so they'll have a spectacular summer. I hope that's true because I'll be there for 6 weeks in July/August and would love to have sun everyday.

Question #7

My favorite TV Show-

I honestly don't think I can answer this one. As a long time TV fanatic I have so many favorites.... Favorite Drama of all time? The West Wing. Favorite Comedy? Seinfeld of course. Favorite current show? Grey's, Glee, Deadliest Catch, and all the Law and Orders. I guess if I was pressed to pick one show I guess I'd have to go with Friends. Even though I've seen every episode a million times I can still watch it and laugh.

The joy of reading

I'm sure his work is old news to many parents but I just recently discovered Robert Munsch. I picked up a 3 pack of 'toddler versions' of his stories at Costco this summer and Oliver really liked them. He's never shown much interest in books so I read them to him as often as I could. A few weeks ago ordered a couple of his collection books that have 5 of his stories in one book and I'm having so much fun reading them. I try and do my best Munsch impression -minus the cocaine of course- and really get into reading them. Oliver has already memorised alot of the stories and is reading right along with me. I even hear him reading them to himself after I turn out the lights. We're having a great time and I'm so glad that O's seeing the enjoyment you can get out of reading. See O, reading isn't just a way to delay bedtime. Nick and I are both readers so we're hoping our kids will be too. I'm glad he's finally showing some interest.

His favorite is Angela's Airplane.

He too has uncontrollable urges

to push buttons.

.

Question #6

Favorite Song-

This is the easiest question yet, no thought required. The answer is Try, by Blue Rodeo.

Pancake flops

In the last couple of months, Saturdays have turned into pancake breakfast day. I've always thought I didn't like pancakes but then I was asked to make them for my boys and it turns out I actually like them alot. Unfortunately after the first perfect attempt, I haven't got it right since. I've forgotten the baking powder so they where just flat and heavy. Another time I undercooked them. I've made the batter too thin and I've burned them. Today I added tablespoons of baking powder instead of teaspoons. Honestly! It's like my brain is boycotting pancake making.

Despite the overkill on the baking powder (the batter blew up like a bubble) I added a little more milk and they turned out really well. Very thick, but fluffy so it was all good.

I don't know why I'm going to do this to myself but I'm looking for good recipe for pancakes made with whole wheat flour. If you have one I'd love to try it. And probably ruin it too.

On the move

About a week or so ago Isaac started crawling. Actually commando crawling where he shuffles around on his belly. Of course we were so proud of his accomplishment and would gaze lovingly at him while he worked his way from one point of interest to the next. That warm and fuzzy feeling lasted about a day. While I'm still proud, his accomplishment represents the next step in the chaos that 2 mobile children brings to a household.

#1- I never know where he'll be when I leave the room. He's taken a liking the the corner behind the lazy boy chair so if I can't see him, that's the first place I'll check.

#2- He's now able to get to where Oliver is playing so we have begun having to deal with a little sibling rivalry. Sharing and taking turns are new lessons to be learned.

#3- We've had to start baby proofing when we have only recently got used to easy access to all our drawers and cupboards again.

#4- Isaac's mobility puts a bright shining light on my sad excuse for housekeeping. I'm embarrassed to see how dirty he can be only an hour after he gets dressed. I've been vacuuming and mopping more than I ever have but with the dog, the cats and the dust, I just can't stay ahead of it. He's like my very own mobile swiffer cloth.

He's such a cute swiffer though. I just can't enough of his chubby cheeks!

Spring Training

Baseball has become an obsession in our house. Nick of course is a die hard fan and Oliver is taking right after him. He plays all day with his ball and bat and ever since he got it, he wants to wear his Jays shirt every day.

The snow has finally melted enough that I thought we should take the ball and bat outside so today was the first day of spring training. The game was almost called on account of wind and ice crystals that were pretty harsh on the face. It was a chilly one but the game must go on.


Getting ready for the first pitch



His best Bautista impression.

Home run Steeeeeeeeves! Running the bases.

In the end, it always turns into a golf game.  But he still runs the bases!



