One flew over the cookoo's nest...

With the weather being so volatile lately, I've been feeling a little cooped up. It wouldn't be so bad if I was going off to work everyday and operating amongst the living. At first when people would ask me "what's it like being at home, are you bored?" I thought they were insane for asking that. Of course I'm not bored, I'm busy navigating this crazy thing we call parenting. Now that the fog has lifted, and I've figured out how to leave the house with Jason and all his belongings in tow I'm feeling like I could easily succumb to couch-potato-dom. So I was thinking of ways that I keep my self motivated. And came up with this list:

1. Shower every day. I know this sounds like a no-brainer but when you're busy getting the little peanut fed, diapered, changed, napped, or entertained it's easy to forget about your self. I know a few weeks ago I got into the bad habit of not showering until hubby came home from work and I was starting to feel like a slob.

2. Change out of the "mom-uniform" once and a while. I know those yoga pants feel great, but there is something about putting on some real clothes that makes you want to go somewhere.

3. Eat something healthy. When you prepare a nice lunch for your self you are less inclined to sit on the couch watching Regis and Kelly with a box of crackers or chips.

4. Plan a get together with another adult at least once a week.

5. Make your bed everyday, this may seem pretty simple but if my room is clean then I'm more inclined to pick up the rest of the house.

6. When every possible take yourself and baby outside, Jason always naps better when he's had a dose of fresh air, I know I feel better too.

Ever since I was pregnant Paul has been visiting and revisiting the idea of taking Paternity leave, which I'm all for because after almost 7 months of being home I feel that I could rejoin the workforce. But he's afraid he would turn into a couch-potato and that house work and rearing Jason would feel like work. I'm glad that he recognizes the hard work that actually goes into being at home and how easy it would be to fall into the trap of procrastination.

Makes it all worth while.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Yesterday my husband and I were feeling a little cooped up after the "Great April Snowstorm" and it was a relatively nice day out so I had this great idea of going for a walk with Jason in the jogger stroller around our neighbourhood. We just moved here in November and hadn't had a chance to get out and explore. Before I know it our walk has turned into a jog. Which is ok, I can handle a nice jog around the block. About five minutes in, Paul says why don't you get your heart rate up by sprinting down the street to that fence and back. I'm like... uh ok... I do it because I've learned in the past that complaining will get me nowhere. So I'm sprinting, thinking "I don't like where this is going." I get back and Paul gives me the stroller and he takes off. So I see a pattern emerging. The rest of our run continues like this. So much for my leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood. I guess I really can't complain, if it weren't for my "trainer" I wouldn't even be able to run 5k straight which is a piece of cake now. When we met I ran as well as a sack of potatoes so I've come a long way.

We arrive home after our invigorating run and read an e-mail from Paul's parents. They have been traveling the western US and will be gone for a month. I laughed when I read this:

"Mom and I hiked the longest loop in the park (9 miles up and down) covering all three natural bridges in the park. It was supposed to take between 6 to 8 hours but Mom and I covered it in nearly 4 1/2 hours. I was really proud of Mom for being able to walk all the way down to the bottom of the canyon (roughly 300 feet down) along some very rough terrain ... once at the bottom we had to walk along the river bed and occasionally up the hill to avoid some huge boulders. It was good to be in shape with strong core work, we have been doing at the Servus Place. It certainly came in handy. Today, we did take it easy with some short hikes and are relaxing in Sedona."

Not bad for a couple of 60 year olds, I know the Victor family well enough to know that Paul does come by it honestly. I look forward to being 60 and being fit enough to hike a canyon for 4 1/2 hours. But hopefully we'll be on a beach some where and not in a canyon...

April showers??

You know you're a mom when...

I didn't realize Paul had captured this touching moment on camera...

Think Baby.

So we too have ditched our poisonous plastic Playtex bottles for new safer for baby bottles. Thanks to my friend Tracey, we were made aware of this problem with harmful BPA chemicals in plastics with the most susceptible population being infants. I didn't want to return to glass bottles as we has started out with them and had a few problems which made us switch to plastic. I managed to find BPA free plastic bottles by the name of Think Baby.

