Someone's Been Sleeping in My Bed!

When Ryan and I went upstairs to bed Thursday night, this is what we found.

Kadyn. Upside down, in our bed.

Conversations with Kadyn...

Bananas have boogers.

See...

The booger must be removed before the banana can be eaten.

YUMMY!!

Help Bradyn Get a Puppy!

I read a touching post on another blog I have just discovered about a little boy with Epilepsy. His family is trying to raise money to allow them to take in a service dog - comfort and security for Bradyn and piece of mind for the family.

Please help if you can - donate or spread the word.

http://www.melodramamma.com/?p=1484

http://www.amakuamarket.com/blog/2010/07/a-puppy-for-bradyn/

Many thanks!

The Cat, the Kid and the Preggo - A Bedtime Story

I went to bed early last night with the foolish hope of actually getting some sleep. I brought one of my cats with me - she used to sleep between Ryan and I almost every night but I'm not sure she can get herself up on our bed anymore. Poor chubby ol' gal.

I tossed and turned for a good hour before I finally fell asleep and then was awoken by Kadyn crawling into bed. I didn't feel like I had been asleep for very long, but I couldn't see the clock. I decided to give in and try to fall back asleep. I must have dozed off for a few minutes because I was, again, awoken by Kadyn. This time he had flung his arm across my face. I sat up to look at the clock. I didn't feel like carrying Kadyn back to his bed but, if it was early enough, it would be worth the effort - he is a very restless sleeper and, if he's in the bed, I do not sleep.

I look over to see my not-so-little fur ball, Belle, sprawled out and sound asleep next to a sprawled out and sound asleep little boy. Here my humungous self is teetering on the edge of the bed while these two are off in dream land and taking up 3/4 of the bed. Lucky for them, they looked ridiculously cute. I almost went to get the camera but my ever-present exhaustion beat out the photo-op. The clock read just after midnight and my foolish self thought I might still have a chance at some decent sleep. Up I got to carry my sleeping boy to his bed.

And back to bed I went to not sleep.

I am so exhausted. I have no idea how I am managing to sit upright.

Other People's Kids (Mostly Other People) - A rant

This rant is three-fold. Could end up four-fold or five fold if I go off on some tangent, which I tend to do when ranting.

You know what really bothers me? Like really disgusts and almost angers me to the point of wanting to smack another parent?

Child nudity in public places. Specifically toddler-age girls and older.

Let me explain.

Yesterday we went to a little festival downtown. It's a food festival so we went to sample the food as well as play in the wading pool at City Hall. Since we were going to be playing in the water, we took Swimmers for Kadyn, towels, extra clothes, sunscreen, beverages, a few snacks, our camera - you know, the usual stuff you take for an afternoon at a wading pool. The most important being clothes for Kadyn to get wet in and a change of clothes to go home in, right?

Apparently this attitude has only been adopted by some parents. Apparently some parents think it is perfectly acceptable to strip their preschool-ish age daughters down to their underwear (often white underwear) and let them run around in the water. I find that VERY disturbing, inappropriate and just plain wrong.

Absolute worst case scenario, some sicko is lurking some distance away snapping pictures of your little girl to do god knows what with. Call me paranoid for thinking this but I would much rather err on the side of caution when it comes to my children. "Best" case scenario, it's just not appropriate. Is it really that hard to bring a bathing suit? Or at least a change of clothes so your little girl is not running around practically naked?

(Tangent #1 - Speaking of bathing suits....What the heck is up with girl's bathing suits these days? Are string bikinis REALLY necessary for 3 year olds?)

The second part of my rant has to do with bossy and/or annoying children and their clueless parents. Specifically bossy and/or annoying children who seek out younger/smaller children to boss around.

What? How very wrong of me to call another child annoying? HA! You've have those thoughts and you know it. Some people are annoying, children are not exempt. I love Kadyn to friggen pieces, but even he annoys the crap out of me sometimes.

Again at the wading pool, this girl, I'm guessing around 7 or 8 years old, starts telling Kadyn what to do and what not to do, how to play, how not to play and 'playing' with him in ways that he does not want to play. Ryan had to step in 2 or 3 times to tell her to stop and to leave Kadyn alone. Kadyn wandered away from her and over to a Mom and baby with a floaty. He asked if he could play with the floaty, Mom said sure, her daughter didn't like it and wasn't using it. Kadyn said thank you and took off floating. The older girl comes out of nowhere, says something to Mom, goes over to Kadyn and tries to take the floaty away. Ryan and I assumed she was with the Mom and baby and went over to diffuse a now crying Kadyn and explain that the floaty belonged to the other girl and she wanted it back. We got him calmed down and off he went wading, splashing and playing.

