Halloween Party Planning. October 12, 2007

I have to admit I was incredibly intimidated when I agreed to host a Halloween party this year for Mad. How could I resist though, really? She just started a new school and were going to be on vacation for the BIG day. Between old friends and new and a lack of familiar trick or treating, I just had to make it up to the poor deprived girl one way or another.
…Old friends and new, yes, double the head count. The highest number we’ve attempted to date was 7 kids for her birthday. But she was four and they could still be corralled. At this shindig there will be 10, not including our darling little goblins.

Task at hand: How not to lose control of 10 kids and your mind in the process.

#1 Save the sugar until the end.
#2 Start with a craft to get them into it and to get a chance for the grown-ups to size up the crowd.
#3 Convince extra grown-ups to serve as back up. (i.e.2) – Thanks G&G.
#4 Games, games, games. Tire those kids out.

GAMES

Stick the hat on the witch. Our twist on the donkey. It should be fun for the 5 year old crowd, plus it’s always good for a laugh and will work out 20 minutes. Yay.

Guess the monster parts. The SK version of a haunted house. Tell them we just picked it up from the store, but we haven’t put it together yet.
Grape eyeballs, pasta brains, dried apricot ears…

Mummy Race. Grab your partner and wrap them in TP.
Who’s the fastest? Who’s the neatest?
After that, we’ll do the Monster Mash… & freeze. We’ll see which mummies can stay perfectly still for a thousand years. Then they can do the Time Warp, again.

We’ll finish with a balloon popping race. Who doesn’t like popping black balloons with their bums? Especially ones (all) that have prizes in them.

Then it’s off to the snack table. There will be green ooze (limeaid and gingerale) to drink, fingers (carrots) and slime (guacamole), ghostly cookies and ghoulish cupcakes.

For loot bags, I have orange craft bags packed with mini Play Doh, eyeball gum, pumpkin pencils and gummy fangs. All tied up with green painter’s tape to look (almost) like a little pumpkin.

But the best? The prizes, stay tuned, since they all get the same thing. It’s the super CD complilation that will drive their parents BATTY.

Muwhahahahaha.

Bon Bonbon September 1, 2007

“It was a major award. I won it.”
I blog, I bake, people from Europe send me chocolate.
This time it was from Paris, and it was a big box.

Baz loved it.
N’est pas?

Bug Watching August 30, 2007

You’ve got summer. You’ve got kids. You’ll find bugs.
They’re everywhere so you might as well find the ones you can enjoy. That’s what we did and as luck would have it we found a cecada too!
A little lesson for both me and the kids but these fascinating bugs that we usually refer to as “electricity bugs” buzz in the heat of the hottest summer days reaching up to 100db just in order to find a girlfriend.

Yes, that’s my thumb. I was the brave one to pick up the giant, gentle and amazing insect. How amazing to think that this thing on my thumb is older than my toddler. With a little investigation, we realised that some cicadas live underground for years, only emerging in 13 or 17 YEAR cycles.
I kept the bug as long as it took to find a tree and for it to get comfortable to start moving. By then we were right beside our neighbours beautiful garden.

Spot the Monarch Butterfly, Baz did.
There have been a ton of monarchs this summer. The kids have loved watching them, occasionally up to six at a time fluttering over the same plant.

Onward and up, the sunflower’s at Ben’s house. I don’t think this bee moved from this perfect one the whole time we were there.

Did I mention I was very happy they discovered the flying variety of insects? Perhaps they inherited my dislike for the creepy crawly variety. All in all it was so fun and they really enjoy being outside.

Trickles of Wisdom 001 March 29, 2007

Farting:

“It’s part of our nature. It’s like burping from your your bum.”

MZ 290307

Constipation and Runaway Pooh January 18, 2006

I was initially going to write all about how I shouldn’t feed prunes to a baby to cure constipation until breakfast but other than gas there still wasn’t any pooh.

Funny thing, this feeding of solids. Baz still nurses constantly but one bite of banana and WHAM goes the log jam.
I’m on kid number two here… so I know a bit about, well, number two. I nurse first, I balance the food intake. I know that pears, apricots, oatmeal, prunes are good and that rice, apples and bananas bung.

Even with the newly acquired love of prunes my son has, poohing has all but halted. If we’re lucky – he’s lucky… there’s a strawberry sized nugget waiting for us every fourth day or so.

