freakgirlspew

2008-05-09T00:19:00.001-04:00

AND TO THINK WE JUST WATCHED RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK...

From The Earth Times

" Archaeologists believe they have found the Queen of Sheba's palace at Axum, Ethiopia and an altar which held the most precious treasure of ancient Judaism, the Ark of the Covenant, the University of Hamburg said Wednesday. Scientists from the German city made the startling find during their spring excavation of the site over the past three months." More of the story here.

2008-05-08T15:43:00.003-04:00

GET YOUR SIPPY ON

Avent is giving samples of the new Magic sippy cups away. These are the new, sassy chemical cocktail free version of what a child should drink out of brought to us from the company that didn't want to take returns on the original chock full of BPA bottles. There's a 7oz one with a soft spout for infants and a 9oz one with a hard spout for toddlers.

In Canada call: 1-866-624-1906

2008-05-06T23:02:00.002-04:00

REASSURANCE

So, breastfed babies are indeed smarter than their formula fed counterparts.

2008-04-24T17:02:00.003-04:00

GROOVY TREES

Since it's coming on Summer and we're stuck in the big stinky city with a giant facility being built behind us and a Big Box Project coming soon to further pollute our lives, I thought I'd take some time to enjoy nature at my desk. Plants creating opportunity from obstacles and a site devoted to nature spirits 'caught' on film are a favourite today.

2008-04-23T16:51:00.001-04:00

STUPID BIG BOX

Brian McInnis sent a message to the members of "NO BIG BOX POWER CENTRE IN LESLIEVILLE!".

--------------------
Subject: Please watch Goldhawk Live this evening

Dear Friend,

The East Toronto Community Coalition asked me to pass the following two notes along.

1- Tonight, at 9pm on Rogers cable 10 and 63, investigative journalist Dale Goldhawk will have a panel discussion about the "Big Box"development on Eastern. The panel will consist of 2 people for the"pro" side - and two members from the "No Big Box" side They will be taking calls so if you have a little bit of time this evening please call in with your comments about how this development will impact our community! The number is 416 446 7090.

2- (ETCC response to province's refusal to declare provincial interest) We tried. Mayor Miller asked. The Film Board asked. Over 4500 residents, Film Workers and concerned Torontonians asked. The answer is No, the Province will not make a declaration of Provincial Interest in the Smart!Centres OMB hearing.

Perhaps the writing was on the wall when a group of us had the
opportunity to speak with Gerald Butts, D.McGuinty's top advisor. We pointed out that this development was at the access point to Lake Ontario Park and perhaps a similar Lower Don Lands study could be done on this adjacent land. Mr.Butts replied with a laugh and a statement that went something like 'how could we justify that when we still dump raw sewage into the Lake'.

We also pointed out how the Province's Places to Grow policy, which protects employment lands and discourages auto-centric development, will not be a deciding factor as this application went in before the policy came into play. We pointed out that this development will impact the lands set aside for the film industry and there is still a need and a demand for smaller, lower-end sound stages. We told them that we already have enough retail with Queen St., the Beach, China Town, Gerrard Square, 4 large Grocers and the Eatons Centre. We couldn't even move them with a letter about the health impact of
14,000,000 car trips a year in a community already suffering from some of the highest incidents of lung related infections and disease.

In the end, Butts told us that they were afraid that if they gave us the declaration, they would have to give it to the hundreds of other community groups fighting developers in Ontario. They also said they will be watching the OMB proceedings very closely. I guess we should all find comfort in that and the fact that the Province will now allow us to hang our underwear outside to dry. By the way, this bad news came with the first smog warning in Toronto.

2008-04-15T22:39:00.002-04:00

MILESTONES

Willow sprung two teeth today.
She is eating solids.

She pointed at a dog yesterday.
She can hold a bottle up and drink out of it.

She made it onto the news last Sunday for a few seconds too.
Awwwww, baby's first rally.

It's all going by too fast.
She is barely five months old.

2008-04-10T19:58:00.002-04:00

SLEEPER

This new sleep thing with Willow is working out. I've even managed to get some sleep for myself. Not enough to feel perfectly rested, but enough to keep me from being homicidal.

The first night of the new sleep system was accidental. The second night, she and fell asleep at once, which was snuggly and wonderful,but not teaching my child to get to sleep by her self. On the third night she cried for one and a half minutes, and then passed out.

Tonight, she cried a little. I went into the room to find she had her blanket over her head, she doesn't like that. In the future, I will keep blankets off until she is asleep so she can't use them to stuff in her mouth, throw over her head, and then act surprised about it.

She seems generally content with the sleeping arrangement so far. Paco and I like it too. Last night she slept from 7:30 pm until 5:00 am. That is wonderful.

