My love of toys

     I am so happy that I have a baby girl, it means I get to play with all the toys I used to have - if she will let me.
     The toys I have fallen in love with purchasing are Little People. I am not a real fan of the play sets, but show me individual people and I'm like "I need this".               
     They are perfect for her tiny hands and they fit in her mouth without posing as a choking hazard. Daddy can even play with them, even if we have mainly Girl types. Currently, he is pretending Kaelynn is a monster and the ostrich is a chocobo and the princesses are from Final Fantasy. Kaelynn is screaming with delight.

     When it comes to purchasing, I've come to realize I have to be selective. It's rare that you get coupons, but they do go on sale. While at Target, I fell in love with Arial as a mermaid, Prince Eric and their seashell carriage. However, it scanned it at $32. We were at Wal-Mart, I saw the same thing for $26. On Amazon.com, I've never seen a deal. Looking around is awesome.

    Long story short, this girl will have lots of Little People in the future. I'm hoping for Easter, she will get a few new figurines. 

Sleep

     Tonight at dinner, the topic of where MY baby sleep came up. I have no idea how, but it's come up before and it's always the same thing with the same person (and with the same words).
     We live with a housemate and a sister in law. The housemate (never married, no kids, of course knows best) rambled on about how his co-workers child slept in his mom's bed until he was 2 and it took 5 years to get him into his own bed, including having a bed for mom in his room. He then goes on to say we should let her scream in her crib for 20 mins and she will pass out - after a few nights she will learn.

     1- we do not cry it out. Tried it once when she was little and just no.
     2- she will scream and cry and sweat and cry and not sleep at all.
     3- where MY baby sleeps is personal and my own business.

     She is able to fall asleep in our bed. We are able to fall asleep in our bed. I don't have to get up to feed her or cuddle her if she wakes up in a panic. I have started to try to transfer her over, but putting her in wakes her up. There are nights where we get feet in the face, sleepless nights where she just wants to play because we are in close proximity. I can't sleep on my belly, flailed out anymore because someone else is in bed...but I wouldn't change it right now. 
     Notice I am saying all this in a mommy voice?! It's because daddy has nothing to do with bedtime.I get her ready. I nurse her to sleep. I transfer her (try to).  

     Therefore, it's MY business. When the time comes to actually have her in her own bed,alone, we will figure that out.

12 month doctors appointment

     Today was her 12 month doctors appointment and shots. Everything started out okay, until we were almost downtown.
     The front of the bus was empty, except for Kaelynn in her Ergo and myself. A middle aged, over weight man got on and chose to sit right beside us. He fell ontop or us and only said sorry. I bent as forward as I can and helped him up. He was fine. Kaelynn not so much. She instantly started to cry. The only way to calm her was to rub her ear.

     We get to the doctor's office and everything was fine...until she got naked and weighed. As soon as the doctor came in, she was super clingy to me and screaming MAMAMAMAMA! Definitely not happy. Our only concern was her teeth, that she has none. If at her 15 month appointment she has none, then we figure out why.
     The doctor said that she was petite, and that their measuring system was so accurate (he was being sarcastic). She might be tiny, but she's on a good curve upwards.

     Height: 2 ft 3 3/4 inch (70.5 cm) 15%
     Weight: 18.7lbs (8.don't know) 35%

     We had to wait around for 20 extra minutes due to the shots. She had milkies and fell asleep. I had to figure out how to get her ready and in her Ergo. In the end, I managed to keep her half asleep while I put her in the Ergo. I stuffed snow pants in my diapers bag, put her coat around her and put her in my coat. Good thing it was such a mild day and not raining yet.

BLURBS FROM THE BOYFRIEND:

"Having a baby is like having a Camero. You dont know how many there are until you have your own".

