...according to me

Do you know Mindy?

If you don't then allow me to introduce you.

Back in July when I was about 1700 months pregnant I went through a stretch where, even though I was bone tired, I just couldn't sleep. So one night I went downstairs and surfed. As much as I love to have someone "do" my hair, watching other people get their hair done is like a drug for me. It instantly makes me sleepy. I remember being so excited to go with my mother to Top Cuts in the Zellers Mall for her monthly $6 haircut when I was young just so I could watch women get their done. I hated when it was over. So I decided to look for hairstyle videos to help put me to sleep. Specifically, I was interested in learning how to do a fishtail braid on Ingrid and what better time to do that than at 3am?

I stumbled, quite by accident, upon Cute Girls Hairstyles.

And I was hooked. I stayed awake for hours and hours watching every single one of the videos. My eyes were crossing I was so tired but I couldn't turn it off! Mindy, the mom and genius hairstyler, does (mostly) easy yet (always) beautiful hairstyles on her equally beautiful daughters. She is awesome.

I have learned so much from her and have so much fun doing Ingrid's hair now. She mostly still goes about with a basic ponytail but I love having a few tricks up my sleeve for special occasions or when the mood strikes me and/or she's able to stand still-ish long enough.

The best thing, though, is seeing Ingrid's self-confidence blossoming. She is still painfully shy but she's a total girly-girl and likes to look "pretty". It's so wonderful to see her shy, nervous smile peeking out when someone compliments her on one of the "Mindy styles" I've done on her. Instead of turning away and trying to hide behind my legs, she sometimes will look at the complimetor and say a very meek "thank you." Baby steps.

I tune in every Sunday for the weekly uploads and often during the week. Ingrid likes to watch, too. In fact, I think she's quite smitten with Mindy and has become a mini hairstylist herself. Every now and then she decides that she's going to do my hair and before she starts she always says, "Hi! I'm Mindy from Cute Girls Hairstyles and today we're..." and then proceeds to nearly scalp me in her attempts to give me a french braid.

Today, after letting me do a Bun Hawk I decided to finally capture her in action.

 

And just to show you even more adorableness, feast your eyes on these:

Of course, Elodie was in the mix. She was most interested in raiding Ingrid's hair accessories, though. Need to find somewhere else to store them.

'twas a spring swing fling!

The weather here has not been very typical of the area. In my experience spring in Ottawa is warmer and definitely dryer than it has been this month. It's been difficult to get out to the parks and farms because everything is usually so wet. Plus, the temperatures start out very low and don't warm up too much at all. It's almost too cold for their spring jackets but certainly not cold enough for winter coats. Regardless, Elodie's snowsuit is way to short now even if it was that cold.

So sometimes we venture outside to play in our own backyard. It's hasn't been my favourite thing to do lately because while Ingrid is perfectly able to run about and play, Elodie is not, yet she thinks she is. She is getting more and more mobile every day but still not enough to be playing in the yard. I have to carry her around everywhere we go out there. It gets cumbersome quickly plus, even at only eight months old, I think she feels left out.

One day last week as I held Elodie in one arm and pushed Ingrid in the other I recognized two things: 1) Elodie is getting too heavy to balance in the awkward positions sometimes required of me to push Ingrid on a swing and hold Elodie at the same time; and 2) Elodie looked like she was feeling left out and wanted to swing, too. I tried sitting on the swing with her but it groaned in protest, she still tried to get out of my arms and I could no longer push Ingrid to her liking.

I did a little online searching and found a baby swing at Canadian Tire for $30.

Elodie was pretty unimpressed. I know she was tired and needing a nap but she could have shown some enthusiasm.

Nonetheless, she had her very first swinging experience in our own backyard. Ingrid loved being the big sister and showing her the ropes, literally and figuratively.

.

As much as she enjoyed pushing Elodie and then swinging along side her, she really, really wanted to swing in the chair herself. Looks like maybe Elodie won't be swinging with us that much after all!

Is there anything else that says "childhood" quite like muddy rubber boots on the wrong feet?

Behold, the Andersen Sisters in action!

