Fat?!

This is the conversation that was heard at our dinner table tonight:

Mommy: I feel fat.
Kiddo: I'm fat.
Daddy: Well, if you two are fat...
Kiddo: (interrupting) Daddy, you're the fatest. You're the SO hugest.
Daddy: Am I the...
Kiddo: (interrupting again) Daddy, you're the so hugest in the whole wide world.

Yes, I almost fell out of my chair. Oh that kiddo!!

I need an intervention!

Do you think there's a 12-step program for an addiction like mine?!?

I think the monogrammed cookie was the last straw...

... or maybe it was the multi-colored flower...

... or the M&M duck...

... or the tulips on the house, because a plain house wasn't enough...

Clearly, I have too much free time on my hands. And this needs to stop. Anyone want a cookie??!

Move over Martha!

The gang at work already gives me a hard time for baking Christimas cookies in my hotel room ... I'm sure I'll never hear the end of it for this:

Yes, those are flowers. Yes, that's Easter grass. And, yes, they're absolutely edible. Isn't that the tastiest bunch of watermelon, canteloupe, pineapple, grapes, and strawberries you've ever seen?!

And the survey says...

I ran across this random little "who does your kid look like" thing-a-ma-bobber today and figured I'd give it a shot. I mean, what do I have to lose?! This is a question that's never been up for debate in our family. Savannah looks like Todd. Period. From day one, the most I've ever heard is "she has your little button nose"... gee, thanks. So let's see what this super high-tech computer program can tell me that the rest of the world can't...

I win. Fair and square. No matter which pictures I chose... and I did this more times than any person should willingly admit... I couldn't get Todd to come out on top. So there. Take that. :)

For Tricia...

Alright y'all, it's no secret that I can spend hours and hours "stalking" people online. I've stumbled upon a few blogs that I read religiously, refreshing and looking for updates multiple times a day. Some of them are dang funny women, some of them give great advice, some are filled with heart-warming stories... all of them are mommies. One of the stories I follow is of a momma with CF, her sweet little preemie baby, and one heck of an awesome husband / daddy. To read their amazing story, click here.

So today, via Nate's blog, I was directed to another blog and given this challenge... Here are the things that I can't wait for Tricia to experience:

• **Baby giggles, deep-down-in-the-bottom-of-her-belly giggles.
• ** Watching Sesame Street. every. single. day.
• ** Walking in the door at the end of the day to a little one running, full-steam ahead, with arms outstretched.
• ** Butterfly kisses. Eskimo kisses, too!
• ** When a tube of lipgloss and a glass of water are staples on the nightstand, just like mommy.
• ** The first unsolicited "I love you"... and every one after!
• ** Insisting that "God is great" is said at the dinner table before mommy & daddy's prayer.
• ** Hearing her call you by your first and middle name in the middle of a store!
• ** When chip clips become her cell phone to call friends.
• ** Why? But why? Why? There's a "why" for everything!
• ** The pitter patter of footsteps, bright and early on a Saturday morning, because she wants to cuddle in your bed.
• ** Hearing "you're never never gonna let me watch Dora", even though she's watched Dora and / or Diego every single day for the past four months, and you merely told her to wait until after dinner.
• ** Hands on hips, pouty lip, sad eyes, exclaiming "well, I'm not gonna be your momma no more"... and when you tell her that you are the momma, she'll respond with "well, I'm not gonna be your friend no more!"
• ** A light on her nightstand that stays on two hours after she's been tucked in because she's sitting in bed, reading books to herself.
• ** Being called to her room, two hours after you've tucked her in, after the books have been read, just to hear "momma, will you rub my back?".
• ** Being corrected by a 3 year-old when counting in Spanish, because Dora is indeed educational.

I could go on and on and on and on... and we all know I'm not shy with words. But I'll stop here. There are so many amazing mommy moments that I can't wait for Tricia to experience. I've never met her, and I likely never will, but she is an incredible woman with inspiring strength and insane courage... she, too, will have a million memories to make with sweet Gwyneth!

