The Arbolog |

This past week I have spent almost every moment of non-Kale-interactive time working on the market, and I am so excited that it’s all coming together as well as I had hoped. I feel like I can breathe a tiny sigh of relief, as if the market were to start tomorrow, things are in place enough that it will go off without a hitch. All I’m doing now is fine-tuning, chasing payments, and making confirmations with various parties.

I’m scheduled to go back to work for my former employer as of tomorrow night – I’m working 3 hours each evening Mondays and Tuesdays after Kale is in bed – and it’s this item that I feel the least excited about in my life these days. I won’t say I’m dreading it, but I can say with absolute clarity that I am not looking forward to it the way I look forward to working on the market or caring for Shauna’s little girl and Kale’s best buddy Bonnie come September. Working for my former employer (I guess “former” is actually not the right word but my brain has ceased its thesaural duties for the day) is not the job I want, however, it will be regular, dependable income, and so I feel it’s in our best interest for me to do it. After my market contract is over, it will be a long winter financially speaking, until the market starts up again next year and I will be able to apply for the job again, and so I sigh, get over myself, and prepare  for the familiar smells and sights of an office I spent the past 11 years in.

It’s not without challenges – I’ll have a new supervisor, and new duties, and as I have figured out watching Kale grow and develop, learning is tiring work. I’m thankful that we’ve been able to negotiate short shifts. I’m also sad as this week marks the beginning of more time away from home, less time in Kale’s presence, and while I think it’s important to get out of the house and enjoy being an adult woman with a social life and adult interaction, working by myself with a music player and headphones in front of a screen working spreadsheets is certainly not going to accomplish that. But, like I said, it will bring in some steady, reliable income.

A picture from yesterday:

From Kale 9-12 months

Yesterday was Kale’s four month immunizations and this time I was feeling strong enough to at least stay in the room while Ross held Kale and the deed was done. This time, we decided to have them done at Kale’s GP’s office, rather than go to her for a growth check and also go to the health unit for shots. Two appointments=bad, one appointment=good.

Kale got two shots in his right thigh and one in his left. I also elected to refuse a flu shot for Kale – the only time I have ever gotten a flu shot I had the worst flu of my entire life and every other year I (KNOCK WOOD) have not gotten the flu. It’s called handwashing, people. Sheesh. It entertained me that my doctor, who is all into the technology and uses a laptop in the office to show you stuff like growth charts (with your child plotted – Kale is apparently in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head circumference) and voice recognition software and dictated into our file that “PARENTS REFUSED INFLUENZA VACCINE”. Because apparently we are going to hell in a handbasket and the reservations are in my name. 

Anyway, Kale took his shots like a champ, and although there was some screeching, he was flirting with the doctor within a few minutes, albeit through teary eyes. There was a brief moment of panic for me when the end of the needle broke off of the syringe and STAYED IN HIS LEG, but our doctor is swift and removed it in a flash. 

His right thigh is bruised this time – at his two months shots there was nary a mark, but whether that’s a difference in the way my doctor does the injections compared to the health unit or strictly luck of the draw is anyone’s guess. Both thighs are a teeny bit warm and swollen – nothing major. Also, and I am sure someone will smite me for saying this, but Kale slept freakin’ AWESOME last night, which is great since this past week has been the 3 and a half hour sleeping stints from hell. He slept for 6 hours and then woke, fed with gusto, and slept for another 5. 

Today he is his normal cheery self, and is currently rolling around on our bed with his beloved Moose, telling the world about something only he understands. He’s also wearing a sleeper for a hat, further evidence I am a Bad Bad Bad Parent.

From Kale 3 to 6 months

I realize that not everyone agrees with immunizations and I realize that its a highly personal and emotionally charged decision. I did the research and made the decision based on what is best for us. I hope all parents do the same as its a hard decision and is the first in a long line of things I have to consider now that I am a Mom.

Today Kale and I are baking bread, and making some apple turnovers, and generally having an “in” day. I have a lot of crafty related things to do this weekend and my list includes the following:

• Buy nuts. Lots of nuts.
• Buy silk. About 1 metre.