At eight months

Little Miss Elodie:

• officially has three teeth. Her first one came up on April 18. It is up quite a bit and the other two are through the gum but not up too much yet. It's cute to see her running her tongue over the bottom ones. Her first tooth was the bottom right. Textbooks say her next tooth should be the same tooth on the bottom but on the other side. Not Elodie. Her next tooth was top right canine (or whatever that one's called). This little one is very different from her big sister.

• discovered stairs on April 19 and climbed all 14 to the top floor by herself. I was right behind her of course but still... way too soon.

• rewards herself with vigorous clapping whenever she does something. For example, if she eats all her food she claps. If she climbs the stairs she claps when she gets to the top...

• hasn't met a yogurt she doesn't love and devour.

• makes diaper changing a raging nightmare. For some reason Derek and I don't use the change table anymore. It is absolutely brutal. I can't remember how long this stage lasts but I am sooooo done with it.

• is teething so hard. She is chewing on everything but hasn't yet bitten me while nursing.

• is one very headstrong little girl. Let me tell you, if she wanted this chair I'm sitting on moved, it will be moved one way other another. She is determined to get her way.

• understands "no" and sometimes obeys but mostly just watches her chance to sneak and get away with whatever it is she's not supposed to do.

• has eaten a sticker or two thanks to Ingrid dropping them all over the place.

• has also eaten her first bite of chocolate cake, also thanks to Ingrid who needs a plate the size of Newfoundland in order to contain her cupcake crumbs. Elodie was smitten.

• is sometimes referred to as "little puppy" by Ingrid.

• bangs on the windows with her right wrist. If you drove by my house ten times in a day, seven of those times you'd see me and Elodie standing in one of the windows looking out. She loves it and leans way in to bang on the glass with her wrist. She's got some strength in those little arms.

• charms everyone who lays eyes on her. She stole the hearts of a few grandparents at the gymnastics club we visit once a week on Wednesdays.

• thinks touch and feel books are actually touch and lick. Eww.

• thinks eating is an interactive sport. She eats very, very well (at least compared to Ingrid who did not eat well at all as a baby) and gets grabby if we aren't feeding her fast enough. She will reach out and take the spoon in her hand and direct it to her mouth (not independently though. We are still in control of the spoon much to her disappointment, I'm sure.)

• may have been an owl in a former life or is considering becoming one in her next life because she can rotate her head like nobody's business! Kind of freaks me out.

• still plays pretty well by herself. She loves to watch Ingrid running around and will crawl after her often. At the rate she's going, I'd say she'll catch up in about a month. Not kidding.

• has started cruising along the furniture (April 26). My chin is still sore from smacking itself off the floor. Seriously, it just seems way too soon. I know some babies do this even earlier but it is very unexpected around here. I'm not ready for another toddler. I already miss the baby who grew up too fast.

• upped the ante by pushing one of the child-sized chairs in the kitchen and walking along behind it. She went quite a distance, too. Oh baby. Slow down. I worry about those little wobbly legs of yours. But I guess you wouldn't do it if you weren't supposed to, right?

• sleeps through the night 6/7 nights a week. Napping is getting more regular throughout the day but still not a lot.

• loves bath time but will not sit still. It's like she's on a swivel and goes around and around the little plastic tub. Funny but scary 'cause I'm afraid she's going to slip.

• has the best baby laugh of all time. Big, beautiful, belly laughs that I never want to forget. No matter how often she laughs, I can never get enough.

• is loved. Oh, God, how she is loved.

 

 

 

Technically, he didn't even do anything wrong

I had a bad day yesterday. Really bad.

There was much muttering under my breath, lots of stomping around, lots of finger pointing and huffing and puffing. All by your's truly.

When Derek walked in the door late I let loose. The thing is, my "job" starts the minute my eyes open in the morning. There are no leisurely lunch breaks in the middle of the day and I cannot remember the last time I went to the bathroom without a sidekick or two. Not once during the day do I get to walk over to another adult and discuss current events or last night's game. It's just me and them, all day long. I love it most days and wouldn't do anything to change it but believe me when I say I really, really, really look forward to 5:00 when I know that Derek will soon walk in the door. When you tack on an extra unexpected hour+ to my day without giving me any prior notice? Not good.

I am not an unreasonable person. I fully support and encourage my husband and my children. I give them all that I am and everything I have. So I think it is understandable that I don't like being taken for granted. I don't like having plans changed at the last minute. I am plenty spontaneous but when it comes to keeping the peace at home with two small children, interruptions and sudden change of plans do not sit well with me. Not at all. I need some advance warning. We are no longer carefree newlyweds, able to drop what we're doing at a moment's notice.

