Wordless Wednesday

Just a few photos from our trip...

Not Me Monday...the Tuesday Edition

Well - I'm home safe and sound from the land of the cold, frozen tundra. And even though it's Tuesday I decided to post my new favourite type of post - Not Me Monday!!! What is it? It's the post wherein you declare to the world all the things you, erm, didn't do this week. It's a blog carnival created by MckMama. Go visit her site for more!!! (Oh, and perhaps I'll post more on my trip later on...for now this post will have to do).

I'm presently not sitting on the computer when in fact the rest of my household is napping. Not me...how silly would that be, when in fact we all had to be up at 6:30am (Alberta time) just to catch our plane ride home. How silly would it be of me to write a blogpost instead of nap, when I know I'll pay for it later.

And instead of not napping, I'm not not unpacking either (how many negatives can I put in a row whilst still making sense?). My suitcases aren't half open on the floor waiting for the clean clothes to be put away. They won't sit there until at least Saturday. Not me.

My mother-in-law didn't read this previous post about me using my husband's toothbrush and in turn buy me my own, special "feel-like-the-dentist" toothbrush. I wasn't excited and didn't use it right away. Not me.

I didn't try on a real fox fur coat this week...I don't believe in wearing real fur and would never do such a thing. Nope, not me. I didn't pretend to like it just to appease both of my grandma-in-laws. I didn't put it on and declare it a perfect fit, and proceed to tell them I felt like a rich woman. My grandma-in-law didn't then proceed to tell me the coat was all mine with a huge grin on her face. Because these things didn't happen, I couldn't have called my husband into the room and fret about what to do. I didn't put it back in the closet where my grandma-in-law pulled it out of, and pretend I'd never seen it. Nope, not me!

I didn't subscribe to Facebook on my phone this past week, without knowing how much it costs, simply because I was without internet and cable, and going through withdrawal. How shallow and lame would that be? I'm a grown woman and can handle life without these convieniences. I don't respect my mother-in-law for having four children and a husband in her house without cable and internet. Not me!

That should about do it for this week. I can't wait (actually) for next Monday when I can post again...and I simply cannot wait (actually) to see who will jump on the bandwagon and participate in this exciting game next!!!

kortney elise xoxo

I'm Off

I'm off has multiple meanings tonight. The first one meaning I am off to Alberta for six days tomorrow morning (I get back Tuesday morning). I don't think I'll have internet access while I'm there, so don't look for updates - or you can, but you probably won't get one. I'll post a Not Me Monday...the late edition...on Tuesday. The second meaning of I'm off...is that I feel like the job of a mother never ends. Actually, I know it never ends.

I haven't had a break all day I feel like, even if I enjoyed most of my day. It's 12:05 as I type this and this is the first time I've had to sit down just me by myself to do something I want to do. I'm not complaining...just saying it feels like "I'm off" of my shift. At least for a few minutes. Today was busy because:

-I did six loads of laundry maybe. I'm all caught up and there's nothing but what we were wearing today sitting in the laundry basket. I know I will find relief in that when I come home from Alberta and unpack and have another 6-8 loads to do then. I will be very thankful I didn't leave any dirty laundry laying around.

-I went to the mall with my Mom today. I'm glad I did. I got a sheet for Alexys' crib (which she will begin to sleep in by herself once we're back from Alberta. I'm not going to lie - I'm sick of the couch and jumping at every little sigh she makes. Her in her own room and bed will be a relief to me.) and enjoyed some fine snacks from Cobbs Bakery (my fav!). I'm glad I went, but it tires me out walking around with Aly.

-Bre came over as soon as my Mom left. Thank goodness, because she helped me get much done...but still no alone time. She helped me fold laundry, get ready for the evening's events, etc. I love Bre. I won't see her till she gets home from Nationals on March 2nd, now - how crazy is that!

-I had a facial party tonight with a representitive from Arbonne International...I LOVE their line. It's better than Mary Kay, I think, and I had a blast...even if it was just me, Court, Ashleigh and Bre. Alexys was such a good little girl - she played on her playmat for over an hour while we had our facials, and then she sat in her chair and watched TV with Taelyn (Court's little girl). I bought a couple things, and will host a formal party probably later on this year. You're all invited :) Bre helped me set up for this event and make snacks, etc.

