Smokin'

Last night felt so good. It was my first time away from the kids in two months. (because the hour away to grocery shop doesn't count).

When my pump stopped working and I decided that instead of investing more money on a new one or to replace parts, that Kyle would simply drink formula when I was away, my mom made a comment that 'I gave up fast' this time around. The stigma around formula vs. nursing drives me nuts. I chose breastfeeding because it's cheap and very gratifying (once I got over the tough part). And the other, most important reason I do it is because I can. Not every woman is that lucky. But the thing I really don't like about nursing is that it can easily become a prison sentence.

This way, I feel like Kyle, Rhys and myself are getting the best of both worlds. Feedings are no longer going to hold me back from celebrating a friend's birthday or getting my hair cut. And Kyle's Dad and Grandparents can get the joy of feeding him. And Rhys can have more of my time, instead of it being used to pump milk (that Kyle gets 99% of the time anyway).

So...back to how good last night felt. I drank 3 HUGE virgin strawberry/pomegranate margaritas. I got to chow down on delicious homemade appetizers. I laughed with some of my dearest friends, and talked about things other than sleep patterns and child rearing. All while learning how to make my eyes look dramatic and sexy! God, it was heaven. I know it was T's birthday, but it was also a wonderful gift to myself to be there (thanks Warren!).

Before:

After:








The Ladies!



Our eyes really pop, from far away!




And guess what? You can book your very own 'Smokey Eye' make-up party with Kara! Here is her website: Blink Make-up Artistry

It's A Weave, Baby.

I think we all remember this traumatizing day from a couple years ago...the day I went to the hairdresser and asked 'for a change':

Well, after nearly two years of 'giving it a fair chance', and then deciding to grow it back out, I decided to take matters into my own hands... and I got a weave.

Gotta say...I finally feel like my old self for the first time in a LONG time. Having a weave isn't awesome - I'd much rather it be all my own hair - but it's a fun temporary fix.

Like Oprah says, "A woman's hair is her crowning glory".

Now that I'm past the 'permi-headache-feels-like-I'm-wearing-a-wig' phase....I feel like a queen again.

Sunday.

Today was a perfect Sunday. Warren only had one appointment, and they cancelled! I went to the mall in the morning for some 'top secret' birthday errands, then my mom came for a visit while we watched Spain (wahoo!) win the World Cup, then off to Nana & Grandan's for a backyard dinner with some out of town friends.

Rhys & Grandan:

Rhys walking around entertaining everyone:

Rhys decided, suddenly, that he knew how to climb stairs:

Oh ya, and the Birthday Video? DONE. (Shawna, whatever you charge your clients, IT'S NOT ENOUGH). Look for it's Blog debut on the 15th!

Manitoba Dreamin'

Warren is in the middle of 'his' 2 week holiday. When I try to correct him and say 'it's OUR holiday', he replies with "No, YOU'VE been on holiday for the past 11 months!". Sheesh. (But it's kinda true...).

Rhys' Great Grandpa lives in Winnipeg Manitoba and since he doesn't travel we knew if we wanted Rhys to meet him we'd be makin' the trip soon. They'll be many more trips to The Peg, but we wanted to make sure they met while Rhys was still 'a baby'.

Almost packed the baby in the luggage:

And since you all know I loves me my comparison photos...

Me and MY Great Grandpa (my Grandma's Dad), probably around Easter in 1980:

Rhys and HIS Great Grandpa, June 2010:

Me and my Grandma:

Rhys and his Great Grandma (My Grandma who hasn't aged one bit!):

I LOVE this next photo of Rhys at the bottom of the stairs. That staircase at my Grandma & Grandpa's brings back so many memories for me:

While we were visiting, it RAINED. A LOT. But we still managed to have breakfast at 'Sal's On The Bridge' by The Forks. Rhys was loving the rain:

(The construction in the background is the new 'Human Rights Museum' being built in Winnipeg).

We also had a perogy feast, drinks in the gazebo, taught my Grandparents how to play Texas Hold 'Em, enjoyed a Father's Day pancake breakfast at the Senior's Center, and my Grandma watched Rhys while we checked out The Old House Revival Company (thanks for the tip Nicole!).

On our last full day, the sun came out and we went to my Aunt & Uncle's cabin by the lake. Rhys got to sit in the wet sand for the first time and squish it in his fingers. He screamed when it was time to take him away:

My cousin Kristy & I, her daughter and my Aunt & Uncle and Rhys:

Arrived back home mid-afternoon on Father's Day, so a quick family nap, then off to a BBQ with Warren's side of the family:

Rhys' cousin Bridget LUVS holding him:

Warren with his Mum & Dad (Rhys' Nana & GranDan):

Yesterday we were having the carpets professionally cleaned, so we drove up to Kananaskis for a picnic by the water:

Blackberries & watermelon are M-E-S-S-Y! :

Six Month Snapshot

Rhys is 6 months old today, and I'm so happy because everything about our lives right now is really great. We have a 'routine' (in the loosest sense of the word), yet everyday is different because Rhys is learning and changing and discovering right before our eyes. Our nights are quiet and peaceful and restful. Warren & I still go out for brunch with friends, go to movies, read books, plan vacations and LAUGH. Oh, how we laugh... Rhys hasn't changed our lives, he has merely improved them beyond recognition. He simply makes everything better. If our lives were a DQ ice cream cake, Rhys would be the chocolate crunchy bits. He gives me a reason to get up in the morning, literally. I love lifting him out of his crib first thing, when he's still in his sleepy fog and a bit frantic for his breakfast, and taking him to the living room and nursing him on the couch with the morning news in the background. After our post-milk snuggle he'll play on his mat or in his chair while I have a coffee. Mornings are so nice with him these days.

