Amy D

Feed Details

Feed Tags

Amy D's Feeds

Up Mommy Creek

Published: May 23, 2013 6:37:46 AM
Adventures in navigating Mommy-hood without a map...
  • $100 Room Makeover Results!
    May 14, 2013 5:31:00 AM
    So last week I posted about the Walmart Frugal Heroes Challenge here. Basically I decided I was going to redo our office on only $100. It was tough, but it turned out much better than I thought it would! 
    Here is our "Before":
    And here is our "After":

    We bought the blue paint for only $15!!


    We haven't transitioned Peanut out of the crib yet, and also haven't found a place to move our massive desk to. So, the desk is currently taking the place of the crib until those 2 things happen, and you will have to use your imagination to picture a dark wood crib in place of the desk. 

    I Mod-Podged (is that a verb?!) an old map of Thailand we had while traveling onto some foam board. It makes for a very interesting wall piece, and it only set us back $11! 


    Wrinkly bedsheet alert! You all know now I don't iron my bedsheets. Ain't nobody got time for THAT... 


    These curtains were the biggest surprise. I thought buying the cheapest curtains they had would turn out horribly for us. I wasn't really digging the sheer thing, and was unsure of the pattern. They were $8/panel. Once I hung them up against the blue I loved them! 


    Those frames for the photowall were only $1 each!! We also bought the "Love is all you need" plaque as well. I had to have it. The rest are photos from our travels, an old airplane picture that Hubby had, and a mask we bought in Indonesia. Ta Da! 

    There you have it; It CAN be done! We spent exactly $94 to update this room. We used some of our leftover paint (the brown) from when we painted our bedroom, but otherwise everything else was purchased for the challenge from Wal-mart. I must say, I love it! It really refreshes the room and makes it much less junky. Hubby and I just looked at our before photo and remarked how nasty the room used to look. Frugal for the win! 
    ~Amy
  • $100 Room Makeover?! The Wal-Mart Frugal Heroes Challenge
    May 3, 2013 2:52:00 AM
    I have accepted a crazy challenge. Wal-mart issued a Frugal Heroes challenge to see how far you could make $100 go. They gave a list of suggestions that included things like "Feed your family of 4 for 4 days" or "Outfit yourself from head-to-toe". You know what I chose? I chose to re-do an entire room. 

    That's right. I have had it on our to-do list for a while now; we want to turn our office into a guestroom/nursery for Q for when he moves to the crib (right now he sleeps in a bassinet beside our bed because I am lazy and don't like getting up during the night for feedings. It's how I roll...). 
    This is a true "Before" pic...I didn't even clean up our giant filing mess from searching for tax documents. Enjoy this slice of realness. Ick. 
    So basically I got it in my head that it would be a cool idea to see if I could re-do the room for this challenge. Which means that now I have committed to try and re-model a room for $100. Frugal? Yes. Stupid? Yes. Impossible? Probably. 

    I have been doing some research (which I should have done BEFORE deciding what to do for the challenge...ahem), and this is going to be a lot harder than I anticipated. I have some ideas on how to stretch my buck as far as possible, but we will have to see if I can actually make them work. 

    We headed to Wal-mart armed with our $100 giftcard and determination. We left the kiddos with my parents so we could really get down to business (and actually fit things in the cart that aren't children). It took a lot longer than a normal trip as we circled the store about 10 times gathering intelligence, comparing prices and colours, generally engaging in child-free shenanigans like trying on sunglasses and playing hide-and-seek in the aisles...you know, essential shopping strategies. 


    I will tell you that despite our best intentions, our planning consisted of me pinning some ideas on my Pinterest board and taking 1 measurement to see if the desk would fit under the window. The problem with this plan is that the things that I pinned are all different, and of course look gorgeous in the giant showroom-y houses of Internetland. What I actually have to work with is a teeny room which needs to work as both a nursery and a place for our guests to stay. There is not a lot to work with, believe me. 

    We grabbed a cart full of supplies and are all set to attempt this insanity this weekend. It was amazing how much we could actually purchase for $100 when we really stuck our mind to it.  I'm pretty impressed with our haul, and am looking forward to sharing our success (failure?!) when it's complete! 
     
    It might not look like that much to re-do an entire room, but it's going to be awesome. 
    Wish us luck. We will need it. 

    **Please note: This is a sponsored post. I was provided with a $100 Wal-mart giftcard to complete the challenge. 

    ~Amy
  • The Circus is Coming to Town!
    May 2, 2013 4:28:00 AM
    For my local readers, I have an awesome family event to share with you! The Royal Canadian Circus is coming to Calgary May 10-20, 2013. 
    The Zerbini Family Circus is celebrating it's 250th anniversary under the Big Top. It's basically good, old-fashioned family fun with all the classics! They have an Equestrian act, the largest display of tigers in North America, elephants, acrobats and clowns. Basically everything you could ever want from a circus. 
    I am really excited to take Peanut. He loves elephants and will be so excited to see them! Plus clowns, face-painting and acrobats? I know he will love it. I have fond memories of going to the circus when I was little (oddly enough, I remember the cotton candy the most vividly...). He is just getting to that age where everything is THE AWESOMEST EVER! and the circus is the perfect place for childhood amazement. Though if he does get his hands on some cotton candy, I can assure you that he will be making an impromptu visit to Grandma and Grandpa's to burn off all that excitement. 
    If you want to know more about the Circus and to keep up with all the latest news, you can head over to their Facebook page and give them a "like" or follow them on Twitter. They also are supporting Kids Up Front by providing tickets for children who otherwise might not be able to attend. Love that. 
    It's always awesome to have an affordable family event in town, and I know that it can get expensive to attend events with your whole family. So I am happy to share a discount code with you for a 2-for-1 general admission! Just enter the code "FUN" at the checkout. 
    You can purchase tickets on the Royal Canadian Circus website or through the Royal Canadian Circus Facebook page. 
    See you under the Big Top! 
    **Please note: This is a sponsored post. I have received compensation from the sponsor(s) of this post, but all opinions (as always) are my own. 
    ~Amy
  • Q is 2 Months!
    Apr 30, 2013 1:13:00 AM
    At 2 Months Q:

    ~ weighs 14.6 lbs
    ~ is 24 inches long
     
    ~Is smiling and cooing like crazy
    ~Has outgrown a ton of his clothes, and is wearing 3-6 month sleepers (!!!) He's a very chunky monkey!
    ~Is actually a pretty decent sleeper for now. I am not really anticipating this will last though...
    ~Took a bottle no problem last week. Fingers crossed this continues! (Might actually get some use out of that pump I bought for Peanut...)
    ~Loves being held over our shoulder. He holds his head up and just talks and coos away
    ~Compared to his brother at this age, he is a much more solid little guy. Lots of baby rolls of cuteness! 
    ~Actually enjoys tummy-time a lot. 
    ~Has a very strong grip! 





    It's been so much fun to see how different Q is from Peanut. I love watching him smile and tell us the most interesting stories. He loves his big brother, and is constantly trying to watch him when he hears him near. 




    ~Amy
  • Adjusting to the New Normal
    Apr 15, 2013 6:58:00 PM
    Well, I have had 6 weeks now of being a mom to 2 boys under 2 years old. And no one has gone crazy. For the most part. 

    Things were a bit harder with Peanut than I anticipated they would be. I didn't think jealousy would be much of an issue at 19 months, because he didn't really seem to "get it". Boy, was I wrong. But despite occasional bouts of "Baby...all done!" and getting upset when someone he wants to play with is holding the baby, Peanut has now become a tolerant big brother. He brings the baby his soother or blanket and he often tries to share his toys with him. It really helped to have Peanut "help" with the baby and really went a long way in easing that jealousy. 


    The lack of sleep has not been that bad. This was one of the pluses of having the boys so close together; we are already used to the sleep deprivation. We had been spoiled for the last few months as Peanut sleeps through the night and well into the morning (he's not much of a morning person...takes after me). But for the most part the baby has been pretty decent at going back to sleep after nursing through the night. Let's hope I don't jinx it! 

    The thing that has really suffered is cleanliness. In many ways. The house is pretty much a disaster. It seems like I can accomplish one task a day, but what's the point in having a clean floor amidst a disaster area?! It's hard to notice! And showers? Yeahhhhh....rrrriiiiiiighhhhht. Let me enlighten you with a scene from a recent (typical!) day. 

    Here's the scene: 

    Hubby enters from a long day at work. Zoom in on a disaster: toys strewn everywhere, an explosion of crumbs and remnants of a toddler's uneaten lunch littering the floor (and perhaps even the walls). The toddler in question is wearing one sock and pyjama bottoms. His top does not match (the evidence of a third dumping of milk all.over.everything). He is either crying/angry/screeching in delight/terrorizing the cat...basically anything but sitting quietly reading a book. The baby is in the midst of getting changed, having pooped all.over.everything. The husband looks at his wife. 

    Hubby: (cautiously) Hi hon. How was your day?
    Me: OK I guess. Yours? 
    Hubby: OK. 

    The husband begins to get his hopes up. He can smell that there is obviously something being made for dinner. That's something! 

    Hubby: What's for dinner?
    Me: Freezer mystery. 
    Hubby: ...

    Me: We are short on supplies and I haven't had time to make anything. So I went to the freezer and found a tupperware container of something. I am not sure what it is. Is it spaghetti sauce? Chili? Stew? The only thing I can say for sure is that it has been there a long time, and it's freezer-burnt. It's thawing now, and we'll know more in a few minutes. 
    Hubby: ...
    ...
    ...
    I love you. 

    Me: Listen. I know that this looks bad. Like I didn't do anything all day. Like I probably just sat around letting Peanut wreak havoc on the house while I napped. But I actually did a ton today! (Proudly) I SHOWERED! 

