Friday, January 30, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Bean Sprout!
Just a few Pics to show you how fast the Bean is Sprouting!
This first pic is one of the very first pics ever taken of my lil Bean! Daddy took it on his Cellphone and we sent it to Nana and Granddad right away.
Here is a picture from a few hours after he was born. I still have the IV's in my arm so it's still the 2nd of April. His BIRTHday! This picture makes me want to cry. What an overwhelming day.
And Here! The Bean Sprout in January, 2009!
This first pic is one of the very first pics ever taken of my lil Bean! Daddy took it on his Cellphone and we sent it to Nana and Granddad right away.
Here is a picture from a few hours after he was born. I still have the IV's in my arm so it's still the 2nd of April. His BIRTHday! This picture makes me want to cry. What an overwhelming day.
This is a bunny made by one of my momma's quilting friends named Patrushka. This bunny is wonderful. He is so soft and made of a sort of terry towel. Also, he doesn't have any eyes so I will never have to worry about sewing any back on. We use the bunny to show how big Beany is getting!
This picture is from May 12 or so, 2008.
Here is another picture with Patrushka's Bunny! This one was taken in July, 2008.
Here is another picture with Patrushka's Bunny! This one was taken in July, 2008.
And Here! The Bean Sprout in January, 2009!
On the lighter side... 21 Things!
After my total and complete rant about the Lil Truck Of Horrors, I have decide to lighten things up!
21 Things about the Bean!
1) He laughs when you say "Roar!" or "Boo!".
2) He loves Pickles.
3) He can't seem to swallow Potatoes but he loves French Fries.
4) He was 4 lbs, 14 ounces when he was born.
5) He was Born April 2nd, 2008.
6) He was supposed to be born April 25th, 2008.
7) I was induced with him on April 1st, 2008 but he just wouldn't come out that day.
8) He loves to stand and stomp his feet.
9) He has one tooth so far.
10) He has really strong muscle tone and likes heavy work and heavy touch.
11) He is finally starting to notice the Signs that we use with him, Like Momma, Daddy, Hi, Eat, Drink, All done, Duck.
12) He really likes Ice cream, Whipped cream, Yogurt or any other creamy whipped sweetened goodness!
13) He has sleep apnea.
14) He Hates falling asleep and Hates to be woken up before he is ready.
15) He hasn't pulled himself to a stand yet :(
16) He first went camping when he was 6 weeks and started swimming when he was about 8 weeks!
17) He has a collection of turtles in his room from all over the place! D once asked me if I chose Turtles for Hunter Bean because he has DS and turtles are slow but I had picked turtles for Hunter Bean before I gave birth to him and we had no idea that he had DS before he was born.
18) He has been to Vancouver,BC; A road trip to Saskatchewan and lots of places in Alberta!
19) He absolutely loves water, baths and swimming in the pool with his Momma!
20) He hates having his butt changed!
21) He rocks back and forth when someone is singing or there is music that he likes. He will also do this when he is really excited or happy about something, like when Daddy comes home and gives him a big smile.
Little Truck of Horrors
Little truck of horrors
Dare I even write this post?
I take the bus to work. I walk 1 block from the bus to my building. Today, in that time, I was assaulted with an 8 foot x 10 foot billboard on the side of a truck. The image on the billboard was that of an aborted foetus in a pool of blood lying next to a nickel. The foetus was no bigger than the nickel. It took my mind roughly 1 minute to process and clearly distinguish the image. I saw the nickel right away but could not place what all the red and fleshy images were. When I finally realised WHAT I was looking at I stopped in my tracks almost slamming into the person behind me. I’m sure that my mouth was hanging open. My eyes followed the truck as it turned the corner, mouth agape, staring in shock. I looked around at the other people on the side walk. No one else was looking. No one else appeared to have even noticed. I just kept staring at this truck as it drove off and I lost it to the throng of traffic.
I have since looked into this vehicle and found the article linked above that was published in the FFWD (read Fast Forward) weekly August 9th, 2007. Apparently this lovely truck is a product of The Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR).
Now, I understand completely the gravity of the pro-life/pro-choice debate. I just don’t think that the unsuspecting public, meandering off to their daily grind, should be assaulted and bludgeoned with such imagery.
In the FFWD weekly, the writer of the article, Jennifer Wiley, notes that Executive Director of the CCBR, Stephanie Gray says the trucks are meant to target an “older audience wherever possible, but in this case, parents will have to use discretion and possibly use a truck sighting as an opportunity to teach their children about what abortion is.” Now, I’m sorry, but picture THIS!
You are walking down town with your 11 year old son, who is slowly starting to become an adult. He asks adult questions, he says he wants to start shaving (even though he doesn't have to), he wants to watch all the old movies that scared him as a kid so that he can “face his fears”, but mostly he is starting to see things differently. He is asking ADULT questions.
“Hey Ssej?”
(Pronounced Sedge. That’s what he calls me, Jess backwards, I’m his Quasi mom)
“What’s on the side of that truck?” or “Why is there a dead thing on the side of that truck?”
You know, I don’t know exactly WHAT he would ask me but I would not have a clue as to what to tell him. A bad picture? An advertisement? I don’t know? Regardless of our exact word for word conversation, I would NOT use the image on that truck as an opportunity to talk to my son about ABORTION!
Stephanie Gray - “Until women are more horrified with abortion than they are currently terrified of a crisis pregnancy situation, they are going to go to the abortion clinic every time. I think people will be really surprised by the trucks, because it is something they haven’t seen before. But if there is nothing wrong with abortion, the images shouldn't bother them.”
I am honestly PISSED at this!
