Rational

I seem to be watching TV way too much these days, well, at least it is on all the time, I only watch a few shows during the day but one is usually Ellen. See, around 10am Greta USUALLY has a nap, USUALLY does not include this week for some reason. She is faking it for a few minutes, for example today she shut her eyes for 10 minutes, pretended to be a sweet napping little angel, but then yikes...the Demon awoke, the teeth are making her evil, or shall I say the lack of teeth. Still only 2 pearly whites in that raw gummy mouth of hers. By 10am I had given her Tylenol, Baby Anbesol, every frozen teething ring we have (which is a lot), watched Baby Einstein, Guess with Jess, dumped 101 blocks out to play along with every toy in her toy box. Had her in the stroller, danced, practiced walking (she, not I) and nothing helped. It was exhausting, enhanced by the fact she woke for the day at 5:30am - I ignored her until 6am, but when it seemed she was not going to drift back to sleep, I was also up.

Anyway, back to Ellen, yesterday she was talking about medical sites and google - and just how dangerous it is to search and self diagnosis (of course, she was making a joke out of the results, but she was talking about me, well, maybe not me exactly, but people like me). I am the pro, I mean honestly, I do what every rational, worry wart does, you know - go to Google and type in my medical ailments of the day...hit enter and what do you know, I have some life threatening rare disease or I am expecting triplets...UMMM, so you think I would learn..but I don't. Now I add Greta's ailments to my insanity...I'm a Google nightmare. In between Googling What to do about teething babies and my liver hurts I am a pretty busy gal.

Small break required from blogging - Greta is up (I didn't even get to explain that I'm now writing in the afternoon and she thank goodness slept for 45 minutes)...be back soon (Pause and think of this as intermission).

I'm back, can you tell I was away - changed, fed, took a few pictures in her cute outfit because she seemed happy after her rest and now she is playing and I'm sitting watching her and able to type away.

I wrote a few posts ago about my favorite things, but seemed to ramble and it had no rhyme or reason, so I thought for the mothers to be, new mom's, people buying things for new mom's, I will give my favorite items that I know I would certainly purchase for others:

1) Sleep Sheep - Since the day Greta arrived home, despite my few complaints, she has been a great sleeper and I thank the Sleep Sheep for playing a part. Now, any white noise would probably do, but the Sleep Sheep is a fuzzy sheep that has ocean sounds, rain fall, heart beat, and there is one other, but for the life of me, can't recall. It is tied to the crib and travels with us if we are doing an overnight trip. I have to say, when Greta is finished with it, I'm going to move it to my bedside table. If your baby needs a more relaxing sleep - who knows, this may do the trick!

2) GroBag - I am currently looking for the next size - this was recommended as a must have and I now pass it along - we love it! Think of SweetPea from Popeye Days in her little bunting bag and you will imagine the look of a sleep sac. The GroBags are perfect, not too thin, not too thick and keeps Greta all snug in bed, we don't need blankets or quilts, she just wears her pjs and in to her sleep sac she goes. Of course, you can't buy them around here, so I have been desperately trying to win one on Ebay - better start bidder higher to ensure I have one ready for her growth spurt.

3) Sophie - So I caught on that all these hip Mom's had Sophie the Giraffe when I would look at pictures of their little babies, so I read all about them (just a fluk, as I didn't really go out and research anything), but we LOVE Sophie. Sophie travels with us, sleeps with Greta and thanks to Nana, Greta has not only the rubber one that she can chew on to work these teeth out, but she has a stuffed Sophie who she chats with each morning when she gets up - and chews on (Can I say now - Sophie needs a bath).

4) Exercauser - Wow, she is getting a lot of mileage out of this item. Our house looks more like the shelf at a Toys R Us these days, but this "I think" has been my favorite item. Toys to play with, keeps her occupied, has been a great learning tool and amazing to watch Greta figure all the buttons and motions and she can jump in it. We also have a Jumperoo, and although she does enjoy it, I don't think I would recommend it as much, I actually think I would have preferred the Jolly Jumper that hangs in the door frame, both for size and convenience, but if you are looking for a fun gift that will be well used, I think the Exercauser would get my vote.