Boobs, biting and bottles

As of 8:56 last night Isaac is a bottle baby.

Breastfeeding is something that was a no-brainer for me. I would never have considered bottle feeding when the kids were born, nursing them was just what I was supposed to do... for 6 months. That was my cut off. They would get the benefit I thought was very important and then I'd get my body back. I stuck to my plan with Oliver weaning him completely just 6 days after the 6 month mark. There was also the added incentive that we wanted to start trying for another baby so I needed to get my system back in order.

With Isaac I knew right away that my self imposed 6 month cut off wouldn't happen. I was enjoying nursing and with no reason to stop (not trying for #3 I mean) I figured I'd just continue as long as it worked for us. Then he got teeth. The teeth changed his latch somehow and while he wasn't biting, I was getting raw and unbearably sore. I did my best to suffer through it while he figured it out. Then I got mastitis. At that point I'd had enough and I was glad that I had ordered formula on the last sealift. It took a while but he was finally happy to take bottles. Of course by then I was all healed and he was latching properly again so I went back to the idea of sticking with breastfeeding.

Then he got more teeth. A week ago he cut 4 teeth on the top and has been trying them out on anything he can get his mouth on. And here I am voluntarily giving him a chew toy made from my very sensitive body part. I let it go the first few times he bit me knowing he would soon figure it out. At 8:56 last night (I just happened to be looking at the clock) he gave me a huge chomp, broke the skin and actually drew blood. That was it. It's not working for me anymore and I'm done. It's much less convenient, it's more expensive but my nipples are precious to me and I'd like to keep them.

I'll miss nursing in many ways but mostly because it's yet another thing I'll never do again. I think that's one of the reasons I wanted to continue as long as I could. It's a way of holding on to baby time with a child that is rapidly growing out of his babyhood. And I'll miss moments like this:

Isaac is crying and fussing.
Oliver: What's wrong Isaac? Do you need boob? Mommy! Isaac wants boob.

So cute! Now O asks Isaac if he wants Cheerios. Time sure flies. On the other hand, I am happy to have my body back and not have my boobs dictate my schedule. I'm hoping that at some point in the near future I'll be able to fit back in to my pre-baby bras and I can finally burn my horrible, ill fitting nursing ones.

So I made it 8 days short of 8 months. Not bad I guess.

Question #5

Favorite Food-

Wow, this is a tough one. Is chocolate considered a food? I know many of you out there would expect me to say McDonalds but as much as I love it, it's not my favorite. At least I won't let myself say it is.

So, I'm going to say pasta. A nice bowl of spaghetti has been a favorite meal since I was little. I make a great dish with chicken, sausage, peppers and fresh tortellini. Roland at Charlotte Lane, my favorite restaurant, has Spaghettini Gorgonzola that's to die for and I don't like blue cheese.

Pasta.... or maybe chicken fingers?

Question #4

Favorite Book- River God by Wilbur Smith

I've read this book at least 3 times, maybe 4. Set in ancient Egypt, it has love, war, humor and great quests. If you happen to take my suggestion I will ask that you stick with it because I'll admit, the first 100 pages or so are a little slow. After that, I promise, you'll fall in love with Taita just like I did. The sequel, The Seventh Scroll is set in modern times and is actually a better book. I've read it just as many times but have a soft spot for the first. The next two in the series are not worth the read in my opinion so I wouldn't waste your time.

Cheerios

Question #3

My favorite musician.

Blue Rodeo-

This won't be a surprise to anyone who knows me. I've loved them for as long as I can remember. I've seen them live 8 times, Nick and I danced our first dance to them. They are my favorite 'sing at the top of your lungs in the car' music. They are the soundtrack to many great memories in my life. And they are Canadian!

Happy Mothers Day

To all the Moms out there.......

M & M's

Guess which are my favorite kind?

Golden Egg

At the Northern the other day I saw they had their Easter candy all on for 75% off. Then I saw that they had Caramilk eggs and I couldn't resist. Do you know what I paid? 87 cents. The regular price... $3.49!

