Milestone dates in my life

I often have to think of things like, okay what year did we get married again… and I know we moved in our house in May, but what year was it? At the time I thought, of course I won’t forget the year it was, but as time passes I do. So I thought I would make a short list of the milestones in my life since I got out of high school, make it easier instead of having to count back every time I need to remember!

* Finished classes at Oak Bay High school end of January 1997
* Started at UVIC September 1997
* Started in Commerce September 1998
* Four month exchange to Rouen, France September 2000
* Finished classes at UVIC towards my Commerce Degree December 2001
* Moved to Calgary, AB February 2002
* Convocation Ceremony for UVIC Business May 2002
* Moved to Vancouver, BC December 2004
* Started dating my husband beginning of July 2005 (who I met shortly before Ali/Bernie’s wedding in July 2004)
* Moved to San Francisco, CA with fiancé in November 2005
* Moved to Mountain View, CA March 1, 2006
* Married May 7, 2006
* Moved back to Victoria, BC end of August 2006 (and in with my parents for 4 months, then into a rental house in Cadboro Bay for 4 months)
* Moved into our first house May 7, 2007
* Our first baby born April 7, 2008

…. wow a lot has happened in 10 years! A degree, husband, house, and baby! Not to mention career, but that is what my resume is for keeping track of 😉

Must haves for new moms… in my opinion

A girlfriend of mine that does not yet have kids asked me today what were must have for me when my son was born.  Tricky question, I think there are many little things that helped that I will make good use of for my second baby.

• calendula save, for a new mom and a new babe. In the hospital after the baby’s first bath they give you a tiny bit of olive oil (*needs to be cold pressed). Lube that baby’s bum up and them and keep them lubed until the meconium pooh is done (within a couple of days). Otherwise meconium is really hard to get off of them! This is great for the healing Mom too. I originally got it for me at recommendation from my midwife as I was uncomfortable ‘down there’, and it helped, but found it had multiple uses and I could have used it on my son right from the get go instead of olive oil.
• 40% zinc cream for diaper rashes (you need to check the ingredients, very few have 40%). There are two brands that I have found that make it “‘lil goat”, but it has quite a scent to it. And “Extra Strength Zincofax”. If I had known how much little ones go to the bathroom when they are first born… every time they go it is pooh! I would have placed this on as a precaution before getting the diaper rash. My son got such a bad diaper rash it bleed. And once that happens, it’s hard to put anything on it to protect it… nothing wants to stick. Next time I will have a tub of this and apply after ever diaper change from day 2 or 3 on to prevent one! (after meconium is done with that is).
• lots of washcloths and large receiving blankets (as big as 36×36 inches). It will amaze you how many you go through. We still use washcloths… and I need more!
• bibs with snaps, OR ones with GENTAL Velcro (does not hurt to rub on your skin) on the SIDE, NOT the back of the neck. We had so many bibs that cut up the back of my son’s neck. My favourite ones were from Carter’s in the USA. I never found any in Canada that I liked. I would get them on our trips down to the San Francisco. I plan to stock up before next babe! As my son has made good use of the ones I had for him, and don’t think they can be passed down.
• once our son was a little older, old enough to sit up in a high chair on his own, but not old enough to eat from a bowl. I loved using a little place mat thing (called tiny diner: http://www.jamtots.com/Kiddopotamus-TinyDiner-Portable-Placemats-C525.aspx), that has suction cups on the back to stick to the table, and a little catcher for food. A girlfriend bought it for William’s first birthday. We used it so much. And provided me with piece of mind, because I cleaned it and he didn’t need to eat off the dirty restaurant tables. I know they have it at ToysR’Us as well for only $10 but I cannot seem to find it on their website to link to it.
• along with the above, we liked the little scoop bib. It allowed us to give him snacks, in the car… we would just put the snack in the bib and he would grab it when he wanted it. If we gave him a bowl, or snack trap, he would find one way or another of turning it upside down and it going everywhere. When it was attached to his neck, it was a lot harder to do, and even if he did, he still landed back in the bib catcher thing! The one I got us from Superstore and I love it. Very similar looking to this: http://www.babyproofingplus.com/item9390.htm
• the DVD Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp. Most first time moms can have fuss pot babes and this teaches you soothing techniques you need to know to survive fussiness (what used to be called colic). It helped us A LOT! If you are really keen you can then get the book, but the DVD for busy new parents works well for starters.
• along with the above we had a ocean sounds CD. We actually originally got it for my meditation, but found our son loved it as it was similar to the noisy sound of the uterus, like white noise.