We put her in the Jolly Jumper for the first time yesterday evening. She loved it immediately. She likes to do a crazy little marionette Riverdancing jig. Her Dad and I rather enjoyed it.

2008-04-04T20:03:00.004-04:00

CONFESSIONS

Tonight we inadvertently started sleep training Willow by letting her cry herself to sleep.

This morning I was so sick that Paco had to come home from work to help out (hooray for my hero Paco and afternoon naps). Tonight we had our usual bedtime routine. Changing clothes and diaper, a bottle, stories, nursing, then sleep. We usually nurse for a long time, truth told. I take her off the latch when she is nearly asleep, then let her fall asleep on her own...But really, she is so asleep she does not notice she is no longer feeding. Yes, I trick my child. I’ve been trying to gradually get her used to not falling asleep while feeding. Sometimes it seems to work, other times she freaks out and wakes up. Then we start all over again.

Tonight we nursed for a while then she started to want to play. Being at a loss as to how to proceed, I put her in her little crib at the end of our bed and left the room to see if she would settle down on her own.

She started to cry. Paco encouraged waiting to see if she fell asleep on her own instead of going to her. He has been campaigning for trying new methods in getting Willow to sleep for months, I thought it was time to be fair and give this a shot. She is five months old now after all. I also knew that no matter what we did, I wouldn't be enjoying myself this evening… Too tired, too sick.

I've been against sleep training. Hearing my child cry and cry when I know I can stop it is a hell I can live without. Being one of those strange people that have memories from the crib, I have never wanted Willow to cry without comfort. I remember crying and crying and no one coming and the defeated feeling of giving up (it was the 70’s, letting your kids cry it out was a popular parenting method).

I read a bunch of books about sleep training hoping to find a method that would work effectively but not involve my child bawling and bawling and us all feeling terrible. I didn't like any of them in the end. They all seemed complicated in method. Some were very pompous. Even the gentle method book left me sad since Willow is not responding to the cues.

When I look at the larger issue, it sucks that I am the only one who can get Willow to sleep at night. There is a side of me that staunchly refuses to buy into the idea that having children should be convenient and all about me. Why did I have a kid if I refuse to let her go at her own pace? It isn’t so much to me to sacrifice for my child. Still, there is a point where you wonder about the other side of the scale. Am I doing her any good by not teaching her to self-comfort? No.

These are things that go through your head. Tonight was a sacrifice I needed to make to see if it will work for our household. I was tired and sick enough to let go.

What a turn around for me. I shed a few tears in the fifteen minutes it took for her to fall asleep on her own. Paco checked on her every few minutes. I think she may have settled down even sooner had he not gone in to her. I never thought I would say that.

Fifteen minutes, wow. Sometimes it takes three hours for me to get Willow down at night. Sometimes it takes so long that I fall asleep with her. She doesn't nap during the day unless I stay with her or we are out walking. It is time she learned to fall asleep without a breast or a soother nearby.

Sometimes you need to suck it up and try something out. Fifteen minutes versus hours is a real eye-opener, as well as a step for Willow’s growing independence. Who knows, maybe one day she will take a nap by herself.

We'll see how this goes, but what a big step. I need a glass of wine.

2008-04-03T23:29:00.004-04:00

WOW, I AM A MOM

I am so in love with my kid. I am really grateful for that because I have never been so tired in my life and I am usually evil when I am tired. Sleep was always my front line against illness. Getting my sleep in small doses is taking its toll, and I've been sick for about two months straight, it seems.

So much happens every day. Small, beautiful, joyous things that make the continually jeopardized health a small price to pay. Life is full and satisfying. All of the change is rewarding and wondrous. And man, there has been a lot of change. I'm happy with things although my head is spinning a little bit.

The little one is growing fast and getting up to all kinds of fun new things.

These are some things she just started doing in the past week or so. The five month mark is really a swinging time.

- Blowing raspberries. The other day she started doing it and has not stopped. The kid is very impressed with her capabilities (no less so than I)
- The pincer grasp has developed.
- Se can hold things up to her mouth.
- She likes to be pulled to standing.
- Caressing our faces and bodies, so sweet. Giggling.
- Trying to sing (we think) by making a growling sound that is very funny ---Then she laughs.
- Looking at me and nodding when she is about to poop: interesting.
- Swimming. The swimming pool is something she loves, yay.
- Yelling while we read Where the Wild Things are and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. So cute.
- Putting her thumb in her mouth instead of the whole hand.
- Looking to see where things land when she drops them.
- Laughing when she farts.

What else? Oh, it's crazy.

