Notice Anything Different?

I am typing this blog entry on my new laptop! It's pretty sweet. Any questions on said laptop should be directed to Mark. aLL i KNOW IS THAT IS CALLED aSUS AND THE CAPS BUTTON COMES ON WAY TOO EASY. That's better. And it's wireless so I can now go on the Internet upstairs while Abby is playing around. It is going to be so much easier to update my blog. I hope now that my entries will be even more exciting and relevant. I am in the middle of making supper so I'll be right back...There, now the meat is on.
So today, Abby and I got up and went to the Craft show. We went right away when it first opened and there were lots of people there. We walked around, talked to my sister's father-in-law and checked out some of the artwork. There wasn't anything there that I really liked so we went home. Abby fell asleep on the way and I thought that it was a good idea so I took a nap too. After we woke up, we had lunch and then I went to practise at the church for tomorrow. Then I went to the other craft show in Creighton

Mark has been really busy today. Last night we marinated the meat (trout, deer and other bits) so he could smoke them today. So bright and early, he was up and started. Then he went for breakfast with the guys and then sighted in his rifle for hunting season coming up. Then it was back to smoking. Then packing for hunting, then smoking. Then he set up the laptop for wireless Internet. Now I am having fun.

It's been a busy day. And a good day.

I wore the Babytrekker while we were at the craft show. There were lots of strollers and I w as glad I didn't have to use one. She got a little heavy but it was okay. My legs are tired now!!

A Good Day

Abby and I got up this morning, saw Mark off to work and then set out ourselves. Today was the H1N1 vaccination day. So we got there early and there was already a lot of people there. But we were in the first group and I got to go with the other children getting the shot. There was a short information session. Then Abby got a quick poke in the arm. She cried bit was over it before we were out the room. It had snowed over night and it was really pretty outside so we stopped at hoe to grab the camera and I drove around town and took some pictures. Abby fell asleep almost right away so I drove around for almost an hour. Then we went home and Mark phoned to see if we wanted to go our for lunch with some friends. Of course I did. Abby had a hot dog. I hope we can do that more. I know some of y best memories and when my mom took me and my sister out for lunch with my dad. We'd drive to the mall (his offices were in in the mall) and we'd have a sandwich at Grandma Lee's. Yumm.

Abby has learned how to climb stairs. This makes me nervous. We need more baby gates!!!!

Facebook doesn't seem to want me to post any pictures so here are a few...

and a few of Abby....

Those Pigs'll Getcha!!

I decided I wasn't going to joint the debate whether or not vaccinating is safe. And yet I find myself pulled in once more with the H1N1 vaccination coming out. So far I have been vaccinating Abby every time she needs one without question and without side effects. I see no reason to change my thinking. I have heard report about the H1N1 vaccine not being safe (mainly from Fox News). I'm sure there is evidence to support their claims. I mean, it came out awfully quickly and there didn't seem to be a lot of testing. Yet, I am reminded of the fact that I am not an expert. And yet* there seems to be an endless stream of expert being paraded all over the news by both sides. So I am going to make my own decision and frankly I'm comfortable with it.

I promise mot to call you a paranoid hippie if you promise not to call me a spineless zombie controlled by the pharmaceutical companies.

There. I almost didn't consider this worthy of a blog posting but it's 9:34 and Abby's been asleep for half an hour and there is nothing on TV and I'm not tired. The Rider game is over. Plus I just ate two big pieces of chocolate cake so my judgment may be a bit impaired. I don't feel like scrap booking, I don't feel like playing piano, I can't play the other instruments because I don't want to wake up Abby. I've already gone to every website I usually go too. I've even gone on the Doll site (you dress up dolls on the computer - yes, I'm 27 and still play with dolls). So frankly, I'm bored. So bored I debate topics that really, I don't care about. And I go on and on about it because it is something to do. I suppose I could watch a hockey game and play solitaire. We just bought a new deck of cards. They need to be broken in.

Mark is sick. He has a bad cold. This morning, I went to Pharmasave and bought him some drugs. I think they are working. I asked the pharmacist which ones he thought would work. I like talking to the Pharmacists. They are really nice and helpful. Plus, then I know what I'm get is what I need. He gave me the store brand of cold medicine instead of Tylenol's. I guess you could say I trust my health care providers. Does that make me too trusting? I don't think so. I gave the pharmacist's options more weight than a TV commercial.

I'm listening to Snowbird and I like it!!
I heard a Hip song today and enjoyed it too. What is happening to me!!!!!