    (I proudly smile and wait for him to acknowledge that this is, indeed, a tremendous feat. That he knows that in order for me to accomplish this task, I had to orchestrate a grand series of events all culminating in the miraculous and elusive Tandem Nap. I then had to manage to get into the shower without the baby's radar detecting that personal hygeine was about to be performed, thereby resulting in an epic screaming session the moment my foot hits the water. This is epic!)

    Hubby: ...
    ...
    ...
    I love you. 

    Me: Oh look honey! Freezer Mystery has thawed enough that I can conclusively deduce that it is, in fact, chili. So we're having chili for dinner. 

    End scene. 

    Yes...this is the new normal. And we seem to be making our way through it just fine (for the most part). 

    As an aside, I just want to thank the amazing women who have been dropping off meals for me and saving my husband from having to endure too many Freezer Mystery nights. You are angels, and have made my life so much easier. THANK YOU! 

    ~Amy
  • Sobeys West Tastes of the World Contest: Street Meat Anyone?!
    Apr 8, 2013 2:00:00 PM

    Want to win a trip to a foodie destination? Me too! Sobeys is currently running the Tastes of the World contest and you could win one of 6 all-inclusive foodie vacations to:

    - Paris, France
    - Rome, Italy
    - Hong Kong
    - Frankfurt, Germany
    - Cancun, Mexico
    - Bangkok, Thailand

    I have been to 3 of these destinations (Frankfurt, Cancun and Bangkok) and can attest to their deliciousness. But the one place that holds a special place in my heart is Bangkok. As you may know, I lived for a few years in Thailand, and grew to love the craziness of Bangkok; it's crowded streets, muggy weather, but most of all it's food. If you've never been to Thailand, you might have images of fancy Thai restaurants, but let me assure you the best food can be found on the streets. Yes, you heard me right: that guy with a cart, a banged up cooler and an old wok selling Pad Thai on the corner for $1?? Best. Food. Ever.

    Thai street vendor. Photo by my lovely husband, Adam Corkett. 


    One of my favourite things to eat is chicken satay. Skewers of deliciously marinated chicken grilled over an open flame. Soooooo good. This amazing street meat was always a treat whenever I was in Bangkok. Even though I once had one of those wooden skewers lodge itself into my foot during Thai New Year (that's a whole other story...ick!) I still never lost the love.

    Sure, you can spend money in a fancy restaurant and have some impressive meals served up to you, but in my opinion you can't beat the feast you can buy with $5 on the street. I would LOVE to go back. So you obviously know where I would choose to go! What about you? Where's your dream foodie vacation?

    Want to make your dreams come true? There are 4 Ways to Win:

    ●      Collect to Win one of the 6 trips mentioned above
    ●      Instant Win Sobeys Club points, free groceries and more
    ●      Online Sweepstakes: Enter your pin number online to win great prizes
    ●      In-Store Draw at your local Sobeys to win Lagostina cookware!

    This contest is ONLY available in Sobeys Stores in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC.

    Want to know all the details? For more information or to pick up your passport and game pieces, please visit your local Sobeys Store!

    Or head over to the website at



    Please note: This is a sponsored post, and I have received compensation from the company(s) mentioned. However, all opinions are my own, as usual.
    ~Amy
  • Our Birth Story: Round 2!
    Apr 6, 2013 5:32:00 PM
    Well, he has arrived! If you are a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter you will already know this news, but here is the full story.

    Baby Quentin arrived at 11:48am on February 27th, 2013. He weighed a healthy 9 lbs 6 oz. 

    We had been waiting to see if he would make an early arrival. If he did decide to come before his due date, we were going to attempt a VBAC. But, as the day drew nearer and nearer, there was no sign that this little guy was on his way. Like his mother, he has a tough time arriving early. I guess we truly do reap what we sow. ;)

    As the day approached, I had resigned myself that surgery was the most likely avenue. I wasn't thrilled about facing surgery again, but on the other hand I knew what to expect. There is something to be said for having the knowledge of where and when your baby is arriving, and of knowing how the surgery will progress. We got the call a few days before that we were scheduled for the first surgery slot, so we had to head to the hospital bright and early for 6am. 

    The night before was a roller coaster of emotions. We were excited to meet the little guy, nervous to have a newborn again, and I was sad to say goodbye to our little family of 3. That sounds a bit silly, but I was having a lot of guilt over the fact that my son would no longer have our undivided attention. Pregnancy hormones had one last huzzah and broke me down into tears when we put Peanut to bed. Needless to say, I didn't sleep much and when 6am came, it wasn't hard to get my nervous butt out of bed and get ready. 

    We made it to the hospital and got all checked in and ready. We had a wonderful nurse prep us for the surgery and we were on time for 8am waiting outside of the operating room. We met the team who would be in the room with us, and the nurses said we just had to wait for the doctor who would actually perform the surgery. She finally showed up a little late, and we began the preparation for the spinal anaesthetic. After they had injected the local freezing, there seemed to be a bit of a commotion and the doctor was called out. The nurses then kept chatting with me, and eventually told me to lay down, as it was going to be a while. We chatted about a bunch of things, and then they turned on some music. They brought my husband in the room and we all just waited. It was fairly obvious that something else was going on and that we were likely going to be here a while. After a quick bathroom break I suggested we sit in the comfy chairs in the hallway rather than go back in the freezing cold OR. 

    Just as we sat down we heard a lot of screaming and a woman was wheeled by with blood everywhere. They called a code over the intercom and people were rushing and arguing about whether or not they could use our OR as it wasn't sterile anymore. However it was clear there was an emergency, and we were totally forgotten. It was like a real-life Grey's Anatomy episode. Hubby and I just sat there trying to be out of the way. They called the code saying the baby wasn't breathing and I got a little upset. Finally our prep nurse rushed down the hall and swept us back into the ward. She did a great job of debriefing us (and we know the mom and babe were ok as we saw them later in the post-partum ward...thank God!). But at that point we knew there wasn't going to be a surgery any time soon. We went back to our prep room and just hung out and waited for another couple of hours until we were called back. 

    When we got back to the OR everyone was laughing and joking and they tried hard to put us at ease. Of course it's all in a days work for the staff, and they were totally unfazed by all the craziness. They promised we would actually get to meet our baby this time, and they set to work. 

    The first time around during Peanut's birth I was so exhausted that they surgery was a bit of a blur. It was also very quick, as it was a bit of an emergency situation as he was in distress. This time it was completely different. I was totally aware of everything that was going on, and it seemed to take much longer. Besides feeling very nauseous from the anaesthetic, I was feeling alright, and so it was a bit bizarre to just sit there with Hubby holding my hand while they worked. The OB was training a resident so she was sort of describing the surgery to him as they went, which was a bit surreal for me. It's strange to hear all the crazy things they are doing to your body while you just lay there all numb behind a curtain! And it's impossible not to listen! For the most part Hubby and I were totally ignored and it seemed to take forever before they were ready to birth the baby. Finally they told me to get ready for the pressure, and out he came. They quickly showed him to me before they had the team check him over. Because the hospital was so insanely busy that day, they had to take him up to the ward to get him weighed and measured, etc., so Hubby and Q left after a quick visit with me. Then I was all alone while they finished the surgery. It honestly was pretty crappy to be left alone for so long in recovery. I just wanted to see my new baby and spend time with my husband. But they eventually came back down and Q took to nursing like a champ. 

    I have to say that after seeing the craziness in the OR when complications arose for the other patient, I feel we made the right decision to go with the repeat surgery. 

    When we brought Q home, Peanut was a bit flabbergasted I think. He was pretty cautious about the whole baby thing, and began saying "Baby" and making the sign for "all done". Poor little guy! He also happened to get the stomach flu very badly for our first 3 days home. So the poor little dude was feeling super awful. We basically just laid in bed and watched movies on the laptop while he slept. Once he recovered though, we had a few days of pretty bad jealousy. We got him to help bring blankets for the baby, etc. and that seemed to help ease it some. We also made sure to spend some one-on-one time and give lots of cuddles and reassurance. Now he still has his moments where he wants the baby to go away, but he also tries to share his cars and toys with him. True brothers. 

    ~Amy
  • Carry On, Warrior: A Q&A with Glennon Melton of Momastery.com!
    Apr 3, 2013 4:31:00 PM

    When I heard the news that Glennon Melton of Momastery.com had written a book, I was very excited. Her post Don't Carpe Diem is one of the best posts on parenting I have ever read. It was how I was first introduced to her blog, and since then I have continued to enjoy her perspectives on parenting and life. 

    I received a copy of Carry On, Warrior and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a collection of short essays, which makes it perfect for a mom like me to read during nap times. Glennon's honesty and way with words shines through, and I love her perspective on life, parenting and faith. I found myself nodding in agreement so many times, and even reading out passages to Hubby that particularly resonated with me (to which he smiled and indulged me...it's not ever the same having someone read it out loud, is it?). I found the book to be so inspirational and in an odd way, motivating. It made me feel like I too could attack life with a passion and a grace that I wish I had. Sometimes I feel like it's a struggle just to make it through the day without going crazy or losing my cool, and this book made me feel like that was A-OK. Everyone has those crazy days, and those crazy days all add up to the awesomeness that is life. That sounds a bit sappy, but what can I say? This book really made me feel sappy. Maybe it's the hormones. ;) 

    I am so excited to have a Q&A with Glennon to share with all of you! If you haven't already, check out  Glennon's blog, and for more info on Carry On, Warrior, head over to www.carryonwarrior.com
    Author Photograph by Little Moon Photography
    How did you come to write Carry On, Warrior?

    My essays from Momastery started going viral and fancy folks from all over the world began to contact me. I just kept doing the only thing I know how to do, which is to just do what seems like The Next Right Thing.  Using The Next Right Thing strategy, I found my agents and my editor. These ladies have become some of my closest friends. My writing is about me and my vision of life, but my writing career is about relationships. I just write, do The Next Right Thing, and then treat each person who crosses my path with as much respect and love as I can muster at the moment. This is, officially, the best I can do—and it seems to be working out okay so far.

