Where have I been lately?

Busy, busy. School is keeping me on my toes and I'm loving every second of it. I have great profs and interesting courses. Unfortunately I still haven't gotten one of my text books yet, so I'll be behind very soon with the readings before my midterm. Speaking of midterms, I only have two! While that may sound like a good thing at first, it also means they're worth a boat load. Not cool, CU. Not cool. I hate exams!

In other news, Addison has been a crazy screaming, teething monster for the past few days. It's exhausting. She's so much fun (most of the time) but she has so much energy and just wants to go, go, go. When she's not feeling well, she makes sure everyone knows it. She wants to be the centre of attention and loves being held. I feel bad on days like today when I just can't do anything to make her feel better. She hasn't been eating or sleeping well, and she's really whiny. Her nose was running a mile a minute today, too, on top of everything else. Hopefully it is her teeth, and if that's the case, I hope they pop through quickly. This is not fun.

Ryan and Nicole moved in to their house earlier than anticipated. I love it! It's really cute and has a nice back yard. They had painters in this weekend and the girls room is set up. No one likes unpacking, but they'll be settled soon enough. They've had a crazy year and a half, so I'm sure it'll be nice to FINALLY settle down and relax.

I say Addison is full of energy but I swear she's got nothin on Morgan. That girl plays hard and crashes hard. She keeps me on my toes and makes me laugh so hard that I cry. She points at everything and asks "Wasat?" It's beyond adorable. She also says "hi" and "bye" again and again and again.

Hannah is the happiest baby. She rolls over and wants to get in on the action. She makes silly noises and grunts, and smiles all day long. I can't wait until she's crawling around. This Christmas at my parents will be insanity.

Isaac has been working six 10-hour shifts lately. It's the worst. The.worst.

Addison's birthday is quickly approaching, and is right in mid-term season. Go figure. We'll be going to Ottawa on Friday so I can write Friday night and Saturday morning, then the party is Sunday afternoon and Halloween that Monday night. I figure I'll sleep that Tuesday away!

Speaking of her birthday, I think it's all basically taken care of. I made a pendant and have her invitations basically written up (to send out this week). I got cups, a table cloth, and paper plates at the dollar store that all colour co-ordinate with the fall theme. I'm planning on getting some fresh flowers that weekend to use as the centerpiece, and I made a wreath for the front door. Shawna offered to bake her smash cake so all I really plan on making is cupcakes (for everyone else), cookies, and a few little things here and there. Afternoon party means I won't have to make a big lunch or dinner. Score!

As for presents, Isaac might want to get her something more between now and then, but I think we're done. I'm making her a quilt (started today). Check out my deals:

• Happy Birthday, Little Pookie (Sandra Boynton book) $7.99 on sale for $5.99
• LeapFrog Leapstart Learning Table $59.99 on sale for $15.00
• Children's Place shirt: $12.99 on sale for $6.49
• Children's Place leggings: $9.99 on sale for $5.99
  

I also scored these Baby Gap snow pants for $12! Regular price $49.95. They might be a Christmas present. I haven't decided yet. 3795+400+6.50+45+2


The only thing I bought at regular price was a three pack of sleepers, but they're still only $12. They're George, from Walmart. Zip-up and really cute patterns.

Total birthday savings including snow pants: $95.50

ELEVEN MONTHS

I cannot believe she'll be one next month!!

Weight: Almost 17 lbs, last we checked (but it's been a while)
Length: TBA
Recent milestones/new things: Standing up unassisted (not every time yet), more steps, more teething, waving bye bye (with her hand near her waist), clapping every time we say "YAY!"
Favourite toy: Leap Frog Mix and Match Fridge Farm Phonics
Sleep: 9 pm - 7/8 am, quick bite to eat, and getting up for the day at 9/10 am
Diapers: Love Pampers Baby Dry (Still size 3)
Food: Everything! We haven't found much she won't eat, though lately she's been taking food out of her mouth and/or throwing some on the floor from her high chair. That's fun. She loves shredded chicken, pulled pork, ground beef, and bacon. Every fruit and vegetable. Nutrigrain bars, goldfish crackers, Mum Mums, Gerber Graduates Little Crunchies, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, yogurt, scrambled eggs

Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® Toronto: Why I Walk by Kirsten Walkom

Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® Toronto: Why I Walk by Kirsten Walkom: Why I Walk…. On January 28, 2010, I lost someone very important to me.  She was a friend, confidante and sister.  On January 28, 2010 someo...

