babyblog

New Car Seat

We have been unhappy with our Eddie Bauer Car Seat since day one. It is simply impossible to get H comfortable in, and most of the time his head flopped over when asleep because of the lack of support.

Flying in a few weeks and taking the car seat on to the plane for H prompted me to buy a new one yesterday - and we went back to our British roots and bought the Britax Marathon which is a truly awesome seat, much much better than the other nonsense. He is SO much more comfortable in it, and it fits much better into the car and supports his head properly. We also turned him forward facing for the first time - a little early but he is heavy and meets all the requirements so hopefully he'll be safe :)

No movement on the home front

We've begun to make a load of plans to leave Canada around 24th June. Plans include booking flights and movers. However, the whole thing is contingent on selling this place, and we have NOT SOLD YET. I'm about ready to bust with stress. We've reduced 30 grand off the price since listing it in an attempt to force a sale by giving it away cheaply, but still no takers. Apparently the market here is saturated with homes for sale and it's very slow going. Please cross everything crossable for me that we get an offer within the next 4 weeks.

USA - Here we come

Thursday brought the appointment at the US Consulate to apply for our US Visa. We weren't entirely sure what to expect and had an envelope full of scary legal looking documentation to support our application which 'The Company' had provided.

To get in to the consulate understandably involved some heavy security checks, which included an 'Absolutely NO food or drink' rule. They even took Harry's baby snacks away and chucked them. Lots of lining up at various windows later and I had to take the boys out to find something to eat. Harry was getting really grouchy as he was hungry and Dylan was very thirsty. G was also feeling wobbly so on my way out I explained that he was diabetic and would I please be allowed to bring something for him back? OK, they said.

The boys and I went off and ate, and got G a muffin and a can of fat coke (emergency sugar revival). Once more we had to go through the security check-in and the guard asked that I leave the food / drink for Gareth at the gate and send him down to eat/drink. Not before making me eat a bit of the muffin in front of them to make sure it was one. And discovering some baby teething biscuits they'd missed earlier in H's changing bag. I begged them to let me keep them as it meant the difference between a happy baby and one who was screaming the 4 walls down. Fortunately they relented.

G came down to get his food and there had been a change of security guard. The new one (who had previously inexplicably told people on one half of the room upstairs off for standing up, and the other half off for sitting down) said no, he could not eat or drink. G said OK can you call 911 for me then! Fortunately the other guard came back and gave him his snack.

3 hours and lots of money later, we were told to come back tomorrow (Friday) and pick up our Visa's, which we now have. Hurrah. Another hurdle overcome.

I also booked flights for myself and the boys to England at the end of June so PLEASE LET US SELL THE HOUSE BEFORE THEN otherwise I'll have to come back and be a single parent.

Weird looking Sky

Weird looking Sky


Originally uploaded by katybops.

We were about to go onto a boat for a trip around this lake. It was a beautiful warm afternoon and there were no rain clouds in sight, yet this strange rainbow-esque band of light appeared in the sky.

Sleep Problems - CHECK

H finally (touch wood) seems to have cracked any remaining sleep issues (such as napping in the dreaded swing and waking in the night) over the last week while we were away.

Yesterday he napped for 2 hours either side of lunch IN HIS BED. And we've been having unbroken nights sleep too. FANTASTIC.

D, meanwhile, has had a couple of bad dreams and is paranoid about having more of them. He overheard someone say, while we were in the 'Von Trapp Family Lodge' that a (v expensive and crap) dreamcatcher would ward off bad dreams and begged us to buy it for him. We did, obviously, and he's now hung the wretched thing by his bed and puts his head beside it when sleeping to prevent the bad dreams. Poor lamb, love him so much, don't want him to suffer bad dreams, hope the silly von trapp family dream catcher works!

Harry - 10 months today.

Hey Dude

New game of the week - give you 5 and say DUDE and you give us 5 back and giggle. Cute :)

10 months is getting on a bit big guy! And still as lovely as ever.