    What was your original goal for Momastery?

     I wanted Momastery to be a quiet place in the midst of the chaos of motherhood. I wanted it to be a place to discuss the joys and pain of personhood. I wanted it to be a place to laugh and do the hard work of practicing peace. It takes a warrior to be a peacemaker. The name emerged from the idea that motherhood is like a monastery: it’s a sacred place, apart from the world, where a seeker can figure out what matters and catch glimpses of God. It’s also like being pecked to death by merciless chickens. Often, while I am being mercilessly pecked, I dream of running away and joining an order of monks. Hence, Momastery. 

    When people call you a “Mommy Blogger,” what do you think? What does that term mean to you?

    I get the sense that people use the term "Mommy Blogger" and mean it to be derogatory, as though the women who are mothers and write blogs are somehow unworthy of respect. But in my mind, the identity of "mommy blogger" is one that should be worn with pride. There is no task more challenging or important than parenting, and nothing brings me closer to God, Truth, and others than writing. What could be more of an honor than to be identified as a combination of those two things? I am a writer (who happens to publish her writing instantly on a blog) and a mother. Some of my favorite writers are bloggers and mothers. And we all write about all sorts of topics, in addition to parenting.  I wish that when people threw the term "mommy blogger" around that they meant it with all the respect and honor those two words deserve. I see it that way.
      
    Do you think the Internet makes it easier for people to be cruel or to be kind to one another?

    Both. I think the internet encourages fake niceness. Fake niceness happens to me when a friend posts a picture of herself relaxing at the beach and I’m in my kitchen dripping with kids and work and for some reason I feel the need to “like” her status even though I don’t really like it -  I’m actually sort of bitter about it. I don’t really understand that phenomena, but it happens to me all the time. Also, obviously the anonymity of the internet can encourage bullies to be bolder than usual. That’s why Momastery is such a miracle – 65 thousand people with anonymity who choose to use such self- control and love with each other. It’s really something. Like everything else on earth, the internet can be used for good or evil.
      
    When do you write?

    I am always writing. Even when my kids are talking to me, I’m writing, which is why every time they finish a sentence and wait for an answer I have to ask them to repeat themselves.
      
    What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

    Staying off Facebook long enough to finish a sentence.


    And how cool is this? There are book trailers out now! Like movie trailers, but for books! Maybe this is only cool to book nerds like me...?? Anyway, I LOVED this trailer for the book. Check it out! 



    Disclosure: I received an advanced copy of Carry On, Warrior for the purposes of this review. 
    ~Amy
  • Guest Post: How to Make a DIY Month-by-Month Pregnancy Poster
    Mar 5, 2013 8:53:00 PM
    Hey guys! While I am chilling at home with the new babe, the blog will be a little quiet. But the lovely (and patient) Annie has a guest post for you to tide you over. :) Love this idea! 

    Thanks so much for the guest post Annie! 



    How to Make a DIY Month by Month Pregnancy Poster
    There are few events in life as exciting, stressful, fun, unknown, and creative (literally) for a woman than being pregnant. It’s a time for looking forward, looking back, and really questioning one’s own self. 
    I’ve heard it said that time flies when you’re having fun, but I think it’s also true that time flies once you have kids. One minute they’re in your belly and the next they’re graduating high school, then college, and getting married. Soon enough they’ll have kids of their own, and you’ll ask yourself, “Where did my little one go?”
    Because time really does fly I’d like to share some inspiration on how to make a memory poster so you can cherish now (and later) the birth of your child. 
    What You Need to Complete this DIY
    Before I start any project I like to know what I am up against and what it will require so I know I can complete it. For this DIY you will need:
    An expectant mother or pregnant belly!
    A digital camera.
    Minimal photography and computer design skills.
    Access to a wide format printer or a custom poster printing service.
    Nine months (kidding, but really..)
    Taking the Pictures
    Pick a location that’s comfortable and offers good natural light, as you’ll be here often. The focus of these pictures will be you, so choose a place that doesn’t have a distracting background. I’d recommend wearing the same clothing in every picture so you can see vividly the changes your body takes as the baby develops. If you’re not too picky you can wear sweats and a t-shirt, if you’d like something a little more eloquent try a loose fitting dress. Here are a few things to remember when taking photos:
    Take a picture on the same day once or twice a week for the entirety of your pregnancy.
    Take the pictures at the same time each day (for lighting purposes).
    Try to pose the same way in each picture.
    Making the Poster
    Once you have all your photos taken it’s time to piece the poster together. The easiest way to do this is with your computer and a graphics editing program like Adobe Photoshop, or a program like GIMP (available for free at: http://www.gimp.org/). Regardless of which program you use you can accomplish a simple look by placing the photos in order from oldest to newest.
    Here is an example of how to lay the photos out for use on a poster:


    Photo Copyright © Ashley.
    Ordering the Poster
    Once you’ve taken your pictures and arranged them on the computer it’s time to order the poster! In the past I’ve used Vistaprint.ca for my poster printing and have found their services satisfactory, but feel to look around if you’d like. If you have a little extra money to spare you can order a poster for every image in your collage and create a keepsake to show your child when they’re older. 
    The thing I love about this project is that it allows those of us with minimal artistic skills (like myself) or those with a more perfected touch to be as creative as they’d like to be. I hope you enjoyed this DIY tutorial!
    About the Author:
    Annie Harrington is a small business owner, writer, and amateur photographer. In her free time she enjoys writing about DIY projects and other crafts parents can do with their children.
    ~Amy
  • Adventures in Juicing: Week 4
    Feb 25, 2013 9:54:00 PM
    Beyond Juice

    Week 1
    Week 2
    Week 3

    I have so enjoyed this series on juicing from SPUD.ca. In previous posts I have shared how awesome our juicer is, and all the delicious, fresh, organic juice I have been making. But this week I wanted to touch a little bit on how versatile the juicer is. Sure, it makes delicious juice, but it is also a useful kitchen appliance and is much more versatile than you may think. 

    The juicer I own (Hurom Slow Juicer) works like a mortar and pestle to crush the produce, so it doesn't have blades or generate any heat (which can destroy some nutrients). When you juice, you are left with a nice big pile of pulp from the produce you have squeezed dry. It's perfect for the composter if you have one. But, there are other, useful things you can do with all that fibre! You can run steamed veggies and fruits through the juicer and combine the pulp and juice to make your own baby food or even soup! You can use the pulp to make your own marmalade, or you can add it to baking to boost the recipe's fibre. 

    Because my juicer is not a blender, I can juice anything I can chew. You can even use the juicer to make almond or soy milk! And juicing greens is no problem. Since they aren't getting pulverized by blades, there is no gross stringy texture to deal with in the juice either. 

    I am really excited to use it for baby food once this new little guy is ready. For now, my favourite thing is to use the pulp in baking. Here is my favourite recipe. Peanut loves it, and I love that it's super simple to make, and pretty healthy to boot. Of course, I like to heat it up and slather it in butter, so there goes the health factor for me! ;) 


    Whole Wheat Carrot Raisin Bread
    Makes 1 loaf
    Prep time: approx 5 mins
    Bake time: 1 hour

    3 medium carrots
    1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
    1/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce
    1/3 cup vegetable oil
    1/2 cup - 1 cup of honey 
    (original recipe calls for a whole cup, but that is a lot. It's tasty, but I have made it with 1/2 a cup without sacrificing much taste.)
    2 eggs
    1/2 cup raisins
    1 tsp cinnamon
    1 tsp baking soda
    1 tsp salt

    Preheat oven to 325F. Run the carrots through the juicer and save the pulp. 
    (Also, if you are like me and very rarely have fresh, juicy raisins on hand, soak your old, wrinkly raisins in some warm water for a bit to re-plump them a bit.)

    Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl. 

    In a separate bowl, mix the apple sauce, oil, eggs and honey together. Then stir in the pulp and the raisins. 

    Add the wet mixture to the flour mixture and stir until well blended. The batter should be very moist. If you have reduced the honey you may want to add some of the juice from the carrot into the batter if it is too dry. 

    Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. 

    Bake for approximately 1 hour until it passes the toothpick test. 


    So there you have it...the juicer is a versatile creature! It has so much more to offer than juice.

    I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have. It has been such a great, healthful journey for me and my family. 

    If you are interested in getting a juicer for your family, I highly recommend SPUD's juicing program. Not only do you have the option to purchase the juicer in small, manageable weekly payments, but you also have access to delicious, fresh organic produce for your juicer delivered right to your door. I can honestly not say enough about SPUD. Beyond the service they provide, they also have the best customer service I have encountered in a long time. It means a lot to be treated like a valued customer in this day and age, let me tell you! And the convenience can't be beat. SPUD is my worst-kept secret. ;) 

    *Please note that this series is sponsored by SPUD.ca, as they provided the juicer and the organic juicing produce in order to facilitate this series. But all content and opinions are completely my own (as usual!). 

    ~Amy
  • He is coming...one way or another.
    Feb 24, 2013 12:17:00 AM
    For some context to this post, check out my first birth story here, and my previous post about our VBAC dilemma here. 

    As the days leading up to my due date are quickly flying by, it is seeming more and more like surgery is going to be our fate. 


    If you read my previous post about our VBAC dilemma, you will know I was conflicted about what to do with this pregnancy and delivery. In the end, after weighing our options and discussing it all with my OB, we decided the best choice for us would be to book a scheduled cesarian section for 40 weeks (my due date), and if I go into labour beforehand naturally, we would attempt a VBAC. My OB thought this plan would give me the best chance of having a "natural" birth (I dislike this term, but will use it for lack of a better one...). It gave me the extra time to go into labour on my own, but since this baby is looking to be pretty large (although not as large as Peanut!), which was a big factor in why my previous birth ended in surgery, if we waited too long we might be setting ourselves up for another failed labour. 