I thought I was immune to northern sticker shock but every once and a while they prove me wrong.

15 shows left

As a stay at home mom I cherish nap time. I have been super lucky that I've managed to keep both boys on a schedule where they nap at the same time. That means I usually get about 2 hours of uninterrupted 'me time' every day. I know how rare that is for most moms so I don't take it for granted. Some may call it selfish to take that time for myself as opposed to getting some of those things that need to get done around the house. I say that I need that time to recharge and be the best mom I can be the other 22 hours a day. If the house work doesn't get done, so be it. A messy house is far less stressful to me than not having time to myself.

The thing I do most during my time is playing on the computer while watching Oprah. I've always been an fan of her show and can honestly say that I've probably be watching for if not the whole 25 years, pretty close to it. I've learned alot, I've cried over many of the stories and have laughed a whole bunch too. My favorite stories are the the ones where she talks about something I didn't know about at all. Like the one about 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides that she had on yesterday. I'm glad to know about this time in history and am glad I was watching yesterday.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not one of those ultimate viewers that thinks she is an angel fallen from heaven that can do no wrong. It drives me bananas that she constantly interrupts people and tries to finish their sentences. I think she can come off as very arrogant and can send out a vibe that she's better than every one else. And I often think the world has gone too Oprah by trying to read into everything rather than just letting things be, just because they are. Like the fact I'm over weight because I like to eat too much, not because I'm trying to feed something that's missing in my life... just as an example. I'm sure that for some, Oprah's way of thinking is valid. And if it gets you to where you want to be, then great. But it just drives me crazy listening to it. I usually don't watch those shows.

Whether you love her or hate her you have to admit that she's done alot in the world just by being on the air five days a week. People credit her for giving them the information or the motivation to change their lives for the better. She is an immovable part of our culture and over all I think she's going off the air having left the world a better place. But for me, she's just leaving a hole in my afternoon that I'm not happy about. If I was going to be all Oprah about it, I would use this opportunity to improve our lives for that hour rather than sitting on my butt watching TV. I'll have to see what replaces her show, and then I'll think about it.

Filler- Question #2

Favorite Movie-

Top Gun

I know... it's not exactly Oscar worthy but it's one I've seen hundreds dozens of times and will still stop to watch it if I see that it's on TV. I can pretty much recite it word for word and sing every song from the soundtrack. But seriously, men in uniform, military planes, an opportunity for a good cry, the volleyball scene and oh, did I mention the HOT men?  

Finally!

All winter I've wanted to build a snowman with Oliver. Of course it's never happened because it's so dry up here that the snow is like powder and doesn't stick together. I thought today was the day but realised quickly that it was still too dry. After alot of careful packing and shaping this was the best we could do... sad little thing that it is.

But it is a snowman so mission accomplished.

Taking on the challenge

I've been following Tina at Just Below 63 while she works on a 30 day blog challenge. I think the idea behind these types of challenges is that by blogging everyday you get into the habit and it will just become part of your day. For me, I just like the idea of learning a little more about the people who are participating. As I've been reading her last 24 or so posts I've tried to answer the questions for myself and have been having a hard time coming up with answers for some of them. Now, they are not earth shattering, dig deep into your soul kind of questions but I've still had to really think about the answers.

I've decided that while I'm going to participate, I'm not necessarily going to do the 30 questions in the next 30 days. I'll just pull out the list when I have nothing else to blog about. Lately that seems to be more often so I'm glad to have something to put down 'on paper' even if it is just filler. So here goes...

Question #1- My Favorite Actor

I have quite a list of answers for this one. Kate Winslet, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Jim Carey, Johnney Depp, Tom Hanks.... hmmm, if I have to choose my favorite....

Kevin Spacey. His performance as Verbal in The Usual Suspects is one of my all time favorite movie characters in one of my favorite movies. LA Confidential, American Beauty, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I even loved him in Kpax. Pretty sure that got some 'Worst movie of the year award' but I still loved him in it.