good morning america..

September 30th, 2010

I wish that good morning america could be on all day.. I freakin love that show.. 

gott love 6 pound breach baby legs..  we forgot socks.. so she wore hand mittens home.. 

so they started last night.. miscarriage dreams..  it was hell.. and I woke up really confused.. and than took a minute to realize that I was in my bed.. at home.. and safe.. I remember having some with Olive.. I think  a little self doubt creeps in to the corners of your subconscious and stays there until the pregnancy is finished..  and than you fear SIDS and blankets..stuffed animals and crib bumpers..  than you can fast forward to when you are on your death bed.. and you fear that they will do wild and crazy things in their lives and you wont be around to witness it.. (well.. in person anyways.. ) and I don’t think it ever ends..  which is why I take it all now while I can..  I know I need mama balance in my particular situation.. I need ladies nights.. and time alone.. and to just go shopping without waiting for a stroller room sounds like heaven  any time of the day.. I need to step back and away from my situation.. because it makes my home situation thatmuch sweeter..  I never thought I would need it.. I thought I would be content to be at home giving my kiddies 100% of me.. but that is not how this operation works..  I went back to work at around 4 months.. because I needed it.. I needed adults and I needed a break..  I was starting to talk to my husband on the phone in baby talk..  

and the sweetest thing ever was for 6 months.. every time I walked through that door on Friday night.. (the only night I used to work).. she would hear the door open.. and start squawking for me.. and I would go up .. and cuddle in her big ol rocking chair that Barbie used to rock Dustin in .. and we would talk and sing.. and she would put her hand up to my face.. and just stare at each other.. it was heaven.. and I missed that sweet angel more than ever on that one night away.. and it made the time I had with her that much sweeter.. 

I would like to beleive that i am really good at letting Olive learn her own mistakes.. and I can only be that mom so long that is  yelling at her all day “slow down” “walk”  ”no”.. becasue hey.. we are here to teach them things.. and unfortunately we all fall down.. and run to stupid places.. and say yes.. when we should just say no!

and if this dream didn’t end with me buying a turkey with my dad at shoppers drug mart.. bringing it home.. skinning it.. and than eating all the turkey skin to myself in the street.. I may have been more concerned..  but it scared me none the less.. 

mornings are the worst around here for not feeling good.. I woke up and immediately had a bowl of rice krispies.. because apparently I put an empty box of cheerios and Kix away in the cupboard.. so today.. it is rice krispies..  I think it may be helping.. even water in my stomach feels like this.. 

frying pan.. water.. you get it.. 

Happy Thursday.. time to find a Halloween costume.. 

two days off baby..

September 29th, 2010

our first meeting.. 

I remember way back when.. when I didn’t work for like 4 months after having Olive.. I never had a clue what day it was.. except Saturday.. because that is the daddy’s Friday.. but other than that.. no clue.. or the date.. and now that I am working while pregnant again.. I know what day it is.. it took everything in me not to call in last night.. everything..  I napped.. which only made it worse.. I lugged my body into the shower.. and even half ass blow dried my hair.. which is never done.. my baby thin hair needs the volume.. slapped on some mascara.. and crawled to work.. usually work pulls me out of my funk and I forget I am even preggo.. not yesterday.. I was starving.. and nauseous.. and just dying to go home.. unfortunately.. it was trivia night.. and I had no choice.. it ended at ten.. so I was there until ten..  the only thing that helped me was knowing that I don’t work Wednesdays and Thursdays..  don’t get me wrong.. I am so freakin pumped to be preggo again.. I honestly went through my whole life thinking I couldn’t have any children..  and now I hold my second heir in my tummy!! but this baby is bringing me to my knees..

 but hey.. you cant have the sweet without the sour!

what is she possibly thinking here..

so now I sit here with my couple ounces of coffee.. and some homemade cookies my friend dropped off at work.. god bless her soul.. and waiting for olive to wake up..  

time to start planning our Halloween costumes..  it is almost October 1st.. and than I can dive head first into Halloween.. I am trying to pull back my holiday spirit.. well.. of course.. its not possible in my world to pull it back to far.. but I have already thought about putting some Christmas decorations up!! 

this girl is out of control!!

6

double gulp..

