Cry Me A River

So this post is more of a "mommy help" post than my usual random thoughts...

I absolutely, completely, irrevocably, adore my little girl... but I have an issue. She cries over EVERYTHING! And what I want to know is... is it a phase, or are girls just THIS emotional? She is the sweetest most thoughtful and caring little girl, but if she gets the slightest bit frustrated, she starts to cry.

I really am trying to be empathetic and understanding, but this one is really hard for me. I almost never cry (pregnancy throws that statement out the window though) so it's hard for me to relate. At first I would sweetly talk to her and help her work through whatever was upsetting her, and now I'm not mean or heartless about it, but I do try to explain to her that it's not something we need to cry about, and remind her that she's good at solving problems and then ask her what she thinks she should do.

What about you guys? Anyone have this issue? Anyone have any insight? By telling her it's nothing to cry about, am I being mean or negating her feelings? I mean... today Nixon disagreed with her and she about started to ball... is that normal?

Any moms out there willing to share their experience or knowledge?

Enchanted with Entitlement

So the kids and I just finished watching the movie "Enchanted" and it got me thinking....
At the beginning, it starts out with the princess or I guess maiden... all happy and waiting for her prince to come and for them to share in "Love's true kiss". And of course, he comes, sweeps her off her feet (literally) and then says "We shall be married in the morning". So naturally, I scoffed at this and was like "oh right, we meet and are married in the morning and will live happily ever after". And then the movie goes on and the queen casts her to NYC and there she meets Robert who teaches her about the reality of life and she teaches him of course of happily ever afters and they end up in love and together and then Robert's girlfriend ends up with Prince Edward. So what had me thinking was the ending, when it showed Robert's girlfriend and the Prince getting married. This led me to thinking of a simpler time when roles were clearly defined and people knew what they had to do to make life work.

Now just so we are ALL CLEAR... I am a working mom who LOVES her work, and I totally understand the necessities of working and the importance of being with your family and that we live in the 21st century... this is just a train of thought that I am sharing with you!

Now... when the movie ended, I thought now they'll get married and have kids and live happily ever after. And we all know that "Happily Ever After" is relative... that one person's H.E.A might not be yours and there are different ways to define it. But I started to think... they'll have kids, she'll be the nurturer, he'll be the provider and they'll live that life. But wait a minute... why are there so many issues with THAT life? I am striving to live THAT life but still find myself longing for more.... why is that?

I mean, THAT life has worked for years and years and years... and then all of a sudden we decided it didn't and all hell broke loose! What I am referring to (in case you haven't realized) is the Women's Movement. Now HOLD ON! And stop badmouthing me under your breath! I'm not saying the Women's movement was bad.. lotsa good came out of it... changes of laws on reproductive rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, voting rights, sexual harassment etc. etc. What I'm referring to is the change in attitude that came from this.

All of a sudden, being a mom and caring for your kids and being the person to kiss all their boo-boos and teach them right from wrong, and taking care of your family and their health and their needs failed to be enough. Women wanted MORE... they wanted to be seen as the men (and I believe we are equal in every way), they wanted to be out there proving their worth instead of caged up in a house with their offspring all day. (I Am Woman Hear Me ROAR!) Now, this is what I see as a negative. Yes we are equal, I believe that! But that doesn't mean we have to pull the "anything you can do I can do better" thing. There is something special and quite noble about a woman who can truly find joy in loving, caring for and raising her family. (Now I am one of those who strives for MORE... I wish I didn't and am working towards finding true happiness and contentment in my primary role as a mother).

So my thoughts had led me to thinking of the past... thinking of that simpler time, when men worked hard to provide for and take care of their family, and when women where nurturing and loving and happy. (Not JUST happy to stay at home... but just overall... HAPPY!)

Ok, so like I mentioned before, I work and LOVE what I do. I am also a stay at home mom and am proud of it! I love my kids and I LOVE being the one who is there for them and who gets to see every side of them and watch them grow on a daily.. hourly.. second-by second basis!