A while later, Kadyn went over to Mom and asked if he could play with the floaty again. Mom said sure. Off Kadyn went. Again, the girl comes out of nowhere and takes the floaty from Kadyn. She pretty much ripped it off of him and took off. Kadyn loses it, of course. Mom sees Kadyn crying and the girl running off with the floaty. She tells her son (who I didn't even know was her son until this moment) to go get the floaty from the girl and give it back to Kadyn. Turns out this girl does not belong to this family and Mom is sitting a good 50 feet away, completely oblivious to all of this, applying her makeup. Good job, Mom.

The last part of my rant is about parents who are @$$&^$#!.

Back to the wading pool....Mom and Dad and their little girl arrive. Mom and Dad sit at a table, give the girl 3 or 4 toys and the girl walks over to the water.

(Tangent #2 - why are you 20 -30 feet away from your toddler when she is playing in waist-deep water?)

Kadyn sees the girl and goes over to play with her. The girl is not interested. Kadyn persists. The girl grabs her toy out of Kadyn's hand and gives him a nasty look. Kadyn takes the hint and wanders away. Mom comes over and takes the toys from the little girl. Ok.

The girl gets out of the water and goes over to her Mom and Dad. I'm assuming she was asking for the toys because Mom takes her chair over to the edge of the water, Dad sits on the ground beside her and gives her toys back. Dad then puts his legs on either side of the girl and puts her toys in between his legs to create a barrier of impenetrability against other children who would do the horrible thing of wanting to play with his daughter. Or something. Kadyn goes over to the girl and tries to play with her again. He picks up one of her toys and starts talking to the girl. Dad then yanks the toy out of Kadyn hand and rudely tells him "No! That's not your toy!"

Seriously?

I could not believe what I just saw.

Apparently sharing, much like decency and appropriateness in public, is a foreign concept to some.

(Tangent #3 - if you are sitting near water and children are playing in that water, expect to get splashed. If you do not want to get splashed, do not sit near the water.

This same wonderful couple, sitting almost in the water, got splashed by a couple kids running around and playing. Mom turns to the kids and screams, "HEY! MY STUFF IS RIGHT THERE! WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"

You're awesome, Mom.)

We only visit this wading pool about once or twice a year - usually when we go to this festival - and stuff like happens every year. Why do we keep going?

I'm blaming this year on preggo brain.

We still had a great day!!

Pregnancy is awesome - An addendum

Pregnancy isn't all bad. I mean, you do get a baby at the end of all the other stuff. And I guess hearing the heartbeat and the first little kicks and flutter are alright, too. But none of that is as truly fantastic as the rather ample bosom I have acquired.

Normally, I am pretty small up top. I don't mind too much. It's better than having HUGE ta-tas and all the problems that accompany them. My preggo boobs, however, are Goldilocks - Not too big, not too small (and not the size of Montreal), they are just right. I actually have cleavage! It's pretty awesome!

I just thought I would mention something I'm happy about since I've been such a Negative Nancy lately.

Conversations with Kadyn...

Kadyn: Mama, I want to buy this truck.....And this truck.....And this truck!

Mama: Oh, really?

Kadyn: Yes! Twease!? Twease?! Twease?!

Mama: Not today, buddy. But maybe if you ask Santa really nicely, he'll bring them to you for Christmas.

Kadyn: No, don't want to ask Santa!

Mama: Why not?

Kadyn: Cause Santa's dirty.

Pregnancy is awesome

The morning sickness that lasted all day and all night for almost 2 months and laughed in the face of the teeny white pills with the even teenier pink pregnant ladies was horrible. The spontaneous, and crippling, pregnancy-induced sciatica really, really sucked. The ever-present pregnancy fatigue is quite inconvenient, especially with a mischievous pre-schooler. (I do have to give my little man credit. He has developed a remarkable understanding of my pregolepsy [pregnancy + narcolepsy] and not only quietly occupies himself when I fall asleep, he covers me with a blanket and then asks if I had a good sleep when I wake up) Preggo brain is SUPER annoying. As are baby hiccups. And feet/arms/shoulders/knees in the ribs/kidneys/spine/spleen. The back/hip/knee pain after standing or walking for more than 5 minutes is beyond frustrating, not to mention painful. The hormonal roller coaster is as ridiculous as it is hilarious. And the 40 weeks this all spans is just absurd.

But that is not enough. Oh, no.

On top of all of that joyfulness, I have been blessed, once again, with heartburn.

