A day at the beach!

Still having a GREAT time in Florida. The weather seriously couldn't be any better, in the high 80s since we got here, and still going strong.

I am loving it... and so are PC and E, and the rest of my family.

Yesterday, we ventured over towards Tampa to Clearwater Beach... and spent the day on the Gulf of Mexico! The weather was the best for the beach... a nice warm wind, and full sun. My sister, PC, E and I enjoyed the sandy beach... and had such a good time. E was such a good boy all day... we played in the sand, and we all got to swim and relax, while taking turns watching E.

He did managed to get his feet wet in his first major body of water... and loved it!

The full day in the sun tired him out pretty good, along with the rest of us! So we called it a day around 5:30 pm and headed back towards Orlando for the night. E slept most of the way home, and slept like a champ last night!

It was another great day in the books for us. Today I am just relaxing by the pool and working on my tan! I am having a great vacation... and I know PC and E are too!

Here are some pictures for our beach day!

Having a blast in Florida!

We made it to Florida safe and sound!

E was the BEST on the plane ride here! He fell asleep about 5 minutes after take off... and slept for 45 minutes... and then after waking up, enjoyed the ride for the next hour and a bit, just taking in the scenery. He got a little stir crazy towards the last 30 minutes of the flight, but between PC and I we managed to keep him occupied as there were no major meltdowns. Before we knew it, we were on the ground and riding the shuttle to the main terminal and in the rental car to our rental house.

It could not have gone better for E ME!

The weather has been soooo warm here, in the high 80's every day, and we are LOVING it. E had his first swim in a pool - and he is a BIG fan of the water. Kicking and splashing every where... and touring around the pool in his little water boat!

The last two days I have said 'This is the life' a few times, and I mean it! It's a great way to spend our first family holiday together - we aren't regretting our decision to fly with E one bit!

Here are a few pics from our first few days by the pool... I must get going now - the hot tub is calling my name!

Wednesday Wrap-Up!

I call this one the Wednesday Wrap-up... cause I am wrapping up loose ends at home today since we are leaving for Florida this AFTERNOON.

I think I am ready... and I mean seriously. I haven't stressed too much over the packing, I figure what I don't have or have forgotten, we can just buy down there. I have the essentials: a bathing suit, flip flops, and some sunglasses.

I think I did well packing for E too... he has the cutest little outfits for the week... some swimmer shorts, flip-flops, and sunglasses too! I hope he likes the pool cause that is where we plan to be for the large majority of the time!

I am interested to see how it goes with West Jet today... they make it sound all too easy when flying with a child, so I will have to let you know how it goes!

Anyways... onto the wrap-up, which really just consists of randomness and minor updates!

• First off, I took E back to the pediatrican last Friday for a weigh-in, and he is 14lbs 2ozs and on the bottom of the 'holy graph'. This was pretty great day for us... the ped was so happy she doesn't want to see us again - which in turn made me ecstatic. Now, we are just back to regular standard check ups with E's family doctor. Thank you lord baby Jesus (shout out to Ricky-Bobby)!!
  

• I have had more annoyances on the smoking in cars front. The other day at the Timmy's drive-thru, I was behind a teenager... who was in her bright red 1997 Chevy Cavalier with a king size smoke lit and dangling out the window between puffs. She didn't have anyone in the car, so she doesn't loose points there, but when I moved up to the order stand and put my window down, E and I might as well have smoked a pack ourselves.... I was totally disgusted! Now I think there needs to be a law against smoking in drive-thrus! I know... I am taking it to the extreme, but I swear this whole ingesting second-hand smoke thing really gets me going.

• It's earth day today... and I am thinking in honour of this important day, I am going to start cutting back on the amount of zip-loc bags I use. I am pretty sure zip-locs were invented for me. I actually think I over-use them for the sheer fact that my Mom use to buy the non-ziploc bags... (you know the no-name 500 plastic bags for $0.99 cents in the yellow box)... she use to send our sandwiches and other stuff for lunch in them, and get this - make us bring them home so she could reuse them the next day. If I did throw them out for some crazy reason, I got the evil eye from her when she opened up the lunch bag, and said 'where's your baggies?'. I think then and there, I vowed to buy Zip-locs when I was older, and throw them out after a single use - and I pretty much do that. So today, I am going to try to be more conscious about my zip-loc bag use, as my small way of celebrating earth day.

