When Camping Goes Wrong

Mike and I love (loved?) to camp.  With the crappy weather, general business of life and then some leaks on our borrowed trailer (my parents are awesome) we didn't get out until this week.

We were thrilled until we learned camping has had enough of us.

Here is how it all went down:

• Tried to get away Friday night but had way too many things to do.  Left Saturday.
• Got to Tally Lake, Montana and realized we had a flat tire.
• Drive into our site when suddenly a pipe bursts and water starts to flow out of out trailer at an alarming rate.  We lose about half of our water supply and quickly learn we have no hot water and cannot turn the pump on.  We will now be camping without water.
• M changed the tire while I set up camp.
• Realized we had about 20 mosquito bites each; Chicken is lucky to have many on his face.
• Tried to put a very tired boy to bed.  Semi-worked until he realized he could climb out of his playpen.
• He then began to get out of his bed and proudly proclaim "I get out of bed; it's good mooning time Mommy!".  
• Spent an hour putting Chicken to bed when we finally gave up and drove him around until he started sleeping.  
• Chicken decides to skip nap and not go to bed until 11pm nightly.  He also wakes at 7am.  (normally sleeps from 8:00-8:30).
• This continues for two more days.  M and I are sleep deprived and no longer have the energy to swat the mosquitos off of us.  
• Mosquitoes continue to be horrible.  I am afraid to use deet being pregnant.
• Chicken is sprayed everywhere we can and he is forced to wear long sleeves and pants in 30+ degree weather.  
• We give up after three days of torture and consider selling Chicken to gypsies and running away to a tropical island.

But don't feel totally bad for us.  M's brother has an amazing cabin in Whitefish, Montana.  The cabin has access to a private lake (no bugs), heated outdoor pool, indoor pool, steam room and outdoor hot tub, tennis courts and a park.  

Also, turns out that Chicken will sleep in a playpen when he's in an actual room and that all we had to do was put him back to bed 30+ times in one night and then threaten him.  He is now back to his regular schedule!

M and I quickly determined we were not suffering from West Nile and we too have been able to relax!

We are now beginning to think we are much too old, wimpy and lame to camp.  This is sad for us!

What was your best vacation ever?

Learn 'N' Turn: Review

Recently I was given the opportunity to try out the Learn 'n' Turn Utensil.  I was sent one Learn 'n' Turn and I let Chicken play around with it for a good week.

The Verdict:

Chicken liked this spoon and he liked the fork attachment when appropriate.  He is a bit too old for the angle but when he was just starting out I can imagine it would have been wicked.  The Learn 'n' Turn is a nice idea.  I like that you are getting a spoon and fork for the price of one and I like how small it makes the package (which is ideal for our camping and when we travel).  I also like that this is a Canadian company and that it was designed by a stay-at-home-dad.  If you have a baby who is just starting out or who is in their first year of life I would absolutely recommend this utensil!

I especially like that you can buy extra spoon and fork attachments making it a CHEAP item and ensuring you have lots on hand!

The Learn 'n' Turn can be purchased here: http://www.learnandturn.com/ and if you live in Ontario there are lots of retail outlets also carrying the item.  The website does have some great information and a well put together video too so be sure to check it out!

Oliver's Labels: Review

Recently I was given an opportunity to review the labels from Oliver's Labels.  I was sent a sample package in the Transportation Design.  They sent me a ton of labels for shoes, clothes, items, etc.  All of the labels also had the Found-it Tracking System.

The Verdict:

I like these labels.  I like them a lot!  The labels are good quality and they didn't come off in the wash.  They have lots of really cute designs and they look super cute.  These are handy for Chicken's dayhome stuff and I could see how they would be especially handy as he goes to school, summer camp, sports etc.

The best thing about the labels is the Found-it Tracking System, which is exclusive to the company.  It's a FREE option and it awards you a serial number.  Every label has the number and instructions on how to log onto the website if you've found someone's items.  I could see this being a great option for older kids expensive items (ipod, DS, etc) and a lot of their labels are neutral or teenager friendly (check out the skulls and the designer labels).

Other things I like about this company are that it's Canadian and it's a small company.  Both are things I choose to support when I can and so I was all over doing a review for this company.  They are also reasonably priced and I imagine the CanadianMama home will have lots of these labels in the future!

Oliver's Labels can be found here: http://www.oliverslabels.com/

 

The Arizona Law

According to THIS article (and many others I've read) over 100, 000 people have left Arizona since laws got tighter.  It makes you wonder how many immigrants will leave there next week.  And more importantly: where will they go?

