How about this?

http://www.platform27.co.uk/planejane

My new home??

No, no, no

Unlike yesterday, today I’m having a complete anti- day care day.  I don’t want to put Cooper in even just part time. I won’t get into my list of reasons because not of all of them are valid and most of them are completely argue able but for some reason, today I just feel that all though it would be a huge help, it isn’t right for me. 

This morning I signed us up for another class and maybe that’s what sparked it. I’m not sure. The more connected as a parent I feel, the more confident as a parent I feel.  And today I feel like I can do 2 under 2 and am thankful that I am able to even have 2 nevermind how thankful I am that I get to stay home. 

I’m not saying day care is by any means a bad thing because it’s not.  I just don’t like the idea of it for Cooper. Today anyway. And yes, I know I’ll need help when #2 arrives and no, I have no idea where I’m going to get it from because everyone I know works but we’ll manage.

In completely unrelated topics, I want to a new blog.  WordPress is good but I still haven’t managed my way around and there’s a few options that I’d like to use and don’t know how with wordpress.  Who do you use and how user friendly are they? 

Workshop

Today I attended a work shop for parents called “Nobody’s perfect”. It’s held at one of the playcentres that’s really close to us and all though I missed the first week since I was on the waiting list, I got called and a spot opened up.  I was really looking forward to this class because a) Cooper was going to be alone without me in the big playroom and I was going to be alone with the other moms in the craft/snack room and I wanted to see how he’d get on without me in a semi-strange place and b) the topics each week are all topics that I’d like to hear all about.  The class consissts of moms with children of different ages upto the age of 6. The youngest is 6 months and the oldest is 4 years old.  It gives a great perspective to have moms with little ones of all ages because the moms with the older ones can give info to the moms with younger ones.   I met 2 moms with 2 kids with around the same age gap as mine will be so I got to hear the low down from their perspective on what it’s really like.  Cooper did really great for his first time with having only a few melt downs in the beginning and having had to sit with me for the first 20 minutes but after I went out with him  the second time, got him involved in an activity he enjoyed and made sure one of the workers was with him so he wouldn’t feel alone, I went back into the room and he stayed out there happily for an hour and 10 minutes. I was super impressed. He was jsut starting to have a meltdown as the workshop was finishing so I went out just in time.  I must say, (and I don’t know if this sounds strange or not) but I noticed a difference in him after we got home. He was more happy and affectionate.  It made me feel really good about the desicion to put him in day care for 2 days a week.  Well for today anyway.  The desicion is still not final and I have not called to reserve the spot. Yes, I’m hesitating and it’s all me.

In other Cooper news, today was an explosion of new things for him. He started spinning himself around to the point where he gets himself really dizzy and falls over/walks like he’s had a few too many. He finds this hilarious and a lot of fun.  I think it’s pretty funny too but dangerous depending on where he decides to do it. Added house, bear and bread to his ever growing vocabulary and the huge one of staying alone in a strange place without me or familair family members.

In pregnancy related topics, the second trimester burst of energy has depleted. Entirely.  I am so tired but have been getting good amounts of sleep at night but I’m finding I need that nap (during Cooper’s nap) to just barely get me through the afternoon and by 10pm I’m completely finished.  27 weeks and counting. Next week I have my prenatal apt and after that it’s every 2 weeks.  I can’t believe how fast it feels like this pregnancy is going. And just like his brother was, this one is VERY active.

Well, I’m off to try and read a few pages of the new book I’m into.  It’s about raising boys. Very interesting so far. I’m only into the first chapter which has mostly talked about the genetic differences between boys and girls.  I’ll let you know more the further into it I get.

Life with a toddler

   This is a pitcure of Cooper the last few days.

After lunch we head upstairs before nap time to chill out and play with our toys.  I started putting the freshly washed sheets back on our bed while Cooper toddled off into the bathroom.  I hear the drawers opening and closing which is pretty harmless. We’ve put everything bad in the cuboards that are locked and just left the things that are okay for him to play with in the drawers.  Then I hear “uh-oh” and the toilet lid slam shut.  Then all goes quiet.  Quiet is never good. Knowing it’s going to be bad I grab the camera.  This is what I walk into…..

Day care

It’s 8am and Cooper is just waking up!?!?  He must be going through a growth spurt or getting his 2 year molars because he’s been sleeping 13 hours a night and still napping during the day (well, minus one day where he didn’t nap).  By 6:30 last night he was so tired he got up on our bed and snuggled in and just watched tv until bath time.  Hrmm, should I think anything of it?

Yesterday was such a mixed day. The morning started off with me calling 2 day cares to see about putting Cooper in for 2 days a week. Once this little one arrives I know I’ll need help.  I’m still battling with my inner turmoil of being a stay at home mom but looking for a day care 2 days a week but the rational, logical side of me knows that the list of pros for Cooper far exceeds my inner stress of wanting to be able to do it all. I have to face the reality that for the first 8 weeks (at least) I won’t be able to keep up with a busy 2 year old and all the issues with having a newborn.  I felt so incredibily guilty after I made the first apt and Cooper was so incredibly clingy yesterday morning that I was almost in tears.  By the end of the day I was willing to leave him on the neighbours porch with a sign saying “please bring back at bed time”. 