Back to that simpler time... Roles were clearly defined, everyone knew what they did to make life work and it worked. Where they happy? Honestly? I think they were!

I picture a family where the husband gets up to go to work and the wife is there by his side, helping to make his morning easier. I picture that wife ironing his shirt (I HATE IRONING.... just a side-note) and I picture the husband giving her an appreciative kiss as he takes his shirt and buttons up his boots and gets ready for the morning. I picture the wife lovingly making him a hearty homemade breakfast that will help him to have the energy to go about his daily labours. I see their children waking up and doing some chores and having breakfast and I see them getting ready for school or other chores. I see them as a family seeing their father off and telling them they love him as he heads off to work. I see the Mother then helping the children finish getting ready for school and what not and singing a happy little tune as she tidies the kitchen and gets on with her day. I picture the mother cleaning and cooking and tending to their home which is her sanctuary and because of all of her diligence and hard work in making it beautiful and a haven, I see her enjoying it. I see the mother after a busy morning and some chores, reading a book in the afternoon or taking a nap. I see her getting dinner started and her husband coming home from a very busy day and helping set the table. I see the father playing with the kids and asking them about their days. I see the family sitting down for dinner and enjoying each others' company. I see the family kneeling in prayer at the end of the day to offer gratitude to their Father in Heaven for all that they have been blessed with... and aren't they blessed?

OK... now I know some if not MANY of you will tell me that I'm delusional and that's not how life is... that the kids will fight, the parents will fight, the house will be a mess and they'll all be miserable! (ok maybe that's a bit much). I wonder though... how that wife felt. If she felt like she was missing out on a stressful busy day at the office, or if she enjoyed being at home in HER home with her family. I wonder if that husband felt that he was doing all the work and his wife should step up to the plate and do more. If they are truly happy (and I suspect they are). I don't think so.

I think the wife understands her worth and her value in the home. I think she understands the potential she has to influence her children and her family in ways that no secondary caregiver ever could. I think the husband respects and appreciates his wife. I think he knows how much she works to tend to their family and is truly grateful for her as his equal partner.

I think the children see their parents' love for one another and it makes them feel happy and secure. I think they see that their parents don't love every thing they are doing, but they do it happily because they absolutely love whom they are doing it for.

I don't believe every day is a day full of bliss and cheer. I believe many hardships will come to this family, but because they are so happy to be working together and for one another that these hardships will come and go and that this family will remain in tact... completely unshaken.

This family in my mind, was living in a sweet cottage in the prairies sometime in the late 1800s or early 1900s... not unlike Anne of Green Gables. But that doesn't mean that we can't have this family in our homes today.

I am well aware of the drastic changes in time since the picture I had in my head would have been a reality... but that doesn't mean that we can't still have the same spirit that this family had.

I understand that we have sports and school and dance and work and a million things to complicate such a simple life... but still, I wonder... why are we so unhappy? Depression rates are increasing and we seem to be less happy and less content. Why is this? (Just an interesting side-note... that study said that generations have been increasingly more depressed since those born in 1915... since the women's movement started in the 50s... those women born in 1915 would have been 35 at the time of the movement... I'm just saying is all). But why are we getting increasingly more depressed? Didn't women like the one in my little picture get sad or depressed? Didn't they have extremely difficult lives and hormonal imbalances?

My sister-in-law and I were talking about a similar subject not too long ago, she had read a book in which they talked about this. They talked about how women now a days are over thinking, that we are so educated (not a bad thing) that we over analyze. In the book, the author interviews some elderly women, and asked what they did when they got depressed... and the women replied "depressed? Oh honey, we had some hard times, but we just pulled up our socks and worked through it". (Now those may not be the exact words... but something quite similar.) The book went on to say how now a days, we basically diagnose ourselves with all sorts of problems (and I'm not saying chemical depression is just a myth or anything.. trust me I know it isn't) when they just didn't have time or maybe even the knowledge of/for such things.