Things I will consider getting for our second by didn’t have for our first….

• a bassinet instead of a crib in our room. For our son we had him in our room and over time moved him to his crib. But even when he was in his crib there were countless nights when one of us would sleep with our hand over the side (and our arms would fall asleep), because in order to sleep he needed one of us touching him. I really would love to have a co-sleeper.
• a bigger bed… like a kingsize. Many babies need to sleep with you the first few weeks, and a bigger bed makes it all that much easier. Also in pregnancy I took up way too much room in our bed with all my pillows and having to stretch a certain way. Led to “this is my side”… when that normally isn’t a problem. I love to cuddle with my hubby…. unless I am uncomfortable (aka pregnancy).

This is all I can think of for now. I will add things in as I think of them. And if you as a first mom are reading this, please let me know what you loved!

Our Engagement – Part Deux

I had to read my old blog post to remember how Lloyd and I first came to be engaged. It was quite a non-process. I had said in that Lloyd proposed to me in Cedar Hill Golf Course one night, and that is sort of true. Instead of asking me to marry him he said, “I want to marry you someday”… and throughout our time together over that next month it turned into will you marry me, me saying ‘yes’ but also said he has to propose “for real” one day. That day didn’t come. Lloyd found out he was going to move to San Francisco and I decided to come with him. We told our parents we were going, and choose to announce our engagement before moving. We arrived in San Francisco and bought a ring, I was so excited I wanted to wear it right away. The original plan was for him to take it back so he could “officially propose”. Why? Cause it is and was really important to me to be officially asked. Again that day never came. Our wedding came and went and I started to feel disappointed that I never got a proper proposal. Felt like I had missed out on one of life’s important moments.

The ring that we picked out was a little in haste. And it ended up being rather hard to wear because it was high and had prongs settings that caught on everything… and everyone! Lloyd and I talked about getting me a new engagement ring in the years to come. I was thinking maybe at our 5^th or 10^th anniversary.

At our secret anniversary this past Christmas 2008 we celebrate… December 19^th, Lloyd took me out to dinner at Il Terrazzo eatery. We had been together 3.5 years at this point.  I thought for once I had outdone Lloyd in an anniversary gift. I had gotten him future tickets for wine tour up island. Every other year Lloyd has gotten me some sort of jewelry, and this year I was sure he hadn’t gotten me anything. I gave him my gift and he didn’t give me anything back, so I figured he didn’t get me anything. Which was good, he’d outdone himself too many years prior.

We were talking about another sensitive topic and I had tears in my eyes. (I was missing an old family friend and was reminiscing about my childhood). Lloyd got up and was coming to my side of the table. It was a crowded restaurant that night. I thought he was just coming over to comfort me. To my surprise he knelt down and pulled out of box, and said something along the lines of … “i’ll love you forever…partners always?!”…. I don’t remember specifically because he had already opened the box at that point and I was staring at the ring! I said yes again.

My mind was reeling. How and when did he do this without me knowing? He picked it out himself with no help from anyone, including me, so it was a real surprise. And even better it was beautiful! The diamond itself looked flawless, and it was low set in a half bezel, open on the top and bottom with a thick white gold band from Birks.