September 28th, 2010

I am trying not to panic.. I went the extra mile and backed up all my photos of when I was preggo with Olive and now when I go to my hard drive to look at them.. its saying a new Iphoto has been used.. and to quit it and than I can see my photos.. well.. something like that.. long story short.. my pictures are in limbo.. and I don’t know how to get them!? some of my favorite photos are on there.. and I need them..  anyone familiar with macs?

 ok.. wow.. so after writing that.. I pulled out the hard drive again.. and scoured the whole thing.. and I found them!! phew.. I could cry I am so happy..  so now.. I am posting one of them.. so they will be thrown into the Internet world forever!! 

this is my all time fav preggo photo.. 

(minus the face squint)

I can rest a little easier now.. phew.. 

phew.. I am spent..

September 26th, 2010

ok.. I am starting to doubt if for all these years.. when I was “hungover”. i wasn’t just in fact. dehydrated and tired..  because this morning.. I woke up at my mommas.. on an air mattress.. with a sore body.. exhausted.. and thirsty.. and I felt as if I had drank all night at the stag.. when in fact.. I only had a diet pepsi and some water..  even driving home.. my appetite was gone.. and as I sit here typing.. I am debating going and getting mc.donalds cheeseburgers.. salt and cheese.. yes please!

yesterday we celebrated my soon to be sister-in-laws wedding shower..  and her stag.. all in one day.. which was awesome.. and less driving on my part.. the weather was perfect-o.. the food was amazing… and there was good company..  and let me tell you.. this was the first time in a longtime that i felt preggo.. I clearly had it easy with olive..  I remember being tired.. but never run down and done! loading and unloading my car seemed like hell.. walking up my parents stairs because I forgot something was hell.. getting out of the car to go to the bathroom.. and taking her in and out of her seat.. almost had my just peeing my pants.. and dealing with the consequences later..  I was spoiled with olive.. and am now trying to adjust with this one.. I do find that ginger Altoids are working rather well again..  and try to carry them on me at all times!

we ate.. we talked.. they drank.. we ate some more.. than we went to a passion party.. It was my first one.. and it was fun! and I learned some stuff ;)  unfortunately I couldn’t stick around.. my baby judo chopped my stomach and I had to get home and rest these bones.. but I cannot wait for two weeks to celebrate my brother and sistas wedding! a nice fall wedding.. followed up by a large thanksgiving dinner with 30 + people at my mommas the next day.. ah.. classic.. lord knows I don’t need to talk about how much I love the holidays in this post ;)

I am now home.. I woke up early.. (not my choice) and threw everything in the car.. bra less.. unwashed teeth.. was just classy enough to wipe off the make up from underneath my eyes.. and we were gone.. and it rained.. and the border guard I had was educated at the University ofDuch-baggari.. and tried to get me caught in a lie about a cupcake holder I brought over.. it took everything not to eye roll him.. but I knew that I was in NO condition to go inside and sit there and be searched with what I was wearing.. and how I was feeling.. so i let him have this one.. 

we are supposed to be going to Oktoberfest in Freemont this afternoon.. but the rain is not helping my choice to leave this comfy house.. I think we should watch movies.. and cuddle.. and eat.. ahhh.. that sounds like the perfect rainy day Sunday.. 

see you soon Cheese-burglar ;)

really.. September 24th !!

September 24th, 2010

when did this happen.. we are almost done with my favorite month! Friday is always my  crazy busy day.. I seem to pack all my errands into this one day.. and than papa comes to babysit at 2:30.. and I am out the door.. to work..

I am thankful that i have a Pier  1  2 minutes from my house.. by foot! it is right there.. beside Bostons.. waiting to take all my loot.. I was walking through the store today.. and I almost said out loud.. 

does everyone love this store as much as I do?

fall pumpkins were exploded everywhere.. greenery.. all the wine carafes and glasses are here to be filled with a nice vibrant red malbec.. well.. Dustins glass anyways..  I scored a nice glitter pumpkin and a little treat for daddy.. and was on my way… 

I am also looking forward to the daddys fall schedule.. which he promised last night.. would mean some 7:00pm arrivals! spoiled.. I know ;) I don’t know what I will do.. it seems like it has been so long since he has come home at that time.. I think olive was 5 days old!?  we can eat our nice home cooked meals together.. and enjoy our evenings.. before my new tired body crashed in the ten o’clock hour.. it will be grande..

until than.. I wait.. with this little pocket of sunshine.. 

and miss. lucy (changing lucys bum..)