Other people's children

     This past weekend was a go go go kind of weekend : 3 days of birthday and a bridal shower. The bridal shower is what brings me to this post. Every mother should be concerned about their own child, not what any other child is doing.
     We left our house around 11am and I had hoped for a car nap, but that never happened. When we arrived at our destination, she was awake and curious.
     The hostess offered to let Kaelynn sleep in her bed surrounded by pillows. I said " no thank you, she doesn't sleep alone". Plus, pillows won't keep my child in a bed, but I kept that to myself. She then commented that she was working with a 4 month old girl in daycare and got her to have 2 naps a day. That's all well and good, but that child is in a familiar space, familiar face, and is 4 months old. Mine has already had a busy weekend, in a new space, new faces and is 1 year old (already has some what of a routine).
     Everything was going well, people were showing up. She was walking around the floor close to me and my friends. The hostess kept coming up and getting in her face. Baby girl kept getting visibly upset and off she would go again. A family member of hers was there with a 6 month old girl. She kept fawning over her saying things like "oooh you just love people". I kept thinking "people she knows".
     Around 3pm, she started to get really fussy. Thank heavens for the Ergo.I strapped her in and bounced her asleep. Believe me. I got some weird looks from a room full of women/mothers.
     I was also told from the bride that she told the hostess that I breastfeed (after meeting her, I understood why she was told). Hostess was apparently so concerned that I would be flashing people. One of my best friends that was with us tends to show more cleavage daily that what I do when feeding. Good thing Kaelynn was so concerned with everything else going on and was not having anything to do with feeding - she made up for that once we got home.

     Moral of my rant: we are all women and adults and mothers. Relax. Breathe. The saying "mother knows best" is true...if you're the mother of the child.
     Stop the judging. Stop the looks. Stop trying to control situations that will not concern you at the end of the day.

Organization

     I have always strived to be organized but have never done the follow through. I would start something and then get bored or distracted. Since becoming a mom and having house mates, things have gotten better.
     The first step was a joke with my guy. I'm the one that does everything & got fed up. I said I would get a label maker and make him put his own things away. DONE. I bought a label maker that week from Staples and started to get to work. His dresser, Kaelynn's dresser, kitchen cupboards and even light switches. I pulled it out again and labeled some bins on the toy shelf.
    However, I just got made fun of for labeling what goes in what bin. I resisted the urge to take a pic of what toy belongs in what spot. It's neat and "organized" now. This way everything can get put back in its place and is easily sight inventoried.
    

First birthday

     It's been a crazy busy 3 days of birthday celebration.
    
     THURSDAY
     Thursday afternoon we got together with grandpa and had a birthday lunch and cake pickup. Afterwards, we went around picking up last minute party things: balloons, helium, babygate that was on sale.
Grandpa got her a most Canadian book (I want my hat back) and I got a copy of The Paperbag Princess. We came home, had a nap and started to get ready for the at home festivities.

Lunch

     Friday
     In the morning, I started off by baking cupcakes. One box of devils food and one box of white. The white ones I swirled food colouring in. After they were cool, I hollowed them out and put them away in a safe spot.
     Around noon, my mom, little brother and his girlfriend came over.
We opened gifts (a TY unicorn and Share Bear). Eric and his girlfriend left, and we had dinner (lasagna and bread and salad). I clearly didn't think anything through. We had cake and then presents from the family. In between, she had a quick bath. She loved her cupcake and didn't even try the icing. I'm a little sad she didn't face plant in her boob cake. She was unsure about it, even after we broke it up.
     Thankfully, she didn't get a sugar high...but was still awake until midnight. I'm blaming the full moon.

     Saturday
     I was up early to make eggs benedict for friends that were coming over to help me set up. Good thing I had already decorated. Streamers and balloons all over.
    Around noon friends started to arrive. A few friends couldn't make it due to illness, but it was a full on baby invasion.
     There were a lot of snacks, talking, not a lot of crying babies. Some of my friends came, Jake's aunt and cousin, and Kaelynn's babies.
     She received lots of clothes and thoughtful gifts. She is so lucky to have so many people that care about her.

     I can't even really put into words this weekend..and it's not over yet. Tomorrow we have a bridal shower for a wedding that we are in this summer.
    Next post will have pictures when we get them back. I have 2 lovely friends that have amazing cameras.

Baby Invasion

Every one is busy prepping

Quick Quiche

     This morning I wanted eggs for breakfast, but I wanted something different. We had a ham for dinner lastnight, I'm not a fan unless it's IN something. I cleaned the kitchen and then cooked. It made it quicker that baby was still asleep.

Quiche
4 eggs, beaten well
1 chopped onion
1 clove garlic
1 cup ham cubes
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup Bisquick
Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning to taste.
Cooking spray
1 tbsp bread crumbs
1 pie pan

1- preheat oven to 350*
2- spray pie tin and add bread crumbs, shake along the bottom to make even
3- beat eggs well and add all ingredients, combine well
4- spread evenly into prepared pie pan
5- bake 45-60 minutes

     I baked mine for 45mins and it came out perfect. Of course, you can add anything you want to a quiche, I used what was on hand. Spinach and parmesan or feta would have been amazing. <3