Random Thoughts & Owls?

-Love, Love, Love these bookends! Seriously, cutest thing ever. I think i may be a little obsessed with owls. I need to find J some bookends for his room, to help bring control and safety to his bookshelves.

-I had J weighed today at the Well baby Clinic. He's 17lbs 11ozs. STILL only 26.5 inches. Seriously, this kids is going to be wider than he is tall soon. People can never believe is is as old as he is because he's so darn short. Then he stands up and walks along the furniture, and they look more shocked. No really he's almost 8 months old. He's just wee.

-I seriously want to make some corn bread. I think i shall do it tomorrow. Mmmmmmm, corn bread and hamburger hash.

-This cooler fall weather is really making me crave home cooking.

-Oh crap, i'm a mom, i'm the one who has to do the home cooking.

-I need to get some pumpkins and decorate the front of my house. Do you think any one will notice over this? Probably not. I like to think it's ok that our grass is like a foot tall, because there's construction. Also, i'm not the grass cutter so it's not my problem. Marcus, cut the grass.

-Seriously want some corn bread. Or corn fritters. Why can't my mom come and make me some? Oh yeah, i'm a gd grown up now. Boooo. 

-I can't wait for Grey's tonight. I'm a die hard fan. Everyone keeps saying it's not as good as it used to be. I still love love love it. And McDreamy. And McSteamy. 

-It kind of stinks that all the shows i watch, the only shows i really like to keep track of, are all on the same night. Grey's, Private Practice, CSI.

-Maybe i'll make a veggie chicken casserole tonight. That's home cooking right? And it's super easy, and Jackson can eat it too! Winner winner chicken dinner!

-Is anyone still reading this? 

-I should go and eat lunch before J wakes up. He steals my food. 

Happy Fall!

My Yard This Morning

The city is redoing the water mains in town. Our road has been under construction since, oh about June. This has only been inconvenient about 96% of the time.


This was my yard this morning.

Apparently they can turn your water off without warning. 

At least the workers are enjoying some delicious ritz crackers.


Things i would liked to have used water for today:


-Rinsing the soap off of the laundry that is currently sitting in the washing machine.
-Drinking (ya know, to avoid dehydration)
-Flushing the toilet
-Showering
-Washing my hands after using said toilet
-Wetting a cloth to wipe down Jackson's face and high chair after he "feeds" himself
-Washing my hands after changing his poopsplosion diaper
-Giving my pets some water (so they can avoid dehydration)
-Brushing my teeth
-Washing my face


Not that i need water for anything important though.


I'm not annoyed. Not Annoyed in the least. I like my road being torn up for months on end. I like giant holes in my front lawn, that probably won't be repaired by the town because they're jerks. I like a giant machine waking my baby up from his naps. I loooove being out of toilet paper, and not being able to drive to the store, because my road is torn up. Maybe i can walk...carrying my baby...because i don't have an off road stroller to drive over the giant piles of dirt and asphalt that are ON THE SIDEWALK.


Gotta go change another poop diaper, than god for baby wipes, because that's all we've got to clean up with.


*Picture quality note: taken through my window.

Expired Car Seats, Rear Facing vs. Forward Facing

This video shows first hand, the danger of using an expired car seat. Most car seats expires within 6 years of manufacture, but should have a sticker on the seat indicating the expiry. Don't take a chance with a child's life. (video is of a crash test dummy, not a real child)
You can see in the video, that the straps break, and the child is ejected from the seat.





I also wanted to share videos, showing the difference between a child rear facing in a crash (500% safer) vs. forward facing. I am keeping Jackson rear facing, until he outgrows the parameters of the seat. Ours can stay rear facing up to 35lbs and 32". Jackson is a pretty small guy, so hopefully he can stay rear facing until he's at least two. If i would have known more about car seats before, i would have purchased one that could stay rear facing even longer (some are up to 40lbs and 49") 

Etsy Likes

Some new Etsy Likes for your viewing pleasure.

Custom map play mat

A cool new take on a car play mat! They make it customized to your neighbourhood.

Wooden Matching Memory Game 

Probably better for an older child, that doesn't put everything in their mouth. I love toys made of wood.

