Updated

Friday, 30 May 2008

Update: This is what happens when you have little to no time to think about something. The more I read your comments, and thought about it, the more I realized that I like my (our) little corner of the Internet. I don't HAVE to link back to my blog, so depending on what happens, I won't link back. I won't put this alias out there. I'll keep this fun separate from the work. I'm looking for other ideas for an alias though. Everything I come up with is veggie related, and while I like the joke, maybe its not best for everyone to think I'm a vegetarian.

Privacy questions

Ok, so thus far I've been really having fun with having y'all as my blog readers. It's a really good way to keep up with all that is going on in our busy lives. Honestly, I wouldn't know half of what y'all got going on if we didn't all have blogs.

That being said, there is a serious part of me that wants to be Dooce when I grow up. I mean, really, her husband works for her. How cool is that? I don't really want the fired part, but the making money writing, taking pictures, being snarky would be fun. I haven't really pursued it, thinking that the best thing would be to just see what happens. I've done a few things to make myself more out there (leaving a link to my blog on a dooce comment was one), but I haven't actively sought it out.

However, I know a mommy blogger who does reviews. Yesterday, she referred me (with her permission) to a site that was looking for a mom in the TC. I've been contacted, have to write some sample entries, and will take the job if offered. After all, dressing the Sprout ain't cheap, little weed that she is.

So, here is the question I need your help with, since it involves all of you. I can link back to my own blog, and since this one has history, I will be linking back here. However, I want to respect everyone and I will remove the links to your blogs if you want. I will leave them as well if you want me to. I'm going to be taking off the links to Flickr, and I may create another profile to isolate myself from my "real" life.

We all use pseudonyms on our sites, but I'm leaving this up to you. Nothing is official yet, I still have to audition, but since if I get the job it will move fast, I want to know where everyone stands on this.

As a side note, if I do get this, I may need guest bloggers if I ever want a break, or people to do stuff with. Let me know if you're interested in that as well.

Maybe...

Thursday, 29 May 2008

I just got an email, about the possibility of getting paid to do something I do for fun.  I'm not sure how to react, but I have inquired about the possibility of what would come next. 

Also, not sure if you saw it, but Christina from A Mommy Story (I know someone who gets paid to blog, I've worn her corset), left a great comment on my sunscreen post about someone who did an amazing roundup of just what the issues are.  Very very good stuff.  The link to Skin Deep was worth it alone.  In case you missed it, Crunchy Domestic Goddess.  You don't have to sign up for the Skin Deep email thing, you can click through.  

Wordless Wednesday - Wing!

Wednesday, 28 May 2008

Proof that someone looks good in Bermudas

Sunday, 25 May 2008

Home, work, two hours a day

Saturday, 24 May 2008

Just for the record, this isn't meant to piss anyone off, and Ms. Huis's post was not the only factor in my irkedness (though being fair, it was part, but not in a personal kind of way, more of a general jealous way.  And it wasn't the only one that triggered it all).  For my own mental health, I think I need to write this one out.  

I get two hours a work day with my daughter.  That is two hours that has to include feeding, cooking, sometimes work, getting ready for work, as well as trying to mentally stimulate and teach.  Seeing as she's not talking, not walking (yes I realize that it is normal, but I still compare) I can't help but think that maybe she would be doing some of the kinds of things other kids her age are doing if I could stay home with her.  Then there is the issue of the multiple ear infections (which no doubt being in a large daycare contributed to) and the resulting hearing loss and speech delay.  Given the choice, I would put up with any of the annoyances that I see so many women complaining about.  Really, in this world, you need too incomes, and being able to stay home is more of a luxury than many can afford.  I know it can be done, and with it comes sacrifices, but for those of us who work full time, its definitely a grass is greener issue.  

It doesn't help that I find my daycare passable, not extraordinary.  And what parent doesn't want extraordinary for their child.  It doesn't help that I'm exhausted from 13 months of lack of sleep, or that I still do the majority of the house work.  

If I get irked, and redo my blog, its not because its personal.  I'm jealous, and I worry.  I was an extraordinary kid, and I worry that my working is going to mean that my daughter is average.  And again, who doesn't want extraordinary for their kid.  I'm worry that I'll FUBAR her, or that making sure she's good will take a toll on me and mess up other stuff in the long term.  

Sorry, I had to write it out, put it out there.  Its a big part of who I am right now.  At least once I week I try to figure out how to quit my job or have a panic about what we're screwing up.  

Screened in

Friday, 23 May 2008

We're off to have one of our first outdoor adventures of the summer, and given my delicate skin, its been decided that the Sprout needs sunscreen.  So I, in my attempt to be informed, do some research.  Since I know that some sunscreens are ba-ad.  

You want PABA free, non-chemical sunscreens.  You want the active ingredient to be a blocker, not a chemical that is absorbed.  Given her propensity for dry skin, and my history with fragrance, I figured mild smelling would be good as well. 

Aveeno, my favorite mass market but isn't supposed to look mass market product would be a good place to start, since their soaps are mild and fragrance free.  No luck, full of the bad stuff.  