(

(and than dropping a deuce of her own.. ) I thought of my friend Jenne and Ever at this moment.. explosion..

this is for you momma..

it is not just your house that I use and leave many glasses lying around.. it is also Dustins pet peeve.. I think it is a disease that I should deal with.. 

October…

September 23rd, 2010

I made a mental note to myself in August.. that it would be my last busymonth..  too many things planned.. places to go and people to see.. left me tired and spent.. that and I was starting to brew a little nugget ;) so I vowed that September would be mellow.. scratch that.. it was not.. and now.. I am yet again.. vowing to make October easier.. and I think the only way this can happen, is if I stop saying YES!  I sat down on the couch last week to just watch tv.. and the reason I remember this.. is because I have not just sat on my couch and chilled for a long time.. and it felt foreign..  so October.. I am taking in your rain drops.. I am bringing down the fall/winter blanket that will grace the back of my couch for the next 6 months..  I am pulling out the classic rainy day movies.. and I am relaxing.. 

of course it is inevtiable that life is also carrying on in this month of October.. I have a wedding..  a due date.. 5 birthdays.. thanksgiving.. a couple trips to the pumpkin patch and a couple of ladies nights thrown in there.. but besides that.. I am done ;) wow I am tired just writing that down.. 

last night.. the cupcakes were delicious.. mmm.. I have three un-iced ones on my counter waiting to be devoured with my decaf coffee..

I got home last night and remembered that it is oli bears swimming lessons this morning.. I tried talking myself out of it about 10 times.. even this morning.. I woke up at 7 am.. came down and did my routine.. and still was trying to talk myself out of it.. the morning sickness was numero uno on my list.. but than I remembered that I do these for her.. so she can be more confident in the water.. and I dragged my make-up-less ass to the pool.. saw some old lady bums.. and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.. in one class.. olive was confident enough to jump into the water.. where she knew I would be there.. I was actually really proud.. she wouldn’t lie on her back though.. she death screamed until all the grannies looked at me.. but we prevailed.. and once those pink lips turned a nice hugh of ice blue.. we finished.. and this time I was smart.. I wore uggs.. and lulus.. skipped on the skivvies.. and ran to the car in the rain.. and no one saw my lady bits today..  because I pulled out my old gym class moves.. and shimmied around in my towel.. and today.. Olive was a little scared of the grannies.. she just wanted her mama.. 

and I am glad I went.. because its one more thing to do with my baby until our new little baby comes into the world.. 

Goodbye summer.. Hello fall :)

September 22nd, 2010

I could feel the weather change yesterday.. there comes that one time a year that you need an extra layer..  a scarf.. or its just plain old time to crank on that heat..  this morning was my version of perfect fall weather.. cold and crisp.. yet sunny and bright.. I had the privilege to head over to my friends house and snap some photos of her lovely lady lumps.. aka.. her baby belly..  when I left the house it was grey.. and cold.. and Uggboot appropriate.. however when I pulled onto the highway.. the sun came out and said hello.. my perfect little photo assistant came to help out.. 

we got alot of good shots.. and I sit here excited to edit them.. always my favorite part..  speaking of babies.. my friend just had her baby! well on the 20th..  and I am dying to see a photo.. and I hope she is recovering well and sucking the marrow out of every drop of this experience.. Welcome to the club Abby :)

a teaser for you Dom ;)

time to get some work done and make some Red Velvet Cupcakes forAunty Jens birthday dinner tonight! clearly a lot of people were getting it on in December.. because it is baby season..  and there is lots to do!!

ok. one more olive shot ;)

(SOOC)

5

the sun will come out.. tomorrow..