5) Camera / Photographer - Meaning Lots of pictures. I am snap happy I know, always was, just before Greta the subject was the cats and dog so people called me the crazy animal lady, but I'm happy that I have so many pictures and very happy that we have had so many professional photos taken. Greta changes so much on a weekly basis, her hair, expressions, personality, and we have all that captured. Of course, because all my family lives away, and so many people are either too far away or never met her in person, they can catch up on Greta's adventures and changes via pictures. I still am a mail girl too, I love technology, without it, I probably wouldn't SEE anyone, but I love to send letters and mail Greta's pictures...someone has to keep Canada post going! My old co-workers bought Greta a Smile Saver Card, this is from Sears and allows us to go anytime for no sitting fee, get a free pic each time and buy one get one free for any sheets we want...it is a great Shower Gift!!!

6) UGG boots - okay, I just love them and it's been my favorite splurge for Greta. If you are crazy enough to buy them - go to Ebay and buy second hand...makes it a tad more justifiable that the child's shoes are worth more than mine! And for the record - she has tiny little feet and they are miles too big so she'll get a lot of wear out of them. I actually buy tons of things on Ebay, I'm a great bargain hunter and have bought so many sweet outfits for just a few dollars, all with the tags still on them, got to love it. It keeps me going between my USA visits.

7) Toys with limited noise! So I am mean, but there is a lot of annoying toys that make way too much noise, you can only listen to songs so many times before catching yourself singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star at the Grocery store...So choose the toys wisely.

8) We love our Bumbo seat - maybe we will use the Highchair more when she is a bit older, but since she was 7 weeks old, we have had her sitting in the Bumbo and since she started eating, she eats most of her meals in it. Maybe it's because we have an open concept house and the Dining Room Table isn't used much, but it has been a great purchase. I did buy it in the States so half the price we would have paid here, but even at full price - still a worth while purchase, and again, buy second hand...you can't destroy them, they clean up with a quick wipe...Greta's will be on the market soon enough - it is pink of course!

9) Gripe Water - Greta was a frequent user, hiccups cured instantly! I have given a bottle in most shower packages over the years...it's Liquor for Babies!!!

10) Deep Relief - okay, so this is for those who are carrying the 15lbs kid daily in the car seats and your back feels like it's broken in 10 different spots...it's a heat rub...love it!! That coupled with my heated magic bag are life savers.

Well, I am still on the fence on how much I will love the play pen (Or play yard as they are called now) - probably some activist out there said pen was too demeaning to babies, but they were always play pens to me, so that is what I'll call it...anyway, Greta has moved from the floor to the play pen - with about 20 blocks, 3 dolls and 2 things to chew on, I think I'm liking it...it is like a little cage!!!! I'll have to update this list in a few months and see if these are still my fav's or if we have new favorites. I'm thinking Babysitters will be added to my Favorites List!!!!

Have a great weekend...a warm welcome to any new readers out there (start from the beginning of the blogs, much more exciting)...and I'll be back soon!

Toodles.

Photos of Greta and her boyfriend Erik

Teething....oh my word!

I greatly apologize to those paying attention at my lapse of writing on my blog, I don't have a great excuse, would be nice to tell you I have been sun tanning on a beach in the Dominican, or shopping my heart out in New Hampshire, instead, I've been on this side of hell - Teething Hell! This little place, we'll just say T.H for short, has been quite the journey. It started a few weeks before Xmas, and seemed like such a special little place, one where the cute baby gained two sweet little pearly whites on her bottom gum line, no fuss, no tears, just magically appeared one day. You know someone like me should never comment (I was far from bragging) but I was pretty impressed that teething seemed to not phase Greta, and was telling people "they just appeared, you would never know she was getting teeth other than the drool." Well, strike me down stupid Karma, I will never comment on something being easy again, because the punishment for being so overly optimistic has been sweet little baby needs an exorcism.

