Happy Hallowe’en October 31, 2005

Happy day to all you gouls.

Through her grumpy, pre evening sugar high, Mad finally decided on being Pooh Bear for the second year running. The costume rides up her calves but what the heck?

Baz napped late so we stayed back to hand out the goods while J and Mad prowled the streets.

It was a busy night. I almost had to break into the leftovers from Easter. Which brings me to question: How old IS to old? And what do you do about the “kids” who are not noticably dressed up and just in it to reap some confectionary? I’ve heard this complaint time and time again but I think I have a new one for this year…. I had parents come to my door with a SLEEPING toddler. This kid was obviously too young to be walking the streets and in my book to be noshing on the rewards anyways, yet here are these parents, not home manning their own door, may I add.
This poor kids is being dragged out, and they are knocking on doors with their bag out, turning tricks in favour of their little goblin. Just bad taste. They should really just go buy a Snickers and call it a night.

Anyhow, Mad returned and the street died down. Good timing as the sugar high was crashing. I think she understood the getting dressed up idea but was also miffed by it. She was later telling me that trick or treating made her shy. She just didn’t want to have to talk to every one. Plus she wasn’t too crazy about every one commenting on Pooh Bear this and how sweet Pooh Bear that, saying things like; “hello Pooh”, “look it’s Pooh”. J was telling me that she kept saying things like “I’m big girl, not a bear.”
Talk about an identity crisis. At least when she went next door to Jean’s she was recognised. She liked her pumpkin. Jean ended up carving it and Mad said it looked good.

I think that she had fun. Good year.

Anyone, Help….? October 31, 2005

We are down to mere hours before sunset and the Madster is still jumping around on what she wants to be for Halloween.
We’ve bought two different costumes but now she’s jumping back to last year… and the year before and a few new things that she’s seen since.

If you get to this before the sun goes down let me know what you think:

1. Fairy (Tinkerbell — sans bell)
2. A good witch
3. Bus driver
4. Winnie the Pooh (last years – pants are a bit floody)
5. Rabbit (year before – just about as floody)
6. Knight

…and a doctor for next halloween.

Help!!! How do I mix all of those together OR actually help her be a bit decisive and settle on something?

Mr. Yellow October 30, 2005

Mr. Yellow was found in the house.
He’s a lady bug of the Asian variety.

“Mr. Yellow was in my hand. I was not holding too tight, I was just squishing him a little bit. But he was dead.”

Of the eerie yet fantastic bombardment of lady bugs we had here on Saturday Mad seemed to bond with one, Mr. Yellow.
She found him in the sunroom and instantly began to nurture him. Until she realised that he was dead…

Then she just got protective.

Three is still my favourite age so far, even if it seems to have been getting a bad rap lately.

Magic Potion October 29, 2005

A breastfeeding witch is scaring the locals in Vermont at the “Witch Lactation Station”.
Read the article, watch the footage…

Happy Halloween.

It’s finally out in the open. October 28, 2005

Mad wants a new mom. Actually she doesn’t want any mom, she’ll just take Daddy.

I was on the phone, cancelling my flight to B.C. when Madeleine decided it was time to smash her Russian Dolls off the hardwood. After I asked her to stop about 4 times I took them. Ya, I’m smart. She started screaming at the top of her lungs.

I got a bit of info about how I have to pay $30 to cancel and something about a year to use what’s left of my ticket price. But how? I’m not sure. I just know that I’m no longer allowed to be part of the family.

I miss naptime.

When Skies are Grey October 27, 2005

When Mad was a baby I thought long and hard about what it was I ultimately wanted to give her.

I thought about her being an astronaut, well educated, playing guitar and whistling with her fingers. The thing that stuck with me was the one thing I felt most important of all and the thing that I felt I had to develop as I grew older and that’s being self secure. I never want her to have to second guess herself or need someone elses approval on a creation. I want her to hold her head up high and own her world  and be proud of it.

All this Mommy Dearest talk got me thinking again, mostly about the way I talk and act. I am the role model and the teacher. It makes me weep to think of the potential damage. I tell her what to do and how not to do things.

Today we were making dinner. (Thursday is pizza night.) Mad decided, after I told her not to man handle the dough so much, that she would dig her hand into the flour container to get a nice big pile. Wishing away the Mommy Dearest I turned my eye and only asked what she needed so much for, she said that she was making a sand castle. Once the pile began discovering the floor “Mommy D” started coming out…. and then she sneezed on every ingredient on the counter.

