Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

Har har. Actually, yesterday was my last day of work. I'm excited! I plan on getting some things in order around here, spending time with Ian and Travis, and trying to get some sleep while I still can. So who likes my new blog look? I figured for a fresh start, a new look was in order. I really like the new options Blogger has for personalization. It's easy to use and there are way more options.

It's a nice day today, it is only 18c and cloudy/rainy. It's a nice change from boiling hot and humid. People keep asking me how I mind being pregnant in the summer but in all honesty, I don't think I am any hotter or more uncomfortable than usual. After all, Ian was born at the start of the summer, and I felt like I spent the whole summer trapped inside with a hot, sticky baby stuck to me. I find Just Me to be a lot easier to cool off. We have been swimming a lot. Besides, our bedrooms are downstairs, and I have a ceiling fan. It's pretty comfortable.

It's been so hot lately, we went to the Valley for a drive last weekend, and we didn't end up doing anything because it was too hot to get out of the car. Eventually we decided to go to the Aviation Museum in Greenwood. It was nice. Not big, but admission was charged by donation, so we paid about $5 and feel we got our money's worth.

Since it is wet out, I'm letting Ian play Wii while I do housework. (Except I have been goofing off on the computer and not getting any housework done. Mom fail.) That kid loves Wii so much, it's insane. He loves Mario more than anything on earth, I think. He has posters and everything. He asked for a Mario shirt but I couldn't find one yet. What's really irritating, though, is that he has Super Mario Bros. Wii, and Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2, and he just spends all his time playing the first few levels OVER AND OVER AND OVER until my head wants to explode with the repetitiveness of it all. Argh!!! Back in my day, the game forced you to do the next level when you were done. And you couldn't save it, so you had to keep going. But hey. Back in my day, you also had to carry your Koopa Shells on your back uphill both ways. In the snow. And we didn't have Helicopter Suits. Just fireflowers and a bizarre flying raccoon. And it was all, like, 8 bit.

I'm such a dork.

My last day....

Today was my last day as the Mom of a four-year-old. It's a little bittersweet. He's done being a baby, toddler, and preschooler (even though he still has about six weeks of preschool left). Now the next stage: Big Kid. Big kids go to school, have sleepovers, and form memories that will last the rest of their lives. People spend the rest of their lives trying to recapture the feelings they had as a Big kid, by doing things that bring back memories of things they did prior to being a teenager. Being a kid is in a lot of ways the most perfect time in someone's life.

Up until now, I could more or less rest assured that he would probably forget most of what we say and do together, but now, anything we do together could be his first, strongest, or most defining moment in childhood. There's no way to know. It's kind of daunting.

On the other hand, I am not worried that his first, strongest, or most defining moment in childhood is going to be bad. After all we love him, give him everything he needs, and spend time with him. Ultimately, I think that is what really matters.

A Rock It Man...

Family Guy has soooo many layers. I thought Stewie was just making fun of Elton John.

(sorry about the quality)


Until I came across this:

Just about died. 

Conversation with Ian over lunch.

(for reference, B is a kid in our neighborhood, one Travis and I don't particularly like)

Ian: B's blood is all over the court.
Me: Why, did he hurt himself?
Ian: Nope. He puked blood. He puked it all over the court.
Me: Did he hurt himself first?
Ian: No. He just puked blood.
Ian: He puked blood and I rode my bike over it and now his DNA is on my bike.
Me: (laughing) What's DNA?
Ian: It's something in your body that makes you go or something.
Me: OK.
Ian: B said that his DNA is on my bike so it's his bike now.
Me: (not laughing anymore) Well next time he says that you tell him that he's full of baloney and it ...
Ian: (interrupting) And then I should kick his ass?
Me: (trying not to laugh) NO!! You shouldn't hit other kids!! Just tell him that's a load of baloney and it's your bike.
Ian: And then just ride away.
Me: Right! (and then I came over here to transcribe before I forgot. My lunch is still on the table so I better eat it!)

Someone's poking me.... and it is not on Facebook!

I'm at 16 weeks now. I've been thinking I might be feeling some movement for the last week or so, and I have now decided that that's what it is. Just a little flutter here and there but still pretty cool!

I have a doctor's appointment today. We are all going to go together because he is going to try to find the heartbeat. I am pretty excited! I have been having a lot of nerve pain in my rear end as well, so I am planning on asking if there are any recommended ways to alleviate that. Sometimes I can hardly walk, and it is getting worse all the time. I find walking helps a bit, so I try not to sit still for too long. But bending or squatting makes it worse, so I try not to do any housework (that's my excuse, anyways.)

I have also been getting ginormous. I haven't really put on much weight.... I lost 5lbs or so after the holidays and then put it back on, so I am pretty much breaking even there. However, I only have one pair of jeans that fits. I went to the mall yesterday to try on maternity clothes, because I wanted to not feel fat for a few minutes. I will go shopping next week probably and pick up a few things, and then I will take a picture. I just can't put a big fat picture up right now. I don't mind looking pregnant, but I hate looking fat.

Ian seems pretty blase about the whole situation. When we advised him he was going to be a big brother, his response was "but Mom, you can't have a baby! You don't have any milk in your boobies!" Travis and I just looked at each other and laughed. That was the last thing we expected him to say!

We are planning on getting the spare room cleaned out first, then painting it green with some bug decals (caterpillars, dragonflies, butterflies, ladybugs etc) I want to do kind of a meadow theme. Maybe some birds and frogs too. This is a huge ongoing project as we have been using that bedroom as a storage room since Ian moved into the bigger room. I don't know where we will put people now when guests come.

So I think for right now, I am going to eat some breakfast and then do a few things around here. It is green bin day, so I think I should clean out the fridge. Exciting way to spend my day off!

Recieved via Email today

Canada Post has created a stamp with a picture of the Prime Minister Stephen Harper. The stamp is not sticking to envelopes. This enrages the Prime Minister, who demands a full investigation. After a month of testing and spending of $4.1 million, a special commission presents the following findings:

1. The stamp is in perfect order.
2. There is nothing wrong with the adhesive.
3. People are spitting on the wrong side of the stamp

Things are going to change around here.

November, eh. That was a while back. I think this has to be some kind of a record for me! However, I was crazy busy. My mom and my sister Jenni came out for Christmas. It was a short but fun visit. Add the craziness of the holidays to the craziness of trying to find space for everyone to stay and it adds up to UBERCRAZINESS!!!

In January I went to Edmonton to surprise my Mom for her 50th birthday. We surprised her with me, a spa day, a suite at the Hilton, and a huge party with tons of family there. It was a great weekend! I got to see cousins I hadn't seen in years, and it was so nice to get together on a happy occasion. I also had a chance to see my sister Adrienne's new house and her new baby Tyler. Both her kids are cute as buttons and she certainly has her hands full. I also got to meet Jenni's boyfriend Lonny. I can absolutely get along with him, and he seems like a lot of fun.

Then I found out I am expecting a baby on September 25.

In February Travis went to the west coast to help with harbour patrol for the Vancouver Olympics. We really missed him here, especially since the babysitter took my whole paycheck while he was gone. Ugh.

But he made it back alive and now we have a major house-rearranging project to occupy us for the next few months. Plus I am trying to work some extra hours to make up for February and also save some up for the future.

I will try to keep everyone updated!!

Sincerely, Leoal!

(ps: did you see how I just snuck that in there?)