September 21st, 2010

I actually love this rain right now..  don’t get me wrong.. I am sure in a month I will be complaining about the soggy bottom of my pants.. (which is why I prefer to live sock free in Uggs).. and how flat my hair is.. but for now.. I love the cold.. well ok.. there is one thing I don’t like about this rain.. for about a month now.. every time I come home from work at night.. I have a new little friend.. normally slugs would gross me out.. but there is this sweet little slug that crawls up onto my mat for shelter.. (I am assuming) and is gone by the morning..  so last night after work.. while I sat and ate queso that slowly hardened my innards.. I came home late and walked up the steps.. took a real close look to where my little friend would be.. and realized he was all coiled up into a little ball.. hmm. I wondered as my face was inches away.. is it dead? do slugs coil up into little balls? the answer to that question my friends is NO.. they do not..

but mini baby snakes do!!  

yes.. I wrote that right.. I have my feet up on my chair as I write this.. just thinking about it.. this tiny little baby snake has joined my slug friend.. 

gulp

on a more excited note.. I made my first Drs’ appointment with my ever so loved.. Dr. Sharmahd..  I always love the first appointment.. one whole hour I get to sit there and talk about my new baby..  while Olive hopefully colours and plays nice..  we shall see.. I am now coming off of this one week in Canada.. where now all i want to do is sit at home.. and clean.. and organize.. and make home cooked meals.. and start planning for this little baby… cause I don’t know if you heard.. but I am having another American-o.. and they cost money down here people!

but worth every penny..

Do not worry, little mother

If there are tracks upon your floor.

Years will soon go by, and you’ll be wishing 

You could see those tracks once more.

There wont be much satisfaction

Looking back along the way

Though we kept our house all shining

If we scolded every day.

Yes, I know that little garments,

Sadly torn and out of place

Make it hard for tired mother,

Hard to wear a smiling face

They will leave their home nest shortly,

Some may fly to foreign lands

Then your house will be in order

But you will sit with empty hands.

So let us all enjoy each minute

of those lovely childhood days,

Just forget the dust that gathers,

Just enjoy their childish ways.

Yesterday there were but babies,

Now they’re with us for a while

But tomorrow they’ll be going

Send them onward with a smile.

sorry for the F-bomb..

September 20th, 2010

so like I said before.. every year I made myself a popcorn cake.. in lieu of memory of my sweet old next door neighbour who used to make them for us.. but has passed away.. so we have always carried on the tradition.. it must be going on 13 + years now! and it is delicious.. since moving to the Americas.. I have had to improvise..because.. well.. America doesn’t make Smarties.. 

I just checked the mail.. and in it I found this.. which was supposed to be meant for last week.. but I was away and could not get it.. no birthday card.. no scratch tickets ;) .. just this.. again.. sorry for the F bomb.. 

thank you womb-mate!

I get it…

September 19th, 2010

  If you were anything like me as a child.. the odd times your mother brought hot chocolate into the house.. it was like heaven.. I actually never liked hot chocolate.. but I loved to steal the single packages and take them on my walk to school.. and inhale the powder until my teeth formed a nice layer of sugar bugs.. and than I would start my day with either slurpees and lickerish for lunch.. or I would splurge and get the cafeteria fries.. my poor mother and her homemade lunches just literally rot in my locker..  

but now.. its like all of a sudden.. I am surrounded by this frozen hot chocolate rage.. I first heard about it on Kelle Hamptons blog.. when she went to New York.. I never saw the movie Serendipity.. so I was a frozen hot chocolate virgin.. than my sister started talking about making them!! ok.. that is twice in a couple weeks.. than.. I received a can of Serendipity frozen hot chocolate mix for my birthday!! ok.. that’s 3 for 3. I am trying it now.. I really think whipped cream would have made it over the top.. but I made it per instructions.. so when Dust and Olive were napping yesterday.. I pulled out the blender.. and started brewing.. I normally don’t like things blended with ice.. for no reason other than it takes away the flavor.. but it was like I entered a giant worm hole that tunneled me to my mothers house..  back when I was opening my mothers cupboard and stealing that white package once again.. it tastes just like that.. the package mix.. except.. now you drink it! it was good.. 

the actual New York version.. 

my version..

to me.. everything tastes better in a fancy glass.. 

this little peanut is owning me lately.. 

everything about her.. I love it all.. we have so few bad days anymore.. I feel spoiled.. she is getting her own little personality.. and things she likes to do.. we cannot go for a walk anymore without her dear friend “Lucy” joining us..  and trying to get her in a car is like pulling teeth.. she has little legs.. and she likes to use em! I think I am also realizing that these are our last little moments together for me and my little first born.. and soon it will be the three of us.. telling her to look out for the baby.. and quiet please.. your little sibling is sleeping.. but for now.. she gets me all to herself.. October cannot come fast enough! I am getting so excited for the pumpkin patch.. ironing leaves to wax paper.. and walking around the town center in toques and scarves and our faces are Popsicles.. but we are having fun.. 

some of my favorite olive photos.. 

and the best part of today.. I thought it was Monday.. and I had to work.. but no.. it is Sunday!!

wow.. this may be a long post..

