And Then Start the Issues

Sadly :(

I got an email from our DHP today telling me that her brother who is getting married in two weeks will be needing her and the rest of the wedding party to help out with the final set up on the Friday. So there we go, my first "oh dear god what are we going to do with the baby because the DHP can't take her" incident.

Luckily my dad will actually be in town, at least in the morning and my mom can take the afternoon off. *sigh*

It's so hard for me to accept that the person who I actually really like and trust to care for my baby because I can't isn't honestly and truly 100% reliable. If she was a centre she'd be totally perfect. I knew that stuff like this was inevitable, I just hoped not to have to deal with it ever. Silly eh?

So Happy With Daycare

After all my daycare troubles, I'm so happy with the care we've found. She's energetic and fun. She provides healthy snacks and lunches and outdoor time. Plus she doesn't think we are crazy for wanting our baby to still be rear facing despite being a year old, in fact she kept her own children rear facing until age 2 and she even has her 3.5 year old still harnessed and her 5 year old in a high back booster. That's nearly unheard of! Not to mention she follows our philosophy of not being helicopter parents and she lets her do her thing. Even if she falls down, she lets her pick herself back up all on her own. And her own kids are very well behaved.

Finding a daycare provider, was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I was truly worried about what we were going to do with her once I went back to school. It's such a weight off my shoulders to know that someone is looking after my baby and she really cares about her. Every time this week that I've gone to pick her up, I'm told about how great of a baby she is and how much she is enjoying having her. Now sure you can feign happiness and say whatever you want, but I can tell she's being genuine. I can see that the baby is happy, fed and clean. And when we are saying goodbye, the DHP is interactive and always with a report on the day. You can't fake that kind of thing.

It was incredibly difficult for me to say goodbye to my little baby on her very first day. But knowing she is in a fun, safe environment with a caring person watching after her really put my mind at ease. Knowing that an impartial observer sees my child as a well adjusted, happy, playful, independent little girl makes me feel so proud of her and I know that she will thrive there. It really is a relief.

Another Great Giveaway!

This post from the fabulous Stacey at Not Just Baby Brain outlines her latest giveaway from a fantastic etsy store called Lil Punkin Creations. I'm very pleased to say I've purchased from this store before. I bought some wall decals for the polka dot border in the baby's room and I've bought a birthday banner with a photo progression banner. I proudly displayed them at girlie's birthday on the weekend and got tons of compliments.

Highly recommend her store so check out this great giveaway!

Updates on the Weekend

The birthday party was a huge success. Lots of friends and family joined us at our home for a fun BBQ. We had a very spoiled little girl. It was tons of work and lots of stress, but it was all money well spent and everyone had a good time. But thank goodness she only has one birthday a year. It was pretty exhausting.

Then yesterday, she started daycare. She was up pretty early but did pretty good. Hubby said she didn't cry at drop off. Then I went a bit early to pick her up. She was sitting eating a rice cake and barely looked at me. Our care provider said she was great! She napped well, ate well, had tons of fun playing and was very independent for a 12 month old. I was overjoyed to hear this. I had been so worried that she was going to have a really hard time with everything. Girlie surprised me!

Seriously Bad Blogger

I've been so busy I've sorely neglected my blog again. Here is a rundown of why:

Girlie's birthday party. It's tomorrow. I've spent far more than I'm willing to admit on food, drinks and decor. My fridge is packed full of hot dogs, drinks and fruit and veggie trays. We spent the entire day cleaning the house(and I still need to tackle the kitchen) and started to decorate. I also made the cupcakes, which will be iced tomorrow. I gave up on the bunny cake. I just couldn't get it together so I bought a cake. I'm expecting around 30 people. I must be nuts, I know my mother thinks I am.

Appointments, appointments, appointments. Her 12m appointment was oodles of fun. Her doc is always behind and the stoopid medical assistant insists on getting weights and then leaving you in the weighing/changing room for another 5-15 minutes. That's maybe all fine and dandy when babe is itty bitty and doesn't know any better. But for a mobile 1 year old? You've got to be kidding me. So she was already annoyed with the fact I wouldn't put her down and then once we finally got into the room I took away a book she was trying to eat. That set off WW3. Oh.my.god. She SCREAMED. Screamed solid for a good 10 minutes, full on shrieking, tears, ugh it was brutal. Then she fa-reeked when her doc tried to measure her and freaked even more when she got her 3 shots. Oy.

