11 months
weight. over 20 lbs or something
height. Still short enough to stay in your first carseat
eyes. big, blue and sparkly. you rub them when you are sleepy.
hair. Red in some lights.
feeding. Your top teeth are so close to be cutting through. Any day now. New foods you've tried - green beans, black beans, chickpeas corn, kiwi, bagel, bran flakes, ham. You seem to like it all but still like the boob best.
sleeping. shorter naps, but longer at night. I guess I can't complain? I think I preferred it the other way. But maybe you are helping me adjust to going back to work.
things you love. banging everything together, exploring the house (especially the plants and bathroom), playing with any sort of paper you can find, talking, peek-a-boo, books, pulling books off the shelf and reading them, laughing, being upside down, playing your bells.
things you don’t love. being sick.
other [new] awesome things you do. pulling yourself up on everything, crawling (and sometimes crawling faster if I chase you), pushing a cart by walking, walking along furniture, lean in for kisses (or nose rubs), dancing (i think?), climbing stairs*
xo Elijah.
*note: For stair climbing you aren't interested to go over and try to climb them yourself... yet.
HB Andie – A month (or so) later.
Last year for my dear, dear sister's birthday I made her this book and I was am so proud of it. This year I took a page from Jordan over at Oh Happy Day and arranged for my sister to receive snail-mail love from her nearest and dearest. Twenty-five people happily agreed to participate and Jordan provides free pdf downloads of all 25 cards.
I emailed the cards to folks and they printed them out. Their instructions were to write a note to Andrea - feeling free to get creative, draw pictures, or even mail it in an envelope and attach old pictures.
I love you sis. xo.
ps. I also made her homemade macarons - now that was an adventure!
some things to do.
In 2010, I created a list of 29 things to do before I turned 30 (in 2011). I really rocked that list. Although I don't have a fancy milestone coming up, I won't give myself a deadline, but here are some things I'd like to do in the next little while.
- stop using so many exclamation marks!!!
- create some delightful art journals
- learn how to use tilt-shift effect in photoshop
- plan a family vacation (with friends?)
- have a daily dance party
- re-watch every bh90210 episode, marathon style.
- write thank you notes to former teachers
- send more surprises to unsuspecting friends.
- take an online art class
- re-read some of my favourite preteen library books
- host a murder mystery party
- explore Bruce County
- leave notes in library books
- collect some pretty outside blankets
- discover new favourite bands and musicians
- PAINT
What would you like to do?
All of my friends got iphones for Christmas.
I don't like the telephone. I don't text. I barely turn on my hand-me-down cell phone (and don't have any desire to.)
I do wish, however, that I had the instagram app. I know the app is so 2010, but I still want to jump on that bandwagon so badly. I want to become an instaslut too. But there must.be.another.way.
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Grandmother-Tips/2392946
I found this cool guy named Daniel on the Interwebs who created Photoshop Actions to create instagram-like filters for my photos (click here! click here!). You simply download his actions and save the file in your photoshop actions folder - and they'll appear in Photoshop as an action. Choose the filter you desire and record the action. He also added a square-crop action and feathered borders. I think I'm in love with the Walden filter. Sigh.
I think the action works for Photoshop Elements too - but it is a bit more involved. These gals have a good tutorial about how to run an action in PE.
The Next Chapter…
I have one more month left of my Maternity Leave.
This time last year I was apprehensive of being away from my passion for an entire year. I didn't want to stop teaching. Teaching inspired me, motivated me, challenged me, excited me and brought out the best of me. It also fostered my creativity and shoved me completely out of my comfort zone. I loved the thrill of a zillion projects on the go and making lists and schedules and newsletters and mini-lessons. I also liked collaborating with teachers and modelling lessons and daily staffroom banter. I knew that I was going to miss it.
