Because my blogging record sucks...

Ack. I'm falling off the blogging bandwagon lately. (I think I know what my July resolution will be...).

So, some pics for the Grandparents & Friends-Who-Are-Expectant-Mothers-And-Like-Baby-Photos...

Sweet naked baby cuteness:

"Ya, so my mom lets me chew on cheese graters...you gotta a problem with that?":

Picture Perfect:

"I see dead people people with short haircuts" :

Gonna be walking soon:

"I think I made a poopy":

Peek-A-Boo:

Experimenting

Oh Boy. This morning when I woke up, my hair was even shorter than I remembered. But I am TRYING to embrace it. I don't really have a choice.

So, I tried doing a 'flip' look. Hopefully it doesn't look too 90's (you'd tell me, right Nicole?). Added some red lips.

I think it looks 'nice' - on someone else! Still getting used to this...

I'd like the Jury to note how FAR AWAY from my collar bone the bottom of my hair is. Would this stand up in court?

O.M.G.

This post is a hair update.

Remember the poll I set up a while back? Well, after all that hullabaloo, I decided that I wasn't quite ready for a drastic change. I realised my long, wavy hair (that has become my trademark look, since I've had it for at least the last 15 years) was still a security blanket for me. A couple years back I got side-swipe bangs, and that was HUGE for me. So when I went to the hair dresser today, I thought to myself , "Self. Let's be CRAZY and get straight, chunky bangs! Ya, let's be wild!". I made the suggestion to my hair dresser and she said in her uber Greek accent, "Yes, dear! Why not!", followed by "How short do you want to go?". Um...wasn't really planning on cutting much off. Just a trim. "Honey, telly me how much". Feeling adventurous I gave her permission to cut up to my collar bone. Probably a good 4 inches. Then she grabbed my hair back into a pony tail and SNIPPED IT OFF. But I didn't panic. In the mirror my hair still looked 'long'. But by the time she had snipped more, finessed, added layers and thinned it out...Oh My God. I did not recognise the woman in the mirror. I didn't feel like myself. A haircut had never done that to me before.

As soon as I left the salon I called Warren. "It's SO SHOOOOOORT! I look like Pat Benatar! I'm not sure you'll like it! I'm FREAKING OUT here!".

People, my security blanket is gone. I feel naked. Exposed. My hair is thin. Straight. Short.

I feel like I need to buy funky new glasses and an all black wardrobe and wear lots of scarves. I need to figure out how to feel 'sexy' without my long, curly hair. I feel frumpy. And old. OMG.

Before (taken about 3 months ago...so my hair was actually LONGER than this before the haircut...)

After:

(I'm only smiling on the outside).

Oddly, I look nothing like Jessica Simpson here. I look more like Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction.

June Resolution

I have so many things I want to get done this month, but I don't want my resolution to simply be a long TO DO list. So I've narrowed it down.


In June I want to get caught up on Rhys' memory keeping, which means my resolution is 3-fold.


1. Get up to date in filling out his awesome 'Baby Book'.
2. Get his 'Year In Review' video up to date.
3. Print a schwack of photos and hang some on the walls. We have so many amazing pictures of Rhys, but they are only ever displayed here, on the blog. I want some real, old fashion, framed photos, damn it!


And for anyone who may be curious, my May resolution was a success. My car is, and will remain forevermore, a NO PHONE ZONE. It's easier than you think. Give it a try! Then, like myself, you can develop a healthy superiority complex, and glare at all the drivers you see who are driving distracted.

Heartbreaker

Rhys is breaking my heart these days, with his sweet, sweet cuteness...

Those teeth! :

Walking around the backyard like he owns the place:

Further evidence that I gave birth to a clown:

What's this hidden among all the weeds?

Mmm...a tasty skunk!

Shh...this is a stealth, covert train robbery!

'Snuggling' with his Dad on the couch:

Perfection:

Child Labour

If only he could do this with a vacuum or lawnmower...

Widescreen link HERE.

PS - Thank-you KW for showing me that Rhys' car transformed into an upright walker thingy!

