Redefining a "good day"

Hayden is always great at being positive, pointing out the obvious and making me think about life.  Actually, I think all kids are.  Grown ups seem to make life harder than it needs to be sometimes...most of the time.

Here is why I think us adults need to redefine what makes a good day.  For me it requires having a list and getting everything checked off.  A bad day is when I keep adding to the list and do not get most things checked off which results in a complete and utter breakdown in which case I need to all of a sudden "Clean ALL the things!".

This is Hayden's version of a good day:

"Mom, today is going to be a great day!  It's the last day of school AND there is no poop on my underwear!".

It's 7am and Hayden has already determined that today is great!

Point made.  It's the little things :)

Yikes! Close one....

We have made it through the baking, the crafts, the decorating, the concerts, the parties, the extra visits with family!  So much fun!

There is one party left on Saturday and then we are off to Elk Ridge for a huge family Christmas!!  We are all so excited and even Robert and I are counting the sleeps :)

The "Yikes! Close one..." came yesterday when Sagelyne woke up sick and throwing up!  But we beat the flu.

I was the "hand washing/no face touching/stop sticking random objects in your mouth" police yesterday :)

Sage is better today and no one else is sick.  I am going on a wipe down disinfecting spree today.  All the toys, banisters, light switches, bathrooms, door knobs, bedding...all of it.

We have been planning this trip since last Christmas because Elk Ridge book up fast for the holidays...no way is the flu gonna get us :)

p.s. I am amazed at how long the "sticking objects in your mouth" phase lasts.  Not just for babies...lookout ;)

PWND!

There is a running joke in our house about my cooking.

I can cook!  BUT all great cooks have their incidents...how else do you turn out great? ;)

I usually make brown sugar and cinnamon pita chips for Saturday breakfast with lattes from my espresso machine.  Steamed milks for the kidlets.

So here I was on a Saturday morning making the pita chips and I forgot them in the oven.  Smoke billowing, detectors and alarm system going off.  Cell phones ringing from the alarm company...neither of us could find our cells!  So the alarm company called us from the panel but in all the mess Robert and I didn't think to answer....yep...there are three university degrees between us.

Next thing we know we can hear sirens in the distance...and we think "Gee. I hope that's not coming to our house."  Of course it is!!!

There is a fire truck in front of our house and a knock at the door.  Not just one fire man standing there but a whole group ready for action!  And me answering the door with a burnt pan of pita chips and a sheepish smile.  "Sorry".

Fortuneatly, they burst out laughing and offered to cook me breakfast :)  Ummmm..."Good morning fire fighters!"  ;)



The other night Robert was teasing me about not burning supper.  Ha. Ha.

I finally came back with a witty come back consisting of "Maybe I wouldn't mind if a truck load of fire men joined me for supper."  Thinking I had won!  Ah ha!!

Robert:  "That's okay.  Maybe they will bring along one fire woman...all I need is one."

I scoffed and thought..."Way to be gross" and replied "I had no idea you had a thing for women that could crush you."

Robert:  "Yep...and they are bigger than you too.  Maybe for once a woman can help me get some stuff done around the house."

:s  pwnd.

I'm still coming up with a come back...

Maybe you had to be there...but it takes me months to think of a come back and I thought I had him this time!

If and when I do think of one for this latest development it will start with "Remember months ago when you said....."

Wahoo! December!

This is really just a quickie post to let everyone know I am still alive :)

December is normally busy enough for everyone but with all the corporate Christmas parties to be planned every weekend (and during the week this year too!) our house is extra insane:)

Parties at our house, parties to attend, parties to plan and execute....Man! Add in school stuff, and extra quality family time and December flies!

I hope every one has fun this month and enjoys the hustle and finds some extra peaceful moments

:) 

I'm happy that I could keep my clients over the holidays! I wasn't sure if I could manage it this year but it all worked out :) The extra income during the holidays doesn't hurt either....especially on mat leave ;) I'm pretty grateful they stuck with me! I was wondering what would happen when I had a family...turns out they still like me...maybe even more now:)  It just adds the fun craziness!

Where have all the flowers gone? Live

Peter Paul and Mary, 500 Miles

Remembering

The beginning of November is a tough time for Robert and me.

Bill passed away in the wee hours of the morning on November 1st.  He told Robert and I while he was still himself and aware that because of Halloween, and our future wedding date, that he would hold on through the month of October.  And he did it...he just made it through.

Bill was one of the strongest fathers I have ever met.  He fought to stay alive for his family until the very end.  I've never seen a father fight so hard for anything.

It was also a hard time because my step dad, Dan, attempted suicide.  So...we were dealing with a dad who wanted nothing more than to stay alive and a dad who wanted to leave his family and this world.  The feelings of loss were too much to bear but we made it through.  Both of us lost fathers in a way in the month of November.

Then, shortly after Bill's passing, we found out that Robert's grandfather had lung cancer.  A non smoker, probably came from years of work on the railway.  He was a WW2 veteran.

Every year we go from feeling of love, and happiness in October...to November.  Quite a shift.

Both of our families are still healing.  We think of Bill every day.  I feel safe in our home because I know that he is here.  I've never felt this secure in a home.  He visits me in my dreams and I tell him everything that is new in our life.  

Sometimes our dreams aren't always so pleasant.  Sometimes I go to answer the phone, and he refuses to talk to us.  Sometimes I see him in a crowd and he looks incredibly ill and just walks away.  But most of the time we have a good talk.  Even the bad dreams, I feel like he is trying to share something with me about himself and how he feels.

I miss Dan incredibly.  I haven't seen him in years and I know this chapter isn't over.  Hopefully he decides that he is strong enough to join our family again one day.

I planted some poppies in my backyard to remember.  I don't have any pictures.  They bloom beautifully and wilt too quickly...much like those we remember.

When I was young and in my dad's arms, he wouldn't sing me the traditional lullabies.  He sang me songs of peace, war, remembering, and protest.  I'm so grateful he did :)  These songs helped shape who I am today.  Very cool of him!  Lots of Peter, Paul and Mary..."Where have all the flowers gone", "500 miles", "Blowin in the wind" are my faces this time of year :)

Oh november....

We were talking last night about how this year, despite the sadness, our hearts are full and we have so much to look forward to as December approaches.  Sage, Hayden, and Will have saved us more than anyone will ever know.  Our hearts are full :)

Even Robert has agreed for decorations to go up after Remembrance Day...no waiting until after Grey Cup this year!!  

There is some calm, peace, and joy in November this year.

Picture Day!

I have been waiting for this day for a loooooong time.

I've had dreams of my family of three all together at last.

Sage and Hayden have never had a professional a family picture session.

