It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

End of November and the house is ready for the holidays...well, almost. I have always decorated early, usually after my November vacation to New Hampshire as I always return with great Christmas decorations that I don't want to store away so I have to get on display. The house literally could pass as a Christmas store, there is hardly a corner that doesn't have something related to the season - a tad of an over kill perhaps, but Darren said he was going to throw out / give away anything I didn't use - Well, I showed him. There are tree's in the bathrooms, every bedroom has something, and again, not a corner bare! That threat just worked in to a challenge to find a home for everything...HA! It's kind of like the silly comments about spending money or shopping too much - just makes me want to do it more. Maybe if he was smart he would tell me I'm not spending enough and I'd actually look in to things and realize - Holy Shit - there is a minus sign in my bank account...

This has been a tough year for Christmas shopping because I don't have a clue what to buy people, we all seem to buy what we want when we want it, so it makes buying gifts so much more difficult and I just don't like giving gift cards but may have to resort to that in a few weeks time. Greta was easy to buy for, we purchased big items for her that she'll need, High Chair, Walker (not the old lady walkers but the learn to walk walkers, this one is a baby carriage so dual purpose, and a few other well thought out toys that won't annoy me with screeching sounds, beeps, music and clutter. I'm mean, but I just don't want to have toys everywhere. We are actually giving her a toy room, that is the big gift, a room with two doors (my small office off the great room) that can hide all the items and a new toy shelf to keep everything. Currently however this room is Xmas central, where I am hiding all the wrapping paper, extra gifts, gifts to be wrapped and JUNK. Having a room like this allows my house to look clean and organized by allowing me to throw baskets, boxes and baby items in it.

I have actually been very busy preparing for the holidays, I was honoured that a friend thought of me and our home when looking for houses for an upcoming Christmas House Tour, a fundraiser for the Stratford Community Choir. I have decorated other peoples homes and tree's in the past but never was in a tour, but this coming Saturday our house will be on display for a few hundred people to walk through and visit. Ironically the night before I was asked to participate in the house tour I mentioned to Darren, as we sat looking at the Great Room decorations, that I do all this work and no one ever comes to visit, well, now they are coming. 99% of them will be strangers, but that is okay!!! I am looking forward to it, and I enjoyed having a deadline to work with and keep me motivated to get the house ready for the holidays, but it proved to be a challenge with a 5 month old. I don't like to stop a tree half way in, so I was timing decorating around food and play and boredom and definitely did a lot after she went to bed or when Darren got home from work. Greta thankfully has been quite good and thanks to Baby Einstein, she learned about the orchestra and all the different instruments as I decorated trees and cleaned. We have also discovered the she can ride around in the stroller room to room as I decorate and she watches or plays with toys. And better yet, she has been napping (in the stroller). When I see she is getting tired in the day now I put her in the stroller and drive it around the house a few times and off to sleep she goes, it's been wonderful. Why didn't we think of this before!!!

Time is definitely flying by and the individual days go by so quickly. I have managed to decorate 4 large trees, 5 small trees, cleaned, scrubbed, Xmas gifts bought / wrapped (well, still have gifts to buy for the impossible to buy for people on the list), baked, cooked, out for visits, out at least 3 days out of the week, kept up with Emails / Facebook all with a 5 month old and a failing liver that is causing a lot of pain and agony these days, and for annoyance, I'll add my puffed up body that is depressing as hell...Now, not saying it is always possible to do everything I want, I can't always attend things, and believe me this week I do have a lot on the go, but at the end of the day, it will all get done. Last night Darren and I were looking forward to a dinner out with our friends Garry and Gwen and a Christmas Fundraiser for Toys for Tots at the Confederation Centre. Well, Darren realizes he is on call, so Mom, who was going to babysit for us, came to the show with me, but we all, including Greta went out to supper beforehand. Successful dinner out for Greta, she just played in her seat and eventually fell asleep (phew). The show was good, but both Mom and I were exhausted, but the toys donated filled the lobby which was wonderful. I had bought some toys specific for the event, but I actually took toys I had planned to give away to kids on my Xmas list and donated them too. I figured all the kids I know have so many things that they can't possibly play with everything they own and will be spoiled by many, so I gathered 8 toys in total that I had purchased for the kids on my list and took them all to the event (In other words, don't be shocked when I'm not giving kids presents this year, I made a donation in their name!) On a separate note, I can't get over the Xmas Wish lists for kids nowadays...iPhones, iPads, DSIs (I think that is what they are called), laptops, cell phones...holy moly, I know a lot of adults who would like these gifts too, I can't wait to hear some of the calls to Santa this year, Santa needs to get stock in Apple or an electronics store to keep up. I guess we would have asked for this stuff if it was around when we were growing up too, although I'm sure if we asked for a $1000 gift on our Santa's Wish List growing up we would have been told to go get a job.