I had heard about estrogen compounds in plastics back when I was in University completing my biology degree which was gulp... ten years ago already. I had heard of fish being pulled from heavily polluted rivers where pulp mills had been dumping this BPA, had smaller male reproductive organs and enlarged female ones (Many a comment could be inserted here but I won't). I thought at the time that this wasn't very good and was wondering when something was going to be done about it. So ten years later enough studies have been completed to warrant action. Better late than never, I suppose. Maybe everyone will start listening to Mr. Gore. too. I can't believe there are still skeptics out there... But that is a whole other post.

I guess these "estrogen mimicking" compounds can be found in adult drinking bottles as well such as the very popular Nalgene bottles. But the real problem lies in when the baby bottles are repeatedly heated with formula in it. Thus causing the BPA to leach out of the plastic into the formula. Scary thought, we can never be sure how much of this stuff our little ones have been exposed to but if Canada is proposing a ban then we will in our house too. So I'm resting easy with my new Think Baby bottles and ready to tackle the next threat to my little one.

Ultimate Roast Chicken.

Paul and I are often laughed at in my family because we eat alot of chicken due to our weight loss plans, so I'm always on the hunt for a good chicken recipe and discovered this one.

I didn't have a link to this recipe and wanted to post it because it is awesome!

Jen's Ultimate Roast Chicken

Wash fresh chicken, pat dry with paper towel. Stuff with 1 onion cut into quarters, 1 halved lemon, spoon full of garlic puree, and sprig of fresh rosemary. Rub the out side with olive oil and sprinkle with dried oregano, basil and parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Place in large roasting pan, we use a cast iron pot which seems to work well. Quarter another onion and place around bird in pan. Place in preheated oven at 400 C and check in 1 hour. Baste periodically with juices. Chicken is done when drumsticks wiggle freely from the bird and the juices run clear. Or in my case ask Paul because he knows.

Enjoy because this is YUMMY!

Greener Pastures?

I know it's spring in dusty, dirty Edmonton when my husband gets the itch to move out of here to the coast. I know this city isn't the most beautiful city in the world and the weather is even worse. Only here can it be 24 degrees one day and a blizzard the next. To make matters worse we just moved into a new house we built and keep staring out our beautiful windows to the dirt pile we are somehow supposed to turn into a back yard. So the debate is on.

Sure the coast would be beautiful, so close to other great cities I would love to explore, like Vancouver or Seattle. Spring would come sooner and there wouldn't be any -40 deep freezes. I hear the people are more laid-back in Victoria as opposed to Edmonton's to big for it's britches attitude. I have always wanted to live near the water, in a city where being an "outdoors person" is a lifestyle not just a hobby.

So why not move now? Everyone we talk to says now is the time to go. But there are so many intangibles that are great about here. Family is one, as annoying as family can be at times, once you have a kid they are more valuable than ever. Not just for the free babysitting services, but for the support, and you want your kids to grow up knowing value of family. Just seeing how smitten the grandparents are with Jason is reason enough to stay, taking him away from them would just tear a hole in my heart. This is just one of the many intangibles that are keeping me here. If I could pack everyone up and take them with me, we would be gone in a heart beat.

Therefore after many weeks of weighing the pros and cons, even going as far as securing jobs in the other city. I believe we have decided to stay, in this dusty, dirty city. What was that? the forecast is calling for snow?...

Milestones

A few nights ago I awoke from my slumber and thought I haven't heard from Jason in a few hours, so I check the monitor (we have one of those cool video monitors, which I highly recommend). To heart stopping panic I spy Jason sleeping on his tummy. Ack! I hustle to his crib and turn the oblivious little guy over. It seems Jason, the little monkey has learned to roll over, from his back to his front. Yay! another mile stone reached. BUT, He has yet to learn to roll from his front to his back. This has now added to his repertoire of things to keep his mommy sleepless and busy at night, as now he will roll on to his front in the night and not be able to get back on to his back. Thus panic ensues and he cries until someone comes and rescues him. Which is you-know-who...