Figuring out how toys work…I swear you can hear the synapses firing in her little head as she figures our world out. Excitedly kicking and pushing everything with her rather strong little legs is a good source of fun. Maybe she will be a runner like her Daddy (instead of like me). She pushes up very well and can almost sit by herself as well as hold a bottle up. She often starts going "Mmmm mmmmmm mmm" when nursing. It cracks me up but draws lots of attention to us...She wants to eat what we eat. Soon enough she will. I often give her fruit and veggies to explore by touch smell and taste ( a little bit). The prospect of berries gets her very happy. She flirts a lot. She watches, observes, participates. We've been wearing a mei tai carrier and love it. Sometimes we use a stroller. I forgot how fast I can move with the stroller. We'll be taking that out more often now that there is no snow.

Ah, love. Ah, life.
She has our hearts so completely.
It's wonderful.

2008-04-01T22:20:00.000-04:00

NO TIME TO POST

Duty calls.

2008-03-16T23:46:00.002-04:00

TO GO

I love my coffee. I would be fine giving up most things before I would give up coffee. There are worse vices. I would wear track pants in public if it was the only way I could get coffee. That is saying something.

Coffee and motherhood: what a match. Parenting is exhausting in the beginning. I find that coffee (even without real caffeine) comforting and helpful. Like having my Mom visit. Except that when my mom visits, my stovetop gets cleaned.

Coffee also seems to be a mothers’ drink of choice. You go out for a walk to get out and you drink coffee. You go to a drop-in center, you drink coffee. You go visiting and you drink coffee.
Not that being a parent is all about killing time. It’s about moving from activity to activity. Kids get a change of scenery; Moms get coffee.

I’m also a Mom in Leslieville. Moms in Leslieville drink a lot of coffee. This area is a jackpot spot for cafes and such. Non-breeders come out at night to spend their disposables incomes, and moms spend in the day, having lunches and drinking coffees.

This afternoon, G and I were out for a short walk with Willow and ended up at a local coffee shop. I got my coffee “to go” because I worried that if Willow cried, the hipster staff would shame me. I like the coffee there so much that I was willing to brave that. That’s just silly.

I’m rethinking spending my dollars like that. So I’m not going there anymore. Delicious coffee be damned. It’s hard enough being a mother without worrying that “some kid who thinks they discovered Joy Division (Thank you, Kylie)” is going to be rude to you. The Darkhorse Espresso Bar is even closer to my home and the staff are all lovely, all of the time. It’s good to be in an area with so much choice in how to spend my sleepwalking mom dollars.

2008-03-07T22:46:00.005-05:00

COFFEE TIMES

In an article regarding the drop in popularity of Starbucks, Adbusters quotes a study reported to find that Americans found MacDonald's coffee preferable to Starbucks coffee.

I like my independent coffee shops (less the attitude, thanks) a lot. Still, I much prefer Starbucks over most chain store coffee. Maybe it's the snob in me, but I don't think the coffee at MacDonald's is even real coffee....

2008-03-04T21:05:00.000-05:00

ATTENTION BABYWEARERS --ELLAROO SLING RECALL

News from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. 20207

For Immediate Release Tuesday March 4 2008
Firm's Recall Hotline:(800) 483-4902
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Ellaroo Recalls Infant Sling Carriers Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)

Name of Product: Ellaroo Ring Sling Baby Carrriers
Units: About 1,200
Manufacturer: Ellaroo LLC, of McKinney, Texas
Hazard: The aluminum rings on the sling carriers can bend or break. This can cause the fabric to slip through the rings and infants to fall out of the carrier.
Incidents/Injuries: Ellaroo has received four reports of the rings bending and two reports of rings breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall includes Ellaroo Ring Sling baby carriers with item numbers 2101 and 2102 printed on the outside of the product box. The Ellaroo Ring Sling has a fabric carrier with two aluminum rings that is worn by the user to carry an infant up to 35 pounds. The carriers are sold in mahogany, mango stone, brasilia and malay color prints. Only sling carriers with lot numbers 03/07 and 07/04 printed on a label, under the size label, inside the Ring Sling are included in the recall.
Sold at: Juvenile product and department stores nationwide and online, including BabiesRUs.com, from June 2007 through February 2008 for about $100.
Manufactured in: India
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the sling carriers and contact Ellaroo for instructions on returning the carriers for a repair or replacement of the Ring Sling.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Ellaroo at (800) 483-4902 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m CT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.ellaroo. com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/ talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

2008-03-01T16:17:00.003-05:00

LONG TERM NEGATIVE AFFECTS OF SPANKING

"Previous studies have shown that 90 percent of parents strike their toddlers, a statistic that's held steady throughout the 30 years Straus has researched corporal punishment. Meanwhile, the number of parents who hit older children has drastically decreased. "

"The best-kept secret in child psychology is that children who were never spanked are among the best behaved," Straus said.

Here is a link to the full article.