    And that is sort of my fear; that if we attempt a labour and delivery again that it will fail, and I will have endured all that pain and effort and feel like it was all for nothing again. In comparison, the scheduled surgery just seemed a lot more calm and at least we know what to expect. 

    I have never felt 100% about this decision, or any of the other options. I wish there was a third choice (baby magically transports outside of body?!?). Mostly because I have a big fear of the unknown and of things I have no control over. I like to feel like I am in control, but as we all know these little people have a way of taking that all away from you, even from the very beginning! 

    Because my belly is very large again, I have been assuming that I would go into labour before the surgery. I don't know why this would be any different than last time. I was huge last pregnancy and Peanut was stubborn until the very end, staying in as long as he possibly could. I guess I just assumed my water would break, or I would start having regular contractions and I would get that whole experience (we were induced last time, so that never happened for me). There is still time (4 more days), but as the hours fly by I am becoming more accepting of the fact that a surgery is going to be the most likely option at this point. 

    I know that it can change at any moment, and the plan is still to attempt labour if it does, but I guess I have just become rather apathetic about the whole thing. Not to say that I am not worried, as I most definitely am. Both options are scary to me, and I am very worried. 

    So much so, in fact, that I have given very little thought to actually meeting this new little guy. Last night Hubby was watching the hockey game, and the announcer was interviewing the curler Kevin Martin. My Dad was a competitive curler back in the day, and so when Hubby said "Are you excited to meet him?" I was super confused. Why would I be meeting Kevin Martin? Was my Dad going to some sort of Brier event? And why would I be excited about it? I mean, I am sure he's a super interesting guy, but he is not really on my list of "People I Would Be Excited To Meet". Most people probably don't even know who he is. I just sat in confused silence for a minute or 2 until he rephrased the question to "Aren't you excited to meet our little guy?!" CLICK. Ohhhhhhhh. Yes, I suppose I am. But to be honest I haven't really thought much about it, and that makes me a little sad. I have thought a lot about the birth and that whole experience. And I have thought a lot about the logistics of after his arrival; how things will go, how Peanut will do with a new baby brother, nursing, all that jazz. But I haven't thought much about what he will look like, be like, smell like. I haven't though much about whether he will look like his brother. And it's hard to do that, because I am so preoccupied with the fear of the birth itself. 


    One good thing about that though is that I get to be awestruck and surprised about him when he does finally make his arrival, however that happens. We still don't have a name chosen for him. So it's going to be a decision we make once we see his adorable face. And that's the thing I try to keep remembering:  the birth experience will be over, and it will soon be a memory. The most important thing is that he is coming. One way or another, he is going to make his grand entrance into this wonderful old world, and we will get to meet him. How he arrives doesn't really matter in the long run, as long as it is safely. 

    And so whether he comes on Wednesday when he is scheduled to be born, or before then if he comes on his own time, he is coming. 

    Can't wait to meet him! 

    ~Amy
  • Adventures in Juicing: Week 3
    Feb 19, 2013 8:57:00 PM


    1. It's an easy way to bump up our daily recommended intake of fruits and veggies. Instead of making sure we prepare and eat enough fruits and veg, we usually get at least 1/2 of our recommended intake from one glass of juice in the morning! Of course we still eat fruits and vegetables throughout the day (like apples...I am currently addicted to Jonagold apples and could probably eat like 5 a day! Oh pregnancy...). And it's important that we do, as we still need the fibre, etc. from eating the skins, etc. But it sure is nice to know that I have all those vitamins and minerals covered now without thinking of creative ways to shove them in our diet!

    2. We are using a much wider range of vegetables than we did before we started juicing. I admit I am pretty picky when it comes to vegetables. As an example, I would never eat kale, beets or cucumbers (despite my years in Thailand, where cucumbers accompany every meal it seems, I still don't like them!) whole, or even use them in a dish. But when you add it to a cup of juice, the flavours mix so nicely, that I actually enjoy them! And for someone who has issues with textures (like me!), it's perfect because I don't have to worry about the texture when it's in a cup of juice. 

    3. I am wasting so much less produce. Sometimes fruits mysteriously never ripen. They go straight from green and unripe to shrivelled and pretty tasteless in a day (mango...I'm looking at YOU!). This drives me batty, as it's not appetizing on either end of the spectrum. So you are stuck with either eating a gross mango, or tossing it out, which is a huge waste. I no longer have this dilemma as I can just juice it. Whether it's still a little unripe or a little past it's prime, once it's thrown in the juicer it's as tasty as can be. Greens that have lost their crunch are still tasty when juiced, even if they would be dreadful in a salad. For this reason alone I am hooked on making juice. And the other thing is that you can use the pulp that is leftover from the juice for baking, etc. Tossing some carrot and apple pulp into muffins is a great way to boost the fibre in the muffins, and to reduce the waste.

    4. It's fun! Coming up with new combinations to juice is a lot of fun. It's interesting to try to meld different flavours and see what you can come up with. I haven't really experimented much with adding anything to the juice (I saw a recipe that used coconut water with fresh juice...it's on the plan for this week!), but this is a whole other delicious world that I am excited to try. There are just so many possibilities and so many things to try, that it never gets boring. 

    5. It's a healthy choice for my family. Because the produce I use to juice is from SPUD.ca, it is organic, and local (when possible). So I am eliminating a lot of the pesticides and chemicals from imported produce. And because I am controlling what I put in to each glass of juice, I am eliminating any added sugars and preservatives that come with many store-purchased juices. And there is no packaging to recycle, or throw out either. The best part of all though is that it is so convenient. I mean, all I do is put my tupperware bin out on my doorstep and then collect it in the evening, and it's full of fresh, organic produce. I shop from my couch. It's awesome. And as an aside, I have to say it is the best produce I have ever purchased. It is always in great shape, and is so incredibly tasty. Sure, the apples are not the size of a baseball, but honestly? Apples that big creep me out. Produce should look like it's been grown, not created in a lab! I love knowing which farm my produce has come from and that I am supporting local farmers. 

    *Please note that this series is sponsored by SPUD.ca, as they provided the juicer and the organic juicing produce in order to facilitate this series. But all content and opinions are completely my own (as usual!). 

    ~Amy
  • Am I Able to Do It All Again?!
    Feb 6, 2013 11:39:00 PM

    We are just playing the waiting game now for New Baby. I am 37 weeks today, which means FULL TERM. ACK!

    FULL TERM. OMG. 

    So as I get up every day and think "will today be the day?", I am thinking more and more about what is going to happen after he arrives. It has been easy to get caught up in the whole delivery and how that is going to go, and so far that has been our focus. But I have started to think about what life is going to be like with a newborn again (and this time with a toddler as well!). 
    Mommy amnesia is a powerful thing. Without it, I doubt there would be as many kiddos running around! I have a hard time remembering precisely just how labour felt last time, and how the recovery was. I remember it being super painful, but beyond that I can't describe it. Similarly, in my head it feels like the newborn stage with Peanut was a breeze compared to the craziness of the toddler we are currently experiencing. In my mind I think back to the days when he was content to sit in his little bouncy chair, or be worn in the wrap. He stayed where you put him. He was happy with a couple little toys hanging in front of him, or his Sophie the giraffe to chew on. All in all, he just didn't do much. And in my head that feels like that's how it was. 
    But in reality, I know it was much tougher than that. If I really think about it, I remember him constantly being hungry. Which was exhausting, and for quite a few weeks was incredibly painful due to thrush. I remember every time he latched I basically yelled out in pain. I also can remember that he didn't really sleep for very long, and that those wake-ups every few hours were also exhausting, to say the least. So what I am saying is that in reality it was a lot tougher than I remember it being. 
    So am I going to be able to go through all of that again, and still be a good mom to Peanut? I think some things will be easier, as we have the benefit of experience. With Peanut I remember getting so frustrated and upset with nursing and feeling like I was never going to get it. But this time I have the benefit of knowledge and experience to tell me I can get through it, and to seek help if something is wrong. Hubby and I also have the benefit of knowing the drill when it comes to the whole baby thing. We won't get so upset or flustered if New Baby is crying as we know it's just part of newborn life, and we know how to effectively troubleshoot. We are confident parents now, whereas with Peanut we were scared and hesitant and had no clue what the heck we were doing. 
    Dude. We are having a baby. 
    I know that there are so many unknowns that seem like they will be impossible at the moment: 
    How will we love another child the way we love Peanut?
    How will we cope with a new baby? 
    How will we deal with going back to the no-sleep newborn haze?
    How will we be as parents to 2 instead of just 1?

    And almost always the answer from experienced parents is: You just do. 
    You somehow have enough love for both. 
    You somehow make it through. 
    So I am banking on the "We just will". I know it's going to be tough, and there will probably be moments when I think "What the heck did we do?!" but that the awesome is going to far outweigh the scariness. 
    At least I am sure that it will be that way, right?!
    My sweetness being a true Canadian: Hockey and a toque! 
    ~Amy
  • Adventures in Juicing: Week 2
    Feb 3, 2013 11:19:00 PM
    You can check out week 1 here.

    We've had our juicer for almost 2 weeks now, and I have to say that we are loving it! I was a little wary about having another kitchen appliance...I have a bit of an addiction it seems. And usually we use whatever new gadget a couple of times and then it gets banished to the Cupboard of Doom where we only try and dig it out once every 10 months and when we do we have to pull absolutely everything out of the cupboard to reach it...you know what I mean, right?!

    Anyway, the juicer hasn't left our counter since we got it. We make at least 1 glass of juice a day with it. It's almost addicting, actually. Once I apprehensively started putting fruits and veggies in very strict combinations according to set recipes, I was hooked. I started thinking of all the different things I could juice, and all the different combinations of juices I could make. JUICE ALL THE THINGS!!!!

