Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Oh, Vancouver!
But as an aside you have a great sense of humour. Two years ago you gave us a splendid white Christmas with feet of snow. This year, snow earlier and in greater quantities than I can remember as a long term west-coaster.
But last year? Year of the Winter Olympics?
Flowers in January.
Bravo Vancouver. I tip my hat to you.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Eating myself out of house and home
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
November in Vancouver 2
Just in case you were wondering
Weirdnesses
Monday, November 22, 2010
Hungry
The doctor paused, as if waiting for me to state the actual problem.
"He won't eat! He spits everything out! Or gags! He's nine months old! Shouldn't he be eating by now? I've been trying for three months!"
The doctor said ... "is he healthy? Is he growing?" When the answer was yes, she merely shrugged. "Some babies don't eat at six months. Some take longer. He's fine."
And indeed he was fine. And still is, and in fact is a good eater by preschooler standards. But he didn't willingly ingest solid food until he was 10 months old, and didn't get significant calories from solid food until a year old. He was over 20 pounds by that point. Heck he was 19 pounds at 4 months. Nine months in I would eat brownies every day and still lose weight which sounds like bliss until you are faced with the reality of trying desperately to nourish yourself as your body struggles to satisfy the relentless hunger of a growing baby. The constant constant hunger. The tiredness. The inability to do anything without the baby because he / she will not eat anything and I cannot pump.
My daughter is now staring down seven months old. Despite a promising start -- showing interest in food as I ate, wanting to touch it, making chewing motions -- she too has rejected all attempts to introduce other foods. This weekend after a molecule of avocado went in her mouth without her grimacing, I attempted less than half a babyspoonful and she then gagged so much I had to seize her from her highchair ... And then the gagging made her vomit all over the floor. Spectacularly.
Unsurprisingly, despite the fact that my daughter is far smaller than my son, I found myself this weekend in the kitchen eating cookies / yogurt / crackers mounded with hummus / apples by the fistful. I've even (gross!!) been eating Nutella by the spoonful which is not only gross but puzzling given normally I hate Nutella (yes I realize that's weird).
It seems altogether likely that March will roll around before she deigns to let the tempting morsels I lovingly prepare for her cross her lips, and the next three months may well be a fury of gobbling on my part. It's fine. I knew this was possible, even likely. And being able to eat ANYTHING is a delight I admit. And how else will I get my work wardrobe to fit again?
But man. It sucks to lie in bed two hours after dinner with a growling stomach, thinking only of what I get to eat next. I'm SO HUNGRY!!!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Yep, yep, too cold for us Vancouverites
Friday, November 19, 2010
Only in Vancouver ...
True enough though that the city will PANIC over it.
PTA Mom
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Broccoli!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Remembering
But I write this as an exercise, as a statement that I too remember. I remember and acknowledge the many sacrifices those who went before us made to make a place where today my children are safe and healthy. I recognize and honour the people today who continue to fight that fight for us.
I tell my son about his great-grandfather who was in the navy. He's four. That's exciting. Someday I'll tell him that his other great-grandfather who worked for MI6 in London during the Second World War. When he's 14, that will be exciting.
And I hope by telling him, keeping their stories alive, that when he's 21 he'll remember, and think, and advocate for peace.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Six months
I am a big fan of the 6-24 month set. I think it was my favourite stage, and the sitting is a big part of that ... They can play and interact and get around and aren't totally dependent but are still small enough to tote around. The learning! The joy! The fun! Oh how I love small toddlers!
But oh. When I see her, sitting there? I know my baby is gone. My son will be five in less than four months. FIVE. I know how fast it goes. And here she is, taking on the world already. How come it goes so fast?
Monday, November 8, 2010
Sick
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
November in Vancouver
Shortly after I took this, I sat on one of those benches and nursed my daughter for twenty minutes, the weather felt merely pleasantly warm without a breeze. Glorious. And very good for the soul.
It almost makes the house prices worth it.
No. Wait. It doesn't.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sh*t
An email from me to someone I thought was an old friend about a new job opportunity who hasn't replied. A neighbour's complaints about our now outdoor cat.
But we are healthy and loved and the kids are happy ... Maybe I'll concentrate on my blessings and put love out into the universe instead of being morose. If nothing else it will get my mind off things I cannot change.