SO, I now find myself at 10:30am still in my pjs. I just put Greta in her stroller for a nap, her eyes are almost closed and I'm multi-tasking by moving the stroller with my foot and still typing this blog post, but I must get going. Mom is here for the week, I have gifts to deliver, hopefully some shopping this evening if Daddy wants to spend another night with Greta, I have a sweet party on Friday to prepare for, I have to check in on my flower arrangements that are being made for Saturdays open house (although I may just trust the florist, she told me to come in and see if I was happy with them, but I will be, so I don't think this is the top of my to do list), I have to clean the house (or find a house keeper who can come in on Thursday)...get my hair done, buy new clothes (mental breakdown yesterday when I realized my puffy body has made all my clothes shrink!!) And of course, have 200-400 people to the house on Saturday...Fun times! Phew, I'm tired out already.

As you can see, I didn't build up many fun Greta stories in the past 2 weeks, she has been a very good little girl and didn't embarrass me in public along the way. She is growing, still fairly tiny but strong and determined, she gets annoyed if she can't do something like turn a page of a book or grab a toy on the exercauser, but she is so happy, she smiles all the time, still doesn't cry or fuss much and with a few exceptions, doesn't seem to make strange yet when new people come her way. She has a closet full of clothes ready to wear, I just need her to grow a tiny bit more, she is still wearing her 3 month wardrobe, but some items will be retired to the sell bin very soon and we'll make room for the 3-6 month items. I hope we have a long winter, I have a few 9 month outfits that are too cute and it will be pretty darn hot in the summer to wear a knit top and pants! And I am convinced she has worked out a secret code with Daddy - one that somehow allows him to escape toxic diapers, he is either in the shower, or just walked out the door and I can smell the child from across the room, he left for a coffee the other day, 5 minutes max...and lord, I was cleaning toxic waste out of her belly button, it was the worse so far...GAG, I can't even write about it, GAG....lord, I'm having a flashback.

So that is what is happening in our neck of the woods, if you have any interest in the Christmas Home Tour - tickets are $10, it's this coming Sat, Dec 4th, and I have a few tickets, but you can also purchase them at various locations in Stratford, just send me a note and I'll help give you the details. There are 5 homes in total, 4 in Stratford and ours in East Royalty, we are the "normal" house on the tour, we do have a large home, but we are the smallest on the tour and I would say the most realistic, one is my Vet's house...I'd love to go see his, I'm sure I must have paid for the granite kitchen with my vet bills from this past year alone...ha!!! Enjoy your week, get the Christmas decorations out, seems many are decorating early this year, I'm convinced it's because the stores start to decorate before the Halloween candy is put away. It's now 10:55, Greta has been sleeping for 25 minutes, may have another 5 for a quick shower...

Toodles....

PAINFUL and Good Memories!

Good ole Port E...

Overhead shot of Port Elgin...

Greta approving the Christmas Tree... Happy Girl...

Greta's Bedroom Tree, pink and brown of course!

First of all, I need to tell you all that I didn't think a Blog would happen again, I have just spent (or shall I say wasted)...TWO hours trying to reset my password through Google to access my blog, it was always within the "system" so I never had to type it since the day I entered the details and obviously I didn't have a clue what it was...Patience is not a virtue I have, especially when it comes to technology, I am proud of myself for not throwing the computer threw the window, believe me, the lap top was over the shoulder a few times ready to be whipped across the room. I think I only refrained because the smashing computer pieces and thud would wake the baby!

