At the Park

A new park opened up not far from us. It's actually a 'recreation center' with a huge spray park, climbing area, three section park, picnic/bbq pads, man-made lake, dog park and fun for all. The spray park and climbing area have been open for a while, but the park just opened on Sunday.

Kadyn's been begging to play at this park all summer, so we made a special trip on opening day.

e

It's a really great park and I am sure we will be spending LOTS of time there.

So Corny!!

For some reason I thought visiting a corn maze would not only be fun but it might just get 'things' moving - because the best place to be when one goes into labor is lost in a seven acre maze of 10 foot tall corn stalks.

Three days later, no baby. But we did have a great time!

Story-time Sunday - The Caboose Who Got Loose

Bedtime stories are BIG in this house. We've ended Kadyn's day with snuggles and stories since he was about 6 months old and it's definitely something he looks forward to. Each Sunday I will be posting a review of one (or more) of the stories we've read during the week. Enjoy!

This week, we've been reading The Caboose Who Got Loose by Bill Peet. Kadyn asked to bring this story home from the library earlier this week and he just loves it. He has asked Daddy to read "Caboose Loose" every night since we brought it home and even brought it into our bed Saturday morning when he woke us up. "Daddy!! Read this!! Read Caboose Loose!!"

This story is about Katy the Caboose - a caboose who doesn't want to be a caboose - and is really a fun read.

"When Katy caboose rambled down the train tracks,

The engines were steamers with puffing smoke stacks.

She was a caboose who disliked being last,

With an endless black cloud of smoke rolling past.

'It's not only smoky,' the caboose would complain,

'There's the jerks and the jolts of this noisy freight train.'

Often Katy would wish that someday she could be

Something quiet and simple like a lovely elm tree."

The Caboose Who Got Loose also has a great message - The grass is always greener on the other side - delivered by a Switchman's Shack who thinks being a caboose would be FAR better than being a shack stuck in a train yard all day. Katy vows to try to be a better caboose, but then something crazy happens....

I won't ruin the ending, you'll just have to read the story to find out.

Daddy's Little Helper

Every time Daddy fills up he gets a complimentary window wash courtesy of Kadyn.

Pretty sweet deal!

Conversations with Kadyn...

Last week, Kadyn and I were cuddling on the couch watching Ice Age. I was laying on my back and Kadyn had squished himself in between me and the couch - surprisingly comfortable since I spend most of my days being as uncomfortable as possible.

After about 10 minutes of cuddling (Kadyn's maximum attention span), Kadyn sat up and said, "My baby hurts."

"Your baby hurts?" I asked.

"Yes." And he points to his tummy. "It's going to come out soon." He says.

"Is it?" I say, slightly jealous. With my luck, his baby will come out before mine.

"Yes," He says, "And your baby is going to come out soon, too!"

'I freaking hope so,' I think to myself.

And then Kadyn says what everyone is thinking (and a few dare to say) "Your baby is BIIIIIIIG!"

Thanks, babe.

Not much of a Mama...

Guilt: Occupational hazard of being a parent.

I try not to feel too guilty about my parenting mistakes and mishaps. No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, I do a lot of great parenting, my son knows I love the crap out of him and I'm always trying to do better, learn more. (And, no matter how much I sometimes want to, I've never beat him. ) I can't really expect much more from myself.

But lately I have been feeling horribly guilty. I've barely been more than a spectator in Kadyn's life and I hate it.

It's been at least a month since I have been able to take Kadyn to the park - sometimes I can make the walk, sometimes I can't and I am too big, slow, awkward, useless to make sure he is safe. He also wants me to play with him - go down the slides, climb the ladders - and that just isn't going to happen, no matter how bad I want to.

Last week I made the mistake of sitting on the floor to play cars with him. The hell with my back pain, I said, I'm playing with my son. Well, my back had a few choice words for me. The pain multiplied by ten, I could barely get myself off the floor and I paid dearly for several days after.

Yesterday we colored together. How bad could coloring be? BAD. Something tweaked in my back and I couldn't stand up. It's the middle of the afternoon, Ryan wasn't due home for at least 3 hours (and was a little more than a hour away even if he could leave work right away) and I can't stand up. That's not a recipe for disaster at all. Luckily, after about an hour of immobility, I was able to get myself upstairs to the tube of Icy Hot for relief, albeit minimal and temporary.

So we can't go out and play and I can't stay in and play.

Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

And I could have another month of this.

I don't think I'll survive.

I'm not sure Kadyn has the patience for it, either. Can't say I blame him.

Kadyn's World

New weekly feature on Manic Mama - Each Wednesday, I will post a photo (or photos) taken by Kadyn.

This week is from our second trip to The Fringe. Kadyn has quite the eye!

Click image to enlarge

Gillford

Meet Gillford.