Daycare. After my never ending saga and finally finding someone we are happy and comfortable with, we are now just in the final planning stages for her transition in. She starts Monday and I'm really not sure how I feel about it. On one hand, I'm thrilled at the prospect of someone else dealing with her all day. But ask me how I really feel Monday at oh say 11am.

School. The countdown is really on. I'm still waiting for one of my books to come in the mail and the other I'm going to have to pick up at school. I'll be headed down there sometime this week to get my student ID as well as purchase my October student bus pass.

So that's been my life for the past week. Crazy and I think it's only going to get worse.

A Bit of Regret

For as long as I can remember, I've loved rock music. When my elementary school friends were gushing over Britney Spears' Hit Me Baby One More Time, I was listening to Americana by The Offspring and I couldn't wait til I turned 18 so I could check out all the crazy little shows that were being played in the clubs.

Then came high school and I met my best friend, a fantastic guitar player who was as into punk and alt rock just as much as me. We went to so many shows together. Then I met the man I would marry a few years later. I still went to shows with my BFF, but not as many as I was trying to spend more time with honey. And I kinda lost the part of myself that loved a live show.

In an effort to introduce this part of my world to my hubby, I thought it would be nice to go to a concert together. It was only our second time out alone since having the baby. I saw that they were selling tickets to a Canadian band I've loved since they started out over ten years ago. It was a special acoustic set. I practically salivated and purchased the tickets as his anniversary present to me.

So last night we went. I had a great time, hubby not so much. He didn't think his voice was that great(uh, I SERIOUSLY beg to differ) and that it wasn't worth it. :( I was pretty crushed.

I then found out via Facebook that my BFF was there too, the person I should have apparently gone with, still there too in the bar having fun. I was on my way home.

I was trying to share a piece of my life with the person whom I share everything else. And he didn't really seem to care. So I'm pretty upset. It's on the third concert I've ever attended with him. The first was a club show. We left early because he had a headache. The second was an area show that by the time he agreed to go(even though it was his idea -figure that out) we were in the nosebleeds. I thought that maybe because this was a far more intimate setting and it was a special night out for us it would be different. Not so much.

Another Giveaway!

This link will bring you to a fantastic giveaway from A Sophisticaed Mommy. She reviewed the Ultimate Back to School label combo. I have purchased this combo and I love these labels. I agree with every word that she wrote in this review. They really are great labels!

And it's DONE!

I got the email today, I have a spot for my girlie for daycare that I am comfortable and happy with! YAY! She starts on the 26th. In her email, the DHP wrote that she would be happy to have her and was surprised at how comfortable she was in a new environment and thinks she'll fit in well.

I'm so pleased, and so relieved. Now to put on my big girl panties and break up with yet another DHP before I'm even scheduled to start!

The Waiting Game

We are presently waiting for the dayhome we visited Wednesday night to get back to us. She said she should by Sunday. I'm hoping she is a yes. She has a nice home with good space and is pretty convenient. Here is hoping.

I also visited another home yesterday. Pretty close to our house and includes meals and snacks. But she cares for two 3 year olds(one is her own) as well as a 17 month old. The 17 month old seems so far behind my newly 12 month old. He doesn't walk, is very shy and quiet and seems so very attached to her. My kid is wandering all over the place, is chatty as can be and is quite comfortable playing without me. I don't think the DHP knew how to deal with a young toddler with such independence. We are pretty free range parents, she wanted to hover. I'd worry that she would regress with someone constantly wanting to "help" her when she really doesn't need the help. So I think we'll be scratching her off the potentials list.

My Baby is ONE!

Today my baby girl celebrated her first birthday! We had a wonderful breakfast with a treat of chocolate Cheerios. Then we went to visit my mom and my very old boss. Then we had a surprise edible arrangement show up at our door! So we shared some fruit while I made dinner of spaghetti. We then went to visit a potential dayhome. Then back at home we had cupcakes and hubby and I gave her a Little Tikes princess car!

She then went to sleep, her first day as a toddler over. Many more fun days to come.

Or Maybe Not?

