I'm Back!

In more than one way. After returning from San Francisco, I took a week off from the computer as Facebook has recently been ruling my life for no apparent reason and wasting my time. Now that my obsession is under control, I'm allowing myself little bits of time throughout the day to return to my Facebook friends and blogging pals.

In other news, I left my heart in San Francisco. The city was amazing! And travelling with a 6 1/2 month-old was so incredibly better than I could have ever expected, I can't even begin to explain... I think the trip was really good for me. My mom even commented on how relaxed I was the whole time which is unusual for me especially since Owen entered the world. It was good for me to see that if our eat/wake/sleep schedule wasn't completely upheld, Owen would survive (and be quite happy!).

Some candids from our travels.

We Made It!

We are in San Francisco! Let me explain:
Kenny had a week long conference to attend here with Urban Land Institute. He suggested a couple weeks ago that Owen and I might like to join him. The idea of sitting in a hotel room in San Francisco with a 6-month old didn't sound terribly exciting to me. So I mentioned it to my mom and she said she would love to join us! Yesteday Kenny, my mom, Owen and I all boarded a plane in Calgary and landed here in San Fran. All I can say is I was crazy for not wanting to come!
Owen was an angel on the airplane. Travelling with him is still easy because I still lug all 18 pounds of him around in the Baby Bjorn. He fell asleep just as we were boarding the plane and just as we were getting off. During the flight he ate, played, and was entertained by the 2 year-old sitting behind us. He even slept throught the night last night! I was really suprised with how smoothly the whole day went considering he only had two catnaps of about 20 minutes a piece.
Last night we had takeout sushi and an early bedtime because we were all tuckered from a day of travelling. This morning, Kenny took off for his conference at about 9. My poor mom is recovering from a bought of food poisoning that kept her up almost the whole night... Owen and I have already been out to Walgreens to get some neccessary supplies and Starbucks of course. Right now, he is snoozing in his green hotel pack and play. And I am already planning our escape from Lethbidge, Alberta, population 80,000. I am in love with big cities.

It's been a busy last couple of weeks.

Summer is officially over and the wind is back. We spent last week in Montana with my dad (probably the last time we'll be there for a while now) and were greeted at home with three days of nonstop wind. This is not your average breeze, it's wind that makes me not want to leave the house. So I didn't. For three days. Very depressing.

For me, September is New Years #2. There's something about kids heading back to school that screams new beginnings. So I've decided to get over myself and get my life back on track. I had a good talk with Kenny last night in which we both decided that I hate my life right now. Might have something to do with the whole never leave the house thing. I realized that ever since I've become a mom, I am too easily defeated and really need a change of perspective when it comes to being a housewife. So I made a couple September resolutions:

1.) Go out and do things. Don't use having a baby as an excuse. Go out even if he's fussy.

2.) Relax and don't put so much pressure on myself to get things done.

3.) Lower the bar and look for a sense of accomplishment in the small things.

4.) Have a better attitude towards motherhood. Know that raising a child is the most important and rewarding opportunity I could have as well as the job that God has given to me at this point in my life.

So today, armed with a Cuddly wrap and a soother, I took Owen out to run some errands whether he liked it or not, and it was a success! (Minus the fact that he spit up a giant puddle of mama's milk on the floor in Michael's AND Shopper's) I felt triumphant when I got home, like I'd just ran a 30k marathon. Here's to a new me...

August 21

Five years ago today, I married my best friend.

I am still honored to be your wife.

I have a new blog.

Funny, because I can't seem to update the two I already have.

Nonetheless, I am throwing another into the mix because I am embarking on a journey that I have ambitiously entitled 'Mommy's First Million'.

Check it out here and become a follower.

Nothing better...

...then how in love Kenny is with Owen.

Exhibit A.

(Owen's glazed look is a result of seeing himself in Mac Photobooth for the first time...)

Classic Move

Pulled the 'leave your wallet on the top of your car and drive away' trick Wednesday on the way back from holidays in Montana. We stopped in St. Mary's to feed Owen and that's where the whole thing went down. Best part is, I didn't remember until 45 minutes later after we'd crossed the border so going back to look for it was out of the question.

Yesterday afternoon I went to the registry to order a new driver's license, birth certificate, and marriage certificate. $80 later I get home and Kenny has good news that my wallet was turned in to the Montana State Troopers and now resides at the police station in Browning.

Obviously my faith in mankind is renewed. Thanks to whoever it was that was considerate enough to take the time to ensure that my wallet was returned to me.

Now for that trip to Browning...

Expected Guest

My mom is coming today for a visit! She's driving down from C-Town while I'm at my mom's group and is staying until sometime on Thursday. The best part is that she is going to watch Owen so that in a a day I can do more than just eat, feed, play, and sleep.