Now I really hope I didn't totally butcher that book but it made me think, why isn't it enough? Why do we always long for more? Why can't we be happy with what we have? Weren't they happy back then? Part of me wonders if it's that we now feel entitled to soo much. We should work too!(as if being a stay at home mom isn't loads and loads of work and I understand needing to work), We should have a bigger house, We should have a nicer car, We should etc. etc. But is that it? Do we feel entitled to so much that we lose sight of what we do have... and what is so quickly slipping away from us?

And to tell you the truth... this is where my thought process ends... I have no idea why we're so much unhappier as a society... more crime? more murder? would happier homes and families change that? Would a simpler life change that? I don't know... do you?

The Long Awaited Post

So I have no idea why it's taken me so long to post about our vacation but here it goes!

So after Christmas we headed to the Caribbean! My parents were both born and raised on an Island called St.Vincent. It's pretty close to Barbados and not too far from Venezuela. I've visited before but when I was 3, 5, and then not again 'til this year... when I'm 24! So needless to say it was very much like visiting for the first time! So here's the story from the beginning:

Flights from Canada to Barbados only leave from Toronto, so our first leg of the trip was boarding a plane to the T-Dot at 12:00AM! Or something like that. It was sooooo much fun with the kids (3 1/2 and about to turn 2). Sorry if you got a little damp from the dripping sarcasm there... anywho... so the wait in the airport and the plane ride really wasn't too bad... the kids seemed to be fairly decent... Liv fell asleep and well.. Nick had Nixon! So the girls got some rest on the 5 hour flight and then we met up with my Mom in Toronto and waited just a couple hours for our next flight to Barbados! So that went not too bad either except the boy hardly slept! Then we get to Barbados! OH MAN!

Barbados was warm and beautiful and we started to get excited for our vacation... until...
Until we had to wait in line and go through customs even though we were just hopping on another flight! Well.. the plane to St.Vincent only allows you 1 piece of checked luggage per person unlike our planes from Canada.. (and a baby doesn't count... they have more crap than the rest of us!) which was fine for my family... but my mom had extra baggage so we had to juggle luggage around while at the front of the line to check in and while trying to make our next flight which was leaving VERY soon! (within 30 min) So... we move stuff around, get it all done and then we have to go through security and OH YA since we shuffled our crap around Nick's shaving kit ends up in a carry on and they throw out like all of his stuff.... toothpaste, shaving cram, hair stuff etc. etc.! AND our kids start freaking out and crying!

SO Nick is the first one through security... my mom and I are juggling all our carry on stuff, trying to take off belts and shoes, dealing with rude Airport people (VERY common in Barbados) and both kids while trying to get out passports and what not when Liv decides to have an even bigger freak out and that she doesn't want to go on another plane and wants to go back home... So what does she do?! SHE BOOKS IT BACK THE WAY WE CAME! Oh man I was about to kill her! SO I had to drop all my stuff and chase her down the airport!I catch up to her and she starts screaming and kicking (14+hours after we started with only like a 2-3hour nap when she's supposed to be asleep for the night... think she's tired much?)!

So I get Liv, we get through security with lots of looks and comments and then book it to the plane that has already boarded! We make it on the plane and are the last ones there... 30 minutes later, we're in St.Vincent! FINALLY!

Liv on the Plane.... when she was happy!

To Be Continued.... (wanted to add dramatic effect and I'm kinda tired lol)

LDS Apostles

So for those of you who are not LDS, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is led by a Prophet (kinda like the pope) and then he has 2 Apostles and that makes up the 1st Presidency. Then there are 12 others that make up the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and then there are other groups but for now that's all I need to clarify lol.