My planets – astrology

A colleague at work knows a lot about astrology. Lately I have become more interested in it and asked her to tell me what my planets were. She did both mine and Lloyds and I took her out for lunch for a bit of an explanation. Mostly I think she is bang on.

My sun sign is TAURUS, earth. My senses are important. I need comfort. Things tend to be black and white.

My number is a 5, which means I am okay with change.

My planets are:

MOON (emotions) – Pisces.  Pisces is a water sign. Means I feel my emotions. I live in questions. I question everything I feel.

MERCURY (how one communicates, how I talk) – Taurus. This means I communicate like a taurean. I plaud and am methodical in my communication. Things are black and white. I am patient in my communication. I have a line, once you cross it I explode (think of how a bull is in the ring, pacing back and forth, then it charges). A Taurys is an earth sign.

VENUS (how one loves, also sexuality for a woman) – Gemini. I think my love, meaning I love through my head instead of my heart. If you ask me why I love someone I will be able to describe it and tell you, instead of saying “just cause”.

MARS (ones energy, how one comes across to the world) – Taurus. I am even and methodical, practical. No nonsense. Very business like. Very solid and dependable. I come across as a dependable employee.

JUPITER (how one works, how you apply yourself to things) – Leo. I am theatrical. Beauty if very important. I am giving and playful. I like to be one cut above the rest. I need to be better than everyone. Like a lion, I am very proud.

SATURN (how one fights, with others and myself) – Leo. I am regal and proud. Like a lion, I have to win. I am very expressive and dramatic. Passionate.

Lloyds sun sign is SAGITTARIUS. Sagittarius is also an earth sign. It is known as the clown of the zodiac.

Lloyds number is a 5, which means he is okay with change.

Lloyds planets:

MOON (emotions) – Gemini. His emotions are thought, he thinks his feelings. A way to connect with him  is by using words like “think, sense, logic”. He is good at talking and communicating. Emotions always hover around.

MERCURY (how one communicates, how he talks) – Sagittarius. They say what is true for them. Like to make people happy. Often blunt in communicating. Pure, no malintent, not mean spirited.

VENUS (how one loves) – Sagittarius. Not too dependable, tends to be a player in love. Commands attention. Tells the truth. A lot of talk but not necessarily follow through.

MARS (ones energy, how one comes across to the world, also sexuality for a man) – Leo. Warm giving, like the drama. Kind, good, flamboyant. Great father, picture a lion playing with his cubs. Pride shines out. Wants to know his mate sees him in the highest light. Don’t put a Leo down, especially in public.

JUPITER (how one works, how you apply yourself to things) – Cancer. Very giving. Motherly. Family important. Sees work mates as his family members.

SATURN (how one fights, with others and myself) – Virgo. Servitude. Very exact. Always correcting. Sense and sensibility. “No I didn’t say that I said this…”. “I didn’t mean that…”.

My son’s sun sign is Aries. It is a fire sign. Innocence, naive and will make blunders.

….

haha – no science has not found a way for men to have babies yet 😉

I am due April 12th 🙂

2nd post – still testing

I am still doing a little testing of the newest version of flock for Lloyd.

We are planning on moving South in a couple weeks, and lots has to be done before we go.  Including packing up my one bedroom apartment.  Oh I dislike packing! but I know it’ll be far easier that Lloyd is here.

I am really looking forward to living and exploring San Fran.  Although this is my home and I will miss my family and friends very much.  Particularly I will miss watching my dear friends little boy, Aidan, grow up.  He changes so much from week to week when I see him, I can’t imagine how much he’ll change when I haven’t seen him in 2 month 😦
This is a photo of my dear friend Nadia, and her little boy Aidan:

FirstPost

I am not going to initially write about my adventures in silver. 
I am trying and testing out flock for my wonderful boyfriend. 
So far even for a computer novice like myself it’s pretty kewl.
Below is a recent foto of Lloyd and myself, taken at my family’s Thanksgiving Dinner.  In the foto I am wearing one of my silver creations.