Thank You

Also wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for making this a wonderful birthday weekend -

My friends and family who phoned or left FB messages.
My Dad and step-mother for hosting a lovely dinner Friday, and a gift which I still wonder what it will be (should get it later this week).
My mom for babysitting last night so we could enjoy the 'High School Musical' play tickets she bought us, giving us a fun little date night. Also for a lovely dinner tonight.
My brother and Dawn, his girlfriend, for joining us for that dinner, and the lovely book.
My in-laws for a nice lunch and a subscription to Pro Wrestling Illustrated (!).
And best for last - Ari for being so attentive and helpful this weekend, being my escort to all these events, and he and Liam for just generally being the most awesomest ever. :)

Thanks everyone. I'm exhausted, and a bit down now, but only because this weekend had to come to an end. Thanks for making it so special. :)

Last Titanic Survivor Dies

Millvina Dean, who was the last known survivor of the ill-faited maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, died today - May 31 at 97 years old. Only days old while on the ship, Dean, as well as her mother and young brother, survived the sinking, but Dean didn't know until she was 8 years old that she'd been on the Titanic. The last Titanic survivor prior to Dean died in 2007; the last American Titanic survivor passed in 2006.

LT's a healthy growing boy

Wrote this yesterday but continued having computer problems to post it - resolved now.

He continues to thrive.
14 lbs. 13 oz.
And starting solid food for real -
6 1/2 mos. How time flies!
And smiling/flirting with the nurses
Who'd just given him 3 (THREE!) shots
Not minutes later -
Tears still in his eyes, but laughing.
My brave little guy.
So heartening.

This Week, Next Week

So this week's been ... OK. Little Tyke's definitely had some grumpy times with teething and not wanting to nap, but he's still generally in decent spirits; we've had a good day today in particular, after a rough one yesterday, as I got to take LT back to my workplace of earlier this year to introduce him to all my old colleagues. And this weekend being my birthday weekend, I have dinner at my father's tomorrow, a date night with Ari Saturday while Liam's Nana (my mother) babysits, and then lunch Sunday with my in-laws, and dinner at my mother's. Next week is my dear friend Alex's birthday, as well as her son Racer's, so we'll be seeing them a couple of times I hope; and tomorrow is also LT's 6-month checkup which always excites me to hear how well he's doing (although we have a couple questions this time so I'm concerned too as always - WANT to hear he's doing awesome :D).

So it's a busy one, and an interesting one in OUR little world, if not to perhaps my random blog readers out there. The weather the next couple days here in SW Ontario is supposed to remain crappy, but Sunday should be nice again, which is also good - sunshine on my birthday. :D I'll try to remain consistent as I have been about posting, and hope everyone enjoys their weekend, weather and all. Xs and Os.

Can't wait - Sims 3

And it comes out only 2 days after my burfday! :D

101

((Mar 30-July 8))

I'm taking this idea from my friend Tatiana, to set out 101 goals for myself in the next 101 days starting today. Some will be easy to attain, others harder, some will be important and 'deep', others will be slily fun, and we'll see how it goes. I'll update here as I knock goals off my list. Please feel free to follow along, or to do with me. :)

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (56/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (56/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (6/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (4/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (2/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (56/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (8/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (1/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (3/3)
26. See one movie a week. (8/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (56/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (53/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (8/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (3/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (56/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (3/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (56/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (54/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (8/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (56/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (7/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (56/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (8/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (56/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
,93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (2/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (1/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. LT is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Week 4 Notes: A successful week - only didn't make it to the gym. :) I knocked a few other things off my list in the meantime - theatre and cleaning the office for example. Proud of myself. :D

Week 5 Notes: Mixed results this week. It was the baby's naming ceremony so the stuff I want to do weekly/daily didn't happen - bubble bath and gym again most notably, and missed my chance for a non-TV day last month. But got more big one-offs than usual off my list, and kept up with a lot of the ongoing thing (daily prayer and exercise, etc.), and can do two non-TV days this upcoming month (and try got get an extra day or two in at the gym now that some of those other things have quieted down. A busy, productive week though, and proud of myself, my clean home, my getting out and sociailzing, and still finding time to at least get a walk or dancing in every day.

Week 6 Notes: Not as productive as I wanted, as I've been sick - no gym, no baking or no TV day ... but I knocked a couple things off of my list and went to church, cooked supper for Ari etc. Back on track this week so far though already and looking forward to a better status report next Mon.

