Living Room - Check

So during all the free time I've had since last night (yeah, right!!!) I was able to paint the living room ceiling. I used "Goes on Pink, Dries White" paint and it was pretty freaky, to say the least. Shaun took one look at it and said, "Daddy won't be happy you're painting the ceiling pink Mummy." I explained to him that it's magic paint and when Shaun talked to Craig this morning as I was finishing up the last of the ceiling, he reassured Craig that it's magic paint, and not to worry about the pink colour. My little guy!

Ian is throwing a wrench in my plans, as usual. He's awake a whole hour early from his nap and crying. Crap. So much for getting anything else done today...

Home Sweet, oh, Wait

I'm Type A personality. I need to plan things. The general plan as far as housing goes is for us to move before Shaun starts junior kindergarten in September. But the plan in my head includes things like: re-pot plant in the living room so it can sit on the floor instead of on the table (what size pot, how much soil will I need?), pick clothes to place into storage to make the closet look larger, buy candles (do I want varying heights or all the same, coloured or all white, scented or not?), replace lightbulbs to higher wattage. I plan excessively and it's keeping me up at night because I can't turn my brain off.

We will get the house in tip-top shape so we can list at a moment's notice, and then we will begin the serious searching for our next house. Once we find it, we can quickly list this place and, hopefully, have a quick sale and then move. This house is so far from tip-top shape it's not even funny. When my Type A brain starts thinking about all that needs to be done to even get the house into half-decent-to-show-my-parents shape, it scares me. Not that it's dirty at all, it just needs so much. The basement is torn apart... still... from all the way back in March when Craig ripped the panelling off the walls without a plan or timeline as to how drywall would make it up in the panelling's place. Then it all needs to be taped, mudded, sanded, and painted. Oh Joy.

The living room ceiling needs to be painted as well as the walls. Our bedroom is desperate for colour - it's still one coat of white from whoever painted over the grey from way back when, the laundry room needs major decluttering... it just seems to go on and on. Oh, I need to scrub the oven since I didn't get to do it for the whole 9 months I was carrying Ian and it's in pretty dire straights at the moment. The ceiling in the front hall needs replastering from a leak in the bathroom above that was fixed 6 years ago but the ceiling was never addressed. And all the baseboards throughout need to be painted.

Did I mention that Craig doesn't paint? Ever. Yep, I'll get to it during the hours and hours of free time I have every day. :S

Okay, so with all those fix-ups in mind and a move-in date in mind of the summer, we put an offer on this house yesterday. What were we thinking? The closing is really in our favor: February 17, 2008. That gives us lots of time to get this place in tip-top shape, list it, sell it, and close on it. The house in question ended up going into multiple offers and we got out bidded but now that I've actually put the ToDo list in writing, it really is daunting. I'm actually glad we didn't get the house, though it really was a nice one.

Another will come along and next time, we'll be more prepared. In the meantime, I'm digging out my painting clothes. I wonder if they'll fit yet??

Story of My Life These Days!

Boob Juice

"Hey Boogie, what are you doing?"

"I'm giving my baby some Boob Juice." He had his Ted pressed up against his bare little chest.

"Oh. Don't forget to burp your baby so he doesn't get a sore tummy, okay?"

Shaun gently lifts Ted off his chest and raises the other half of his shirt. He holds his nipple and places Ted on. "There you go. Is that good? I have to give him some milk from the other side first Mum."

"Alright." I turn my attention to the infant at my breast: quietly sucking but intently watching and listening to my conversation. "Your brother is nursing Ted, just like I'm nursing you. Isn't that strange?"

He smiles and milk dribbles out his mouth and onto my arm.

There's rustling from Shaun's bed. Ted is finished and Shaun is holding him up now, patting his back. "Know what I have to do now Mum? I need to pump."

"Really? What's that for?"

He's reaching out into the dimly lit room. He grabs nothing and cups his hand up to his chest. "I have to get all the extra milk out so my boobs don't get sore. And then it goes in the fridge for extra." His hand is opening and closing like he's operating the pump. "And I need to tell my body that I need more milk because my baby is growing too fast."

"That's a great idea. How does your body know you need more milk?"

"Because I say, 'Body, I need more milk' and it just makes it. My body is pretty smart you know Mum."