Josie is going to come over this morning for make up and Carrie is going to be our photographer at the U of S.

We are so excited!

A plan in the works!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love my dad?

I freaking LOVE my dad.

Anyway, once again Hayden was sent home from school early.  I had to pick him up in the principle's office yesterday :s

I took this opportunity to sit down with his teacher and the principal to talk about a stable plan for Hayden.  Our reward system is not working.

Hayden is behaving exactly the same way at school as he is at home.  Surprise!  He is extra weepy, misses his Papa, is not listening to any of the teachers at school, and is pretty much all around not following any rule lol....omg.  He is making friends, but I suspect that won't last long if this behaviour continues.

I've come to some conclusions.  I thought maybe Montessori was to blame.  I talked about this in our meeting yesterday.  But the principal reassured me that many children make the transition from Montessori to public school no problem.  They still teach respect and listening skills in Montessori.  The only difference is that the classes are usually 10 children to 1 teacher and 2 helpers and those kids are busy all the time.  Due to numbers, Hayden has to learn to deal with down time.  And his poor teacher can't handle 25 kids and 1 that is acting out.  We need to take care of that asap.

I feel much better about the choice to enroll him in Montessori now and I feel better with my feelings of not wanting him to change schools again.  Perhaps we should have considered Montessori before looking at St Peter's but it's too late now.  And I think he will benefit from having Sagelyne at the same school, and friends in his community.

Another factor is that Hayden has only lived with his Papa until now.  We changed his home and his learning environment....and he is no longer a baby but a middle child.  We basically rocked his little world!  The moodiness and testing is normal.  Sagelyne has always been shuffled and prayed for a stable home.  She is loving this.  Hayden never knew any different.

Another issue is that he is my dad's protegee (?).  Question authority, boys will be boys, Papa is the boss etc...Which is normally fine and dandy but with the change he is really abusing these qualities that we love about him.  Hayden is also extremely smart and knows how to manipulate like a Carruthers to make things work to his benefit.  Right now he is using this for evil lol.  It can be used for good.  I'll tell you the whole adoption story sometime!

The bottom line is he has been through a lot and two years from now it won't matter.

Why I love my dad....
because he will stop his entire day to leave work and come my rescue...anytime...my whole life.  He truly believes that you do anything for your children no matter what.

I called him after the meeting at school.  He came and took Hayden for a sleepover.  Dropped him off at school this morning, and met with his teacher and principal.  Brought Hayden home for lunch and we hashed out a stable plan!

First of all these kids need to talk to a psychologist.  Sage has been for years.  It has worked wonders!!  I think everyone needs to talk to someone.  And these wonderful kids have been through more than most of you...and they are happy and loving life.

Hayden will come home for lunch from school.  If he has had a poor morning he will stay home for the afternoon and have a nap...hahaha.  And if he has a good morning he can go back to school :)  Papa will also call in the morning and scare the bejesus out of him to assist in the behaviour change ;)

It's not going to be easy but it will be worth it.  Hayden and I went on a date after THE MEETING yesterday.  I was hoping he would talk to me and he did.  He said "Papa is my boss and no one else".  This will be trying.

I also took this opportunity to tell my dad that I have PPA.  He had the best reaction.  He said "if there was ever anyone to have an anxiety disorder...it would be you.  You've been a worrier all your life".  And a huge kiss and a hug.  Dad is a teddy bear.  I felt so normal and accepted :)

Not a problem for us...

I have been having a hard time lately with the MIL and my mom.  Of course my dad and Karen are always cool no matter what I do lol.

Will is 8.5 months and we're doing wonderfully.  He is having some separation anxiety but I've read that that is totally normal around this age.  He was fine up until about 7 months and then just like the books said...it kicked in.  We're fine with it.  Our point of view is that if he wants mom...let him have me!  Don't get me wrong...if I need to get something done I will set him down.  But I go back to him in a couple minutes when I'm done and make sure he knows that I'm there the whole time I'm gone by talking to him.  It works for us.

We've never bought in to the cry it out...or the so called "no cry" solutions.  If it's a weak cry we don't respond and see if it will stop but as soon as it escalates we're there for him.

He is now only getting up once or twice a night, we're bed sharing half the night, and things are improving in his own time :)  Which gives me confidence that listening to my instincts is what Will needs.  Will is doing things in his own time as he grows and matures.

Going to sleep is improving too.  Now we get in our pi's, read a story, cuddle together, and rock to sleep.  Then when he is nice and extremely drowsy I put him in his crib and he's out.  The point here is in his crib not our bed :)

The mom's seem to think that I should just let him cry.  That I have created this separation anxiety and constantly make remarks that we are going to be "traumatized" when we start day care....which we will only need one day a week.  How traumatized can we be?  I actually heard one of them say to him as he was crying "No one cares if you cry".  I immediately went and got our baby.  We care if he cries.  What is so wrong for a baby to know that his parents will be there for him if he cries?  He is 8 months old!  No one has taught him how to manipulate...and I can guarantee that every time the crying escalates there has been something not right for Will.

I wish they would understand that unlike most mom's I didn't get to enjoy cuddling my baby in the beginning.  He would be crying and I would be crying, begging for someone to take him from me.  It's just now that I feel like I could cuddle him forever.

Will is a fantastic baby!  We lucked out!  I'm happy that we haven't forced anything on him and that we have taken our time to trust our instincts.  Any changes we have done in the gentlest way possible.  Yep, it takes longer.  But we are happy with how the changes have gone.  And it's us who have to live in this house.  If it's not a problem for us why should it be for anyone else.  You don't have to sleep in our bed at night and you don't have to put him to sleep.

They often ask when they will get to have sleepovers and what about time away from Will.  If you were to ask Will if he wanted to have a sleepover...he would say no.  This is purely for them...not Will.   We don't want to be away from Will.  We go out on dates and are home around 10-11pm.  But for the most part we want to be with our family.  Our kids and baby will grow up fast.  We don't feel the need to "get away from our kids" when we have a weekend with nothing to do.  We want to relax at home as a family and enjoy each other when we aren't running around.

Maybe I'm different because of the struggles we had in the beginning.  Maybe babysitting is hard for me because of PPA.  But I feel like we are doing better.  And I just want to enjoy my baby now.  I can't dwell on the "what ifs"...I just need to do what I feel is best NOW.

We are happy with our parenting choices, it may not work for others...but it works for us.  The others don't live here.

Okay...I feel better lol.  I promise I will have a upbeat, happy post soon lol.

My dad was really into attachment parenting...my mom had PPD so he was the primary care giver a lot of the time.  She went unmedicated.  He has been a huge support.  He reminds me that I slept with him, he stayed with me etc.  All the choices that we are making.  This helps.

