It was supposed to be muddy.

We went for a walk today through one of the many parks in the greenbelt today.

We were going to feed the birds.

I had it on good authority from my tour guide that the chickadees would eat out of your hand.

It had been raining for days around these parts, after a huge dump of snow.

We were prepared for mud.

There was no mud.

But there were chickadees that ate out of your hand.

Clearly, I had mistaken the chickadee for a Pterodactyl.

And I was not the only one that was a little freaked out.

Ahhh the boy is all mine.

Soo many funny pictures from today.

I feel some scrappiness coming one.  ;)

Nighty Night!

Dear Sam,

I was trying to find a way with words to tell you how important you are to me,  but I'm terd.  Plus I think I may have told you how I felt when you corrupted me at Milestones last week.

Love ya sista sledge!

Buckle up!!

Just stopping in quickly to share my second layout for Tina.

I love that she gave me the Jillibean soup paper to work with.

Kraft, bright colors, boy themed...uuuhhh...heeelllooo!

Perfect for my little guys,

who BTW love the car.

Stay tuned for another car themed layout.

and on a side note, I started the pumpkin carving tonight.

In case you are new to my blog or need a good laugh, you may want to head to my October 2010 archives and read this and this.

I swear those posts will never get old.

Nighty night.

Happy Birthday....

To my Blog!

I feel like I have been neglectful of it as of late.

Time is flying at warp speed.

My boys are growing too fast for my liking.

I've been busy watching teeth and hair grow.

BUT....

My Blog is ONE!

Crazy.

And because I can't think of any original way to celebrate, I'm hooking you up with my favorite posts, authored by me.

Happy reading.

Or sleeping.

And thanks for being a reader.

I truly appreciate it even when I have nothing to say.

1. Move your knees please.
2. Read dis one?
3. The art of distraction.
4. Getting it right.
5. I should have listened.
6. Goodbye.
7. Keeping up with the Jones

There you have it peeps. 

My 7 favorites from this past year.

I'm really not sure why I ended with 7....laziness maybe?

Or maybe I only think I'm funny enough to have 7 posts.

And if I'm being honest, I really only did this so I could revisit #7 again. 

Peace out!

Update

Yesterday he:
















Turned 8 months old...where has the time gone?

Is just over 18lbs, and is 23 inches tall.

Now has four teeth, the fourth of which has made the last week miserable for him.

Waves and flails his arms madly when he wants attention.

Is almost sitting up.

Says "mum mum, ada ada, & yaya"

Is NOT sleeping well at all.

Still has those wonderful blue eyes...I think they are here to stay!

Throws a hissy fit when I take him out of the bath.

Is starting to like food more and more...especially fruit.


Tomorrow he:

Will turn three in three months...again, where has the time gone?

Has a wild fascination with all things zipper related.

Recognizes name brands and their logos by exclaiming "That's The North Face!, That's Arc teryx!"  This was Daddy's contribution to child rearing.  Beware Costco shoppers wearing any sort of coat with a zipper or logo...my child may attach himeself to you.

Still naps.  * listen to the angels above sing their praise peeps!*

Loves snack time.  So much that I will tell him it is snack time to get him upstairs.  This kid packs it away.

Just had a growth spurt because his jeans that had to rolled in September now fit perfectly.

Doesn't throw too many tantrums but when he does....watch out!

Loves to Rock and roll with Daddy.

Loves his new Iggle Piggle stuffy.

Has started using the word please again.

Still communicates in the form of a question to himself when he wants something and answers said question himself: "M, would you like a pickle?  Ummmm sure!!!"

Has started to ask us for things in the proper context: "I'd like to go downstairs....now!!"  Maybe a little demanding at times.

Likes to touch the ceiling...again a Daddy contribution.

Loves puzzles.

Has rediscovered storytime with his Mommy....Yippee!!!

Today I:

Am getting a little frustrated with the sleep situation... or lack there of.

Am starting to think about how hard it will be to return to work in 4 months.

Lost 5 pounds.

Am the reigning Wii ski jump champion, much to B's chagrin and efforts to beat me.

Desperately need a haircut.

Look forward to Monday nights and watching The Bachelor...

Am bored with winter.

Am using my slow cooker and muffin tins like crazy....separately of course.  :)

Am cherishing the little moments of love with my family.

So long 35!!!

Just two weeks before the end of 2009 I leave 35, and I am reminded of thirty-five things that happened this year.



1. Grandma. She passed away on the very last day of 2008. She is missed.

2. Michaels 2nd Christmas. It was one of the best I had ever had. Gift opening went on for hours, not because of the amount of gifts but just so we could savor the moment. It would be our last Christmas as a family of three.