So I really want my kids to learn more about the religion we live and although just about every LDS kid can tell you who their Prophet is, they usually can't tell you much about the rest of the leaders of their church, and I really want to teach my kids more. So today, I found this awesome video on You Tube that a group of LDS singers made and I'm gonna play it for Liv so she can learn their names and a little about the 1st Presidency and 12 Apostles of our church. I think we're gonna do a Family Home Evening Lesson about it too. Here it is:

It Only Took 23 Years & 2 Kids!

So last week, I went to Winnipeg with the kids and one of my best friends, Sarah. If any of you know me, I was really quite worried about the whole thing... being without Nick in a not very childproof house, and not to mention that my mom and I often butt heads when in close quarters for too long, but it was amazing! I can't believe how great the trip was, I actually found myself thinking "If I had to stay longer... that's be OK!" Now that's a HUGE deal! It's not that I don't like my mom or anything, it's just kinda weird, it's like when I'm back in that environment i get really defensive & regress back to childhood. It's like I know she's going to try to mother me, so I have to be obnoxious and a brat to let her know that "I'm a big girl now" and can do it myself! And of course when I do that, she sees the twelve year old snotty kid that used to say that and of course the mothering gets laid on even thicker! But this time... this time the heavens opened and my prayers were answered! It truly was an anomaly... Nothing short of an act of God! This time, my mom looked at me still as her little girl, but as a grown up version whom she finally realized was completely capable of raising her own family, making her own decisions and was a full fledged adult! It was an actual friendship! We went shopping together and asked each other's opinions on things and it was just soo refreshing! I am really looking forward to the next time I get to go to Winnipeg -with or without Nick! And you know what else? Since I've been home I've called my mom about a million times to tell her about my latest finds and bargains and just to chat. It's been absolutely awesome and it only took 23 years and 2 kids!

There's Pee on My Kitchen Table!

So, a few weeks ago, I decided to potty train Livi.. AGAIN! So, for the umpteenth time we set out! I decided to just stick her in panties and take that route... well, let me tell you, this kid could care less if she's drenched in her own urine! She would spread her legs, look down and watch herself pee on the ground! Now, I know that she knows the feeling when she has to go potty, because every time she asks to go, she does it immediately. She's just a little stinker! So anywho... we were eating dinner, Nick was away, and I went to the bathroom and when I came back, she was squatting on the kitchen table doing her business! Yes, yes, this sounds quite entertaining to you I bet... but that's not the full extent of where my little "angel" has marked her territory! We were in the basement and I was doing who knows what... probably on the computer and she started to go, so I told her to stop and we ran to the potty & she finished. Then about 40 minutes later, she was on the couch and decided that this time, she would put her feet on the coffee table, her hands on the couch and balance between the two and go on the ground in between them! So... once again, I yell stop, run her to the potty and she finishes. (Yes, I have been cleaning up the little puddles in between accidents and giving the "talk" about how we need to go on the potty each time.) Now.. let me tell you, I have been sooo good during all of this! I warned myself before we started this that it would take her a little while, and that she's not being bad, it's just a part of her learning and all that. SO I am being kind, compassionate and surprisingly patient. So then an hourish later, she goes on the ground again, and we go through the routine and then within an hour she'd repeated the squat and look 4 or 5 times, each time finishing on the potty and going quite a lot. So then I put two and two together and remember that she's been acting funny when she pees lately, like crossing her legs, and she's even said she has an owie, and that's just too often for her to go, so I take her in to the doctor to get checked for a UTI... it came back clear, but the doc gave me a small dose of antibiotics for her anyway because what I was describing sounded like a UTI. I'm still not sure if it was, but unfortunately, she's still not potty trained. Of course, we had to have a few more incidents before we gave up for the time... like when she peed in the little cup in Nixon's exersaucer!... Yes.. she took off her diaper, carefully positioned herself over the little cup and let er rip! And then shortly after that she made her way back to the kitchen.. and yes.. for the second time, There's Pee on My Kitchen Table!

Off to a fantastic start!