My mom has been a huge support too.  She is over quite a bit during the week to help our family with whatever I need done :)

I guess I just needed a good rant.

Progress!

Sometimes things just work themselves out :)

Hayden's teacher called me to have a little chat.  I was so pleased to hear what she had to say.  She said that she really enjoys having Hayden in her class, that she appreciates his insightfulness, and did admit that he is just too "gosh-darn" cute.

I was soooo relieved.  She said that Hayden has done a complete 360!  She feels like they have some mutual respect for each other...and she now takes the headset off when speaking to him directly!  Hayden loves this!!  He feels like he can talk to her now.

We have a plan to foster Hayden's insightfulness, intelligence, and independence.  We're both worried that one day he will conform and those will disappear.

I'm so happy we found some balance and my Hayden can stay who he is...with some tweaks to make life easier for Mrs. K ;)

Don't beat out of a boy...

...what you would admire in a man.

The quote goes something like that.

Sometimes your kids surprise you.  Actually, your kids surprise you every day.

I always thought that Sage would have a tough transition at a new school.  But her desk isn't front row centre (a first!), she plays with her friends every recess, and she isn't on a reward program for behaviour.  Yay!!  It helps that she possibly has the best teacher ever!!  Seriously...this girl lucked out.  She is young, pretty (which doesn't matter to me...but matters to a girl who likes shiny things), full of energy, is great at making kids take responsibility for their actions, great at being right on top of any issues that may need parental involvement, incredibly positive and supportive when it comes to learning new concepts and she never scolds children in public...I could go on.  This lady blows my mind.

Hayden is having some problems.  My outgoing, cute, friendly, loving Hayden.  It probably doesn't help that Robert and I did not get a good vibe from his teacher right off the bat.  To be fair we did meet Sage's teacher first.  So it would be hard for any teacher to rise to that expectation lol.  She is older, she is cynical and sarcastic, often makes jokes at the children's expense...I don't find it funny.  I'm a strong believer that if you call your child a brat, your child will believe they are a brat and act like one.
She wears a headset.  No one in the class is hearing impaired.  I understand that a class of 25 five year olds is insane...I couldn't do it.  I become skeptical when I see the headset.

I get concerned that it is a power trip and will be used inappropriately because of the teacher being in a position of authority.  And in this case...why should you be respected?  I like that he questions authority and he understands that he needs to respect authority figures as long as they are adhering to their roles and institutional rules...but when it's abused he tunes out.  Do I blame him? I'm more impressed that at 5 he understands what it means to abuse power and that respect is earned not demanded.

She never turns it off.  Even when speaking to them one on one.  Even when scolding them.

Hayden had been going to Montessori since the age of three.  I love Montessori.  They are encouraged to explore, to learn what they are naturally interested in learning, they encourage natural consequences. If there was a Montessori on the West side...they would be there.  He really thrived in this environment.
And honestly?  Why would you pay upwards of $800 a month to daycare when they could be going to a learning environment for $575 full time...every day...with before and after care...and when the teacher is sick they call a sub.  I want one closer to home.

I think with the all the adjustments of a new home and completely different school...he is struggling.  It's all new.

How do I find the balance of encouraging Hayden to be an individual, and to question authority (qualities that I admire about him and would admire in a man and am amazed that he is 5 and has them), while getting him to fit in and make it in a new theory of learning and new structure.  I'm not upset with the public school system...there are a lot of factors going on here.  It's just very different from what he is used to.  They do what they can...but is it appropriate for this child?  And how do I make it so?

Where is the balance...

7 Months!!

Okay.....Will is 8 months.  Once again I'm behind.  But here are his 7 month accomplishments!

Date:  Sept 13th, 2012

Age:  7 Months

Some of your new friends are:  Malcolm, Finn, Leo, Auntie Chelsea, Auntie Josie, Rachel, Amanda, Hayden, Sage, and Issy!

Relatives that have paid a special visit to you are:  Grandma and Grandpa Routley, Auntie Sandra and Uncle Kal, Uncle Brent and Auntie Kristi, Aunt Janice and Linda and Liam, Michelle and Jim Clunie, Shamus and Nigel and Samson Clunie.

You have taken a particular liking to:  Sagelyne and Hayden, as well as your Nana.  Probably because she looks and sounds like mom.  She can hold you the longest so far :)

We can tell your coordination is progressing by the way you:  Move around just a tiny bit when on your tummy...but really....who crawls.  You'd rather walk!  So, you prefer to stand and cruise a little bit in the living room.  You also really enjoy playing with your Ball-cano and still love your exersaucer.  You can balance quite well when standing.  It gets better every day.  Today you just stopped yourself from falling over!  Quite the accomplishment.

The sounds you make include:  La-la, ma-ma, va-va, da-da, ga-ga, razz berries, clicking your tongue, ta-ta, na-na, fa-fa, the "crowd cheering" sound, growling, giggling, and sometimes your dinosaur squeals.

You have become so receptive.  We are teaching you to:  Pull yourself up to a standing position, move around on your tummy, hold food and put it in your mouth (you really aren't keen on putting objects in your mouth like some babies are...and that's okay with me!!...although it would be nice when those teeth are bugging you...;)).  To bend and sit from a standing position, and how to pick up your toys when you drop them while standing.  Lots to do!  We are having so much fun with you!!

So....when do first words start?  Does it count that he'll be making a baby sound and then look at me and bust out a "mmmuummm!!"  This has happened on more than one occasion:)

The naughty and nice thanks list ;)

I am grateful for many things!  Here is my list....I lost my halo for some of them...

I am grateful for the berry hues of fall make up.

I am thankful for fall fashion.

I am thankful for the Humbolt shopping trip every October with Josie and Carey :)

I am thankful for my Sweet William.

I am thankful that I have a house to dwell on and endlessly work on, I am thankful that I can go out and blow our budget on groceries and make delicious meals for my family, I am thankful that I have three beautiful children that I can keep clothed (even sometimes stylin) and warm.  I am thankful that I have three smiling, happy children that get to live and do what kids do and have the freedom to do what they want to do.

I am thankful for my husband.  We have been through so many trials early on in our relationship and we made it.  We feel like we can take on anything. We don't take ourselves too seriously.  No matter what...at the end of the day...we are best friends and that out weighs anything else.  That alone makes everything else not matter because we are happy together and we have each other.  We can play and have fun together every day.  I always knew that Robert would be an amazing father...he had a great example.  He can act like a child, he can play, he can listen, and we trust each other fully when it comes to parenting decisions.  I can go on but I'll stop here.

I am thankful for coffee and my Keurig.  I truly admire people that can survive the day without coffee.  You are definitely better people than I am.  I cannot survive.