September 18th, 2010

I have just arrived home! and I say just arrived.. because I left at 9am.. and it is now 3:17.. backtracking.. borders.. car accidents (not us) and a really over tired baby who refused to nap.. 

phew.. 

this week has been ca-razy.. finally found out I am preggo.. up to Vancouver for visa issues.. my birthday.. and a beautiful wedding.. 

but lets get back to the preggo part!  finally people! I was really mentally preparing myself for one child.. I was having visions of me and my one girl traveling the world.. and than she would meet some gorgeous sensitive man from Barcelona and move there.. and I would never see her again.. and me and her pops would sit on a porch drinking lemonadesomewhere.. and turn into the dining dead*

* dining dead: couples that go to a restaurant and don’t talk to each other

.. but alas.. there is another baby brewing in there.. and .. I.. fear.. twins.. the odds are very high.. there are 13 sets in our families.. I am one! and I already feel like cow dung. please please please email me if you were sick from a week before the test.. and I am hungry as a horse for meat carcass! which is very rare for me.. but alas.. my love for Tabasco and spices still shine through.. mmm jalapenos..  all I wanted to do was sit at home and scour baby center. and look at our furniture that our new baby will use.. and read articles.. but instead.. I worked 8 hours.. came home.. slept for 6 hours.. than jumped in a car at 6am to head ot Vancouver.. ok.. I think that is the reality part setting in.. 

Visa:

My famalia is still allowed in the Americas! Visas were granted.. and handed out.. and my next child will also hold dual citizenship.. trying to find the half full glass here people! we were all staying at Casa de Ronnieshouse.. with one slow computer.. and very very little internet.. it was hard.. I am clearly addicted to blogging now.. because I was debating writing things down to blog later..  It felt like Christmas time.. everyone in the house together.. one bathroom.. 6 adults.. kiddies running around.. doggies scaring little children.. it was wonderful.. exhausting.. but wonderful.. 

Birthday:

this is my famous popcorn cake that I make every year.. but this year .. it was made for me!! thank you to my old sweet neighbour who started this tradition for me :)

I turned the sweet old age of 28! I don’t feel older.. I mean.. I did find a grey hair on the top of my head last week.. but I blame that purely on being a mother.. nothing to do with the 28 digits.. I woke up to a wonderful party thrown by my family.. with breakfast in bed.. and champagne kisses and caviar dreams.. ok.. not really.. no one remembered it because between the visa’ and the wedding..  our minds were in overload.. and I am not the type to be like.. “look at me! its my birthday” but there were cards received and gifts.. and I now possess a can of frozen hot chocolate mix from Serendipity in New York that I amDYING to make..  we ate lunch.. we went out for snacks.. I felt loved.. even though I was extremely tired and had random waves of nausea.. it was lovely.. 

Wedding:

this picture sums up my dear friend Rahel.. my hot Swiss friend whom I met many years ago at Boston Pizza.. feminine.. crystals.. shiny.. beautiful.. classic.. the only thing missing from this photo is extremely kind.. she is one of the most genuinely nicest people i know.. and you will never hear her talk smack about anybody.. even when you can tell she want to ;) she loves children.. and I didn’t think she could look anymore beautiful than she already does.. until I saw her walk down the aisle.. me and Dust both teared up.. sorry Dust.. 

the wedding was held at Swan-e-set.. and the sun shone.. it was warm.. the room was decorated beautifully.. lights.. crystals.. candles galore.. quotes.. friends.. great food.. and chips and salsa to start! yes please :)  my friend is a true romantic..and it showed! all her table numbers were famous couples.. guess where I sat.. this woman knows me well.. 

we ate.. we danced.. and we were merry.. I was feeling really good until I hit the dance floor! than my baby bean started doing somersaults.. me no likeys.. i was there with 3 other preggos.. and we could all sympathize with the feeling.. 

ps.. “I’m with the dj”

probably the best part of the night was when we all lit many sparklers for their first dance.. (it was beautiful by the way).. and we set off the fire alarm! I just looked up and hoped that the sprinklers would stay nice and dry… and they did.. 