The day culminated in me being a complete bear. I hate being like that. It exhausts me. I can feel the deep frown wrinkles on my forehead getting deeper. I don't know how people do this for much of their lives. I don't know how anyone can harbour a grudge for so long without it changing their own life in only the worst kind of ways.

Except I lived with that for 30 years so I actually do know how it goes and I try very, very hard to not be like that.

It's just, sometimes, I can't help it.

Yesterday was one of those days.

Showing up late from work really is such a small offence, isn't it? Really. I know. But sometimes Derek just ends up in the direct line of fire and I'd rather take it out on him then them.

So there.

Except it's not that easy. Me being mad devastates Derek. He looks so wounded and hurt. He usually has no idea what's going on, understandably. I think I even scare him sometimes. I can be a total beast sometimes. I know that, too.

He's soft. I need to handle with care. He's a good man and he means well.

To say sorry for a virtually non-existent indiscretion Derek sent me this...

Well, not exactly. I already had the girl. hehe

 

 

Puff Baby, Version 2.0

She eats puffs! Well, mostly they just get slightly damp and then stuck all over her clothes. But she's very curious about them.

Hello Little Derek!

Motherhood: Behind the Scenes

They might not all become Olympic atheletes but whatever they do, it takes a mothers love.

 

Dearest Elodie,

 I would like to remind you that you are only seven and a half months old.

  

Don't be in such a hurry to grow up. You'll get there soon enough. I promise.

Love,

Mommy

Bonus:

This was her destination.

 

Elodie is one very determined little girl. When I was in the last few weeks of my pregnancy my blood pressure started elevating on and off. My doctor sent me for weekly non-stress tests at the hospital. During the very first one the nurse had a hard time pinning down a steady heartbeat reading because the baby moved around so much. She said, "This little one is a real go getter. Good for her." She was right.

We're already seeing a very strong independent streak in her. I hope it serves her well.

 

Holy Hot and Windy!

We've had some really nice weather, then some really not nice weather (including snow!) and then today was a hot, muggy, windy day. I like windy days. I wait and wait and wait for there to be enough wind for flying kites but usually I forget about it because it takes forever. Today was exceptionally windy. Like Newfoundland windy. Perfect day for a trip to the park and some kite flying.

Ingrid was so happy just to get out and run around.

Ingrid didn't seem overly interested in the kite. It was just so windy. Derek couldn't even get it off the ground. Then again, his kite flying skills are not up to scratch so I don't know if it was entirely the wind's fault.

After several attempts to get it up by himself that man in the red shirt on the far left of this picture came over to help (I was too busy trying to take a picture and hold up the stroller. It was rocking pretty hard in the wind.) They got it up but it almost immediately dive bombed right into that man's wife and grandson. Oops.

Ingrid brougt along her soccer ball that she got as a reward for pooping in the potty last year.

She's got great form but we really need a refresher course in how to play soccer. She's runs at it at top speed but instead of kicking it, she jumps right over it!

After a few minutes of that Ingrid, a sleeping Elodie and I thought we'd go to the swings behind the soccer field. The playground is on a big bed of sand. The wind was strong. 1+1= bad idea. It was like a sand storm. Sand went everywhere. Lucky I had Elodie covered over with a blanket snapped onto the visor of her seat but Ingrid had a hard time. Sand went in her eyes, mouth...

We left. Derek kept trying to fly the darn kite but it was useless.

What a bust.

Easter 2012

I freaking love Easter! It's the absolute best time of year, the best holiday ever. It's simple, it's short, it's colorful.

On Friday we did our traditional visit to the farm on it's opening day for the annual Easter egg Hunt. Ingrid was very excited.

We started off with some egg-tails in her hair. There are technically supposed to be three eggs per pony but I ran out of elastics so we went with just two. Pretty cute nonetheless.

While Elodie has a ton of hair herself there just isn't enough for playing with yet. No matter. She's adorable just as she is. See?

