The other day I suffered a blow to my fragile artistic ego. I called my mom to chat about a reader's response to my blog only to discover she had no idea which posting I was talking about.
Why? Oh, because she hasn't been reading it lately. At all.
Ummm...
Writing is my thing. My shtick, you know? It always has been. I enjoy it and I like to think I'm reasonably good at it. I know my blog isn't exactly the greatest modern work of the English language (YET!) but it is mine. Whether it is bullshit or brilliance, my mother should be my biggest supporter, right?
Apparently, not so much.
OUCH!
(aaaaaaand cue indignant comment, phone call, or email from mom who is now - or so she says - back to reading my blog on a regular basis)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Gisele Bitchen
This is Gisele Bundchen.She had a baby four or five months ago AND she appeared on the cover of Vogue only 3 months after giving birth looking just this fabulous.
So, she either starved herself and worked out all day every day OR the BS she's spouting to the media is true and she's done nothing different and she's just the miraculous beneficiary of what she calls "muscle memory."
Liah liah pants on fiah OR alien mutant? As you can probably guess, I have my suspicions but feel free to decide for yourself.
And either way...what a bitch.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Teething Bites the Big One!
Brynn is teething.Yup. Teething.
Yes, I know how early it is for her to be doing this. I've already had a stern chat with her gums about this, to no avail.
Sigh
So. Now my normally lovely, happy, 0h-so-easy-going baby periodically (and rather unpredictably) morphs into a drooling, screaming banshee who won't eat and who seems intent on shrilling her displeasure directly into her mother's tender ears. It is like she's got some ultrasonic mutant powers going on there and she sure knows how to use them...she turns her head to ensure maximum mouth to ear exposure every single time.
In the baby book, this will euphemistically be referred to as a "developmental milestone" (mommy code for "unspeakably hellish experience") and in my musings on on the subject, I will diplomatically fail to mention that my daughter is the direct cause of the significant drop in my auditory acuity. However, just between you and me, I'm going to admit I love my baby girl but I hate teething.
Boo Teething!
Friday, April 9, 2010
These are a Few of my Favourite Things...
Here's a serious post (for once). I've compiled a basic list of stuff I've tried for those of you who aren't yet parents (or who are buying for those who are not yet parents) 'cause it's a crazy, confusing jungle of products out there that all claim to be the best possible choice for everyone's baby. I don't claim to be an expert, just someone who learned what works for me while slogging through as best I could.
Bottles
Dr. Brown's The Clear Winner - easy to use, baby likes them and they seem to reduce gas as advertised
Born Free Not bad. Easy to use and I have no problem recommending them
Avent Hate them. They tend to create a lot of bubbles if you are mixing formula in them (= gassy baby), they leak, and the nipples don't seem to appeal to many babies I know.
Diapers
Cloth Not in this lifetime. They invented disposables for very good reason, in my opinion. Ewwwww.
Huggies Ditto. They suck. Hard to use for first time parents and everyone who changed Brynn while we tried these suckers out felt that they lack clear signals to help newbies tell if the baby needs changing.
Pampers I love these and so does Scott. The Swaddlers are our faves and happily, we just found a size that will fit our little Bug until she hits 22 pounds. I especially liked that the newborn sized Swaddlers have a yellow line that turns blue when wet. It made life easier for everyone while we learned Brynn's cues (ie. which cry is "I'm wet, you idiot, change me" as opposed to "I'm hungry, you idiot, feed me" or "I'm tired, you idiot, shut up and let me sleep.")
Strollers
Uppababy and Bob are my two faves for their maneuverability and convenience factors. I can one hand steer either of these two (I only have an Uppababy but I've tried a Bob) and they are easy to steer over just about any kind of terrain. Bob has an advantage on rough ground but since you can't fully recline a Bob to accommodate a newborn, I decided the Uppababy was the way for us to go.
One drawback? The sunshade on the Bob and Uppababy are not part of the stroller per se and they aren't as convenient to use as one I recently used while borrowing a friend's Graco. My advice is to talk to as many friends as possible and be prepared to spend at least a couple of days shopping to make sure you get the most bang for your buck (who wants to spend the $$ to buy a stroller only to realize it isn't right for you later on?)
Another drawback? The ones I like are NOT cheap. Remember though, you get what you pay for and I can say with 100% certainty that I would not regret spending that extra money on either the Uppababy or the Bob since it is something I'll be using for years.