RIP Benjamin "Benji" Baller

Laine's cat passed away this morning. RIP, little buddy.

:(

Slow-Cooker Shredded Beef Tacoes

I love tacoes.

Slow-Cooker Shredded Beef Tacoes
Servings: 4
Time: 4-6 hours
Ease of difficulty: Crock pot = easy
Variations: I completely omitted the pepper
Source: Gimme Some Oven

1-2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 pounds beef (boneless chuck roast)
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 cup beef stock
2 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, minced
1/2 large sweet onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
Flour tortillas
Favorite taco toppings

Method:

Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, combine the chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika in a small bowl.

Rub the spice mix into the beef, covering each side evenly. Once the oil is hot (it will shimmer a bit in the skillet), place the beef in the skillet and sear on each side.

Remove the beef from the skillet and place in the bottom of a slow cooker. Leave the pan on the heat, and add in the beef stock to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the tomato paste and minced chipotle and whisk into the pan sauce. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened slightly.

Add the diced onion and minced garlic on top of the seared beef in the slow cooker. Pour the pan sauce down over the onions, garlic, and beef. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

Remove the beef from the slow cooker and shred with two forks. Use a slotted spoon to remove the onions from the slow cooker, and mix into the shredded beef.

Serve the beef in the flour tortillas, topped with your favorite taco toppings.

I'm a giddy little school girl

Isaac is helping me pay for two classes that were still available, and I couldn't be happier. They both sound great!

Crime, Law, Process and Politics: Criminal law process in Canada; structure and use of the process examined for fairness, defects, and possible reform initiatives. Issues concerning gender, race and class bias in the implementation and application of the criminal law.

Criminal Behaviour: Psychosocial approaches to the classification and treatment of offenders; theories and research relevant to selected patterns of law breaking and selected offender types; the effectiveness of offender treatment.

Sweet! Classes are Thursday night and Saturday morning, so my plan is to watch the lectures Fri and Saturday around noon once Addison goes to bed, doing my readings once she's up, and writing Monday-Thursday. That's tentative, of course, since I haven't seen the syllabuses yet, but I think it's good to have a plan going in. It'll be hard to stay on track if I don't have a schedule in place.

Wish me luck.

What's next?

• September 5: Meg's birthday
• September 8: SCHOOL!
• October 1 September 24: Ryan and Nicole move to their new house 
• October 6: Provincial election
• October 10: Thanksgiving
• October 26: Addison's 1st birthday
• October 29: Addison's 1st birthday party
• October 31: Halloween
• November 7: Isaac's birthday

Throw some mid-terms in there, and I am booked solid this October! More details to come. I'm too tired right now.

These are just a few questions I had

Compiments of Ali:
1. Five ways to win your heart: Hugs, acoustic guitar, smooth Kraft Peanut Butter, laughter, remembering the little things

2. Something you feel strongly about: Wrongful convictions, equal rights, music/gym/extra-curriculars throughout elementary and highschool, animal cruelty

3. A book you love: Anne of Green Gables, by LM Montgomery

4. Bullet your whole day:

• 730: Wake up, and don't go back to sleep, as per usual, thus dealing with a crank-ass all day
• 930: Drop of Mom's chairs at her place, get a load of manure from the farm for the new plants and have breakfast with MIL
• 1130: Come home with a sleepy baby that refuses to nap
• 1145: CRANK the music as loud as we possibly can against the door leading into the apartment, thanks to Rachel insisting on playing the sax at all times of day/night. We thought this might piss her off and teach her a lesson. It didn't work but it was funny, and therefore worth it. We went for a walk with it blaring.
• 1200: Visit Ryan and Nicole and their cranky babies. ADDISON TOOK HER FIRST STEPS! She walked back and forth about ten times, between Nicole and Isaac. So exciting!
• 1245: Go for a quick bike ride back up to the house with Isaac. The sax had stopped, so we shut off the music. Addison, in the mean time, didn't even care that we had left. She was content laying on the floor with Nicole, eating canteloupe.
• 230: Time to go home and clean up, and have a bite to eat. Perogies and bacon for dinner.
• 315: Isaac left for the week
• 316: Addison went right down in her nap, without a fuss, as soon as Isaac left. Go figure.
• 518: She's still sleeping, as I write. She hasn't made a peep.