Kadyn and Gillford are the best of friends.

They do everything together.

Like watch TV.

And play with power tools.

The best part?

Gillford doesn't puke everywhere like Mickey and he doesn't leave hair everywhere like Belle.

Conversations with Kadyn....

I'm not a huge fan of daytime TV. I find most talk shows rather annoying and I haven't watched soap operas since Sammi was plotting and scheming to steal Austin away from Carrie and Marlena was possessed (The glowing green eyes did me in for good.) I'd almost rather watch Treehouse all day. Almost.

One morning, after we had watched The Backyardigans and Sesame Street, I put on a show I wanted to watch. Kadyn looked at me with a most horrified look on his face and said, "Mama! My shows!" I told him we had watched his shows and now I wanted to watch something.

The drama king that is my son threw himself on the couch, buried his face in his hands and exclaimed, "Ooooooh!!! That's SOOOO terrible!!! So, so, so terrible!!!!"

Indeed.

Dear Unborn,

Ok, so I know you aren't 'scheduled' to arrive for another 2 - 4 weeks, but what do you say we make a side deal?

I haven't had a decent night's sleep in well over a month, my back hurts so much I can barely waddle myself to the bathroom, walking for more than five minutes sends shooting pains through my hips and your little limbs really freaking hurt! Not to mention the fact that Mama is just plain sick and tired of being pregnant.

I know you think it's warm and comfortable in there, but I can assure you freedom is all it's cracked up to be and I am more than happy to wrap you up like a little burrito so you feel warm, cosy and comfortable.

So? Whaddya say? Anytime between now and August 25 is good for me, but I'm definitely open for negotiations. The sooner the better.

Exhausted and uncomfortable but eternally yours,

Mama

Fringin' It

Yesterday we went to the Fringe Festival. (street performers, plays, street vendors, etc) We didn't see a whole lot since there is usually too many people crowded around each performer to see anything, but we did spend some time at Kid's Fringe - crafts and games for, you guessed it, KIDS!

Kadyn had a great time!

Kadyn's favorite part - the train ride!

On out way back, Kadyn was The Conductor. He went up to each passenger to stamp their ticket and called "All Aboard!" before the train was set to leave. Everyone thought he was so cute and the real conductor commended him for a job well done.

My Son, the Photographer

I discovered my love of photography about 5 years ago. I was in school at the time (in a completely unrelated program) which led straight into a new job followed by a wedding, a baby and now here I am, pregnant with my second and no closer to being the world renowned photog I dream about.

Some day.....

In the meantime, I will share my passion with my son - a ham in front of the camera and a modern day Picaso behind the lens. Here are few of his latest shots:

I have no idea what is in these pictures and that is why they are great!

Conversations with Kadyn...

A few months ago, during Kadyn's bath, something new happened - at least for Kadyn. He was laying on his tummy, swimming in the bathtub when he passed gas. This was not the first time Kadyn had done this, but it was the first time he recognized it.

What happened next is one of the funnier moments I've had the pleasure of experiencing with my little man.

Kadyn is laying on his tummy in the bathtub, swimming away, when tiny bubbles escaped his bum. He stopped suddenly, looked up at me in shock, put his hand over his little bum, gasped and said, "I made a noise with my bum!"

I laughed for a good 5 minutes.

So now, in our house, gas is referred to as 'making a noise with your bum' and Kadyn will proudly run up to Ryan or I, turn around to show us his bum and announce that his bum has made a noise.

Stranger Danger

Kadyn is the most out-going and talkative child I know. He talks to everyone and anyone. Literally. Everyone we walk or drive past is greeted with a "Hi! What's your name?" or "Hi! How are you doing?" And he happily accepts toys and food from strangers without a second thought. (Why strangers think it's ok to give food to kids who do not belong to them is beyond me.)

I love how outgoing Kadyn is. I love that he isn't the least bit shy and that he loves to meet people and make friends. However, he has absolutely no concept of 'stranger danger' and I fear his outgoing, talk to anyone nature is going to get him in trouble. Big trouble. Especially considering a little over a month ago, on our way home from the park, Kadyn struck up a conversation with a guy who I later found out was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. That didn't freak me right out at all. And I didn't call my husband in a mad panic when I saw this guy's face on the 6 o'clock news. Nope.

I've found parenting is mostly about finding a balance, but I am finding it very difficult to find a balance here. How do I teach Kadyn to not talk to strangers without stifling him? How do I teach him who he can and can't talk to when I am having trouble figuring it out myself?

Do you think it would be wrong to put him in a bubble until he's 18? Or maybe just put an electric fence around him. Is that too much?

The Day After the Potty

Day 1 didn't go so well. Not that I was expecting much.