3. Morning sickness. Three long months of it.

4. Weight gain. All 60 pounds of it.

5. Fatigue. I'm talking in bed at 7:30pm asleep, snoring fatigue.

6. Michael being baptized and the flock of Canadian Geese that flew over the church that afternoon. By flock I really mean 14 thousand of those crazy birds that by sheer luck missed dropping any of their droppings on us.

7. The last time I saw my Grandma coherent. Incidentally it was the day of M's Baptism. I am forever thankful for that day.

8. Work. It really, really, really sucked huge from October on. Partially because I don't do pregnant well and partially for reason I can't discuss. Those reasons have been removed and I am anticipating a smooth transition when I go back.

9. M finally sleeping through the night. Incidentally it came exactly to the day that found out that I was pregnant with him two years prior. If you're wondering about the math, he was 16 months.

10. Final Clearance in February. I scored the boys Christmas present for this year for a whopping eleven bucks. It retails for almost four hundred. I can't wait to show you pics.

11. Finding Blog World. Who knew I would have such a fascination with other peoples lives.

12. The snow starting to melt. Around here that is always cause for celebration.

13. Feeling sorry for myself because B was spending more time with M than I was.

14. M starting coping attitude about me working and some days not smiling or hugging me at all. At the time I thought my heart was going to break.

15. Wanting to kick B out of bed every night.

16. My Baby shower. It rained but it was great. Mostly because I HAD one this time. Those of you, who know me, know what happened the first time around.

17. Easter. I have the funniest Video of M and his cousin C singing. It was also very cool to do M's first Egg hunt.

18. Speaking of Easter, B and I took a belly to belly shot to compare with the first......WOW is all I can say.

19. STOOOPID SCIATIC NERVE ISSUES. Have I ever mentioned that I hated being pregnant?

20. Not being able to walk faster than an ant for longer than thirty minutes the last month of my pregnancy. Apparently 2009 was all about pissy preggars.

21. The 6 weeks that I was able to spend at home with M before the birth of J. I loved it. I was hideously tired and counted the minutes till nap time but I savored every moment of it.

22. M's 2nd birthday. I put up balloons all over the house the night before and we set up all his new play structures in the backyard while he napped the day of. I'd like to think he remembers but I’m fairly certain he doesn't.   M's birthday balloons that stayed attached to his chair for at least 4 weeks after his birthday. I'm sorry but the helium fire truck balloon cost 12 dollars and I wanted to get my moneys worth. Plus he loved it.

23.  The warp speed that M's communication grew.

24. Deciding on J's name the day before he was born. FYI his name was my choice and had been on the table since conception...someone was just being difficult.

25. The morning M became a big brother. It was sunny and cool. I was uber excited, nervous and scared shitless.

26. WALKING into the hospital. So different than with M. I walked up to the triage desk in Labor and Delivery and said; "One baby boy please." Nurse Lady smiled and sent me to the waiting room.

27. My Sister. Have I ever mentioned to you how awesome she is? She stayed at the hospital for 8 hours, mainly alone in the waiting room the day J was born. We laughed and laughed while waiting for B to show up. Mainly we were laughing at a janitor who was clearly unionized and would only clean 12 square feet of tile. She also stayed the whole time I was in recovery only to get a little glimpse of her new nephew because they wouldn't let her in. Some new rule about baby snatching........

28. 3:30pm exactly on June 1st, my littlest angel was born.

29. A complete sense of peace that came over me when I was able to hold J for the first time. I knew I could take care of him and M. I knew everything would be okay. We campaigned to leave the hospital a day early because I couldn't stand to be away from M any longer.

30. M "petting" J as his way of welcoming him to the herd.  He loves his little brother.

31. M deciding he was going to start hitting and using me as the punching bag.  Oh yes and the begining of the terrible twos....

32. Being more than thankful for my Mom keeping M occupied while I got to know J.  And for spending time with J when I needed to spend time with M.

33. My Family meeting the boys. It was so nice to have Grammy H and Aunty K reunite with M and it was awesome for Uncle J to come and visit.

34. B and I working at it. I love him. He is a good Dad and a good partner.

35. The complete and utter sense of happiness when I look at the two little people that I made with B.















I think I could go on and on with gentle reminders of what thirty-five was like for me, but in an effort to keep you awake I will stop there. However I will say this; I am excited for thirty-six. I know this year is going to be great. The first three months will probably suck for various reasons, mainly snow and money related but I have my family nestled in tightly beside me as we wait out the winter months.