The other part of me was giddy to begin my new role as baby maman. I knew that I was going to have a year unlike any that I have had before. And I was right. It started off with a teensy little newborn in my arms and is ending with a baby zooming around the living room and talking up a storm. I couldn't have imagined today back then. In those early wintery months, I spent days on end in pjs with Eli sleeping on my chest while I watch Saved By The Bell and the Golden Girls. He ate a lot (and we overcame some breastfeeding challenges together), napped infrequently (the bouncy chair was a saviour) and cried if he wasn't near me.
I found a passion for cloth diapering, grew a collection of wraps/slings/carriers, found a deeper love and appreciation for my hubby, renewed self-esteem about my body (I was proud of my mama doughiness), met best friends through La Leche League and fell in love with sharing a bed with my entire family. We went on picnics, made scenes, went swimming, had playdates, took photos, rode the streetcar, traveled north and south, read lots of books and sang lots of songs, and most importantly formed a trusting relationship with each other.
Like teaching, mothering inspires me, motivates me, challenges me, excites me and brings out the best of me. It has fostered my creativity and shoved me completely out of my comfort zone.
But I think it is time for the next chapter. I feel similar feelings as I did a year ago. I will miss being home with my baby tremendously, but I am giddy to resume my role as Mme Wright. I might not put in as many hours planning for my class as I once did, and I'll squeeze my extra-curriculars in during recesses instead of after school, but I will have a fresh new perspective in my profession. I think that is a good thing. xo.
“Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that and all will be well.” - Buddha (via a Being Erica episode)
Fun with Photoshop: Family Mash-Ups
Sometime last year I stumbled upon les portraits génétiques - an awesomely eery photography project - by Montreal-based Ulric Collette. I've had it bookmarked for quite some time, and finally decided to try it with my own family photos. I took two photos, cropped them directly in half and "melted" them together with Photoshop. I made them black and white, adjusted the exposure and contrast so the photos matched and used the clone tool to get rid of the dividing line. That was it.
Andrea, 29 & Lindsay, 30 (sisters)
Cathy, 55 & Lindsay, 30 (mother/daughter)
Andrea, 29 & Cathy, 55 (daughter/mother)
For those who don't think that I look like my sister or my mom. Think again!
(I have also played around with Rob and his dad - but that is another post.)
Happy New Year!
We rang in the New Year with great friends, a hobo-beer tasting, some rounds of what-if?, sophisticated mask & hat crafting, new & old traditions, photo-ops, bacon bourbon sours, chalkboard messages, late-night meatballs and lots of laughter . This New Years also marked the first for some special little babies that I know. xo
Resolutions vs. Non-Goals
It is twentytwelve.
2011 was one of my favourite years so far. (new baby, new friends, new perspective)
Two years ago... i compiled a list things that I want to do more of, or be better at in life. It is posted in my closet and here and then here. I think I am doing a pretty rad job fulfilling these. I love my life. These resolutions will continue to be words of wisdom.
Last year... i compiled a list of non-goals. Instead of dwelling on resolutions and ways to improve, I focused more on things that I was already doing well and right - and will strive to continue doing them.
Those are my kind of resolutions. Here we go again (and yes, some are the same).
Lindsay, you have grown to be a fabulously passionate mom. Passionate about breastfeeding and cloth diapering and babywearing and other mom stuff. Elijah has inspired you in a million different ways. Other moms have opened your eyes and mind and heart. Enjoy every minute with your wee babe and keep surrounding yourself with other like-minded, lovely and positive moms.
Lindsay, you are a good and generous friend. You've made some amazing new friends and continue to love your old friends. Some have even called you an inspiration. You often email, comment, make things for, make cards and send secrets in the mail to people, just to show that you care. I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you continued to do that. Don't stop.
Lindsay, you've been a crafting machine this year. Not lesson planning or getting educated has left you a lot of time to get creative. You've made cards and gifts and posters and board games and wedding maps and sketches and ornaments and tutus and lots of baked goods and decorations and art journals and mail art and videos and baby scenes and other awesome stuff. You should be so proud of yourself.
Lindsay, you rocked at saving money this year. You and Rob have been doing fine with your maternity leave pay cut. You've been frugal and thrifty and creative. Things have certainly paid off.