Party Planning

Last night my mom came over to see her sweet little grandson, and offered to stay past his bedtime so Warren & I could go have dinner and use up a gift certificate Warren got for his birthday (Lounge Burger - yum!). One of the things we chatted about over dinner was Rhys' upcoming 1st birthday party.

Amanda: I really want to do a Hawaii'n theme, like a Luau.

Warren: Okay.

Amanda: We'll need tropical music of some sort, and some Tiki type decor for the backyard.

Warren: I know! How about we serve ginger ale in little dixie cups in case anyone gets sea sick, and we can play whale sounds while your mom dry-heaves in the corner?

Smart Ass.

Maybe the doctors were wrong...

...and 10 months ago I gave birth to a baby girl?

Widescreen link HERE.

Rehab.

In case you think I was exaggerating the soothie addiction...

Widescreen link HERE.

Double Digits.

Rhys, at 10 months old you...

Think sitting in one place for longer than 4 seconds is SO last month.

Eat anything and everything we put in front of you (even if it's not food).

For my own record, here is a list of foods you eat on a regular basis: Toast, pasta (bowties & spirals), tofu, cheddar cheese, goat cheese, orange pieces, lentils, avocado pieces, chicken pieces, sweet potato cubes, broccoli, mushy peas, banana pieces, watermelon, Nutrios, Mum Mums, plain yogurt mixed with fruit puree. You love to feed yourself.

Are completely unaware of how unsafe it is to stand up in the bathtub.

Love to stand in front of your bookcase and systematically pull off each book and toss it onto the floor.

Are a hoarder of soothies, and prefer to have 3 or 4 in your crib at all times. One to suck on, one to hold in each hand, and one to rest beside your head, just in case.

Have started to come to terms with the fact that having your diaper changed and having clothes put on you are part of being a human baby, and you're dealing with it more maturely than last month.

Weigh around 20 pounds.

Loathe having your face wiped.

Have two bottom front teeth, named Bob & Jillian.

Express yourself with your eyebrows.

Look quite dashing in green & orange.

Ebb and Flow.

Whenever a fellow Blogger goes a long stretch without posting, I can't help but wonder why. Are they super busy? Busy with WHAT? Are they down in the dumps and going through a rough patch? Did their computer break? Maybe their kids stopped being amazingly interesting? Or, worse, maybe they have decided to go out LIVE life, rather that sit around and write about it? Oh, that would be awful.

Now that I have become that Blogger, I can tell you this...

I am not any busier than usual.

I am not down in the dumps.

My computer is working just fine.

My kid is still UBER amazing and interesting.

I still love writing about my life.

So, the mystery continues...

May Resolution

Well, April's resolution was an EPIC FAIL. I did not drink more water, not even a little bit, and I did not take a Mac Photo Booth picture everyday either. But, you see, this is what is so great about the monthly resolution concept. It's only a bite sized failure. My whole year isn't thrown out the window. So, onward and upward...

I have a constant swirl of potential resolutions in my head at any given moment, and it's often not until a day or two before month end that I have chosen one. I thought I had this one figured out months ago, but I have changed my mind at the last minute.

For the entire month of May (and forevermore, hopefully) I will make my car a NO PHONE ZONE. This means that every. single. time. I am driving I will put my cell phone in the back seat, where I cannot answer it, or pick it up to check the caller ID. I will check it once I get safely to my destination. If you're calling me for an emergency, just keep phoning and I'll eventually pull over. But I prefer no emergencies, thank-you kindly.

They say it takes 30 days to break a habit. Here we go...

Step AWAY from my food.

I've started working on Rhys' 1st Year Video, and am LOVING it. I think I love it because a) it's bringing back a gazillion memories and b) editing reminds me of my past life, and c) it gives me something else to do besides housework when Rhys is in bed.

I found this gem while scrolling though. The video itself isn't what made me laugh, but instead the conversation going on behind the camera.

If you want the full screen version, click HERE.

Kids Club

Yesterday Rhys spent his first hour at a daycare. The gym daycare, to be exact. He didn't even notice me leave because he was being showered with attention by all the older kids. He was the only one left when I came to claim him:

Can't tell if he's even happy to see me! The caregiver had 2 things to say about him...that he was very cute, and that he is a really good eater. 2 things I already knew!