Clothing
I recommend checking out places like Superstore (their Joe line for kids is awesome and very affordable) as well as Winners. Gap now has something called "Sprize" which negates the need to wait for sales. You go in, buy whatever you want, and once those items go on sale, they refund the difference to you on a card you can use to go to back to the Gap to buy whatever else you might need for your growing baby (or your shrinkin' self, for that matter).
Don't be afraid to pre-buy. I just recently bought winter stuff on a massive discount for Brynn that will fit her when she's 1 and 2. I have soft under bed storage bags that I'm using to store this stuff and it'll save me loads of cash in the future.
Don't overbuy. ie: don't go crazy on baby clothes. You'll probably be given tonnes of the stuff and at the rate babies grow, you'll be lucky if your child wears each "oh so cute" outfit more than once or twice before growing out of it, especially in the early months when weight gain and growth are on overdrive. You can always go out and buy more if you need it but more than likely it won't be a major issue.
So that's the skinny on a few of my favourite things. Of course, since I'm known to have a strong opinion about just about everything, you can expect more of these lists in future.
Bottles
Dr. Brown's The Clear Winner - easy to use, baby likes them and they seem to reduce gas as advertised
Born Free Not bad. Easy to use and I have no problem recommending them
Avent Hate them. They tend to create a lot of bubbles if you are mixing formula in them (= gassy baby), they leak, and the nipples don't seem to appeal to many babies I know.
Diapers
Cloth Not in this lifetime. They invented disposables for very good reason, in my opinion. Ewwwww.
Huggies Ditto. They suck. Hard to use for first time parents and everyone who changed Brynn while we tried these suckers out felt that they lack clear signals to help newbies tell if the baby needs changing.
Pampers I love these and so does Scott. The Swaddlers are our faves and happily, we just found a size that will fit our little Bug until she hits 22 pounds. I especially liked that the newborn sized Swaddlers have a yellow line that turns blue when wet. It made life easier for everyone while we learned Brynn's cues (ie. which cry is "I'm wet, you idiot, change me" as opposed to "I'm hungry, you idiot, feed me" or "I'm tired, you idiot, shut up and let me sleep.")
Strollers
Uppababy and Bob are my two faves for their maneuverability and convenience factors. I can one hand steer either of these two (I only have an Uppababy but I've tried a Bob) and they are easy to steer over just about any kind of terrain. Bob has an advantage on rough ground but since you can't fully recline a Bob to accommodate a newborn, I decided the Uppababy was the way for us to go.
One drawback? The sunshade on the Bob and Uppababy are not part of the stroller per se and they aren't as convenient to use as one I recently used while borrowing a friend's Graco. My advice is to talk to as many friends as possible and be prepared to spend at least a couple of days shopping to make sure you get the most bang for your buck (who wants to spend the $$ to buy a stroller only to realize it isn't right for you later on?)
Another drawback? The ones I like are NOT cheap. Remember though, you get what you pay for and I can say with 100% certainty that I would not regret spending that extra money on either the Uppababy or the Bob since it is something I'll be using for years.
Clothing
I recommend checking out places like Superstore (their Joe line for kids is awesome and very affordable) as well as Winners. Gap now has something called "Sprize" which negates the need to wait for sales. You go in, buy whatever you want, and once those items go on sale, they refund the difference to you on a card you can use to go to back to the Gap to buy whatever else you might need for your growing baby (or your shrinkin' self, for that matter).
Don't be afraid to pre-buy. I just recently bought winter stuff on a massive discount for Brynn that will fit her when she's 1 and 2. I have soft under bed storage bags that I'm using to store this stuff and it'll save me loads of cash in the future.
Don't overbuy. ie: don't go crazy on baby clothes. You'll probably be given tonnes of the stuff and at the rate babies grow, you'll be lucky if your child wears each "oh so cute" outfit more than once or twice before growing out of it, especially in the early months when weight gain and growth are on overdrive. You can always go out and buy more if you need it but more than likely it won't be a major issue.
So that's the skinny on a few of my favourite things. Of course, since I'm known to have a strong opinion about just about everything, you can expect more of these lists in future.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
My Daughter the Literary Prodigy
My daughter the literary genius already flips the pages of her fave book, Hand Hand Fingers Thumb at age 3 1/2 months. Unfortunately, the video I have to prove this amazing fact won't load onto this cheap-ass blogger site despite my having left it to process for an entire week. (insert pissed off maternal mumbling here)
Leaving aside the disappointment I'm sure you all feel at not being able to view my daughter's amazing antics, I'm sure you'll agree that she's obviously a chip off the old maternal block so the greatest literary work of the English language can't be far behind.