I didn't even know what heartburn was until I was pregnant with Kadyn. I knew it existed, but I had never experienced it. I had it so bad with Kadyn that I left work early on several occasions. (Okay, I milked it a little bit. My boss's wife was also pregnant so the poor guy had it coming from all angles. He just waved a white flag and gave in. Smart man.) The first time I felt the intense burning in my stomach and throat I sort of freaked out. I called Ryan on my way home almost in tears because I was in so much pain and I had NO idea what was going on. I described to him what I was feeling and he kind of chuckled a little bit. "Uh, that sounds like heartburn, honey. Stop at the drug store on your way home and get some Rolaids or something."

Let me tell you, Rolaids does NOT spell relief. Not even after an entire package. At best, it spells a faux-raspberry, milky, chalky type taste that barely masks the burning sensation that had taken over my upper body. But, much like those stupid, overpriced preggo pops, I kept eating them in the hopes that one would be magical and spell relief.

Heartburn struck again last week. It's not as bad this time, but it's still unpleasant. And I bought Rolaids again. Hoping for a little magic, I guess.

You know how I know he loves me?

Ryan makes great breakfast - especially his bacon, eggs and hash browns and his pancakes. It's not anything special but so, so delicious. I am sure it has something to do with my only involvement being the eating of the food, but I'd still take his breakfast over any diner or restaurant any day.

The last time I was lucky enough to dine on Ryan's delicious breakfast was this past Saturday. Not only did he let me sleep in, I woke up to the smell of cooking bacon, eggs and hash browns. Wonderful.

Even more wonderful - Ryan cleans the kitchen when he's done. I don't have to cook or clean.

Given that Ryan so generously let me sleep in, cooked a scrumptious breakfast and cleaned up after, you can imagine my surprise when I opened my oven to make dinner last night and found the dirty bacon pan sitting there, smelling a tad foul.

But that's how I know he loves me. He leaves little presents for me to make me think of him when he's out of town.

Bottle, Bottles, Bottles. And formula.

Breast-feeding did not work out for Kadyn and I. I plan to try again with this baby but definitely will not be pushing it at all. I've even thought about saving us from the possible agony and not bother even trying but, if this baby eats anything like his brother, not spending $150 - $200 per month on formula sure would be nice.

We used Avent bottles with Kadyn. They were recommended by a friend and I liked the way they were designed. They turned out to be a giant, leaky pain in the ass. I don't know how many times an entire bottle leaked all over Kadyn soaking him, his clothes, his blanket, his pillow and whatever else was near him. Kadyn would be mad and hungry and I would just be mad. If you managed to get the lid screwed on just right and triple checked them before feeding, they wouldn't leak. But this didn't always happen at 2 am. Or 6 am. Or 4 in the afternoon. I absolutely loved their soothers and their electric sterilizer was fantastic. The bottles - a big fat fail.

So we are looking for new bottles. Initially we were going to just deal with Avent again, but we've changed our minds. Avent bottles are not cheap, formula is not cheap and I am not messing around this time.

There's a new-to-Canada bottle line we checked out the other day - Tommee Tippee. They were on sale so we picked up a couple bottles and 2 soothers. I'm not sure about the soothers. They don't have lids and that was one of Avent's big selling points with me. We also picked up their electric sterilizer since, on sale and with a coupon, it was a third the price of the Avent sterilizer - and it's quite a bit bigger.

We are also re-evaluating our choice of Formula. We used Nestle Good Start with Omega-3 and Omega-6 with Kadyn. We chose this brand because we were sent a sample, it was in our cupboard when I was at a loss with breast-feeding and it worked. This time around I have acquired about 5 or 6 cans of Similac. Knowing how ridiculously expensive formula is, I am not about to toss it. But I'm a little apprehensive about switching brands. The only reason I have is that Good Start worked for Kadyn so why switch? But who knows what this baby will like.

Quite a few of the products we used for Kadyn we chose simply because we were sent coupons or free samples. We've received different coupons and samples this time around, so we're not sure what we should stick with and what we should switch up. Also, as any Mama knows, baby stuff changes weekly so there are tons of new products that weren't around when Kadyn was a baby.

I's love to hear your experiences with bottle and formulas - or any other baby product you think is a must-have.

Send in the Clowns

On our days off, Policeman Tim Tam, Pilot Ooga Booga and Fireman Flim Flam travel the country as clowns.

Kadyn was making crafts Sunday afternoon when he got the brilliant idea of putting glue on a puff ball and putting it on his nose. Then he put glue on two more puff balls, put them on Mama and Dad's noses and told us we were clowns.

New part-time job? I think so.