I am thankful for my blog.  It allows me to say what I cannot in person.  Things that I wish I had time to say.  Things that get lost because of all my thoughts running through my head every day.

I am thankful for fall and spring.  I love the seasons of change.  I am a little leery of them as every now and then they bring change that we don't want.  But even those changes have led to new chapters and a lot of good.  They have made our family stronger.  These seasons have typically been filled with good! Baby announcements, weddings, growing families...

I am thankful for my friends that I don't see nearly enough of!

I am thankful for Starbucks and Cravings and Winners...my guilty pleasures.

I am thankful for brunches with Beth and lunch dates with Chelsea.

I am thankful that my kids are active, competitive and like sports.

I am thankful for a community that supports us in adding S and H to our family.

I am thankful for all the moms and dads in my life that have supported me and all of my questions!s

My 30th Birthday!!

...was AWESOME!!

Saturday morning consisted of me sleeping in and breakfast in bed.  Then all the kids and Robert joining me for breakfast in bed.  I see a king size bed in our future :)

Then Karen came by and took Sagelyne and Hayden out to Rosthern for a sleepover.  Mom came over to babysit Will!  First babysitting experience and everyone lived!!  It was totally fine :)
Robert and I went to a wedding at the Berry Barn and a reception at the Mandarin!  What a fantastic wedding...so. much. fun.  And it was open bar ;)  Not bad...  We even ended up having to call Zero 8 for a lift home!

This morning Carl and Tara came over to babysit.  Robert and I went to the Saskatoon Inn for brunch at the Botanica and hit up Starbucks on the way home.  Will just napped the whole time we were gone :)  Poor Carl and Tara.  They were a little disappointed lol.

Then I was forced to go shopping at the Cravings tent sale with Will while Mom, Robert, Sagelyne, and Hayden decorated and prepped for my birthday party.  After I got home it was cake time!  I even scored some bling and flowers :)

Such a fabulous weekend.  I love planning for everyone else but I soooo enjoy low key events for myself :)  Perfection.

Bonus!  Will has decided that he can drift off to sleep on his own!  That was totally random.  It is hard to trust yourself and Rachel and Amanda know that I question sleep and worry about it all the time.  After I had tried everything I decided to just suck it up and wait.  Will is such an easy baby and has done everything a baby is expected to in his own time.  I decided that sleep may be the same.  And it worked :)  For now ;)

FYI...Hayden has been asking me for days to put on my wedding dress.  So I did ;)

Here are some pics!

I do know!!

The other day, Hayden brought home a paper for Robert and I to fill out from school

It was from his teacher and she wanted us to write down little facts about Hayden that would be beneficial for her to know.  

I felt horrible at first. It took me about a week to fill it out and hand back to her. Both of their teachers know that they are adopted. The hard part was realizing that as much as we hung out together before they lived with us...we are still getting to know each other. 

I stared at the paper for days trying to put together the best words to describe Hayden.

Hayden is working on listening and following instructions.
Hayden LOVES going to school.
Hayden is in swimming lessons, speed skating, and guitar.

And then...something clicked...

Hayden gets tired and can become VERY stubborn. We are trying to teach him to use this power for good and not evil.
Hayden is really good at making friends. Even if you try to make a conscious effort to not be his friend...you will be. 
Hayden is carefree and this makes him hilarious! I'm not worried about peer pressure at all with this boy.
Hayden loves to hold hands.
Hayden will take time out of his day to make sure,you are happy and are having a good day yourself.
Hayden is very affectionate.
Hayden will often stop whatever he is doing, no matter how much fun, to snuggle and tell you that he loves you. These moments are often at random:)

So....I do know a little something about Hayden.

New Mom-mobile

It was between a white Honda Odyssey or a white Ford truck...it was up to my dad and the truck won!...surprise!

It's great!  It fits all of us and I can haul stuff :)  Who do you think got all the hardwood flooring to our house ?

Plus, because it's my truck and I'm the one who drives it, Hayden assumes that I am the better driver ;)

It has a sunroof, child locks, things like cruise control etc, is roomy, and has cup holders galore!

It does have some of my typical dad accessories such as chrome and Harley mud flaps...now I can drive and park like an a-hole in my truck :)

Thanks Dad!!  Life is soooo much easier!!!

...now I have to sell Sheila... :(

Will at 6 Months!!

Another quickie of an update .... Sagelyne is currently locked in a dungeon by an evil dragon and I must save her soon!

Will's favourite foods are apples, bananas, oatmeal cereal, barley cereal, beets, squash, sweet potatoes, pears, pumpkin, and avocado.

We are trying to get him to eat carrots and peas.  I really have to disguise some veggies with other foods...already!

He is learning to like veggies that are mixed with fruits and cereals.

His current feeding schedule is:

700am breakfast and nurse

930am nurse for nap

12pm lunch and nurse

1pm nurse for nap

4pm supper and nurse

7pm nurse

8pm bedtime and nurse...we tank up during the day now so that he only wakes up once or twice at night :)  Otherwise he gets distracted by day and makes up for it at night :s Not cool.

Will can sit, hold toys in both hands, smash toys, switch toys between hands, and sit up in the tub!  He has learned to drink from a sippy cup and has mastered the Ball-cano!

He can make sounds that consist of mama, mom, dada, blah, bah, ahs, ohs, nana, and a bunch of different unidentifiable sounds, raspberries and of course the attention grabbing fake coughs.

We are teaching him to crawl, play hand games, find a hidden toy, and how to work on puzzles...the 1000 piece puzzles...j/k.

He is 27 inches (95th percentile) and 18lbs 12 oz (50th percentile).  Quel surprise...

A tiny glimpse into our every day family life!

A wee update about us and what our back to school schedule looks like!  We made it and it was easier than I expected.  I'm not on here much!  Honestly, when I do have time to myself I don't think about going on the internet.  I haven't checked my email in months.  It usually takes me two days to get around to sending an email.  It's usually shower, tidy, coffee, and watch a few minutes of The Newsroom :)

I know babysitting is nothing like having your own kids.  But I did nab some ideas from when I was a nanny for the Clunie family.

Here is a quick peek...Hayden has school Tuesday, Thursday and alternating Fridays!  Those are the days that I can do things like go out with friends and really get lots done!  I love my kids but yay for school! ;)

6-7 am Shauna showers

7 am Kids wake up, get dressed and have breakfast.  No breakfast until everyone is dressed.

730 am Brush teeth and hair.  Make sure back packs are ready to go.  And then free time.  No TV.

835 am Sagelyne walks to school.  She leaves 5 minutes ahead of us because she doesn't want to walk with us anymore ;)

840 am  Hayden, Will and I walk to school

930 am Will has a nap, I tidy, shower if I didn't drag my ars out of bed at 6 am, have a coffee and watch a few minutes of tv.