Felt Pancakes and Egg Breakfast 

So realistic! Can i have tea parties with my son?

Hammer Bench (made with reclaimed hardwood)

Again, probably for a slightly older toddler/child. I think it's awesome that people make so many things from reclaimed wood.


I've been thinking of Christmas and birthdays, trying to find cool gift ideas for J. Etsy might be the only place with interesting new ideas. My only problem is not seeing something in person before i buy it. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not. Have you shopped at an Etsy store and had a good experience that you can share?

Car Seat Safety

I wanted to pass along this article, it is from The Stir, a Cafe Mom Blog. It talks about a lot of common mistakes made with car seats. I'm sure most people are lax about the basic car seat rules, because they're worried about the child being uncomfortable, they think they'll never get in an accident, or they want to save money by using an old car seat. In reality, the childs safety should be the number one concern.

9 Lifesaving Carseat Rules You're Probably Ignoring

By: Christie Haskell 

Now that you have a seat and it's safely installed (right?), the next step ismaking sure you're using the car seat correctly. After all, even the most expensive car seat, installed correctly, doesn't work at all if the baby isn't strapped in right.

So let's get started!

Rule #1: Make Sure Shoulder Straps Are in Proper Position 

When baby is rear-facing, the top of the shoulder straps have to be at or below the baby's shoulders. When forward-facing (which your baby shouldn't be), they need to be at or above. This is measured perpendicular (at a right angle) from the recline of the back of the seat, not from the ground. When in doubt, put a popsicle stick into the slot with your baby in the seat to check -- sometimes the fabric of the seat can make it hard to tell where the strap really is.

Rule #2: Rear-Facing Is the Responsible Choice

Unless your child has serious medical problems, they have to rear-face until they literally cannot anymore. With all the new, cheaper seats with 40-pound or higher rear-facing limits, it's possible for anyone to have a seat that will keep their child rear-facing until the bare minimum of 2 years old and 30 pounds, as per the AAP's improved guidelines. But as they state, 2 years is the bare minimum -- your child is still significantly safer rear-facing until you cannot fit them that way any longer. After all, it's 500 percent safer.

Children's heads are a significantly larger portion of their body than an adult's and their spines are initially cartilage -- not bone. In the event of an accident, if their overly large head pulls on the weak spine (which doesn't fuse and harden until around 4 years old), they will likely suffer from internal decapitation -- this means that the cartilage and spinal cord inside their neck snap and they die instantly. It takes a serious medical problem to make that risk worth forward-facing a toddler before you absolutely have to. (I don't want to scare anyone -- this is all to help us keep our kids as safe as we can.)

Rule #3: No Gaps Allowed Between Baby's Crotch/Groin Area and Harness

This is really only an issue with newborns, but an important one. If there is a gap between crotch and harness buckle, roll up a washcloth or receiving blanket and put it in a upside-down U shape, with the middle between baby's crotch and the harness and the rest lying flat between the legs. This is one of the only "add-ons" allowed. When in doubt, call the manufacturer.

Rule #4: Be Sure the Chest Clip Is Positioned Properly on the Chest

The chest clip belongs between the nipples and armpits. This positions the straps so your child doesn't fly out of the seat -- and can cause damage when placed anywhere else.

Rule #5: Know the Proper Guidelines for Outgrowing a Seat

Outgrowing a seat has nothing to do with legs touching the seat. There has never been a case of legs breaking from touching the seat and even if there were -- would you choose for your child to break their legs or their neck? Only one of those can be fixed. Your child has outgrown a seat in weight when they reach the max limit for that position. This is non-negotiable. When rear-facing, your child has outgrown their seat in height when there is less than an inch of the hard shell left at the top of the seat above your child's head. This is measured perpendicular to the seat's recline. However, there is a new seat that has different guidelines -- so be sure to read the manual for your seat!

See how the strap can be pinched? 
That means it's too loose.Rule #6: Straps Need to Pass "The Pinch Test"

The old rule of "two fingers under the chest clip" is outdated and resulted in straps that were way too loose. When straps are too loose, the child can fly out of the seat, or get stuck halfway and break god-knows-what.