Week 7 Notes: Awesome week! The two things I miss most often - gym and bubble bath - both got gotten to. I have some catchup to do on my non-TV day and baking but I'm basically on a roll. Yay.

Week 8 Notes:: Basically a good week - missed church as I was worshipping in God's Temple (ie outside) and only went to the gym once but did a LOT of walking this weekend as we took an impromptu mini-break to Port Dover a few towns away. Fun fun, and got a lot off my list. Finally a day w/no TV (a hotel w/o cable helped that).

Sweetheart Saturday

Spending the day at the beach today with both of my sweethearts.
We might stay the night if the weather holds out & there's enough to do.
Our first summery, nice-day 'mini-break' as a family.
So excited ...
And I know Ari worries about $$$ and time sometimes -
So I thank him for giving some thought to this weekend
And realizing it is much needed
For HIS sweetheart and both of our little sweethearts, LT.
Happy weekend all.
And to my American friends & family -
Happy Memorial Day!

Maria Amelia Lopez, 1911-2009

I want to express my respect for this woman, who died at 97 years young on Wednesday. Sra. Lopez was a Spanish grandmother who dubbed herself the 'world's oldest blogger'. Much like myself, she blogged about the personal - her illness, and what it was like to age - and the cultural/political - opposing Generalissimo Franco's regime as a young woman, and modern politics such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and Basque separatism. She began her rise to online stardom when her grandson set a blog up for her as a 95th birthday gift. Many written entries and vlogs later, she'd become something of a celebrity, including a visit from the Spanish Prime Minister. This woman has led an incredibly interesting life and to be so tech savvy at 97 to upload Youtube videos and maintain a blog is truly impressive.

You can find the CNN story on Lopez's death by clicking here.
You can find her blog by clicking here.

Tori Stafford

The sad news came yesterday -
A little girl, abducted about 6 weeks ago, is dead,
Although they are still looking for her body.
Two in custody - monsters.
As a teacher and a mother
Whose adult life has been devoted to children,
I am angry,
But mostly sad - whatever comes out,
Whatever caused these criminals
To target this little girl -
With whom they were familiar,
As apparently the woman
Knew Victoria's mother -
Tori was an innocent of the adult world
And the flaws in it all around her -
Drugs, divorce, shady associates.
I don't speculate -
I feel for her parents,
For her friends and teachers
And neighbours who must now live
In a fear unfamiliar to their small community.
I pray to understand the un-understandable.
I pray for justice.
I pray for the peace and safety of all children
From our adult B.S.
Shame.

Personal Update

Haven't done this in awhile so -

Little Tyke's been my date this week. We went swimming yesterday, and to baby group at the library, and Stars & Strollers movie (Angels and Demons) this afternoon. My mom's been over a bunch helping me clean up the yard etc. and we visited his other grandparents tonight.

He's basically the same happy little boy I've been in love with - he's been a bit cranky as it's been a busy, out-of-routine kind of week and he's teething etc. but you have to understand when I say 'cranky' he's still basically happy and smiley; just gets tired like any other baby. He's also starting to make strange - I've left him with my parents once and Ari's parents once in the last two weeks, and he's been miserable with them (and trust me, he's got the best grandparents in the world); even tonight while Ari and I were there, he was not happy unless we were holding him. Rough roads ahead I think as we try to make time for dates more, and I'm looking at going back to work - but he's a happy well-adjusted boy, we'll make it work. :)

So 90% great stuff with baby as usual, and the other 10% being typical 6-month-old baby stuff, and Ari and I are happy and hummin' along, the weather's wonderful; we're all recovered from our colds of two weeks ago, although with LT being a bit fussier than usual the energy level can be 'not there' at times. Happy but tired I think sums up the mood here for all 3 of us.

Meanwhile a few congrats go out to Ari's best friend Tim (and wife Lynn) on the birth of their second son Sawyer, and my friend Joel (and wife Leanne) on their son's birth; this makes my friends Joanna and Jeff an aunt and uncle, two months before welcoming THEIR second wee one themselves.