10 am Hayden has snack if he is home from school

1030 ish am Will usually is up from his nap.  We have now until noon to get any errands done or have play time...or both!!

12 pm lunch

1pm Hayden and Will have naps...and me too after I tidy and workout ;)  Wake up and play!

3pm Will and I pick up Hayden from school...play it cool if we happen to run into Sagelyne and let her walk home by herself :)

330 pm Afternoon snacks for Sagelyne and Hayden

4pm Will has supper

5pm The rest of us have supper...unless it's a speed skating day, swimming day or music lesson day lol.  Then supper time and bedtime prep is a wee bit shuffled.  But bedtime sure isn't :)

630pm Bath time, story time.

8pm Bedtime!

9pm My bedtime!  After I make lunches, tidy again, and have some time to myself :)

It's busy but we love it!  And it's FUN!  I always knew that the best time of my life would be when I was a mom of three or four...and I was right :)

PPA

Not an easy thing to write about...

Last month I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety.  Much like postpartum depression with a few differences.

Ever since Will was born I have felt like I was screaming on the inside.  Every time I would visit my doctor or midwife I would "suck it up" and tell them that everything was fine and that I just had the baby blues.  They would tell me that it would get better and I would believe them that all of my feelings were normal.

I wish I had known then that what I was feeling wasn't normal.

Will and I struggled with breastfeeding for 8 weeks.  He ate every hour around the clock and we had latching issues.  Imagine having chunks of nipple gone!  Just gone...and never getting a chance to heal because he was constantly feeding.  I don't blame him...I never did.  But it hurt.  I cried (and I mean REALLY cried) every other hour for 8 weeks.  It was horrible.  I would be holding my baby and my tears would be falling all over his face.  I felt inadequate.  Like he didn't deserve me.  That he would be better off with someone else.  I wanted to love my baby...but I just didn't feel a bond for those fist eight weeks because of the pain.  He didn't smile at me or laugh...he just wanted to tear up my boobs.  Deep down I knew that these feelings weren't real.  It was my mind playing tricks on me and I made sure that no matter what I was feeling, Will would never not be cuddled, and loved.  This led to a whole set of other issues.

Because I didn't want Will to feel what I was going through, I began to over compensate.  The second he would start to cry, I would jump up.  I would carry him all day, cuddle him all day, play all day...which is fine...but I couldn't take even 30 minutes to myself without feeling guilty.  I googled every little thing Will did all day to make sure I was doing the best thing for him.  Because google knows best :s  I could't leave him with anyone else because they couldn't possibly know what to do with him if he started to cry.  Or they would do something out of the ordinary and this would throw off his whole routine.

The worst part is that I was constantly on Robert's back.  Diaper changes, how to get Will dressed etc.  All so that Will wouldn't so much as whimper.  Because if he wasn't happy...it was my fault.

It took me forever to tell anyone.  As the symptoms got worse...it grew harder to talk about it.  I never thought about hurting Will.  But I thought about hurting myself.  Not all the time.  It was like a switch.  I would be completely fine and incredibly happy...and then Will would struggle going to sleep and it would get dark very quickly.  I would think that he didn't deserve me in his life.  I could feed him, put him down for a nap, leave instructions about how to formula feed for Robert, and then I could be gone by the time Robert got home and Will wouldn't suffer at all.  He would be fed and would have had a good sleep.

I told Robert all of these feelings a month ago and it took him a couple days to convince me to get help.  I was terrified that Will would be taken away from us, that I would loose Sagelyne and Hayden, and that I would loose Robert because he would never forgive me.  I would be judged by any mom who ever found out.  All of our lives would be ruined.

It was my strong bond with Will that changed my mind.  Will and I bed share part time.  Robert has said that in our sleep we sigh at the same time, stretch at the same time, wake up at the same time...etc.  If Will and I are so connected at night...what about during the day?  He must feel what I feel.

I finally went in to see the doctor.  I had to do it.  I was sweating, shaking, and terrified that she wouldn't believe me.  Or that 5 months later they would just tell me it's the baby blues...again!  And that I would have to go the rest of my life kicking screaming on the inside.  As soon as the nurse asked me what the visit was about I started bawling.  The doctor came in right away and was the same friendly and calming face that I've always known.  She reassured me that she would help in any way possible, that Will and the rest of my family need me and that if I ever need her, I can just call any time I want and she'll see me.  Part of me was relieved...the other part thought "great, I must really be crazy".

I left feeling like I was finally heard.  Just telling her made me feel better!  I didn't have to kick and scream anymore.  I could be open about my emotions because these feelings aren't me!  It's a nasty trick that my hormones are playing on me.  

So, for the past month I have been on medication.  Not an easy thing for me to do.  In the past, Robert and I have said that we do not believe in medicating before attempting to make better lifestyle choices.  But I physically and mentally could not exercise, and I could not eat properly.  So I decided to try the medication.

I wish I had gone in earlier.  I wish I could have had what I have now earlier.  Will and I have never been better!  There are sooo many things that would have sent me over the edge that just don't any more.  Even things that would have bothered me prior to having Will (us Type A's ;s).  Robert has said that he has never seen me this happy and relaxed.  I feel like before I was always trying to improve myself and my life...like it was never good enough.  And now it's the exact opposite.  I have everything that I have ever wanted.  I don't need to change a thing.  The best thing is that I don't have to be medicated forever!  Just until Will is over a year old.  I'm eating better, exercising, and feeling great even if I don't eat well and exercise :)   I've managed to tell a couple people and my mom. That's it.  And I'm comfortable with that.  I'm accepting that I can't do it all, and that's okay.  I have a beautiful family and wonderful friends that will support me and love me.

5 Months ....a little late ;)

Here is what was new for 5 months!  Life has been pretty exciting and BUSY!  I have many things to blog about and hopefully I can start catching up :)  I have summer to write about, overcoming some challenges, and our new additions!

July 13th, 2012

5 Months

We tuck you in bed at about 8 o'clock.

Your bedtime routine includes:  eat, bath, story, kisses and cuddles in the rocking chair, lay down in your crib, tummy rub, and then sleep.

Bedtime stories we read to you:  Goodnight Moon, Guess How Much I Love You, The Goodnight Kiss, and The Hat.

Nighttime lullabies you enjoy:  The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star.

When you can't sleep we:  Cuddle and rock you to sleep.

We can tell your coordination is progressing by the way you: stand, sit up unsupported, pick up objects, and roll around on the floor.

The sounds you make include:  ma, na, ha, ba, ah, lots of raspberries, lots of giggles and experimenting with noises.

