Why can't my kid live in a bubble?

I am just like that mom in the baby wipes commercial who puts their kid in a bubble. But instead of worrying that my child will get dirty while playing on the playground, I'm afraid my kid will knock her noggin. Ever since actress Natasha Richardson took a spill on a bunny hill and died due to the trauma her head sustained in the fall, I've been watching darling daughter like a hawk.

I realize that bumps, bruises and spills at this age happen. However, that doesn't make me any less fearful. Recently, I slept on darling daughter's bedroom floor after she clunked her head on the base of her jumperoo while crawling. Damn thing! I really should bubble wrap the stand. This happened about two days after Richardson case hit the news. I took no chances and had a horrible sleep on the futon mattress that I got dear husband to drag into her room.

I know this fear of mine is leading into paranoia, but I can't help it. If an actress can die after a seemingly innocent fall on a ski hill, what happens when my baby, MY BABY, decides that she wants to walk and whacks her head on my hardwood floors when she loses her step? Even sitting up can be dangerous. We were practicing the other day in front of her new baby cruise and crawl toy when she suddenly fell over and hit the plastic leaves above the wide-mouth hippo. Damn thing! I really need to bubble wrap those leaves too.

I highly doubt that they sell baby sized hamster balls at consignment stores, so I guess I will have to confront my own paranoia and tell myself that bumps and bruises are a part of childhood. It is a hard pill to swallow. But I can always get a helmet, couldn't I?

Misunderstood? I think not

No, Greg Gutfeld we didn’t misunderstood you. We heard you loud and clear.
According to Gutfeld, a commentator on Fox News, the Canadian public “misunderstood” his words when he and his panel ridiculed the Canadian Forces on his late night show, Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld, last week.
Gutfeld’s segment was in response to comments made by Lt.-Gen Andrew Leslie, Canada’s commander of land forces, who suggested that the military will need to take a year off to recover from the Afghan mission when its operations in the war torn country start to wind down in 2011. According to Gutfeld, the Canadian army will use the time to “do some yoga, paint some landscapes and run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants.”
Since the segment has hit the Internet earlier this week, backlash by the Canadian public has been immense. Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay calls what was said by Gutfeld and his posse crass and disgusting. Gutfeld, who was too gutless to speak to the Canadian media, issued an apology through Fox News. This is what Gutfeld had to say: “However, I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize.”
Gutfeld describes Red Eye as a “satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humourous and ridiculous manner.”
I have watched the clip several times. Instead of discussing the Canadian military in a “lighthearted, humourous and ridiculous manner,” it was a bunch of ignorant yahoos talking trash about a subject that they failed to do their research on. One pundit, Doug Benson, didn’t realize that Canada was even in the war.
Canada has lost 116 soldiers and one diplomat since the war in Afghanistan started in 2002, including Master Corporal Scott Vernelli, who died while on foot patrol on March 20. The small community of Petawawa has lost 38 of its troops since 2003. Master Corporal Vernelli leaves behind his wife, and his six-month-old daughter, Olivia. I don’t think Vernelli’s comrades will be running on the beach in their gorgeous white Capri pants any time soon.
So the moral of the story is this: when you are going to satirize a serious subject, do your homework, know the facts and perform your shtick with people who are actually informed about the subject, not with those who believe Canada is a land of ice and snow, Mounties wear red jackets and ride horses while on patrol. Not only do you look boorish Gutfeld and Co., you also look like asses. Don't expect a true apology from this gutless goof and his band of ignorant imbeciles.

Why the hell won't my kid sit up?

I know every baby is different (this is one of my favourite lines to use when someone asks why their child isn't hitting a certain milestone) and she will eventually do it, but I'm perplexed as to why darling daughter won't sit up. It isn't because she can't. It is a flat out I don't wanna attitude on her part. When you try to put her in the sitting position, her back gets rigid before she starts to recline towards the floor. Yeah, life would be easier if she could sit up, but sometimes darling daughter doesn't want to make her mother's life easier.

I was okay with her not sitting up until today. All the babies at today's playdate could sit up. Even a five month old at a playdate last week could sit up. Darling daughter has at least two months on this kid and the younger baby could sit up without any assistance. My kid? Well, she just kind of slides onto her side when she decides not to make her back go rigid.