32 Weeks...Or 34? Maybe 33?

Nobody seems to know when to expect this baby. Due dates are a rough guess anyway but, with this baby, I am due somewhere between September 2 and September 11.

The date of my last cycle and the dates we, ahem, did it don't match up with the measurements of the ultrasound. Given the fact that, at 46 lbs and 42" tall, my 3 year old is the size of a 4 - 5 year old, I'm more inclined to go by my calculations.

In any case, I prefer August 26. That works better for me.

Conversations with Kadyn...

Kadyn: Bye, Mom. Bye!

Mama: Where are you going?

Kadyn: Upstairs to change my bum.

Mama: Oh, really. Did you poop?

Kadyn: Nooooo.....

Mama: Come here and let me check.

Kadyn: Noooooooo......... Wanna play cars?

Mama: Sure! But let me check your bum first.

Kadyn: Noooooooo.......

Mama: Oh, buddy! You are wet through your shorts. C'mon, upstairs. Let's go change your bum.

Kadyn: NO! I want to play cars.

Mama: Ok, we can play cars, but we need to go change your bum first.

Kadyn: NO! I'm mad! (Add pouty lips and crossed-arms for effect)

Mama: You're mad?

Kadyn: YES!

Mama: Why?

Kadyn: I'm mad!

Mama: Ok, well be mad upstairs.

Kadyn: NO! I don't want to be mad upstairs! I want to be mad downstairs!

I had managed to keep a straight face until he said this.

I Heart Family Time

Bedtime stories are special for me. I kept most of my childhood books - a decent collection of Disney and Dr. Suess, The Sesame Street Library and an assortment of other great books - because I always knew I would be a Mama and someday I would want to read the same books to my child that I read. (Barf, right?)

I do love it, though. I'm not just reading the same stories to Kadyn, I am reading the same books. It makes my heart smile. (Double barf)

Ryan does bath and bedtime when he is home and it's usually 'No Girls Allowed.' Last night, however, I was invited. It was a challenge to get all 3 (and a half) of us in Kadyn's twin size bed, but we all found a spot to snuggle in.

I love moments like this. Makes my heart smile.

Wordless Wednesday

Want to 'mell them?

My Boy & His Toys

I have to admit one reason I want boys is because their toys are so much cooler than girl toys. I love that my home is filled with Hot Wheels, fire trucks, train sets, construction sets and tools as opposed to Polly Pocket, Dora and Disney Princess'.

The World's First Un-potty Trained 40 Year Old.

I am convinced I will never get this boy of mine out of diapers.

We went from sitting on the potty for M&M's and singing potty mantras to losing any and all interest in the potty and Kadyn sitting in a poopy diaper until pee has soaked his shorts and is literally running down his legs like he isn't wearing a diaper at all. Pleasant, isn't it?

How can I potty train him if he doesn't care AT ALL?!?!?

I am so frustrated. Nothing works. He simply does not care.

We sit on the potty for 15 minutes. Nothing. He steps in the bath and 30 seconds later he is peeing. I bring it to his attention day after day after day after day, but nothing changes. I ask him to tell me when he's peed or pooped, he says he will but he doesn't. Or he tells me he's pooped when he hasn't. He will sit in a dirty diaper for hours if I let him. 

He just does not care. My main motivation is preschool in the fall. He can't go if he's not potty trained and my usual optimistic self does not think this will happen in the next 2 months - especially since a new family member will be arriving around the same time. I give up.

If Kadyn is on potty training strike, so am I. Potty Gods, I have lost all faith in you.

To Infinity & Beyond!!!

Saturday, Kadyn and I walked over to the movie store to rent Toy Story 1 & 2. (Corporate greed on the part of Disney has prevented us from buying these movies for our family ) We picked up the movies and a box of Timbits. It had rained all morning so movies and donuts seemed like a good way to spend the afternoon.

We have watched nothing but Toy Story ever since. Save for a swimming trip Sunday afternoon. It's a good thing I have a high tolerance for repetition. And, I have to admit, Kadyn running around the house shouting "To infinity and beyond!!" is super cute. But not nearly as adorable as his rendition of "You've got a Friend in Me."

The New and Improved Family

The Family has been given new names courtesy of a funny, and very imaginative, little man. Let me introduce you to.....

Policeman Tim Tam

Fireman Flim Flam

Pilot Ooga Booga

Our new names are especially fun in public. : D

Conversations with Kadyn...

Kadyn makes me laugh at least once a day. I think he knows it's the only way he can have semi-sane Mama. Lately when I laugh - at him or at something else - he asks, "What's so funny?" That in itself is quite amusing, but earlier this week it was especially funny.