Seriously though, the thought of leaving him somewhere and him balling is enough for me to nix the whole thing but I know it’s good and maybe it won’t be that bad.  My first apt is this morning at 10am.  I’m now trying to think of all the questions I might have for the place that will have my son 2 days a week.  Anyone been through this before? Any advice on what to look/ watch out for?

Long Weekend

This weekend was busy. Great but busy.  Friday night hubby and I snuck out (thanks to the in-laws for babysitting) to a jack and jill. I actually wore high heel boots and a jean skirt.  Yeah me.

Saturday we had all of hubby’s family over for thanksgiving dinner in which I cooked a 30lbs turkey for.  Thankfully I have a big oven because it was a BIG bird.  It was great. Great company, great meal, great times.

Sunday we were off to Barrie for my family shin-dig and it was so gorgous out. We took an ultra long way up so we could enjoy all the beautifulness of fall and so Cooper could nap (Which he didn’t really until we were half an hour away). Then after dinner we went for a walk to walk off dinner and make room for dessert and it was the perfect fall day for it.  The leaves had all changed color and the sound of the water was so soothing (we were right on lake Simcoe).  Cooper loved being outside and didn’t want to go back in.  

Hubby had to work all night Sunday night. I think he got in around 4:30am and our hosue guests had gotten in pretty late as well so when Cooper woke up in the morning, I packed him and I up, picked up my mom and headed out a farm. It was the absolute coolest place for families. The list of things they had to do is endless.  Cooper had a ball all though he was in a beast of a mood and it got us out for the day. 

Needless to say Monday night I was soooooooo finished.  Hubby and I went ot bed early and even yesterday was spent recovering.  By 5:00pm yesterday I was pretty much sleeping with my eyes open.  I fell asleep by 9:30 but woke up a little later to watch the UFC fight. GO TITO!!!!!!  Cooper must be recovering from the weekend as well because he’s been sleeping 13 hours the past two nights. Which I am absolutely relishing because it won’t last and in a few short months it’s back to severe sleep deprivation for me.

Today is a dark rainy day. Cooper just fell asleep and I’m going to curl up under a blanket and hopefully stay awake long enough to finish my book.   

Drama

That’s what this past week has been full of. Nothing I want to get into cause it’s not worth the effort to write about but it’s why I haven’t blogged in a few days.

Today was Ella’s b-day and we went and visited her this morning.  She was so excited about her birthday it was the cutest thing ever.  I came home so Cooper could have his nap but I think all the excitement this morning has him still a bit wired.  Later I have to go grocery shopping for all the thanksgiving dinner things we’ll be having.  I’m so excited. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite celebrations.  We’re having hubby’s family here on Saturday and then going to my aunt’s on Sunday.  I’ll be doing stuffing on my own for the first time and maybe even a pumkin pie. At my aunt’s, my family always goes on a nice long walk after dinner and I just love walking with the crunch of colored leaves underneath my feet.  We always get some really great pictures too.  The men usually stay behind and nap and us women just gab away while walking.  This weekend is supposed to be gorgous too so it’s going to be great. 

We also do a name draw (kind of like Kris Kringle) on both sides of our family for christmas which gets me really excited too because it’s like being given the ok to  start your christmas shopping.  I’ve been feeling quite crafty lately so for hubby’s family I made little christmas tree ornaments with name tags attached to them so everyone has a little keep sake.  Just to get everyone in the mood.

Well I’m off now to write some letters.  hope everyone is having a great week.

Human Error

Is inevitable.  Wherever there are people there are going to be errors.  I’m usually understanding of this except for in the situation that arose this evening. It is completly unacceptable in my opinion and all though I have to live with “human error” for the answer it’s does not be  put me at the ease that I am paying money monthly for.