Lindsay, you've read a tonne of books this year. You have been loving it. Get lost in a book.
Lindsay, you've really made your house a dream spot to be. You come up with neat ideas and colour schemes. You get inspiration from different places and actually put them into place. With the help of Rob and Pinterest, continue to make your house your home and invite people to share it with you.
Lindsay, you know how you wanted to limit your Internet time? Don't stress too much about it. You've been trying really hard to turn off the screen when other people are around. Way to go! However... the endless websites you discover inspire you in many different ways. They improve your teaching, find inspiration for your home and artwork, let you communicate daily with family and friends and even make you a little bit of extra cash. Don't feel bad about exploring and sharing.
Lindsay, you've become the master of list-making. And although you get made fun of by your husband for them, he secretly appreciates the lists. Big time. Let's keep making lots of lists, k?
time to start. let’s go twentytwelve! It only gets better from here. xoxo.
ps. I would LOVE to hear your non-goals!
a third year according to bookface
It is that time of year again - when FB has a fancy-dancy overview of your profile statuses (statii?). And like last year and the year before, I will skip the fancy decorative one, and post all of the updates that were archived.
j: is in back to school mode, newest preggo symptom= heartburn. Not so awesome, Rick Mercer in Kincardine!, They've finally posted my job, 38 days, Come on over on Sunday!, Well, Rick didn't win the snowmobile race, What was once a dress is now a shirt, and then there was one (month to go!), comedy tonight! week 36: bébé is quite active (foreshadowing?), is obsessed with pinterest, 18 days until due date, week #38
f: hello Ontario? We get about 20cm of snow every other week in Bruce County- are you seriously freaking out?, sleepy, I just love a butt jammed in the ribs!, tomorrow is my last day of work, "official due date" is today, but my prediction is that I will have to wait a wee bit longer, Maybe the 15th will be the day?, Sill no baby in the Kink!, washing baby clothes. RENT on glee. Awesome, I just made a cake for bébé's birth day, Elijah Myles (hello world!), Thank you everyone!, It's been one week since you looked at me...
m: Just entered another contest. I'm turning into my mother!, Don't forget to be awesome, facebook is not a busy place at 4:30am, Elijah's birth certificate came today!, my baby snores like his father, hiccup monster..., reading Jane Eyre for the first time, one month, Big outing in Port Elgin today (I brought E to school!), Happy birthday Cycle Daddio!
a: and the snow is back, 6 week growth spurt: hungry baby=tired maman!, la la la la, an hour walk uptown with the Moby! Hit the bank, grocery store and coffee culture, Elijah either snores while awake or sleeps with his eyes open (creepy!), La Leche League of Kincardine is having a fundraiser! Wave Petunias!, attack of the scratchy cat
m: I exercised my right, WHAT THE...???, Happy birthday maman, follow me on Google Friend Connect, come out and play with me, twitter party!, My uncle is an IRON MAN, Happy birthday baby-daddy, Kristen Chenoweth is singing FOR GOOD on both Oprah and Glee today!, ahh the set of Wicked (sigh), please don't strike Canada Post!!, http://fluffybums.blogspot.com/2011/05/pampers-response-what-is-in-your.html , two snoring boys
j: our baby is 100 days old, and we have power, Saved by the Bell, the thunderstorms are back!, ahh Canada Post! noooo!!! Happy Father's day!, free glasses came today- yahoo!, They are cleaning up the beach finally, less than a week to 30, who is that creep guy that I am married to? (see photo at left), Cleaning the house for LLL meeting tomorrow, Tori comes to Bayside and has so many GREAT ideas, thirty. 30. TRENTE!
j: Dear Eli: I love it when you talk - but full conversations at 4am? not so cool, (thank you fort eh BIRTHDAY wishes!( Playing with google+, My hubby just got home from a 100km ride, longest nap yet!, my uterus is not quite ready to play soccer without a sub. yeeow!, Rob & Dad got lost on their bike tour and rode 110 miles instead of 100. Nerds., Back in the kink with my FIVE MONTH OLD. woah, Happy 4th anniversary Rob!, Happy 34th anniversary catamo & Cycle Tooth, Eli has been napping for 3 hours (and Rob for 2!), woah, I'm on a blog-posting roll.
