We are spending a week in the British Virgin Islands with Tim's family. We arrived here on the 26th of November and are here're until Saturday December 4th. We are sailing around in a 46 foot catamaran. Internet connectivity is scarce, so posts might be minimal between now and the end of the week. I posted one entry I wrote earlier but hadn't been able to post until today.
Our trip has been an adventure thus far, especially traveling to get here. Sam was easier to travel with when he was a couple months old and still slept in any and all situations. Our flight here was a challenge as Sam slept very little and was only happy when we were walking up and down the aisle of the airplane. So Tim and I spent the majority of our flight taking turns walking with Sam. An important lesson learned: travel with friends and/or family, it was wonderful to be able to pass Sam off to an aunt or uncle on occasion.
Tomorrow we head to the island called Anegada - very excited about this adventure, it's about a 3 hour sail. It will be interesting to see how things go. I'll do my best to keep you posted. :)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Copy cat
Sam is the master of mimicry. He's always been good at imitating what others do, but lately it seems like left, right and center he is coming out with new tricks. Recently he started tilting his head when he looks at people, I wasn't sure why at first until one day I was looking at him and he tilted his head. At that moment I realized my head was tilted slightly while I looked at him. What a clever boy! We've also started a game where we go through his repertoire of skills: clapping, pointing his index finger, motorboats, waving etc to see how many he can get right. It's pretty impressive, he's probably right about 80% of the time. I am amazed at how quickly my son is growing and changing. It doesn't seem that long ago that Sam was born, and now he knows how to wave goodbye! What a guy. :)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Funny boy
Sam's teeth are coming in fast and furious, #4 is through, #5 will be through any day, and #6 is working its way in . With the arrival of teeth, some odd side effects have emerged.
1. Sam has a funny little rash on his face, especially on both cheeks (it makes them look rosy) and on either side of the crown of his nose. It doesn't seem to bother him, and some days its worse than others, but I find it rather curious that teeth can have this effect.
2. Sam has a terrible, terrible diaper rash. It's so bad I have been soaking him in a baking soda bath every night for the last several evenings. In fact, it was so raw on Saturday night there was actually a little blood when I wiped his bottom. My poor little guy. Every morning the rash seems a little better, and then by the end of the day, with all the pooping (because my son is a poop-a-diaper kind of guy), it's all raw again. But on the whole it seems to be improving. Again, an odd side effect from teeth, but nothing in his diet has changed....and I've heard from other moms they experienced the same.
3. The weirdest side effect is his demeanor. Lately Sam has been much more clingy, and not necessarily just with me, but anyone who will give him attention. He doesn't want to be left alone, and as long as someone is playing with him/sitting with him/carrying him, he is ok. A perfect example of this happened this evening...
I was trying to get a few things together for his meal, so I put some cooked chopped veggies on his tray along with some pieces of cheese. I was working in the kitchen, running downstairs a couple times, but always within earshot and never out of his sight for more than a minute or so. At one point, I looked over at Sam to see how he was doing, fully expecting he'd be done. He gave me this little wave that he's started doing recently that I think means "come here". So I went over to him. He had quite a bit of food left on his tray. He looked at me and made a sound - "num-num" - which is a sound he makes to indicate he's hungry. So I showed him the food on his tray and tried to give him some. He turned his head in refusal and made the sound again. I wasn't about to waste perfectly good food, so I went and got a bowl and spoon, put the food in the dish, sat down and just as an experiment, tried to feed him. He took the food without complaint and proceeded to eat every last morsel that I fed him. The little goof! All he wanted was for me to feed him! He wanted my attention. It's cute, but at the same time made me realize that my son is learning not only the importance of social interaction, but also how to manipulate mommy!
Anyway, it's an ongoing adventure, and hopefully the teeth will come in quickly and I'll get back my easy going, independent little man.
1. Sam has a funny little rash on his face, especially on both cheeks (it makes them look rosy) and on either side of the crown of his nose. It doesn't seem to bother him, and some days its worse than others, but I find it rather curious that teeth can have this effect.
2. Sam has a terrible, terrible diaper rash. It's so bad I have been soaking him in a baking soda bath every night for the last several evenings. In fact, it was so raw on Saturday night there was actually a little blood when I wiped his bottom. My poor little guy. Every morning the rash seems a little better, and then by the end of the day, with all the pooping (because my son is a poop-a-diaper kind of guy), it's all raw again. But on the whole it seems to be improving. Again, an odd side effect from teeth, but nothing in his diet has changed....and I've heard from other moms they experienced the same.