5. Things you want to say to an ex: There is one person I'd like to say sorry to, face-to-face, but I don't think I'll ever have the opportunity to do so.

6. Your views on mainstream music: When I listen to the latest top 20/any billboard these days, I imagine Neil Young and Bob Dylan tuning in and keeling over. What happened to song writers? Where have they all gone?

7. Five pet peeves: People who don't walk properly through hallways and sidewalks (not moving over, walking on the left, not turning wide etc), chewing with your mouth open, the misuse of homonyms, flicking quickly - and nonstop through TV or radio stations when you're with other people, the one student in lecture who asks 800000 questions

8. Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and toast, Lunch: Grilled cheese, yogurt and canteloupe, Supper: Perogies and bacon

9. Education is essential.

10. Put your music player on shuffle and list the first ten songs:

1. 100 Miles: Blake Shelton
2. You'd Better Go: Charlie Major
3. Rock and Roll Music: The Beatles
4. County Line: Sugarland
5. The Best Man: Blaine Larsen
6. New York State of Mine: Billy Joel
7. Where Are You: Classified
8. A Long December: Counting Crows
9. Sweet Dreams: Beyonce
10. This Year's Love: David Gray

11: Your family: Isaac and I met a million years ago when I started school with his twin brothers, and my brother started school with his sister. We've been dating for two years and have a beautiful 10 month old daughter Addison who is my splitting image, but thankfully has his laid-back demeanor.

12: Five guys whom you find attractive: Isaac, Tim McGraw, Ryan Gosling, Colin Ferrel, Ryan Reynolds

13. Your opinion about your body and how you feel about it: I'm starting to accept my brand-new, post-baby body. I'm smaller now than I was before I had Addison, and that's taking some getting used to. My belly makes me laugh, but it's all part of Mommyhood, no?

14. What you wore today: 3/4 sleeve black plaid shirt, jeans

15. Your zodiac sign and if it fits you: Taurus. Absolutely.

16. Something you always think "What if" about: I don't really think this often. Honestly. Maybe if I had finished school sooner or not gone back to highschool for a year. Maybe if I hadn't gotten pregnant so soon, or while I was in Ottawa. What if I hadn't gone to SK when I was 16? I don't know, that last one was long ago.

17. Something you're proud of: School. Are you sensing a theme here? I love school. I really do. I'm the first one in my family to really pursue a post-secondary education, and I am damn determined to finish it. It's important to me and my family, and I can't wait to show my daughter what I've accomplished, and how it's paid off for me.

18. A problem you have had: How about today's problem of having a cranky, cranky baby? *rips hair out

19. Five items you lust after: I wish I had a car, a coffee maker, more money, a degree, and braces

20. Your fears: Clowns, rivers, thunderstorms, anything happening to Addison

21. Your future: I hope to settle down in the woods with Isaac, Addison, and one more baby, as well as a goat, sheep, donkey, dog, and cat. He'll be working part-time or only during the Summer, and I will have used my degree to get a job in my field.

22. Your academics: See above and recent posts. I'm getting there.

23. Something that you miss: Having Kelly and Renee around all the time. I also miss having BBQs and nights at TG with the boys in Ottawa. I miss walking around campus. I miss Christina, before she moved way up north. I miss the flexibility of the call centre, and all the perks that came from being a lead.

24. Five words/phrases that make you laugh: Funky monkey (Renee), Bishop Jesus (Isaac)

25. Something you're currently worrying about: Finishing school online with a toddler running around, then paying for it.

26. Things you like and dislike about yourself: I'm honest, but sometimes to a fault. I don't have a filter. I'm impatient. I'm a loyal, trustworthy friend.

27. A quote you try and live by: The most wasted of all days, is one without laughter (E E Cummings)

28. Somewhere you'd like to visit: All of Canada, coast-to-coast, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia

29. Five weird things you like: Dry cereal with a glass of milk

30: One thing you're excited for: Addison's birthday