One of the things I like so much about Easter is all the cool decorations. In February I found that easter tree on display at Sobey's. I thought it was the neatest thing ever! I brought it home and hid it until recently thinking it would be nice surprise for Ingrid. Turns out she found it a little scary. I asked her what was so scary and she said," The swirly things." Derek thinks it looks like a drawing from a Dr. Seuss book. I think it would make a pretty awesome Hallowe'en tree if it was black.

H

After a quick lunch it was on to the hunt!

It was pretty cold. The weather man said it would be 10 but it felt much colder. Ingrid had to wear my hat because her eggtails wouldn't fit into hers! From behind she looked like she had a square head.

I'm only including this one because look at that face! What in the name of God was she doing?

Hello Blue Eyes! Next year you'll get to run around and hunt for eggs, too. I promise.

Full! You're only supposed to collect the number specified on the card they give you. For Ingrid that was supposed to be two green, two pink, one yellow and one blue. I think someone has self control issues.

I could hold on to that little baby all day... if only she'd let me. Man, she was itching to get in on the action! Just hold on, Little Birdy. You'll be there soon enough.

I love this next picture. It's one of my new favourites.

I never remember to bring my tripod along anymore. So we're stuck with pictures of me and them...

and him and them.

On Saturday we got everyone dressed up for a visit with the Easter Bunny. Unlike Santa, Ingrid likes the Easter Bunny and doesn't find him/her scary at all. Not sure what to refer to the bunny as. It's a natural instinct of mine to say "he" but last year in efforts to get Ingrid to not be afraid of the bunny and sit with him/her for a picture I told her the bunny was a girl. She bought it and now corrects me all the time and tells me that the bunny is a girl and is "not scary at all."

I did her hair in a braided crown. At the end of the day, Derek and I both agreed she looked a little "Little House on the Prairie".

I love those ears on Elodie. Perfect fit.

Alas, the Bunny! Ingrid loved her visit and Elodie was all smiles. Can't ask for more than that!

There was a surprisingly long line up. So fun to see everyone in pretty spring clothes.

Ingrid was very excited to have the Easter Bunny come to our house. She even started pretending she was really tired and asking if she could go to be about three hours before her normal time. She just wanted him/her to come already!

Before it was bedtime I let Ingrid open her gifts from Grandma Di and Aunt Kim.

Elodie enjoyed the new box! Ha!

And Ingrid was very excited to take her new bunny and Charlie Brown's The Easter Beagle to bed! We read that book at least four times before she'd had enough.

Early the next morning, the first thing Ingrid did was hop up on her bed to look in the backyard to see if the Easter Bunny had left an egg hunt for her. The bunny did not disappoint.

But before braving the zero degrees outside she went looking for the Easter baskets first and found them hidden behind some pillows in the living room. She was soooo excited.

Elodie was a little less so. Perhaps next year.

Let the hunt begin! We always start in the front.

Elodie was content to ride high in Derek's arms and lick an egg instead of running around crazy like the big sister.

A basket case with a basket full.

Once inside Elodie wouldn't relinquish her hold on that egg. She was pretty tired from all the excitement, though.

So many eggs, so little time. We had to rush off to Ingrid's swimming lesson shortly afterwards.

Happy, happy.

The end.

 

A promise made...

Earlier today Derek bought Ingrid an egg dying kit at Walmart. She'd been asking all day if we could decorate some eggs with it but something more pressing always got in the way.

"Yes, Ingrid. In a few minutes."

Then it was lunch time.

Then it was supper time.

Then it was nursing time.

Then she fell asleep for a much needed nap.

Finally, at 9:00 tonight I felt just bad enough about putting her off all day that I said, "Screw bathtime. Let's decorate eggs!"

And so we did.

Derek's got some egg dying experience behind him but Ingrid and I embarked on our maiden egg dying voyage together.

And if I do say so, we didn't do too shabby.

I had to call my sister for egg boiling directions but other than that we were good to go!

Pretty colours!

Fully emersing her entire hand in the mug of blue dye was all fun and games until she realized it wasn't going to come off with regular hand washing.

Oh boy!

She pretending to laugh it off but was obviously quite concerned about her blue hand. Eventually, in a quivering voice, she asked Derek if it was ever going to come off. She was on the verge of crying.

Derek tried several different methods to remove the offensive dye but finally found the cure in a bowl of very warm water and lots of liquid dish soap.

We had one very relieved Ingrid!

Lesson learned? Probably not.