3. The weirdest side effect is his demeanor. Lately Sam has been much more clingy, and not necessarily just with me, but anyone who will give him attention. He doesn't want to be left alone, and as long as someone is playing with him/sitting with him/carrying him, he is ok. A perfect example of this happened this evening...
I was trying to get a few things together for his meal, so I put some cooked chopped veggies on his tray along with some pieces of cheese. I was working in the kitchen, running downstairs a couple times, but always within earshot and never out of his sight for more than a minute or so. At one point, I looked over at Sam to see how he was doing, fully expecting he'd be done. He gave me this little wave that he's started doing recently that I think means "come here". So I went over to him. He had quite a bit of food left on his tray. He looked at me and made a sound - "num-num" - which is a sound he makes to indicate he's hungry. So I showed him the food on his tray and tried to give him some. He turned his head in refusal and made the sound again. I wasn't about to waste perfectly good food, so I went and got a bowl and spoon, put the food in the dish, sat down and just as an experiment, tried to feed him. He took the food without complaint and proceeded to eat every last morsel that I fed him. The little goof! All he wanted was for me to feed him! He wanted my attention. It's cute, but at the same time made me realize that my son is learning not only the importance of social interaction, but also how to manipulate mommy!
Anyway, it's an ongoing adventure, and hopefully the teeth will come in quickly and I'll get back my easy going, independent little man.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Santa Claus Parade
Well, I really wanted to take Sam to the Santa Claus Parade. Here in Barrie it's lots of fun because the parade runs in the evening after the sun has gone down, and all the floats are lit up with hundreds of little Christmas lights. There's lots of wonderful music and everyone is so happy. I've gone the last couple years and really enjoyed it.
Yesterday was the Santa Claus Parade, and the plan was to go. However, my mom was here to visit and we spent a good chunk of the day running around doing errands, dragging Sammy all over the place. He didn't get a proper nap all day, and it was very cold and windy. So when we got back to my house at 4:30 and the parade started at 5, and Sam needed to eat dinner, as did we, I figured we wouldn't be able to make it. The parade isn't exceptionally fast, so I knew in my head that as long as we made it downtown by 6, we'd still get to see the floats pass by (it ends in the downtown, so it usually takes about an hour to get there). To make a long story short, by 5:30, Sam had eaten and we were just starting to make our meal. I told my mom not to worry, we wouldn't bother going because it was too late. I was sad, but figured I was tired and hungry and needed to eat. However, the whole time, stewing around in my brain was the thought that Sam would love it....and I felt bad I wasn't taking him. So around 6 pm, while we were sitting down eating our meal and Sam was playing with some Cheerios on his tray, I turned to my mom and said "Do you mind finishing later? We should go."
She laughed, and then we proceeded to grab Sam, bundle him up, grab our coats, toques and mitts, and run out the door. I sped downtown, hoping to catch the floats as they passed by the end of their route. As we passed the No Frills, I noticed a float sitting in the parking lot being dismantled. Mom yelled out "Maybe there will still be some floats, let's try!"
We continued along our route until we came to a police car with flashing lights blocking off the road. We pulled over to the side of the road as some brightly lit floats passed by. My mom took Sam out of his carseat and rolled down the window and held him up so he could see. He was SO excited! He looked left to right to left and back again, eyes as wide as saucers, yelling at the floats and waving his little hands. He was thrilled. Little did he know that he only got to see about 6 floats, that they were in the process of starting to dismantle, that several floats went a different route, including the grand finale Santa Claus. It was wonderful to see his excitement. I'm glad he got to see a bit of the parade. Next year, no matter how hungry I might be, we'll be in the front row when Santa comes rolling through.
Yesterday was the Santa Claus Parade, and the plan was to go. However, my mom was here to visit and we spent a good chunk of the day running around doing errands, dragging Sammy all over the place. He didn't get a proper nap all day, and it was very cold and windy. So when we got back to my house at 4:30 and the parade started at 5, and Sam needed to eat dinner, as did we, I figured we wouldn't be able to make it. The parade isn't exceptionally fast, so I knew in my head that as long as we made it downtown by 6, we'd still get to see the floats pass by (it ends in the downtown, so it usually takes about an hour to get there). To make a long story short, by 5:30, Sam had eaten and we were just starting to make our meal. I told my mom not to worry, we wouldn't bother going because it was too late. I was sad, but figured I was tired and hungry and needed to eat. However, the whole time, stewing around in my brain was the thought that Sam would love it....and I felt bad I wasn't taking him. So around 6 pm, while we were sitting down eating our meal and Sam was playing with some Cheerios on his tray, I turned to my mom and said "Do you mind finishing later? We should go."