* English majors are notorious for taking as many sides as humanly possible and constantly checking every angle of an argument. Nothing is ever black or white. Ever. Not even in the paint store. I had a professor once that if you counted how many times she said "on the other hand" she would turn into an octopus. We tried. It got funny.

WARNING!! You must read the entire entry before coming to any conclusions

I went to a bridal shower yesterday for a friend of mine. It was really nice. There were around 25 women there. She opened gifts, we talked and laughed. Then we ate some yummy food. At the end, people slowly started to leave. Nearly everyone knew it was my birthday because of Facebook. As my one friend was leaving, she came over to say goodbye. She wished me a happy birthday then kissed me. Right on the lips. Then her friend did the same. I was a little taken aback. But you know what? It was kinda nice. Like when your mom kisses you and you feel that wash of love. So anyway, it kinda threw me but I feel better now.

Oh, and you'll never guess who the mother of the groom is!! All evening I was looking at her because I knew I recognized her. But I didn't want to stare because usually when this happens it's because I recognized them from work. Just as I was going to get my coat, she mentioned that she had to work the night shift. Then it all clicked into place. She was one of the maternity nurses when I had Abby. (She was the one who stayed late so Mark could come into the OR with me and was able to see Abby being born. It was good to see her again. When I got home, Abby was already asleep . Talk about a good evening!!

Today is my birthday. A fact I have repeated quite few times to Mark this last week. So this afternoon, Mark came home with a cake and after work, we went to the Vic Inn for supper. I had the ravioli and a glass of Merlot and Mark had a steak and ice tea. Abby ate ate supper before me left but still managed to scarf down three pieces of bred at the restaurant. When we got home, we watched Dragon's Den and ate cake. Another great day.

I'm planning to wash the floors tomorrow. Abby enjoys throwing food on the floor and the dog can only do so much.

I Made It!

I love this age! I think I may have said this before, but it’s true.That’s the problem with not having a laptop. Sometimes I have a great idea for a blog, but nowhere to write it. There are even times I am driving and I think of something I want to write about but I have no computer. So I think in the way I’m going to write it. It makes for an interesting thought but that’s usually where it ends. Because once I do get to the computer I either don’t care anymore or I’m too tired to retype my thoughts or I’ve entirely forgotten about it.Back to my story…I love this age. She is going to bed so much better…and staying there! She usually wakes up around 6am but if we don’t do anything, she fall back asleep. Then when I get up to get ready for the day, she sleeps through everything. I actually have to wake her up for her breakfast. She is so cute when I go into her room to wake her up. Most mornings she does not wan to wake up. Yesterday,I had to shake her for over a minute to wake her up. When she finally did open her eyes, she still didn’t want to move. She gave me a dirty look when I lifted her out of the crib. Last night, she was really tired so Mark took her to bed, and read her a story. Then he put her in the crib, she crawled to her pillow, looked up at Mark and laid her head down and fell asleep. No crying or anything. I wish all nights could be like this!

There are a couple things about this phase I’m not crazy about. She likes to bash her head when she gets frustrated. If I take something away from her (like a pen) she yells and then smacks her head on the floor. It is doesn’t hurt the first time, she’ll do it again. She even has a small bruise of her forehead. I’ve started putting her on the mat if I think she’s going to have a tantrum. I hope she outgrow this one quickly. I have to laugh a little because sometimes she hesitates right before she smacks her head so it won’t hurt as much. So I’m torn between letting her hurt herself and learning that she’s not going to get everything she wants (like a pen) and picking her up and reassuring her that it’s okay and kissing her boo-boo better. But on the bright side, I’ve learned the difference between an I-want-attention-cry and an I-actually-hurt-myself-and-legitimately-need-a-hug cry.

The other thing I’m not thrilled about is that she’s started to rollover on her change table. There’s not much room up there as it is and when she roll over, sometimes she hooks her leg on the side and I’m worried that she’s going to roll right over one of these times. And it makes changing her a real challenge. It’s not a huge deal…sometimes it makes me laugh. But when she has a poopy diaper then I’m not laughing.Last time that happened, I had to hold on to her ankles for dear life as she squirmed and rolled. I’ve learned that if I just have to change her clothes, I do it on the floor. I can often be seen chasing her out of her room just trying to get that last sock on. I can only wonder what life is going to be like when she learns how to walk.