It's a pretty controversial law and I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

How do you feel?

The Breakdown

M and I's conversation last night:

M: I'm thinking of selling the beamer.
Me: But then what would I drive!?!

Yep, my car is still broken!!
But we've got a new transmission waiting for us in Montana and we will soon be driving there to get it!  I really miss my car - cross your fingers for me!!

Damn Blogger!

Blogger is eating my comments.  I suspected this for a while and it was confirmed this week when I finally got comments that were left for me months ago.  So please, if you are leaving comments and I'm not responding (get an email attached to your blog) it's because blogger has stolen them!  Not sure what to do about this but with my other recent frustrations I too am pondering the witch to wordpress.

Thoughts?

Ultrasound 5

I have had five ultrasounds.  No, this is not a high risk pregnancy.  Here is the recap:

1. Ultrasound 1 to confirm due date as I had my IUD taken out but did not get a cycle (turns out I got pregnant two weeks after getting it out).  At this ultrasound the tech finds a sac but no baby.  Doctor tells me I have a 50% chance of miscarriage.  Ultrasound 2 is scheduled for two weeks later.
2. Ultrasound 2 confirms there is a live baby (woohoo) with a heart and some baby parts and everything! Due date is December 01, 2010.
3. Ultrasound 3 is the typical 12 week scan.  Given great numbers and told the baby has a small head (I love you baby) and is on the small side of the scale - just like his brother.
4. Ultrasound 4 is our 18 week scan.  Everything goes well but the tech cannot see baby's face as he is covering it with his hands.  She orders another ultrasound in two weeks.  We are also devastated thrilled to find out the baby is another boy!  M does a dance and immediately emails everyone he has ever met!
5. Ultrasound 5 to see baby's face.  Turns his face is wicked cute!  He continues to have a penis.  

Hopefully the next time I see this baby is when he's screaming at me from pushing him out of my nice warm womb!

20 Weeks

Did y'all know that I'm 20 weeks pregnant!  I am half-way through what will probably be my last pregnancy ever.  This is sad.  I feel great and I'm so busy with life that I often forget that I'm pregnant so I feel like I'm not even taking the time to savor it.  Eek!

And I gotta be honest; I am still a bit sad this baby isn't a girl.  But then one day it came to me: raise the baby gay!  So that is the new plan.  Please send lots and lots of pink things.  Just kidding...kinda.  No no, really I'm just kidding.  Thankfully I have three wonderful nieces to spoil!

People have been asking about the pregnancy and how the baby is, and I think he's pretty cool so far (I never know how to answer that because he doesn't actually speak to me).  Actually, the truth is I think he's pretty lazy.  With Chicken he was kicking me all the time.  When I would feel movement it would last forever; he had some long ass workouts.  This baby?  I get like two or three kicks and then he's back asleep.  He's honestly THAT lazy!  I know it can change and it's still early, but I'm digging it.  I hope it stays that way and hopefully it means he is a wicked sleeper too!  And don't you dare tell me that it's not what that means.  Because the dream of a girl has already been ripped away from me; don't take away my dreams of a sleepy baby either!

Also, I may be hormonal!

Reviews Coming Up and a Cool Website!

So when I started this blog I had full intentions of doing reviews and giveaways.  Then I realized how much work they are and gave up.  But the truth is I'm a sucker for free things and for small Canadian companies.  And recently I had two such companies email me asking me to do a review on their product.  And the products actually seemed good!  So reviews are coming up - keep an eye out for them!

Also, My bloggy buddy (and designer of this website) has started a new website.  It's a great place for anyone who blogs.  Check it out HERE.  It's a great site to bring Canadian bloggers together.

Tell Me Tuesday

Hey it's Tell Me Tuesday - Where I ask a question and you tell me the answer.

Okay, I've totally missed TMT, so I'm back at it again!  Next week I should have some fancy new bling to go along with it too, so keep an eye out.

Okay, today's TMT is a long one.  Here goes:

We love our new house.  Our neighborhood is wonderful.  People actually CARE about their homes (unlike our old getto neighbors).  They treat their weeds, plant flowers, they don't play their music loud or have massive parties and they all appear to be especially friendly.  With the exception of one couple.

And this couple has me a bit freaked out.  You see before I moved into the home my nail tech told me that one of her other clients lives on our block and was "grilling" her about us.  Some of this is normal because we are the first home to sell in three years and most of the people who live in our cul-de-sac have lived here since they built their homes in 2001.  So I think most everyone was curious about the "new kids on the block".  But this woman is the nosy one.  You know the one who has to know everything about everyone.  The first time she met my nail tech she told her about all the gossip from EVERY house in her one hour appointment time.  This woman loves to gossip!