We started the day in Pull Ups since we had some errands to run. When we got home, we had Kadyn put on his new underwear. (Oh my goodness!! He looks so cute in his little boxer briefs!! I don't think I have ever seen a cuter tush!!) Cute tush aside, 2 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of shorts and 1 t-shirt later, we were back in Pull Ups.

When we put his underwear on, we told him to tell us if he had to pee. He told us after. In his second pair of underwear we noticed his was grabbing his crotch a lot, so Kadyn and Ryan hung out on the potty for a while - definitely one of the funnier conversations I've heard. After sitting on the potty for a good 10 - 15 minutes, they came out, no pee. Not 5 minutes later, Kadyn comes into the kitchen to tell us he peed. The other underwear we bought for him is too small, so back in Pull Ups he went. And that is where we are this morning.

I think diapers are a security thing for Kadyn. There was a small fight yesterday morning to get him to put a Pull Up on and he had a small meltdown when we told him he would be wearing underwear with no diaper - he told us he 'needed a diaper'. Nothing a good cuddle with Dad couldn't fix, but I am anticipating a long road to training my little man.

PS Still no word from the Potty Gods. I think they are on vacation.

Get This Potty Started!

I have given up on the Potty Gods. They are not returning my calls or emails and I don't have the luxury of being able to wait around until they do. Kadyn is getting very close to outgrowing his diapers. We either gently push potty training or start buying Depends.

I'm not on board with Option B.

Ryan and I talked and we decided maybe Kadyn needs a little push. Doing nothing is, well, doing nothing. So we bought a package of Pull Ups and some underwear. I am on the fence about Pull Ups. Some parents say they really aren't any different than diapers and offer no incentive to train. Some parents say they are a great tool. It's really up to Kadyn and what works for him.

After a small struggle this morning, we got a Pull Up on. It's only been a couple of hours, so nothing much to tell yet. Crossing my fingers this gets us somewhere.

The Cutest Bowler Ever

I haven't been bowling in at least 10 years, probably closer to 15 years. Can you tell?

In case you hadn't already guessed, I'm the second 'R.'

In my defense, it is hard to bowl when you're already carrying around a bowling ball.

We had a great time! And Kadyn is the cutest bowler ever!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is Ryan's and my anniversary.

We've been together for 9 years and married for 4.

Crazy to think about where we started and where we are now.

December 2001 - Our first Christmas together

August 2006 - Our Wedding Day

I love you!

Ode to Good Hygiene

I've learned that I can almost always get Kadyn to do something if I add a song to it. I'm no Mary Poppins, but it works!

Plus it's super cute when Kadyn sings the songs I make up.

Oh, Gisele....

Only a supermodel could meditate her way through a home birth and then get up the very next day to make pancakes. Us regular folk could never do something like that.

And that's exactly why we need someone like Gisele Bundchen to right all that is wrong with the world. Starting with forcing mothers to breast feed their babies for a mandatory 6 months.

Some stupid law telling women what to do with their breasts and their babies is just what we need.

Gisele, please stick to looking pretty. Bad things happen when you open your mouth.

Mamas say the Darndest Things

So, I am not always the most appropriate person. I have a twisted sense of humor, almost no filter and I often speak before I think. I am also pretty frank, even with Kadyn.

Sometimes this pays off exponentially. (Most of the time is just embarrassing, but those stories aren't nearly as much fun. At least not for me.)

Friday morning I had a prenatal appointment. As with Kadyn, I've seen my regular doctor up until week 32-ish. She no longer delivers babies, so I move over to another doctor in her office for the last 6 - 8 weeks. Today was my first appointment with him.

As we pull into the parking lot, Kadyn says, "We're at the doctor's!" (Kadyn loves the doctor's and the doctor's toys. I don't know why, they are as old as I am, but he's happy.) I told Kadyn we would be seeing a new doctor today and told him the doctor's name. I was about to say we would be seeing the doctor who delivered him but, as luck would have it, he was cruising the Pacific when Kadyn was born, so, without thinking, I said the first thing that popped into my head - "We're going to see the doctor who cut your penis!" (He may have been on a cruise when Kadyn was born, but he was back in time to circumcise him.)

We pull into the parking spot and Kadyn starts whimpering. He says he doesn't want to go to the doctor's anymore. Very strange. Kadyn ALWAYS wants to go to the doctor's. He ASKS to go to the doctor's. I got out of the car, opened his door and asked him why he didn't want to go to the doctor's anymore. He looks at me with the saddest look on his face, he's got both hands guarding his crotch and he says, in the saddest voice I have ever heard, "I don't want to cut my penis."

Uh-oh.

Trying, unsuccessfully, not to laugh, I told him no one would be cutting his penis today, or ever, and that Mama would be seeing the doctor, not him. Thankfully, he was easily convinced and distracted by the promise of doctor's toys.

Good job, Mama.