I am pro-choice. I think there are far too many children being mistreated by mothers, fathers, parents who never wanted them, can’t afford to take care of them or shouldn't even be allowed to have children. I think there are far too many situations in which women become pregnant, not by choice, and are then in no position to raise a child alone. I realllllllly don’t want this post to turn into an abortion debate but the comment that “if there is nothing wrong with abortion, the images shouldn't bother them.” seems completely asinine. There is nothing wrong with people dying of natural causes either but I don’t go around showing giant billboard photos of the elderly after they have died from a stroke or a heart attack or simply passed away of old age. I personally don’t like the Catholic Church and the pedophilia that seems to run rampant within the church but I don’t post giant billboards of young boys being molested to bring the issue to the attention of the masses.
To Stephanie Gray – There are some things that I, as Jane Q Public, should not be FORCED to see. I understand that you want the issue to be addressed, but frankly, fuck you. I don’t need a dead foetus to set me off and ruin my day! This kind of imagery is something that can be used in anti – abortion presentations where in the audience is consenting.
On the CCBR web site there is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Abortion Imagery in CCBR Presentations. I really did not want to link to this site but I see the hypocrisy already.
Question #2
2. Will the audience be warned about the imagery?
Yes. CCBR speakers inform the audience, within the presentation, prior to showing the graphic abortion imagery. Individuals are told how they can avoid looking at the images (by closing one’s eyes or looking down) if they choose not to watch. Furthermore, where the facility layout permits, lights are turned down so others in the audience are not aware if an individual avoids watching. Finally, there is no sound besides instrumental music, so the audience also will not even hear any sounds related to the abortion procedure.
How come I was not warned?
I think I’m done ranting about this issue. I don’t see how bombarding the unsuspecting public with graphic imagery is the way to convert people to your cause. I’ll play the devil’s advocate. Why not consider the children walking down the street who will have the image of a foetus burned into their memories, confused about the whole issue.
!
Dare I even write this post?
I take the bus to work. I walk 1 block from the bus to my building. Today, in that time, I was assaulted with an 8 foot x 10 foot billboard on the side of a truck. The image on the billboard was that of an aborted foetus in a pool of blood lying next to a nickel. The foetus was no bigger than the nickel. It took my mind roughly 1 minute to process and clearly distinguish the image. I saw the nickel right away but could not place what all the red and fleshy images were. When I finally realised WHAT I was looking at I stopped in my tracks almost slamming into the person behind me. I’m sure that my mouth was hanging open. My eyes followed the truck as it turned the corner, mouth agape, staring in shock. I looked around at the other people on the side walk. No one else was looking. No one else appeared to have even noticed. I just kept staring at this truck as it drove off and I lost it to the throng of traffic.
I have since looked into this vehicle and found the article linked above that was published in the FFWD (read Fast Forward) weekly August 9th, 2007. Apparently this lovely truck is a product of The Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform (CCBR).
Now, I understand completely the gravity of the pro-life/pro-choice debate. I just don’t think that the unsuspecting public, meandering off to their daily grind, should be assaulted and bludgeoned with such imagery.
In the FFWD weekly, the writer of the article, Jennifer Wiley, notes that Executive Director of the CCBR, Stephanie Gray says the trucks are meant to target an “older audience wherever possible, but in this case, parents will have to use discretion and possibly use a truck sighting as an opportunity to teach their children about what abortion is.” Now, I’m sorry, but picture THIS!
You are walking down town with your 11 year old son, who is slowly starting to become an adult. He asks adult questions, he says he wants to start shaving (even though he doesn't have to), he wants to watch all the old movies that scared him as a kid so that he can “face his fears”, but mostly he is starting to see things differently. He is asking ADULT questions.
“Hey Ssej?”
(Pronounced Sedge. That’s what he calls me, Jess backwards, I’m his Quasi mom)
“What’s on the side of that truck?” or “Why is there a dead thing on the side of that truck?”
You know, I don’t know exactly WHAT he would ask me but I would not have a clue as to what to tell him. A bad picture? An advertisement? I don’t know? Regardless of our exact word for word conversation, I would NOT use the image on that truck as an opportunity to talk to my son about ABORTION!
Stephanie Gray - “Until women are more horrified with abortion than they are currently terrified of a crisis pregnancy situation, they are going to go to the abortion clinic every time. I think people will be really surprised by the trucks, because it is something they haven’t seen before. But if there is nothing wrong with abortion, the images shouldn't bother them.”
I am honestly PISSED at this!
I am pro-choice. I think there are far too many children being mistreated by mothers, fathers, parents who never wanted them, can’t afford to take care of them or shouldn't even be allowed to have children. I think there are far too many situations in which women become pregnant, not by choice, and are then in no position to raise a child alone. I realllllllly don’t want this post to turn into an abortion debate but the comment that “if there is nothing wrong with abortion, the images shouldn't bother them.” seems completely asinine. There is nothing wrong with people dying of natural causes either but I don’t go around showing giant billboard photos of the elderly after they have died from a stroke or a heart attack or simply passed away of old age. I personally don’t like the Catholic Church and the pedophilia that seems to run rampant within the church but I don’t post giant billboards of young boys being molested to bring the issue to the attention of the masses.
To Stephanie Gray – There are some things that I, as Jane Q Public, should not be FORCED to see. I understand that you want the issue to be addressed, but frankly, fuck you. I don’t need a dead foetus to set me off and ruin my day! This kind of imagery is something that can be used in anti – abortion presentations where in the audience is consenting.
On the CCBR web site there is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Abortion Imagery in CCBR Presentations. I really did not want to link to this site but I see the hypocrisy already.
Question #2
2. Will the audience be warned about the imagery?
Yes. CCBR speakers inform the audience, within the presentation, prior to showing the graphic abortion imagery. Individuals are told how they can avoid looking at the images (by closing one’s eyes or looking down) if they choose not to watch. Furthermore, where the facility layout permits, lights are turned down so others in the audience are not aware if an individual avoids watching. Finally, there is no sound besides instrumental music, so the audience also will not even hear any sounds related to the abortion procedure.
How come I was not warned?
I think I’m done ranting about this issue. I don’t see how bombarding the unsuspecting public with graphic imagery is the way to convert people to your cause. I’ll play the devil’s advocate. Why not consider the children walking down the street who will have the image of a foetus burned into their memories, confused about the whole issue.
!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Summer Time And The Living's Easy
UHG! So my last post reminds me of the holiday trailer! What to do? What to do?
So this is our DUTCH SWINGER! And I don't know what to do with it. I absolutely love the swinger. It was purchased in 1973 by my grandparents for roughly 2000$ and has been handed down through the family and has wound up in our hands. It's never had bugs, mold, or rodents. It's in mint condition considering it's age. The stove, fridge, furnace, sink and electrical all still work perfectly. There are tons of little cupboards and closets and drawers for storing all our dishes, utensils, pots, pans, books, games, toys, linens, towels food, beer (can't forget beer) and any other useful or useless goods we decide to drag along with us on week long camping trips. It's Ugly! I'll give you that. And it weighs more than our truck (see diagram 2.0).
Diagram 2.0
My Boys Camp in Style Yo!
This is a pic of the Bean May long weekend 2008. This was the weekend we picked up the Swinger and used it for the first time at Wasa Lake in BC. Beany is lounged out in the shade. It was a very hot weekend. He was about 6 weeks old here.
Ha ha! Sam took this picture below of the Bean's Belly button. I should do a post of some of Sam's better pics. He takes some really good pictures. He has a totally different perspective on things. I think this is partially due to the fact that he is 11 and still has an imagination! He He He.
And this is one of my fave pics ever! Sam holding his lil baby brother. They both look so peaceful and happy to be in one anothers arms!! /cry
The Lil Bean slept in a laundry basket that weekend. He was still so tiny and it was pretty cold at night, but the laundry basket was a perfect lil bed for him. Nice and cuddly and warm for him. See his Sleep Sheep! :D It makes white noise like a Mothers heart beat, Whales, The Ocean or Rain. Nice night time sleep pal.
All Snuggled up!
Ha ha! Momma and her Sleepy Bean!
Another Great Pic of Sam and His Lil Brother Bean!
DADDY and The BEAN! Laxing!! Look how big D is compared to the Lil Baby Beany!
So I really don't know what to do! Financially, it makes sense to get rid of the Swinger. I see D's point completely. It's not the most convenient beast of a trailer to haul around but I don't know if i want to give up the convenience that it affords us when it comes to storage, security and sleeping arrangements. I suppose I will have to make a decision before too long. I want to get started camping this May again! If only we had a nice newer holiday trailer that wasn't so god damn heavy and old! Perhaps D would be more willing to haul it around. I'll keep you posted.
So this is our DUTCH SWINGER! And I don't know what to do with it. I absolutely love the swinger. It was purchased in 1973 by my grandparents for roughly 2000$ and has been handed down through the family and has wound up in our hands. It's never had bugs, mold, or rodents. It's in mint condition considering it's age. The stove, fridge, furnace, sink and electrical all still work perfectly. There are tons of little cupboards and closets and drawers for storing all our dishes, utensils, pots, pans, books, games, toys, linens, towels food, beer (can't forget beer) and any other useful or useless goods we decide to drag along with us on week long camping trips. It's Ugly! I'll give you that. And it weighs more than our truck (see diagram 2.0).But I DON'T WANNA GET RID OF IT!!!!
(To be read in a really whiny temper tantrum-y sorta voice).
(To be read in a really whiny temper tantrum-y sorta voice).
There is a nice lil bunk bed for Sam that he loves snuggling into, kind of like his own private penthouse. The lower double bed is uncomfortable compared to our queen at home but I would prefer that to sleeping on an air mattress on the ground ANY DAY! The kitchen table is great for cards or for entertaining. For crummy, rainy nights when eating at the picnic table just isn't pleasant. The storage alone keeps me sane the whole time we are camping. I hate storing things in Rubbermaid bins and duffel bags all weekend. Just knowing where everything is and having a proper place to put things make the whole domestic aspect that much easier. And to be able to boil a pot of water and wash dishes at a proper sink is really nice especially when you are cooking and cleaning for four people. The security is nice when you have a baby. I don't have to worry about "What will we do if it starts raining?".
Well! The issue here is that D would rather sell the Swinger and get a nice tent so that we can do some more off the beaten path camping. Every time we take the Swinger out it's an event! The cost of gas last summer was frigging ridiculous and it was costing us upwards of 500$ for gas, camping site and extras every time we took it out. If we don't use the Swinger we don't necessarily need to stay in Official camp sites and we wont need to pay the stupid gas prices to haul it. As I said it weighs more than the truck and it's not cheap to pull!
Well! The issue here is that D would rather sell the Swinger and get a nice tent so that we can do some more off the beaten path camping. Every time we take the Swinger out it's an event! The cost of gas last summer was frigging ridiculous and it was costing us upwards of 500$ for gas, camping site and extras every time we took it out. If we don't use the Swinger we don't necessarily need to stay in Official camp sites and we wont need to pay the stupid gas prices to haul it. As I said it weighs more than the truck and it's not cheap to pull!
Diagram 2.0My Boys Camp in Style Yo!
This is a pic of the Bean May long weekend 2008. This was the weekend we picked up the Swinger and used it for the first time at Wasa Lake in BC. Beany is lounged out in the shade. It was a very hot weekend. He was about 6 weeks old here.
Ha ha! Sam took this picture below of the Bean's Belly button. I should do a post of some of Sam's better pics. He takes some really good pictures. He has a totally different perspective on things. I think this is partially due to the fact that he is 11 and still has an imagination! He He He.
And this is one of my fave pics ever! Sam holding his lil baby brother. They both look so peaceful and happy to be in one anothers arms!! /cry
The Lil Bean slept in a laundry basket that weekend. He was still so tiny and it was pretty cold at night, but the laundry basket was a perfect lil bed for him. Nice and cuddly and warm for him. See his Sleep Sheep! :D It makes white noise like a Mothers heart beat, Whales, The Ocean or Rain. Nice night time sleep pal.
All Snuggled up!
Ha ha! Momma and her Sleepy Bean!
Another Great Pic of Sam and His Lil Brother Bean!
DADDY and The BEAN! Laxing!! Look how big D is compared to the Lil Baby Beany!
So I really don't know what to do! Financially, it makes sense to get rid of the Swinger. I see D's point completely. It's not the most convenient beast of a trailer to haul around but I don't know if i want to give up the convenience that it affords us when it comes to storage, security and sleeping arrangements. I suppose I will have to make a decision before too long. I want to get started camping this May again! If only we had a nice newer holiday trailer that wasn't so god damn heavy and old! Perhaps D would be more willing to haul it around. I'll keep you posted.
I See Bean See!
My Post Titles are So silly!
BEANY!
We went to the Alberta Children's Hospital today to have Hunter Bean's eyes checked. He followed the lady and her fancy pen light, showed her his pretty blue, albeit, crossed eyes, and I'm sure made her day with his charming smile. We were lucky too. D said he would meet us there at 2:45 after our appointment but he showed up early and spied us having a hot dog in the cafeteria. We were excited to see him. Seeing Daddy is always exciting and watching Beany's face light up when he sees D is so great! Not only did we get extra time with Daddy but our appointment that was supposed to be an hour long turned out to only take 15 mins and we were able to go to the mall and have a coffee with him before I had to rush off to work, so that was a nice surprise. We have a follow up appointment on Feb 6th to see the actual Ophthalmologist. Today was just an assessment to see how soon he needed to see the Doctor I suppose.
We are very fortunate to have such a beautiful hospital to take him to. His eye doctor, the Down Syndrome Clinic, the RSV Clinic and the baby massage classes are all at the ACH (Alberta Children's Hospital) and it's an absolutely beautiful hospital. It's a very warm, colorful and enjoyable place to take your children and I always look forward to our appointments there even though it is 2 hour / 3 bus ride for us from home.
Every other Friday we have a drop in at the Down Syndrome Clinic where Hunter Bean gets to see his Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Growth and Development Specialists, Speech Pathologists, etc, etc, etc. I'm always so proud to take him and the ladies there just adore him.
Ha, We were looking at his lil tooth today and it's the furthest thing from straight! Which is just terrific because I went through the whole braces, bionator, head gear, retainer thing and wow how it sucked. So I reallllllly reallllllly hope that his teeth are nice and straight and not like mommy or daddy's! Arg! Ce la Vie! It is what it is.
Regardless of glasses or braces, he will be a handsome boy. His brother Samuel is a good looking kid and will be a real ladies man when he gets to be a teenager. I'm sure we will have all kinds of girls calling the house for Sam. :D If only he would listen to us when we tell him that girls don't have cooties, that they are actually pretty cool.
We are slowly teaching him how to cook so that he will be able to impress all his GF's to come. So far he has mastered Oven baked Pizza (Delicio), Itchiban (Ramon noodles), Canned soups, Nachos baked with cheese in the oven, and he manages the Microwave quite well. AND BOY OH BOY can he and his Dad make a KICK ASS Banana Bread! I'm very proud of how Sam's cooking skills have come along since he moved in with us. He was not really interested in learning to cook and was nervous even opening the oven, but now he shows signs of confidence. He makes his own lunches, whips up bowls of oatmeal in the morning for breaky, has made macaroni a few times for himself. WOOT! He'll have bachelor food mastered by his 12th birthday and we will be able to start teaching him the finer things like the BBQ this summer! Wont that be great, D and S out on the deck, Bean crawling around in the grass, steaks on the BBQ, corn on the cob, potatoe salad and a beautiful summer evening! I'm looking forward to it already.
BEANY!
We went to the Alberta Children's Hospital today to have Hunter Bean's eyes checked. He followed the lady and her fancy pen light, showed her his pretty blue, albeit, crossed eyes, and I'm sure made her day with his charming smile. We were lucky too. D said he would meet us there at 2:45 after our appointment but he showed up early and spied us having a hot dog in the cafeteria. We were excited to see him. Seeing Daddy is always exciting and watching Beany's face light up when he sees D is so great! Not only did we get extra time with Daddy but our appointment that was supposed to be an hour long turned out to only take 15 mins and we were able to go to the mall and have a coffee with him before I had to rush off to work, so that was a nice surprise. We have a follow up appointment on Feb 6th to see the actual Ophthalmologist. Today was just an assessment to see how soon he needed to see the Doctor I suppose.
We are very fortunate to have such a beautiful hospital to take him to. His eye doctor, the Down Syndrome Clinic, the RSV Clinic and the baby massage classes are all at the ACH (Alberta Children's Hospital) and it's an absolutely beautiful hospital. It's a very warm, colorful and enjoyable place to take your children and I always look forward to our appointments there even though it is 2 hour / 3 bus ride for us from home.
Every other Friday we have a drop in at the Down Syndrome Clinic where Hunter Bean gets to see his Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Growth and Development Specialists, Speech Pathologists, etc, etc, etc. I'm always so proud to take him and the ladies there just adore him.
