Home Sweet Home

I love going on vacation. It was nice to see my family, and especially see them meet my sweet little baby! Of course they adored her, who wouldn't! As nice as it is to go on vacation, it is just as nice, sometimes even better, to come home! Even with all the problems we had when we got home, it was still nice to arrive! While we were away our basement flooded. Thankfully the cleanup and insurance claim was being taken care of while we were gone. We had a lot of things replaced. Perhaps it was better it happened while we were away. I am sure living without water is not much fun. The water is out of the basement and our hot water tank (the source of the flood) has been replaced. We now are patiently waiting for our insurance claim to progress so we can purchase a new washer and dryer, and a new deep freeze. I hope a new washer and dryer appear soon as we have a lot of laundry to do, especially with cloth diapers.

When we arrived home, we discovered our car did not work. Apparently the parking brake seized. A lesson to all you standard drivers, if you go away for a long period of time, make sure you have someone drive your car, or at least release the parking brake from time to time. Our mechanic told us to drive it back and forth and it would release easy. This was not the case. After ruining our driveway, we figured out that the advice we were given was not as easy as once thought. So my husband had to take the wheel off to release the brake! This wouldn't have been so bad had we realized this at the beginning. For 24 hours we were without a car. This wouldn't have been a big deal, but we had no food in our house, and a screaming 7 month old baby. The little munchkin was so out of whack and so tired that we ended up taking her to the emergency room because we were unsure as to why she had been crying for 6 hours. We thought maybe she had an ear infection from the plane ride. Anyway without a car we had to think fast. At 1230 am we borrowed a neighbor's car, and drove into town to the hospital. It turns out there was nothing wrong, thank goodness! At 2 am we thought it would be a good idea to get some groceries since we weren't sure how long we be without a car. Thank goodness for a 24 hour Sobeys!

We tried for 6 hours to put the little munchkin to sleep, or at least ease, but nothing was working. Finally, at 4 am the little munchkin calmed down and fell asleep. The time change was taking it's toll. 3 hours is a big time change for such a little girl. We have been home for three days and we are still not quite back to normal.

I hope things get back to normal soon. I still have a biology exam to study for, and a chem assignment to finish. I have tried studying everyday since we have been home, but I just can't seem to get into the groove. I think I need to just recover from the jet lag, and start fresh this weekend, once I have had more sleep.

Finally here

Well we finally made it to Alberta! It has been a long wait for my parents to meet our sweet little munchkin! Like most grandparents they adore her, and of course why shouldn't they! We are having a great time here! We haven't been doing anything too wild and crazy, but yesterday we went to the zoo. The little monkey seemed to enjoy herself! There were so many animals to look at, and due to her age, she was mostly interested in chewing on things and babbling. I am quite certain she took it all in, but some things take priority. Today we are going to Heritage Park.

It's crazy how out of whack little babies can get when travelling. A new environment, new time zone, new smells, and people make for a cranky baby! Actually she wasn't that bad, but compared to her normal bubbly self, she was cranky! Sleeping has been a little bit of an issue. She is sleeping in a play pen, but on the floor, which she is not used to. She goes to sleep fine in the beginning, but then for some reason wakes up and ends up in our bed. This means that one of us, my husband or I, ends up sleeping in another bed for the remainder of the night. She doesn't normally wake up in the middle of the night to eat, or otherwise, but due to the change in sleeping arrangements, perhaps she just needs a little comforting! I can understand that, and have to appreciate it. One night she was really upset, and it was stressing me out that she was crying. We are staying at my parents house afterall, and I was worried everyone was being kept awake, and that caused me to be a little annoyed! I know its not her fault she was upset and just needed a little TLC, but I was way overtired. My sweet husband took her, rocked her and told me to leave the room. I have learned that her needs are more important than my stressing about what others think, and that my parents don't care if she cries. She is a baby, that is what she does! We are leaving for B.C on Sunday to visit more family. I am excited about that trip as well.
I am excited about going to the Stampede. I hope time allows us to get there at least one day, just to walk around and take in the sights. I love the stampede and have been going for years. When I lived here, it was my favorite time of year! I think I am one of the few Albertans who still love this tradition. Yes its busy and noisy, but its awsome. The food is awsome, the exhibits are amazing and the people watching is out of this world!

What to say?