The new rule is to first pull any slack tight from the lap-portion, and then pinch the straps at the collar bone (your fingers are pinching top-to-bottom as shown here). If you're able to pinch the strap, it's too loose.

Rule #7: Coats Are Not Allowed

A cop reports seeing a coat strapped into a seat, even after the child who had been wearing it flew out of it. Coats are not safe in car seats and almost all manufacturers have this rule in their manual as well. To understand why, place your child in a coat and put them in their seat and tighten the straps properly. Without loosening the straps, remove your child and remove their coat. Now place them back in the seat. That is how much room your child would have once the coat compressed under pressure, much like how you can squish a pillow if you sit on it. If there is more than a tiny bit of extra slack (like the difference between sweatpants and stretch pants), the coat is too bulky. Instead, try taking your child's coat off right before putting them in the seat, buckling them in quickly, and then putting their coat back on them backward. I also keep blankets in my car for safety in case I'm stranded, as well as for the kids to use in winter. I even just bought two patterns of the Kid Snuggie ($14.99 to $26.99) at Toys R Us for both of my children to use while in the car, or you can buy a car seat poncho.

Rule #8: RTFM (Read the #^!&ing Manual)

Most car seats have a specific location for the manual on the seat so that it's kept with it at all times. That's because almost every single question you could have is listed in that little booklet, and the manufacturer's number is there for anything else. Use it. Even car seat pros utilize this booklet. Every single car seat is different with different rules, and this booklet (or the PDF of it online if you lost yours) is your golden ticket to proper car seat usage.

Rule #9: When in Doubt, Get Help

Skip the fire stations and police department -- they mean well, but often are no more trained than you are. Contact SafeKids at their website or at 1-866-SEAT-CHECK.

There is no shame in asking for help, but there is shame in letting your ego or embarrassment stop you from making your baby as safe as they possibly can be.

Our Weekend Looked Like This

 We celebrated a double digit birthday with my nephew, Jacksons cousin. Jackson had pizza for the first time. Obviously not the best choice for a baby, but we tried tuna with him for the first time, and he wouldn't eat it. So pizza it was! He loved it, of course.

He does love his toast with avocado though!

Lastly a giant bonfire. Night shots with the D60 are awesome!

What is Jackson Eating?

So. The carrot snack sticks didn't work out. I tried two batches, and just couldn't get the dough to form. I'm going to watch the video posted on the Weelicious website try and figure out what went wrong.But....I did make Jackson a delicious turkey meatloaf. 

Turkey Meat Loaf

Ingredients:

1 lb ground turkey
1 whole egg or 2 egg yolks
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup bread crumbs (or oatmeal)

Cinnamon

Cumin

Directions:

Place ground turkey in a large mixing bowl.
Add the egg/yolk, carrots, applesauce, spices, and bread crumbs. Mix well.

Place into a lightly oiled loaf pan, bake at 350F for a 45 minutes or until a fork inserted comes out clean. Allow to cool, and cut into french fry shaped pieces that children can feed to themselves. (You could also mash it with a fork for spoon feeding)

Jackson tries to shove the while stick in his mouth, so i break them into cubes.This made enough for several meals, so i refrigerated half, and froze half. You could probably substitute the carrots for another vegetable. Meatloaf is great for hiding veggies! Jackson had turkey meat loaf, and sweet potato for dinner tonight, and he LOVED it. When he likes food, he rocks back and forth in his high chair, kicks his legs, and makes this crazy gasping/creaking/yelling sound. It's cute, even though he appears crazy while doing it. 


*Always get a doctors approval before starting solids with your baby, and before moving to finger foods or table foods.

Link Love

I had to share this website. Weelicious is a website devoted to fun, fresh and fast meal ideas for babies, toddlers, and children. I'm going to make Jackson some Carrot Snack Sticks tonight. Yum!

My Hopes For Jackson

Little Man,

I'll never pressure you to play hockey, soccer, or baseball, or show an interest in them for that matter, but if you chose to i'll support you. I don't care if you play an instrument, are a fantastic artist, or the smartest kid on the block, i'll be proud of you still. I don't care if you go to med school, or clown college, live the big city life, or stay a small town boy. However there are a few things i wish for you. 