Ha, We were looking at his lil tooth today and it's the furthest thing from straight! Which is just terrific because I went through the whole braces, bionator, head gear, retainer thing and wow how it sucked. So I reallllllly reallllllly hope that his teeth are nice and straight and not like mommy or daddy's! Arg! Ce la Vie! It is what it is.
Regardless of glasses or braces, he will be a handsome boy. His brother Samuel is a good looking kid and will be a real ladies man when he gets to be a teenager. I'm sure we will have all kinds of girls calling the house for Sam. :D If only he would listen to us when we tell him that girls don't have cooties, that they are actually pretty cool.
We are slowly teaching him how to cook so that he will be able to impress all his GF's to come. So far he has mastered Oven baked Pizza (Delicio), Itchiban (Ramon noodles), Canned soups, Nachos baked with cheese in the oven, and he manages the Microwave quite well. AND BOY OH BOY can he and his Dad make a KICK ASS Banana Bread! I'm very proud of how Sam's cooking skills have come along since he moved in with us. He was not really interested in learning to cook and was nervous even opening the oven, but now he shows signs of confidence. He makes his own lunches, whips up bowls of oatmeal in the morning for breaky, has made macaroni a few times for himself. WOOT! He'll have bachelor food mastered by his 12th birthday and we will be able to start teaching him the finer things like the BBQ this summer! Wont that be great, D and S out on the deck, Bean crawling around in the grass, steaks on the BBQ, corn on the cob, potatoe salad and a beautiful summer evening! I'm looking forward to it already.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
WTB OCD FTW!
Ha most of you wont understand the title of this particular post!
Want to buy Obsessive Compulsive Disorder For The Win!
My blog layout! That's what this is all about!
I have just started this whole blogging thing and I must say, as you may we be able to tell by the number of posts I have and the rate at which I am constantly changing things around, that I am completely enjoying the whole blogging experience. Additionally, I find myself in love with a lot of other blogs as well. Some people have the most beautiful layouts, creatively designed headers, and fantastic fonts. Some folks have fascinating slide shows and videos, while others like to keep is simple and merely have a wicked cool knack for writing. Either way I just can't get enough. The stories of families, mothers like my self, new to all this, raising babies like my own, with similar soft almond eyes and drooly chins. The honesty and hilarity that some people pour out onto their pages! LOVE IT! But what's a girl to do when she just can't settle into her own lay out!
I know, I know! It's like raising kids. You get better at it with time. I expect that. Actually, this is like my breastfeeding stage of blogging. LOL! I gotta go through the uncomfortable and painful task of getting used to it before I can get really GOOD at it. Then, once I know where everything is (even in the dark), things should fall into place and fit a bit better. I also think the layout and theme/style of a persons blog take a little time to develop and mature. Do I like pink, is it realy for me, maybe not, hmmm, mauve seems like a good fit, nah! what about a blue? Teal? Is teal even a color?
I have also noticed that quite a few people have blog layouts and designs done for them professionally so everything looks very, well... professional and uniform and I really like that. I'm one of those anal - retentive people that will keep fixing and fiddling with things till they are perfect, which in turn just mucks things up!
So I'm not sure what to do at this point. I fear that if I spend too much time farting around, changing things like fonts, backgrounds, headers and columns that I will just ;
a) Irritate people who are trying to keep up with me (not that there are many, Hi Mom)
b) Make a mess of things
c) completely lose sight of the entire purpose of this blog
d) get bogged (read Blogged) down with the useless details and never actually find the shoe that fits
If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to post them. I am interested in how people found the right fit or style that they are using now. Or are you another one of those people who is constantly rearranging the furniture, like myself?
For now I think I will just take it easy and let the blog mature in it's own time, much like my lil Bean Stalk!
Want to buy Obsessive Compulsive Disorder For The Win!
My blog layout! That's what this is all about!
I have just started this whole blogging thing and I must say, as you may we be able to tell by the number of posts I have and the rate at which I am constantly changing things around, that I am completely enjoying the whole blogging experience. Additionally, I find myself in love with a lot of other blogs as well. Some people have the most beautiful layouts, creatively designed headers, and fantastic fonts. Some folks have fascinating slide shows and videos, while others like to keep is simple and merely have a wicked cool knack for writing. Either way I just can't get enough. The stories of families, mothers like my self, new to all this, raising babies like my own, with similar soft almond eyes and drooly chins. The honesty and hilarity that some people pour out onto their pages! LOVE IT! But what's a girl to do when she just can't settle into her own lay out!
I know, I know! It's like raising kids. You get better at it with time. I expect that. Actually, this is like my breastfeeding stage of blogging. LOL! I gotta go through the uncomfortable and painful task of getting used to it before I can get really GOOD at it. Then, once I know where everything is (even in the dark), things should fall into place and fit a bit better. I also think the layout and theme/style of a persons blog take a little time to develop and mature. Do I like pink, is it realy for me, maybe not, hmmm, mauve seems like a good fit, nah! what about a blue? Teal? Is teal even a color?
I have also noticed that quite a few people have blog layouts and designs done for them professionally so everything looks very, well... professional and uniform and I really like that. I'm one of those anal - retentive people that will keep fixing and fiddling with things till they are perfect, which in turn just mucks things up!
So I'm not sure what to do at this point. I fear that if I spend too much time farting around, changing things like fonts, backgrounds, headers and columns that I will just ;
a) Irritate people who are trying to keep up with me (not that there are many, Hi Mom)
b) Make a mess of things
c) completely lose sight of the entire purpose of this blog
d) get bogged (read Blogged) down with the useless details and never actually find the shoe that fits
If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to post them. I am interested in how people found the right fit or style that they are using now. Or are you another one of those people who is constantly rearranging the furniture, like myself?