To Do List:

-go on date with Kenny (Maybe see a movie?!? Haven't been to a theatre since the little pal was born...)

-get a haircut (long overdue)

-go to the Wednesday Farmer's Market (probably take Mumsie and Owen with me)

-clean my bathroom (also long overdue)

Can't wait!

Me and Bons being goofy with Photobooth.

It's Been a Long Time Coming

Today I said goodbye to man's best friend.

Kenny and I got Nikita (Niki, Nikster, Nik) from the Humane Society shortly after we got married. We wanted a dog but couldn't afford to buy a puppy from a breeder. She was three years old at the time. I can still remember the day we brought her home, she rode with her head poking out the window of our red Honda Civic all the way home while Kenny and I looked at each other in disbelief, were we really dog owners?

Niki brought both joy and strife into our lives. Our friends will always remember us complaining about how crazy she was, sent into a panic by reflections, ceiling fans, smoke alarms, thunderstorms, and many other loud noises. But we will always remember how she loved chasing a ball, going on long off-leash walks, basking in the sun, and wrestling with Jakob.

Today she is returning to the Human Society in the hopes that someone will be able to provide her with a good home while she lives out the rest of her days. Since the beginning of summer, Niki has become an outdoor dog and with a new baby in our lives, we really haven't been able to give her the attention she needs. We feel that this decision was inevitable because, come winter, we feel that we would not be able to have her inside around Owen.

It is a sad day today as she has been part of our family for almost 5 years now. We will miss her greatly but hope that she finds a good home with a family who has the time and patience she needs.

Why Didn't You Tell Me?

That this whole having a baby/becoming a mother would be such an incredible adjustment? I didn't go blindly into this thinking that it would all be bliss, but I did expect the transition to motherhood to have gone a bit more smoothly than this. There have been tears this week...

Headed South

We have been checking the mail all week in hopes that Owen's birth certificate would arrive so that we could take our first trip of the summer to the house in Lakeside. Friday came, and still no luck so we called the border and asked if there was any way we could cross without it. They said all we would need is some sort of document outlining that he is our son. 

Things we brought to the Del Bonita border to prove Owen is our son:

-letter from Alberta government outlining the reason for our birth certificate being denied 

-photocopy of 'Registration of Birth' with mistakes that I made on the registration highlighted by the Alberta government in yellow. Best thing about this piece of paper is that it was stamped "COPY: NOT FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES"

-Owen's Social Insurance card and Alberta Health Care card

As a last resort, Kenny had the idea to put pictures of us in the hospital after Owen's delivery onto his laptop to show the guys at the border that I had in fact birthed this child. I laughed in my head just a little, but it might work in a pinch! 

It is Saturday morning and I am writing this from the house at Lakeside while I enjoy my usual 1/4 cup of coffee (don't want the pal getting a hearty dose of caffeine at his next meal!) We made it across the border with no problems. Pit stops for 3 feedings and 2 adult meals as well as a quick trip to Target to buy Owen his very own pack and play put us at a total of 7 hours of travel from door to door. The trip usually takes 3.5 hours... oh baby.

Never in a million years...

...would I ever have imagined how much I would look forward to attending a mom's group. Move over Friday, Tuesday is officially the best day of my week. My life is better just knowing that I am not alone.

The Times They are a Changin'

As many of you may have guessed, my lack of blogging as of late is due to the arrival of my son, Owen George Aitkens. Finally! On April 20, 2009 at 3:24 AM, I met and fell in love with the little pal who had been residing in my tummy for the last 9 months. When I have a chance to update it, you can read about my labour on http://ourlittlepal.blogspot.com

My world has been turned upside down as I have found myself tossed into the role of mother, the most important job I will ever have but one that I have little or no training for. Yes, there have been tears, but for the most part I am doing well and trying hard to savor every moment of his tiny being as I know he will grow up faster than I can imagine. I am thankful to have an extremely loving, patient, and helpful husband who has taken on the role of domestic diva, cooking and cleaning up a storm, while I tend to Owen and myself. I am also blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who have offered their love, support, and congratulations over the last 3 weeks.

I will try my best to find time to post pictures and stories in the weeks ahead.

Wide Awake

I have been awake since 5:30 this morning. It may or may not be because I'm too excited to get on with this day as my doctor informed us yesterday at our appointment that we will most likely be parents within the next 48 hours. Is nine months up already?

