Let's go shopping

Just a pointless post to express my excitement about going shopping tomorrow. It doesn't happen often. Isaac's not a fan of the city and is still getting used to taking Addison out. Shopping is not what it used to be. Tomorrow we have to go to the EI office to get his app fixed up, and he might have to buy new tires for the truck. That's the crappy stuff. After that, the Easter bunny is going shopping (Peter Rabbit book and First Years spoons) and I'm getting the gifts I need for Ryan's girls. Trips to BRU and Chapters are always fun! I might just end up with something for myself.

In other non-shopping news, today was great. We went out to the farm and took Addison out for a wagon/4 wheeler ride with Kerry out to the creek and through the fields. We came home to slow cooker beef stew and then I made these cookies. Delicious!

I should probably shower now and go to bed...

Baby shopping is overwhelming

With Morgan's first birthday and the birth of her sister quickly approaching, I've been scouring baby stores like it's going out of style. I've decided to get Morgan Leapfrog's My Pal Violet,

and will probably do the same for Addison's first birthday as well. Ryan finally decided what he wants for the new baby, so Isaac and I will be buying them the Fisher Price My Little Lamb Swing.

5 MONTHS

Weight: 14+ ? We don't have a scale.
Length: I'd guess she's getting a little longer. I forgot to measure her this month.
Recent milestones: Teething! Comfortable sleeping on her belly for the whole night (though we still put her down on her back every time), babbling (gaga, yaya), reaching and holding onto all of the toys in the Exersaucer and rotating in the Exersaucer seat, pivoting in a full circle on her belly on the floor and trying to push up to her knees
Favourite toy: Fisher Price Laugh & Learn Learning Puppy, Sophie the Giraffe, Playgro Zany Zoo Happy Gums book, rubber ducks in the bath tub
Sleep: 10 pm - 7/8 am, quick bite to eat, and getting up for the day at 9/10 am
Diapers: Love Pampers Baby Dry (2)

More about us

Isaac's home on Paternity Leave and the weather is improving day-to-day. I'm one happy girl! We took Addison for her first hike through the woods recently while there was still snow on the ground. I wore her in my Maman Kangourou carrier. Best invention ever! She cried for some food, but then she passed right out, snuggled up to me. We cooked some hot dogs over a fire. Good times all round.

Lastnight we went to my brother's for one last party before his daughter gets here. I can't wait to see her! They'll have their hands full, though. Morgan is scootin all over the place. She'll be walking in no time. I can't believe she's almost one!

I'm struggling to get everything I need for the occasions coming up. Everything is so close together. Isaac's parents get back from their trip on Easter, then my niece is due, then my birthday, Morgan's 1st birthday, my parents anniversary, Isaac's parents anniversary, and Ryan's birthday. The Easter bunny has started shopping and I know 1/2 things I'm getting Morgan, but that's it! And I have a little birthday list, but really I just want a date with Isaac.

Addison is struggling to take bottles but we're working on it. She's still exclusively breastfed (yay!) but it'd be nice to leave her with our parents and a pumped bottle for a but. We're getting there. We'll be starting solids at the end of April, which should be fun.

Addison has mastered rolling back-to-belly but rarely goes the other way. We've lost a lot of sleep lately, having to constantly flip her back over because she cries when she's stuck. It's not fun. Everyone thinks she's teething too, the poor girl. What else? She took her 4 mos shots a little better but wasn't feeling so hot the next day. Could've been better, could've been worse.

This is getting long and she just woke up from a nap so I'm gonna go. More to come!

Day 30: A picture

Day 29: Three wishes

1. To be a good Mom and have a good relationship with my daughter and any future children. I want to set a good example for her to be happy and successful in what she does.

2. Get a good job that I love. Too often you hear about people hating their jobs and missing out on their passion.

3. To have fun and get to do things with my kids that I never got to do. I want to travel and take her on vacations. I want to have date nights with Isaac and play dates with my nieces...This list could go on and on

Day 28: Something that stresses you out

• Money
• School
• Parents fighting
• House work

Day 27: Pets

We have no pets right now. One day we will, when we live out of town again. In the mean time, we'll enjoy Grandma and Grandpa's cat (Ralph), Nana and Grandpa's cat (Sulli) and my brother's dogs (Maverick and Kiwi). I'd like to have one cat and one dog. I want a cat like the ones in the TP commercials:

 

And a Cane Corso or Golden Retriever:

Day 26: Picture of your family

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle and list the first 10 songs

• In the End: Linkin Park
• African Princess Dub: The Skatalites
• You're all I Need: Method Man and Mary J Blige
• Bitter Sweet Symphony: The Verve Pipe
• Because Of You: Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire
• This House is Noy a Home: Three Days Grace
• Cold Water: Damien Rice
• The Needle and the Damage Done: Neil Young
• I Am the Walrus: The Beatles
• Smile: Lonestar

Day 24: Something you've learned

• Honesty is the best policy, even if it hurts sometimes
• Chew with your mouth closed and don't talk with your mouth full
• Living in the city really is different than living in a small town
• Life is precious. Make the most of it. Have fun. Relax. Say "I love you" every day.
• Hugs and laughter can cure most problems
• It's important to compromise
• Say you're sorry and actually mean it
• Don't jump into any relationship you can. A good relationship is worth waiting for.
• Timing is everything in life

Day 23: Favourite vacation

Toss-up between going to see Mike in Saskatoon SK or Renee in Inverness FL. I took a bus out west by myself at 16. Hadn't seen him in three years. Met all of his family. Had crazy adventures on Greyhounds. I drove with Renee's mom to see her down south for Christmas. Also hadn't seen her in a few years. Got a surprise ticket to Disney World as a gift from our parents.