For now I think I will just take it easy and let the blog mature in it's own time, much like my lil Bean Stalk!
Canada needs a Prenatal Diagnosed Condition Awareness Act
Please Check out and perhaps sign this Petition.
"Technological advances in fetal screening are presenting parents -and doctors- with enormous ethical, psychological and social dilemmas. Vulnerable, and with limited or biased information as guidance, more than 90% of prospective parents in Canada choose termination if their baby is diagnosed prenatal with Down syndrome. They may never know there is a world of resources, hope and support out there. In spite of tireless efforts from support groups their information pamphlets rarely reach prospective parents at the time they need it most."
They may never know that the most loving and wonderful community exists. I have never felt such amazing support and understanding from any group of people in my life as I have from those who are involved in the Down Syndrome Community. From parents of children with DS to support workers, Doctors, Therapists, Mothers, Grandmothers, Friends of people who have children with DS, BLOGGERS! What a welcoming and wonderful world it is to be a part of. The fear of raising a child with Down Syndrome completely washes away and is replaced by a feeling of being embraced by everyone who is a few steps ahead of you on the same journey.
I want to thank each and everyone of you in this community for changing the face of Down Syndrome. For offering a hand to those of us who needed it. I hope that I, in turn, can offer my hand, can help someone up, encourage them on their way, and show them how exciting this journey will be!
"Technological advances in fetal screening are presenting parents -and doctors- with enormous ethical, psychological and social dilemmas. Vulnerable, and with limited or biased information as guidance, more than 90% of prospective parents in Canada choose termination if their baby is diagnosed prenatal with Down syndrome. They may never know there is a world of resources, hope and support out there. In spite of tireless efforts from support groups their information pamphlets rarely reach prospective parents at the time they need it most."
They may never know that the most loving and wonderful community exists. I have never felt such amazing support and understanding from any group of people in my life as I have from those who are involved in the Down Syndrome Community. From parents of children with DS to support workers, Doctors, Therapists, Mothers, Grandmothers, Friends of people who have children with DS, BLOGGERS! What a welcoming and wonderful world it is to be a part of. The fear of raising a child with Down Syndrome completely washes away and is replaced by a feeling of being embraced by everyone who is a few steps ahead of you on the same journey.
I want to thank each and everyone of you in this community for changing the face of Down Syndrome. For offering a hand to those of us who needed it. I hope that I, in turn, can offer my hand, can help someone up, encourage them on their way, and show them how exciting this journey will be!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Chomping bean!
Lil Baby Bitee Bean!
THE BEAN HAS A TOOTH!!!
It was coming through while Nana was here and that was when we first discovered it pushing through his lil gums, but it has finally arrived.
I would love to preserve this moment by taking a picture of the tiny lil beast peeking its sharp lil head out, but alas and alack, it is such a tiny lil tooth and good luck getting the Teeny Beany to sit through a picture of the inside of his mouth!
Another update of the Bean.
This Tuesday we have an Eye Appointment and the Alberta Children's Hospital. We have been waiting a few months to get him in to see (ha ha) the Eye Doc. He has a tendency to be a lil cross eyed at times and it seems that his left eye tends to be a lil more crossed than the right. I'm hoping that the Eye Doc can help us out with this. I know that if he needs lil tiny glasses he will be THE most awesomely cute child ever! I think that would just be fantastic. I don't WANT him to have glasses. I would rather his eye sight be prefect, but if he needs glasses I wont complain.
Then we have an over night sleep study at the Children's in March. We get to spend the night in the hospital, Bean with hoses and machines hooked all up to him, recording his oxygen levels. I'm not really looking forward to sleeping in the hospital but it's for the best. This way we will get a better idea as to Beanies needs and how best to cope with his sleep apnea.
The sleep apnea is becoming a bit of a pain for him I think. Poor lil guy has been waking up alot lately. I think part of that had to do with the tooth coming through and a slight cold that he had which was making him all stuffed up and runny nosed. The cold has cleared and the tooth has surfaced and he is not waking up every two hours any more but I can tell he is still having issues with the apnea. I wish I could make it better. It's so nerve racking to know you lil boy stops breathing in the middle of the night.
THE BEAN HAS A TOOTH!!!
It was coming through while Nana was here and that was when we first discovered it pushing through his lil gums, but it has finally arrived.
I would love to preserve this moment by taking a picture of the tiny lil beast peeking its sharp lil head out, but alas and alack, it is such a tiny lil tooth and good luck getting the Teeny Beany to sit through a picture of the inside of his mouth!
Another update of the Bean.
This Tuesday we have an Eye Appointment and the Alberta Children's Hospital. We have been waiting a few months to get him in to see (ha ha) the Eye Doc. He has a tendency to be a lil cross eyed at times and it seems that his left eye tends to be a lil more crossed than the right. I'm hoping that the Eye Doc can help us out with this. I know that if he needs lil tiny glasses he will be THE most awesomely cute child ever! I think that would just be fantastic. I don't WANT him to have glasses. I would rather his eye sight be prefect, but if he needs glasses I wont complain.
Then we have an over night sleep study at the Children's in March. We get to spend the night in the hospital, Bean with hoses and machines hooked all up to him, recording his oxygen levels. I'm not really looking forward to sleeping in the hospital but it's for the best. This way we will get a better idea as to Beanies needs and how best to cope with his sleep apnea.
The sleep apnea is becoming a bit of a pain for him I think. Poor lil guy has been waking up alot lately. I think part of that had to do with the tooth coming through and a slight cold that he had which was making him all stuffed up and runny nosed. The cold has cleared and the tooth has surfaced and he is not waking up every two hours any more but I can tell he is still having issues with the apnea. I wish I could make it better. It's so nerve racking to know you lil boy stops breathing in the middle of the night.