My original outfit that I bought for this event was ok.. I realized that I had packed the wrong bra.. so I buzzed over to superstore to see if I could find one.. all the while manifesting this outfit I had in my mind (hello Secret) i wanted a navy blue skirt with a white top… and if it was one of those dresses that were attached.. than all the better.. i walked in right away and found my peasant skirt I wanted.. ($3.00) and than walked over to the t shirt section and loved the little sleeves on this white t shirt ($6.50) and tried it on .. and it fit! best part was… I brought four skirt sizes into the change room.. and the smallest one fit! small victory.. I than raced home.. had 15 minutes to spare.. got ready.. and this was the finished product.. Dust said I looked to casual.. but what it comes down to is reflecting me.. and this is what I wear.. 

oh yes.. they had a red carpet! we had many a laughs on here..

excuse me.. I’m with People Magazine.. can I get a comment please..

are the rumours true? our source comes all the way from Australia!.. 

and the last photo was of our scrap we had fighting over the limelight..ahh.. its hard being famous I tell yah!

they finished the night off with speeches and slide shows.. my favorite part.. and than the dance.. 

I love everything about this photo.. the kids dancing with their parents.. the colours.. the photographers in the background.. her sister holding the baby in the back..  the look on Di’s proud face.. I love it all.. It just summed up their day!

we danced some more.. and finally at midnight.. I called it a night.. well.. drove some boozed people home.. (which is always my pleasure when I am with child) and tried to sleep.. 

I woke up this morning.. packed up my Oli bear.. picked up the daddy at the Surrey sky train station.. still in his wedding suit from the night of shenanigans.. and we called it a day.. only to take way to long to arrive at my front door.. 

it was a wild crazy week.. and being a person who used to despise technology.. let me tell you.. I welcome computers and cell phones with open arms! there were so many more things i wanted to do in Canada this week.. but with this first week of pregnancy almost tucked under my belt.. it will have to wait.. cause this blueberry sized nugget is kicking my ass!

ahh.. I love weddings.. it makes me want to have 5 kids and just love love love..

congrats Rahel and Nathan :) I love you and also forgot to give you your card :0 

Brixtons a comin'

September 13th, 2010

sunday mall shopping..

September 12th, 2010

the title should say it all! putting off until last minute.. a dress i had to buy for a wedding.. it is beautiful.. cream.. ruffled.. a big bow on the back.. and this cute little hat that comes with it.. ok. obviously kidding.. I am not showing up looking like a bride on her wedding day.. lol.. it  was this cute little dress .. and when I went to pay for it.. it rang up to $13.00! yes please.. I also hit up forever 21.. I love that store.. there were 20 things I could have bought.. but alas.. restrained.. me and olive than walked.. all over the mall.. because olive does not want to sit in the stroller anymore.. she wants to explore.. which is fine by me.. but I get those random actual body cringes.. when I think of babies that get snatched at malls in a quick second.. because the mom was looking at something on a rack quickly..  so my shopping kind of ended.. we did however.. make it over to Baby Gap.. gulp.. they have a new America in Paris line for little girls.. it was scrumptious.. 

she received this one.. only in black stripes.. 

I would have bought one for myself if it came is size 336 month.. 

I have this tiny little secret that I do.. I go to Old Spaghetti by myself.. well.. now with Olive.. and cow out.. like beyond.. It started when I moved to Seattle solo and had no one to join me for lunches or dinners.. so I just naturally went by myself.. but this time I  had a little lunch date.. I ate wayto much bread and butter.. and drank way to many diet cokes.. and tookway to many bites of pasta.. mmm brown butter and mizithra.. yes please.. it was ugly.. thankfully they put us in the worst possible section ever.. it was this weird room that I never knew even existed. until she sat us in there.. with this cute little boy server who was obviously new.. he fed my cow like desires.. and it was good.. and he was tipped well.. correction.. it was good until the raging lower cramp I got in my pelvis.. I think it was all that bread expanding.. so me and olive sat there.. me dying.. while the new server finally handed me a box and the cheque.. and than the nice manager brought me my change.. 