• I have been following this blog My Charming Kids.... (thanks to Loukia for bringing this one to my attention). The author of this blog MckMama has 4 children. He youngest son, Stellan, is currently very sick and is in the Children's hospital in Boston... Stellan's story is remarkable yet sad all in the same breathe. He is fighting for his life... and there are so many of us rooting for a clean bill of health for this little guy. His eyes will melt your heart. MckMama has started a name gallery for him... and people from around the world are sending in Stellan's name written in all sorts of ways, and in all kinds of places. It's so awesome. If you haven't been following Stellan's journey, I encourage you too... it's remarkable.

• A second sad story that I come across via Twitter, is the story of Maddie... a little girl who died recently from various causes, on of which was pneumonia. Her story was truly amazing from the start, born 11 weeks premature, and spending 68 days of her short life in the NICU. Her mother - a fantastic blogger, spoke at her funeral and posted her words on her blog... I was in tears reading it and watching the little video of her life. Life is all too precious, and I can only imagine what Maddie's parents are going through. If you want to see the cutest little girl , I invite to visit www.remembermaddie.com. But please prepare yourself... it's a very sad story.

• My new favourite snack is peanut butter and banana on a whole wheat wrap... shout out to Boyder and KL for mentioning this to me earlier in the week... I am LOVING it!

• It is just me or does the summer weekends fill up all too fast. This summer we have two weddings to go to on back to back weekends... and they are at the end of June. May and June are pretty much booked up right now for us... and I am quickly working on July and August. PC is going to be off this summer for 6 weeks... taking some family time that he didn't take when E was first born. We are hoping to be cottage bound for a lot of the time, but also taking some other trips in August. Before I know it September will be here and gone and I will be back to work. Excuse me while I give myself a tongue lashing - Sara: Shut your dirty whorish mouth. Quit saying that!

Well that's all for this Wednesday folks. I am showered and ready to take on first family vacation. Now... let's hope that we don't mistakenly get on a CanJet flight to Jamaica... and we actually do get on our flight to Orlando.... and have an amazing vacation!

I hope to get in a quick update from the sunny south but if I get too busy working on my tan, I will be back in week's time, so please come back then for a visit.

It won't be like this for long...

I have been listening to Darius Rucker's (lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish, now gone country) song titled, 'It won't be like this for long'... and I have to admit the song gets me... just a bit.

It's about a father and his child ... and all of the phases you go through raising a child... in his case raising his little girl. The main line of the song says, 'this phase is gonna fly by, so baby just hold on, cause it won't be like this for long'.

This song really hits home... and I have only been a parent for 6 months, but in these 6 months, I have seen a few phases already fly by. I think back to when we brought E home from the hospital and the adjustments we had to make... getting to know one another.

The first two months, I thought I would NEVER get another full night of sleep for as long as I lived, but he soon proved me wrong and I am back to getting 9 or 10 hours a night. At the time, when your in the moment you think 'how will I ever get through this', but the reality is, these phases are sooooo short when you compare them to the life span of your child, that instead of complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, we should be happy to have the experience!

E is now in the grabbing and chewing stage... everything he sees he wants to get his hands on so he can put it in his mouth. At first I thought this was annoying, but now I am starting to see the beauty in it... he is discovering his environment and the excitement on his face when he sees something new is nothing short of amazing. I know this phase will too pass quickly... and soon when he sees a spoon, instead of lightening up with excitement he will just look and me say 'it's just a spoon Mom!', with a sarcastic tone I know he is destine to inherit.

This phase and others will pass... and soon I will be looking back wondering where did the time go. The other day, PC remarked to me 'Can you believe E is 6 months old?' and I just laughed and said NO, as it seems like only yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital. It almost makes me want to cry thinking of how much he has changed in these 6 months, but at the same time I love watching him grow and develop into his own person.