I was out for a walk with Mooki and Kale yesterday, and took this photo:

From Miscellaneous

Do you see that? There, in the window of that ground floor apartment? 

Yeah, that’s a Christmas tree. 

Wow. And I thought I was gung ho for Christmas this year.

It is November 10th and I am SO EXCITED for Christmas this year. Not because I care about presents or anything, but because this is Kale’s first Christmas and Ross and I have elected to stay home as a family for the first time and really enjoy each other’s company. I have a huge 6 foot tree. Yes, its fake, and yes, its made out of plastic but the fake tree versus real tree argument is long and this fake plastic one was given to us used for free and would have gone in the landfill had we not taken it and I intend to use it for a number of years, so to me, that’s the eco-choice. Anyway, so I can’t wait to decorate this tree and make it all festive in here. I’m excited to see what Kale thinks of all the glitter.

Last year Ross and I challenged one another to try and give gifts that met two criteria: 1) handcrafted by someone, and 2) under $50. It was really hard, but we managed to find gifts for one another that we both really loved. This year, we are continuing that tradition but have changed a few of the conditions and are allowing a bit more dollars (it was really hard to stick to $50).

It’s hard not to shop like a fiend for Kale – but he’ll never actually remember it so its more about the experience of Christmas rather than the gifts.

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As some of you know, Ross and I participated in a documentary during my pregnancy, and filming has wrapped on that. The producers have recently emailed asking for some family shots so I’ve been having fun taking lots of pictures. Here’s one from today that I really like:

From Kale 3 to 6 months

When Kale was a wee-er little monster, all covered in baby acne and new new new, we took a picture of the three of us lying on the bed, with Ross holding the camera out. Here it is:

From Kale

I’ve decided that this will be a great way to see a visual change, not only in Kale, but in us as a family. I’d like to take this picture set up at 3 months, 6 months, and a year, and at every birthday after that. So here we are at 3 months:

From Kale

Some days I just want to wrap Kale up in a fajita and dip him in hot sauce and eat him up because holy hannah is this kid adorable or what?

From Kale

Today was a crappy day and Kale and I stayed indoors for almost all of it. The sun did come out for a while in the late afternoon and so we took advantage of it and went for our normal walk. I have a thing about people who overdress their kids – they are way warmer than we think they are and some careful monitoring is all you need to make sure your kid isn’t too hot or too cold. So Kale often wears the minimum – a onesie and socks, for example, when we are inside and just hanging out. Often, the socks get turfed. But today had a bit of a chill in the air so I added some lightweight pants for our walk. And then just to be funny, I pulled out Kale’s SWEET SWEET devil hat that Karina knitted for him before he was even born. Its seriously, the funniest hat I have ever seen and I am sooo stoked he fits into it. The picture isn’t the best and I promise to get another, better one later, but for now, HA HA HA:

And because I had the camera out, I was goofing around and took a cute shot of Kale and I. I think the angle of his head is adorable. But then, I think most everything about him is adorable.

We have literally no plans for the long weekend and I am hoping to get out and get some nice pictures of the family and I have booked an afternoon of some “me” time on Sunday. I hardly know what to do with myself! When I write again next, it will be September. (ZOMG!)

I laugh when I write that word because my late dad’s wife used to insist that there were no problems in life, only “shallenges” (and yes, I wrote that with an “s” on purpose so you could hear the way she pronouced it).

I’m sitting and typing this entry as quietly as possible (how come this keyboard is so damn loud???) because Kale has finally fallen asleep on our bed by the desk. And by finally, I mean, holy crap, FINALLY. Its been a challenging day for our boy - I say challenging because it hasn’t been a bad day, per se, but more of the kind of day when he is sleep-resistant and oh-so-overtired so everything has turned into a CRISIS of EPIC proportions and he has really needed some serious intervention from mommy. I’ve spent all of my day so far in a constant rotation of bouncing, rocking, shushing, swaying, singing, playing, and when all the tricks in my “Go To Sleep” bag have been thrown out, I am collecting them up again and starting over. So finally, Mr. Sleep-We-Don’t-Need-No-Stinkin’-Sleep is a-slumber and adorable to boot.