it was ugly.. 

once we got home.. I realized that my neighbours were moving!! there was no sign.. no warning.. nothing..  we call this man “Asian Dustin” because he also drives a black car like Dustin.. and he has the same hair and glasses.. and I cannot even count how many times he has pulled up in their driveway.. and I get all excited cause I think my Dustin is home!.. they also have a little baby.. and we would wave and say hello.. but I never actually introduced myself.. so I thought.. what better time? I noticed the moving truck had a BC license plate.. and asked the man moving stuff if he knew where they were going.. i than walked in.. to their really nice house that didn’t have a front door on it anymore.. and she came down.. and we finally met.. 

and of course she is really sweet.. and nice.. and we put two and two together.. that we are both Canadian.. and they are from New Westminster.. what are the odds.. 

I hate when that happens.. you wait so long to meet someone.. and only take advantage of it once they are running out of the picture! life lesson? I think so.. 

My Olive bear took another tumble last night :0  and we were on concussion watch all night.. and glad to report.. she is alive and well.. me on the  other hand.. not so much.. I fear the day she gets behind a wheel.. and I have to worry every minute she is gone.. 

god bless cell phones.. I always swore I would not be a mama who does not give my kids cell phones.. but that has blown out the window.. well.. maybe one of those ones that can only call me.. her dad.. 911 and her grandparents..  who knows..  i have a while to think about it.. 

September 11th, 2001

Today is September 11.. 2010.. and it is always a weird day… and the more years that pass.. the exact same it feels.. I still think of the news.. and the TV shows.. and the images of people ransacking the streets trying to find loved ones.. it truly brought us all together.. I was heading off to College after waking up and my mom telling me the news.. I knew it was huge.. but how huge? I remember also.. not really getting it.. I was very naive in believing that people wouldn’t actually do that to people.. suicide bombers? really.. than sitting in crim class.. I remember all these people talking about who was behind it.. and my crim teacher saying it was probably this guy.. Osama Bin Laden.. and how did some people in my class even know about this person? let alone.. now we are accusing this man.. little did I know..

 I remember hundreds of kids huddles around TVs that the teachers had set up all over the school.. knowing that something in the world shifted.. and now looking back to that day.. and now being a wife.. and a mother.. I grieve harder than I did that day.. because now I know the pure raging love that was pouring out of these people.. who were scouring the streets looking for the father of their unborn child.. or their mother.. or their children.. Today I will hold olive a little closer.. and be a little more patient.. because that is what I know the widows and survivors of 9/11 are doing today.. living in America the last few years.. its like I finally realize how different it would have been down here for them.. We watched it from Canada terrified and I just didnt imagine what the people down here were feeling.. trapped in their own country.. wondering what would happen next?!

So today.. I think about everything.. and everyone involved.. which is everyone in this world.. and how lucky we are to be here today.. 

09/11/2001

September 09th, 2010

today was Olives first swim lesson! set the old alarm.. up and ready to go.. of course we were super early.. because that is how I roll when I am really excited for something.. we checked in.. changed.. and lucky for us.. it was senior citizen day at the pool.. aka.. their aerobics.. the grammies went nuts for her in her cute little pink bathing suit.. it helped to pass the time..

Dustin came in later to try and take pictures.. and he was shamed at the door.. apparantly a grown man with a camera isnt allowed to come into the childrens pool area and snap photos :0  I should have thought that one through better.. 

she was so good and patient waiting for the other kids to come.. with a smile stretched out on her face for miles.. “poooooooool..pooooooooool” the other kiddies came.. and we started the class.. met the teacher.. and jumped in to the really cold water..  the teacher told us it was that cold because of the lap swims and aerobic classes.. which I assume they don’t want people passing out in.. it took a while to dunk myself.. but the little peanut had no problem.. she listened to the teacher.. and did what she was told.. I was so proud!