Right now we're in a hotel in Canandiagua (I think I spelled that right) which is a small town on the edge of a lake in NY State's 'Finger Lake' region. We've been away for a week doing a tour of the area and you've had a great time. You have been as good as gold in the car, despite occasionally long and arduous stretches of driving. You have loved being in hotels and sleeping in your travel crib with us - it's cured you of any night waking somehow. You have also been swimming every day and absolutely go mad with excitement as soon as you realise you're off to the pool. We are going home today but it's been a very nice little holiday for all of us (despite the fact that this morning I am writing this at 6.30am because you decided wake up at 5.45!).

In other news you've begun to put names to faces, DADA is the favourite and DIN DIN or BRUH BRUH is obviously Dylan. MAMA still doesn't happen enough my dear child, get your priorities right ;-)

You're still not crawling but you're very very mobile by this strange rolling method that you've developed. I think you're much more mobile than your brother was at this stage. Usually because you're attempting to get to him or his toys. Yesterday you were very cute as Dylan was playing with the hotel Nintendo on the TV and you came to grab the wire. You began to pull at it then looked at the TV and grinned as if you thought you were playing the game.

You've begun to eat most anything that we put in front of you, chewing quite competently with the 8 or so teeth that you now have. You also love little cookie snacks and cheerios and other things of that nature. If we go to a restaurant we leave an absolute sight of destruction behind us where you've attempted to eat things and chucked most of them on the floor.

Right now all 3 of my lovely boys are in bed together having a cuddle and trying to delay the inevitable getting up at the crack of dawn - what a beautiful sight.

The Hills are alive!

The Hills are alive!


Originally uploaded by katybops.

In typical stupid Brit style, we had to go and visit the Von Trapp family lodge in Stowe, Vermont this week and sing the obligatory repertoire from the Sound of Music while spinning through the grass with the moutains in the background. Fab.



Otherwise the holiday goes well, we are now in the Finger Lake region of NY State after a night in Saratoga Springs on the way here. Tomorrow we're going wine tasting (cool) and then a last stop in Buffalo to shop (natch) before heading home at some point before Tuesday.

The Hills are alive!

The Hills are alive!


Originally uploaded by katybops.

In typical stupid Brit style, we had to go and visit the Von Trapp family lodge in Stowe, Vermont this week and sing the obligatory repertoire from the Sound of Music while spinning through the grass with the moutains in the background. Fab.



Otherwise the holiday goes well, we are now in the Finger Lake region of NY State after a night in Saratoga Springs on the way here. Tomorrow we're going wine tasting (cool) and then a last stop in Buffalo to shop (natch) before heading home at some point before Tuesday.

Aren't holidays supposed to be relaxing?

Mine isn't, so far. I'm very tired, stressed and have had a bugger of a day. Started off worrying about my dad who has been having surgery today and basically deteriorated from there. Thankfully dad is OK :)

Need to relax and take a hot bath.

Lake Placid

Lake Placid


Originally uploaded by katybops.

Actually Mirror Lake if we're being technically correct, but we're on the first leg of our trip after a long and arduous journey. Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit more restful. H was, bless him, good as gold in the car but it was a bit of a long journey for a baby.



The border crossing was unusually funny. The guard was in good spirits and we ended up being fingerprinted and photographed and quizzing him as to the need for 'emergency eye wash' machine behind him. Also taking the piss as his name tag stated he was Mr 'Picard' (cue star trek jokes).

Lake Placid

Lake Placid


Originally uploaded by katybops.

Actually Mirror Lake if we're being technically correct, but we're on the first leg of our trip after a long and arduous journey. Hopefully tomorrow will be a bit more restful. H was, bless him, good as gold in the car but it was a bit of a long journey for a baby.



The border crossing was unusually funny. The guard was in good spirits and we ended up being fingerprinted and photographed and quizzing him as to the need for 'emergency eye wash' machine behind him. Also taking the piss as his name tag stated he was Mr 'Picard' (cue star trek jokes).

We're off

For a week or so in Upstate NY. I need a break.

Garbage

Friday morning is garbage day. Everyone's crap is out on the kerb awaiting pickup. I was just looking out of the window & saw a man drive up to the house across the street, get out of his car, and examine the rubbish they were throwing out. He obviously felt it wasn't worth picking up, got back in his car and drove away. I felt badly that he was in such a position that he had to drive around taking up garbage from people's houses.