Today I learned from Ottawa Public Health that I've got four weeks, FOUR WEEKS, to get my kid to sit up. Well, it isn't the end of the world if she doesn't sit up before she turns nine months, but it is one of those milestones she should conquor before she turns nine months. According to the public health representative I spoke to today, it should only take her a week, with the help of practice, to get the hang of it. Practice or no practice, I don't know if she will be able to do this. But all I know I have four weeks to get to sit up. I'll keep you posted on what happens.

It's a bad food day and it isn't even 1 p.m. yet

Well, so far today I have ate some yummy banana bread, a chocolate timbit and I just polished off the brownie pie I made yesterday. Although I tell myself that dear husband ate most of it, I'm sure I helped and most of it will land on my hips. I wouldn't be all upset at my little indiscretion when it comes to eating too much chocolate goodness, but Saturday wasn't a good food day either. Tomorrow isn't likely to be any better as I'm hosting a potluck and those usually spell trouble. It is easier on the conscious to bring sinful food to a playdate and share it with others than it is to eat it at home alone.

To be honest, it is hard to eat healthy when you spend most of your time at home. Cookies, potato chips and chocolate that some how find a home in my kitchen cupboards usually make their way into my mouth.

It is a never ending cycle that I'm trying to stop. But that chocolateness goodness always calls out to me. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.

Tragedy

The recent death of four Canadian soliders based at CFB Petawawa have been on my mind since I first learned of the news last night. One of the soldiers, 28-year-old Master Corporal Scott Vernelli, leaves behind a six-month-old daughter. In September, local news media did a news story on Master Corporal Vernelli and his wife, who were expecting their first child. A couple of weeks later, a television crew revisited the family after his wife gave birth. Since I had recently gave birth at the time, the couple's story stuck in my mind.

Last night, I kept on thinking about Master Corporal Vernelli's baby girl and his wife. It is heartbreaking this little girl will never know her father. I know my thoughts, and the thoughts of countless Canadians, will be with this family. However, this is likely little comfort to a baby girl and her mother who have lost a piece of their heart.

How this momma got her BodyStep groove back

Until today, it has been almost 17 months since I stepped into a Goodlife BodyStep class. The last class I attended was when I suspected I was pregnant with darling daughter. I have been hestiant to participate in a step aerobics class since I gave birth due to the fact I dislocated my knee cap when I was about seven weeks pregnant. But for whatever reason today was the day I decided to reintroduce myself to BodyStep.

Before I ever got pregnant with darling daughter, I had schedules of several Goodlife locations throughout the city in a drawer in my desk at work. If I happened to get off early, I'd peruse the schedules to see if there was a BodyStep class I could attend. It wouldn't be unusual for me to attend up to five classes a week. What can I say? I was addicted.

So once dear husband came home tonight, I was out of the house like a shot. I shouted out some instructions to him in regards what to feed darling daughter dinner before jumping into the car. The adrenaline was running through my body as I drove through heavy traffic to Goodlife. Would I make the class? Would I remember the choreography? Would I lose my nerve and jump on an exercise bike instead?

I breezed into the gym, quickly scanned my membership card, jammed my belongings into a locker, walked briskly into the studio and set up my step at the front of the class. Soon, the music was pumping and I found myself stepping up a storm. I was tapping, turning, squatting, straddling and flying across the top of the step. By the seventh track, I was drenched in sweat, but I wanted more. Much more. Oh, I forgot how addictive BodyStep is. By the tenth track, I was ready for the third and last cardio peak. Over the top, toe tapping and squatting I was working through five minutes and five seconds of pure aerobic hell. But I got through it and felt fantastic. I had a huge smile on my face when I left class. Yes, this momma has got her BodyStep groove back. And now I have rediscovered my BodyStep addiction. Oh BodyStep, how I missed you so.

Costco, you are making me rethink my membership . . .

In these hard economic times, you would think retailers would be trying to lure consumers into their stores with cheaper prices, not discourage them with price increases. However, Costco has quietly raised some of its prices on some of its baby products, namely Pekkle sleepers. I love Pekkle sleepers. Not only are they cute, good quality sleepers, they once were cheap as in $7.49 cheap. I couldn't believe my eyes when dear husband and I stumbled upon them a couple of months before darling daughter was born. We bought more sleepers after she grew out of her size six month sleepers.