So...with that frustration, I'm not sure I should be writing, I am in a very, very sour mood. So, I could complain, lets see - I'm still puffy, it drives me insane and is very, very depressing. I see people out and they look at me as if I've eaten way too many french fries and they don't know what to say, this I hate as I read minds and I know they are thinking, holy sh%t, you have a triple chin and your look like you are squeezing your ass in to those pants. I was greatly looking forward to going out to supper tonight, a friend and I headed to one of my favorite spots, Mavors, and as I'm driving I know exactly what I'm going to order - couldn't wait - but, they changed their menu...and it's awful...they went all fine dining crazy prices, limited choices fancy...so, be forewarned, if you were going for a favorite, they are no longer there, you will however get veggies that are now displayed lovely, and full tomatoes still on the vine as pasta sauce and well, a much steeper bill...sadly, it will be my last visit. Lets see what else is going on...I am in pain again...which means my drugs probably need to be increased, but I'll live with the pain versus an increase in meds. ... gosh, I'm on a roll...lets see Greta is going to be 5 months and some friends and family have yet to lay eyes on her, that isn't so much of a frustration just an eye opener and a what can you do scenario...and I spent WAY, WAY too much in the USA and have banned myself from shopping (well, I set pay day as my release date). Oh yes, and our microwave blew up yesterday and needed to be replaced pronto and tonight it has been discovered the TV in our bedroom is dead....Okay, that little vent was fun, I should do that more often!

Now, on to life in the Edgett-Gallant Household...We had a successful trip to my second home, beautiful New Hampshire. As we crossed the state line, I said, as I do every time...why don't we just move to NH...I would be so happy, it's beautiful, people are nice, I could shop and shop and shop, we would probably see people more often then we do here because everyone seems to visit North Conway now, and well, it just makes me smile when I'm there. We have talked about a time share or a condo, but we do love where we stay each trip, so maybe we'll think more about a more permanent option, but for now, our visit to the Golden Gables a few times a year is just perfect. It was also our first trip as parents and leaving Greta behind - that too was a great success. Now, I know I'm going to sound mean (shocker I know)...but Darren had a much tougher time than I leaving her. I checked in daily and looked forward to seeing Facebook pics each night of her stay in Moncton with my sister, niece and parents, but I thought it was GREAT...for all of us. I highly recommend it actually. I know many haven't left there kids ever, and I hand it to you, but I just need that time, and feel deep down it will be good for Greta too. I don't want to sound overly pessimistic, but I'm a realist and know with my health and just life in general, we don't know what tomorrow will bring, I want Greta to know she can go to other people, and be well cared for and have fun and not miss us to the point that she is a wreck. The funny thing was, when we returned home, we were excited to see her and I went in to my sisters house to find her playing in an exercauser - I called her name and nothing, clapped my hands and nothing - I asked my sister if she lost her hearing over the weekend, and then literally moved Greta to make eye contact and nothing, the toys were more interesting. SIGH. It was rather funny, she had no interest in me nor Darren, but that borrowed exercauser was the cats meow! She eventually came around and shot off a smile, but I knew she was not too traumatized over her little sleep over. Scarlet did great too at the sitters...so all around...it was a relief, and makes me more eager to do it again. Now, my sister may not feel the same - Greta was very good, but the child doesn't nap and gets bored easy and with Haley now 11 years old, I think everyone in Moncton forgot how busy a little 4.5 month old can be. It was beyond appreciated that she could stay in Moncton, although next time, maybe I can offer a PEI vacation and the sitters can come to Greta, I had a truck filled for her - not to mention, we took 2 vehicles to NB so Greta could have her own limo...ha!

