Funny comments. Funny moments.

Humor was in the house this week...

Parker loves the outdoors. When daddy told him to get his shoes on because we where going for a nature walk Parker replied, "Awesome!" I am impressed with his quick wit!

Walking with James, his hand in mine he said, "Mom, will you marry me?" My first response in my head was that I wasn't worthy of his love!

Talking to my mom one morning this week I asked her, "Did you hear me yelling at my kids from where you are?" We reside 8 hours from one another.

My tooth is lost...

Motherhood, brings unexpected joys. I never would have thought that I'd experience such giddiness and pride seeing my child loose a tooth. But oh how I did!

Here's the story...

James discovered that two of his teeth where loose a few days ago when he accidentally bumped his mouth on a chair. I was surprised! Isn't he kinda young? Maybe his birth date isn't accurate? Maybe he just bumped them too hard. So I checked his teeth again? Further shocked! His permanent teeth where pushing through!





















I checked on the Mayo Clinic website...indeed you can start losing your teeth at 4.5. Not as common but its' not common to weigh 50lbs at this age either.

I hadn't really talked to James about the whole process of why we lose our teeth...I though I'd have a year or two more. I read to him the book, "Throw Your Tooth on the Roof. Tooth Traditions from Around the World." To try and get him up to speed.




















After reading the book James said, "I want a treat and throw it on the roof when my tooth is lost. " In other words James wants the Tooth Fairy (Canada) tradition and an African tradition where you throw your tooth on the roof for the birds when his first tooth falls out.

On day 3 James' tooth fell out! He was so proud that he kept looking at himself in the mirror...like a lot more then usual. He admires himself in the mirror about 10 times a day, this time you can definitely double that number!!!!

He quickly put the tooth under his bed.





















The Tooth Fairy will be honored to pay him a visit tonight!

Run Forest Run!

My boys are growing. I'm 'in love' with motherhood these last few weeks.

Not so long ago James was so malnourished he had trouble walking. Parker was wearing a cast for his club foot.

Now they are running as fast as they can. Picking up sticks, rocks and getting really dirty.

Not so long ago James didn't pay any attention to Parker. Parker didn't pay any attention to James.

Now they make belief together, fight together and hug each other.

I am loving the moments.

MAD HOUSEWIFE

This wine label caught my eye instantly so I had to buy it.

I don't drink wine 'cause unfortunately it gives me instant heart burn.

But if this stuff could turn me into a happy housewife I'd drink a case of it.

Since becoming a mommy I've forgotten how to be a housewife.

I'm just quite useless at it.

That said, if there would be a label out there saying Mad Househusband I'd get a case of it too.

You know, just to make sure it isn't just me needing the fix.

Mama Salma Knows Breast

Actress and humanitarian Salma Hayek recently spent time in
Sierra Leone, Africa on a UNICEF mission to raise awareness for tetanus.

*One child dies every three minutes from Tetanus, a preventable disease.*

At a clinic, Salma Hayek was so moved at seeing the suffering of a starving baby who was born on the same day as her little girl, Valentina, that she picked up the baby and nursed him. Her action stunned, inspired and scandalized the world. Go to YouTube to see her nurse this sweet baby.

What are your reactions to this story? Would you have nursed the baby?

I know I would have. Not only because of the circumstances but because the thing I loved most about being blessed to conceive was the ability to nurse. I loved it and miss it!

The Modern-Day Mary Poppins

I bought this book a month before Parker arrived. It collected dust for about 5 months. Then one day I dusted it off and it hasn't left my bed side since than!

It's my mommy manual. I haven't read it page by page. Instead I check the index for the subject I want and read it.

Here are a few topics and techniques: my 'smart' comments are in ()

• timer technique to teach kids to share (this actually works)
  
• faddy dressing and how to deal with it (your going to wear that shirt, so deal with it!)
  
• car journeys - coping strategies (fly, don't drive)
  
• tantrums and how to deal with it (laugh, walk away, or run)
  
• how to talk to your child - the three essential voices (screaming wasn't one of them, darn!)
  