    We have a couple recipes that came with our weekly SPUD delivery that we love, and they are in our standard rotation. For veggies, I am more of a kale girl, and Hubby is in love with the beets. 

    My fave is the Morning Nourish Juice:


    1 pear
    1 handful of kale
    1 apple
    2 stalks of celery

    Usually I make some juice in the morning and I give a little to Peanut diluted with water. As scared as I was of juicing veggies, it's actually not that bad! So I always make sure to have some veggies in it if Peanut is having some. He loooooooves it. His favourite? Kale. Who would have ever guessed? I normally don't really give Peanut juice, but I feel confident about giving him fresh, organic, homemade juice where I control what goes in, and with no extra sugar. 

    For the adults in the house, we love that we can "eat our veggies" without actually eating them! It's awesome to get the nutrients from fresh fruits and veg without having to prepare them. I get so bored of trying to invent new ways to serve carrots. Well, nothing is easier than tossing them in the juicer! Of course we still eat actual fruits and vegetables as well, as we need the fiber and other goodness, but it's nice to know that we are getting our daily dose of vitamins and minerals so easily. 

    Hubby's fave is ABC Juice:

    2 apples
    2 carrots
    1 beet

    but he always adds some citrus as well, usually by adding 1 grapefruit. 

    But my absolute favourite recipe that I have made so far was a tropical-inspired cup of deliciousness!

    1 mango
    3 spears of pineapple
    2 oranges

    I could see this being a very delcious adult-beverage in the summer time with the addition of a little coconut rum. Yum yum! I didn't get a picture because I basically downed it the second it came out of the juicer. 

    I really get excited every Thursday to get our SPUD delivery. It's always fun to see all the fresh organic fruit and veg just sitting there, unsuspecting that in the next day or so they are going to be crushed into delicious juiciness! One of my other favourite things about juicing is that I have so much less waste of produce. If something is a little under- or over-ripe I just toss it in the juicer with a few apples and it is salvaged. 
    One lesson I learned very quickly...make sure you go easy on the ginger. A little goes a VERY long way. The first time I used it I made some apple and pear juice and threw in a little knob of ginger. It was probably double what I needed, and I ended up with one very spicy glass of juice! Ack!!
    If you are interested in trying out juicing, SPUD.ca has extended their very popular juicing promotion until February 7th! You can either buy the juicer in one payment, or pay for it in small weekly installments. When you sign up for their juicing program, you get $140 worth of organic fruits and veg for your juicer delivered right to your door free! You can check it out here: SPUD.ca Juicing Program

    *Please note that this series is sponsored by SPUD.ca, as they provided the juicer and the organic juicing produce in order to facilitate this series. But all content and opinions are completely my own (as usual!). 

    ~Amy
  • 18 Months!! (Holy Cow!)
    Jan 30, 2013 9:12:00 PM
    At 18 months Peanut:

    ~ weighs about 24.5 lbs
    ~ is about 32.2 inches long
     
    ~Is hard to keep up with...walking and running all over the place!
    ~Has such a funny personality. He cracks me up with his goofiness.
    ~Has started to say a few words, finally. He calls both me and Hubby "Mom" much to Hubby's dismay. Other words: one, Ernie, moon, Elmo, murmel murmel (from the Robert Munsch book!) and up. Very strange to see which words are important to him! And they aren't all that clear yet (beyond up and Mom)
    ~Eats like a champ, but it depends on his mood. He is very adept at using his fork and spoon, and drinks out of a cup now. But we still use the straw to minimize spillage when he's on the move. 



    ~ He's invented a bunch of different signs for everything. Popular ones are more, diaper and Big Bird.
    ~ Still gets into EVERYTHING. 
    ~ Loves bath time, and chasing Kitty. But now that he can run, Kitty is much more alert! 
    ~ LOVES music. He plays his ukelele, his drum set and our piano. He dances up a storm and "sings" along. He loves it when Hubby plays the guitar or when I play the piano. 
    ~ He is a reading machine. We spend hours a day going through books, reading them, looking at pictures and pointing out all the words we know. We have had to "lose" a few books because we just couldn't stand reading them any longer!!



    I cannot believe that he is a year and a half. He has become his own little person, and it's so fun to watch him learn and explore the world. I am one lucky mama! 


    ~Amy
  • Adventures in Juicing: Week 1
    Jan 21, 2013 1:00:00 PM
    When you bring up the topic of juicing, my mind immediately turns to that old infomercial of the incredibly fit older man extolling it's virtues. He juices everything imaginable! So I suppose it has always had a sort of gimmicky and old-fashioned image to me. But recently I have seen many a pin on Pinterest, or heard of people who have embraced juice as a way of getting healthier, so it seems it's not just for the "as seen on TV" folks anymore. And when I look at my diet and lifestyle I can tell you 2 things with assurity: I don't get enough vegetables and fruits in my diet, and I can definitely stand to make healthier choices in my life. So, what do I know about juicing? I know that you put fruit or veggies in a machine and it makes juice. That is it. Oh, and I know you drink it. I don't even really know what fresh juice tastes like...isn't that sad? I have only really ever had purchased juice. Beyond freshly squeezed orange juice, I am completely in the dark. 

    A few months ago I signed up with a local organic grocery delivery service, SPUD.ca. I was struggling with getting fresh produce in our diet without so much waste. My usual method of grocery shopping is plan for meals throughout the week by picking recipes that appeal to me and then buying the ingredients. Seems like a good plan, but I almost never take into consideration the ingredients I am using, so I usually end up with extra produce not being used in the other recipes. Which means I end up with a lot of waste. Or, I would only stick to the basics (carrots, potatoes, apples and sometimes bananas) and never venture out of the box. So when I heard about SPUD's produce boxes I was intrigued. They basically choose a fresh box of local (when possible) organic produce and deliver it to your door every week. Honestly I wish I would have started this earlier...it is the most convenient thing ever! Going to the grocery store is always an ordeal with a toddler, but since my belly is getting much, much bigger and I move at the pace of a slow waddle at best it's even more of a challenge. Now I only pop in to grab meat and staples (I still grab these from the grocery store for cost reasons...SPUD also has organic meats and grocery items you can get delivered as well. Which is going to come in VERY handy when the new baby arrives!). I have basically been spreading the word to all my mom friends about this service because I can't get over how great it is. Any time you can make something a little bit easier as a mom (not to mention healthier!) I am all over it! 

    Our fancy new juicer! (pic taken on
    our floor for lighting...and maybe
     so you don't see our messy counters.
    Laziness at its finest!
    When SPUD contacted me about their juicing program they just rolled out and asked if I was interested in trying it out, I was super eager. I have been a very happy customer of theirs, so I knew it was going to be great. It really can't be any easier: they deliver a juicer to your door (which you can buy outright, or pay for in small, weekly instalments), as well as a fresh box of juicing produce each week so you can have a glass of fresh juice each day. They have 6 different juicing boxes (detox, juicing for kids, etc) depending on what you like, or what your goals are. For someone who knows absolutely nothing, it is perfect. They have recipes online and they include a book on juicing basics with your juicer as well, so it has everything you need to get started.

    Our new juicer arrived on Friday night and we immediately opened it up and gleefully made our first glass of juice. It is so much fun. I don't know why I find the act of throwing fruit in a machine and watching it get squashed and separated into juice and pulp so amusing, but it's not just me; Hubby thinks it's awesome too. The result was very tasty, and we are looking forward to experimenting with different fruits and veggies this week. One thing I can tell you I am a little wary of is the whole veggie thing. I like to eat vegetables. Not all of them, but some of them. And I like them prepared in different ways. But, the idea of drinking vegetable juice is a little off-putting for me. I suppose it's because I think that juice should be sweet. I have never had a V8 in my life. I don't like tomato juice. So I am very intrigued to see how it will taste! What I do love is the idea that I can get my daily intake of veggies and fruits much easier. I have a hard time trying to work a ton of veggies into my diet, but I have no problem drinking a ton of juice a day. 

    If you are in the Calgary area and are interested in getting started with juicing, SPUD has an amazing promotion on right now, but only until the end of January. If you want to purchase a juicer through SPUD, they will give you 4 free weeks of juicing produce ($140 value!). Or, if you would rather sign up for their 6 month juicing program (weekly organic juicing boxes and you can pay for your juicer in weekly increments) you get a $140 SPUD credit. Pretty great deal! Check out all the details about juicing through SPUD here: Juicing Program
    This is the first in a series on juicing. Next week I will examine the basics of how to juice, and how we have fit it into our life.

    *Please note that this series is sponsored by SPUD.ca, as they provided the juicer and the organic juicing produce in order to facilitate this series. But all content and opinions are completely my own (as usual!). 
    ~Amy
  • 33 Weeks Already? (and Still No Name...)
    Jan 14, 2013 10:28:00 PM
    Let me start by saying poor New Baby. He is the second kiddo and already is getting the short end of the stick. With Peanut I took weekly belly photos, which means there were roughly 42 of them. This time around I think I may have taken 5 so far? And we are almost 34 weeks in to this thing. In any case, here is what my 33 week belly is looking like. And yes...you get a cliche cell phone selfie. Sorry about that.  

    PS I am wearing my 2 favourite maternity items that I pretty much live in these days. They are both pretty big splurges for me, but for the amount I wear them and for the level of comfiness, they are so totally worth it. The top is from Seraphine Maternity (and it doubles as a nursing top as those are snaps on the side!) and the jeans are Paige Maternity. What I love most about the jeans is they have no panel. I hate hate hate bands of stretchy material on my tummy. These jeans have 2 darts of elastic at the waistband so they can stretch with you, but otherwise are completely "normal". They even have a zippered fly! Love em! 

    I was measuring very big at my last couple of appointments (surprise surprise!) and as a result we had to go in for an ultrasound to make sure New Baby was happy and to get an idea of just how big he is. This is not new to me, as the exact same thing happened with Peanut. In that case, Peanut proved to be a very large little dude, and so we were sort of expecting the same result with New Baby. As it turns out, New Baby is totally normal-sized! Looks like we may be able to use that newborn sized outfit we bought for Peanut (and never used) after all! 