2008-02-23T22:02:00.004-05:00

RIDE FOR THE CURE

This June, my man Paco will be participating in the Ride to Conquer Cancer. Here is the home page for his team. Please go there and donate some cash (Andy Martin is Paco's proper name). Every Little Bit Helps.

I don't know about you, but Paco and I have both lost family members to cancer. Thanks to research and technology, we both also have relatives in remission or currently cancer-free. That is awesome.

Again, every little bit helps!!

2008-02-22T00:41:00.003-05:00

Hello, hello, hello....
A Little update

Hello, hello, hell - lo
What a wonderful word
Hello.

This is a song Paco started to sing to Willow right after she was born. It caught on. Now we sing the tune with whatever words arrive at the moment. She loves it. Now she tries to sing back at us. Terribly cute.

She also loves Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. She is used to it from yoga class . This mellows her right out.

She is sleeping really well at night now (knock on wood). We started feeding her a little organic formula at night a few weeks ago. It seemed to make her feel full and she stopped trying to nurse for hours before going to sleep. Now I pump enough milk while she sleeps so I can feed her pumped milk at bedtime. This is working out Very Well. She is a *hungry* little gaffer. Things are turning around well. Progress in the sleep department is nice.

She fell asleep at yoga today and Stayed Asleep by herself for over 20 minutes. This is a first for a daytime nap. A baby yoga miracle!

Usually we nap on the couch for the morning nap and then head out walking for the afternoon nap. She loves to pass out in her sling out in the fresh air. If I face her outward though, she won't sleep. She gets busy checking everything out.

She has found her voice recently and tries talking. She loves to play. She is all smiles when she wakes up. She is gentle and sweet. I can't believe she is only 3 months old, she seems so big now. She is filling out and getting chubby cheeks.

Willow. Oh Willow. A love song, for sure.

She loves singing! She has learned to grabs things and tries to get it all into her mouth. Loves her bouncy saucer thing -- she is so steady on her feet already. Scary.

By the end of my day with Willow, my brain is mush. That's ok, it's only for the next 15 years or so.

2008-02-05T10:04:00.000-05:00

NEVERENDING STORIES

I blog, I journal, I like to email. I've met wonderful people through the internet. I have friends that I have not even met in "Real Life" and still care a lot about. It's like a secret world.

One of my journal friends is really sad right now. Reading about her situation tore my heart out. I wanted to go to her place halfway across the world with ice cream and wine and try to make it better. Hanging out with friends and talking is how healing works for me.

Online friendships are obviously different than real life friends. I sometimes think of them as favourite characters from novels with the exception that I don't know when their stories will end. I like that.

2008-01-30T23:10:00.000-05:00

PARENTHOOD SO FAR

This video describes our parenting technique to a T.

2008-01-28T23:47:00.000-05:00

INSPIRED AND INSPIRING

You should visit Urban Paisley and see her treasures.
And then buy some :)

2008-01-24T23:11:00.000-05:00

WILLOW AT TEN WEEKS

2008-01-23T22:54:00.000-05:00

I *WILL* BE COFFEE

A 20,000 dollar cup of coffee....

2008-01-13T22:19:00.000-05:00

GET PAMPER-Y

The Faery's Tub is back up and running.
I had brief hiatus and am now good to go!
....Just in time for Valentine's Day.
If you order soon, you get a free treat :)

2008-01-13T22:01:00.000-05:00

HEY!

I hear that BUST Magazine is in trouble.
Go, buy it.
Go, subscribe.

BUST is one of the coolest magazines out there for modern chicks.
Don't leave us BUST!!!

2008-01-10T22:23:00.000-05:00

BABY YOGA DAZE

Today Willow and I went to our first Mom & Baby Yoga class. At 9 weeks old, she is the youngest in the class. She was a little sleepy when we showed up. We got a spot and sat down. I haven't seen her take so much in, in such a way before. She seemed awestruck. I think this is the first time she has registered that other kids exist. She's becoming aware of her surroundings. She loved watching the bigger children playing. Nothing has held her attention like this before... Then she got tired and confused, there were tears.

She had a great stroller nap after yoga. From about 3 pm to 8 pm. Mommy likes.

What a marvel, watching your child grow before your eyes.

2008-01-01T22:46:00.000-05:00

IN WITH THE NEW...

Willow is 8 weeks old now. When I'm not feeding her, I'm hanging out with her. Paco and I are doing well on the parenting front. We help each other out, though at this point, it's mostly about the boob. I spend a lot of time just loving this child. Crazy, parenthood, love...Um, yeah.

When Willow is asleep and I am awake, I find myself attempting to frantically catch up. Mostly I am catching up on laundry, personal hygiene and internet Scrabble. The thought of writing anything intelligible is intimidating and exhausting these days. Things are good, even without the smarts.