You have become so receptive.  We are teaching you to:  sit, stand, copy sounds, bounce, blow raspberries, crawl, roll, turn book pages, hold objects with both hands, give hugs and kisses, and baby sign language.

New Discoveries

Well...that growth spurt has finally calmed down!  Time to write about what I have been doing for me lately...most days...okay some days....and if it only happens once a week whatever ;)

I've discovered reading again!  I haven't picked up a novel since February.  I'm reading The Birth House.  I've been waiting to borrow it.  I usually only get one chapter read a night but it's nice :)

I've discovered The Good Food Box and Fresh n Local.  We've been using both services for about a month now and I love them both!  Hardly any grocery shopping for this lady and I feel that my quality of life has improved :)  No more yelling at mean foreigners ;)  The only thing I go out to grab is non perishables...which takes 30 min a week.  I'm also an order/pickup depot for The Good Food box...so if anyone wants to know more just message me on FB!  This also led to me filling my volunteering void.  It's not much...but it's something that is easy and I have time for it.  And it even makes my life easier since people come to me rather than me going to them.

I've been meaning to exercise and I do find time every now and then.  But not enough time to make a difference.  I have been losing weight...that's what three kids and breast feeding past three months will do for yah!  But I do need to find a time to dedicate to exercising at least four times a week.  Evenings after supper I'm exhausted...and I do enjoy lazing about in the mornings.  I think I just need to commit and do it!  Now that Robert is getting back into it, it makes me want to keep up.  He can't beat me!

All small things but they all count!  And I feel much better :)

4 Month Update

Four months!  Craziness!!

So far the four month growth spurt has lasted the longest.  Like clockwork, Will started the feeding frenzy on June 13th.  It is now the 27th and I think we are finally hitting the end of it.

I could sense a change was about to happen right before he started this last growth spurt and my spidey senses were right :)  I usually trust my instincts but this gets sooooo hard right in the thick of the growth spurt.  I think there were a few "OMG What in the world of F am I doing wrong?" ish texts that were sent out ;)

Here is our days lately....still finishing with a growth spurt...but a pattern is emerging and Will and I are adjusting.

6am-8am Wake up time

Eat and have a three to four hour break!  That's right!!

Play

Sleep

Repeat all day...lol. I know he is still going through this growth spurt because sleep is currently negotiable and only lasts for short 30 min naps most of the time.  But he is content even with his lack of sleep.  Just like at 2 months and 3 months, this will work itself out.  If he goes for the 3 hour eating pattern I'll eventually get him to eat, play for 1.5 hours and then sleep for 1.5 hours.  That's the goal anyway...something similar to that.  Similar to his 2 hour pattern :)  It's coming:)  And once he gets it it'll be on to the 6 month growth spurt ;)

7:30pm Bath and story

8:30-9pm Off to bed and wake up every three hours to eat...but this will settle down again too.

He has learned a lot of cool tricks!  He can wave "hello", he can throw his arms up when someone yells "yay!", he is a huge fan of the exersaucer, he has started to pull on tails, he is VERY chatty and smiley, if he's fussy it means he is tired or hungry or just wants to cuddle (thank goodness that has never changed...I am sooo lucky!), he can stand barely supported...but refuses to roll and is enjoying tummy time.  Even creeping a little.  He is sleeping anywhere, we have been smiling at strangers and learning to laugh at loud noises. He has squeals and big belly laughs.  Especially when you play the drums on his tummy.  He is grabbing things and has a huge look go accomplishment when he gets his Obi Ball.  He loves to suck on his fingers...particularly his thumb and has started putting himself to sleep this way.

UPDATE:  We have intentional rolling and creeping on his back/side.  Think of The Homer ;)

We are excited to take him to the lake this weekend!

Despite the ups and downs and inconsistencies of a growing baby, I can say that he is definitely happy and feels secure.  Which is all I can ask for :)  Whatever works as long as we're all happy there isn't a problem...sometimes I need my other moms to remind me of this ;)

Sammy the Sparrow

So, yesterday evening I found a sparrow sitting in my garden.  He is still sitting there this morning.  I don't know if he is a baby or not...or if he's hurt.  He isn't flying but I know he can at least walk a little because he is curled up in a different spot.

Why oh why must I love all living creatures?!  I have been up since 5am wondering about the little bird and finally caved at 5:30am to go and check on him.  Gah!

Anyway, if he's a baby, I hope his parents find him soon.  I read on a bird rescue website that if they don't show up in 24 hours....he's a goner:(  I can't just leave him there to waste away!!

So...if they don't show up...I'm going to build him a nest...yup.  I was reading on this website that sparrows are not a protected bird.  If they die, they die :s  I also don't want it to be in my house.  Anyway, I was reading on this website that you can build them a little "nest" and wire it in a bush (we have tons) and provide them with bird seed and water until he can fly again.  It's only June so maybe he'll be able to fly come fall?

I have an aunt and uncle that are Buddhists and also enjoy bird watching...lol. So I left them a message on what to do.  Makes sense to me...aren't they supposed to love nature and know all things about it ;)

Why can't I just be one of those people that was raised on a farm (sorry to anyone raised on a farm...they just seem to be able to accept the harsh realities of life and death and animals better) and just accept the fact that maybe it is this birds time and go on with my day "dope dee dope".

I am going to worry about this all day.  At least Sammy the Sparrow is sitting in my front garden so I can keep a close eye on him.  ....I just realized that I named him already...not good.

Up and Coming Events!!