a: Eli is doing the plank, yum yum apple cake, really? no wireless in the hotel?, texas is hot, needs to write a blog post, thunderstorm!
s: What? It's September?, did anyone leave sunglasses here?, Heading to a "let's play hooky on the first day of school" party!, must.catch.up.on.friend.blogs, wireless router dead, Collingwood: The Land of Centurion, another 100 mile ride, lazy, glee glee glee glee glee, back to band!, I was following someone with 59,166 pins. woah! clogging up my feed!, The rain washed away my sidewalk chalk, but there was a new baby Morgan born this morning!, yay! Being Erica is back, iphoto on the fritz! Anyone have '11? Idina is back!! The chances of her and Kristen singing a Wicked duet have returned!, having a tooth is making naptime shorter
o: Embroidery hoop/modge podge/sheer fabric/fabric paint. Stay tuned, You can only stalk your friends on facebook for so long, but there is always new stuff on Pinterest, my baby is a pawn!, A surprise present on my doorstep for when I got home. It doesn't get much better than that! xo, Don't forget baby-movie-Monday!, Using the new FB "timeline" - I know most people hate it when FB changes things, but I think it is fun!, Cookie decorators extraordinaire (right Aly?), rainy day with a snoring baby on my lap (dishes can wait), realizing that we don't have any more sleepers, making capes, looking for black rimmed glasses. Anyone? KDHS on the chopping block! oh no!
n: sicky baby, I decided to update the theme of my blog, I hate cancelling on people and commitments - but OJ and naps are helping, put chevrons on my Kitchenaid today!, waiting patiently for pinterest to return my pins, Andrea:"I went to see Tegan and Sara last night. They remind me of if we were a band - their stories are funny about their childhood."
d: blah childcare blah, pumpkin cakies (yum-o), painted ornaments, get your own homemade tutu!, I've been shellacked, Happy Birthday little sis Andrea!, I have a lot of blog posts floating around - for both funkylindsay and brucegreykids - I will post soon Aly and Becky!, Being Erica finale = crying Lindsay, Wicked Wicked Wicked, Where is everyone? Hubby is making goodies for his class tomorrow. How crafty, I'm like-button happy today!, Merry Christmas!
Things i noticed:
- I probably should of just used the generator. nobody cares!
- My status updates don't have nearly as much to do with school. They've been replaced by baby!
ps. I am glad I posted last years and the year befores- I just got a good kick and laugh out of reading it. Hopefully I'll feel the same next December!
wicked vs. wicked.
I was lucky enough to see Wicked again this past weekend at the Detroit Opera House with some of my family. Anne Brummel & Tiffany Haas were outstanding as Elphaba and G(a)linda, as were the other cast members. I could go on and on and on about how much I love this musical - from the script, the actors, the songs, the orchestration, the costumes, the props, the lights, the humour, the sets and my deep love of all things OZ - but I won't.
In 1995, Gregory Maguire wrote a (very popular) novel called Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. With anticipation of poppy fields and yellow brick roads, I read the book - but was left disappointed. I felt the book went on and on, and left gaps and introduced so many characters that I didn't care about. I didn't relate to Elphaba and she didn't really allow me to root for her. She was cynical and unlikable and jaded. She went insane and really did become wicked. The book was deep and dark and depressing - although philosophical and somewhat political. Had I not had expectations of a "True Story of the 3 Little Pigs" -esque book - based on the misunderstood Witch - I might have enjoyed it more.
I felt that the musical was everything that I was expecting the book to be. It was much more "Oz" for me. The musical focused more on the relationships between G(a)linda and Elphaba - and their connections to the supporting characters. It depicted Elphie as a good person, who was misunderstood and Glinda as a quirky, stereotypical "blond", and their journey together (and apart) to save the world. It also told the audience about the origins of the Scarecrow, The Tinman, The Lion and the Wicked Witch of the East.