This by far, is my favorite parenting book! You really should get it.

How did I hear about this book? A good friend of mind, who wasn't a parent at the time, suggested this book to me. Thanks Barbie! And yes her hubby's name is Kenny, and she doesn't like that I call her Barbie!

Sleep Deprivation as a Mommy

On Monday we enjoyed a play date at Jordan and Tabatha's house. Delphine is their mommy. She is hot, oops, I mean she is pretty.

Delphine tiredly said to me, "I'm getting about 4 to 6 hours of sleep night. I am amazed I can still function."

Just recently Delphine emailed me a picture she had taken when she came for a play date at our place back in May 2007. I treasure this picture. It captures my happiness and yet brings back the feeling of that mommy tiredness I felt.
This mommy tiredness is not the same as when you stayed up too late hanging out with friends or working late at work. It's five times worse. This sort of tiredness would make a grown man cry and I think it may have made me cry once or twice.

Having the mommy sleep deprivation syndrome (I made that up!) does eventually pass. But not without some drama like feeling inadequate, guilty and lazy:

• my grand-ma had 16 kids surely I can't be this tired with having only two kids (but I was)
• I can't pay a sitter to watch my kids so I can go attend a yoga class (but I do)
• I feel so weak for needing a break (now I feel stronger for getting a break)

Sleep is a beautiful thing. Off I go to enjoy it.

Labour of Love

It's the eve of Parker's second birthday. Two years ago I was pregnant. It was just me and Daddy. Last year I was surprised how weepy I felt that baby Parker was now going to be one.

I'd by lying if I told you that this year is different. I've been reflective about him turning two for the past three weeks! I feel weepy. Sad that he has outgrown his 18-24 months clothes and that his little feet no longer fit in the palm of my hand.

I pulled out his baby book and re-read his birth story that our doula wrote for us. This material is great to have. Reaffirms that I don't want to go through that again! But I'll enjoy the reminiscing, allow myself to feel nostalgia and hope that I have many more years of celebrating baby Parker.

Ultimate Mom

When You're About To Go Off the
Deep End, Don't Take Your Kids With You, is the book I read during my first year of motherhood...that was last year.

It was at a parent conference when I heard Kelly Nault, the author of the book, speak about 'unleashing the ultimate mom within you'. I loved how candid she was about motherhood. I think that anyone who tries to say that they never had a meltdown in their career as a mother is severely in denial, which maybe a good place to be. But how long can one hold on like that?

Twenty months into my job as mommy I've had one meltdown...a month! So I refer to it on those less then easy days so that I can get back to being the Ultimate Mom to my boys.

Kelly is a spunky Canadian who gives 10% of the gross book proceeds to "Make A Wish Foundation" and if you are not the reading type visit www.ultimateparenting.com, where she shares pratical parenting tips.

Thoughts about my career as a Mommy

Mother's Day for me is like Valentine's Day when I was single. When you're single you dread the arrival of February 14 because someone will eventually ask you, "So what are you doing for Valentine's Day?" This is after they have told you about the dozen red roses they received from their Valentine. I remember one single friend who purposely took V day off to go skiing up in the mountains just so she didn't have to hear all the love talk around the office! Smart girl! (She is now tying the knot this summer!) When Mr. Perfect came into my life (aka: Michael) Valentine's Day wasn't a big deal (okay, he still must get me a gift!). The best way I can describe this, is when I'm at peace with something I no longer worry about it. I'm sure this is the same for most humans out there!

So prior to being a mommy I would say to Michael on M day, "Next year, I'll celebrate Mother's Day." or "Another Mother's day gone by and still I'm not a mom." I said that line for quite a few years with a hint of pitty too! Then last year Mother's Day arrived with me not even realizing it was Mother's Day till the last minute! I was a NEW MOMMY who didn't have time to sleep let alone look at the calendar and I was at peace!