What do you say when you have a frustrated and somewhat lost loved one?! I have a loved one that is frustrated with their career choices, and what path they should take. The career he has done up to date has been somewhat successful, but not satisfying. Now lost and confused on what career path he should take next, I feel terrible because I have no answers and no advice. I am there for him, and of course my support in whatever he chooses is there, but I feel helpless in his time of pain. I hate not knowing the perfect thing to say, or do. I guess my support and love will have to do for now!

Feels Good!

It feels so good to be able to get things out in the open, things that have been bothering me for quite some time! I love my in-laws, they are great people, they are not what or who I have the problem with, its the duration of their stay. 2 months is a long time for anyone to stay in your space. I hate to vent, especially because they do so much for my family, but people, like me need space. I don't like to be alone very often, so that should give you an idea about how much they are in my space. Anyway I finally told my significant other, along with a lot of other things, that that was a long time for his parents to stay. He understands where I am coming from, and acknowledged my feelings which was what I felt was lacking. I felt that I couldn't talk to him about this, I thought he would be upset. I should know my husband better than that. I am glad I talked to him. Things seem like they are back to normal, or as close as possible until the in-laws leave. I am grateful that my daughter will know her grandparents well. I hope she knows the other side just as much. They treat her so well, and I am thankful for that!

Guilt

Why can't I just keep my big mouth shut?! You know my question about whether people should blog about whatever they want and not worry about other people's feelings, well forget that idea. Tonight I feel like a big ball of crap. It all started with the idea of getting my daughter baptized. At first I was against the idea because I don't agree with most of what man made religion has to say. I was doing it to appease my in-laws. As time went on I accepted that she was going to get baptized and I am actually looking forward to it. However, in the process I had to state my opinions, probably more than I should have, and now I think I have made my MIL feel like she pressured us into this. I don't want her to feel like this at all. I didn't go on a huge rant about how I feel, I just told her some things I didn't agree with. I should have just shut up and got on with it. I am sitting here in a pile of tears because I feel so guilty! I guess the only way to make amends with the situation is to thank her for all her hard work in making this day possible! My in-laws have done so much for us, yet I find myself not appreciating everything all the time! I want everyone to know I DO appreciate them and all they do! Sometimes we just don't see eye to eye on things! I do think everyone has the right to an opinion, to their own voice, however there is a place and a time, and sometimes I don't always know when that is!

While sitting here guilty, I wonder how people do things and not feel any guilt at all. It is amazing how my body can be consumed in guilt at the drop of a hat. I sometimes feel so guilty about things, it physically hurts! I just don't understand how some people don't feel this at all. Is it a chemical imbalance? Anyway I am going to do something to take my mind off of it, get a good sleep and remedy the situation tomorrow.

Thanks for listening world!

Saturday thoughts

Not a very exciting title, so I don't blame you if you don't read. I didn't really pull you in with anything that would wow you! I just wanted to say how much I miss my mom today. I miss her everyday, but today, for some reason is harder than yesterday! I know she is around watching me, but that doesn't make it easier! It has been almost 7 months since she died and it seems like an eternity ago, but at the same time not that long ago. Does that make sense? Anyway I am thinking about her a lot lately. I am also thinking about a friend who died, at a young age, two months ago. I just got an email from his wife with a picture of me and my friend. It was a nice picture, but sad at the same time!

I have lots of other things to say, but the problem is I don't know if they are appropriate for the blogging world. I don't want to offend anyone with my thoughts. What do you think? Should people feel free to say whatever they think in the blogging world, or should we feel obliged to respect other's feelings?

Hope everyone has a great day!

5 1/2 months!

WOW I cannot believe my sweet little girl is 5 1/2 months old already! People tell you all the time that time goes quicker when you have kids, and you never really believe or understand it until you have children of your own. It is so crazy that 5 1/2 months has passed already! Its not even that A is 5 1/2, its that we are 5 1/2 months into the year. Where did the year go, and its only 6 months til Christmas! She is such an amazing little girl. Everyday she surprises me with new developments. I love going into her room in the morning and looking down at her with her big goofy smile on her face! She is the cutest little thing you have ever seen! She certainly knows who mommy and daddy are that is for sure! Everything is going great. She is eating well, sleeping well and overall doing awsome. I am a little bothered by the fact that she hasn't met my parents yet. They have only seen her over skype, but in about a month we will be going to AB to see my family, and some of my husband's family as well. It will be a great trip! I would say being a mom is the best job EVER!