It's in the water, folks ... ;)

101 Update

I should always update this here before FB I keep forgetting to post. Anyway here's what should have been yesterday's post. :)

((Mar 30-July 8))

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (49/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (49/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (6/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (3/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (2/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (49/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (7/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (1/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (2/3)
26. See one movie a week. (7/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (49/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (47/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (7/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (2/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (49/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (3/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (49/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (47/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (7/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (49/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (6/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (49/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (7/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (49/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
,93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (2/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. LT is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Week 4 Notes: A successful week - only didn't make it to the gym. :) I knocked a few other things off my list in the meantime - theatre and cleaning the office for example. Proud of myself. :D

Week 5 Notes: Mixed results this week. It was the baby's naming ceremony so the stuff I want to do weekly/daily didn't happen - bubble bath and gym again most notably, and missed my chance for a non-TV day last month. But got more big one-offs than usual off my list, and kept up with a lot of the ongoing thing (daily prayer and exercise, etc.), and can do two non-TV days this upcoming month (and try got get an extra day or two in at the gym now that some of those other things have quieted down. A busy, productive week though, and proud of myself, my clean home, my getting out and sociailzing, and still finding time to at least get a walk or dancing in every day.

Week 6 Notes: Not as productive as I wanted, as I've been sick - no gym, no baking or no TV day ... but I knocked a couple things off of my list and went to church, cooked supper for Ari etc. Back on track this week so far though already and looking forward to a better status report next Mon.

Week 7 Notes: Awesome week! The two things I miss most often - gym and bubble bath - both got gotten to. I have some catchup to do on my non-TV day and baking but I'm basically on a roll. Yay.

Sweetheart Saturday

Spent the day with my honey today.
It was a quiet one -
We watched some trashy TV
(go E! True Hollywood Story)
Played with Little Tyke
Rented a movie
(Yes Man is good).
Not exactly crazy May 2-4 stuff,
But fun. Relaxing.
I wish we'd gotten out of the house,
But I was also glad to have hubby around
And to just chill.
Going with the flow,
Rolling with the punches -
It's what it's all about.
Love you! XO

Little Tyke

*wrote this yesterday but Blogger wouldn't let me post for some reason - anyone know if there was an outage?*

In celebration of my son -
We had our last home visit with our social worker yesterday; next meeting is to sign the finalization papers for our adoption (as opposed to the placement papers which we signed the other day - these end the probation period, home visits, and the possibility of adoption termination; the papers we just signed allowed us to start the process of changing his name on documentation etc; these make it formal that he is our son as surely as if he were ours biologically.

Also -
Tomorrow [NB: now today, the 15th] is LT's half-birthday. He turns 6 months old. So ... happy half-birthday honey. Big hugs and kisses from Mommy.

101 Things Update

NOTE: no excuse for not putting this up yesterday; I updated it on my Facebook and forgot to update it here.

((Mar 30-July 8))

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (42/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (42/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (5/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (2/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (2/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (35/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (6/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (1/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (1/3)
26. See one movie a week. (6/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (42/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (41/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (6/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (1/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (35/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (3/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (42/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (40/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (6/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (42/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (42/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (6/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (42/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
,93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (2/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. LT is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Week 4 Notes: A successful week - only didn't make it to the gym. :) I knocked a few other things off my list in the meantime - theatre and cleaning the office for example. Proud of myself. :D

Week 5 Notes: Mixed results this week. It was the baby's naming ceremony so the stuff I want to do weekly/daily didn't happen - bubble bath and gym again most notably, and missed my chance for a non-TV day last month. But got more big one-offs than usual off my list, and kept up with a lot of the ongoing thing (daily prayer and exercise, etc.), and can do two non-TV days this upcoming month (and try got get an extra day or two in at the gym now that some of those other things have quieted down. A busy, productive week though, and proud of myself, my clean home, my getting out and sociailzing, and still finding time to at least get a walk or dancing in every day.

Week 6 Notes: Not as productive as I wanted, as I've been sick - no gym, no baking or no TV day ... but I knocked a couple things off of my list and went to church, cooked supper for Ari etc. Back on track this week so far though already and looking forward to a better status report next Mon.

A Mother's Day Message

First of all let me start with what I intended for this entry to be --

I want to wish a happy Mother's Day to all the moms I know; my mother, grandmother, step-mother and mother-in-law in particular, but also my friends who are moms (Alex, Joanna, Lynn, Deb, etc.). Please enjoy your special day with your special little people. :) You are the most amazing group of women I know, and I'm so proud to have joined your club this year. I only hope I can do it justice. :)

-- Now it was supposed to end there. Some things don't need a whole lot of explaining, justifying, or being turned into a political cause. Short, sweet, to the point. But as a group of women pushing empty baby strollers at Queen's Park have turned today into a rally for public funding for artificial insemination (eg In Vitro) here in Ontario, as a woman dealing with infertility myself, I just had to comment.

