Funny Thing About Parenting...

The funny thing about parenting is that just as you think you've scored a small victory, an overwhelming defeat is thrown at you. Last night Elodie slept from 7pm til 7am only waking up once. I thought it was the most amazing thing ever because a good night usually has her waking up 4 or 5 times throughout the night. I let myself think, hey this was nice. This parenting thing might not be so difficult afterall...

And then.......

Then today she refused to nap for more than half an hour at a time. From approx. 3pm to 6pm she screamed any time I put her down for a second. But it didn't end there, if I held her she'd cry and try to wiggle out of my arms. So I'd set her down, and she'd scream again. For 3 hours straight! Finally it was nearing her bedtime and gosh, she must be tired since she hadn't napped. But no! It is 10pm now and I've been trying to put her down for the last 3 hours. Once she fell asleep for about 20 minutes. Then the screaming continued. Screaming so loud she was losing her voice mid-scream. So I would go and retrieve her from bed, try to feed her a bottle, and then try to put her down again. Let's just say she is still awake.

Turkey Butt came home from work about ten minutes ago and wouldn't you know, she didn't scream for the first 5 minutes he was here. I felt like a drama queen. But then the screaming began. And so it continued until he brought her into the tub with him to splash around. I can only hope she goes to sleep soon because I am exhausted and get to do this "single" parenting thing again tomorrow. I am dreading the day that Turkey Butt begins his BMQ and is gone for a minium of 48 hours at a time. This is my life and I love it but oh gosh, this is my life...

Nose in a Book.

I wish that I had something meaningful to blog about. Heck, I'd settle for silly. Instead I'm engrossed in this book:

So engrossed, in fact, that I spent more than an hour in the tub last night reading it. Such an eye opener. Incase you're curious, it's about a journalist who wanted to see how people lived while working minimum wage jobs. It really just add's fuel to the fire already burning in my soul - that the working class has it the worst. In my opinion, people in the lowest class of people get alot of assistance from the government (more money back at tax time, more child tax benefits, welfare, etc.), and the upper "white collar" class enjoy a financial freedom if they don't spend frivolously. This leaves the working class (of which I definitely reside) who work their butts off their whole life and never have much to show for it. My husband has two jobs and I have held as many as 3 jobs at a time in the not so distant past and will have look for a second job when my maternity leave ends. But, because we're married we don't get GST cheques and we'll end up owing the government when we do our taxes. My husband and I live a nice life. We're very fortunate. We have one reliable vehicle that we share. We live in a very nice house. We have lots of food in our cupboards and we don't go without any needs. Usually we can even sneak a few wants in there too. That being said, we could have never done this on our own - even when we worked 5 jobs total. Our vehicle? Sold to us at a very reasonable rate by my Dad. Our house? Only possible because of a very generous loan from my Mom. Honestly, without her we would never have been able to save our down payment.

Wow, I didn't know I had that rant in me. I apologize. Anyway, Little Miss Elle is napping so I am going to get back to my book. This is my life. 

And Repeat.

It took Turkey Butt more than a year to make it through the Canadian Forces application process and be sworn in. Now things are moving far too quickly. He just called me from the base after his night there ended. He phoned to tell me that they worked their butts off (another new recruit vomited and then passed out), and that he'll start his on base training in a few weeks. This means that from March til July he will be living on base all weekend, every weekend. Gah! Turkey Butt and I have been lucky during our relationship that we've never spent more than a few days apart (I went to Maine for a few days without him - it was hell). I cannot imagine having him so close yet unable to see him so frequently. I just have to keep repeating to myself that he's doing this so that we (he, Elodie, and I) can have a better life.

The really sad part is that this is just the beginning of the Canadian Forces keeping us apart. Turkey Butt has already informed me that he would love to do a tour of duty overseas if he is given the opportunity. Oye. Not to mention any course/ training that he'll choose to do that may keep him away. He's doing this so that we can have a better life. He's doing this so that we can have a better life. He's doing this so that we can have a better life. Sigh. This is my life.

Love

My sweet hubby phoned from work tonight to whisper "Good Night" to Little Miss Elle as she was falling asleep in her crib. I love that man. Love. Him. Sigh... This is my life!

Education

Just to catch you up, I graduated from High School in 2003. I had Honours in approximately 1 course a year, never failed a course, and posted mediocre marks for Math and French. I graduated with my Bilingual Certificate because I passed two French courses each year that I was in high school. My french sucks, by the way. Moving on... I have an Early Childhood Education diploma which I received in 2006 with Honours and a 3.94 GPA or something equally as awesome sounding as that.