    However during the ultrasound New Baby was being lazy and not practicing breathing. I was assured by the tech that this is totally normal. But when I got home I got a phone call from my OB saying we had to go into the hospital that evening for a nonstress test. If they don't practice breathe during the ultrasound they lose 2 whole points on the scale and so you have to get tested just to make sure everything is ok. Now this is where New Baby gets the benefit of me being an experienced mom. If this had happened with Peanut I probably would have been freaking out. I mean, a call from my OB at home not 20 mins after the ultrasound occurred, and he tells me to go to the hospital for a test?! Mommy-panic mode engaged! 

    BUT, I had a few of these tests with Peanut. I know that it measures heart rate (which was totally fine in the ultrasound) and movement. Movement is one area that New Baby exceeds in. I sometimes think he is going to somehow kick his way out of the womb. I never have a moments rest from the crazy internal acrobatics. So, I already knew the test would be normal, and sure enough it was. On the bright side we got to get a little more familiar with the hospital we will be delivering at, as we never had to check in with Peanut (we got the VIP treatment since we were transferred in by ambulance from another hospital. Yay??). So New Baby benefits from a calm and confident mommy. 

    Another area where New Baby is sort of getting a raw deal though is in the name department. We are so not even close to choosing a name for this little guy. It was hard for us to choose a boy's name the first time around. But we settled on one a few months before Peanut's arrival. This time we are pretty much still at square 1. And there are only 44 more days (according to my pregnancy app) before this little guy is supposed to arrive. To say nothing of the fact that he may come sooner than that. I don't know why it is so hard for us to agree on a name, but we just haven't been able to find "the one" yet. Besides scouring the internet for name lists I am at a loss as to how to proceed. Poor little dude is going to be stuck being named New Baby. We can't be that cruel...

    So, any suggestions for a name for Finnley's little brother? 

    ~Amy
  • Some Thoughts on the Eve of the 2012 Apocalypse
    Dec 20, 2012 8:25:00 PM

    So, I woke up this morning and I was all "Dude...it's almost the apocalypse. I wonder when the world will end? Is it at midnight? But midnight in which timezone?! I am so confused!!" I knew the answer would not change my plans for the day, which consisted of staying in my pyjamas and dreading going to the grocery store so that I could make something for dinner and eventually feel guilty enough to tidy the house. But I was still curious. So I did what any logical person would do and asked Facebook. 

    Well, I was pointed to a few videos from Mayan elders on YouTube, and also to one crazy video of some guy saying that Gagnam Style is the harbinger of the anti-Christ (I do concede the point that the song is beyond catchy though...maybe he does have something there). Needless to say I learned nothing from that one. BUT, the other videos (well, the first 2 minutes of them anyway...I didn't have the patience to watch ALL of them. I mean, time is precious on Apocalypse Eve) told me that the Mayans don't even believe it's the apocalypse tomorrow. 

    You read that right. They don't even believe it. They are getting all this flack for saying that the world is going to end on December 21, 2012 and they are all like "Dude. We never said that." It is the end of their time-cycle but there have been 3 other ones before this, and the world still exists. They think it will just be the beginning of a new time-cycle. So basically, a time for celebration.* 

    *Please note that I am not a Mayan scholar and all of my interpretation comes from the reading the Wikipedia article on 2012 theories and watching the first 2 minutes of YouTube videos.

    Basically, all this hullabaloo over the apocalypse was started by some anthropologist when he interpreted their writings and he was all "OMG! The end of the world! It's happening December 21, 2012!!". One crazy dude made this theory and then a bunch of other crazy people expanded on it, and now it's all Apocalypse-mania up in here. So when the world doesn't end tomorrow, everyone is going to blame the Mayans and say they were crazy. And I feel bad for them because they are getting a bad rap because of this one crazy white dude. But really HE should be getting all the blame (unless of course the world DOES end, in which case we should be saying how smart he is instead of how crazy, but we won't be here anymore, so I guess he doesn't get his day in the sun). 

    So there you have it. The Apocalypse in a nutshell. I bet you feel very relieved right now. And if the world doesn't end tomorrow, don't blame the Mayans. Blame the crazy dude. 

    ~Amy
  • Weird Things That Happen in the Third Trimester
    Dec 10, 2012 2:00:00 PM
    It seems I now find myself in the third trimester. How did that happen so quick?!
    My 28 week belly
    Yes, this is my second time around the ol' pregnancy block, so you would think I would be pretty used to it by now, especially since my first experience is so fresh in my mind. Nope. There are still some things that totally weird me out. Here they are: 

    When your tummy growls and you realize that it's now under your ribs 
    Dude. It's so strange. I know logically that now that this big baby is displacing my organs that they have to go somewhere and the logical place is up. But it is so weird to feel your tummy rumbling all up in your lungs business. It's like they are best buds now. It's just bizarre to not have things where they are usually supposed to be. 

    When the baby kicks out his leg and then slides it to the other side of your belly and it's like a scene from 'Alien'
    This goes in the 'unsettling' category. Most things about babies are cute. This particular trick is not cute, it's just freaky. There is something about seeing your belly move completely on it's own that is very creepy; it's proof that there is a living thing growing inside of you. Other things that grow inside you besides babies? Parasitic alien life forms. Maybe it's because that movie always scared the pants off of me as a kid, but I just can't shake that image every time baby goes all kung-fu. Which brings me to my next item...

    The acrobatics and gymnastics that occur in-utero
    It is pretty clear to me that I must be giving birth to an octopus. There is no other rational explanation for the amount of crazy movement going on in there. I mean honestly, how can such a tiny little thing cause so much of a ruckus?! Just when I think that the one lump must be a butt and the movement I feel on that one side must be a leg...BAM! I get a crazy kick on the other side. Unless this baby can do the splits, the only logical conclusion is that he has 8 limbs. That, or he has a very strict Tai Chi and yoga schedule he sticks to. 

    When you are pretty sure that climbing that one flight of stairs is equal to climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
    It is amazing that one little flight of stairs leaves me huffing and puffing like I just ran a marathon. I blame this one on decreased lung capacity due to the aforementioned organ squishing and the extra weight of the baby. Definitely not on MY extra weight or complete lack of physical fitness. Definitely not...

    That in 3 months that inside-baby is going to be an outside-baby
    Yeah, this one never ceases to be weird. That little thing growing all snug-as-a-bug in there is going to be a crying, squirmy little human. It seems like 9 months is a long time, but honestly when you are in the home stretch, it feels like no time at all to prepare for your new little babe. It's exciting and intimidating and strange all at once. 

    ~Amy
  • Maternity Fashion: Staying Warm
    Dec 3, 2012 7:40:00 PM
    I have been trying to write this post for foreverrrrrr...but I don't have the skill of taking self-portraits on our DSLR (just can't ever seem to get them in crisp focus...I suck). And that means I need to wait for Hubby to help. But since we live in the Great White North and it's winter, that means it is dark before he gets home from work. That leaves only the weekends for photo shoots. So basically, they never get done. 

    Well, imagine my excitement when my parents offered to take Peanut for the weekend and give us a night, child-free (well, outside-child free...we still had the inside-child ;) ) in the mountains. WOOHOO! This also meant we could get these amazing shots out in the mountains for this post. It would be awesome and gorgeous, and gee am I so glad we never found the time to do them before! 

    Best laid plans. 
    The weekend was a picture-perfect winter getaway. The town of Banff is so cute and quaint and it just so happened to be their Christmas parade of lights that evening, so we got to see the town all lit up and festive. We drank candy cane hot chocolates (with marshmallows!) and wandered down the street looking at all the shops hand in hand. Really, it was perfect. Even the weather was festive: snowy but slightly warm. We had just finished a cold spell, so it was a nice change. 

    Peanut ready for his sleepover at Grandma and Grandpas, delicious hot chocolate, and the beautiful (hidden) mountains of Banff. 
    BUT, that also meant the weather was just about the worst weather for photo-taking ever. It was cloudy and foggy due to the weather change, and the snow was coming down pretty heavy, but not in nice fluffy flakes that look gorgeous in photos. If this had been our first visit to the mountains I would have been sorely disappointed as we basically didn't see any mountains at all through the gloom. Lucky for us we only live an hour and a half away, so it was great for us...but horrible for photos. 

    So, please imagine the following photos in much better light, and imagine those blurry snow patches to be big, fluffy flakes of awesomeness. Thanks a ton. ;)

    Anywho...I will tell you now of a pregnant woman's dilemma. It is this: I want to be warm, without feeling like a whale, and without spending $400. This should be something easily accomplished, but oh my friends, it is NOT. I truly would love to own a fabulous maternity coat, but it's just not in the budget. What is in the budget are those chain maternity store offerings: wool coats or puffy jackets. Neither of these will do in the chilly weeks when we have freezing temperatures. There is a reason those puffy jackets are so affordable: they skimp out on the insulation. Enter a genius product from Boob, and a bit of creative thinking! 

    Boob Ready-Flex Fleece Nursing Hoodie: c/o Posh Mommy
    Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
    Hat: HauteTots from Posh Mommy
    This pregnancy I am trying not to spend too much money on maternity clothing. If I do spend the money, I want a quality product that will last me as long as possible, which means most of the clothing I have been buying doubles as nursing wear as well. My solution for keeping the chillys out is to layer. This Boob fleece hoodie is perfect! It's a nursing hoodie, so there is a flap that sits under the bust and you can lift that up for easy nursing access. It also has little zipped flaps on either side of the torso to accommodate this growing belly of mine...which means I can wear it throughout my entire pregnancy and well after without having to change sizes. Perfect. Basically I just toss the fleece on when it's nice and temperate (like our Banff weekend) and when it gets insanely cold, I layer it under one of the not-so-warm maternity coats and voila! Snug as a bug in a rug (and comfy). Plus, since this babe is coming by the end of February it will be perfect for nursing on the go. I absolutely hated getting all undressed to nurse. What a pain. This way I don't have to struggle with taking off sweaters. Woot! 