So I wrote that last entry and then "creeped" on fceb00k for an hour! Looking at wedding pics and baby pics and wholy... I swear EVERYONE is preggo! Crazy! So I won't be doing a ton ...or any updating tonight as everyone in my house is asleep and my eyes are starting to hurt, so goodnight, see you in the morning and it looks like we're off to a fantastic start!.... lol. i know... not one of my better posts, but my shoulder's gonna fall off 'cause I'm lying in bed with Nixon asleep on my arm, and I'm attempting to somewhat sit up and type... very uncomfortable, but what can I say... my public awaits and I'll painfully type for you guys!... That's how much I love you!

Let's Lock & Load!

Ok, so I know I've been pretty bad... OK absolutely horrible at keeping my blog updated, so for the next few hours and whenever I have spare time (with 2 kids under 2 that's all the time!.. .HA!) I WILL BE BLOGGING! That's right folks, you heard it here first; I, Keshia pledge to update my blog, including, but not limited to adding pictures of the kidlings (that one's for you Ashley!), witty entries (well.. I'll try) and well, pretty much whatever else pops into this complex and crazy mind of mine. So here we go... entries in absolutely no particular (or logical) order.... let's lock and load!

I'm so busy I'm eating Pizza Pops!

Hello all my faithful blogging audience members! I know I know.. an apology is in order! I'm sorry that I haven't been blogging much.. or at all! But I haven't fallen off the planet... my kids haven't driven me to a loony bin.. close, but we dodged that bullet! lol. no.. I have been INSANELY busy! I've been doing design work and I've been doing some independent learning (website and e-commerce stuff) and we've had a plethora (haven't used that word in a while... can you tell that I'm reading books again and not just talking to a 2 year old?) of activities, meetings and appointments! Not to mention I'm a full time mommy to 2 teething children! Yes.... I am sooo busy that right now for lunch, I'm eating pizza pops! ewwwww! (sorry if you like them.. but I'm one of those make-it-myself kinda ppl and so they're kinda sickly to me.. I didn't even buy them... nick did!) Anywho... I just wanted you all to know that YES I AM STILL BLOGGING... just not lately... and probably not again for a week or so... but I love you all and all of your comments so I PROMISE I will blog as soon as I get a handle on my life again! But until then... it's Pizza Pops for me!

Mommy's Angel

That's what I call her, "Mommy's Angel"; and now, when I ask her if she's my angel she says, "Yes, I mommy's agel!" it's cute. She really is.. and I feel so bad 'cause I get soo frustrated with her all the time. It seems like all I do is yell at her and she's really sooo sweet. I mean, don't get me wrong, she does break things and blatantly disobeys, she hits, or steps on her brother, she hits, on the rare occasion she bites, (yes, I am aware that I put she hits twice), she hits, she throws stuff.. yup... it's all there, all the qualities of an angel -each & every one! (did I mention she hits?) But all in all she really truly is my little angel.... even if she prefers everyone in the house over me! (She really does!) Lol... so now, when I go to get her from her room, whether it be from a nap or in the morning, the first thing she says without a second glance at me is "where's daddy?" and as I answer every time "he's at work" she just as bluntly asks "where's Nixon"! Yes, to be the novelty.. how nice! Daddy's not around as much as mommy, so naturally, he's the favourite... but I'm the one cooking and cleaning and playing ALLLLL DAY LONG! Oh well, just call me the invisible mom! (you like that play on words? yeah... I'm clever!) I know, I know.. every little girl just adores her father. but now it's not just where's daddy & Nixon... she goes through the family.... "where's stephnee, where's bridgey, where's snow white, kyanne's snow white, wheres.. " and the list goes on. Yesterday, I threatened to send her to her room (which works marvelously might I add) and she started crying and said "I want Bailey-Lincoln" (who are 2 of her friends) an then today she told me "I need Kelly-Weston" (who are 2 of my friends). (oh, and I hyphenate the 2 names because that's the way she says it, so fast that it almost sounds like one name). So it's true, she wants anyone.... ANY-ONE but mom! Oh well.. at least she SAYS she's mommy's angel... and I do have my little man who loves me MORE than his daddy and that's a real confidence booster.... maybe he'll be next in line for the title of "mommy's angel".