She laughed, and then we proceeded to grab Sam, bundle him up, grab our coats, toques and mitts, and run out the door. I sped downtown, hoping to catch the floats as they passed by the end of their route. As we passed the No Frills, I noticed a float sitting in the parking lot being dismantled. Mom yelled out "Maybe there will still be some floats, let's try!"
We continued along our route until we came to a police car with flashing lights blocking off the road. We pulled over to the side of the road as some brightly lit floats passed by. My mom took Sam out of his carseat and rolled down the window and held him up so he could see. He was SO excited! He looked left to right to left and back again, eyes as wide as saucers, yelling at the floats and waving his little hands. He was thrilled. Little did he know that he only got to see about 6 floats, that they were in the process of starting to dismantle, that several floats went a different route, including the grand finale Santa Claus. It was wonderful to see his excitement. I'm glad he got to see a bit of the parade. Next year, no matter how hungry I might be, we'll be in the front row when Santa comes rolling through.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Christmas Baking!
The Christmas season is just around the corner, and it's my favorite time of year. I love the music, the smells, the sounds, the way that people all of a sudden seem a littler cheerier. It's wonderful. Last year I went overboard with Christmas baking, partly probably because I was pregnant and nesting, and some of the cookies never got eaten. So this year I am trying to be more selective about what I make. I'm trying to decide what I will make and what I won't.
The last few years I have been making fudge for gifts and for eating. I think I'm going to try and make some yummy chocolate peanut butter layered fudge I saw in a cooking magazine I get. And I plan to make shortbread, because that is Tim's favorite. But other than that, I can't decide. There's yummy icebox cookies, there's almond bark, there's gingerbread, there's these wonderful almond shortbread crescents, mmmmmmmm.....I love Christmas cookies. Oh, and I've already made Christmas cake. But that's more for gift giving....Anyone have some good suggestions for Christmas baking? What is your favorite?
The last few years I have been making fudge for gifts and for eating. I think I'm going to try and make some yummy chocolate peanut butter layered fudge I saw in a cooking magazine I get. And I plan to make shortbread, because that is Tim's favorite. But other than that, I can't decide. There's yummy icebox cookies, there's almond bark, there's gingerbread, there's these wonderful almond shortbread crescents, mmmmmmmm.....I love Christmas cookies. Oh, and I've already made Christmas cake. But that's more for gift giving....Anyone have some good suggestions for Christmas baking? What is your favorite?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Onesie Extenders
A friend of mine found these great little pieces of cloth with snaps that prolong the life of onesies by increasing the crotch length. And really, it's always the length of the onesie that baby outgrows first! Check them out!
http://www.cheekymonkey.ca/IplayGarment.htm
She gave me a package and they work great!
http://www.cheekymonkey.ca/
She gave me a package and they work great!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Things I've learned since becoming a mom...
1. Pajamas are completely suitable daytime attire.
2. Showering is an under-appreciated luxury
3. Talking about bodily functions (bowel movements, pee, vomit) becomes a daily conversation piece
4. There are three kinds of diaper poop - rabbit turds, bum pyramids and EXPLOSIONS
5. Having the "ABC" song in your head is just part of a normal day
6. Any opportunity to go out with your baby should be seized and enjoyed.
7. Any opportunity to go out without your baby should be seized and enjoyed.
8. You can never have too many pictures of your baby
9. There's nothing worse than waking up to the sound of a crying baby at 2 am.
10. There's nothing better than the sound of a baby's laughter.
2. Showering is an under-appreciated luxury
3. Talking about bodily functions (bowel movements, pee, vomit) becomes a daily conversation piece
4. There are three kinds of diaper poop - rabbit turds, bum pyramids and EXPLOSIONS
5. Having the "ABC" song in your head is just part of a normal day
6. Any opportunity to go out with your baby should be seized and enjoyed.
7. Any opportunity to go out without your baby should be seized and enjoyed.
8. You can never have too many pictures of your baby
9. There's nothing worse than waking up to the sound of a crying baby at 2 am.
10. There's nothing better than the sound of a baby's laughter.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Daycare Update
Well, I've done a couple interviews so far for home daycares. I was able to find some thanks to some great tips from friends. I thought I'd share...