Hardly a Winter Wonderland

To my disappointment the rain we were having here yesterday, that I was enjoying so much for a change, turned to snow overnight. Now the roads look icy and treacherous so I've decided to stay in and have a lazy, well productive lazy, Sunday. Kenny is still upstairs tucked into bed and I am up, surveying the main floor of our house and thinking about what a disaster it can become in just one week. I think I'll tidy up, get dishes and laundry on the go, and then work on some sewing projects I have started for the baby's room. I finished the bedding last week and am quite pleased with how it turned out so I am inspired to keep going and to make pillows and stuffed owls to match. I sewed the bedding from an existing duvet cover I bought at Ikea and just downsized it for a baby-sized comforter and pillow. I love the pattern!

I had a great lady date with Brooke last night. Kenny went to poker with the boys and instead of slipping into my usual poor me I'm home all alone with nothing to do and I have no friends mode, I decided to call up Brooker and get her out of the house. We sat at Cheesecake Cafe for almost three hours and just talked about life, babies, husbands, houses, and dreams. It was incredibly encouraging and I'm glad for friends like her.

I'm Feeling Strangely Ambitious for a Monday Morning

It's 12:07 pm, Monday March 9, 2009 and I just crawled back into bed in my sweatpants to write a few things down before I embark on my week. Jakob is laying at the end of the bed, breathing heavily, and taking in all of the March sun that he can, which is not very much considering it's a snowy and overcast day. I woke up this morning and realized that, come Wednesday, it will be a mere month and a half until my sweet baby boy makes his appearance into the world. Then, like all first time moms who don't think about being overdue, I started considering the idea that if he was two weeks early, he'd be here in a month, or even a month early, then he'd be here in two weeks, scary thought! Might have freaked Kenny out just a bit when I told him that. Well, needless to say, all this fantasizing sent me into a bit of a panic, not a holy shit! panic, just an I better get my life together kind of panic. It is my goal to make this week count, not waste a single moment, just make a list and attempt to get everything on it accomplished. So, I'm shutting down the computer (ultimate time waster) and putting my iPod on shuffle (ultimate motivator) and getting started on that list and my week.

Blogs About Work are Boring I Know...

But I am working my pregnant booty off trying to ensure that I make a good chunk of change for my mat-leave. I'm beginning to feel like working as a nurse is literally shaving days or even years off my life as a result of the stress I inflict on myself. I've concluded that I may be too much of a perfectionist to be a nurse. I spent 12 hours today worrying myself sick about making even the teensiest of mistakes. I think I'll take up grinding my teeth...

Monday Monday.

People have been asking if I've started working on a room for the baby yet. As you can see, no I have not. This weekend I decided to put my procrastinating aside and get started tackling this disaster we call the baby's room. Being Monday, the weekend has past and I am left craving a sense of accomplishment. Kenny and I spent the entire weekend working on things around the house/garage however, it feels like we barely got anything accomplished. It's hard to believe it's Monday already and we are back into the swing of things for the week.

Lately I've been feeling a sense of anticipation for my maternity leave. On one hand, I love the idea of having the time to work on projects, putter around the house, and even put a decent meal on the table by the time Kenny gets home from work. On the other hand, I find no sense of accomplishment or purpose for that matter in puttering and wish that instead of just cleaning here or there, I could get the whole house cleaned in one fell swoop, or instead of getting started on the baby's room, I could just get it finished! I'll call this the housewife dilemma...

On a brighter note, I got new shoes in the mail today. Flats though, so the dusting of snow on the sidewalk this morning means I won't be wearing them for a bit yet. Something to look forward to the next time a chinook roles through town.

Tales From the Delivery Sweet

I had a great day at work today, the kind of day that leaves you feeling that you really made a difference in the world. It reminded me of the rewarding aspect of nursing that people are always talking about, but all too often passes me by...

This is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Well, not quite, but it could be.

So here's what this is all about. I have recently stumbled upon the blogs of two young mothers that have inspired me greatly and have in turn decided to start a blog of my own. I admit, I creep their blogs on a daily basis and am not ashamed. They are both incredible, creative, Godly women and they have words to share with the world. Their thoughts, attitudes, and even the way they dress has inspired me over the past few months and I am truly thankful that they put their hearts out into cyberspace on a daily basis for friends and creepers like me to enjoy.

So I've decided to start a blog of my own. I do have Our Little Pal but it is mostly to keep friends and family who don't live in Lethbridge in the loop with baby happenings and I really have been neglecting it lately (what else is there to say? The baby is still in my belly, moving lots, and I am getting bigger each and every day...). 

Not that I feel I really have much to share with the world. My thoughts are boring, my attitude at best sucks, and my sense of style is far from inspirational. But I have always found writing to be strangely therapeutic and considering the fact that my life is about to change in big ways within the next couple months, I've decided it's time for an outlet. 

This is my blog.