    I love how long the back is, so it covers my (growing!) bum when I sit down. Plus, it keeps it warm and toasty. ;)

    Here you can see the nursing flap. Discreet and practical. It also has those little hand warmer thingys. I love those.
    Boob is (an ingenious) Swedish company, which means for those of us in North America the shipping and the duty usually makes it difficult to order from them. But, there is a local (in Calgary) shop that carries their line, offers free shipping within Canada, and has a ton of other gorgeous, stylish and practical maternity and nursing wear and accessories: Posh Mommy. If you are interested in the Boob fleece, check it out here: Boob Fleece . It also comes in a gorgeous red. Warning to pregnant and nursing women: if you click through to this shop, you will have a very difficult time restraining yourself from purchasing pretty much everything they carry. You have been warned! ;) 

    Please Note: I was given the product featured in this post so that I could write an informed review. In this case it was provided by Posh Mommy. But, all opinions (as always!) are my own! 
    ~Amy
  • VBAC: A C-Section Mommy's Dilemma
    Nov 11, 2012 9:19:00 PM
    If you have read my birth story you will know that we ended up having a c-section. Which was not how I wanted things to go after over 48 hours of active labour. But, that is the way it went, and I have done some work to come to terms with the emotions that brings up. 

    Now that we are expecting #2, a question that has been on my mind (and on my OB's mind...) is whether or not I would like to try for a VBAC (which stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). 

    Oops! I just said the V word...ACK! Please spammers stay away!! 

    I knew that this would be something I would have to think about, so it's not like it snuck up on me. I have been thinking about it for a long while. But since I just had my first appointment with my OB, he asked what I want to do so that they can book the surgery if needed. So yeah, it's very real now. 


    It's a question that is fraught with emotion, with logic, with uncertainty. I honestly don't know what to do. I am not a person that deals well with unknowns. I like knowing "all the facts" and making informed decisions. But in something like this, there are no for-sures. There are just a ton of what-ifs and could-bes. 

    My OB said that since I was fully dilated for a long time, and 2 vaccuum attempts failed, that it was a case of Peanut's head just being too big to actually pass through my hips (the correct term for this is Cephalopelvic Disproportion or CPD). There is some debate out there if many cases of CPD are just baby being in a non-ideal position, and not truly CPD. In my case, I don't know. Peanut's head was indeed very large, so I tend to agree with my OB's assessment. With this "diagnosis" he said the statistics for me having a successful VBAC are at about 40%. 

    40% is an interesting number. Depending on who I have mentioned this to I get either "oh, that's awesome! Totally go for it!" or "40%? Yikes. I would go for the section". It's all in how you look at that chance. Personally, I look at it sort of like a 50/50 thing. A flip of a coin. 

    In addition, my OB says that while I have the minimum 18 months between my deliveries for a VBAC, the ideal is at least 24 months. We have 19 months. This puts me at a slightly increased risk for uterine rupture. 

    Ahhhh uterine rupture. This is the issue I think most people are worried about in the whole VBAC decision. Basically it is the chance that your previous scar will open up under the strain of labour. This is a very serious thing if it occurs, and can put both mom and baby in serious jeopardy. So yes, it is a very big concern. However, while I do have an increased risk, the risk is still sitting at about 1% according to most sources I can find. Which seems to me like it is a pretty rare occurance. So while I don't want to gamble with safety issues, I still feel like VBAC is a pretty safe option for us. 

    I think the biggest thing that is weighing over me is the "what-if" scenario of me attempting the VBAC, going through labour and ending up with a section anyway. So basically, a complete repeat of last time. Undergoing a cesarean section after such a long and trying labour left me exhausted and sore and the experience itself was just not pleasant. My body was in complete shock, and I couldn't enjoy the birth at all. I really don't want to experience that again. Hubby asked me if he thought I could handle it emotionally if I attempted a VBAC and it failed. And it was a question that really made me think. In the end, I just want my baby to be born healthy, and so of course I would be ok with however that occurs. But it would be a huge disappointment to experience it all over again, and to not be able to do it. Again. Add to that the harder recovery with a toddler and a newborn and, to be honest, this option is not looking very good to me. 

    If it was guaranteed that I could have a successful VBAC, then I would be all over it. But the ax hanging over my head of what if I can't do it is really hard. 


    There are some positives to going for a repeat c-section. A lot of them are sort of superficial and make me feel silly for even considering them, but nonetheless, they are there in my mind. 

    -I know what to expect from the surgery
    -It would most likely be a calm, happy birth. I should be able to have the baby fairly quickly for skin-to-skin and to attempt nursing
    -There is something nice about knowing the exact birthdate. Mostly it helps ease the logistics of getting Peanut looked after while we are in the hospital. We can arrange everything ahead of time and organize and prepare. 
    -Honestly, I am a little scared of labouring in this hospital. I think I was spoiled with labouring in the small hospital last time. We were 1 of only 2 couples in the hospital. We had 2 rooms to ourselves, it was nice. This time we are at a very busy main hospital, which means most spaces will be shared. Superficial, but still something I think about. 

    But, there are also negatives. 

    -This is, realistically, probably my last chance to have a vaginal birth. If we have more children, they will most likely be cesareans if I have already had 2 cesearean births. 
    -There is an increased risk of placental problems in subsequent pregnancies due to uterine scar tissue. If we do get pregnant again, the placenta can attach very close to the cervix (placenta previa) or it can grow too deeply into the uterine tissue, which is much more serious (placenta accreta) and can lead to hysterectomy. 
    -The recovery is going to be difficult. I assume it will be more difficult than if I had a vaginal birth. This is a much bigger issue this time. Now I have a toddler and a newborn, and Hubby can't take as much time off this time, so his support (which was so amazing last time) will be absent during his work hours.
    -It's surgery. 
    -I will always have that question of "what-if" in my mind. What if I could have done it? What is it like to have a successful vaginal birth? Will I feel like I took the easy way out? 


    So what's a c-section mama to do? It's such a personal thing...every person I ask has their own reasons for their advice they give, and they are all right. I can think of equally compelling arguements for each choice. The only thing I know for sure in my mind is that if it comes down to a choice between inducing labour for attempted VBAC or a repeat cesarean, I will choose the surgery. Hands down. I feel like induction will guarantee me an end in surgery, and I don't want that. I don't want to go through a horrible labour to end up in surgery again. However, if I go into labour naturally, maybe I want to try. 

    Which is leaving me with the current plan of scheduling the surgery, and if I go into labour on my own beforehand, attempting the VBAC. The only question now left is when do I schedule the surgery? 39, 40, 41, 42 weeks?? I don't know. 

    It's something I wish I didn't have to decide. But the reality is that it is on my plate. I am thankful to have a say in the matter, and to be in (relative) control of my birthing choices. It's just hard to make those decisions for yourself. Especially when there are so many unknown factors. 

    Any other c-section mamas out there who are faced with or made this choice? What were your reasons? Looking back now are you happy with your choice, or would you have chosen differently? 

    ~Amy
  • Behind-the-Scenes at We Day
    Oct 29, 2012 4:46:00 PM
    Wow. I really don't even know how to begin this post. I suppose I should start by filling you in a little on what exactly We Day is, for those of you who aren't aware. 

    The WeDay stage
    We Day is an event that is aimed at engaging today's youth to be aware of and take action on social issues. It's put on by Free the Children. It's an event that brings celebrities, music artists, inspirational speakers and youth together. You can't purchase tickets; you have to earn your way to WeDay. Each school must commit to taking one local and one global action in order to be able to attend. Which means that the whole event is made possible by some amazing sponsors. How awesome is that? 

    One of the main sponsors of We Day is TELUS, and they arranged for me and a few of my fellow local bloggers to attend a behind-the-scenes tour of the first We Day in Alberta. They also provided us with a Samsung Galaxy SIII to capture our experiences in video and photos. In addition to being a sponsor of We Day, TELUS is currently running the Phones for Good campaign. So if you purchase a TELUS Samsung Galaxy SIII (an amazing phone!) or an Ace Q, TELUS will donate $25 to Free the Children. 

    Honestly, I am so lucky I was able to attend. We got to see how the whole production is put together, and meet a ton of inspirational and passionate people from Free the Children. There is nothing like meeting people who are so incredibly passionate about changing the world to inspire you. I just felt so uplifted and inspired the whole day. It really sticks with you and makes an incredible impression.

    In today's society we are so socially plugged in. It's ironic that even though we are so globally connected through social media, we often use it for such personal trivia. We update our friends on what we did that day, we Instagram our dinners, we Tweet about the tough days we had. It's all about ME! I am definitely a culprit of this...she says while typing on her personal blog...sigh. I think it must be hard for the youth of today, who have been immersed in this technology from the get-go, to move beyond this culture of ME. So to find an event that really focuses on changing that ME to WE is amazing. Nothing in this world will change without our youth. That is the most exciting thing about Free the Children: it focuses on youth helping other youth. 

    One of the speakers we met is Spencer West. He is truly an inspiration. Despite having no legs, he has accomplished amazing feats, such as climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, and has dedicated his life to Redefining Possible. 

    L-R: Me, Spencer West, Heather from redwritinghood.ca, SamiJoe from peekthruourwindow.com
    We also met Molly, who lost her vision at age 14. Her story of how she overcame bullying is one that I am sure will resonate with so many of today's youth. 

    What an amazing young lady. 
    Right now there is a lot of focus on bullying in the media with the recent tragic suicide of Amanda Todd. So it was particularly poignant to hear Spencer and Molly candidly speak of how growing up "different" affected them, and how they overcame it and how it shaped who they are today. 