Before doing so, however, I should probably say, as this is probably already going to be a controversial blog - that I want to make super clear right now as an infertile woman who has just adopted her first child, that I completely understand that the journey of becoming a parent is an incredibly personal one, and I would never, ever in a million years judge anyone on the path they follow to that goal. At the end of the day, you have to be fulfilled and happy with the decisions you've made to be a full and complete parent to your child, and unless you're a Nadya Suleman, I will not judge or question what it is that accomplishes that goal for anyone.

HAVING SAID THAT - I want to speak of my own journey a bit to explain my stance here. When Ari and I first became serious about building a future together, and started talking about building a family, we were very much on the same page about a lot. The one source of misunderstanding, was just how we wanted to build a family, and even then it wasn't so much disagreement as a difference in open-mindedness; Ari very much believed, if we weren't going to be able to have children of our own naturally, that adoption was the best and only recourse in an already-overpopulated world, where already so many children needed good parents. I didn't disagree - however I didn't believe in closing any doors. As I said to him often, 'this is a baby, not a political cause'.

Now - what we ultimately came to was that the main priority here was becoming parents in itself - and whatever goal would allow that to happen in the timeliest fashion with the least amount of pain and heartache was the way to go. We happened to decide for us, that adoption was that choice. And for us it was the right choice - having our Little Tyke, I can't imagine loving any child more, whether or not I'd given birth to him or her. It was what worked for our family, and the sacrifices and compromises it involved were ones we were willing and able to make.

I understand - and I say this without condescending - it isn't for everyone. Dealing with whether or not a birth family might be in the picture, or there might be health problems due to the country a child might come from, or choices a birth parent might have made, having social workers visit you and check up on you - even the small things like not being sure you should rightfully NAME your own child (as their name might be their only tie to their birth family) are not for everyone. On the other hand, the heartache of In Vitro therapies not taking, the risks of multiple births, the financial burden represented by artificial insemination - that's not always a choice some are willing to take. We all find the path that works for us. Again - it's about baby, not politics.

However when it comes to asking for public funding in order to become pregnant it does become a political issue, and one that - even as an infertile woman who sympathizes with this group of protesters in a way many perhaps cannot - I can't help but disagree with, because I think it puts the emphasis in the wrong place. It makes the goal becoming pregnant, not becoming a parent. The thousands of dollars of government money that could go towards creating one child, can go towards improving and supporting the adoption/foster care system so that it better looks after the many children it services, and provides the gift of parenthood to many families, infertile or otherwise, who want to take in a youngster and give them a home.

It is our responsibility as individual parents to decide what is best for our own personal families and to act on those decisions; but it is our responsibility as a society to decide how best to spend public money to the most people's benefits. And while I certainly understand the urge to have 'a child of one's own' without having to worry about social workers or birth parents or legal papers and all the stop-and-go and red tape adoption entails, spending thousands of public dollars so that a few people can become pregnant, I think is secondary to spending those thousands to ensure that many become well-supported parents - and, more importantly, that children already in need GET parents.

End of rant. Off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening. *bows, either to acknowledge applause or duck the tomatoes flying at her*

Busy weekend comin' up ...

*NOTE: GRRRR ... this time I didn't hit the wrong button w/this post; but I saved part of it as a draft to post later when supper became ready, and I got kinda sick before I got back to it - and yes REALLY sick, that's not a euphemism for anything*

So I'm looking forward to this weekend as long as I can accomplish all the things I want to accomplish in the meantime - mainly a large stack of laundry and tidying the house up a bit (not too much - still tidy from our visitors last weekend) before my in-laws get over tomorrow to celebrate Mother's Day with us. Ari and I have a ballroom dance lesson tonight which is always fun and I think this might time perfectly for Little Tyke too; he'll be eating any minute and we're heading out in 1-2 hours so he won't be hungry or fussy, and might even be tired.

Tomorrow is the 25th-reunion of my very first school! I taught at a small private Christian school my first year out of teacher's college, which is ( - :( - ) closing after this school year, which also happens to be their silver anniversary; so they're having a little party at the church their affiliated with. It should be fun. And then it's my first mother's day - we're having a picnic with my in-laws. If the weather doesn't hold out, it will be a picnic on our living room floor. And then Monday it's back to routine (to the extent I have a routine, heheh). Next week we have a social worker visit re. LT - the last one before the final adoption papers are signed (SQUEEE!) - and he has a six-month checkup. Not too shabbeh! :) I enjoy May. I really do. ;)

A cute movie, and the sniffles

"Ghost of Girlfriends Past" was a very cute and funny movie I went to today with my favourite movie date - Little Tyke! Love Stars & Strollers/Movies for Mommies, it's such a great concept.