Here in lies the problem. Not only is he not always his oober happy self, he gets gassy but one day I found, what appeared to be a flattened chocolate covered raisin in my bed. Baffling until I found another knocking around inside Baz’s pijamas.
His poohs are so singular, round and hard there’s nothing left to stick. Powder only adds as a lubricant.

Other than pulling him off of solids and nursing exclusively again, I was starting to enjoy my occaisional 4 hour stretch of sleep and it might have been an alright idea but instead I’ve finally caved and gone the other direction, offering him some watery juice and lentil soup. Wasn’t I overjoyed this morning when I went to change him and found my little strawberry. It had a little moisture, I thought things might be looking up. Until I returned step from tossing the diaper in the Genie. There was something under my slipper. I lifed up my foot… nothing there, funny there wasn’t anything in my slipper, nothing on the….

UGH.

Yes. I managed to step in my own child’s poop. Now why doesn’t this shit just not stay where it’s supposed to go?

I think I’ve given up my concern regarding the constipation issue since when he does go I’m not sure where I’m going to find it. When I least expect it I’m finding pooh it the strangest of places. So why am I wasting J’s hard earned cash on diapers anyway?

Just waiting for the poop to change colour. November 15, 2005

I’m not going to say that I L O V E breastfed baby poop. But if we’re talking poop, it’s got to be one of the more pleasant varieties. It doesn’t stink more than it is just sour and it can be such a happy yellow colour. Sure, it can explode up Baz’s back out his shirt collar or right across the room but it’s still got the other, formula or food fed poop beat.

Why the obsession? Baz nearly judo-A-chop-chopped Mad for her bowl of yogurt a couple of days ago so I’ve now caved and figured the big boob may not be enough for my curious and growing boy. Baz ate some some oatmeal tonight. I’m not sure if he understood it totally but in true form he was smiling. He must of made it look good since Mad wanted to wrestle him right back for a taste. She informed me that it tasted like milk, Mama Milk before going back to her signature perogies and caesar salad.

Baz ate a little over an ounce of cereal thickened breastmilk and rrrroared for bed. He’s been sleeping for a while now, which is great but I’m still a bit mushed over the fact that he’s taken the first step in weaning and that by week’s end his pooh could thicken and stink.

Time flies… First pooh and next puberty.

Vasectomy Anyone? September 16, 2005

True be told I’m a nag… and I’m done being pregnant. Giving birth to Baz was an extraordinary experience, which I will cherish forever.
I feel complete. Once that is combined, J has of course, heard it all for the past 4 months — All the talk about our birth control situation. Currently our method of choice is two kids and sleep deprivation however we do have fond memories of naughtiness and UNPROTECTED sex — only allowed by getting pregnant in the first place.
Rather than counting down a due date for a baby, on the most part we were calculating how many weeks we had remaining for our sex glorious unprotected sex…. and now, 4+ months later we’re getting a bit more sleep yet even less sex.
Why?
Although birth control has probably been my number one question for care providers post partum, we have yet to find the answer. I can’t take the pill, as I’m breastfeeding and I’m not about to rely on that as a good method either. Condoms just suck… as we were pretty spoiled and diaphrams don’t seem to work all that effectively, just ask Mad. I almost signed up for an IUD, even though the idea doesn’t sound all that appealing. So, this has left us with sterilization. My excuse is that it’s fairly major surgery for women seeing I’m already anxious and leery about the IUD procedure.
J’s excuse is that, although he feels he’s finished as far as proliferating the human race goes he doesn’t know if he will want another child some day. I’m not sure with whom? Perhaps he holding out for a fabulous brunette during his mid-life years?
I think that he just doesn’t want anyone tinkering. That’s fair but even my dad has gotten on the nagbandwagon to let J know how simple the “snip” really is.
That being said and to be fair, my birth control research has included vasectomies. So far, I’ve learned it’s a simple, 15 minute procedure which can now be done scalpel free, some degree of discomfort and swelling will be experienced in the first few days and this week is vasectomy awareness week. (September 12-18) I wonder what colour bracelette you’d get for that? Anyhow, Marie Stopes International UK has launched this webcast which shows an unedited vasectomy being performed from start to finish. It is quick, yes. I have my opinion after watching it. I’m going to make J “aware” later on this evening too… live on our podcast. Who knows where we end up? Well, I kind of do.