This woman also LOVES to let her little fluffy dog run around off leash.  Which does not bother me in the least.  He's little and cute and he's super friendly.  The problem is he's decided that our front lawn in a bathroom.  When we moved in our next door neighbors told us about him and sure enough, he's a pooper.

So yesterday we came around the corner and caught him in the act.  He was hunched over (okay, well you get the picture, I probably don't need to continue with that one).  So M took a picture.  He then went and spoke to the owner (who was outside at the time and pretending not to notice).  The guy was pretty curt with M and basically said he didn't care.  He said he would come and clean up but never did.  The next day M cleaned up seven piles of small dog poop.

Now I don't care that much.  It's not a HUGE deal and I'm okay with letting it slide.  However, I'm not the gardener of our house and that person (M), really cares.

But it's hard to know what to do.  We are really the new people and I don't want to be blacklisted from the cul-de-sac.  I also think this is the kind of woman who is a bully and would have no troubles spreading lies or gossip around about us in order to blacklist us.  But I also don't want to be bullied and I don't want to let it go now and then not be able to address it when we are more settled into the neighborhood.

So this is where TMT and YOU come in. Tell me, what should we do?  What would you do?  Is this a big deal?

Wordless Wednesday

This post could also be called:

1. When cake decorating goes wrong!
2. When a non-artistic person tries to decorate a cake!
3. Family dies laughing when Canada Day cake is revealed!
4. Oh Marijuana, we stand on guard for thee!

etc, etc!  Laugh it up; my family probably still is!

Kick in the Ass

Dear Baby,
You are only 18 weeks gestation and yet you are already much smarter than me (and I've been IQ tested three times now and I'm actually above average so you should be really proud of yourself).  Because here I was all feeling sorry for myself that I wasn't having a girl.  Like honestly, I was bordering on depression thinking about not having glitter, or pink, or princesses.  I'm not really sure why I'm sharing this with you, except that I guess I have a desire to pay for your therapy when you are older.

I guess I'm a social worker at heart son.  This would make your grandma so proud.  You see she too is a RSW and often she was way too tired of dealing with other people's problems and so she sent us to therapy when we had issues.  You know like when your auntie and I were fighting over the bathroom, or the phone or whatever.  Most families probably would have set up a schedule, or been told to shut up, or been consequenced or whatever.  But not our family.  Your grandma shipped us off to therapy faster than we could say "Mom, she's bugging me" and there we worked through all our family issues.

But anyways, I'm not sure where I was going with that.  I am really tired (it's almost 10:00pm and that is like midnight for a pregnant woman) and tend to ramble when sleepy.  I'm also a woman, something you will never know anything about...

But anyways, there I was, feeling sorry for myself and you kicked me.  You kicked me right in the lower belly.  It happened approximately four times, maybe five, but I can't be sure about the last one.  And you kicked my ass right out of mourning.  And here I am, all excited to be kicked by you.  and I totally love you already.  Even if you do have a penis, and even if you are going to come out being a new baby (that is a whole other post).  Yeah, I totally, 100%, head over heels LOVE YOU!

So thanks baby, you are wicked smart already and I'm so proud I get to be your mama!!

ps. I've been searching for baby boy bedding for about four straight hours now and if I can't find something I like then I'm really going to have to consider raising you gay because I really like a lot of the Glenna Jean pink stuff!  Just saying...

A Huge Favor

When speaking to two newish bloggers this week they both told me they didn't know about email and word verification.  They another friend who's been blogging for a while said the same thing and I realized I was depriving you all of my amazing blog knowledge. Haha!

Okay, so let me impart what little wisdom I do have on you.

1) Blogs should never have word verification on unless you get lots of spam.  It's because it's super annoying and turns others off.  If you have it on you will get less comments - guaranteed!  So go to your settings and turn it off.  Please, for the love of Pete, turn it off!
2) The only time you are allowed to turn word verification on is when you get lots of spam.  Then?  You are an official big shot!  Truly, you have made it in the blogging world and you are wicked.  Then you can have it on because you already get lots of comments!  ps. I am jealous of you!
3)  Every blog should have an added email address.  This is so other's can email you when you leave a comment on their blog and so you can email them when they leave a comment on your blog.  If you don't want to use your primary email then get a free gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc one.
4) If you have an email attached to your blog you will also get more comments (and your usually comment-ers will love ya for it).  This is because NO ONE has time to leave a comment, then go back and see if you commented on their comment.  Plus, email comments are more efficient and so it's easier to respond to people when they leave a comment on your blog (which people like).  There have been so many times where someone has left a super funny comment or asked a question and I have wanted to respond only to find they don't have an email.  This means I have to go back into my blog, find that specific post and comment under there.  I don't do that.  It makes me looney.  It makes everyone else looney.  Please for the sake of my sanity add an email.