I want you to always try your hardest. Sometimes things are difficult, they will be the biggest reward. Whether it be a subject in school, or something you have difficulty with in life. If you put forth your best effort, and do what you can, that's all i ask. Don't ever give up. 

I want you to be kind. Treat others as you want to be treated. Try and be the bigger man, you will be proud of yourself for it.

Be happy. Find something you enjoy, and spend your life doing it. Whether you are a starving artist, a wealthy athlete, or are stocking shelves at the supermarket. As long as you are happy, you will have succeeded.

Find someone you love, to spend your life with, having a partner makes life more sweet.

Appreciate the people that really care for you. Whether they be friends or family. The ones that are there through thick and thin, good times and bad, are the people that deserve your time.

In this life, the important things seem to fall to they wayside. Everyone is always rushed, stressed, angry and impatient. Take time, slow down, live your life. I'm sure i will think of a thousand more things i want to impart on you, but at 7 months old, that is enough for now.

Love,

Your Momma

P.S.- I forgot, don't smoke, and DON'T DO DRUGS!

Our Weekend Looked Like This

Jackson's bff turned one! 

My how time flies.

Jackson had lots of fun, even getting his first kiss.

And of course the birthday boy got to destructo his very own cake.

This has brought about the realization that my baby will turn one before too long. Who knew? 

Can't he be my baby for ever?

Alas he will grow into a toddler, then a boy, and unfortunately one day a teenager (eeek!) 

Toys Jackson Likes Right Now

Anything that isn't a toy.
The vacuum....

Swiffer....

Of course tupperware...

The amp, satellite receiver and PS3...

In reality, yes he does play with some toys. However right now he is far more interested in anything i am using, anything he shouldn't touch, and food. I've read that babies basically want to play with the toys they see mommy and daddy using. Makes sense. Jackson even has his own Blackberry (an old one we don't use). I'll let him play with anything, as long as it's safe. (I only let him inspect the vacuum while i'm holding it, and of course try and shift his attention when he goes for electronics, which is every 5 minutes) I don't like to stop him too much when he's interested or curious. I think i may be the easy going parent when it comes to this aspect of life. If it won't hurt him, let him do it. Let him make a mess, let him play with what he wants. Whatevs. Yeah he's tasted dirt, and sand,and grass....and a pinecone. He's a boy, it's bound to happen sooner or later.


What does your little one love to play with? Does it freak you out when they put everything in their mouth? Or are you more laid back?

Etsy Likes

Little Gum Drops Bib

I love that this bib is thick. So many of my bibs are thin, and juicy foods just leak through and wreck Jaxmans clothes.

Embellished Paper Wall Decor

This is a super cute nursery decoration. Or really an anywhere-in-your-house decoration.

BoCo Baby 

Necktie Onesie, Minky Bib and Burp Cloth 

I love the pattern, a great gift set if you know someone who is expecting.

We Choose Joy Onsie

I'm a sucker for baby clothes with ties.

Sew Cute Inaz Car Seat Cover

This would totally solve the car seat stain problem! Even baby sweat stains. Argh.

Being Made New Dress

Oh if we had a little girl, all the cute dresses!

SDK Designs

I love everything! Re-useable sandwich bags, yes please! The hooded towels are amazingly cute, and way thicker than most!

Do you have a favourite Etsy store? I could look at all the beautiful handmade goods for baby alllll day. I would seriously recommend checking out any of these stores the next time you need a gift for a baby or child.

*I am in no way affiliated or sponsored by Etsy or these Etsy shops.

Our Weekend Looked Like This: Labour Day 2010

Saturday morning breakfast and photo shoot with daddy. Doesn't my little man look sweet and sinister?

That afternoon Marcus' family wished a happy retirement to a swim coach, teacher and coworker. She worked at the pool for over 40 years!

Sunday we had some delish food, and sampled some local music at Burlington Rib Fest.

And Monday of the long weekend was a lazy day at home. No pictures. Just playing with my little man, lounging, and night time movies. 

Jackson did get two teeth this weekend. He's becoming more of a boy, and less of a baby with each passing day.

The simplest things are so much fun when you have a child to share them with. Seeing everything anew through the eyes of a child.