Rhys, you are my heart.

Some notes I want to remember from the 6 month mark:

Rhys, you....

• Sleep on your side a lot now.
• Roll around a lot.
• Can pick up a soother and put it in your mouth on your own (most of the time).
• Have lost the 'training wheels' on your excersauser, so you can now sway from side to side and front to back to practice your balance while playing.
• Are very adaptable.
• Have been eating rice & oat cereal for a month now.
• Can drink small amounts of water from a cup (with an adult holding the cup of course). So far, you really like water.
• In the last week you have tried yams (not your fave at this point), carrots (diluted with wheat cereal you like them) and peas (also diluted).
• This now means your spit-up stains everything, and your BMs are a rainbow surprise.
• Have outgrown all your 3-6 month sleepers.
• Like to screech.
• Are really interested in the dogs, River & Porter, and often smile and shake with anticipation right before they lick your face.
• Enjoy bath time more & more and are fascinated by 'drips' coming down from a wet cloth.
• Become easily distracted while eating and during story time.
• Have just begun to sit on your own, unassisted, for maybe 10 seconds before toppling over.
• Still nurse first thing in the morning, and drink breastmilk from bottles the rest of the day, sometimes needing to be supplemented with formula. You don't seem to have a preference, you just like to eat.
• Sleep from 7pm to 7am most nights. Last night you slept from 6:45pm to 8:15am! It's a rare day that I am ready to get up before you are.
• Are a total clown.

Another note from last night...you slept on your tummy for the first time! Considering you slept so late, I think those parents who put their babies to sleep on their tummies are on to something! Here is a photo of the video monitor of you sleeping at the top of your crib, on your tummy (you started the night on your back, centered in the crib):

To top of this snapshot at the six month mark, my favorite. The Comparison Photos.

A couple days old:

Six Months Old:

So, Bubsy Brown. What's next? Whatever you have in store for us, Warren & I can't wait!

Day 2

I mentioned in my last post that I want to blog every day in January. I've wanted to try this for a long time, so what better month than the beginning of a new year. I think it will be nice to look back and see what my day to day life was like when Rhys was 6 months old (ish).

Yesterday: Brunch with Rob & Tiff at Ricki's Restaurant, an afternoon family nap, and then Gramma Patsy came over to babysit while Warren & I went to a movie. We are suckers for period pieces, so we went to see 'Young Victoria'. I now have a hard core crush on 'Prince Albert' aka Rupert Friend, who I discovered was also in Pride and Prejudice, one of my all time favorite movies.

Today: I'm in search of flavored syrups so I can enjoy my new espresso/latte maker to it's full potential. For this morning, cinnamon will have to do.

What Dreams Are Made Of

When I was pregnant, today was the kind of day that Warren & I would dream about. I think it's the kind of day all expectant couples dream about.

Wintery Sunshine. Dogs in tow. A walk through the park, with your wee babe in a sleigh during Christmas time. Only back then, our imaginations really couldn't do it justice. Honestly, you can't dream up cuteness like this...

Rhys, not too sure he's going to enjoy this:

What? We have dogs?

Token me & Rhys shot, so I'm not the invisible mom:

A father's loving glance:

Okay, maybe that wasn't so bad:

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas Everyone!

This is Rhys Cronin here. I'm guest blogging today. I'm still learning what 'blogging' is, so I hope I'm doing it properly.

This year was my first Christmas EVER. Well, sort of. Last year I was in my mom's belly and I think I was really small and looked like an alien. Glad I grew out of that stage.

My Auntie and Uncle and cousins went to Australia for Christmas this year, so I got to go to an early Christmas dinner at their house. I got to sit at the big table with the grown ups. I only threw my toy in mom's mashed potatoes twice, and only spilled one glass of wine on Auntie Donna, so I think that means I did really good.

Here's me on the table:

When 'real' Christmas came, mom and dad took me to church the night that Santa comes. They told me Santa doesn't go to church, so I'm still a little confused about all that, but I had a good time anyway. In fact, I had so much fun at church that I fell asleep on Papa. Reverend Lee says that if you need a good sleep, church is a good place to go.

After church, we went to Grampa's house where I opened my first Christmas presents.

Here's me with Mama and Aunt Kayley and Uncle James by the tree. I got some colorful books from them:

Then, on Christmas morning, mom and dad took me downstairs to the Pub to see what Santa brought. It was decorated so pretty. I really liked it down there:

Here's me with my Santa presents & stocking. The big red bag beside me is my 'Santa Sack', and it has my name on it. It used to belong to Papa, so I feel very lucky that it's mine now:

I love my new highchair that Gramma gave me, but I'm not so sure about that blue bow:

I also really like my new sleigh that Nana gave me. Can't wait to take this puppy for a spin:

Me and my Nana:

Me and GranDan:

Me, Nana & GranDan:

Here's me with my Gramma at Christmas dinner that Nana hosted:

Here's a photo that mom and dad wanted. They said they needed a picture of the 3 of us together. But we were all REALLY tired, so the picture was taken quickly in the hallway. Mama wishes it was in front of a tree, and that we all should have red sweaters on, but I told her that it was a nice photo anyway.

Hope you had a Merry Christmas too!

XOX

Rhys Cronin