Speaking of garbage, tomorrow we are having a Garbage, I mean Garage, Sale. This is where you take all the crap you would otherwise throw out and sell it on your driveway to people travelling along looking to buy crap from other peoples driveways (get it?). I'm told it's amusing. We certainly have a lot of junk to get rid of so maybe we can do that and make a couple of bucks at the same time.

And I just realised I am a total spud. The window cleaners that I booked to come tomorrow are coming today. I obviously booked them for today, my brian is non existent these days.

Bruh Bruh

H's babbling is beginning to sound like actual words.

'Dada' is the clear favourite, said every time he sees G, walks past the phone (where he knows he can talk to Daddy), or views a photograph. Mama not so much, but he can say it. The other clear favourite is 'Bruh Bruh' (brother) whenever he feasts his eyes on Dylan. Cute.

He's also getting more & more mobile. Not quite crawling but not far off. He manages to get from A to B by rolling at high speeds across the floor. You cannot put him down and take your eyes off him for a second for fear he may fall into the basement or bang his head on the ceramic tiles!

In other news, house STILL NOT SOLD. I put a bit of a rocket up the arse of the real estate agent earlier in the week. He's doing this for a cheap fee so I can't help but think he feels less than obligated to put alot of effort in, at least he has no sense of 'urgency'. Which of course doesn't help our situation. This week I insisted he place ads in various newspapers which he hadn't done to date. Also change the wording on the listing which isn't particularly exciting compared to others in the neighbourhood. I feel a little fed up that I have to be on his back about this, I shouldn't have to be and I don't really need the added stress, but needs must.

The Innocent - Harlan Coben

He's officially a Brit

The boys passports finally arrived, and Harry is now officially a British Citizen! Should make border crossings and such like MUCH easier. Also thank goodness they arrived in time for our US Consulate appointment, I was stressing about that in a big way. Plus, of course, we can actually go on vacation next week with Jo & Robin as planned rather than have to stay in Canada.

Yesterday I chatted with the Real Estate guy and got him to commit to more advertising of the house and 2 'open house' sessions this w/e. Cross your fingers, legs, and anything else you are able to cross for us and hope this place sells this weekend. MY STRESS LEVELS NEED REDUCING!

A day to remember

D learned how to ride his bike today! So proud of him, almost shed a tear when we went for our first 'bike ride' together. I'd run up and down the street behind him a couple of times yesterday without much success, and although he managed to do it in short bursts he was convinced I was holding him and wobbling him (I wasn't doing either) and it ended in tears (his). Today I told him that if he tried hard without giving up at the first hurdle, I'd get him a game he's been wanting in ages (alas, bribery). Well, it worked, and without any intervention from me he got on and wobbled up and down the street a few times before taking off with complete confidence. The best 'Mothers Day' present I could have had, really.

Speaking of firsts, H went in a swing at the park for the first time yesterday. Loved it to bits, he swung back and forth giggling and smiling for ages!

All in all it was a nice weekend hanging out at home. Still no success on the sale of home front, and I continue to panic and become more & more stressed about it. I'm considering whether the agent is actually doing all that he can, this weekend was mostly wasted in terms of opportunities for an 'Open House' and no advertising. I'm going to call him tomorrow and insist he place an ad in the local paper for Friday and run an 'Open House' next weekend on both days. Time is ticking and we HAVE to pull out the stops.

Going Cheap

Stress on the lack of sale front combined with a need to get this place off our hands ASAP has meant reducing the sale price by 20 grand (GULP). Reduced it last week by 10 and another 10 today. Hasty, maybe, but needs must. So now we'll be lucky to afford a shoebox in the States.

The Romanov Prophecy - Steve Berry

Stress

I dunno if it's stress related but I'm feeling crappy with a sore throat today. Bah.

D is finally 'allowed out' this afternoon. The boy has been so nice this week, and hopefully this will continue rather than the teenager style attitude we've been having recently. Having him closer to the apron strings this week has been nice in a way though, I do enjoy hanging out with him and chatting with him and without other distractions he's wanted to do that.