First, a lovely photo of Gran with Kale. Ross’ mom, Pat was over earlier this week and we had an excellent day where Kale was Mr. Charming and Flirting and afterwards I was absolutely thrilled and proud of him to have been such an awesome and cheerful baby. Another family friend, Janet, also stopped by and we four had a nice day of tea and chat and Kale overload. Here is Kale asleep on Gran’s shoulder while Ross and I sat down to dinner together:

I’m kicking myself because my mom was over a few weeks ago and I didn’t even think to catch a photo of her with Kale – DUH. I am sure there will be other opportunities but at the same time I feel like a fool because its not like we can reverse-age the little dude in order to get these photographic memories later. So Mom – please remind me to take a picture of you and Kale next time you are over.

This week we have had a few red-letter days in which I not only get to eat breakfast and lunch (even if lunch is an almond butter and jam sandwich stuffed in my face over the sink) but also a HOT cup of tea before 10AM. It’s like I am getting the hang of this or something. Soon we will move on to showers during the day rather than waiting for Ross to get home to shower.

As most of you know, I sewed about 3 dozen cloth diapers for Kale before he was born. 8 of them were immediately placed on the “no” pile because I used a fabric that was a bit too rubbery and they didn’t stay done up well. The remaining ones were used for about two and a half to three weeks before Mr. I’m-So-Damn-Long grew out of them. I don’t have time to sew another batch, so instead I went looking for a buy-able brand that was the approximate same style.

Ross’ cousin Nicole was kind enough to pass on the diapers she uses on her youngest – they are a terry cloth diaper that you use a waterproof cover with. I find them ridiculously bulky and when I put them on Kale he wasn’t able to move his legs well. I think they will be better once he’s bigger but right now they just don’t cut it for me. One of Ross’ co-workers loaned us two different brands of pocket diaper to try out.

Sidenote: a pocket diaper is a diaper you stuff with the absorber in a pocket in between a soft layer and a waterproof layer. An All in One (or all in two depending on the design) is a diaper that has a soaker pad that is either attached or snaps or velcros in and it is all one piece (hence the name). The “classic” style of diaper is called a prefold and most people use something called Snappis to do them up or use them under a waterproof cover that velcros or snaps shut. Ross and I have decided to use a pocket or all in one (or two) as our preferred style of diaper. End sidenote.

 So, Ross’ co-worker loaned us two of each Fuzzi Buns and Bum Genius. The Fuzzi Buns is a sized pocket diaper with snap closures. It leaked quite badly for us – most likely because it was too big for Kale. The Bum Genius is a one-size pocket diaper with adjustable rise that velcros closed. Of the two, I prefer the Bum Genius, but I hate the velcro and I found the fabric inside wasn’t absorbent and that Kale’s clothing got very wet out from the top of the diaper. Again, this could be a fit issue. Either way, I am on the look out for used Bum Genius diapers (I think if I stripped the diapers and used another insert, they could work) and had some lined up on craigslist but she sold them to someone else.

I’m getting tired of searching for our diaper solution and of using disposables and decided this weekend to take matters into my own hands and I’ve placed an order with the lovely ladies up at Cloth Diapers Eh for three diapers to confirm the size and if they are the right size, I will order the other 9 to make a dozen. They are about the same price as Bum Genius and the advantage is that I am supporting a pair of Work At Home Moms here in BC. Plus they are made with high quality fabrics and they use snaps instead of velcro and I get to pick what colour of coordinating thread. If I am going to spend $20 ish per diaper, I feel better buying the diapers from WAHMs in BC than some big company that gets their diapers from China.

I will report on their useability in a future post, especially for those of you in the market for diapers.

PIctures from this weekend, because really what is a blog entry without pictures of a) my son or b) my dog:

Kale is definitely suspicious of the camera. I cannot for the life of me capture his smile (which comes almost constantly these days. Okay, well , maybe not constantly, but a lot!). He is on to me and every day I sneak the camera into his peripheral and I get this look: (oh and look, bonus booger shot):

We also went to the Vancouver Shiba Meetup again. Mooki is a grade A, class 1 bee-yotch, so we had to leave after she picked not one, not two, but three fights and either bit herself or was bitten on the tongue. Then Ross took her to get her nails done. The strain of the day took its toll on her, so she let her guard down and was seen being “nice” to Kale. And by “nice”, I mean, was within 4 feet of him.