Mommy Wow!... I'm a big kid now!

So Livi is almost potty trained! As of this week it's like a switch turned on in her head and she recognizes more when she needs to go and stops and tells me and we go to the potty! We've been very casually potty training for a few months... it was more like getting her comfortable with the potty and knowing that that's what we're supposed to use. I've been too lazy to actually full on potty train, although I've made many commitments to start (it just never actually happens! lol.)
Sad though, this means that my baby girl is no longer a baby, she's growing up... and fast too! Just like she told me yesterday..."Mommy, I a big gurl!" *sigh... well at least I still have one little mess maker that needs me to change his cute lil' bottom! -Not that I love changing poopy butts, I mean, I don't really mind all that much, but Liv's becoming so independent! Lately, I've been hearing a lot of "mommy, I did iiiit!" (referring to puzzles, getting up somewhere, the potty... everything!) It's nice to know that I'm needed...I know, I know.. .she's not even 2 yet but still...my lil' baby's a "Big Gurl"now... Wow!

On Belay!

WOOOOO! That's all I can say! WOO-HOO!!! Last night was my first class rock climbing @ the Y! It was AWESOME! I haven't loved something brand new like this right off the back since I started Rugby! It was sooo much fun and such a thrill! I made it all the way to the top in my FIRST DAY! I got 3 climbs in yesterday... the first was a little scary 'cause the whole height factor didn't click in until I was pretty high up and then I wasn't sure if I trusted my partner/the rope but it was awesome! My next climb I got kinda tired and came down, 1/2 way up one of the harder walls but my third climb I scaled that baby! It's soo much fun and so exhilarating! And what's even more awesome is that Nick loves climbing too, so I think for a date we're gonna go and climb together during one of the drop0-in times @ the Y. It was soo nice to get out and do something solely for ME! I love my kids but momma needs a little me time! It was also nice to do some exercise.. I mean I do exercise now on a regular basis (I have a hip-hop workout and a belly dance workout DvD that are surprisingly fun! & tough!) but this is a different kind of exercise. And man is it tough! Your arms get such a workout! I've never felt some of those muscles before! I also met some really nice people there too! My class is called "Women with Altitude" how cute is that? So it's a women's class and it's a riot! My partner was this really nice lady from Manchester, UK! It was cool listening to her accent as we climbed. I can't wait until next week 'cause I've got a fever and the only prescription is more climbing! (and the occasional cowbell lol!) I bet you can see my enthusiasm in my extensive use of exclamation marks!!!! haha lol. Well, this woman's got a taste of altitude and I'm addicted... On Belay!!!

Ducks in a row

Every day when Liv has her bath she lines her rubber duckies up in a row. It definitely makes sense when you look at her personality. She's quite particular about what she wants, but she is a girl who knows just what she wants.. and when too! I think its great that she has such a strong personality and I know she'll do great things in life 'cause at 20 months she's already got her ducks in a row!

Brotherly er... Sisterly? ....Love!

So when we found out we were having another baby (Nixon you nut job! Geeze! He's not even 3 months old yet!) we wondered how Olivia would react to him but ya know what? I couldn't have asked for a better relationship between them! I know I know they're both still babies so who knows what the future will bring but let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing sweeter than seeing the two of them together!

Olivia is I think the best big sister I have ever seen! She really just loves him! When she wakes up she asks for him, when he cries, she's the first to run to his aid. She's always willing to get him diapers or throw away the dirty ones, or give him his soother and push him in his swing. Or steal his blanket or accidentally hit him, or read him a story or sing him a song! She is just an all around loving big sister! The other day, I had Nixon doing tummy time and he started to cry and Livi went over to him, sat next to him patted his back and started sushing him! It was sooo sweet! I video taped it so later on in life I can look back & have proof that at one time my kids did like each other!