I have worked in daycares, worked as a Nanny/Au Pair, worked at a Nursing Home, and currently (when not on Maternity Leave) work in a Group Home for Adults with Special Needs. I enjoy my job but it's not something I want to do for the rest of my life. I have a 24 hour position which means I am guaranteed 24 hours of work a week and anything extra (up to 40 hours) comes in the form of open shifts which are given out in order of Seniority. Although I have been with my company for 3.5 years, I have only had a position (and therefore seniority) for 2 years. Needless to say, I'm at the bottom of the totum pole. Even if I did magically luck into a 40 hour position, I would be doing the exact same work. I really feel that at the age of 27, I am too young to be at my career peak - even if the money is good.

I've been thinking about going back to school. I always assumed that I would do it one day - perhaps when my kids were in school themselves. Maybe I would take Practical Nursing and get my LPN like my Aunt Jay. According to her, the work I did in the Nursing Home was exactly the type of work that she does - changing catheters and colostomy bags, injecting meds sub-cutaneously through a butterfly clip, filling out death certificates, etc.

Lately I've been thinking about getting a Business Degree from the local Community College. I could specialize in financial planning, or accounting perhaps. I do get so excited when our money situation changes and I get to re-do our budget. I also love helping others create budgets. It's pretty much my favorite thing to do so why not make it my chosen career.

So, I finally broke down and filled out an online application to the NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College). My first choice being Business Administration, followed by Continuing Care (the step below an LPN - the Practical Nursing course is full til Fall 2014). I stil have some doubts about whether this is what I really want to do or not. I'd like to have another baby in a year or two and this two year program could affect that. I'm also not sure if I'll want to spend so much time away from Little Miss Elle and Turkey Butt (school + work) or how my course load would affect my position at the Group Home. Also, do I want to take Business Administration or wait until 2014 and apply for Practical Nursing? If I decide to hold out for Practical Nursing, I'll have to upgrade a few courses through Adult High School I guess?!? I'm missing Grade 12 Math and need either Grade 12 Physics or Chemistry.

With so much to consider, why did I send in my application anyway? The way I see it, it's only a $25 application fee and even if I get accepted, I can always change my mind at a later time. At least this way, if I decide this Summer that I do indeed want to go back to school I will already be accepted into a program. Gahhh, so much to ponder and so much to discuss with Turkey Butt. Anyway, this is my life.

"I'm in the Army, Bay"

Sweet hubby went to the base to pick up his kit yesterday. I was expecing him to come home with a uniform and maybe a couple t-shirts for PT (physical training). Instead he cam home with this:

I cannot even tell you everything that was a part of his kit but I'll give you an idea : gas mask, snow shoes, arctic gear, shirts for PT, underwear, socks, gloves, air mattress, sleeping bag, parka, scarfs, canteens, cook stoves, etc. Speaking of gas masks,

... worst thing ever! Seriously. I was nauseous for hours after taking this baby off. Blah. Anyway, the Army sent my boy home with a whole sh!t load of stuff and he couldn't be happier. Me? I couldn't be more paranoid that Adora wouldn't use one of his new pairs of boots as a chew toy. Needless to say, I cleaned out the board game closet on the second floor and made Turkey Butt store his kit there.

Now where should I put the board games.... This is my life!

Cosmetics Review: Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm

Once Twice upon a time I worked the Cosmetics counter in a drugstore. Although I hardly ever wear makeup and wear it quite neutrally when I do, I would always find myself buying the latest makeup item to take home for a test drive. Actually trying the products myself made it alot easier for me to make recommendations for my customers. I actually miss that part of the job.

For this reason, I have decided to do a makeup review on a product I purchased this summer - Revlon Just Bitten Lipstain + Balm. I was hoping to wear red lipstick to my wedding so I picked up this item in the shade of Gothic. One end of the product is the "lipstain" and the other end is a really nice lip balm. I say lipstain in quotation marks because, honestly, it's nothing more than a red marker. Seriously. Not only that, but the product comes with no instructions. After looking at it for awhile, I decided to put on the stain (cough marker) first and then the balm over top.



Used it again today to give you an idea of the look.

 To apply, I coloured my lips in with the blood red marker, blotted a few times with a piece of toilet paper, and then applied the balm. You have to be super careful when applying because, in this case, you really do not want to colour outside of the lines.

I found the whole thing to be a pretty awful experience. I didn't like the colour, I don't like the marker-esque texture of the lipstain, and the worst part was that Turkey Butt refused to kiss me while I was wearing it. Needless to say it didn't make it into my wedding makeup routine.

Overall, I really just recommend that you skip this one. That being said, if anyone out there had luck with it, I'd love to hear about it! This is my life.

P.S. I've recently signed up for the Luxe Box - a monthly box of deluxe makeup samples. My first box arrives in March so hopefully I'll be able to post more makeup reviews in the future.

Ellie Belly & Mama's Snowy Love Day

First time in the snow - any other time she's been covered in her car seat on the way to and from the Jeep.