It feels great to be getting back into things! Last year Exquisite Events began a partnership with Reach Promotions. Our concert series called Live and Upfront was on CBC news and we were even interviewed live on CFCR! I took some time off over the winter but I don't want to loose momentum so I have been slowly getting back into it:) And it feels great! I may not have time to do it full time right now...but even if it is a hobby job that is okay with me! I live for all the positive feedback! And if I can be a mom to three kids, be a wife, work, and be able to plan events I will be happy! Family and being a mom will always come first and I am thrilled to do it. Baby steps and one day I will be there! So....what has been happening... 1) I finally finished school and have a diploma in International Event and Wedding Planning! I could also take event design but I know a couple gals that can do that for me;) 2) I am still doing some corporate events this summer and December s booked! 3) Live and Upfront is being held at Souleio this summer! You will see me there every Saturday afternoon starting in June...along with some great local and international talents! 4) Working with local media. Soon you will hear about events on CTV Morning News, CBC, and CFCR....maybe even C95. 5) My annual Children's Hospital Fundraiser was a hit last year and we have been asked to do it again! June 21st this year! Once again at the Broadway Theatre with a country rock theme, silent auction, 50/50 and door prizes! And I don't have to MC this year! Now I can just be backstage and manage!! Lookout! 6) ummmm....all this organizing and promo...no wonder I need a creative genius to do event design....and I know just who to talk to! Be on the lookout because I am coming your way;) 7) Organize a party for our two new kidlets! Boy do they deserve one! 8) Try to manage my current clients while developing my business plan, start advertising and get some new clients by summer 2013! The organizer in me is overwhelmed that things have taken off before the basics are done but on the other hand it's not so bad! I also need a website that is no longer under sonstruction. Yikes!! Exciting!! Sometimes when it gets overwhelming and i get discouraged and think that anyone can be organized and plan things...I think of all the thank you's and positive feedback! I love it! And a quote from one of my fav corporations "I have to throw a lot of events and if I want to impress and if I want everything don't right without worry, I call Shauna. I feel great about how my company is presented. I had to laugh when I went to a corporate event held by the president of TD and noticed his cold appetizers from Costco and all I could think was...Shauna would never let that happen and passed him your card". How awesome!! I'm pretty lucky to have such great people around me! That convo keeps me going one small step at a time! What a great project to have to keep me going:) I'm sure I will be harassing you all soon to attend some things! And I personally love Costco appetizers...but it's not about me;)

Never Will I Ever

Here it is! All the things I said I would never do....and then I had a baby....

 Never Will I Ever Breastfeed. I don't know why I said this. I think I was playing devil's advocate one day and said it just to start a debate...cuz I do that....anyway....I am a pro star at it and can now do it while walking around, eating without getting crumbs on Will, and late night jaunts to pee. Yep. That's right. Documented on the web...poor Will.

 Never Will I Ever Bed Share....We do it...and we love it. And as soon as I found as much supporting research for it as there was against it....I did it more. I never would have survived without it. And Will is perfectly capable of sleeping without me and anywhere. Honestly, it is more for me now as it is for him. I am weaning myself off of it.

 Never Will I Ever Cosleep....Of course we cosleep...how else am I supposed to wean myself? Never Will I Ever use cloth diapers....It took me months of research but I finally found some that I love. Über Cute! B And we use disposable on outings. Let's be reasonable!

 Never Will I Ever use a Sling...I tried....No matter what I did he hated it. Another thing that I should have researched more but there is a lot of trial and error too. Will is very observant and loves to see! So the sling was a no go. But the Beco? Loves it! And I use it ALL the time.  Gets to face mom, see and sleep:) I don't really know what kind of mom I expected myself to be. I have definitely surprised myself in some ways...but I'm loving it! And learning things about myself :)

That's what it is...one great big learning experience and learning what will work for me and Will.

2 Months!

I cannot believe that it has been two months with Will! Rob and I were discussing yesterday how we can't believe we went through life without him. It hasn't been easy but the past two months have been filled with love. I thought I would never forget the first couple months because of the sleep deprivation but it is all just a blur now lol.

Here is what's happening:

Will has a morning nap, an afternoon nap, and can sleep for 5 hours at night...then 2 hours...then 1.5 hours and then it is wake up time! (this is on a typical day that is...sleep is still negotiable)

My body is not used to getting 5 hours of consecutive sleep at night...so when he wakes up at 3am I have a really hard time going back to sleep...if I do at all. My body feels great and rested compared to the past few weeks!

He can lift his head and is sooooo close to sitting in the Bumbo chair.

We are getting smiles :) Especially me! He loves both of us but is very partial to me right now...geee, I wonder why? ;)

His feedings have FINALLY slowed down...and by slower I mean every 1.5 to 2.5 hours during the day. Much better than 45 min to 60 min. It has made me incredibly efficient though! You have no idea what I can accomplish in an hour now!

I stored all of his 0-3 month clothes...and cried...and cried...

I have discovered Cravings....ouch $$. Made the mistake of buying a couple REALLY cute rompers for Easter...that he wore....ONCE (betcha saw that coming). I have since discovered the Value Village in Stonebridge...WOW! Nice, clean, and tons of Baby Gap ;) Cravings can be for special occasions.

I have time to go for daily walks and workout. Some me time! I even figured out how to nurse in the carrier! Life saver!!

I have figured out that if Will is awake and I need to bathe...he will accept a bath...not a shower. He likes the sound of the running water when I fill the tub. The shower does not fool him ;)

I just want to give a shout out to my mama friends...the first couple months were not easy for me...I know now that they aren't for anyone. Definitely had light and dark days. Thank you for making me feel normal!! There is much more light now :)

Anyway...much to do and I have no idea how long this afternoon nap will last! That is just a sneak peak at my life right now.

What a Week?!

Last week felt like a whirlwind of activities!

First of all....

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY SAGELYNE!!!

I'm a horrible aunt and didn't get any pics of the celebrations but we made it to the Fun Factory for a "Glamour Party" and had a family birthday party at our house.

You are growing soooo much! It is crazy how much you have matured this year :) You are a great help with Will (I knew you would be ;) ). How can you not be great with babies when your number one career choice is to be a mom? (Although I have heard you start to mention "jail police" and teacher this year...cool!) You're gonna be a natural! You have also shown us how "in tune" with your emotions you are, and you are very good at expressing yourself. I know many adults that are unable to do this! (I'm not the best at it either). Keep it up! I'm so happy that you are expressing an interest in activities like art and choir. It's so cool being able to see the activities that you naturally gravitate towards. I can't wait to watch over the next few years and see who you will become. It will be fabulous for sure!!

To make up for lack of pics...remember these? We've had some fun you and I!!

I was also able to go on our bi-annual shopping trip to Humboldt's Cottage Boutique. This year we went after hours for a private shopping experience. Champagne, food, and clothes everywhere!! They are sooo good to us. Will was easy peasy that night and I got some great finds that I love:) I even got a couple things that I forced myself to try on...and ended up loving!

Last weekend my fav cousin Linda, Aunt Janice, and Linda's son Liam came out to visit us. I wish I lived in Calgary! I miss you all soooo much. Sometimes it is kinda lame being the only ones that live in Saskatchewan but it makes our time together that much more special. Linda may be back this summer!! Fingers crossed!! Did I mention that you're my favourite and I love you? I wish I could put words together so that people could understand lol. Thank you so much for helping on the weekend and reminding me that I just need to trust myself and my instincts. You're right! I have taken care of babies and children all my life! Even though it isn't quite the same...I still feel better remembering that I have done it and am doing it now :) Perhaps all those summers that you drove out to take care of me at my dad's rubbed off :)

A message for my Hayden :)

Happy 5th Birthday Hayden!!
We love your curiosity, and how affectionate, sweet, kind, and caring you are. You are so into everything right now...and everything is (or should be) yours. Secretly we think this is funny...but we won't tell you that ;) You are always there for a cuddle or a good play! We love hearing about what you are doing in Montessori. We know all there is to know about bones and muscles now. You are really going to show those other Kindergarteners next year.
Continue to be respectful, gentle, and kind to others. These are good qualities that will carry you far!
Robert and I are very proud of you and love you very much!!