In a way, this shows me that life passes us by all too quickly, and usually someone has to die to remind me just how precious life really is. Lately... I don't need a funeral to see how good my life is, no... the smiley boy playing on his mat in front me right now is the main reason I am loving every minute of life... and I will continue to enjoy it because I know... 'it won't be like this for long'!

Here are the lyrics to:
It Won't Be Like This for Long

He didn't have to wake up
He'd been up all night
Layin’ there in bed listenin’
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laughin’
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
‘Cause it won't be like this for long

Four years later ‘bout 4:30
She's crawling in their bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now don't you worry
This’ll only last a week or two

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon you'll drop her off
And she won’t even know you're gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It won’t be like this for long

Some day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times he'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the aisle
And he'll raise her veil
But right now she's up and cryin’
And the truth is that he don't mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers

He lays down there beside her
‘Til her eyes are finally closed
And just watchin’ her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows

It won’t be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah, this phase is gonna fly by
So, he's tryin’ to hold on

‘Cause it won’t be like this for long

It won’t be like this for long

Reasons to hate your mother when your older!

My least favourite foods...

I was in the grocery store earlier in the week, and stumbled upon some of the Blue Menu frozen meals section. While I normally enjoy Blue Menu anything... I was disgusted to see that they make a version of shepherd's pie.

I hate shepherd's pie.... if there is one thing that should be banned from being made and mass marketed ... it's this menu item. I am sure some of you are thinking 'shepherd's pie... that's one of my favourite meals', but to me its just WRONG WRONG WRONG.

Mashed potatoes and meat or vegetables should NOT be mixed together. I come from the school of thought that different main menu items on your plate should not touch... EVER. Mixing up your potatoes with corn and peas, and whatever other vegetable you are eating is a major faux-paux.

It really disgusts me to see anyone taking their potatoes and then pressing their fork into their vegetable letting the potatoes suck up the vegetable before driving the fork straight into their mouth. I could literally puke on command when this happens (and my husband seems to be a leader in the food-mixing cult).

To me... all these disgusting factors are what makes up shepherd's pie, thus making it a major menu no-no in my recipe book.

Cream corn is also right up there in the least favorite food department. I think I was scarred as a child by cream corn. I don't remember the pivotal moment but I do know my Mom made it and tried to make us eat it on a fairly regular basis... it was definitely in the meal rotation on Algoma Street. I like corn on its own, but the thought of corn in some kind of watery soup base is also barf-worthy in my books... cream corn will never have the pleasure of taking up space in my pantry for as long as I live.

I also hate Goulash... for much the same reasons as shepherd's pie. The name alone is enough to not eat it... but the look of it, with all of those major food groups mixed and melted together... get me a bucket!

I also really detest peameal bacon... yet I like ham, so not sure why this is, but the smell of it when its cooking is...well... vomit material. I think I could actually be tricked into eating it... yet if someone told me what it was, I would have a totally different opinion of it. Its mainly the name of it that turns me off... I mean PEAMEAL... does that sound yummy to you? In University, two of my roomies use to buy this as a 'treat' and cook it up as a meal... I would be on the third floor of our house cursing them for an entire evening because the smell brought back nasty childhood memories!

I also think ... due to my high dislike for the mixing of foods... that also cuts out any type of stew! And I have smelt some good stews over the years. I think if I was blind folded I could do it, but visually looking at a stew... and again the name STEW, doesn't make it a candidate for my recipe book.

Those are the major least favourite foods in my world... I am sure there are more (liver... which I have never tried, but again the name is what rules it out for me), but the ones listed above take the cake for me. Do any of you share my distaste for these foods, or do you have your own list of least favourites you'd like to share?

Random Rants... among other things!

Today's a day for random rants.... and other stuff, so here we go!