Craving A Change.

Maybe it's just because my layers & bangs are all grown out and wonky, and I'm in desperate need of a tidy up in the hair department, but lately I am craving a change in hairstyle. I've had long, layered hair for probably 15 years, that I curl with hot rollers. I don't want to go too short, because I would have a nervous breakdown, and I want it to be easy to grow long again if I want to.

I googled 'medium length hairstyles' and these were the ones I liked:

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

If I do go ahead with a change, I want to be able to take a picture with me to the hairdresser. The problem with these pics is that all these women have had their hair styled by professionals and it's hard to tell which ones I could easily do myself. There is one in particular I'm leaning towards. Please tell me your fave (for me) in the comments & why. Also, vote in the poll on the right!

(PS - this is all for FUN, and I make no commitment to actually going ahead with any of these!)

WTF?

2 days ago, Rhys started doing THIS. This kid slays me by how quickly he changes and learns news stuff.

A couple notes...

The first clip in the video, Rhys in his diaper. I don't usually leave him to roam the house in his diaper, but that particular evening I was in the mood to gaze upon his naked baby cuteness.

Secondly, I'm sure after watching the video you're thinking to yourself 'Geez, that poor baby. Having to crawl around on that ugly lino. I wish there was something I could do to help him'. So we have started the 'Warren & Amanda Need A New Kitchen Floor So Rhys Doesn't Re-watch His Childhood Videos And Think He Was Born In The 70's Fund'. We accept Paypal.

Rhys at 9 Months

Rhys, at 9 months old, you...

Have a 2 minute attention span.

Are really serious when you meet new people.

Smile really small and cute when you see your Grandparents.

Smile extra huge when you see your Dad.

Love dry toast.

Protest having your diaper changed.

Have truly discovered your inner explorer.

Are a wee bit moody at times.

Enjoy screeching for no reason.

Open your mouth really wide when you see our dogs, in the hopes they will lick your mouth.

Have naturally coiffed hair.

Lunge yourself forward in the bathtub in order to inspect the tub drain, much to the dismay of the person bathing you.

Have strange toes. The big toe is massive, and the baby toe curves in a weird way.

Are attracted to small details.

Have the cutest toes.

According to your cousin Liam, 'totally suit your name'.

Stroke your soothie with the back of your fingers while you fall asleep.

Make all the hard stuff more than worth it.

Tongue.

Tongue in one of those words that doesn't look like a word. TONGUE. What an odd word. Regardless of my feelings towards this word, Rhys discovered his yesterday.

BOO!

Today my dear friend Sarah from Europe came to visit (I actually know her from my school days in Calgary, but she's been prancing around Europe for over a decade now...) and I thought to myself 'Must get a Photo Booth picture of Sarah for the blog!". I completely forgot. BOO! Then, my brother (aka Crazy Uncle Adam) came over for an impromptu visit and I thought to myself "Must get a Photo Booth picture of Adam for the blog!". He protested, and then I forgot to harass him some more. Double BOO!

So, here are some lame pictures of me and the pups instead. Triple BOO!

PS. I totally forgot to Command +F (flip) these pics. Quadruple BOO!

PPS. I am totally SUCKING at my resolution to drink more water. BOO! BOO! BOO! BOO! BOO!

For Kirsty

Cedric The Travelling Gnome was feeling sad today, thinking about how we forgot to bring him to Maui with us. I found him hiding beside a house plant dreaming about the tropics. He wishes he was in Kauai with Kirsty. I'm not sure she's reading this blog while away, but Cedric is thinking of her.

2.0

More proud mama video.

Click HERE for widescreen version.

Pip Pip, Cheerio

When I was pregnant, I used to joke that I wanted a sweet little English boy, accent and all. He'd wear jaunty caps and pantaloons, and he'd say things like "Mama, shall we to the market today? We could have a sit down, with a spot of tea".

On Easter Sunday this year, I came as close to that dream as I ever will, I'm afraid.