Hopefully we will get him to cooperate with the CPAP machine here soon and he can start wearing it at night. That would make me alot happier.
I will update soon about the eye Doc appointment.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Addiction~
My newest Addiction is
Unringing the Bell
Something about her writing style and personality has me hooked. My newest, greatest pleasure. I love reading new writing styles and hearing new stories.
Unringing the Bell
Something about her writing style and personality has me hooked. My newest, greatest pleasure. I love reading new writing styles and hearing new stories.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thankful Thursday!
Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. ~ Buddha
Five Things I am Thankful For This Week
1. I am Thankful for my job, because even though I don't always want to be here, it keeps the Bean out of daycare and I make great money.
2. I am Thankful for D who is always helpful, hard working and (as always) handsome. He never quits.
3. I am Thankful that Bean is so healthy, happy and such a dream to be with every day.
4. I am Thankful that Sam lives with us. Even though he and I sometimes don't get along, I really love him. He is really funny and has a great imagination.
5. I am Thankful that Nana came this past week to visit the Bean. It is important that they spend time together.
Lil Beany Boy
I'm Not Small
I'm SO Tall!
I could carry an Ice Cream Truck on My Back!
OHHH Bath Time!
LOOK MOMMA! I'M A FROGZORS!
Uh? Are We Done With The Pics Yet Nan!?
I only Ride in Style!
Uh? What's up?
OH HEY!! NANA!!!
I'ma Getchoo!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
NANA UPDATE~
Today Nana went home. *Sob* *Cry* *Sniff*
We love it when Nana comes to visit for a few reasons. First and foremost the Bean Adores! her and just lights up when he is with her. What a great and fabulous week he had, spending his days with her. D and I also had a bit of spare time this week which was great! Nana however, worked her buns off. She was feeding, clean, bathing, playing and constantly attending to the Bean's every whim. Not only was she spoiling the Bean but she can keep a kitchen clean, make dinner and do laundry WHILE taking care of the Bean, which doesn't make me look like a super mom. Mind you, she does have 30 more years of child rearing under her belt. Again, I hope to be half the woman that my mother is by the time I am her age. I am sad that she doesn't live in town, being a 12 hour drive away is hard on her I'm sure. The Hunter Bean is so damn adorable that it must be agony being so far away :P! But Nana and Granddad will be back in April for Bean's Big Day! He turns 1 on April 2ND! We shall have a spectacular To do!
Back to Nana!
Nana has a kick ass Camera! She took a TONNE of pics of the Hunter Bean while she was here and uploaded them on to my computer. I'm at work right now so sadly I can't upload any pics at the moment but I will as soon as I get home, or first thing in the morning. There are some Fabulous pictures of him! He is looking more and more like a little boy and less like a baby. Everyday I see so many new things in his face, his eyes, his new adventurous personality. I am constantly in awe! Extra special is that fact that he looks so much like his Daddy so he will just get more and more handsome as he gets older!
So Cheers to Nana!
Thank you for making us Turkey Dinner and Curry!
Thank you for taking care of our Lil Bean!
Thank you for taking care of all our laundry!
Thank you for helping us around the house with all those things you didn't need to do!
Thank you for hand washing the baby bottles even though we don't!
Thank you for tolerating the cat snoring in your bed!
Thank you for putting up with us for a week!
Thank you for being a Great and Wonderful Mother and Nana!
~~ I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom. ~ Author Unknown
Which reminds me. I have decided to start a new weekly post. I have noticed that a lot of people have Wordless Wednesdays, which is a great idea that I might steal. I would like to start a Thankful Thursday Post to hopefully keep me grounded and grateful. Not often enough do people stop and reflect on what they are thankful for, instead, focusing on problems. SOOOoo...
I vow to post more often - Check!
I vow to take more pictures - Check!
I vow to express my gratitude - In the process!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Up Syndrome
I was surfing Youtube, watching cute videos of babies and kids with Down Syndrome, and came across a video called Up Syndrome. There are two parts, both are roughly 10 mins long. If you have time please take a look. You will be pleasantly surprised.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTBSUPM_3U Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtXcu11-2M Part 2
Here is the write up from Youtube.
UP SYNDROME won the Grand Prize at director Kevin "Clerks" Smith's Movies Askew contest in 2006 and screened at the Slamdance Film Festival 2001. This is a shortened version of a longer 82-minute film titled UP SYNDROME, which is a multi-award-winning documentary that has garnered international acclaim as one of the most honest portrayals of Down's Syndrome ever committed to film. Synopsis: "University of Texas student Duane Graves chronicles his charismatic childhood chum Rene Moreno, a San Antonio native with Down Syndrome, in this playful, stirring, remarkably unique portrait documentary."
This is the link to the Up Syndrome web site. http://www.trisomyfilms.com/upsyndrome.html
I absolutely love these previews and I think I am going to order a copy of the DVD for Sam and David.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tTBSUPM_3U Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYtXcu11-2M Part 2
Here is the write up from Youtube.
UP SYNDROME won the Grand Prize at director Kevin "Clerks" Smith's Movies Askew contest in 2006 and screened at the Slamdance Film Festival 2001. This is a shortened version of a longer 82-minute film titled UP SYNDROME, which is a multi-award-winning documentary that has garnered international acclaim as one of the most honest portrayals of Down's Syndrome ever committed to film. Synopsis: "University of Texas student Duane Graves chronicles his charismatic childhood chum Rene Moreno, a San Antonio native with Down Syndrome, in this playful, stirring, remarkably unique portrait documentary."