• Reusable bags... is it just me or is every store now have their own reusable bags... so much to the point that I have about 30 reusable bags from 30 different stores that are piled high in my closet. I actually have more reusable bags than I do plastic bags. I don't want to throw these bags out, but seriously what do you do with them... ? And let's be honest, as much as I would like to always carry some sort of reusable bag with me, its just not possible... which then leads me to get more of these bags when I go shopping. I know PC's advice would be 'cut down on the shopping', but that's not gonna happen... so I am still left with the dilemma of what to do with so many reusable bags?

• Smokers... okay, I don't have it out for people who smoke, but I just get so disgusted when I see people smoking in cars while others are riding in that car. I know there is a law that prevents people from smoking in cars with children (thank the lord for that), but I think in general it should be illegal to smoke in cars, period. For instances, I saw a women with a king size smoke lit up as she was driving in her mini-van with her husband and what looked to be her elderly parents/grandparents. Yes she had the window open a crack but I wanted to choke in my own car as I know that every person in that car was inhaling this women's second hand smoke. To me this is just rude... if you want to smoke on your own time by yourself and away from others that is fine with me, but why are people so inconsiderate to smoke in a confined space while others are around? Even if people say they don't mind if you smoke, you should rephrase the question 'Do you mind if I give you cancer?' I doubt their reaction would be the same.

• I only decorate my house for Christmas... and maybe now that E is in the picture I will start to decorate for other occasions, but for now, I still am only a Christmas decorator. I was driving past a place the other day, and these people are all decked out for Easter as if it was the new Christmas... blown up lawn ornament, lights, egg garland hung in the trees, a flag, baskets in the yard - the whole works. Apparently, I didn't get the memo that Easter was a big deal... apparently bigger than Christmas as I don't remember this place being all decked out for Christmas. Last time I checked ... Easter (a religious holiday like Christmas) was about mourning the death of Christ, such like a funeral... which if I recall, the last funeral I was at didn't have blown up lawn ornaments. Christmas... is a celebration of the birth of a baby... Easter... well I guess everyone is entitled to their interpretation, but mine clearly doesn't involve lights and lawn ornaments - sorry!
  

• I think I have officially gone through chocolate detox ... for the last few weeks I have really laid off the chocolate... and I find I am not craving it at all lately. I have had a few slip ups with DQ here and there... but overall I seem to not go into a chocolate convulsion around 3 PM every day. Its funny how the body and mind work... the less you have of it, the less you want it - I like this combination.

• I may be off the chocolate but I am in LOVE with Tim Horton's trail mix cookie...seriously, so good. I am always fairly impressed with the creations Timmy's comes up with, and this trail mix cookie is very tasty and gives off a fair bit of energy when you need something on the run. I highly recommend it... if you like trail mix, you'll love the cookie!

• We are getting to set to make our FIRST looooooong road trip with E back home to my parents house. I have mentally been thinking of what we need to pack since last week. Today I am starting to assemble all the items. There is just no 'packing light' when a baby is involved and I have come to accept that... but nonetheless, its still a daunting task trying to decide if I have everything we need for the trip. I guess we'll see Friday when we get there!

• In addition to the car trip, I am also mentally packing for Florida... as we leave in two weeks TODAY! I am so looking forward to this vacation, but again not looking forward to the packing. It a whole different ball game when you are flying... again the term 'packing lightly' doesn't apply, but I still need to pack smart... so I will be trying to do this over the next week or so. Wish me luck (and thanks to K. Broom for the packing for a baby list!)

Well... that's all for today folks! For everyone in the working world, Happy Thursday, since tomorrow is your Friday! For everyone else at home like me... its still Wednesday, but the weather forecast for most areas is looking lovely for the coming weekend, so get outside and enjoy it!

6 months... cuts like a knife tooth!

My baby is half a year old today! I can't believe that 6 months ago today I was in the hospital screaming bloody murder, and yet it was the happiest day of my life!

To mark the half way point, E thought it would be a good idea to cut his first tooth this week. His bottom left tooth has pierced through the gums, and I would have to say if I didn't run my finger along his gums to get a piece of fuzz out his mouth, I don't think I would have noticed, as he hasn't said boo about it!