So with thousands of scenarios running though my head following this new development, all of them ending in harm befalling my little guy. I figured I'd better consult my trusty mom-manual "What to expect in the first year" and it was saying the risk for SIDS decreases immensely when babies reach this mile stone. As they are strong enough to hold their heads out of harms way. This knowledge has greatly reduced my stress level. For those of you who are new parents you can empathize with the fact that everything stresses you out when it comes to your child. And I have been told by some veterans that you'll stress about your children for the rest of your life. Nice hey? I'm already stressed about when he starts crawling!

Spring is here!

After hibernating all winter in the basement on my trainer, my sessions with Coach Troy have paid off. Paul and I went for the first outdoor ride of the season yesterday and I was astonished as to how my cycling has improved. Even Paul was impressed and he is sometimes pretty hard to impress. I had been spending hours upon hours completing workouts to the Spinervals DVDs and was begining to wonder if this was doing any good. The Spinervals DVDs come with inspiring titles such as; Suffer-o-Ramma, No Slackers Allowed and Hillacious so you can imagine you're sweating buckets and ready to fall off your bike upon completion of the disk.

Trying to get a workout in with a new baby in tow was a little like pulling teeth. Some days I never knew how it was going to go with Jason either bouncing in the Jolly Jumper or napping in the playpen. I would pray to the workout gods that he would just stay happy until I was finished. What I have really noticed about how my life has changed since Jason arrived is that my schedule now revolves around his schedule. This includes having to pause the DVD and get off my bike for the ump-teenth time to either retrieve a soother, change a wet or poopy diaper, or even not finish the workout because some one was getting too cranky. I'll tell ya it is very hard to concentrate on keeping your cadence up over 100rpms when there is a crying baby in the room.

Why all the trouble you may ask? It had been over ten years since I have considered my self a thin person. And right before I became pregnant I had been the thinnest I had been in a long time with still some work to do. So you can imagine the frustration in having to put my success on hold. After much thought and pouting I decided (with some guidance from Paul) that my weight loss journey would now become a journey to produce a healthy baby. Paul immediately signed me up for Babyfit.com and I began receiving emails regarding healthy eating, exercise tips and information on pregnancy. Having worked out until the day I went into labour and delivering a very healthy and robust baby I am now the biggest advocate for exercise during pregnancy.

So now five months later I am 2 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight and am in the best shape of my life. Not to mention my arms look great from lugging big Jason around. It is easier to put down the wings and pizza and pick up an apple and feel good the sacrifice is worth it.

Why are we doing this?

In the middle of the night, while at wits end trying to soothe a crying baby the thought has crossed my mind, "why are we doing this?". When we have missed out on a great trip or night out with our "DINK" friends, I sometimes have to remind my self why. Even though as I write this, I'm tired and I know my words are sounding choppy and it's like pulling teeth to put a coherent thought together. I watched a video we took of Jason splashing in the tub this morning, giggled out loud and knew it was all worth it. I'm sure if I showed the "Dinks" this video they would say, so? big deal he's splashing in the water. Well my dear friends, after nearly five months of just watching him lie there like a log in the water, he's just discovered that he can make it move. He's so proud of himself and thanks to the marvel of technology we've captured it on video. It's like watching a little human being come alive, every day he does something new, he's learning and growing. He smiles when he sees me after an afternoon with the grandparents. It's almost as he is saying "these guys are great but I missed you."

My non-parent friends have asked me, what it is like being a parent? I respond to them by saying, you know when you fall in love with someone for the first time? It's like that everyday but exponentially better.

Why is every one looking at me?

This wasn't my bright idea...Let's just say the whole evening at the in-laws didn't go very well.

Sleepless nights...