of course Olive..(who always poos at night) didn’t this morning.. and I feared I would be that mom in the pool throwing logs of feces onto the deck floor.. she tried grunting a little. and I was nervous.. thankfully.. she kept it in ;)

we sang in circles.. we learned to kick.. and I had that child.. the teacher pulled out a big container of toys to throw and swim to.. and she wanted them all.. she started her “banjee scream” and that was that.. than her lips slowly turned to a nice blueish purple.. and thankfully the class was only a half hour.. and we took our freezing cold bodies to the change room.. 

there is nothing worse than the changeroom dress.. freezing cold.. people around.. there is no shame.. no sucking in.. no standing up straight.. it all hangs out while I was trying to get that little baby warm.. I now know why moms just change in the open room.. all out there for the world to see.. because to try and pack your kids into the change room.. with wet floors.. its not worth it.. so I was THAT mom.. I never thought I would be.. the top change is always easy.. and than the bottoms.. I thought I would try and be stealth hold a towel in my mouth.. than this really sweet old lady (clearly with no body shame) walks up really close and starts talking to me.. full on.. asking questions.. wanting answers.. all while I had this towel in my mouth trying to shove these tight pants onto my wet skin.. sans underwear.. I finally drop towel and just went for it..  all the while still having this converstation with this sweet old woman..  the shame had left the building.. 

we than mosey out to the car.. where it is now raining cats and dogs.. pant legs soaked.. my car remote is still broken.. so I had to set off the alarm while all these cute moms were standing next to my car saying bye to one another.. I literally threw everything in the car.. including child.. and drove off.. 

we are now home warming up.. and today we will both be having a nap.. because there is something about warm chlorine filled environments that just knock me out.. 

September 08th, 2010

so I thought by finally taping up my little entertainment system door shut..i could stop the endless games of olive pulling out and wrecking my dvdsand cds.. but alas.. she knows.. and likes.. to pick the tape off and throw it in the ger-bahge.. so now.. we are back to dvd cleanups every hour.. maybe I will just move the whole darn thing upstairs? 

this morning was an odd one.. last night I could not fall asleep until 3am! and morning thankfully came at a decent time.. but my grumpiness was lurking there.. waiting to come out.. olive woke up crying.. which almost never happens.. and I knew we would be grumpy bums together..  I ran a delivery for work..came home.. and am now hopefully not leaving the house all day ;)  It was one of those mornings..  couldn’t find my ponytail.. olive peed through everything.. a woman almost rear ended me while I was trying to parallel park..**

**why doesnt anyone actually know/wait for you while you are trying to park anymore? it is hard enough without someone flying up behind you riding your bumper.. do they actually think I have my signal on so that I can turn into the garden of trees and pier one?  

I know with a little power nap.. I can turn it all around.. and I found this great recipe I want to try out from a cookbook I snagged from papas house that is all based on Christmas treats and decorating.. aka.. from the late 80’s.. it gives the most random ideas and place settings.. very old school.. but there was this fried chicken recipe with homemade gravy smothered all over it with biscuits.. and I am very excited to try it out.. its no 17 herbs and spices from the kernel.. but it will work out just fine!!

mmm mmm good.. 

time to take a couple breaths and start the house clean.. 

p.s. the day that is my birth remembrance is one week from today! when did this happen?

mr. clean.. mr.clean..

September 05th, 2010

today is one of those days.. i am motivated to clean and organize and get this house ready for a cold winter.. I hope.. I want to get my garage organized.. patio furniture put away and locked up.. 

We went to Loews today to just roam around and grab some light bulbs.. that store motivates me like no other.. I honestly believe I can do all this stuff to my home and it will look professional.. who am !? I bought these closet pieces to finally get our door fixed (its been over a year) and I couldn’t even do that!! let alone install windows and new bathroom sinks.. but I tried.. I also finally bought this.. 

and let me tell you.. it works amazing!! you just hook it up to your hose.. there is a spray dial.. and a clean dial.. and you go back and forth.. and the brown dirty running down is amazing.. and fast..  yes please!

this morning I started a new tradition.. I saw it on the movie I watched twiceyesterday.. “13 going on 30”.. its the scene where she goes back to her mamas house at the age 30.. and her mama still treats her like she is 10.. and believe me.. I will be one of those mamas!

FYI.. the blueberries sink to the bottom.. so I improvised and added chocolate chips.. big mistake.. its all she wanted.. she was a chocolate chip fein!

at the eggies and hashbrowns balanced out the sugar :)