This year, thanks for being less sleep deprived I had the time to think about my new job (15 months and counting) as "Mommy". The thing that has struck me the most, like in most jobs, is how much I didn't know. So here, in random order, is a list of things I didn't know about the career of motherhood:

I didn't know that....

• I'd use my shirts as Kleenxes
• my jeans would get holes in the knee areas
• naps are so sacred...sorry to the moms out there for the times I woke up your sleeping baby!
• I'd be so happy to see my hubby come home so I can go to the washroom privately
• I would actually speed home to get out of the car a crying, hyperventilating, out of control baby (or so I think!). He probably was just whining!
• going to get groceries at 8 o'clock at night alone would be something I'd call a nice break!
  
• I could go without brushing my teeth till noon...still sounds stupid to me...it takes two minutes to brush teeth...but somehow these two little fellas suck up a lot of my time!
• I would let my baby take his naps in his car seat (he doesn't anymore so it's save for me to now share!@#)
• I'd be washing clothes and cleaning the floor 742 times a day
• I'd have days where I'd rather be back at work in a cubicle with no windows, no air conditioning (so hot!), scheduled breaks (nice!) then being at home with the two munchkins who don't allow me to go to the washroom privately (did I say that already!)
• I could function under less than 6 hours of sleep for weeks on end and still be somewhat normal...
  
• I'd be so darn proud of my sons...like so proud that that's all I want to talk about (yes, I'm one of those moms!)
  
• I'd have to be so careful in my choice of words...do I really say, "eh?" instead of saying "Pardon me?"!!!!
  
• that I would miss nursing as much as I do
• wearing jewelery is really stupid to wear when you have little ones, but I still do it.
  
• as soon I would talk of the phone they would go ape
• the 'baby breath' would disappear so soon
  
• I'd have to say things 294 times before they decide to no longer ignore me
• being the ultimate mom means learning to be happy in chaos...you know when they have a meltdown in public and you just want to disappear in the background!
  

This list, obviously could go on but I got to get some scared sleep. To all you mommies out there (the veterans, the intermediates and the new ones) let me know what are some of your, "I didn't know..." moments.

Peace, love and joy to all of you wanna-be moms (been there), and moms!

Joanne (aka: Mommy)

• Parker, get you butt down!
  
• I mean it!
  
• One more time and your getting out!
  
• Do you want to get hurt!
  
• ...blah! blah! blah!
  

"Bring Someone You Love!" Day

James' preschool had a Valentine's Party and he was allowed to bring someone he loved with him and so I was more than honored to be his Valentine. I got to participate in the shortened version of a regular preschool day. Here he is (wearing red of course!) making a beautiful picture with glue and cotton balls! He is quite the artist! He returned home to then figure paint! He appears to enjoy school however I don't think he loves it as much as swimming or playing monster trucks.

Parker's Valentine's Day was very quiet. After just recovering from his first ear infection he is now sick with the stomach flu. We have gone through many diapers and outfits. He has been pretty good and able to giggle and smile here and there. Now the parents are just hoping that their little "gum drop" doesn't have to be sick for too much longer.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Joanne

Mommy Brain!

No, I didn't leave the world of blogging but I do think my brain is leaving me. It started during my pregnancy. (We've all heard about pregnancy brain.) But I really thought it would get better but apparently it isn't. For one, I have on more than one occasion put the salad in the freezer and the ice cream in the fridge. Both items don't tolerate a change of temperature very well. Secondly I have trouble remembering what month we are in. The other day as I stood looking at my nicely labeled bins of decorations I had to really think hard, "Do I take out the Easter decorations or the Christmas decorations?" Luckily the brain finally kicked in and the spiders, pumpkins and bats are nicely displayed! Now I could provide further evidence to support what I call my mommy brain but I think you get the ideal or you may even had the pleasure of witnessing a mommy brain moment or having your very own. If so, please tell!


Joanne

PS - Sorry, no pictures this time as the blog system is having some technical difficulties in that dept.

Mother's Day!

To celebrate Mother's Day was to say the least a great joy! Here are some pictures that capture our fun day.