Is it bad if we leave Kale on his change table for 10-15 minutes at a time because he is hypnotized by the black and white patterns we have put on the underside of the shelf above him? I mean, I realize that as soon as he can roll over that’s going to stop, but for now, he becomes entranced by the patterns (which I refer to as “his best friends”) and I figure if he is happy there, he can stay there for a few minutes, right? Its developing his mind, not neglect. Really. Just because I take the opportunity to make a cup of tea and maybe even brush my teeth while he is entranced, doesn’t mean I am a bad mommy.

And because Ross and I lead a true cosmopolitan life, we really partied it up this weekend and watched the animated movie about animals from the Central Park Zoo, Madagascar this weekend, and I gotta say, holy cow that was FUNNY. I don’t know why I missed that one when it was originally released because I generally make a point of watching all of the Pixar movies, but somehow I did. And holy schmoly it was a good one.

Where is August going? My God, having a kid is like some sort of science fiction time accelerator machine. Bring on the non-Stupid Hot weather!

Dear Autumn, how I missed you. Welcome back.

Love,

 Jen

More than a year ago, Ross and I got married. Our photographer took over 1000 digital photos and after all was said and done, supplied us with two disks crammed full of pictures. Its taken until now for Ross and I to get around to going through all the pictures, selecting the ones we want, and now, going through the task of getting prints made. Rome was not built in a day, and apparently, neither will my scrapbook be (wow, that was an awkwardly constructed sentence). It’s been my goal to start a “family scrapbook”. Rather than sit through page after page of wedding photos, as I see in most scrapbooks, I’d rather devote, say, two pages to the wedding, two pages to Kale, another page to… I dunno, Mooki… that sort of thing. I want to be able to add to a single scrapbook as our lives expand. Not have 40 scrapbooks full of crap – that’s sort of like looking at someone’s vacation slides for two hours.

Anyway, if anyone has suggestions for high quality print places, please let me know. I’ve found a few budget places but we’d rather pay a few more bucks for higher quality.

In other news, I have started thinking (and I know this is premature but those of you who know me know what an overplanner I am) about when I run out of maternity leave income. Yes, what I get is paltry, but what I get from UI contributes to the point where I don’t have to work, and it would be ideal to not return to the rut of working Monday to Friday, and having to seek out daycare so someone else could raise Kale for us. I’d love to find some part time work that I can do at home – editing, for example, or telling people how to run their lives – and bring in just enough income to ensure I get to stay home, and keep me working for just enough hours that I get some me time.

I have so many ideas for businesses (and one of them will be coming to fruition soon enough) and I am so good at planning, but I find I get a bit lost in the details of actually WORKING and DOING. Before I left for work, a few of my colleagues asked if I would be willing to take on some work for them and I will soon be contacting them – but I ask myself what, specifically, will I be able to offer them, and I’d like to have that nailed down before I make that first contact. Suggestions are welcome. My friend Melanie is having a resolutionary type of moment in her life where she feels inclined to make resolutions and I can completely relate.

Kale is six weeks old today. I am completely 100% blown away by that. Seriously, where has time gone? Today we have our final appointment with our midwife and she returns our care over to my GP. I am completely sad about this as I don’t beleive that this pregnancy and delivery could have been as wonderful without her. I also wholeheartedly believe that I would not still be breastfeeding without her support.

Yesterday I got a package in the mail from our local health authority. My mom works for another area’s health unit and I know what their protocol is – contact within 48 hours by phone. Apparently, my region has a much more lax protocol because what I received in the mail is a bunch of photocopied handouts about stuff that would have been good to know, oh… I don’t know… 6 freakin’ weeks ago? Not even a letter addressed to me outlining what my “next steps” should be with regards to immunization or anything. Totally useless. And all of it in English which is pathetic since New Westminster is incredibly diverse. Bah.

Anyway, to end this on a sweet and tender moment (tender like the chocolate I am going to go eat as soon as I get off the computer):