It has been said that the musical plays more off of the 1939 movie with Judy Garland, whereas the book Wicked plays off the original Wizard of Oz novel by L.Frank Baum. This would explain why I love the musical so much more. I had the same reaction when I read the original Wizard of Oz in grade 8 and I was left disappointed because it wasn't more like it's movie spin-off.
I had an entire post listing the many differences between Gregory Maguire's Wicked and the musical Wicked (there are a lot!) - but decided that there isn't much point comparing the two. The plot lines are similar - but the details are very, very different. Both the book and musical are just two more interpretations of the 1900 Baum novel - and I'm sure more interpretations will follow in the future with new depth and perspective of old characters (and places!).
With that being said, I might try reading the novel again - but my heart belongs on Broadway.
xo.
Click here to see Idina and Kristen (the originals!) singing Defying Gravity. How I wish and hope that one day they'll sing a duet on Glee together.
photograph via jennie
10 months
weight. you are a 20 lb baby. (They say you roughly triple your birth weight by age 1)
height. The doctor thinks you are tall. I think you are perfect.
eyes. big, blue and sparkly. you rub them when you are sleepy.
hair. Red in some lights.
feeding. Still only 2 teeth. Since last month you've tried cottage cheese, mashed potatoes, salmon, celery, bread... You re-tried peas. This time whole peas instead of puree. You didn't seem to hate them as much in their "natural" form. We shall try some beans next.
sleeping. your naps have started getting shorter and shorter. boo.
things you love. playing with any sort of paper you can find, giggling, drinking from a cup, talking, putting things in your mouth, jolly jumping, swimming, your baby friends, hanging upside down, books, scooting around the room as fast as you can, sitting under the Christmas Tree, squishing food in your hands, discovering how different objects sound
things you don’t love. being sick.
other [new] awesome things you do. pulling yourself up on some things, move like crazy all over the place (it looks like you are either swimming or scaling the wall like spiderman), reach with both hand towards me to be picked up, choose your own toys from the basket, stand up holding on to things without me holding you.
xo Elijah.
Let’s have a tutu party.
The other day I hosted a mini craft party. A tutu tutorial, in fact.
One of my friends mentioned that she wanted to make a tutu for a gift, and so I invited her (and a couple of others) over. I ordered some fabulous tulle from Canada Tulle, got some ribbon, cardboard and elastic bands. I popped on some musak and brewed a pot of coffee.
We enjoyed an afternoon of crafting, eating (tomato tart, jalapeno poppers, banana bread), playing with babies and chatting.
We loved making tutus so much that we decided that we wanted to make more. Lots more. Send me a message if you'd like to purchase a pink tutu from us including the age of your babe. Twenty $$ per tutu. All proceeds will go to our La Leche League of Kincardine. (Wouldn't a tutu be a fab Christmas gift?)
fyi: No, I didn't make a tutu for Elijah - but he did make a good model for sizing purposes.
a streetcar named mei tai
Today Eli and I drove to the big city they call Toronto to meet Andrea and Catamo for shopping fun. We've been a couple of times as a new family, but this time we were without daddio (since he has to, you know, work). I drove and parked at Sarah's just off of Roncesvalles and took the streetcar over to Yonge. There was no way that I was going to bring my stroller along (I don't even really like using a stroller to begin with), and so I didn't. My heart belongs to babywearing.
With a strategically packed backpack and diaper bag, our gorgeous Freehand mei tai carrier (yay ebay!) and the TTC tokens Rob found in his change jar, we were off!
Even thought I look a little bit ridiculous, I was really quite comfortable - and never once did I wish I brought the stroller. (What about for shopping you ask? The Eaton Centre provides complimentary stroller loans in case I want to try on some clothes - and my maman body is definitely ready for some new clothes!)
I'm excited to spend the next couple of days with my sister and my mom.
ps. If you've never tried a Mei Tai carrier - I recommend it! The best of both worlds between a wrap and structured (without any annoying plastic buckles).