"Will you put the extra on your cereal in the morning since we're out of cow milk?"

"No Mum, that's gross. I'm going to drink your milk that's from beans on my cereal tomorrow. People milk is only for babies." He places his thumb in his mouth, pulls Ted close and snuggles down under his covers. "Maybe I'll have a bagel instead."

"Okay. See you at breakfast time Boogie. I Love You."

Family Photos

We are lucky enough to have a neighbour who is a photographer and offered to take some family photos of us. So I spent a week organizing in my mind what everyone would wear and another couple of days ensuring it was all clean and ironed. Then the big day came and Shaun was crabby and Ian needed a nap. We still ended up with a whole wack of terrific photos though, surprisingly. These are my favourites.

Julia and Ian

Craig and I are fortunate enough to have a terrific family (from both sides). Everyone loves our kids and Shaun is always so excited to see his cousins. He actually cried when everyone left after Thanksgiving dinner last night beause he wanted them all to stay and play longer.

But I don't think anyone loves Ian more than Julia. Understand, she's 9 1/2 so babies are still really cool and great and loveable. She waited so patiently last night to hold Ian: through 2 feedings and a nap - and finally got the chance after dinner. She looks like such a proud cousin!

Julia's little sister Laura had a chance to hold Ian too but only for a moment until he decided to get all crabby. I wish I'd gotten a picture of both of them. Next time...

Cottage-ing

It's late and I have hoards of laundry to do before heading off to bed. And we're hosting Thanksgiving this weekend so there will be no time for anything computer related until at least Sunday night so I wanted to post while I had the chance. We spent 4 days at the cottage this week to try and help my grandparents get it ready to close for the winter. We raked leaves until our hands blistered, but I was able to get a few great photos!

The last one is of Ian in his 'rumble chair' as Shaun calls it. It was cold outside so I bundled him up as much as he would allow and sat him on the porch. He was so happy being outside and Shaun would check on him every now and then to make sure he was still happy.

The Rake of Guilt

So after realizing that it had been weeks since my last photo of Ian, Craig and I have been going a little nutso for the past few days, taking photos of him. We really do need to get more of the boys together but Ian has such a short time where he's awake and happy and not attached to my boob (literally, it's probably 10 minutes) that it's hard to get the two of them together. I really should try harder.

I was singing King Louie's song from The Jungle Book this afternoon while I was changing Ian's diaper and he was singing along. Thankfully the camera was right beside me and I was able to catch a little bit. For everyone who has held him recently while he was having one of his fits: see? he really is happy... sometimes!

We've been getting some nice photos of Ian too. He has a lot more personality now that he's nearly 2 months old. And he's certainly a whole ton easier to love when he's happy!!

Just lounging on the couch while Craig was playing with Shaun and I was making dinner.

I was making Kissy-Lips at Ian and he totally compied me!!!

...their eyes locked and it was True Love

My Beef for the Decade

What is it about retarded drivers who think that the lines painted on a road are LAW? If you're driving in front of someone and you need to turn left into a driveway and there's no one coming in the other direction, even if there's a solid line dividing the road, it's okay to cross. over. the. line. so the poor souls behind you don't have to slow to the same pathetic crawl as you.

And if you're driving on a road that has a paved shoulder and you need to turn right at the next intersection, for pete's sake, slow down on the damn paved shoulder!

Twice today I encountered stupid drivers doing exactly what I've described. I'll admit, I'm not the BEST driver but I'm certainly a considerate driver. I never slow down before turning without using my turn signal and I stay as close to the curb as I can when turning right to allow the people behind me to pass safely. Afterall, they aren't turning so why should I make then slow down?

And what's with all the people who turn left before turning right? You know the people I'm talking about. The dope who has his right turn signal on and you go to pass him on the left only to have him nearly sideswipe you because he's taking the turn soooo wide. I drive a minivan (I know, sad) but I never have to take turns wide; I just slow down! But Old Man River driving a puny Sunfire has to take the corner like he's driving a boat. Sometimes they are. I think vehicles that are larger than, say, a Pontiac Grand Prix, should be outlawed for any driver over the age of 60. Just for the safety and sanity of all.

Anyone willing to jump on the wagon with me?