So, on to NH and Maine...this is simple - I spent WAY too much, have enough clothes for Greta that I could open a boutique (but they are all cute and I will wear them all even if I have to change her 5 times a day). The Christmas Tree Shop had so many goodies, and lets just say the puffy body didn't cooperate so I bought little as far as clothing for me, but did manage to give Coach a nice chunk of change and a few new pair of shoes have been added to the collection. We also had a great time with friends, our trivia partners, Garry and Gwen travelled to Maine and NH and we met each night for supper. We enjoyed lovely meals (all be it way too much food - the USA portions are nothing short of disgusting), but so nice to have friends to meet up with and talk about the days purchases, travels, weather, life, etc)...they had a bit more time and were off to Boston when we departed for home, believe me, if we had even a small amount of room left in the truck, I would have followed them. If you can imagine, I still have Christmas shopping to do, I just don't know what to buy people, it's not even the money, it's truly people need nothing. Today we all just seem to buy things for ourselves, if I need or want something, off I go to the store, and it seems all those on my Xmas list do the same, so it makes it very difficult to finish my Xmas shopping! Our house has exploded with festive decor over the past week I have a few rooms finished and a mess everywhere else, but I have to admit there is a peace about sitting in a lit room under a Christmas tree and a hot chocolate (that would be SOOO much better with Baileys but I can't) that is comforting. I enjoy this part of Christmas, I think that is one reason I decorate so early - that and the fact it takes me weeks to do all the rooms and I want time to enjoy it - but come Christmas Day - I'm ready for it to be over...I actually dislike Christmas a great deal and become quite the humbug. I love buying and wrapping and preparing, even baking and cooking - but I find it a let down of a holiday, perfect time for family arguments and fights, so I actually happily spend the day alone and celebrate Christmas on Boxing Day - although this year we will open some presents Xmas morning and little Greta will join me for the day as Darren heads to his family's place to open some gifts with them. Greta will have new toys to play with so I suspect and look forward to a new Christmas outlook, at least I hope.

As we were driving to NH, all along the way I had thoughts, memories about my life, it was strange, almost as if I was having flashbacks and they were memories brought about by signs, or songs, or comments...I wish I had written them all down as I thought at the time I should do a full blog about them, but I'll end with just a few that happened just 75 minutes from our house....

As Greta and I headed to Moncton last Wednesday, I was driving towards Port Elgin and saw the "Circle Sign"...that sign may not mean much to many of you, but that sign meant everything to me...my family is from Port Elgin - yes, that little traffic circle is actually more than a round about, there is a Village where my relatives are from (I never lived there, but Mom grew up in Port E)...I'm sure most know about Port Elgin because it was the closest spot to get canned beer before the can ban was lifted, and many years ago, many probably stopped at my Great Grandparents store Allens, it was located in the Village where the gas station now is, but there were a lot of great times at that traffic circle. My grandparents lived in the white house on the traffic circle, you will all head to Moncton now and be able to look over and say - hey, that was the house Gail spoke about...if you look up the road, it is my Aunt Peg's house and the next house was my Great Grandmothers...yes, the family road....Port Elgin is small, lets say 500 and that includes the graveyard residents, and no doubt, I'm related to a large majority. Our family sadly has gotten much smaller over the years, but as I was driving with Greta in the back seat (asleep I may add) I looked down at the clock and remembered a trip that Wayne and I took with our Aunt Mona to Moncton...We would always guess the time we would drive in my Grandparents drive way, I don't recall what we got, if anything, as a prize for being the closest but I found myself guessing what time I would roll in the driveway and telling Greta to make a guess. I also remembered as much as I couldn't wait to get to my Nana and Grampie's house, we would say a quick hello and run through the path between their house and my Aunt and Uncles and go see them and enjoy a cookie that was freshly waiting for us. I was also reminded how kind and thoughtful and giving my grandparents were, to us but also to strangers. I remembered the numerous people who pulled in their driveway and walked in to the porch to ask for directions and then the next thing I know my Nana was serving them food and drinks and offering them a place to stay for the night. I remember my grandfather picking up hitch hikers and giving them money to make sure they had a good meal and extra cash in their pocket even though they never asked for a dime - just a drive. I remember my grandfather buying a bottle for the town drunk (well, maybe there were a few of them) on more occasions than I can count. I recalled a couple asking if they could pitch a tent on the lawn because they were backpacking and just couldn't go any further -they ended up in the house for most of the night playing cards and probably having the best meal of their life. There was always a game of Scat on the go, and we learned to be good gamblers at a very young age, but we had to really play, none of this sitting at the table and being annoying kids, we had money to play with and we played with no assistance nor sympathy. If we lost our quarters, we were out, although Nana always compensated us for our losses after the games!!!