I went to my parents and got a call on my cell phone. I missed it and just as I was checking my e-mail, my mom’s phone rings and it’s our alarm company. She’s on the list as an emergency contact.  My mom hands me the phone and the guy proceeds to tell me that our alarm has gone off, the police have been dispatched and can I make my way home to meet them there.  I had just spoken to hubby who was on his way home about 20 minutes prior. I’m confused. I ask the guy how long the alarm has been going off for them to dispatch the police. He looks at the file and says the first alarm came from the main entrance motion sensor at 5:07pm and the back door went off at 5:42pm. The police were dispatched and could I go home. I informed the guy my husband should have been home by now and that I was going to call him to see what was going on.  I immediately called hubby (who had jsut got home and turned the alarm off) and he said everything was fine.  I left my parents house and made my home. Now my head is filling with questions.  If the first alarm went of at 5:07pm why was I not called until 5:45??  If I had been home and something bad actually did happen, that means no one on the contact list would have been called. Not even hubby.  I came in the door and called our security company back with a birrade of questions. The woman I was speaking with I think sensed how upset I was (I’m not nice in situations like this) and put me through to her supervisor.  All he could say was “this is totally unacceptable and we’re working on it right now. See the data on your file was a bit messed up and to a new person working here and seeing the motion detector going off and that the police had been dispatched, didn’t know to make any further calls because of the way your file was set up but the 2nd person who phoned you was a more experienced person and knew what to look for.”  That is supposed to make me feel better?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?!   If I was home and something horrible was happening to me, no one would have been contacted becuase of the way my file was set up??????  The whole point of having an alarm company is for the reassurance that you are taken care of in an emergency and most importantly that people are called who need to be called.   What actually happened is it was probably the cats that somehow set off the motion sensor all though pets under 40lbs are supposed to be undetectable, the police were dispatched and the cop set off the back door alarm when he came to check things out.  I’m thankful that it wasn’t a real emergency and I’m thankful that this error is being straightened out now before a real emergency actually happens.

Definitly fall

I type this sitting at my kitchen table, drinking a nice hot french vanilla while looking out the window at the the trees in my backyard changing their colors.  I also just noticed how mangy the kitten that’s been hanging out in our backyard looks. Poor thing must be  a stray. I’ll have to set up a little home for it outside for the winter.  I’m going off topic here.

The nights have been getting chillier and when we got into bed on Friday night I must have shivered for 20 minutes before the bed warmed up.  Time for the flannel sheets I said to hubby. Saturday morning I went off to one of my favorite stores (I actually don’t like it but there always cheaper so I find I’m there more than any other store). ANyway, they were having this amazing sale on household items so I thought, perfect time to stock up. I was walking through the store and noticed they had flannel bed sheets on sale so I got  Cooper a pair of flannette sheets also.  He sleeps with his favorite, must have everywhere we go, blankets but they don’t actually cover him at night and it’s getting too cold for him to have nothing.  Plus, if I’m cold getting into bed then he must be too.  When I got home I washed them and put them on his bed.  They match his room perfect.  THen did ours next. 

Last night getting into bed, it was absolute HEAVEN!!!  One of my favorite things about this time of year is going to bed and being surrounded in flannel. There’s nothing warmer or softer.  I was so tired but wanted to stay awake just to relish how good it felt to be all wrapped up and covered in flannel. This morning I woke upto Cooper talking nicely at 7:45.  7:45!!!!  I guess even Cooper couldn’t resist the awesomeness of flannel sheets.  THen by 11 he came and brought hubby his bed time book, hubby read it to him while I changed him and he left and went to his room. He came back twice to kiss hubby and then went to his room, closed the door and went to bed.  He hasn’t been napping until 1 lately so this was totally strange for him. Anyway, we didn’t let him nap butmy point is how much he must be enjoying his new soft bed. He’s now napping and has been for 2 hours now.  Not a peep out of him.

I’m off now to get ready for when Cooper wakes up. I’d like to spend some timeoutside with him getting the garden ready for winter and then we’re going to be having a really amazing home cooked, creamy dinner. 

This really is the best time of year.

Borrinngg

I haven’t been posting much this week because I don’t have much to say. It seems I’m a scatter brains this week and can’t think of one thing that I could write more than a few sentences on so instead I’m going to do a point form post on random things that my scatter brain has been thinking about.

- I LOVE this product.   http://www.scrubbingbubbles.com/auto-showercleaners/index.aspx

I HATE cleaning bathrooms. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Specifically, I hate cleaning showers. Especially stand up showers when I’m 6 months pregnant and can barely move around in them.  Anyway, this handy dandy thing cleans your shower for you.  you do nothing people. Nothing. Well, except press a button when you get out of your shower. And IT WORKS. My shower was almost at an embarrassing state and we’ve been using this thing for about week now and my shower is sparkling.  I’m amazed and thrilled and yes, I know that’s sad.

- I am really enjoying Robin McGraw’s “Inside my heart: Choosing to live with Passion and Purpose” book.  I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as I’m finding it.  I find I’m even telling hubby excerpts (sp?) out of the book from what I’ve read that day.

- As of this morning I had a box of Rice Krispies in my pantry that expired in October of 2005.  How gross is that?  And hubby was about to eat them for breakfast after me (not paying attention to what he was holding) told him that yes, they were okay to eat.  Now he thinks I’m after the insurance money   Yikes.

-  Baby is laying in a really uncomfortable position today.  I’m also feeling really big and still haev 3 more months to go. Help me.

And, I’d like to keep going cause I know this is just so intrigueing but hubby’s home from work and dinner is calling.  I promise better stuff later but can’t promise it soon. My brain is officially being taken over by baby mush.