Leaving aside the disappointment I'm sure you all feel at not being able to view my daughter's amazing antics, I'm sure you'll agree that she's obviously a chip off the old maternal block so the greatest literary work of the English language can't be far behind.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Clash of the Titans 2010
Before you get too excited, this post isn't about the new movie (scheduled to hit theatres in April for anyone who is interested in watching another movie starring that dude from Avatar). No, this is about the battle of wills currently underway here in Vancouver's east end.
My daughter may have her father's chin but she definitely inherited her mother's stubbornness because when she decides that it is NOT nap time she has absolutely no problem letting you know. At the top of her lungs. For a very long time. A very, very long time.
Of course, during those rare times when she takes a break from screaming out her frustration, she rubs her eyes and yawns almost continuously but apparently that's beside the point: Princess Brynn has decreed that this isn't nap time and no silly need to actually sleep is going to change her mind.
I listen to her rant and rail and I try my best not to feel like a complete shmuck for "forcing" my child to go down for the nap she quite obviously needs. There is nothing worse than listening to her cry, except for listening to that little snuffling, hiccuping noise she makes after she is finished crying. Each little sniffley snuffle says, "I can't believe you did this to me mommy." Ouch.
Somehow, each time I manage to hold on and she eventually goes to sleep, leaving me feeling like I've been to hell and back while she blissfully snores away.
Who's winning this war? Beats me but at least one of us is sleeping well in spite of herself.
My daughter may have her father's chin but she definitely inherited her mother's stubbornness because when she decides that it is NOT nap time she has absolutely no problem letting you know. At the top of her lungs. For a very long time. A very, very long time.
Of course, during those rare times when she takes a break from screaming out her frustration, she rubs her eyes and yawns almost continuously but apparently that's beside the point: Princess Brynn has decreed that this isn't nap time and no silly need to actually sleep is going to change her mind.
I listen to her rant and rail and I try my best not to feel like a complete shmuck for "forcing" my child to go down for the nap she quite obviously needs. There is nothing worse than listening to her cry, except for listening to that little snuffling, hiccuping noise she makes after she is finished crying. Each little sniffley snuffle says, "I can't believe you did this to me mommy." Ouch.
Somehow, each time I manage to hold on and she eventually goes to sleep, leaving me feeling like I've been to hell and back while she blissfully snores away.
Who's winning this war? Beats me but at least one of us is sleeping well in spite of herself.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The 7th ring of Hell
Picture this:
You're in a car.
You've just picked up your mother from the airport.
You're facing an hour and a half minimum more in the car.
And...your child decides NOW is the time to freeeeeeeeak out like they've never freaked out before.
OMG is it a dirty diaper? An empty belly?
God only knows and he's playing his cards close to the chest so you're left with a child who is screaming so loud the car next to you is shaking and you have no idea of what needs to be done to help. Judging by the noise, it sounds more like some invisible somebody is ripping your kid's toenails out in the backseat but since that's kind of unlikely you fall back on the old favourites:
Diaper change? Check. Still screaming? Check.
Bottle? Check. Still screaming? Check.
Augh!
Yup. Feel that sweat trickle down your back while you flail around for a crying cure 'cause let me tell you...your kid's favourite toy or mommy's "silly face" just isn't going to do it THIS time.
Oh yeah. And while you're sitting there sweating and feeling like a failure as a mother, be forced to whip out a boob in a ridiculously busy parking lot in a last ditched attempt to soothe your baby.
Motherhood. It's all about the glamour.
You're in a car.
You've just picked up your mother from the airport.
You're facing an hour and a half minimum more in the car.
And...your child decides NOW is the time to freeeeeeeeak out like they've never freaked out before.
OMG is it a dirty diaper? An empty belly?
God only knows and he's playing his cards close to the chest so you're left with a child who is screaming so loud the car next to you is shaking and you have no idea of what needs to be done to help. Judging by the noise, it sounds more like some invisible somebody is ripping your kid's toenails out in the backseat but since that's kind of unlikely you fall back on the old favourites:
Diaper change? Check. Still screaming? Check.
Bottle? Check. Still screaming? Check.
Augh!
Yup. Feel that sweat trickle down your back while you flail around for a crying cure 'cause let me tell you...your kid's favourite toy or mommy's "silly face" just isn't going to do it THIS time.
Oh yeah. And while you're sitting there sweating and feeling like a failure as a mother, be forced to whip out a boob in a ridiculously busy parking lot in a last ditched attempt to soothe your baby.
Motherhood. It's all about the glamour.
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