Nursing moms protest ‘The View’ comment June 9, 2005

According to this article all the hosts of “the View” support breastfeeding…. but apparently they just don’t like looking at it?

Hurray for all those mothers who managed to get out for the nurse-in.
It is so sad that we must even live in a society in which we must protest such a thing as breastfeeding. Nursing is natural and healthiest way to feed our children but the best kept secret is that it is challenging. I don’t know too many mom’s who didn’t have sore nipples, couldn’t get their babies to latch right away, had blocked ducts, or yeast…. the list goes on. The very last thing that women need is to feel criticized or alienated about doing it whether in general or out in public.

Breastfeeding mothers should be applauded for what they do. They’re doing society a favour in helping our next generations be healthier and smarter. And look what they get in response!

Nursing moms protest ‘The View’ comments

For answers to breastfeeding concerns check out:
Breastfeeing Online. It has handouts from Dr. Jack Newman one of the worlds foremost authorites on breastfeeding and author of The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers

I think it’s time…. May 1, 2005

I woke up early with a cramp. Not like this is new, I’ve been having them for almost two weeks. I went back to sleep, but this time I was awoken by my dog Griffin who needed to go outside. Seeing he was sniffing for a good spot, I decided to kill two birds and pee for myself- lord knows how many times I wake up for that in the night. Running up the stairs I felt a little trickle I only thought I should just run faster…Back down to get the dog in and back up to bed.
Cramp.
Hmmm.
Could be baby… but that would be early and I’m late for everything.

Not three hours later Griffin needed to go out again. (Poor dog, I think I need to call the vet.)
Back up to pee for myself. My undies are wet. this will be the second change, so I decide to turn on the light.
There’s a drip on the floor, it’s pink – I think I’ve sprung a leak.
J woke up. I told him that I thought today was the day – but I still wasn’t totally sure.
We’ve been through this before…Back down to get the dog in and back up to bed.
I just fall asleep.
Cramp
& Madeleine decides to crawl in for the night. She wants to sleep on my head.
She’s three, she’s heavy. Not tonight dear, I’m outta here.
Off to the “Big Girl Bed” to catch some more zzz’s. If this is it my 24 hour labour with Madeleine and my doula senses tell me I could be in this for a while. IF this is really it.
Cramp.
Hmmm.

It’s 7am, the sun is shining Madeleine is up and it’s pancake day.
Flapjacks and strawberries all around. I must be in labour. I craved the same thing the day of Mad’s arrival.

J and I discussed strategy. Thankfully it’s Sunday but even still if this is the big day he’s going to be on a sudden vacation. He needs to settle up with work for a smooth departure AND then there’s the issue of the rental car.

I’m feeling a bit paranoid and I think that J is too. We’re not taking any chances this labour, I want my homebirth that I didn’t end up with it with Mad. I got an ambulance ride in a pair of slippers and holy pants – now we know that anytihing can happen during and we don’t want to get stuck. J is taking Mad to upgrade the car so it’ll fit two car seats properly (don’t get a PT Cruiser with two kids:) and I’m getting a mid-morning nap.

I think I dreamt about contractions. I know i had a few more cramps. Either way I awoke refreshed. I was on my own and able to reflect upon this new beginning. It’s nice to feel relaxed. My mom called, they’re coming down to get Griffin – he’s going to “The Spa”. that’s what we call their place since he can get away with e v e r y t h i n g.

J’s on his way back. He’s been struggling with Mad’s car seat & the new rental.

I just referenced my Susun Weed’ Chilbearing Year book and Cauliphilium is 3 for 3 in a slow to start labour. My midwife and naturopath had also recommended it and I’m really starting to get paranoid with only having these little and sporatic cramps that this kid isn’t going to come out until mid week. It’s 11:30, I should take one dose every half hour for the next two hours… we’ll see.

Until then I have time to kill, call it a nesting urge, but I have some dandalions I need to tear out of my lawn…

Two, That’s all I managed to bend and get before I FINALLY got one! Something that I can almost call a contraction.
Maybe that stuff is working? Don’t want to waste my energy on weeds then…

My parents are here. They’ve come bearing gifts and lunch! So I will keep you all posted.