    As a parent, it's so valuable for me to see these sort of events being held. It really brings home the fact that I need to ensure that my children are aware of what is going on in the world around us, and to talk about it openly and discuss how lucky we are to have the life that we have. I am so lucky to have participated in this event. It's something that will stick with me for a long time. 

    TELUS is also encouraging youth to upload a video describing how they would make a positive change in their own community by partnering with a local charity. TELUS and Free the Children will select the top idea and they will receive $20,000 to help bring their idea to life! Videos can be uploaded at TelusforWeDay.com 

    *TELUS provided me with a Samsung phone to facilitate the writing of this post. However all views and opinions are my own (as always!). 

    ~Amy
  • Safeway Open Nature Products
    Oct 26, 2012 3:05:00 AM
    Things that bug me: eating food with tons of preservatives in them, but feeling you don't have much of a choice because it's more convenient. 

    This is my dilemma. I wish I had time (and motivation!) to make an awesome, healthy, delicious dinner from scratch every day of the week. Some weeks I do. But most weeks there are at least a few nights (if not all of them) where I just can't swing it. So I usually end up getting a frozen pizza or lasagna or something similar. And then I feel bad about it because usually those things are full of ingredients I can't even pronounce. And they usually don't taste anywhere near as good as their homemade versions.
     
    So, what's a busy person supposed to do? It's a fine balance between finding something quick and easy and finding something that you can feel good about eating. This is especially relevant to our family lately as Hubby is trying to lose some weight. And since diet is an important part of that, we are striving to be a bit more natural with our food choices and trying to eliminate processed foods as much as possible. 

    Enter Safeway's Open Nature products (to a heavenly chorus of ahhhhs!). A line of products that is 100% natural. That means no artificial preservatives, flavours, colours...none of that ickiness! And if items are vitamin-fortified, it's all from natural sources. It also means no added nitrates, nitrites MSG or fillers in their meats, which is awesome. And their animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones and are fed a vegetarian diet (which to me is a no-brainer and one of the creepiest things about the meat industry, if you ask me *shudder*). So basically, it's food that I feel good about purchasing without losing the convenience of just popping into Safeway. 

    Drool...
    This doesn't mean that it is "diet food". It's not low-calorie, low-sugar or low-sodium, for example. But, the choices are better. For instance, the frozen pizza is made with a multi-grain crust. Which is delicious, by the way. 

    I sent Hubby to the store to pick some of the products up so we could try them, and he returned with ice cream sandwiches, frozen greek yogurt and a frozen pizza...I can see his diet was far from his mind.

     Note to self: don't send a hungry man to the grocery store. 
    Although, as a pregnant woman I was secretly ecstatic. 

    But since then we have also tried a wide-range of their products, as they can be found in the bakery, deli, dairy, meat, frozen and pantry sections, so it's not like I have a limited choice.

    In any case, I was super happy with the taste of the Open Nature products. I am usually skeptical of purchasing something that claims to be a better choice, since I have it in my mind that all those creepy chemicals they use are actually what makes things taste delicious. Which is a little silly, since when I make delicious food from scratch I don't use all those weirdo ingredients. But regardless, my fears were unfounded and everything has tasted delicious. Actually, our only complaint was we wish the pizza was bigger...it was yummo! 


    I love being able to shop at a regular grocery store and feel better about my choices. I hate having to sacrifice quality for convenience, so I am so happy that I no longer have to do that.  Pretty awesome, if you ask me. 

    *Please note: I recieved compensation for this post in order to facilitate an accurate review, but all words and opinions are my own (as always!)
    ~Amy
  • Are You Upset It's Not A Girl??
    Oct 17, 2012 6:25:00 PM
    Since announcing the gender of our little guy, I have to say one of the most common things I hear is "Are you upset he's not a girl?" 

    I don't really know how to answer this question, to be honest. 

    I mean, sure there is a part of me that wanted "one of each" or to have the experience of raising a girl, or even the superficial part that wants to buy cute little outfits and accessories. 

    But honestly, it's pretty awesome to be having another boy! I mean, we have so many clothes from Peanut that we really don't have to spend too much money on buying new clothes, which is awesome. Plus, having 2 so close in age I think it's awesome that they are brothers. There is a bigger chance they will have the same interests, and that means that most likely (but not necessarily) we will get to avoid a lot of fights over whether or not we watch a princess movie. It means having a house full of my boys to take care of, to hang out with and to love. Well, Kitty is an exception, but honestly she doesn't really count...

    I do understand that some people do experience disappointment. And what I really think they are experiencing is the loss of that possibility. Finding out you are expecting a little boy means that girl you've imagined in your head or in your dreams or in your prayers is not going to be at this moment. And that can be tough, I know. But while I may have felt a tinge of that this time, it was not really the big deal that most people assume it is for me. That may have been because I had a pretty strong feeling this new little one was going to be a boy so I had less of those dreams...I don't know for sure. 

    I know that it would have been awesome to have a little girl. But I also know that it is equally awesome to be having another boy. Gender matters so little with children. What really matters is that they are mine. And that they are healthy and happy. And it's impossible to imagine wanting my family to be any different. 


    And for those of you who missed our gender reveal on my Facebook page, here it is! 


    ~Amy
  • The One Where I Have a Meltdown
    Oct 5, 2012 6:13:00 AM
    Before I get into the less awesome stuff, I am having a good ol' gender reveal for New Baby© over on my Facebook Page. Head on over if you want to see! Part 1 is posted now. :) Check it out here: Up Mommy Creek on Facebook


    Today was not a good day. It is one of those times when I know that there was no real reason for me having an emotional meltdown of epic proportions, but I still did it anyway. And there was a reason, but I think I should have been able to deal with it better, perhaps. 

    Anyway, it was just one of those things. We had an appointment with the dietician for Peanut. He started to get upset at being in the room and being bored listening to this woman speak and the door was closed and he wasn't free to roam about and get into whatever little boy trouble he was wanting to. But it was sort of weird, since he started to thrash about and started head butting me. I say it's weird because he doesn't do this sort of thing normally. But we just so happened to be talking about the tantrums he throws while eating right at that moment. The same moment when he was doing all this flailing and head-butting and so it really looked like he was quite the problem child. And, while I admit he is sometimes very spirited and difficult to deal with, I wouldn't exactly say he has issues with behaviour. He is, after all, a 14 month old boy. It sorta comes with the territory. I was not blessed with a sweet and quiet child. 

    So, we get out of there and (FOOLISHLY) think it will be a good idea to go grab some dinner instead of going home to cook. Last time we had this brilliant idea, we ended up asking for our food to go and having to leave. Why we thought this would end differently, I have no idea. Especially as Peanut was already giving us many cues that he was not in the mood. I guess we thought that food might solve the problem. It did not. 

    As soon as we entered the restaurant (a family restaurant...not some fancy nice one. We aren't THAT crazy) he became a demon-child. I have never seen him act like this. He was the stereotypical "spoiled brat" that you see in movies. He was screaming and screeching. He was throwing things around. He was grabbing for things he has never grabbed for before and losing his mind when we said "no". It was like some one replaced my kiddo with someone else. Immediately I just felt so overwhelmed and frustrated. I felt like everyone was judging us and thinking what horrible parents we must be to have a child who acts so spoiled. Like it's common place that he would be allowed to drink Diet Pepsi, since he seems to be so intent on having it, and when he can't he loses his ever-loving mind and throws the biggest fit in the world. 

    And I know that if this was happening to the other family that was there, I wouldn't have judged them or rolled my eyes or think they were bad parents. I would have probably thought "Oh honey, we've been there" and felt bad for them. And I didn't see or hear anyone making comments. For all I know they probably were thinking "Oh honey, I've been there." But, I just felt like at that moment it was all too much. I literally burst into tears at the table. It was too late to order the food to go, so instead Hubby and I sat and ate our chicken while tears rolled down my face. And trust me...I am NOT a pretty crier. There are some women who look all sad and have tears roll down prettily and you think "Awww! She's crying! :( " Not me. I get super red and puffy and I start gasping and sobbing and you think "Ewwwww! She's crying!" Hubby just sat there not sure what to do. His previous experience probably told him that doing anything was futile. Especially when dealing with a pregnant woman. So he just tried to keep Peanut occupied and relatively quiet. This involved Peanut throwing rice around the table with his spoon. It looked like a rice bomb exploded. 

    So there we are: me, sobbing hideously while defiantly eating my chicken, Hubby nervously picking at his chicken while watching Peanut out of one eye and me out of the other to make sure we don't explode, and Peanut gleefully tossing rice at the neighbouring patrons while intermittently screaming in anger. Worst. Dinner. Ever. We barely even had the last bite in our mouth before we were asking for the bill and were out the door. 

    I lost it in the parking lot. Sitting in my car and sobbing seemed like the only solution. I mean, what else could I do? I honestly felt like the absolute worst parent at that moment. I felt like there was nothing left in my parenting arsenal that I could whip out. I was not one of those moms who is fun and never disciplines and has the most well-behaved kids. I was the mom who gives her kid crappy snacks as bribery to get him to stop screaming instead of eating dinner. Who will let him do almost anything just so he won't throw a fit in public. And I just felt like this is so NOT ME, not HIM, not US, but that no one in there knew that. And so I had a meltdown.  

    A few hours later I feel slightly better about the whole thing. I am no stranger to random meltdowns. Sometimes things just reach that point where you can't take it anymore, and it has to blow somehow. Well, it blew today. It blew a whole heck of a lot. 

    So, on to a new day! Although, I don't think we will be eating out any time soon. I think we all need a bit of recovery from that one. Yikes. 


    Not an hour later we are sitting on the floor folding laundry and Peanut is in the middle of it all, piling socks on his head. How can you not just want to squish him to bits?! I am one lucky mama, even when the going gets tough sometimes. 
    xoxo

    ~Amy
0 comments