When I heard that Costco was having a sale on sleepers, I was excited. The possiblity of buying sleepers around $5 was very appealing. So after darling daughter was down for the night, I headed out to visit the big box giant.

However, my excitement of getting sleepers around $5 each was short lived as Costco has jacked the price of Pekkle sleepers to $9.49. That is a $2 difference. With the $1.50 coupon, the sleepers were 50 cents more than when I first started purchasing them. Plus, I could only get three sleepers with my coupon. I'm not impressed.

So if Costco is jacking up the prices on sleepers, what else have they raised the price on? I'm really rethinking about not renewing my membership in June. If I can get sleepers cheaper at Wal-Mart, why would I want to go to Costco. Sorry Costco, you get a big thumbs down. Other mothers are on to your price raising ways. So if I'm thinking of not renewing my membership, I'm sure others are thinking the same thing.

I make baby food, part two

After attending a playdate on Friday where some of my mommy friends were talking about how they don't make their own baby food, I started to rethink my stance on homemade baby food. Is making your own baby food that cheaper from buying it in a jar?

Good question. So I decided to investigate.

I went to Farm Boy and bought four butternut squashes for a grand total of $6.66. Roughly, a jar of baby food is about 70 cents. I don't know about you, but I don't recall what jarred squash tastes like. It has been some time since I was a baby. According to one of my mom friends, it tastes horrible. I have no doubt that this fact is true as I have tasted jarred green beans and they are bland. No wonder darling daughter wasn't too crazy for them a couple of weeks ago.

After lunch, I decided to proceed with my experiment. I cooked up the butternut squash, which took a good hour. I let it cool before scooping the squash into a bowl. I got out the hand mixer in an attempt to get rid of the strings. Afterwards, I threw it in blender and added some water. I hit the puree button and waited for the blender to do its magic. I must of had too much squash in the blender because it wouldn't blend at all. I took half the squash out and tried it again. Success! (Honestly, I don't think making homemade butternut squash purees has to be all that complicated, but I'm anal when it comes to purees). This process took a good 30 to 40 minutes, at which time my dear husband got grumpy because I had overtaken the entire kitchen and he couldn't make a sandwich for lunch.

I ended up with about with the equivalent of eight, four ounce jars. And if my math is correct, it works out to be 83 cents per four ounce jar for my homemade squash puree. So there is a 13 cent difference between my homemade puree and the commercial purees available at the grocery store. My math doesn't take into account the electricity costs used to cook the squash and to power both my hand mixer and blender. And it certainly doesn't take into account my husband's grumpiness after he realized that making a sandwich would have to wait.

According to Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food, making your own baby food, and I quote, is like "making money at home." She uses carrots as an example. Now, maybe I'm not being fair as I used butternut squash as the subject of my experiment, which isn't all that cheap. Carrots I can see fits into her "making money at home" philosophy. Anyway, I intend to continue with my experiment. I have apples, mangoes (they were on sale) and pears to make in the coming days.

Can't have poopie discussions with childless friends, which is a very good thing

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my friend. I'm not too sure when she will show up, hopefully soon. I haven't seen her in months. Unless you consider her job a child (her job takes up a lot of her time) she has no children.

Obviously, your life changes when you have children. Your child literally consumes your life. Therefore, old friendships, sadly, go by the wayside. You don't mean for it to happen, it just can't be helped. Sure, you can keep in contact through facebook and MSN messenger, but it isn't the same. Life is busy and that phone call that you have been meaning to make to a friend or two, just never gets made.

Anyhoo, I think I may have guilted my friend in coming to visit us. But no matter, I'm excited I'm getting a visit from someone who is childless. In my new found world of motherhood, spending time with other moms and their babies can be incredibly stressful. Somedays it is like walking through a mine field as I always find myself comparing my kid to others and watching what I say in case I offend someone with my comments, especially when it comes to parenting. So when I get the opportunity to spend time with someone who is childless, I jump at the opportunity. There will be no talk of poop, breastfeeding, solids, naps or any of the other multitude of other topics that relate to babies. Yes, I almost become sane when I'm around people who are childless.