Snow!

Enough said...

Hello? Anyone home?!

I apologize for the rather long hiatus from this blog. Part of it is because I wonder if anyone reads my ramblings other than me… and, trust me, I do enough talking to myself without needing to write it down. Another part of it is because there were holidays involved. Holidays that were accompanied by travelling. Lots of travelling. But, quite possibly, the biggest reason for leaving y’all hanging for so long is that I haven’t known which end was up for a couple of months. True, Mrs Organized was completely discombobulated and feeling totally out of control. That being said, we’re back… new, improved, and officially relocated! For those of you for whom we actually have a mailing address, you’ll be getting a cute little card in the mail with this adorable picture and our new address in the very near future. Once I figure out how the Canadian mail system works. Hmm.

Speaking of Canada, here’s some interesting things we’ve learned in the few weeks since we officially relocated…
** Milk comes in bags. Yes, bags. Plastic ones. And, no, they’re not resealable. You buy a pitcher, one specifically for milk, you cut the corner off the little one liter milk bag, you put the little plastic bag in the pitcher, and you pour. And the wonder of these pitchers! The bag doesn’t fall out. Even when it’s empty. Amazing. Weird, but amazing.
** Alcohol. Canadians are a drinking people. Problem is, they haven’t fully grasped the concept of one-stop shopping. At the grocery store when you get a beer urge? Sorry Charlie. Beer is only sold at The Beer Store. (Yes, that’s really what it’s called!) And wine and liquor are only sold at liquor stores, typically the LCBO. For an alcohol-consuming bunch of folks like these crazy Canadians, you think they’d make it a little easier. Alas, a beer run actually takes effort.
** Our house. It’s new. Brand new. And apparently FedEx and DHL don’t think we exist. People have tried, to no avail. So, if you want to send us packages that don’t come via Canada Post, let us know in advance and I’ll give you an alternate address. That’s right, no surprise packages for the Valentines.
** Speaking of FedEx, I seriously almost had to show the FedEx man ID when he delivered a package to work on Thursday. I signed for the package, which wasn’t for me, so he had to confirm my first initial and last name. When I told him what my last name was, he let out a few choice words and honestly couldn’t believe it. Yes, it was Valentine’s Day. Yes, my last name is Valentine. Yes, you’re the 387th person to make a comment like that to me today.
** And speaking of choice words. Canadians use them. A lot. And quite flippantly. Not good for little ears. Or stressed-out mommas.
** Buggies. You have to PAY for them at the grocery store. You heard me… deposit a quarter and get a buggy. Return the buggy, plug it back in to the rest of the chain of buggies, and your quarter will be returned. Strange. Very strange.
** I still can’t convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit. I just know it’s cold. I also have no clue how many liters are in a gallon. I just know gas is expensive. And how many kilometers are in a mile? Don’t even go there.
** Language. We’re in trouble when Savannah starts Junior Kindergarten in September. I refuse to spell colour or neighbourhood or centre as the Canadians would. And I won’t say process with a long O. Nor will I end a sentence with the word “eh” (though Todd has bets that I’ll be fluent in “eh” within the next month!). And let’s not even talk about the fact that Savannah will know the words to Oh Canada long before she even knows The Star Spangled Banner exists.

Oh Canada! You are different. You are crazy. You are freakin’ cold. But we’re enjoying you.

Now that we’re somewhat settled, the boxes are mostly unpacked, and the nearest LCBO has been located, I promise I’ll try to do a better job of keeping everyone updated on our journey in Canada. More Canadian idiosyncrasies to follow, of that you can be sure. I’ll do my best to capture the first time Savannah says “eh” or “aboot”. I could also start a ticker to track the amount of time Todd stands in amazement at the offerings of The Beer Store. Or you could all take bets on when my American accent will completely disappear and nobody will have a clue that I wasn’t born and bred Canadian (the horror!). And, hey, dig out those passports and come for a visit… we’d love to have you!