P.S. Mom, that sweater and pants that you made – the purple ones…have been a lifesaver. Up until yesterday, that’s what Abby has been wearing over her clothes as Fall/Winter clothes. They’re great. They fit right over anything and the hood keeps her little head warm.Yesterday we broke down and went to Wal-Mart and bought a snowsuit(purple to match mine) and a toque and little boots. She didn’t like trying on the boots but she’ll get used to that fast. Yeesh, having a baby in winter stinks! Last year was easy, just throw her in the car seat and throw a blanket over her and away ya go! Now she needs to be properly dressed. It’s going to take 10 minutes to get her dressed and buckled in her car seat. Ug.

P. P.S. I made the most wonderful find yesterday at Extra Foods. I was walking down the coffee aisle when what did I spy? Tim Horton's Coffee! At first all I saw were the small tins but I was happy about that. Then I saw the large ones there too! I had to show Mark before he would believe me. isn't great!

P.P.P.S. I am writing all of this at work so I don't forget it all. Don't tell my boss. She's out of town.

Long Awaited

I realized that since I've gone back to work, I haven't been taking as many pictures, which means I haven't been posting as many pictures. Well, here ya go.

Mark and I did some yard work yesterday and we're all ready for winter now. Abby helped. Well, not really. But she was cute...

Tudor Tunes

I was watching The Tudor's tonight and a name caught my attention...Colm Wilkinson. I was halfway through the episode before I even realized who he was playing. Okay, I get it, he's not a household name but you made recall his characters...The Phantom of the Opera, Jean Valjean. Once I watched with my eyes closed (well, listened then) I finally got it. So once the show was over, I grabbed my CDs and now I'm listening to The Point of No Return/Down Once More. Yeesh, I used to spend hours in my room acting this (and Les Miz) out with my dolls and Barbies. (And I wonder why I was never one of the popular kids.) But seriously, I challenge you to listen to him sing and not be moved to the point of tears.

I've Been Busy

Yes. I have. On Saturday, we attended the vow renewal of two of our closest friends. It was such a beautiful ceremony and a great party afterwards. I wore my dress. They asked me to do a reading (the intersession). I had never done one of those before but all I had to do was read what was on the page. I wasn't worried. After all, I do have a degree in English! We got a baby-sitter for the evening Abby was good.

On Sunday, the church had a Thanksgiving potluck dinner. I made two apple crisps in the morning and took them along. The food was very good and we had lots left over. The next day, Mark BBQed a chicken and I made the fixings and we had a nice Thanksgiving meals, just the three of us. I think Abby really likes stuffing. The jello didn't turn out very well. For some reason, I can't make jello. I don't think I stir it enough. The bottom gets hard and rubbery and the rest is really liquidity. There are spots that it turns out right but it's never a consistent jello all the way through. I have never made a jello that I was satisfied with.

On Tuesday, I took Abby to the doctor. She's doing well. I warned him that she doesn't like men, and she proved me right. I had to hold her on my lap so he could look at her. By the end of the exam, she was fine and even gave him a small smile. Afterwards, he was asking if I planned on having more children sometime soon. I answered back, "Not anytime soon!" He laughed.

Then we ran home, Abby had a short nap and then I woke her up for lunch and we were off again. This time to get her immunized. She got four needles! Poor girl. Turns out she's going to have to get the H1N1 when it come available. And Mark and I too since we're caregivers. But she survived the pokes and had another nap when we got home.

Mark and I have been working on our will lately. I think we have it finished. I know some people feel it's morbid to do up their will and put it off because they don't want to think about dieing. I'm actually relieved and will be more so once it's finished. Then I know that everything is taken care of and Abby will be provided for if something happens. Now we just have to get something done about RESPs and I'll feel like a real grown up.

Abby's been sleeping a lot better recently. The last couple nights, she has refused to go to sleep in my arms. So I put her in her crib and five minutes later, she falls asleep. She woke up 4 times last night. The first two, I went in and rocked her but when I put her down, she woke up. So I left her and she fell asleep. The second time she fell asleep before I had all my covers pulled up. The third and fourth time, I didn't even get out of bed. I just let her cry and it wasn't too long and she fell asleep. Today I tried it with her nap too. She had fallen asleep nursing but when I put her in the crib...bam, awake. So once again, I left and just over 5 minutes, silence. Sweet silence. I hope this is a trend but I'm not getting my hopes up. She's teething and with all the needles, she's tired. But I am hopeful. Apparently, I never slept in anybody's arms so maybe Abby is switching over to be more like me.