It makes me so happy that they are so close... it's the reason that we chose to have them so close in age, because it was 5 years between me & my closest brother. But I tell you, every day it's so sweet to see them interact more & more... Nixon smiled at Liv for the first time last week and then cooed at her! She responded with an "awwwwww! he likes you!!!!" (she doesn't quite get the you/me thing when talking about yourself yet). I love seeing their brotherly... er... sisterly... well... their love!

Giggles Under the Door

Olivia's been in a big girl bed since January and every time she wakes up from her nap (or wakes up period) she goes to the door. If it's first thing in the morning she lays in front of the door and kicks it until we go and get her, but when she wakes up from a nap she is soo cute! She's usually in a great mood when she gets up from her nap and lies down in front of the door peeking under it and in the cutest voice says "Mommy... where are you?... Daddy.... where are you?" She's sooo cute! It always melts my heart so when I hear that she's awake I run upstairs and lie on the other side of the door and look under it at her. She's my lil' angel and she's just such a sweetheart. It's moments like that that I just crave! Oh how I love that lil' munchkin! & how I look forward to when she wakes up from her next nap (in about an hour) and we get to exchange a few more giggles under the door!

The Calm After the Storm

So we just got back from watching "Enchanted" at the cheap seats and by we I mean, me, Olivia, Nixon & my in-laws... it was fun, luckily there weren't too many people in the theatre (about 5 others) 'cause Livi got bored about 1/2 way through and started to wander and climb and spin. I don't think Nixon was too impressed that we took him to a chick-flick 'cause he decided to fuss for most of the show but nonetheless it was nice to get out. When we get back to my in-laws (where I've been staying for the weekend since my husband's never coming home) Nick calls and says that they're going to be delayed even more, Nixon starts crying & won't be consoled, Olivia is whiny and yelling, I am trying to feed her because it's her bedtime and she hasn't eaten much today, my father-in-law is trying to help however he can, my mother-in-law is trying to go to sleep 'cause she's working midnights and I'm also trying to quiet everyone so she can sleep! Nothing less than a gong show!

Finally, I give up on shoveling food into my toddler's mouth and get her some milk, some jammies and put her to bed, then I grab the baby and start nursing him hoping even more food will work, which it does, for now, and now as I sit to blog with my nursing baby, my own plate of now ice cold food a massive headache and the sadness of being alone even longer I wonder.. how did they do it? This was common 60 years ago (and unfortunately becoming so again) when women would send their precious husbands away to war for an unknown amount of time and hold down the fort! All I can say is hats off to all you Rosie the Riveters out there! I don't know how much longer I can do it but I do know that I need to enjoy the rare moments when there's a calm... especially after the storm! ...and hopefully it will all be over soon...

Flying Solo

So my dear hubband has been away for over a week now and what was supposed to be a one week work trip has now turned into 2. Let me tell you... it's quite fun being home all alone with my crazy toddler entering the terrible twos and my newborn. (In case you are completely clueless that was dripping with sarcasm!) It really (surprisingly) hasn't been all that bad. I do have my extremely stressful moments like when I have to take the baby to get his shots and have to bring Olivia too and she takes off her clothes and runs around like a mad woman in the nurse's office. Or when I'm talking to my sis-in-law on the phone and Nixon starts screaming and then livi starts screaming and empties an entire bowl of rice & chicken on the ground. Or many other occasions just as remarkable. This does make me appreciate my husband more... and when I'm not overly stressed my kids as well. I've been keeping awfully busy though (which explains the lack of blogging), I've been doing some work with my lil' business (Keshia Larsen Designs) and working like crazy on my house just finishing all those little projects that are 90% finished and I never got around to. I've also started a mommy's group and I actually now have kind of a social life! Look at me go! Anywho.. That's what's new with us maybe I'll post more exciting blogs when I have a little more energy and the toddler hasn't kept me up all night! But for now, I'm exhausted, over worked and under paid and flying solo!