Mad was then excused from pizza making this week.

She wasn’t too happy and I felt like a heel. Is this going to help in my goal to self security in the girl of the 21st century? I’m thinking not so much. I HAVE to start looking at the bigger picture again.

At bed time we were lying in bed together and I started to think how I would have reacted if it had been Baz sneezing or whatever for that matter. I would have thought it was cute, kissed and gazuntited him and life would have continued. Why should it be so different with Mad? It was making me sick how much I was going to miss her while I was away, so in that case I’m relieved I’m no longer going. I started to cry, hoping that she wouldn’t notice. I said that I hoped she knew how much I loved her.

She said yes, even when skies are grey.




Nevermind… October 27, 2005

It’s not happening.
At least I can get a credit for the flight.
Oh, That and Sebastian loves all his new goodies.

Leaving on a jet plane October 26, 2005

So, I bought a plane ticket yesterday. Baz and I are flying out solo to Vancouver to meet up with my father in law so we can drive back out east with him.

What? I’ve never seen Saskatchewan in November! I hear it’s pretty, um, flat and cold. I’ve also never seen the Rockies, so when J’s dad said that he was going out to British Columbia to pick up a car I quickly invited myself. I figure driving across country is one of those things that must be done at least once so in true me style, I’ll make it a bit more fun and bring my 6 month old along for the ride.

I’m bit sad that Mad won’t make it out for the trip but any of you who’ve read about my sanity v.s. grey hair… I don’t think I’m that much of a masochist. We will be visiting with most of J’s relatives including his grandparents. No one has met Baz, so it’ll be his whirlwind, breakout tour, so to speak.

And talk about whirlwind. I’ve begun the pack and prepare as our departure date is just a week away. On the home front I have to advise J in all the goings on with Mad, stock up on easy food that carb addicts love and eventually break it to the poor Momaholic that I’m ditching her for upwards of 10 days. Oh and then there’s the fun park of travelling with a baby — by myself. It’s me lugging the gear and a nursing baby so I’ve been doing a lot of thinking on what to bring… or what NOT to bring.

Naturally, the first thing I did was go shopping for baby gear. Ya, laugh, I did go consignment at least. I got a Trekker, travelling nursing pillow, boots, a car seat pillow and some car toys. Other than that I still have to lug the actual car seat, a monitor and obviously lots of clothes and diaper necessities. I’m staying away from the pack and play lifting nightmare and a stroller. I think that I should be able to not only handle all his gear (plus my own stuff) and still get by without upsetting his routine beyond the jetlag.

What would you pack if you were on your own to cross the country with an infant? Am I forgetting anything???

Useless Knowledge Comes in Handy October 25, 2005

Yet again…

Baz and I were off to our Tuesday sing-a-long and as it’s Hallowe’Eek, there was a theme.

Remembering at the last minute, whipped on his devil hat and headed in to sing some ghoulish tunes.

During “Parachute Time”, Monster Mash was played and my trivia was tested.

Who Sings the Monster Mash? Well, I got it, and I was delighted with the prize of our lovely host, Mike’s, very own CD’s. I know that Mad is going to love it, since she’ll recognize many of the songs from when she did the class too.

So can you remember who sings it? Let me know, and I’ll reward your useless info retention with a gift too!

Google cheaters be warned.

MAdtastic October 23, 2005

Am I the only one out there who thinks that they are too tough on their kids?

I think that I expect too much from Mad that I’m turning into Mommy Dearest.
Put your shoes on the right feet, don’t spill, chew, don’t wipe your poopy hands on the counter when you wipe your own bum, don’t use metal hangers.
Don’t, don’t don’t.

And then I saw my spawned Google ads for mental health, depression, and mental illness.

I guess I won’t get into how I’ve been feeling down about this subject lately.

Happy, Happy.

I’ve always seen Mad as brilliant. But is it to a fault? I expect so much from her it’s stupid. I have to just learn to let her be.

I know that she’s three. I guess we need more goofy time during the day. Time to stop and think. Time for me to spill some juice and put my shoes on the wrong feet. Can I try acting like a kid and play with a toy? She’s only going to be three for 6 more months and I’m wasting it on being serious and frivolous rules. Can I just relax maybe?

Yes Mommy dearest.