Last night was a toughie, I have been coming to terms with the fact that my son is a finicky sleeper. Unless I want to start the "cry it out method" which my husband is opposed to as Jason's crying disturbs his sleep. Until we reach our breaking point we'll trudge on. So last night Jason was up at his usual 1am for a bottle. On most nights he happily goes back to sleep till 6:30 am. This I can deal with. BUT, on this particular night he wakes again at 4am, time to bring out the mommy bag of tricks. We tried burping, we got a little burp and some gas then he fell asleep on my shoulder, OK he should go back to sleep now. I gingerly put him back into his crib and creep out the door. I can hear him fussing a bit through the door. Any minute now he should be back to sleep...nope. Crying again. I try some gripe water, this should work now. Again he falls asleep on my shoulder, back into the crib. I sit in the rocking chair waiting for the fussing to stop... It doesn't. Well lets try a bottle. He takes 2 ounces and falls asleep on my shoulder. Back into the crib. Can you see a pattern developing here? By this time it is 5:50am and I'm starting to cry. Sleep! that's all I want. So finally I give in, we go into the guest room and snuggle till we both fall asleep. I'm deep in sleep and so is Jason and in walks my husband at 6:30am. He's up getting ready for work. Trying to be a nice guy and check in on us as deep in his state of snoring he could hear the commotion of the night. Jason and I are both roused from our sleep and the little guy is awake and not wanting to return to bed... Thanks honey! I say through clenched teeth, you better run off to work before I strangle you!

First time for everything.

It's our 1st anniversary today. It seems our wedding is a world away. It's funny, people always say not to get stressed about planning a wedding as it is one day of the rest of your lives. As a bride you want to look perfect, have the perfect day, have your guests think "wow this is the best, most original wedding I've been to." But looking back now, after having our first child, that day is just a blip on the radar of our lives. The thrill of hearing Jason's cry for the first time in the delivery room or seeing Jason laugh for the first time or roll over for the first time, recognize his mommy and daddy for the first time well tops our wedding day. So as Paul and I quietly say "Happy Anniversary" we gaze down at our little sleeping Jason and look forward to celebrating Jason's first step and the first time he says mommy and daddy.

The Maiden Voyage

On the urging of a friend, I've decided to give blogging another shot.  I'm thinking as a new mom on maternity leave there isn't much excitement to write about, but I figure the public could use my new found worldly advice anyways.

I thought I'd start by sharing how our little Prince Jason came into being.  Since I'm sure the bulk of my posts will be about him.

"OOPS!"  is the operative word.  The instructions on the test go something like this; hold in stream of urine and then wait five minutes.  Well I'll tell ya, it's more like wait 1 second.  We were so confused about not having to wait the full 5 minutes for the plus sign that we were sure it must have been a faulty test.  So we immediately ran out to a different drug store and bought a different brand of test, I know, like that is going to make a difference.  That too was positive after 1 second.  I remember Paul and I staring at each other, each waiting for the other to react.  Laughing in shock and saying "Is this good news?"  To be honest, we weren't sure as the past 6 months were a whirl-wind of wedding planning stress.  We were to be married in three weeks!  

Now lets fast forward 8 months.  I'm 7 days over due, I'm desperate to have this baby pack his bags and leave the confines of my body.  We were driving around town picking up various items for the baby's room and after that we were on our way to the gym.  I had been feeling a bit crampy and was determined to walk until, one of two things happened; I went into labour or I collapsed from exhaustion.  Around noon, we were at a fork in the road... I mean literally, a fork in the road, one direction would lead to the gym and the other would lead home.   Paul finally said "I've been watching the clock and these 'cramps' of yours are coming pretty much every 5 minutes, I think we should head home."  Good call!  Talk about denial on my part.  18 hours later, Jason the love of our lives, was born.  After all the build up of the last 8 months ( I say 8 because I was clueless for the first 6 weeks) and the hoopla of labour, The nurse handed us our little bundle of joy and immediately Paul and I look at each other and simultaneously said "Now what?"