Almost one and Thankful

She is almost one.  We did it! 

And in the middle of all this crazy party planning, and prepping I have decided to make a list (And an ode to my previous blog,) of the things I am thankful for this past year.

1) My Husband:

He gets up with me when she wakes up during the night.  Deals with daily drama - from both G and I.  Deals with the days I don't want to cook meat for dinner.  And still in the midst of it all, still has time to be romantic and loving.

2) Lululemons and sweatpants.  And pants with elasticwaist bands. And T-Shirts. 

Gone are the days of taking my time getting ready in the morning.  G and I get up.  She feeds, I change her diaper, Get her our of her jammies, "Brush" her teeth (All 5 or 6 or 7 of them), wash her face and then place her in her crib for a whopping 5 minutes so I can shower, brush my teeth, throw on something that is clean and pick up up again so we can start out day.  And did I mention it is probably 6:30 AM.  Five-thirty AM if I am lucky.  If I am really, really, lucky, 7:00 AM.  Although today, G got up  and went back to bed until 7:45 AM.  Oh yeah.  Where was I going with all of this?  Oh yeah.  My appreciation for gym clothes.  Easy to put on.  Everything always matches.  But not everything is stain free.  Especially now that I have been wearing my gym clothes for my daily uniform.

3)  Baby Bullet

I have taken on the mission of making G's food.  And while she is now eating the food we eat, I still have to make sure that it is baby-friendly in terms of the proper consistency.  I love the bullet.  It is amazing. 

4) Barney, The Wiggles and The Big Comfy Couch

G loves these shows.   On the days that she is impossibly squirmy, I pop in one of these DVDs and she gives me enough time prep dinner and/or clean, and possibly pee.  I try and limit her exposure to television, but every now and then Mommies need a break too...

5) Shoes and strings

G loves strings and shoelaces.  The beginnings of a shoe addiction?  I hope so.  I also hope that we have the same size feet.  Whenever G gets an itch to get out of her carseat or stroller, I give her this blanket that has stroller ties.  Or I give her any toy with strings.  Or I give her one of her shoes.  And.. Tada!  Distracted for a glorious 5-10 minutes.

6) Blistex and Burts Bees.  And Waterproof Mascara.

I have never been a crazy makeup lover.  It may be because I look like a smattered abstract painting when I attempt to veer away from the "makeup routine" that I believe I have.  I know these items.  Blistex.  Burts Bees. Clear mascara.  On a fancy date to church or wedding waterproof black mascara and Spring Sheen Mac Blush.  Call me crazy, but using said lip products make me feel like I am still trying to look decent for the rest of the world.

7) Shoes

Need I say more?  Want to hear a shoe-a-holic's secret?  On days that G has extra long naps, I take out a few pairs of shoes in my beautiful tupperware containers and try them on.  And I remember my addiction hobby.

8) Other mothers.

My next door neighbour is awesome.  My own mommy and MIL top the list as well.  I value the opinion of other mothers with young children.  Why?  Now I have to use a sub-list within my list:

8a) They know what is going on. 
8b) They tell me what has worked for them.  It may or may not work, but I am willing to try!
8c) I feel like I am supported and not alone. 

9) Google.

Hit and miss with this one.  But I frequent reliable sites: Baby Center, Todays Parent... Town Shoes...

10) Our diaper party

We only recently began to buy diapers.  What an amazing blessing a diaper party is.

11) G

She pushes me to be better.  She reminds me that I need patience and endurance.  And while sometimes she is the core of my frustration, she is also the reason why I wake up in the morning and try harder.

You are almost one...

I love you. 

A Life of Lists...

I am a firm believer in setting goals and trying your best to achieve them. 
I love lists.
The best way to mash these 2 worlds together?  A Bucket List.  Or as I like to call it, A Life List.

Vanessa Strickland author of the terribly fabulous blog, "I am Strickly Speaking" had a link about lists, and it has inspired my writing today. 

And I love rainy fridays.  Especially those rainy ones when I know that The Hubster is on his way home, H is taking her morning nap, and I am listening to The Wiggles in the background. ("Go Captain Go... Go Captain Feather Sword Ahoy...)

I have always had a list of things that I have always wanted to in my life.  I made the list whilst in the first or second year of univeristy.  The edges of the paper are curled, there are spots of coffee, or tea from early morning reflections.. My beloved list.

I keep it in my journal, and often look at it thinking whether I will be able to accomplish them.  Maybe I don't give myself enough credit.  Taking a look at the list, I have already acheived some of them.  Some items I never thought I would attain. 

Why make a life list?  As mentioned earlier, I am firm believer in setting goals and trying your best to achieve them.  A life list forces you to think about the future, what you may be or who you will or aspire to become.  A life list should push you out of your comfort zone, drive you to follow a dream or make you attempt things you wouldn't otherwise do. 

Then....when you accomplish one of the never-would-have-thought-it-would-or-could-happen-goals... You realize you have it in you do the rest of the items on your list.

My life list includes but is not limited to.. (As that is another post..)

- Going back to school for a PhD
- Sing at my wedding
- Public Speaking engagements (Maybe a TED talk.. One day... maybe??)
- To have children
- A shopping-less season.. (A Feat that has yet to be accomplished.. :( )
- Sing with a band in front of an audience
- Dance lessons with The Hubster
- Travel to Europe
- Learn to sew.. Sew my childrens clothes.. By recycling my own...
- Cut my hair short (To the chin maybe?)
- To write an article in a  magazine
- Write a children's book
- Learn to cook vegetarian meals that The Hubster will actually enjoy
- Be part of a an organized sport
- Go camping.  Real camping...
- Do ten consecutive push ups
- Crossfit
- Learn to play a new piece on the piano

Looking back at my list I can proudly say that I have accomplished some of these goals.  Upon further reflections, I can recall the details of each moment.