Her little mouth is raw, and not one more stupid tooth has popped through, if her cheeks get any redder people are going to start asking if I have rouge make up on her face, the drooling has stopped, but in its place is a cranky, fussy little gal who has given up her 12 hour sleeping pattern at night for a nightly wake up, a wake up that causes her to whine and whine and whine in great discomfort. I feel awful for her, I feel awful for all of us. She isn't 24/7 grumpy, she is still a charmer when we are out, loves to shop and look around (are you shocked), but she saves up her teething hell persona for when we are alone. So, to combat this fussy stage her teeth have caused, we have a few options, I can shop morning, noon and night to keep her entertained, ensure we either have more visitors or get out more often to visit others, or continue to use every teething remedy out there. We really have the full list on the go, frozen wash cloths, frozen bananas, frozen teething rings, pretty much anything from her fist to her toys have acted as items to crunch on, and lets see for meds, I've tried the Naturopathic Dr's solution (didn't think it did much), Tylenol, Little Teethers Gel, Orajel and Baby Tylenol. I have refrained from Rum, only because the only Rum in the house if 150 proof Rum from the Dominican, thought it may burn her mouth a tad too much!!! Some days, we do all of the above (minus the Rum). The Orajel does provide some instant relief, I know how awful it is to have a toothache and sore mouth, so I can't imagine a little one trying to produce a mouthful of teeth, but a little frozen gum line causes instant grape smelling drool. I think it's fair to say teething has been the hardest challenge to date, it's just so exhausting. We just want her to go to sleep tonight so we can catch some ZZZZZZ's.

Besides the invasion of the little pearly whites, not tons happening in our household. Scarlet had a much needed hair cut this week, Darren has been laid up with a bad back and hip(disc and bursitis if you can imagine), I'm down to 1 dose of prednisone daily and finally some water pills to see if I can rid my body of some fluid. When you cry to the Dr. that you are finally going off the deep end because the drugs that are saving your life are making you wish you could just bury yourself in the sand until you look normal again - they finally break down and give you water pills. I would have pleaded my case ages ago if all I had to do was sound like I fully lost my mind. So what if I had to tell them jumping off a bridge was a better option than another day of prednisone, they got the message that I had enough. It's bitter sweet, I know the drug saves lives, and quite possibly saved my liver from total failure, but the side effects are pure hell. Thankfully though, with the help of the water pills, in one week I shed 7lbs of fluid, I feel a bit better, but as it was pointed out to me this week, I still look puffy and not like myself...but at least the pressure in my face and body isn't causing such discomfort.

I am really hoping by the time I return to work I at least look like I did post pregnancy / pre drugs...surely a few more months will do it. As shocking as it is, my return to work is just a few short months away, I will be back in my seat (I really hope my new ergonomic chair was marked with my name, it was set perfectly for me) at the end of May, just a bit past Greta's 11th month birthday. I hope she will do well at the sitters and I will be able to get my butt out of bed, dressed, hair and make up done and to work by 7am...I was thinking of this task as I was heading out of the house for a 10am play date, in which I was late for...I mean, it's not easy to get two of us ready, one of us who has to look cute (I'm obviously not talking about me).

So, that is the life, see you really haven't missed much by my lack of writing. How boring is this blog, I mean, teeth, drugs, whine, whine, whine (would be more fun if I was looped on wine, wine, wine), but that is the life we are living. We don't have much planned for the weekend, Darren suggested going to supper for Valentines Day, he suggested taking Greta as we don't have a sitter to watch her, but after a brief shake of the head when I thought maybe, I opted not to, do you know how annoyed people would get if they get out for an adult dinner, especially for a holiday, and have some kid cry from the next table - well, I would be annoyed, so I'm not going to do it...So for all those heading out to enjoy a romantic dinner for V-day, the kid crying behind you - is not mine!!! Oh, and just because V-day is my LEAST favorite holiday (and for those that know me well, yes we got engaged on V-Day) I still think it's a silly holiday of over priced flowers and over priced mushy cards so it's my obligation to let all you lovebirds out there know....Saint Valentine was eventually imprisoned, beaten, stoned, and beheaded. They don't tell you that on the cards. Happy Valentine's Day...

Toodles - and don't forget, February 17th my article on Push Presents hits G! Magazine. Get a copy for everyone you know expecting a baby - and give it to their significant others!!! And if you didn't get a push present from your significant other, it's not to late - they owe you!!! Let me tell you, Greta's baby book has tons of fun things in it, the story of her alien like beginnings to a Push Present article!