I haven’t been too busy this last week, but I have been extra lazy so it’s been tougher to get things done.

I get up at 5:45 and get myself ready and then have to wake the kids up to get them ready so we can drive Corey to work for 7am. That is way too early for me so usually from there the day is downhill.

This week though, they are trying out a new shift so they start at 8am and work til 4:30. This morning was a much better morning. He has also been working alot of overtime in the last couple of weeks so that has been a big help on pay day. We are finally able to pay all the bills before they are due and still have some money left to olay with. A few more months of this and we will be in a much better place financially. In February he gets his raise which we expect will be anywhere from $1-3 an hour. Can’t wait!

I am still working on the Breastfeeding Challenge which is this coming Saturday and I am getting really excited but super nervous about it. I am not good with people I do not know and especially in places I am not comfortable in. Sometimes I get lightheaded, nauseated and heart palpitations. I have actually been physically ill on more than one first dates and passed out at a concert becuase there were so many people. Hopefully I am able to keep my cool!

I am also starting to plan Hayden’s 3rd birthday party. I can’t figure out what I want to do though. I could have it at the MIL’s place, but they do smoke in their home so I really don’t want to invite my friends’ children there unless we are able to go outside in the yard…but who kows if it will be too cold for that in October. I could do it at my Mom’s place, but if I had it there my MIL would be upset that I chose my Mom’s place over hers. I could do it here or even do a McDonald’s play place party. I guess I had better make a decision soon since his birthday is October 15th.

The kitten is fitting in really well with the family. Even Smokey is opening up her heart to the little kitty. They spend the early morning this morning running around and chasing eachother around the living room. I have noticed Smokey is spending much more time out and about instead of sleeping under the bed so maybe this little friend is a good thing for her. She seems so much happier now.

Another exciting thing for me is now that we are having the extra money coming in, I am able to start working on my doula certification. It is something I have been thinking about doing since I had Lily but the time just never seems right. Now, Lily is a bit older and she is only nursing a few times a day so I feel more comfortable leaving her for an extended period. I also have a friend who is interested in doing the same thing, so we could attend workshops and classes together which makes it a little less scary for me. I have the full support of my whole family, so I know they will do whatever they can to help me do this. I have no reason to put it off any longer, so I am going to do it.

I will admit I am a bit nervous as the only births I have ever been at were my own and I wasn’t in very good control there…LOL! I am sure that it will be something I will eventually feel very comfortable with and it will definitely be something I will find satisfying…especially if I am able to help new Moms with breastfeeding.

Well Lily just came to sit beside me and she isn’t smelling very pleasant so I think that’s my cue that today’s post is over!

If anyone has any suggestions for a great 3rd birthday party, let me know!

Late last night I received a call from a friend telling me his sister was getting rid of a kitten. She just got her baby home from the hospital and apparently the baby is allergic to it, so me being the softy I am went and got it. We had already been thinking about getting another cat, so the offer was just too much to resist.

She is a little calico and we called her Pancake. My other cat is named Smokey…so in my twisted mind her new little friend needed to be named Pancake so I would have an excuse to say “Shmoke and a Pancake”. Thank you Goldmember!

Here is a picture of Pancake playing in Corey’s shoe this afternoon.

Smokey is still unsure about her new friend, but I can see that they will get along once Smokey can establish that she’s the boss. Right now our bedroom and the kitchen are off limits to Pancake so that Smokey can have her space.

So…my family of fur (and scaled) babies are Ziggy the iguana, Binou the chameleon, Bodhi the corn snake…and the cats Smokey and Pancake! All I need now is a zebra and I can charge admission at the front door.

So many of you may already be aware of this but for those who aren’t, here’s the scoop.

Facebook, the social networking site recently began removing photos of babies breastfeeding stating that the photos are in violation of Facebook’s Terms of Service. An official petition was set up on Facebook called “Hey, Facebook, Breastfeeding is not Obscene” where men and women alike have all joined in support.

A few weeks ago one member’s account was disabled after she questioned Facebook as to why many of her photos were removed. One of our very own CPO members had her photo removed for being “obscene” and countless other have also received the ‘warnings’. Some of the removed photos contained no visible breast at all as it was covered by the baby’s head….which makes me think that the problem Facebook has in not with ‘nudity’ but just that the mere thought of a baby breastfeeding is somehow repulsive or offensive.

In the recent days, the petition has made news around the world. First, in Australia, then in the US and then today the story hit the cover of the Toronto Star and Hamilton Spectator. Since this publicity the membership to the group has skyrocketed and now currently sits at 11,000 members and counting.

It’s hard to say what will come of this, but the fact that it has people talking about it and thinking about it is a very positive step. I urge anyone who agrees with the cause to join up and support the petition!

Thanks:)

I am so relieved that this weekend is finally over. I have been stressing about it for weeks now and now that it’s Monday I feel much better. Saturday was the day Corey’s Mom married her boyfriend of 14 years.

Saturday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining bright and it was warm. Maybe too warm considering we were all wearing Chinese style dresses that were pretty warm…warm but beautiful.

Here is a picture of my little Lily in her dress…

Lily was great condersing how hot and boring it must have been for her. She was in a great mood and greeted guests with her shy smile. She was the flower girl and walked the aisle with one of the bridesmaids.

Hayden was a little less impressed with the whole situation. He was supposed to be the ring bearer but refused to walk down the aisle so instead he stood back with me and talked the entire wedding. I barely got to take any pictures because I was too busy trying to chase him around and keep him quiet! I kept telling him we had to be quiet becuase Grandma and Grandpa were getting married and he told me “I want to get married”.

I did manage to get a few nice pictures though. My favourite on at the wedding was of Corey and Lily with the bridesmaids.

After the wedding we went to another park to take some pictures. Again Hayden wasn’t impressed with the process and refused to take pictures with such a big audience. Once everyone left I managed to get a good picture of the two of them. They both looked like little angels in their little outfits.

After than we took a quick drive to drop the kids off at my Mom’s for the night because they were already tuckered out from all the running around and excitement. Once they were with their Grandma, I relaxed just a little. Two less people to look after.

We headed over for the dinner which was at China King Restaurant. The food was excellent and unfortunately we had to eat and run to go set up for the reception.

The reception was fun. We had a few of our friends there as well enjoying the celebration. Not as many people showed up as were supposed to though and we ended up closing down at 12 instead of 2. After that we went to our friends place and relaxed by a fire. A great way to end the day.

All in all, despite the stress, it was a good day. I am just glad it’s over!!

Let’s try this yet again!

I have already written this…and since I don’t have time to re write the whole blog again I will just share with you one part which deals with a subject that has grown to be a passion. Breastfeeding.

This year I am so happy to be attending a Breastfeeding Challenge and even happier to be a part in organizing it. I had been searching for a site closer to home as the closest one is in Toronto and I really do not like travelling to Toronto. I asked at my AP group if anyone knew of a challenge in the Hamilton area or if anyone was willing to organize one. It turns out they were interested so we have found a site and registered it! What is the Breastfeeding Challenge? Well as part of Breastfeeding Week’s celebration Moms and babies gather at sites across Canada, the US and other countries to compete for the record for most babies nursing at one time! For more information you can check out the Quintessence Foundation’s website at www.babyfriendly.ca

Our challenge will be held at the Sky Dragon Centre in Hamilton, Ontario on September 29th. So far that’s what I know and everything else is T.B.A.

Interested in attending a challenge? Search for a site near you!