It is a great feeling of accomplishment. 

But I have other lists as well..

- Favourite books
- Favourite quotes
- Teaching ideas
- Places to visit
- Fun things to do with G
- Couple to-do list.. (Again another blog for another day..)
- Books to read

And the list goes on and on...

I think that my love for lists reveals my

1) Compulsive need to be organized
2) Compulsive love for making lists
3) Obsession for notebooks and post-its
4) How over-organized I am on paper, but terribly disorganized at home. Sigh.
5) Shoes.  (Just had to add that in - Don't you love these?? - Got'em on sale at Winners once upon a time.  Now to find the perfect outfit...  )

Sometimes you have to remember to hold hands...

As mentioned many-a-time, I adore long weekends.  The Hubster is home, the house is clean(ish) and G is always is a superb-ish mood. 

Yesterday morning we all went for a walk to Timmys.  I love that Timmys is but a short(ish) walk away.  We piled G and a wide brimmed pink hat, Minnie and Sippy Cup in the wagon and set off.

It was early on Saturday morning.  As many of  you already knew, yesterday was a scorcher.  And at 7:45AM it was already starting to get hot. 

Then the best part of my day happened. 

The Hubster took my hand.  As he took it he said, " I don't remember the last time we held hands."

And it was true.  Our days fly by.  Monday to Friday he gets up at 5AM, and we usually dont see him until 5PM later that day.

When he gets home he cleans up, we eat dinner (sometimes together, sometimes not, sometimes standing up, sometimes on paper plates..) then he gives G a bath and we start her bedtime routine.

G is a product of routine.  Unless she has had a later nap, she gets cranky for her crib right around 6:00ism PM.  We watch a video, give her a bath, read her a story or two, overload her with cuddles and say a prayer with her.   She then has her last feeding and is put in her crib.

She still gets up once, usually around 12AM (and The Hubster always is up with me), G then wakes up at 6:00 AM.   6:30AM if I am lucky.  Or, if I am really lucky, 5:30AM.  Or, if I am really, really lucky 7:00AM.

After she is in bed, The Hubster and I clean up the tornado of a mess that has been made throughout the day.  Clean up the kitchen, fold the laundry, make lunch for tomorrow.  He usually has a game or two before bedtime. 

Bedtime = 9:00 PM.

Since life has changed dramtically, we need a reminder to slow down.

I need to give a hug, and kiss.
I need to write a note  (since Gabby and I often get notes first thing in the morning.)
I need to laugh and joke.
I need to go to bed later, so that we have time together and talk.

Sometimes you have to remember hold hands.

Another one of those days. Sigh x 2

Yesterday was another one of those days.

Actually the morning was pleasant.  Visited my mother, did some grocery shopping and bought a tutu.

Just a regular morning. 

Then the afternoon came. 

Burnt plastic stinks.  I burnt a slotted spoon.  The house was filled with smoke.  Gross.

Needless to say, G and I sat outside and played for a bit.

Then I burnt the carrots I was making her for dinner.  I also burnt The Hubsters very expensive Royal Doulton stainless steel pot.  Oops.  The house was filled with carrot smoke.

Again.

G and I stayed outside for quite a bit that afternoon.

I am thankful for a supportive neighbour. (God Bless you Tracy!) and a forgiving hubby.

And the day was right again.

Planning...

I have been diligently planning for G's first birthday party.  I have been planning for the past four months.  Today was the first day I actually started taking some action. 

I love, love, love planning. 
It stresses me out - But in a good way.
Sites like Stumble Upon, Pinterest have really made my planning easier.
Easier to make her party over-the-top... Sigh.

I love planning. 
I have a Word document that outlines every detail of the party.
I have a Power Point presentaion that I will show to the major financial contributors of G's party.

I love planning...

Details about the DIY to come. (*Which actually never came.. Sor-E)

One of those mornings...

1.   Woke up at 5:00 am.
2.   Fed G.  She went back to bed.  She has been doing that lately!  Whoo hoo!
3.   Slept in. Until a very late 7:00 am.  Yes.
4.   Showered. Dressed.
5.   Fed  G breakfast.  She really adores breakfast. 
6.   Sat G down to play with her morning toys.  I alternate the toys from AM to PM. 
7.   Began to make my breakfast. 
8.   Open the fridge
9.   Box of Cheerios drops on my head.
10. Box of Cheerios falls in the fridge.
11. Box of Cheerios falls on the floor.
12. Cheerios. Are. Everywhere. 

One of those mornings.... Sigh.

** And I can not figure out how to upload pictures here.  Double sigh.

Mommy Brain 1, Mommy 0

July is a busy month. 
Two weddings.
The first one was this past Saturday. 
Mommy Brain won again.

I truly believed the wedding started at 3.
By the time I realized that I actually started at 2... Well.. I missed the entire ceremony.

I was an am really upset. 
She was a gorgeous bride.  Lenny was a handsome groom.
The Hubster was a dreamy groomsman.
And I was upset that I missed the entire ceremony.

On the upside, it was a beautiful reception at a gorgeous venue.
Yummy food, awesome music and questionable dancing.

And overall an amazing time.

Thank you for having us...

D and K. You are next.