I guess we can now say he is officially teething!

I think this is the first month-span that I have seen the most dramatic changes in E's appearance, mainly because he's put on a couple of decent pounds since the 5-month mark. He is starting to fill out and his looks are quickly changing, but he is still the cutest little boy I ever did lay eyes on (IMHO).

He has become very active in the last month as well. Major milestones include 'belly surfing', and being able to touch his feet to the ground to operate his jumperoo without assistance from PC and I. He is close to sitting up and crawling... but still needs a bit more time to master those milestones.

Giggling is a regular thing these days.... you say it, he laughs (which he comes by honestly as PC is the same way). Smiles are about a dime a dozen too... not too much upsets this little guy, except of course not getting a bottle to him fast enough!

His favourite past time is lying on the back of the couch watching any activity happening outside. The garbage man and E have become good friends, as the gives E a regular wave on Thursday mornings. He is so fascinated with the cars passing by on the street... and the kids across the street playing road hockey. It doesn't matter what is going on outside, if you sit him in the window he could stare outside for hours.

We are starting to get out and about more too with the nice weather ... and E couldn't be happier as it is just more to look at and observe. I love seeing him discover new things... you can see his little mind working overtime to figure things out and it is so exciting for him (and PC and I too)!

Yes... half a year has passed rather quickly, and I know the next 6 months are going to zoom by, but regardless of how quickly the time passes, I am so happy to have this time with my baby boy... and looking forward to spending the remaining time of my maternity leave with him, as I know the spring and summer months are going to be the best!

Keeping with birthday month tradition, here are some snapshots of E's 6-month photo session:

Back in time... rewind, fast-foward!

Stole this meme from Dani over at Postcards from the Mothership... I think it just makes me see how quickly time passes... so I thought I would play along.

15 years ago today I would have been:

• an innocent girl who had no idea how the next 15 years of her life would unfold;
  
• starting to shop for my grade 8 graduation dress, thinking it would be beautiful, but in hind-sight knowing it was a horrendous choice! (Mom... I know you still wished I had picked the 'other' one);
  
• convincing my classmates that we should pick another song to sing at our grad ceremony other than 'End of the Road' by Boyz to Mend!
  

10 years ago today I would have been:

• 19... single, and getting ready to embark on one of the craziest summers of my life;
  
• coming home from a trip to Ottawa certain that I was destine to go to Ottawa U, and hoping to the hell I got accepted there;
• a small town girl thinking I knew it all, but knowing I had a lot to learn about the 'real world'!
  

5 years ago today I would have been:

• moved into a one bedroom apartment, living in sin with PC, and loving every minute of it;
  
• just won a competition at work that I had no business competing in, and thinking that I actually did know what I was doing in my job;
  
• planning for a trip to Dominican with PC and my future in-laws.
  

1 year ago today I would have been:

• pregnant and so happy to have just shared the news with family and friends;
  
• scared to death about labour and delivery, but so happy to be starting a family;
  
• wondering if I was having a boy or girl!
  

This year I am:

• on maternity leave, and enjoying every minute of it;
  
• in disbelief that I actually have a baby, and not just any baby, the cutest, sweetest, most lovable baby boy on the planet (IMHO);
• thinking this is the best year EVER!
  

Today I:

• brought E into my office to visit my colleagues, and was actually surprised at how much I missed the office atmosphere;
• ate leftovers for dinner, which I don't normally do;
• am getting set to watch the last episode of ER ever.

Next year I hope:

• to be just as in love with my life as I am today;
  
• to ease into 30 gracefully;
  
• to take a hot vacation with my husband!

In five years I hope:

• to be in a new house that we can 'settle' in;
  
• to have expanded our family with another baby;
  
• to start the planning for a trip to Hawaii for our 10th Anniversary!

Now that was fun, wasn't it!?!

Usually with memes your suppose to tag people, but I won't put anyone the spot today. However, if your low on bloggy ideas this week (like me), and would like to play along, let me know in the comments so I can follow your post.