So I settle on my other favorite baby brand, Burt's.  (I have a soft spot for bees and my dad's name)  Their stuff is good, and they go up to an SPF 30, which the info says should actually be more than enough.  (we're actually trying to avoid the sun, but since that isn't possible totally, 30 should handle things)  I go to my local co-op, being the good green girl that I try to be, and they are out.  While there I check out what else is available.  I am shocked by two things: 

A surprising amount of available sunscreen has PABA in it, despite being labeled for kids.  This is contrary to multiple green and non green resources I've seen.  (wonder how many people blindly buy because its at the co-op and they think its been screened for bad stuff)

The available stuff that is PABA and chemical sun screen free is TWENTY-SEVEN dollars.  US dollars.  Not you know, Canadian dollars pre sucky economy.  For a relatively small tube.  

That's it, still haven't found the Burt's stuff, but my favorite money pit carries it I believe. 

Reorg

I'm feeling a bit... cranky today. Read something on a blog that really irked me, but I'm in no position to comment, so I've taken out my frustration on a blog redo. Got annoyed that I couldn't find a template that I liked that I could get to work. Realized that I have a huge number of artsy nature type photos, mostly from our honeymoon, that I am not using. I put one of them to good use with the assistance of Picnik, but I plan on rotating them, maybe monthly. It will also encourage me to use my iFruit for some fun, seeing as that is why I got it.

Also, I finally took advantage of Flickr allowing video and posted some stuff for my mom in CO. Its actually really nice, and doesn't have the lag that posting to some other video places does. Tres impressed.

Ketchup

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

The Sprout continues to be more vocal, and I hope that her follow-up on Friday shows what we think is true, that the fluid is gone and she can hear better.

I've done my shopping for summer for the Sprout and in the process have discovered a few moderately disturbing things.
1. She's as tall as Mini Me.
2. She's skinny. Despite going to the regular places, I've had an extremely hard time finding pants that fit her. I will be altering some things so that they fit her. She could keep wearing the smaller sized stuff that fits her waist, but she's so long bodied that it shimmys off her diaper when she's crawling.
3. Walking is coming soon, but it is not yet time to buy shoes. Got a pair of really flexible ones from Target, fit one week, did not fit the next. Thank goodness they accept returns with just the credit card you used to pay for it.

Other than that, the molars continue to come in, and with that comes intermitant sleep. We'll be good for a few days, and then it will all fall apart for a few. At least she's good natured during the day.

In non Sprout related news, my toe continues to heal, and I've given up on running any time soon, so I think I may do something I last did in NY, get a gym membership. With a 6:30 bedtime, I can go to the gym after she sleeps. ajd can handle any Nuk replacements that come up, and I can actually lose some of this weight.

Only slightly related, even though I am still nursing (a few times a day) I had to go get a real bra before I had a nervous breakdown about my sagging boobs. I feel human again. Casique is my friend, if they just made this style as a nursing bra, I'd be in heaven.

Speaking of nursing, I'm about to start lying when people ask me if I am still doing it. Apparently, I'm verging on gross and inappropriate now.

Oh, back to the toes. Since I was pregnant I've had a large, sometimes painful, very ugly wart on the non broken big toe. I was pregnant though, and couldn't actually see my feet enough to care. It was bad. So now that its summer, and a friend who won a gift certificate has said she won't go get a pedicure at Juut without me, I decided to do something. I'm putting prescription acid on it every night, and then cover it with, on Dr's orders, duct tape. My toes (damn thing spread right before I was going to have it dealt with) are so punk rock. Add the broken toe on the other foot and my chronically dry feet, and from the ankle down, I'm a mess.

Impressed

Friday, 9 May 2008

I have to quick give my glowing appreciation for the staff at CHC.  I can't imagine going through the rushed process of a primarily adult hospital with a 13 month old.  

The other thing I just have to say is that I love our dr.  There is a very good chance we'll be doing this again, and he rocks.  (I'll give his name to anyone in the area who needs it)  At six tonight he called to see how she was doing and make sure that we didn't have any more questions.   

Oh, and one more thing.  She really can hear much better.  Its amazing really, but swear she said dog and pointed to Tess.  Its going to be a fun weekend and a great mother's day. 

Tubed

The surgery is done.  It started half an hour before it was supposed to (good that they had her stop eating/drinking at the times they did) and finished before the original start time.  

Of course, she could still have issues, but now we can give her drops instead of shots or oral antibiotics that would make her more sick.  At the least, her hearing should be much improved already.  

We're relieved, and waiting until she wakes up to start seeing just how much her hearing has improved.  Hopefully it won't make sleeping harder, since (knock on my own head) we've made huge progress on that front.  

This little piggy...

Sunday, 4 May 2008

This little piggy broke off a corner of the lower of of the phalanges, this little piggy has a nice bruise next to it from the afore mentioned broken one...

I was totally serious about doing the couch to 5k program this summer, I was just waiting for the snow to stop... No really, I mean it. I figured that if I had made it three weeks I'd treat myself to a jogging stroller off of CL.

I would love to say I have a good reason for breaking my toe but no, there are rarely good reasons for broken toes. I am a klutz. You may have thought I was kidding about why the Sprout's middle name is Grace, but I really wasn't. It has everything to do with my wishing she could walk without running into doorways, couches, her own shoes, she had just taken off and managed to get her toes stuck in so she hyper extended her big toe under her foot and heard an audible snap...

I have been prescribed 3-4 weeks of rest, and given a booty thing that actually makes it feel worse and makes it harder to keep it immobilized. I'm not sure if I want another copay to see if I should be doing something else though, but the thought of it not healing well and causing long term issues is not pleasant.