Okay, I'm really behind on my posts...for good reason :)

I'm going to start where I left off with some pics of Hayden's 5th Birthday on February 11th. We had sooo much fun celebrating all the birthdays on this date. We drove up to P.A. and went bowling, and then on some rides and THEN Robert went with Sagelyne and Hayden on the bumper cars. After we retired to Grandma and Grandpa's house for some pizza and ice cream cake.

Hayden was all about monsters this year. He asked for a monster on his birthday cake and a monster truck for his birthday present. Well, actually, he asked me for a monster truck or a fire breathing dragon...whichever I could find.

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I have vowed to never weigh myself again...I feel massive...

Stretch marks? None. Just have to make it through the next 2-4 weeks and then delivery. I feel like that is asking a lot.

Sleep: I have been sleeping well again!

Best moment this week: Long walks while soaking up some vitamin D!

Movement: We can feel "stuff" better and better all the time. I felt the top his head wiggling around and got freaked out when he "ducked" and my thumb slipped over the roundness of the top of his head. It was pretty cool :) I've also been pretty lop sided lately and can almost grasp baby bum poking out right underneath my ribs.

I'm also kind of scared that I am going to have the biggest baby of all time. That we'll be in the Guiness Book of World Records. My stomach is hard top to bottom and side to side. I'm praying that isn't all baby...hopefully it's some of the accessories that come with it!

Food cravings: Water and now...milk! Lots of both!

Labor Signs: Always have labour signs. It was entertaining last week, now it's just a tease.

Belly Button in or out? Even with the rest of my tummy...I'm quite rounded.

Wedding rings on or off? On.

What I miss: When people didn't assume that everything I say, eat, or do has something to do with pregnancy. I'm convinced (from some research articles and other reading) that the pressure that people put on pregnant women doesn't help and may prolong their labour and effect how they interpret and cope with pain...I know people are excited...and we are too! But I really didn't think it would start at 36 weeks. We are excited and like to talk about it...but not everything has to do with babies...we've been watching movies lately too ;)

This also played a great factor in me deciding to have a water birth at home. I'm not the type who really likes being the centre of attention, I put enough pressure on myself that I prefer to handle things by myself, and I get incredibly overwhelmed with outside environmental factors...especially when there is a hundred things going on at once and no one is filling me in. Maybe it's the controlling part of me shining through but it's what I need. I have to understand and respect what I need in order to make sure my baby is born unstressed and healthy. I really do feel that privacy is my best option in getting all this done the healthiest way possible...for both of us :) Luckily my body clearly agrees with what I need so far and has kept us healthy this whole time :) I'm surprised at all the people that have been incredibly supportive in helping me find the peace and relaxation that I need. Even the mom's that were informed they would be called right AFTER the baby is born lol. Let's not turn a home birth into a 24 hour+ event lol. Work with me people!

What I am looking forward to: Having a baby!

Weekly Wisdom: Practice, practice, practice! I was starting to get the days of being exciting and then a day of being nervous. I feel so much better now that we have been practicing our chosen coping techniques. Whatever they are...practice them! Nanny McPhee suggested applying some pain while practicing. She said to try ice cubes behind my ears, on my wrists, and in my hands for one to two minutes at a time...basically mimicking the duration of contractions and the rest period in between. Of course it doesn't hurt as bad, but if I can block out the burning, freezing sensation, it gives me confidence that I can handle something greater one breath and coping technique at a time. No matter how or where this baby enters the world...it's gonna hurt. So I'm glad that I'm making my worries work for me!

Milestones: Having some "nesting" freak outs. I went to Walmart and bought ALL of their 0-3 month sized pants because I thought we didn't have enough. We did.

Getting up at 7am on a Sunday because I HAD to do the laundry.

The Tree of Life

Alright, we have now seen 4/9 Best Picture movies. We watched The Tree of Life last night. We really did not know what to expect since the movie reviews either give it a 1/10 or a 10/10. Kind of like this year's Black Swan...which I strongly disliked...I felt like Black Swan was the pretentious person's teenage thriller movie. Boring...I mean really...was anything in that movie that surprising? or thrilling? We spent the whole movie waiting for something to happen. Have none of you seen crazy before? Or two girls kissing? I want to be entertained at the movies, show me something controversial...or at least a great story with all the required elements! Remember those from high school english?

Anyway, this movie was better! Brad Pitt can act in any role in any story and do a great job...so I'm going to focus on the story. It is about a man reflecting on his childhood and the conflict he faces with his father all while questioning the origins of life and the existence of faith. Easy enough. I enjoyed the 1.5 hours of the actual story and acting in this movie. Very well done!

Did I need the 45 minute random IMAX-esque scenes (although they were pretty to look at) to "assist me" in understanding the questioning of life, faith, and existence...not really. Maybe I'm just smarter than the rest...but I don't think so. Once again, pretentious and condescending. A director trying to make himself feel smarter than the rest of us by adding so called "symbolism and meaning" to an easy plot. But maybe he was feeling dumb and needed the ego boost. I hope he feels better now.

I would give it a 5/10. There is a reason not all movies have a random IMAX clip in them.

Now to see Hugo, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (which seems to have the same plot as Hugo from the trailer? Father's die...keys are left behind...), The Artist, The Descendants, and War Horse. Actually, I probably won't see War Horse...I can't handle the animal movies...it really just means that I'm guaranteed to cry.

Loved these two!

Robert saw this movie in the theatre when it was released and told me that it is one of his favourite movies! It was added to our on demand movies the other day so we rented it. It's soooo good!! It's pretty rare that Robert has anything to say about movies. If it got his vote, I knew it had to be a great one :)

Exciting News for a Poncho Dog!

Okay, I just went to Walmart to finish shopping for home birth supplies and hospital bag supplies (just in case). I needed some wee pads for myself....yes...myself. While in the pet department I found the perfect toys for Poncho!!

It has been a never ending search for the past 8 years to find appropriate sized toys for Poncho that are just as indestructible as the big dog toys. Well, today ended the search.

The Brand: Lil Ruffs

The Logo: A chihuahua with a mohawk...seriously.

Price:$1.97 per toy

The idea: Miniature toys that are just as cool and tough as the ones they make for the big dogs.

Needless to say, Poncho has been spoiled and is currently in the kitchen trying to decide which toy to play with.

Now to find the PERFECT boots...