The Corner Prayer

So as the parents of a 19 month old going on 16 we have been plagued with how to enforce a bit of discipline. It's been interesting, and since I'm against spanking (unless nothing else works) we've been tying all sorts of alternatives. My favourite has been the time outs... not because of its effectiveness (the corner doesn't work with this one) but because of the cute factor of her reaction to her 1st time out. So she was screaming & hitting so we put her in the corner for a time out and made her fold her arms. I had her repeat "I will not hit" and "we don't scream" and "I will obey" yaddi yaddi.. so after she was done repeating me, she promptly says "amen" and returns to her toys. It was quite entertaining, but I guess there's a bright side... at least she's learning to say prayers!

Nixon Duke

The Duke is Born!

So I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post pictures or just to blog about little Nixon's arrival. However, if you really are my friend, you would have looked at my facebook and seen it all on there! I know I know, I posted on facebook from the hospital and not on here. I think it's cause I care more about what I put on here. This is like a journal to me, I feel my kids will have a pretty good insight into me from my blog, my scrapbooks and my poetry... no stone will be unturned. Anywho here's the buzz (I know, I know.. how lazy -copy & paste from facebook but I did add a little more explanation!)

Well, he's finally here! and what a week! On Tuesday I went in for a doctor's appointment and all was well. She striped my membranes to hopefully help me progress a little bit which really did a whole lot of nothing except make me even more uncomfortable than I already was. On Wednesday (the 9th) I went in for an ultrasound and he was small for dates, (no surprise there, so was Livi.) so the doctor told me to "hang tight" while she called my doc and then when she came back, she informed me that we were going to be having a baby! So the hospital called us and let us know that we could come in for an induction on Thursday night @ 8. (all explained in a little more detain in my post titled "d-day") So, we went in and they tried various ways to induce me but i only made it to 4cm. This time though I had Demerol (wonderful drug) and then an epiderral (God's gift to pregnant women) so I really didn't feel much pain. But unfortunately, even after many promising & encouraging contractions that Nixon did great through, we needed another c-section because we just weren't progressing. But he came on Friday night @ 11:23 p.m. and we're both doing great. Our baby boy is here weighing in at 5lbs 10oz and 18.5" long! When we got home, Liv was more excited to see me than to be bothered with a new baby. She missed me very much which is nice since she usually doesn't miss me much... just her dad! Anywho, the first day was kinda rough for that little tyke. She didn't understand why I couldn't pick her up and had a bit of trouble adjusting but the next day it was like Nixon had always been here. She just adores him and gives him lots of hugs and kisses and is very helpful getting and throwing away diapers and just doing whatever I ask. (my amazing little 18 month old!) So we are now a family of 4. I still am not quite sure how I feel having 2 kids as I haven't been alone since the hospital. When all the dust settles in 2 1/2 weeks and I'm all alone and ready to start my routine as a mom of 2 I will let you know how it all goes! It's been fun having people around, but I'm about done with visitors. I really just want to do my own thing and work on a schedule with 2 kids, but I really do need the help. It's really hard to move fast enough to keep up with Livi, and not being able to pick her up sucks too. Oh, so did I mention the whole Irony of the trip home from the hospital? Nick and I have never been in a car accident and of course the day we come home from the hospital with a brand new baby and me with major abdominal surgery it happens! I still can't believe it, we were about a block or 2 away from home at a stop light when someone rear ends us! What a day! We are all relatively ok, no major damage, just a dented trunk on our van and a sore back & neck for Nick & I. We are just happy that I didn't tear anything! So that's the story of little Nixon's arrival and the events shortly following. Our little man is here and safe -The Duke is Born!