This is the link to the Up Syndrome web site. http://www.trisomyfilms.com/upsyndrome.html
I absolutely love these previews and I think I am going to order a copy of the DVD for Sam and David.
Jumping Bean!
MY LIL BOY IS CRAWLING!!!
Beany started to move around quite well near the beginning of December and was actually crawling just a few days before Christmas. This was the best prezzie he could give his Momma! But now he is really on the move. I honestly think he needs a tiny backpack to take with him, in case he gets too far from home. The other day I was having a cat nap on the couch in the living room. Bean was playing on the floor with his boat and various other toys. Normally I am not really asleep. I'm mostly resting my eyes and drifting in and out. At one point I could still hear the Bean but he sounded far away. I opened my eyes to see where he had gotten to this time only to realise I couldn't SEE him anywhere. I FLEW off the couch and searched for his playful mumbling/jabbering sounds and found him. He was behind the love seat with my slippers in his mouth! I had blocked the door between the kitchen and the living room so I knew I wasn't going to find him in the kitchen again but I did not expect him to be playing to happily behind the couch!
Now go ahead and scold me! I'm a bad mom. I know, I know! I should have taken a picture! But damned if I don't ALWAYS forget to take pictures. So, as I vowed earlier to make a better effort with my blog, I vow now to make a concerted effort to start taking pics of The Bean everyday!
D woke me up this morning to drive me off to work. Sunday shift sucks but it's time and a half. I guess I missed the greatest Bean moment yet. Apparently he had gotten himself up on all fours and had arched himself into a sort of tee pee. D said he was Straight armed and straight legged with his feet pulled right up to his hands, like he was yoga stretching. Then he leaned back and landed smack on his butt in a perfect sitting position! He he he!
I love watching him when he crawls. There is no coordination to it really. Sometimes he brings his knees up, and other times he pulls him self with his arms only. I'm sure that in a few weeks he will have figured it out pretty good.
He isn't pulling himself up on things yet. Although I suspect that's not far along either. He is doing so fabulous and I am just so proud to see him learning about the world around him. I can't wait to see so many new stages in his life. D tells me to be patient and enjoy the "now" because when he starts walking I'll miss the crawling / sitting stage! He he he. I'm a new mom! I can't help but be excited for the future.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
NANA!
Nana shall be arriving in 15 minutes. I will take a cab home and she will take a cab to my house and we should arrive at roughly the same time. I am very much looking forward to seeing her! I called her at like 9 and told her to pick up a bottle of wine on the way to the airport but I would bet money she didn't do that. SOOO, I think I might make a stop on my way home because I know I wont be able to sleep any time soon, and I can pretty much guarantee that the Bean will be waking up at 1 or so to be fed and cuddled and reassured that things are OK. A glass of wine will be just what the I need. Especially after working 9 days straight. My first week back turned out to be a bit longer than I expected. I am, however, thrilled to be here. I make a very decent wage, my senority is growing and the position I am in isn't all that demanding so I get time to relax. AND, Now I get 2 days off, and then work days Sat and Sun and then get Mon Tues off!! Woot!
6 Facts!
Here are the rules: (cut and copied from Sammy) to the person who tagged you. Mention the rules. Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that let's them know they've been tagged.
1. I own A Digital Camera and a rather expensive Digital Video Camera and I am Notorious for taking them with me everywhere, then forgetting to take pics.
2. I wake up in the middle of the night roughly 8 or 9 times a night.
3. I play a Warlock IRL!
4. I have a freckle in one of my eyes and on the bottom of one of my feet.
5. I can't draw to save my life. Eric got that gene.
6. I love writing in my blog but for some reason unbeknownst to me I seem to neglect it :(
1. I own A Digital Camera and a rather expensive Digital Video Camera and I am Notorious for taking them with me everywhere, then forgetting to take pics.
2. I wake up in the middle of the night roughly 8 or 9 times a night.
3. I play a Warlock IRL!
4. I have a freckle in one of my eyes and on the bottom of one of my feet.
5. I can't draw to save my life. Eric got that gene.
6. I love writing in my blog but for some reason unbeknownst to me I seem to neglect it :(
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
WORK
I went back to work! YAY!!
I are so happy to finally have my own time and money. To be able to get out of the house and have a semi social life. To actually have something to talk about, to Dave and my mother.
It's not the most exciting shift, I'll tell you that much. Infact, I could practically sleep it's so droll and boring and SLOW! Compared to my last job here where I ran my ass off and was always busy and multi - multitasking. But I get a chance to have adult conversations, spend time on some of my own interests, IE, blogging which I am hoping to do more often, and just get out of the house! Dave and I are having a better time sharing house hold responsibilities now too. I do as much as I can during the day and take care of my lil boy in the interum. Take the Bean to work with me on the bus and Dave picks him up at 3:30 or so. Seems to be working out pretty well so far.
Nana is coming for a visit on Wednesday so I will fill you in on how much fun we have over the week!
I are so happy to finally have my own time and money. To be able to get out of the house and have a semi social life. To actually have something to talk about, to Dave and my mother.
It's not the most exciting shift, I'll tell you that much. Infact, I could practically sleep it's so droll and boring and SLOW! Compared to my last job here where I ran my ass off and was always busy and multi - multitasking. But I get a chance to have adult conversations, spend time on some of my own interests, IE, blogging which I am hoping to do more often, and just get out of the house! Dave and I are having a better time sharing house hold responsibilities now too. I do as much as I can during the day and take care of my lil boy in the interum. Take the Bean to work with me on the bus and Dave picks him up at 3:30 or so. Seems to be working out pretty well so far.
Nana is coming for a visit on Wednesday so I will fill you in on how much fun we have over the week!
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