Anyway a few nice memories all from that traffic circle sign. I have been called materialistic, I have been called an over spender...but I am also a giver...I enjoy giving and buying for people, and believe me, it's not because I have extra cash, but I enjoy it and when I am out I think of other people and what they may like or what I can do for others...and I think I was reminded who I learned this from by seeing that sign.

That's all for tonight - only took 4 full hours to get to the end of this blog...a special hello to my university roomie Andrea who I saw this evening at the grocery store ( I swear, I was picking up essentials - it didn't count against the no shopping ban)...and thanks to Krista Dykstra who was at the Colonel Gray Craft Fair selling the sweet head bands that Greta has a dazzling collection of - if you are in Ch'town, the craft fair runs all day tomorrow and the bands are perfect for all little girls - get shopping gals - little girls need pretty flowers in their hair and if there are some left that means I will need to get more - and we can't have that...so go buy some itty bitty bands!!!

The time has come...

Little Tutu....
4 Month Old Greta Claire

Smiling girl tonight - November 9, 2010

How will you Remember?

Less than 48 hours...yes folks, the time has finally arrived, the long awaited moment when I'll be relaxing in my hotel room after helping the USA economy rebound and President Obama signing my name and Hallelujah that I arrived to boost the Maine and New Hampshire retail sectors. Can't friggin wait. Darren and I are heading on our first baby free vacation...So, she is only 4 months old and I know many out there reading have teenagers you have never left, but I can't follow in your footsteps. I know for me, it is a healthy move and Greta will be much better off having a Mommy who can shop stress free and have a little me time, us time, sleep time, etc, etc! She may be cute, but no one is cute enough to take shopping - I marathon shop - this means I don't stop to eat, maybe a bathroom break if I really, really have to, but when you don't eat and barely drink, this is even a rare occurence! Eating is for he weak, and can be done when the stores close! Greta instead is off for a little vacation of her own, lord knows she is travelling as if she is going on a month long excursion to Europe. Good grief, the child is requiring her own vehicle to lug her stuff. Yes, you read correctly, her own truck is going to NB. Greta and I are leaving for New Brunswick tomorrow to get her settled, along with her STUFF, and the stuff is just regular stuff, thanks to a friend of my sisters, all the toys, swing, chairs, strollers, gadgets have been provided, so I just have to bring Greta and clothes / diapers / daily essentials. Well, these daily essentials are taking up my entire trunk and back seat, (15 bibs and receiving blankets (which may not be enough) take up a lot of room). And people question why she isn't coming to New Hampshire...There isn't room and I'm pretty sure it would be frowned upon to have a baby sit on my lap in the front seat or tied to the roof rack. I am starting to question why I didn't offer a lovely Island vacation to the NB babysitters, it may have been easier, but alas, Greta I know will do splendid and we will have a much needed and relaxing holiday filled with shop til you drop evenings, grossly large USA portioned size meals at yummy restaurants and I am hoping some amazing deals. And the animals seem healthy (knock on wood) so our pet sitter will give them lots of extra love and attention and hopefully not have to make a visit to the vet!

So, that is what is coming up...the past week has been rather uneventful. It has rained for 5 days now, quite depressing, grey and gloomy. It is the type of weather where you realize you wasted a days worth of make up because you are not going to bother leaving the house. We didn't have any visitors, or any wild get togethers to go to and even the Dr's appointments were at a minimum. I sadly returned to my specialist and it was confirmed that the old liver is fighting a good fight but not quite there...my numbers went up instead of down, so disappointing as they were going down so steadily...but alas, it could be worse so I guess I should be thankful there are pills I can take. Sometimes hard to think that when I look in the mirror and push around the water that has taken up residence in my face and neck, and now shoulders I get so frustrated I could scream, I hope my December appt proves to be a bit more successful and the steroid meds will be replaced with another treatment option. I need this water to leave my body - pronto! I told the Dr that it's a cruel med to give a woman immediately after losing all the baby weight, he agreed and said the goal is to have me off the predisone as soon as possible. I wonder if that means he is afraid for my mental health...just a guess, I go in with a list of "things" of how this drug is affecting me, and I think he looks scared. He is also teaching me how to give my own needles, I am suppose to have B12 shots every 3 weeks, but since my family Dr no longer has a nurse, this requires I go to the walk in clinic to have the nurse give them...well, sitting for an hour to get a needle - with a baby - not my cup of tea. I'm not sure if I am going to like giving my own needles, but at least they will be on time.