1. Post an ad for "seeking daycare" in your section of town on kijiji. Believe it or not, you get a lot of responses and at least some of them will be potentials.
2. Check out the local Ontario Early Years Centre. They typically have list of home daycares available specific to different regions of town.
3. If you get a "no" from someone that you call, ask if they have any colleagues that have spaces available. I'm learning that there's somewhat of a network among home daycare workers and they can often point you in the right direction.
It will be a couple weeks before I decide on who will care for Sam. I can't lie, I am struggling with this, but it will come. And it's part of life. I just have to get used to it...
1. Post an ad for "seeking daycare" in your section of town on kijiji. Believe it or not, you get a lot of responses and at least some of them will be potentials.
2. Check out the local Ontario Early Years Centre. They typically have list of home daycares available specific to different regions of town.
3. If you get a "no" from someone that you call, ask if they have any colleagues that have spaces available. I'm learning that there's somewhat of a network among home daycare workers and they can often point you in the right direction.
It will be a couple weeks before I decide on who will care for Sam. I can't lie, I am struggling with this, but it will come. And it's part of life. I just have to get used to it...
Friday, November 5, 2010
King of the Jungle!
Here are some pictures of Sam from Hallowe'en. What a cutie! Can you guess what Tim was supposed to be?
Monday, November 1, 2010
The "Perfect" Mom
I think a lot of women enter into parenthood with expectations of being "supermom". We hear warnings from our friends and family that we can't do it all, that some things will have to be sacrificed, but I think deep down we all think "nah, not me, I'll be able to manage".
I don't know if it's a pride thing, or a fear thing, but once we enter into parenthood, become a mom, have a little person in our care, all of a sudden we feel like we need to put on appearances that all is ok. Because after all, if everything wasn't ok, would we really be good moms? I mean, do I really want anyone to know that there are dishes piled up in my sink right now? That occasionally I have a "blue" day? That I'm often stressing about whether my baby is meeting his developmental milestones? That some days, despite all my efforts to eat healthy and/or organic, we end up eating KD for dinner? There just seems to be this gap between what I aspire to be and what actually takes shape in reality. And there's this nagging fear that if I don't measure up, somehow my son will miss out. And if I share these thoughts with others, then am I failing at appearing to be all together?
I think sometimes we look at things backwards....Does my son care that he's a little slow with his gross motor development? Probably not. Does my husband mind eating KD now and then? Really, if I think about it, it's one of his favorite things to eat. Am I a bad mom when my house is messy? It depends on what is being slotted into the time that could be used to clean. If I spend all that time investing in my son, playing with him, nurturing his growth, then maybe, just maybe I can reconcile the messy house. So I guess the issue isn't am I a perfect mom; because nobody's perfect. I guess the issue is being satisfied with my imperfections.
I don't know if it's a pride thing, or a fear thing, but once we enter into parenthood, become a mom, have a little person in our care, all of a sudden we feel like we need to put on appearances that all is ok. Because after all, if everything wasn't ok, would we really be good moms? I mean, do I really want anyone to know that there are dishes piled up in my sink right now? That occasionally I have a "blue" day? That I'm often stressing about whether my baby is meeting his developmental milestones? That some days, despite all my efforts to eat healthy and/or organic, we end up eating KD for dinner? There just seems to be this gap between what I aspire to be and what actually takes shape in reality. And there's this nagging fear that if I don't measure up, somehow my son will miss out. And if I share these thoughts with others, then am I failing at appearing to be all together?
I think sometimes we look at things backwards....Does my son care that he's a little slow with his gross motor development? Probably not. Does my husband mind eating KD now and then? Really, if I think about it, it's one of his favorite things to eat. Am I a bad mom when my house is messy? It depends on what is being slotted into the time that could be used to clean. If I spend all that time investing in my son, playing with him, nurturing his growth, then maybe, just maybe I can reconcile the messy house. So I guess the issue isn't am I a perfect mom; because nobody's perfect. I guess the issue is being satisfied with my imperfections.
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