In my search of kijiji, I came across two dayhomes that might work for me. One near our house, the other near honey's work. The one near his work intrigues me. I'm meeting with her Wednesday night. I'm so frustrated by all this nonsense. I just want a place for my baby that I'm comfortable with.

Daycare Redux -It's Over

Unless I get a miraculous phone call, I'm SOL for finding a different daycare space. The 3rd home, one which I really, really liked...well she took a 16 month old so that the 15 month old she also cares for will have a friend.

I'm crushed right now and I honestly want to cry. The more I think about it, the less I want to send her to place #2. But it seems I either send her there or I don't go to school.

So any Canadian readers of mine, please think of me the next time you go to the polls to elect those who will run our country/province/city/municipality. Ask them what their stance is on daycares. I'm not asking anyone to pay for the care of my child. I'm perfectly capable of that. I'm asking for a place that I'm comfortable with that I will pay to care for my child. Is that too hard to ask?

Cake Fail

So I've had a few attempts at making a bunny cake for the baby bunny's first birthday. First I made cupcakes, they were fine. Then I made a cake and it was decent. Then I tried another cake. It was fine, a bit sticky, but eating it the next day it sucked. And now we come to my most recent attempt.

My springform pan didn't seal and started to leak cake batter on the element. I knew it was clean but still smelled burning. Took out the pan and then I discovered it. *sigh*

I think I'll make the cupcakes and I'll buy her a bunny cake. I'm going downhill with the cake making.

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger these past few days. Everything has just been so crazy. In a nutshell here is what has been happening.

Daycare- Still haven't heard from the 3rd place. I'll be calling her tomorrow actually. I almost wonder if I should give up hope that I haven't heard back from her yet. *sigh* If not, I still have the 2nd place to fall back on and I've added my name to more lists in the hopes of getting her somewhere else sooner rather than later. I'm still kicking myself that I didn't use her due date as her birthday and add my name onto lists when I was still pregnant.

Appointments- We have her first dentist appointment in about 1/2 hour. Hopefully it goes well. Then we have a one week reprieve before doctor's appointments for both of us.

School- I've paid my tuition in full and purchased all my textbooks online. I bought them from the college store as well as amazon. I have shipping notices for two of three orders. Just waiting for a shipping notice for my new purchases from amazon, but the used from amazon and the books from the college store were both shipped yesterday.

Other than that, my mat leave officially ends tomorrow and in less than a week, my baby girl turns one. Where the year has gone I have no clue. It's a good thing we are so busy this month or I think I'd just obsess over the fact that my baby isn't a baby anymore.

Daycare Redux Part, I Dunno Fifteen?

So girlie and I went to visit a home daycare today. I was very pleasantly surprised. She had more toys and space, both inside and out than the other two dayhomes I have seen combined. We talked and the baby played for about an hour and a half, again longer than I had spent at the previous places. I didn't leave in doubt about what she said or what her home looked like.

She still has some people to talk to. I really hope she takes us.

Giveaway #2 For September

A Sophisticated Mommy is also running a giveaway. She reviewed OnlyGreen in this post. They are a small Canadian company selling eco-friendly items. This particular giveaway is for hand and foot cream but she also sells cloth diapers, cosmetics and even pet care products and coffee. I don't think I've seen a company offer such a wide range of products. Very cool.

Giveaway!

This post from fellow Canadian mom blogger Not Just Baby Brain is running a giveaway from Seventh Generation. While I've never purchased from them, I've long been interested in their products. I don't know why I've never purchased.

I joined the Seventh Generation nation and printed out a coupon for free wipes with purchase of diapers. Coupons and being more environmentally friendly, perfect!

It's September

And that means that my little itty bitty baby girl will be turning one before I know it. Although she's not a baby anymore. As I type this she is walking over to the couch to visit one of the cats. She is a little person.

September also means the end of my maternity leave and the start of daycare. It's also a busy month in the sense that I have four appointments set up for us. She has a dentist appointment and a doctor's appointment and I have two doctor's appointments. So lots going on. Then at the end of the month we have her birthday party and hubby and I have a date night planned. It also means that I should be hearing from my college for payment and my schedule and ID. Busy, busy.

So busy, that the month is going to fly by faster than the eleven previous to it and then I'll be back in school. Wow. I'm not ready for this.