And, amazingly...it's Remembrance Day Week again. I cannot believe how quickly the time flies. This time last year I was sick wit H1N1, had just found out I was expecting a baby and was being tested as discussions began on how all the drugs I had taken could affect a baby. I was MENTAL ...and I mean that with every serious bone in my body. I had to cancel my trip to New Hampshire that had been planned on Dr's advice, I just wasn't physically able to do the trip. I now find myself packing a year later to do the friends and family weekend again, this time healthy (well, my form of healthy) and will be missing out on the Remembrance Day services in Canada but will be in the USA for Veterans Day. I do think we will hit St. Stephen during their service however...one great thing about being an employee of Veterans Affairs Canada is every day is Veterans Day...but this year the Department is asking ... How will you Remember?

Veterans’ Week 2010, November 5 to 11. This year’s poster, which is above, uses a modern tag cloud or word cloud to show what remembrance words come to mind when we remember. The “How will you Remember?” image reflects this year’s call to action to all Canadians which asks you to think about your participation in remembrance activities. Take the remembrance challenge.Your challenge is to make remembrance more than something you feel. Make it something you do. There are many ways you can show that you remember and honour our Veterans.Pin a poppy above your heart. Attend a local Remembrance Day ceremony. Visit a friend or relative who just returned home from Afghanistan or who served elsewhere in the world. Listen to Veterans talk about their experiences. Create a mashup and share it on the YouTube channel. Visit the Veterans Affairs Canada fan page on Facebook, write on our wall and share how you remember. Change your Facebook profile picture to a poppy, write on your wall about how you remember or create your own remembrance fan page. However you choose to remember, don’t forget to tag it, link it, share it.Tag it. Once you have made a remembrance creation, don’t forget to tag it. This will also help friends and others find what you have made.Link It, Link your creation to vac.gc.ca. Share it. Be sure you share with a friend.Visit http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/ to learn more, to get interactive and share your thoughts or to find remembrance events in your community.

So, thank you - to all those serving our country (Hello my friends serving right now and to their wives who are home waiting for their safe return), to those Veterans who will walk in the Remembrance Day celebrations and to those who have served and sacrificed.

Have a great week, Toodles!

Is that a trick mirror....

Have to first add a quick video of Greta's latest trick...She is trying to blow bubbles, or shall I say, try to humm (you know the sound we can make with our lips without spitting)...well, she is making the sound, just has the spit flying. It is our fault, we taught her, as we were always making this sound to get her attention for pictures and lord knows, she has the camera in her face enough. It does crack us up, and is funny to watch - for a few minutes - but she does it now NON STOP!!! I had a friend and her little guy over today (thanks Tanya and Ryder) and at some points it was hard to hear over the humm and flying spit! So, enjoy the video...then read on to our latest adventures!

So, you know the little line on the car mirror - Objects may be closer than they appear, well, I need one in every mirror in the house, Objects in mirror may be bigger than they appear. Holy my face...I'm down to 3 steroids and the puffy face is still with me. Depending on the time of day it goes from pudgy to down right inflated. It must stop, it's driving me insane, I sometimes catch myself in front of the mirror pushing my double and triple chin out of the way and thinking what type of complications someone like me would have from plastic surgery (no need for responses to that - I can really imagine the complications), but I would still risk it. I think my skin has stretched enough that even when the water leaves my body, I'm going to be left with saggy skin. I went 9 months without a damn stretch mark and now my face is going to droop...AHHH... Well, if plastic surgery is required, I'm getting it all done, my slightly crooked nose, my thighs, ugly knees, can they build in abs...I'm doing it up.. All this beauty in the eye of the beholder - bull...find me a good plastic surgeon, make sure I get it paid for because of mental distress and I'm there..ha!