Anyway even though I'm a drama student who can see romantic comedies for exactly what they are, I am nonetheless a sucker for them and this is not a bad one; I enjoy Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner, and Michael Douglas is one of my all-time favourite actors. Good cast, and perhaps not the best script or chemistry between them ever in life, but an enjoyable 100-minute romp anyway. :) It's exactly what it sounds like, and if you enjoy that kind of thing, it's exactly the kind of thing you'll enjoy.

It's also been a week of illness and struggles all around for my loved ones. I'm afraid LT has gotten Ari's throat infection of the last couple days - although more as a common cold than specifically in his throat. He's been a bit sniffly and wheezy. Although he's been that for awhile now - I'm afraid he might be allergic to our sweet kitties. We're going to ask the doctor about that on his 6-month visit (which is SO close now it's exciting and sad all at the same time, wow ...). My other mom, as well, has been in bed all week, as was Ari as I think I might have mentioned? My dad had some kind of bug bite over the weekend that got infected and they had to operate on and administer antibiotics intravenously at the hospital yesterday as well; not to mention Alex has been blogging about her poor sick kids for a week or two now!

Everyone seems to be coming out of it - her Racer and Diva, my boys, my dad and step-mom - but wow, it makes the days and weeks unpleasant doesn't it? I (knock wood) am pleased and impressed I've avoided it thus far - I'm usually the super-susceptible sicky who infects everyone else. :P Here's hoping I can get through my first mother's day without catching this springtime bug, and that as I mentioned last time, two of my favourite mommies have safe travels for THEIR weekends. Peace all!

Meant to post this yesterday but saved as draft instead

*NOTE: see title - this was written yesterday

I have some friends and family this weekend to whom I would like to wish safe travels and good times: my friend Alex is going to Ottawa to see friends, and my mother is going to Montreal to spend Mother's Day with HER mother.

Wishing you both great weekends; be safe, be well, stay out of trouble and have fun. Big hugs. :)

101 Things Update

((Mar 30-July 8))

I'm taking this idea from my friend Tatiana, to set out 101 goals for myself in the next 101 days starting today. Some will be easy to attain, others harder, some will be important and 'deep', others will be slily fun, and we'll see how it goes. I'll update here as I knock goals off my list. Please feel free to follow along, or to do with me. :)

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (35/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (35/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (4/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (1/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (2/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (35/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (5/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (1/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (1/3)
26. See one movie a week. (3/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (35/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (34/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (5/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (1/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (28/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (2/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (35/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (33/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (5/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (35/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (35/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (5/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (35/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (2/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. LT is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Week 4 Notes: A successful week - only didn't make it to the gym. :) I knocked a few other things off my list in the meantime - theatre and cleaning the office for example. Proud of myself. :D

Week 5 Notes: Mixed results this week. It was the baby's naming ceremony so the stuff I want to do weekly/daily didn't happen - bubble bath and gym again most notably, and missed my chance for a non-TV day last month. But got more big one-offs than usual off my list, and kept up with a lot of the ongoing thing (daily prayer and exercise, etc.), and can do two non-TV days this upcoming month (and try got get an extra day or two in at the gym now that some of those other things have quieted down. A busy, productive week though, and proud of myself, my clean home, my getting out and sociailzing, and still finding time to at least get a walk or dancing in every day.

Thank you

Thanks to friends and family who might check this blog out for being at Liam's naming ceremony and/or open house this afternoon - we truly appreciated it. Also wanted to send out wishes for good health to T&L&W, and A&D&K&S, who we know wished they could be there but were kept away by illness - we'll get together again soon! Hugs and kisses *from afar so we don't get sick too ;)*.

We have such wonderful family and friends, and again, such occasions are awesome reminders of that. So thrilling to hear about their upcoming celebrations too - so many weddings and babies and new homes and school opportunities etc. upcoming with the people we've caught up with, can't wait to support you all on your exciting journeys as well.

It also reminds us that sometimes paths go in different directions - there are a few people I'd imagined always having by my side at events like today's, and, as often happens, for various reasons, they weren't. It happens when you have friends across the country, or who might be otherwise occupied. But whatever the reason I just want to take a moment to say: whether this message goes down the street or to the opposite coast or anywhere in between, I love you guys, and I hope life creates an opportunity for our paths to cross again soon. Love to all.

Quick blog shout-out to my mom

For helping me around the house this week. I know she's been a bit bored and looking for a project herself, but the help and support with the busy weekend ahead has been appreciated. :)