Day 22: Your favourite city

Does it have to be a "city?"  If so, I pick Ottawa.  If I had to live there, I'd live outside of town like I did before.  Close enough to easily get there in a hurry, but far enough away from the hubbub that comes with the downtown core.  It's really pretty and historical.  There is a lot to learn there.  It has a very small-town feel, despite being the nation's capital.  This is in part because of the Experimental Farm and Green Belt.  Also because you cannot build a structure any taller than the Peace Tower in Parliament.  It's too big and busy for me but there are a lot of opportunities there.  I enjoyed my four years there and plan to visit often. 

If it can be a "village," I choose my home town.  Obviously.

Day 21: A picture of yourself

Day 20: Nick-names

I go by T.J. (my initals) rather than my real name, Tarra ("tar" like the road + "uh").  I guess that's a nick name but it's all I've ever gone by.  Even my ID says both.

With that said, you wouldn't believe the number of ways people can shorten initials.  Over the years I've had a few nicknames, but the ones I hear regularly (as in almost every day) are T, Teej, J.T. and Tojo.  I explained "Tojo" earlier, and it's pretty clear that the first two are just even shorter forms of my intials.  Renee has always called me J.T.  I'm not really sure why, now that I think about it.  Mick and Mike write Tee-Jay.  Megan calls me T-Rex.  Mish calls me Pteradactyl (and Addison is Baby Pteradactyl or Little Pteradactyl).

Day 19: Something you miss

Sometimes I miss the carefree days of childhood, before I found out about death, failure, war, disease etc.  The world is basically perfect when you are young, and you are invincible.  I loved not having responsibilities and being able to just have fun with other kids.  There were always a ton of young ones around my house in the boonies (surprisingly) and we'd spend hours and hours chasing cows, running through hay bales, and playing in corn fields.  I miss those days.

I also miss eating pizza. I've been allergic since I was 12 to an additive or preservative of some sort. We haven't figured it out. It's not the healthiest thing on the planet but there are times when I would do just about anything for a slice.  It's just so cheap and convenient, and everyone loves it.

Once in a blue moon I admit that I miss the good days with both Jen and Erica.  I try not to dwell on those ones, as times have certainly changed.  We've all moved on with our lives in big ways.

I miss all of my friends who passed away long before their time.  That one's pretty self-explanatory.

I miss our old cat Missy and my brother's old dog Mia.

I miss Renee and her beautiful boys, all the way down in Florida.  I wonder how things could have been different.

Day 18: Something you regret

I try not to live with regrets. I know everyone says that, but I really do. Looking back, there are few things I would have done differently. I should have gone to Wyatt's service, but I was scared of death. Little did I know what was to come. I should have been at Mrs Foster and Mrs Cassibo's services, but I didn't know about them in time.

I shouldn't have cheated on Jake and put us through what I did. This one doesn't have an "It wasn't my fault" justification to follow. I regret causing him pain, even if we were only 17.  It was still very real. If I had thought about someone other than myself for five minutes, I could have saved one amazing relationship and friendship. As for the other relationship lost from that scenario...I'm sad that we don't have it anymore. I really am.  I never pictured my life without her in it.  Do I regret anything between she and I?  Negative.  Perhaps we were both a little more harsh than what we should have been, but I don't take back anything I said or did.  I saw a whole other side to her that I do not want in my life.  It's unfortunate, but what happened is clearly for the best.

Day 17: What you're looking forward to

• Our first date post-baby, with just the two of us
• Getting back up to Ottawa for a visit to see everyone
• Addison's firsts...Roll, words, steps, birthday, everything!
• The birth of my second niece
• Finishing school
• Getting a job
• My brother getting married

The list goes on!

Day 16: Dream house

We will make our dream house a reality one day. We're building and already have the property. We'll pay this off and rent out both sides as investment property, then get back out to the boonies where we belong. Location is almost more important than the house itself. It won't be anything big or fancy, but it'll be ours. Enough bedrooms for each of us + one extra. Two bathrooms. Wrap-around porch. Steel roof. Wood bungalow, probably ranch style. Almost like a little cabin in the woods. Nice and cozy.

Day 15: A Bible verse

I needed Google's help on this one and liked this: 2 Kings 4:30 But the child's mother said, "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So he got up and followed her.

I think this sums up one of my golden rules I hope to show my daughter.  I will always, always, always be there for her.  Both her Daddy and I, no matter what happens.  We'll all make mistakes and get hurt sometimes, but I hope she knows that we would never leave her, turn our backs on her, or let her down.