I'm still suffering from hot flashes, I convince myself there is some other disease within me, thankfully I'm off to the specialist again this week and going to ask for the full meal deal blood special. I want ever little box checked off on that requisition...and I mean everything. It just can't be normal at 36 (fine, 36.5) to have hot flashes 20 times a day. I feel for those in menopause, I'm with you...it sucks. At least if it was menopause and I was in my 50's or 60's when it was happening I wouldn't be changing smelly, stinky, knock your socks off diapers...because let me tell you, when you feel weak and sweaty from a hot flash, a toxic hot diaper is the last thing you want to add to the mix! I'm starting to wonder if my weak spell last week was more this combo then my meds and inner ear infection!

I have to admit, I'm finding things with Greta a bit easier. I know everyone said the 6 week mark was when they noticed things getting easier...well, it took me a bit longer, lets say 12 weeks, but now at 4 months, she is a little bit more fun and entertaining - which includes entertaining us and able to entertain herself and seems to have gained a little bit of independence, so we are all happier. She was never extremely needy or anything but she is just very content to play now on her own while I manage to cook or clean or shop on ebay...She does love cartoons (right or wrong)...it works and it's quite cute for her to watch and listen to the songs and characters dancing on the screen. She sleeps quite good too, she went to bed at 7:30 tonight, as of midnight, still sound asleep, I suspect she'll get up sometime for a bottle, but we have discussed this routine and are happy with it....it's nice for her to go to bed so early, as we'll either rest and relax or sleep ourselves, or just do things we want to around the house. She does sleep in late if she does get up during the night, today was 9:30...and what do I do...I sleep in too! I really should try to get up earlier, but she is my alarm clock and who am I to fight it. I do have a Dr's appt at 10 later this week, so I'll have to ensure I set the real alarm, as I did find myself late last week for an appt, as getting up at 9, and trying to get both of us ready to face the public, and get her fed all within an hour takes one big miracle!

And can you believe it's November...unbelievable to me! The months are flying by, this time last year I was still in complete shock that I was pregnant and calling Dr's, being put off work - a mix between H1N1 and psycho tendencies, and my guess (although I can't quite remember) not speaking to Darren..ha! This year on November 1st, I am thinking...I have a lot of Halloween and Fall decor to pack away for another year and the Christmas planning must get started. I always decorate early, I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my Xmas tree's and I put up a lot of tree's in the house and each tree can take a full day if not two...I am not measuring the ornaments distance from each other ... BUT... it does appear that I did. If I don't like the tree - I start over! It's painful. Darren's contribution is bringing up all the decorations from the basement and not touching any of the trees. He did try once, I sat in agony watching the few ornaments he placed on the tree go in to a spot I wouldn't have chosen, tried to bite my tongue and finally agreed - there will be no sitting around the fire and trimming the tree as a couple...nope, it's my job! As kids, we always had our own tree in our rooms, I think because my mother always had taken the time to place ornies in a pattern as well...Greta will have her own tree each year...not that she will decorate it this year, but down the road, she can decorate her tree ( I may have to bite my tongue better than I did with Darren) - but it will hopefully mean hands off the others in the house. This always worked for us as kids, we never touched the "adult trees", no need for us to have a Xmas tree where the bottom 3 feet had no ornies...I'm looking forward to decorating Greta's tree - pink and brown of course, with white teddy bears! Hope it will look as cute as what is in my head! I also always decorated early because I always hosted a sweet exchange as a first celebration to the holiday season although I have after a lot of thought and consideration decided not to go forward with it this year. I will miss doing it, but for quite a few reasons won't be hosting one this year. Will have to come up with another way to see a few friends over the holiday season and get them over to the house this year. One good thing this decision has on my planning, I won't need to have everything done for the end of November. Of course, there will hopefully be great deals in Maine and New Hampshire and I'll add to my Xmas collection! Can I say HOW MUCH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING AWAY...My travel curse better not surface, I am leaving this province and this country one way or another....lord help the person to mess with that!!! Well, a bunch of nothing in tonights blog, and I must depart, the hot flashes are returning and the hot lap top isn't helping, I must go find a freezie to cool me off.

Toodles!