We were playing trains - or rather he was directing me to play with his trains. We were in the middle of play when something happened and he said, "That's ridiculous!" I laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kadyn asks.

"You!" I say.

"No, I'm not so funny. You're so funny." He said it so matter-of-factly, and with the strangest face, that I started giggling even more. Kadyn was not impressed and asked once again, "What's so funny?"

"You!" I said again.

Kadyn then told me he was a police man, grabbed my arm, told me I was arrested and to get in the Po-Po car. Oops.

Dear Unborn,

Please, for the love of all things, stop kicking and punching me. It hurts. A lot. It also makes it impossible for me to sit comfortably or be comfortable at all, really. I can't sleep either. The irritably caused by this has become very trying for everyone. Mostly for your brother since he has to deal with it the most. He's already skeptical of your arrival, the fact that you make Mama cranky is not helping your case.

I understand it's a bit cramped in there and that you've discovered 4 fantastic limbs that you just can't help but test drive, but I am begging you. Please, please, please give me a break. Even for just one day. If not moving at all is too difficult, would you be able to stick to just rolling? I could handle rolling if it meant no punches or kicks for a while. We can compromise, can't we?

I promise that, when you get out, I will let you flail about to your little heart's content. I will even buy things for you to kick and punch until you squeal with delight. I guarantee they will be MUCH more fun than my insides. For both of us.

Just think about it, ok?

Love,

Your internally bruised Mama

Well, that sucks.

I found out last night that Ryan will be out of town for 16 of the next 18 days, Kadyn didn't wake me up when he got up (again) and helped himself to a heaping spoonful of Nutella for breakfast (again) and one of my cats left a HUGE pile of eaten, but not at all digested, food under my dining room table - and probably various other spots I will find throughout the day.

None of this is really THAT big of a deal and it's certainly nothing new. Ryan was out of town for 3 weeks before we moved and I was left to pack up the entire house while taking care of Kadyn and puking my guts out. Kadyn has helped himself to half a box of Oreos and Easter chocolate for breakfast and we all survived. And my cat pukes on a much too regular basis.

But it really does suck when you're 7 months pregnant, not sleeping, beyond sick and tired of being pregnant and all around cranky most of the time. I hide it well though. At least I think so. I probably don't, but are YOU going to tell me otherwise? I didn't think so.

Scolded by a 3 Year Old

I was making dinner last night and a potato flipped out of the pan and onto the floor. Kadyn walked in when the potato was about halfway between the pan and the floor. He looks at me, puts his hands on his hips and says, "You made a mess! You need to clean it up. Right now!" I had already scooped up the potato and wiped the floor before he had finished his orders, but he was not appeased.

The potato actually flipped out of the pan, hit my leg and then hit the floor, so now I had a spot on my pants. Kadyn noticed this spot. He walks right up to me, bends over to get a close look at the spot on my pants and says, "Hey! You got a mess on your pants!! Put them in the dishwasher!" I replied, "In the dishwasher? You want me to put my pants in the dishwasher?"

"Yes! Get in the dishwasher right now!" His hands are still on his hips and is it clear he is not impressed with my messiness.

"You want me to get in the dishwasher? I think YOU should get in the dishwasher!" I say.

Then he looks at me like this is the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard and says, "Noooooooo, I'm too big." He mumbles something I can't understand and wanders off to play with his train set.

Phew! Thought for sure I'd get a time out for that one.

Just a second, I have to pee. Ok, I'm good. No, wait. I have to pee again.

My bladder is the size of a pea. I am constantly thirsty so I am constantly drinking something and my bladder is the size of a pea. It's a very evil pregnancy game.

The other night I went upstairs to get ready for bed. First thing I did was pee. Then I brushed my teeth. Then I peed. Then I went into our bedroom to get changed and get into bed. I got as far as changing. Then I peed. Ryan asks, "What's wrong with you?" Um, I'm pregnant! Silly men.

I was reading a pamphlet or magazine or something (preggo memory is another fun game!) about pregnancy and it suggested peeing with your elbows resting on your knees. It's supposed to help fully empty your bladder so you aren't waddling to the loo as often. Yeah, right. Or maybe other women don't have ninja/soccer players kicking the crap out of their bladder 24/7 like I do.

That's actually a pregnancy game I like - alien baby belly. Course it will only be fun until he actually kicks through my tummy.

Riding in Style

Car seat by Britax

T-shirt by Children's Place

Sunglasses by Oakley

Coolness by Kadyn

Canada Day!

What a great day!! Ryan made delicious Canada Day breakfast - I love his breakfast!! Better than any restaurant! Then we went for a walk and watched the Silly Summer Parade: