The SeaWheeze(r)

As if my plate weren't full enough.....

I decide to run a half marathon. 
http://www.seawheeze.com/

And I can't back out, I already paid.  And I told my mom I would run it with her.  Of course she's ALREADY ran one!  Me...not so much.  Not even a 5km.  Hmmm... I'm going to need some new shoes.  Maybe this won't be so bad.  Hahahaha......of COURSE it is going to be bad!  I lived in Vancouver (where the run is going to be), I know that I never would have even attempted walking it.  Yes the seawall is pretty...I think I was pulled around it, while on rollerblades, by another person, while complaining I was tired.  I couldn't even ROLLERBLADE it....omg.  This is bad, I need to start training.

So when to train?  How to train?  Where to train?  What to eat while training?  What to wear while training?

I need to write a list....I love lists.  Maybe I'll create a pinterest board too.

See this is the way my mind works.  How can I keep busy, so I don't have to do, what I'm spending all this time planning to do.  Most people would say they need to start by running.  One foot in front of the other.  Not me.  Nope I need to make a list.  I might get away with this for a couple weeks, but there are WAY too many people who are going to hold me accountable for this.

Ok, so I have a little bit of time to plan...and write a list :)

Oh my goodness, I can't believe a year is almost finished!  This past month i have been clinging to my baby whenever he lets me.  Tonight, for the first time, he wrapped his arms around me and rubbed my back.  Just like i was doing at that very moment trying to put him to sleep.  Just like i do every night after he finishes his bottle.  I pat his back to get that one little bubble that is always waiting.  He puts his forehead to mine and gibber gabbers his little stories.  I have other things i could be doing, and i know if i lay him down right now he'll go to sleep.  But i wait and savour our little quiet time.  He is so busy right now that when he wants cuddle time, i drop everything.  I sit here trying to remember just a few short months ago, when he was always content to cuddle with his mama.  He was so little, he was our perfection.

People told me to enjoy every stage, because time goes by so quickly.  I think i did enjoy every moment.  As this first year comes to a close, i think of how much he is going to change in his next year.  He won't be my baby anymore, but still as he is getting more and more independent he still looks to his mama for my smile and nod. 

Welcome 2012

Well I have been busy!  2011 was a very exciting year.  It was overflowing with new and wonderful experiences.  We welcomed our baby boy Reid in February and never looked back.  I became a 24/7 mama, Chris was offered two new company jobs (which he happily accepted), we renovated, we became gardeners...lol, we threw a surprise 25th anniversary party for my parents, we met Levi, we visited Gabe and Luke in CT, I started a photography business....did i miss anything???

2012 will probably be even crazier.  I go back to work in a week.  We found a wonderful babysitter for Reid, but with our schedules he isn't there everyday.  I am planning a birthday party for Reid the weekend after i return to work.  And Levi is coming for a visit that weekend.  February is going to be just as crazy this year as it was last year....

we also have a wedding in England we are saving our pennies for.  And we will visit Gabe and Luke some time hopefully soon!  All this travel i will have to book many a photography session to pay for it!

PROCRASTINATION....should be my first name...

I really really procrastinate.  At anything, everything, this thing, that thing.  But it's a weird way of procrastinating.  I'll start it, then not finish it.  Having a baby has only added to this.  I'll start a load of laundry, then let it sit in the washer...i'll start dishes, then leave 2 dishes left unwashed.  A couple days ago, i weeded half my garden.  It looks really good.  The weeded part anyways.  It is truly ridiculous.  I'm going to try something different, i'm going to write a list of things i want to accomplish and post it on this blog.  I'm going to make myself accountable.  stay tuned for my list....

Reid tenting in Jasper

little house on the prairie --clothesline edition

today i finally utilized my clothesline.  here's a couple pics that showcase my small town lifestyle :)

diapers hanging to dry in the sunshine

i'm still planning our vacation to alberta.  we're attempting a camping trip...with a four month old....for a week. lol.  the three of us will hit lake louise, banff, and possibly calgary or edmonton.  yes i know that we won't tent in calgary or edmonton, but we might just need to make a trip to ikea :)  Reid has never been!

on another note:  my volkswagon came with an amazing manual.  my cute but complex baby boy...nada.  did you know that sometimes the only way to get him to sleep is to turn the hair dryer on.  or when he won't take a soother, we stick one of our fingers in his mouth.  baby socks are useless and never stay on, but if you don't outfit your child with them someone will comment how cold his feet look.  on more then one occasion, because you won't learn your lesson, you will poke your baby while he's sleeping because you can't tell if he's breathing.  your worries will disappear along with your quiet time....because now your child is awkae, breathing, and screaming from being poked.   this list goes on and on.

he may be scrawny, but he's damn cute!

wow time flies!  we had a great visit with Josh and Brit last weekend.  They finally made the long drive from Yorkton to Rosthern!  We did a little shopping and went for lunch then supper with a martini or two, then off to the movies....yes we're getting a little bit tamer in our activities.  We'll leave the shenanigans for when we visit them!

A few days later we had an appointment with the pediatrician.  We were sure that Reid had put on weight! We were WRONG.  He weighed in at 9lbs5oz back in April...and again this week!  What the heck?  Well the doctor says the fix is to spread out the feedings from 2hrs to 3hrs, and only let them last 20-30 mins as opposed to ~1hr.  AND at least one feeding during the night.  So long 8hr sleeps...lol.  Apparently we need to wake him every 5hrs...at least.  5hrs works for me, my baby needs to put on some weight!  The doctor said he's healthy and happy, but scrawny....and that if he puts some weight on his head won't look so big in               comparison to his body.....HUH?  I don't think his head looks too big!  Well I guess we'll see next week if this new feeding plan is working.

In other news....MY GARDEN IS GROWING!!! It is so exciting!  Everyday I look out my bedroom window and there is a new vegetable row popping up!  So far we have cucumbers, beans, radishes, peas, lettuce, swiss chard, garlic, and something else that i can't remember what it is....the label blew away....lol.  I guess we'll figure it out in a month or so!

Oh and I almost forgot, Reid has been talking up a storm!  And today he was laying on his play mat and spun his toy that plays music all by himself!  It wasn't just a fluke either...because about a minute later he looked at it and did it again, and once the music stopped playing he did it again!  And last weekend when I was changing him he said "MUM".  He's always said "UM" but now he's been saying "MUM" and "NO" and i swear the other day in the car he said "MUM....HI".  Hey I know no one believes me, but no one believed my 3 week old could roll over....until I videotaped it!  lol...so stay tuned, I'm working on getting my proof on tape!

Reid's "talking" face...he gets quite animated!

First May Long as a Mommy :)

So it's been a busy busy weekend!  Friday morning, bright and early, Chris and I started planting our garden.  FIVE hours and 26 types of vegetables later.....we were finished!  And I've never been so sore or done so many squats in my life!  Okay maybe the week before when i painted the basement.  But I don't suggest planting a garden with a three month old strapped on your front!

We continued the weekend by driving to Wakaw to spend the night with my parents.  We pitched our brand new tent next to my parents trailer, set up our new air mattress and sleeping bags and that only took ~10 mins....wow how camping apparatus has changed, and improved!!!  It was great!  The three of us spent the night in the tent, yes we tented with a three month old, and still stuck with the cloth diapers.  He was great, wouldn't sleep in his bed, but the moment his head laid down on my chest he was out!  You've gotta do what you've gotta do! Lol.  The next morning take down of our campsite was just as easy as set up, still unbelievable!  We jumped in the jeep and drove back to Rosthern.  Unpacked, repacked, nursed and we were off again!  This time to Pike Lake to see Chris' parents and family.  We spent a couple hours and had an early supper.  By this point we were both exhausted and nursing sunburns.  A quick drive back to Rosthern and we hunkered in for that evening and the entire next day.  We did NOTHING on the holiday Monday.  Watched a couple movies and that's about it.

Tuesday we spent, and spent....lol... meaning whenever Chris is off we tend to spend money.  This is what happens when a couple buys a house and has nothing to fill it with.  The only thing we have an abundance of is water glasses.  Some women buy shoes or purses, I buy glassware.  So this week we purchased a bed for our guest room.  Since we think we are having guests this weekend, it was kinda a race to get the guest room finished!  So hopefully Josh and Brit like it!

Chris picked up a night shift for tomorrow night so I'm hoping to get a couple last minute things done around here while he's at work....but we'll see if Reid agrees :)

We'll also have to remind Josh and Brit that last May when Chris and I went to visit them in Yorkton we had a wonderful time.....so wonderful that coincidentally Reid showed up 9 months later!!  Well it's May and they are coming to visit us, so we'll have to see if Reid has a friend come next February??

watching my garden grow.....once i plant it....hopefully

What a beautiful day outside!  Maybe today is the day to buy some seeds for my garden?  My first ever garden....hmmm never done this before.  But i have flowers growing back there!  Of course Chris says he hates dandelions but hey they're growing!!  The lady we bought the house from was an avid gardener, who the rest of the neighbourhood looked to for guidance. . . well all their gardens are planted and mine is still empty lol.  My huge garden, the entire size of our backyard, save for a small strip of grass, well we might need to throw some sod on it.  But I told Chris I would like ONE season to attempt a garden, then he can plant his grass.  Hey no one had faith when I started cloth diapers and we are in month 3!  Speaking of cloth, i have a clothesline in my backyard!  What a nice feature!  Why the previous owner thought she needed 2 foot diameter posts to hold up her clothesline...not sure what she was drying?  But anyways I need to make a list: things I'll need to plant my garden to keep it alive.  This might be more frustrating then golf....nope nothing is more frustrating then golf.  I need to go measure my backyar...i mean garden, while Reid is having his morning nap :)

note to self:  I need to start taking more pictures....Reid is smiling on a regular basis and i need to have some evidence of it.  He still won't sit in his bumbo chair and I'm starting to get paranoid over it, but no time for that....time to get paranoid over my garden!

starting something...

Well I guess there is no way to start this blog other then to just START.

I have always wanted to keep a journal or blog, for as long as I can remember.  Have I ever? Nope.  Nothing more then one entry every few months....or years.  But now I have something worth chronicling.  And his name is Reid Matthew McAllister.  He has come into my life by way of many, many.....many changes.  Some you'll hear about through the course of this blog.  I've heard that a baby will completely change your life, and never makes things easier, calmer, etc, etc.  But Reid has done just that,  he has given balance to my chaotic, misguided, unfulfilled life.....with the help of his dad too.  Life is funny in the sense that if it isn't going in the right direction, it feels like teetering on the lowest stair.  With no confidence or intent to climb higher.  I heard on the television the other day a woman saying that life gives you whispers, then if you don't listen it nudges you, then it smacks you upside the head.  Welcome to my past year :) it's been an amazing start to a new life.