It's 'Mothers Day' on Sunday. Yesterday G and I popped into WalMartHell for something and were reminded about the fact that it's Mothers Day on Sunday more or less every step we took, where helpful suggestions were placed atop of various crap pointing out that perhaps this would be a great gift for 'mother'. Clearly WalMartHell employees do not like their mothers. Who would give someone stuff for cleaning the house for mothers day?!

Finally, I really need to get in touch with Factory Direct today. A while ago we bought 2 Sony flat screen monitors for my desk. Then one broke. We took it back, they kept it for a couple of months, they called to say it was back and fixed, we went and fetched it and discovered they had given us a Philips one. Went back in and the guy said the Sony one was not repairable and that the Philips was worth more money. OK, we said. But then realising the difference between the two on my desk would be too great (had wanted identical ones and it's hard enough getting 2 the same brand to look identical) asked them if we could switch the original Sony too. They agreed. Went home, installed Philips, works well. Checked on their website then, and discovered Philips is 150 bucks cheaper than the Sony. So now we are waiting for them to agree that this is the case and either refund or give us 2 of equal value to that which we paid originally. Such a pain in the ass.

Still not sold

And still freaked out, more so each day. It's May. We have to leave at the end of June. ARGHGHGH.

I feel extraordinarily stressed by not having sold the house. Usually I take this type of thing in my stride but this is bothering me alot.

Also, I've been spending too much time online the last few days. Need to stop it. I get too bogged down in it too easily, and find I'm not doing anything constructive. Like leaving the house. Or talking to real people.

D's priviledges get returned tomorrow and he's very pleased about that. I think this punishment has worked in that he certainly seems to recognise that doing something wrong like lying to mummy = consequences. He's also been a pleasure to be with this week, rather than having his head stuck in a gameboy or similar (something that escalated absurdly over a 2 week period prior to priviledges being taken away). He's never been all that into those things, but for some reason was completely bogged down in it over the last couple of weeks, playing on waking, lunchtime, tea time, bedtime, etc.... so it's nice to get my son back in that sense too. He's agreed that when his priviledges are returned that he will only play it for a short time after school. My bad for allowing him to play it too often prior I suppose, it just kind of snuck up on me and suddenly I realised he was not interacting on a human level! Once again though, I think it's all tied in to moving. He's not happy about it, he doesn't want to think about it, and he's shutting down rather than deal with it. Trying to make him comfortable with the idea but remembering myself what it was like to move to a strange place at a young age, I know that it's going to be tough for him and nothing that I can say will make it OK. I just need to make sure he's aware that we're here for him, and that we're all in it together, and that there are lots & lots of positives involved in the move.

Book Project

I *finally* catalogued my 'library' at home thanks to a cool new toy (barcode scanner) and some database software.

The scary statistics show that I've spent over $10,000 (cover price) on books to get this many, and have 896 of them. I haven't yet, however, catalogued all the childrens books.

Anyway, here it is.

HAVING NOT SOLD THE HOUSE

Why I get cross with the person in the drive-thru line infront holding up the queue, when it's really not their fault

There's no place like home

Literally. I'm so exhausted by having to keep this place tidy and empty of clutter. Also of being turfed out at dinner time almost daily while people look around and having to eat out. And it's not sold yet. AND we knocked 10 grand off the price because we really Do need to get out of here ASAP.

Other exhausting issues are with D who has currently had all priviledges revoked and been grounded from going out to play for a week. Until he learns not to lie to us. I suspect he's stressed by the whole move thing and acting up accordingly, but he has to learn not to be sneaky or tell lies.

H continues to grow and grow (is he ever heavy!). Babbling non stop. Attempting to crawl, a little. Flips onto his front and plays on it, turning himself around and rolling to get from A to B. He's also showing signs of the 'Jones Temper' that G's mum has told me that G had as a child.... massive huge screaming tantrum if he doesn't get his way, including arched back and kicking legs and head to the floor. Will have to knock that out of him ASAP! I've finally stopped nursing. Had a bit of an emotion-based attempt to return to it last week but realised it wasn't going to happen because he just isn't interested. So have finally given up. Bit sad really. But will be nice to get my body back completely. Hard to imagine I will never do it again - I suppose if we have a 3rd baby I will do it again, but I'm still fairly unsure of all that!