Okay, I realize I'm being factious but please - add an email and turn off your word verification.  I promise both will leave you with more comments and happier followers.  You will like it too - I swear!

Anyways, that is probably the LAST piece of advice I will ever dispense on blog settings - PROMISE!!

It's a...

Pink or Blue

Today is my big ultrasound.  I am beyond excited because this time around I really have no idea if it's a boy or girl.  With Chicken I knew and so did M.  This time around I'm totally unsure.  M thinks it's another boy and so do most of the people in my life but I have no idea one way or the other.  In the beginning I was thinking boy but I've had lots of girl dreams lately.  

Anyways, the ultrasound is in seven hours so I will post when I'm back.  You have until noon today to vote on the sidebar poll if you haven't done so already.  In the mean time I'm off to have a playdate with my future doula (who is also a wonderful friend of mine) and her two super cute boys (Chicken will be there too).  And her doula site is HERE if you are in the area and looking for a great doula (or just info on what a doula actually does).    

Oh and here I am at 16 weeks pregnant (I'm 19 on Wednesday).  Finally found the camera cord!  Oh, and yes, I do have a head in real life.

Oh and if you want to read a truly inspiring birth story GO HERE (really, it's amazing)!

Hey, Don't Forget!!

You only have until tomorrow at noon to guess the baby's gender!  Click on the poll on the side bar.  So far girl is winning!!

Also, I am going to post the pictures of the house soon.  If you want to see the before pictures email me and I will email you the link (our address is on the link and I don't want to post that).  Sadly we forgot to take pictures of the house before and now it's too late.  The only pictures we have are of the realtor's listing and I can't figure out how to save them :(

Chicken-isms

Okay, Chicken is talking A LOT these days.  He speaks in complete sentences and he says some wicked funny things.  At 26 months he still hasn't mastered the "s" sound and so we get some funny words.  Here are some of my favorites:

1. My parent's cat Smokey is now called Mokey because of Chicken.
2. Socks are Cocks
3. Often he will peek around the corner and say "oh hi there mommy, how's it going"?
4. Who's there?  Whenever he hears a sound.
5. "too big, too gucky, too dirty" whenever it's something he doesn't want to wear, eat, play with, etc.
6. "water moonin" for water melon
7. "good mooning" in the morning
8. and my favorite "thank you mommy" or "no thanks" (which we hear all the time because he is beyond polite.  It's honestly like he's being raised by a British family)!

What I'm surprised we have never heard ?  Any curse word as they happen lots in the CanadanMama home!

Happy Canada Day, Toilets and Other Things

                                                                 Happy Canada Day!

We will be at the parade in the morning (a large, long standing family tradition) and then we are having a BBQ after that.  I suspect Chicken will spend the day yelling "mine" at everyone and pushing others (Please God help me; I can't take it anymore).  I, on the other hand, will spend the day on the toilet.

This is because M came home tonight with a $700.00 dollar toilet.  When we bought this house it came with rinky dinky toilets and M really has a thing about the can.  The other night I told him I secretly liked the little toilets and that often big toilets hurt my bum.  Or I guess it's not so secret anymore...

So anyways, he really took this to heart.  He was supposed to come home with three new toilets, enough for each bathroom.  He came home with one and told me this is because he wanted to be sure I "loved" this toilet before he put them in upstairs.  I'm pretty sure he has forgotten that I'm a woman.    

The $700.00 toilet in question is called the "comfort model".  It used to be called the "handicapped model" but no one bought them.  Since they changed the name they are "selling like hot cakes" according to M, who swears this is exactly what the toilet salesman told him.  

It's being put in as we speak but I won't try it until tomorrow.  This is for two reasons:

1) I actually don't care about the toilet (shh, don't tell M).

2) I've been given strict orders to "stop blogging and go to bed", because apparently it's illegal for a pregnant woman to stay up so late.  

So Happy Canada Day Eh!  I hope you have a much more thrilling day than me!

ps. I can't believe I just blogged about toilets.  This is a new low for me!