See ya 35...it was nice knowing you!

Jingle Ball

Okay so maybe it doesn't jingle,


Or jangle,

Or make any noise at all,

But it happens to be my favorite ball.

Of the Christmas variety......

And it came from a special store, from a special person.

There used to be a store at the Rideau Centre call "Just Curious".

It carried all sorts of Canadian made goods and tons of great gift giving ideas.

Sadly, Rideau Centre in an effort to increase traffic and customer appeal is slowly not renewing leases of stores that don't appeal to those who shop the downtown core.

Every time I walk through there I am thrilled that there are a ton of new stores.

I won't lie that I was tickled pink when I saw the new Michael Kors store.

But I was also sad.

Just Curious is no longer there, recently replaced by a Calvin Klein lingerie store.

My sister and I used to stalk that store before and after Christmas in search of all sorts of unique ornaments.

Usually on Boxing Day the ornaments would be anywhere from 50 to 75 percent off.

One day when we saw the sale sign up we literally ran to the store to score some Christmas goodies.

I spotted this ball and I was in love.

It was so ornate and beautiful.

It was also the tiniest ball you have ever seen.

I don't remember why I didn't get it but after exiting the store my Sister handed me a little something wrapped in tissue.

I'm sure you can figure out what was inside.

Every year when I decorate my tree I think about that store and where I will go to find all those special one of a kind items.

And I think about my Sister and her generous spirit.

Thanks Sam.

I hope today is filled with all the things you love.

Happy Birthday!

Prophylactic Snowman

I have to honest here.

I could not wait to post this guy.

I was twitchy all day giggling to myself.

This guy was in my sock from Mom last year.

I have no other words.

I couldn't stop myself.

Mom, Joy and Sam....I did this for you!


I really thought it would be the gift that kept on giving.


Merry Christmas.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

And just in case you are wondering what that was all about, read about it here

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

And because I am so anal retentive, I now feel the need to sort them all alphabetically. 

Otherwise it will take me till 2015 to find the word I'm looking for.

I wonder if the words "f-ing idiot" are in there.

Carve it baby!

So here is the thing.....

I have never ever in my life carved a pumpkin.

EVER!

I imagine it is left for those who really embraced Halloween or to those with kids.

That time has arrived for me.

I learned a couple of things during this carving experience:

1. Get a good pumpkin carving kit, not the kind from the grocery store that breaks 4 seconds in.
2. If you don't like guts and goo, wear rubber gloves.
3. Carve your pumpkins at room tempurature.
4. Keep the kids busy!
5. Down load a template and cut it out, don't try to re-create it free hand.
6. Laugh at yourself.....very important!

So without further adeau:

the top one is Grandma T's.

In case you missed it the first time around, she is the one responsible for these!

She did a great job don't you think?

The one to the left of your screen is an OWL.

Apparently they are mistaken ALOT for different creatures ;)

The painted ones are M's creations.  Like I said, keep them busy.

And in case you wanted the full effect ( I know I do!) here it is:

You may have noticed our Pirates now have goggley eyes.  They can see much better now!

All poking fun aside I am excited to light those suckers tomorrow and take M out to the neighbours.

Happy Halloween !!

Keeping up with the Jones

So our neighbourhood is strutting their very best Halloween and Fall decorations.

Cute, don't you think?

I always wanted to have my front step decorated with pretty wreathes and haystacks and every thing Autumn.

Instead we have this:

Hmmmmmm

My Sister has nicknamed them the Pirate scare crows.

So in conclusion or to sum up my thoughts about Fall decor,

Cute:

Cute:

Us:

Ya....we are kind of the Griswalds that way.......

I should have listened.

You know that little voice inside your head that tells you not to do something.....
The one that is ALWAYS right......
The one that whispers "I told you so" after you disobey.....?

I should have listened.

Wise ole Sis even said " I hope it doesn't hurt when your pregnant."

And it did.

Hurt.

Like a son of a B*tch!

I've done it a million times in a pinch.
I have all but abandon the spa to rely on this sort of maintenance.
Why pay $25 bucks when I can do it for $10.

But that little voice told me to pay extra and trust a professional this time.
They will do a more thorough job.
The Doctors and Nurses may not be offended by your lack of grooming,
But I sure as heck will be.

I went against my judgement.
I did it myself.
I should have bought that new brand for first time users....maybe it would have hurt less.
My coordination was all off.
I couldn't see a dang thing.
I'm sure it was a spectacle.
I slammed my fist down on the counter to dull the pain.

It hurt.

ALLOT!

I should have listened.