I hope my friend arrives soon. Other than dear husband and darling daughter, she'll likely be the only other person I get to talk to today.

Take your judgemental attitude and shove it

Although I'm new to this motherhood thing, I have learned one thing: we all judge ourselves as mothers. For the most part, I am the both the judge and jury when it comes to the parenting decisions I have made for darling daughter. Am I feeding her too much? Am I feeding her enough? Is she getting enough breastmilk? Is she nursing too much? Is she sleeping enough at night? Should her morning nap be longer? And the list goes on and on . . . But what I don't need is other mothers judging me.

A couple of weeks ago, I felt like I was verbally attacked for my decision to stay at home with darling daughter once my maternity leave is up. I have been debating on becoming a stay at home mom since darling daughter was born. I won't get into the details as I am sick of feeling compelled to justify to other mothers the reasons of my decision. Even in this modern age of choice, not everyone is supportive of women staying at home to raise their children. I don't even like discussing the subject with other mothers, in fear of offending someone or having someone judge me.

Some women may not approve of my choice, but regardless I have to find good, quality child care for my child. And who else would be better than me -- darling daughter's own mother -- to provide it? Somedays I don't feel like I'm making the right choice and other days I think it is the best choice I could make for both my daughter and I.

So to all those mothers who like to judge others, take you judgement attitude elsewhere. I already have enough on my plate than to deal with you, thank you very much.

Telemarketers raining on my parade

Right at this moment the house is silent. Darling daughter has gone down for her morning nap. It was a struggle. There were tears and protests, but she reluntantly gave into sleep. I don't know why she fights it so, but she does. Anyway, I'm crossing my fingers that she will sleep for a good hour. It seems likely lately how her day unfold hinges on her morning nap.

The only thing that will disturb naptime is a ringing telephone. Other than my parents, dear husband's parents and the odd friend, no one of importance really calls us. However, telemarketers are a whole different story.

I'm not a fan of telemarketers. I don't think there are a lot of people who are. I understand times they have a job to do, but I'm not really interested in listening to the spiel. I find that I can go a month without receiving a phone call from a telemarketer, but then suddenly I'm bombarded with calls for weeks on end. Lately, they have been calling my cell phone.

In the day of BC (before child) it wasn't a problem. I just didn't answer the phone when I saw a strange phone number pop up on my phone's display panel. Now I don't have that luxury. It doesn't matter if the phone ring once, it will wake up that child, resulting in the immediate termination of naptime and me cursing under my breath. I don't know why it has taken me so long to decide to unplug the phone altogether. I guess it takes me a while to clue into useful solutions. So when darling daughter was showing signs of tiredness this morning after breakfast, I immediately unplugged the telephone cord. However, I hope to remember to plug the cord back into the telephone outlet after naptime because I may be wondering why no one, including telemarketers, aren't phoning us.

I will not wear lululemon in public (unless I am going to the gym)

Ever since having darling daughter, I have been literally living in my lululemon pants. I have certainly gotten my $97 worth. For those who don't know, lululemon is a (and I'm quoting here) "yoga-inspired athletic apparel company with over 100 locations" across the world. Luckily for me, Ottawa has two locations. If I die tomorrow, my husband can certainly feel free to bury me in my lululemon pants. He wouldn't even have to go searching for them because I would likely be wearing them.

Since they are so darn comfortable, I just can't help wearing them. I wear them around the house, when I go shopping and when I go to the gym. But recently, I have been feeling frumpy and my lululemon pants aren't helping my cause to un-frump myself. In a couple of minutes I will be leaving to go to a meeting. Earlier this morning, I was wondering if I could get away with wearing my lululemon pants to said meeting. Despite the fact I have no clothes (my closet is filled with a mismash of clothes that don't fit, not approperiate or just plain ugly), I found a pair of jeans and a half decent shirt. I guess I look okay, but I have been struggling through this postpartum clothes stage and even going out to dinner with friends can be difficult because of this odd clothes related self esteem issue I have been suffering from.

So I have made a pledge not to wear my lululemon pants in public, unless I'm going to the gym. While wearing them at home is okay, I won't wear them when hosting a playdate or another event. I know it will be hard to do since they are so darn comfortable, but it is one of the steps I have to take to un-frump myself. Wish me luck