SO Borrelli sent me this: http://www.avclub.com/articles/yep-peter-jackson-is-making-three-hobbit-films-now,83110/ and my reaction was, when did Peter Jackson get skinny-ish? I mean, I suppose this is good news for his health, but whatever happened to second breakfast? I realize there have been several child related posts lately. I apologize for the kid-heavy blog content, but there's not much else I do all day except care for and interact with an infant. Clearly I need to get a hobby. I promise less kiddy content in the near future. but for now.... I've been wondering lately why some people (many, actually), decide to have children. I understand that the experience of being out in public with a toddler, child, kid, whatever, can be stressful at times for everyone involved, but I frequently see people in all kinds of places (restaurants, parks, the mall, the doctor's office, etc.) admonishing their children, rolling their eyes at their children, or just generally looking like they wished their children would disappear. Now I don't expect everyone to be all sunshine and lollipops about kids all the time (in fact I'd probably find that even more nauseating), but no one seems to even remotely like their children. A lot of the time it's because the kids aren't listening, or doing what they're told, or they're behaving in an overly rambunctious manner that just seems to exhaust and exasperate the parents. I get that. I mean, an infant is very tiring so I can't even imagine trying to keep up with the energy of a toddler or older child but (and here's the thing) who says we have to keep up? We're the parents right? Since when did we hand the keys to society over to the children and just assume/hope they would behave exactly how we think they should? People love babies universally (at least that's how it seems to be), but every time someone coos and fusses over Emmett I can't help thinking "Enjoy it while it lasts kid, because soon nobody is going to like you, maybe not even your parents". It's even worse when older kids are around. The baby gets all of the attention and often the other kids get negative comments made about/toward them (eg. "You used to be cute like this, Look what this baby can do, etc."). At best the older kids (even if they're just a little bit older) get ignored. In these situations I try to make a point of interacting with the other kids that are around, asking them questions about themselves so they feel involved and not like an outcast, but I see this so much that it still really bothers me. It seems people have kids sometimes for the novelty, or just to make the acquisition (like buying a puppy), and I wish that weren't the case. To me it's clear that if your kid is nothing but a thorn in your side then you've got no one to blame but yourself. Just like if your dog keeps peeing on your floor, because who's in charge around here anyway? Would you leave your kid with strangers? Totally. I mean, what choice do you have? I am so thankful for the year of maternity leave, but the search for day care (which I should have started the moment I found out I was pregnant, apparently) is quite frustrating. There's the whole problem of cost (ok, suck it up I guess), but then also the problem of location (close to home or close to work? my work or Regan's work?), and the problem of trying to find a place that is willing to take a baby with cloth diapers and a mom who will be home in the summers and therefore won't require 12-month day care. hmmm... Other than that I don't really care. I mean, obviously I want a non-psycho, safe person to care for Emmett, but I mean most people who advertise are ECE or teachers, or trained somehow. They have their own kids, and have been doing this for years and years. They provide references, organic cuisine, daily reports (when do they find the time?), and literacy and numeracy training. Jeez. We don't do that at provincially funded schools. Quality care definitely is out there, it's just finding someone willing to sign up your kid (like the lady who lives across the street from us *fingers crossed*) before the first day back at work arrives and you've got a baby in your briefcase. Sweet Mary mother of humidity! We finally had our air conditioning units for upstairs installed last Thursday, and not a moment too soon. Today is lovely outside and the windows are all open, but yesterday was just... hot. Or, really, more like smothery. Yeah. It's a word because that's how it felt. And I live in a place with trees, I can't imagine how it felt in the city. Since there's no room in our little side-split for ducts (despite the jerks who continually call and want to clean them), we had a duct-less unit installed like the one we have downstairs (see image below). They work really well and are incredibly efficient. Now we don't have to sleep on the floor in the living room. Unless we want to. Yay! (bonus: the unit doubles as a heat pump in the winter, in case we get extra, super cold). Do you have A/C? How is everyone keeping cool this summer? So I'm transitioning Emmett away from exclusive breastfeeding and starting formula and solids (which really means very liquidy rice cereal), because my body couldn't take it anymore. To be more accurate my body could take it, but I couldn't deal with being sick all the time with Mastitis and breast yeast infections and feeling like I had the flu. I was often too weak to really take care of Emmett properly and I wasn't enjoying feeding him, and I was starting to resent my adorable baby (or at least the process of nourishing him). It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but I am really looking forward to feeling like a person again instead of like a walking feedbag. To say that I haven't felt like myself lately is an understatement. The really good news is that Emmett is completely on board the formula and rice cereal trolly! He gobbles up both very happily, and he still gets the occasional meal of breast milk. It makes it easier knowing that he is happy and satisfied. I just want to applaud everyone who is able to continue breastfeeding (whether it's "easy" or difficult), since many people that I read about have had MANY more severe issues than I had, and they persevered. I even met one woman who popped and expressed her own breast abscess (although she didn't know that's what it was at the time), resulting in all kinds of gross that I'll spare you the details of, and then she went merrily on breastfeeding her baby. Some people are super moms. I think I'm ok with just being the regular kind. Breastfeeding sucks* *for some people** **some people are me. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071105032852AACpBSS I know, I know, I'm a little late. A lot of crazy things went down on Canada Day. As I alluded to before, the Bradford's welcomed their slightly early baby surprise: Xander Robert Bradford to the world. (we TOLD them to pack a bag and be ready) :) Tudor and Shauna visited and did a photo shoot with Emmett, Cloey, Regan and myself. (Thanks Tudor, you rock!). The pictures are beautiful and can be found on flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66471111@N00/ Then Regan and Tudor went to Dave's bachelor party in Toronto. There was bowling and vegan munchies (all of which was very tasty apparently, except for the vegan cheese). I have to say I'm not surprised. Sometimes you just need to treat the cows very very well and have real delicious cheese (sorry Dave). When Regan came home the dog was following me around and then hiding under the cradle because of all the fireworks. I assume they were spectacular because of the noise. I assume the dog will never forgive the vendors on the side of the road who supplied the local children with many, many more panic-inducing fire crackers to play with long into the night. And that, people, is how you Canada Day. This is has been circulating for some time now I'm sure, but I'll post a link because a few of these things are new to me and potentially quite useful. http://www.aimlessdirection.com/2008/17-tips-to-make-your-life-easier/ Realistically the only one I'll probably remember is the pizza one, and then I might be too lazy to implement it anyway. This is sad, but it makes me feel better to admit it. I've never really thought about making iced coffee at home. Originally the idea of iced coffee just grossed me out anyway. But from time to time (once or twice a summer) I'll need a caffeine kick in the afternoon, and if Tim Horton's is nearby I'll justify an iced coffee. Yum. I think it has slightly fewer calories than the iced cappuccino, but I'm really not sure. In any case it's what mom's might call a "sometimes treat" because I do think it's made with mostly cream. Kinda gross. I made my own iced tea the other day though (a nice big pitcher of it), and I'm now inspired to perhaps try my own iced coffee after seeing this post/trick: http://momfilter.com/food/iced-coffee-trick Have you ever tried it? Do you think it's gross or good? Would you make your own? |