Little Miss Elle & Elle :)

In the doorway of our new house!

Back inside - Baby-o getting kisses from her Mama. Did you know that Mama Kisses are the best kisses because they're filled with love? True story!

Thanks Jay for letting us borrow your little man's Jolly Jumper. She loves it.

Too cute for words.

Yayyy, cloth diapers. This is a One Size FuzziBunz - my current favs. How cute?

Because Turkey Butt works tomorrow on the actual Valentine's Day, we are celebrating today. Unfortunately Turkey Butt had to shovel the driveway, pick up his kit (uniform, etc) from the base, and get groceries for our Love Day Supper. Ellie Belly and I had some pre-nap fun without him though. This is my life!

P.S. Little Miss Elle got me the sweetest Valentine's day card (thank you Turkey Butt). I literally bawled when I read it. It talks about how "she" thinks I'm the perfect Mom to guide, teach and motivate her through her wonderful life. It also thanks me for all the hugs, kisses and songs I share with her each day. Gah. After a rough, nap-less day yesterday - this was such a nice thing to read.

Imperfect House Tour - Third Storey

View up the stairs.

This area will probably be a small living room-esque area for my Mama.

Love the old charm - exposed brick and mini door to peak into attic area.

My Mama's bedroom area.

Temporarily Turkey Butt's gym - til my Mama (and Spring) arrive and he can move into the barn.

View from the end of the bedroom.

Turkey Butt's pride and joy - his UFC and boxing videos.

This is my life :)

Imperfect House Tour - Second Floor

View from the top of the stairs.

Second floor hallway - bookshelf, door to Little Miss Elle's room, old dryer.

View of (left) laundry area, (straight) bathroom, (right) linen closet from stairs end of hallway.

Little Miss Elle's room - baskets of teddy's, change table, baskets of cloth diapers, blanket ladder.

Little Miss Elle's room - dresser, rocking chair, crib.

Little Miss Elle napping in her crib with Big Teddy, Bun Bun and Ellie the Elephant.

Walk-in closet a.k.a. my future craft area, book shelf.

The mess that will soon be my craft area - moving the desk from downstairs (behind the loveseat) up here.

Baby side of closet - clothes and play grocery store shelves.

Laundry area - we only had room for a top loader so bye bye dryer, hello clothes line (when the weather cooperates).

Bathroom - lots of drying clothes.

Energy Efficient Toilet with the half flush option and Ellie Belly's seat when I have to go.

Shower.

Linen closet and overflow of dirty clothes.

View of Master Bedroom from the hall - poster was an xmas gift for my sweet hubby.

My side of the closet + a portion of our dvd collection.

Turkey Butt's side of the closet, laundry hampers overflowing and Alucard chilling in the bassinet.

Awesome windows - reallllly need to hang curtains.

View of backyard/two storey barn from bedroom windows.

The reason we got the house so cheap - view of the extremely close, very busy road.

Our bed - recognize the headboard from our wedding pics? It's the old doors we stood in front of during our ceremony.

Old chimney, now painted over.

Board game closet in the hallway.

View from windows in the hallway leading to the third floor.

Hallway/stairs leading to the third floor.

This is my life :)

Imperfect House Tour - Main Floor



To the left of the front door - Stairway down to the basement.



View of dining room from front door.

To the right of the front door - Coat/boot area and kitchen.

View into kitchen from entryway.

Kitchen.

Countertop stove and spice shelf.

Wall oven, dishwasher, and fridge.

View into the bathroom from the kitchen.

Guest bathroom.

Stained toilet bowl and built-in claw foot tub.

View of living room area from kitchen.

Dining room.

Right side of dining room - many pictures to still hang somewhere.

Left side of dining room - gallery wall and baby swing.

Left half of gallery wall - wedding photos, vintage baseball posters, valentine's day printable.

Right half of gallery wall - more wedding photos and another valentine printable found on Pinterest.

View of living room from back of the dining room - loveseat, basket of blankets, built-in tv stand.

Treadmill hidden behind the screen.

View of living room from the stairs - various cloth diapers hanging to dry, Otis Redding (bear) on the couch, office space in corner.

Adora sleeping in front of the woodstove.

Stairs to the second floor.

View up the stairs.

I'm kinda going with the imperfect theme that I began yesterday. You see, I've been meaning to upload photos of our new house but it is just never clean. So here is my imperfect dream house in all its glory. Laundry hanging to dry, bottles needing to be washed, dirty clothes on the floor - it's all here for you to see. I'm not ashamed of it. I'm too busy living to keep an immaculate house. Let's be honest, I'm too busy singing Skin-a-ma-rinky-dinky-dink Skin-a-ma-rinky-doo to Little Miss Elle to bother with tidying. This is my life!