This outfit was a gift from friends of the family who bought it on their travels through Italy. The sweater is cashmere! It's the only outfit he owns that is hand wash only.

Warren brought 'the good camera', so we got some great photos from the Greek Easter Feast at Dad's. This outfit will now live forever in our memories!

Rhys & Grampa, wearing their Jaunty Caps:

Rhys with Crazy Uncle Adam:

With Uncle James & Aunt Kayley:

With Grandma Pamela:

With his Great Grandparents, on Pamela's side:

Lastly, a family portrait:

My Hero

Photo Booth, April 6th, 2010:

Notice the writing is NOT BACKWARDS. That's not an accident. That's some clever Internet research, performed by a dear friend. A friend who doesn't like backwards photos. Command+F worked!

Impossible.

Photo Booth, April 5th, 2010: On the way out the door to Gramma Patsy's for our second Easter dinner.

I can never get this kid to smile for the Mac Photo Booth camera. BTW, I have no idea why the pics are all backward - is it a mirror image? The opposite of a mirror image? Why is it different than a regular camera? These are mysteries of the Universe I cannot answer.

Easter Photo Booth

I'll do a proper Easter post full of photos after all the festivities are complete, so for now...

Photo Booth, April 4th, 2010: Heading out the door to Grandpa & Grandma's house for a Greek Easter Feast.

Water Bottle

Photo Booth, April 3rd, 2010: Rhys eating dinner, posing with my water bottle.

I know this is thrilling stuff, people. Thrilling stuff.

Goodbye Gummy Smile

Rhys' new teeth have been illusive on film, but this morning we tricked them into making an appearance, with myself on camera and Warren on laugh patrol. Goodbye toothless grin, and welcome pearly whites.

I would like to give his teeth names. Any suggestions?

50 ounces

I checked my water bottle yesterday, and it holds 25 fluid ounces. Which means two bottles a day equals 50 fluid ounces. I thought this was excessive, but a quick Google search determined that I should drink 64-89 ounces of water a day. For now, I'm stickin' with 50.

Photo Booth, April 2nd 2010: Rhys with his Easter stuffies from Nana & Gramma Patsy.

Standard Def

Last night Warren & I were watching Survivor, and this was a snippit of our conversation...

Warren: Wow, Jerry sure hasn't aged well. (For anyone not watching, Jerry is a woman, who was on one of the first season's of Survivor).

Amanda: What? You don't think so? I think she looks pretty good. She has some deep smile lines around her mouth, but that's it.

Warren: (Throws hands up in the air) BLECH!

Amanda: How can you say that? What if I get deep lines like that?

Warren: Well, then you won't go on a High Definition TV show.

Amanda: But what about this, right now (gestures a pointed finger to herself, then Warren). Us here, face to face. That's high definition.

Warren: Not really. I can't see very well.

Sheesh.

Rhys Video (because I'm sure my previous post annoyed my mother).

This morning Rhys started doing something OUT OF NOWHERE. He had never done it before, and then suddenly this morning it was like 'no biggie' and he just did it all the time! Seriously, it's as if he practices in his dreams, and then wakes up and he can do it!

Little boy, you amaze me.

Click HERE for widescreen version.

Good thing we lowered the crib mattress last week.

April Resolution

When I set out to make a resolution each month this year, I had one main criteria, and one 'would be nice' criteria. The most important criteria for coming up with my resolutions was that they had to measurable. Something that I could literally tick a check-mark beside and say 'yup, I did that'. So, for example, a resolution of 'This month I will live in the moment everyday' is no good. Even something like 'This month I will call my dad more' is no good. It would have to be 'This month I will call my dad twice a week' in order to meet the criteria. The second criteria was that it was 'bloggable', but this one isn't a must.

Which brings me to this month's resolution. I will drink two water bottles full of water every single day. This is measurable, but not bloggable. Which makes me sad and is why I am adding another resolution. I will take a Mac Photo Booth picture everyday as well, and post it to the blog (in between pee brakes...), just for fun.

Photo Booth, April 1st, 2010:

I think I need to practice my 'backwards writing' skills.