-Once the party was over (around 9ish, I think) I still had to pack. I had mostly everything in terms of clothes laid out on the bed, but I needed to physically pack it and add in bathroom stuff, bottles (just in case), medicines (just in case), toys...everything. We'll still have to pack the playpen in the morning, but that shouldn't take long. Our carryons are ready, our clothes are laid out - I don't think I could be more organized...but still.

-Once that was over and done with, I had to finish up the photo albums for the grandparents in Alberta that we're bringing along (you forget that not the entire world has Facebook...especially grandparents!), and seal the birth announcements for people out there that we never got addresses for.

All those events leave me at the present hour - the hour in which I can hear Alexys stirring in her crib...almost ready for her midnight snack. I guess I'm not off after all. 8am is going to come early, and I don't think I'll ever be more thankful for Starbucks and their fabulous caffienated drinks.

See you when I get back,
kortney elise xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

(though I feel another post may appear today that's not so wordless)

Exhibit A

This is what happens when you put my kid on her tummy. She absolutely HATES it!!! She cries and moans and yelps. She talks and it sounds like she's saying help me (like her tone of voice). Sometimes she'll stop and just try and suck on the mat, but that only lasts for a moment. She's SO strong in her legs and with her head if she's upright, she just refuses to use her tummy time to make herself stronger. I think she'll skip the crawling stage and go right to walking. Mark my words.


Exhibit B

Alexys LOVES to be on her back, and has SO much fun playing on her playmat. I can leave her there for an hour or more at a time and she'll coo and talk and smile and laugh. She just doesn't get that it's the same playmat when she's on her tummy.

kortney elise xoxo

PS: I've even tried to put the playmat in front of the TV on her tummy to make her look up, but she still wants nothing to do with her tummy...even though I put her on her tummy everyday!

Not Me!!!

So here we are again...Monday already! As per last week, I'm going to attempt another "Not Me Monday!". If you're not sure what that is, or simply want some more hilarity in your life, head over to MckMama's Blog and see what everyone else is not doing this past week.

On Friday morning, I did not let my daughter watch television for an hour quite contently while I slept beside her on the couch. What an awful Mom I'd be to let a 2 month old sit and watch the boob tube just to catch up on zzz's. Alexys did not proceed to actually sit there for the entire hour and take in both Rolie Polie Olie and Big Comfy Couch...without her soother in her mouth to boot!

On that note, Alexys is not presently in her swing watching the TV...instead of the mobile...even though she has to strain her neck a little to see the TV, and the mobile is what is supposed to catch her attention.

I did not sleep on the couch all week...and not just the pullout couch, but the actual couch part. Why would I do? It's not because I've been too lazy and tired by the time bedtime rolls around. Not me.

I did not wash the same load of laundry three times this week because I kept forgetting to put it in the dryer. Nope, not me. I'm not about to re-wash a different load for the second time for the same reason. How ridiculous would that be - what a waste of water and energy. Good thing our water is covered by our strata fee.

I did not use my husband's toothbrush the other day, simply to try out the new kind he got. Nope, not me. That would both be disgusting and uncalled for seeing as though mine was right next to his. He got a new kind that claimed to feel just like the dentist had cleaned your teeth (and it did). Jordon would not freak out and get a new toothbrush if he found this out - nope, not him. Guess it's a good thing he doesn't much like blogs, huh?

I am not convinced that my daughter is teething at just two months of age. Not my porky kid! This did not cause me to run into the bedroom the other night, put a pillow over my head and tell Jordon to deal with her because I'd had enough. I did not proceed to nap at 9pm at night for half an hour. What kind of mother would I be if I did that? Neglectful? Mean? Frustrated? Nope. Not me.

So tell me...what didn't you do this week?
kortney elise xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day

It's an overrated, stupid holiday...and my husband wouldn't even get me McDonalds breakfast for Valentine's day. But that being said I have the cutest valentine in the whole world - even if she's sorta a grump sometimes (well, only a grump in expression - not in actual behaviour):

So happy Valentine's Day...

kortney elise (and a grumpy Alexys...she wasn't too happy I made her take a picture in her Valentine's Day outfit!) xoxo


PS: Do you know the most frequent reason people come to my blog is because the search for the term "Puggle" on google? Weird right? I posted one picture in 2007 of how I'd like to own a puggle, and now my website is frequented by tons of people across the world looking for puggles. And now that I've posted this tidbit, I'm sure it will only pop up again and even more frequent.

Coolest...EVER!!!

My mom and I enjoy a site called Pogo. It's where you play all sorts of games (things like Solitaire, Trivial Pursuit and Word Whomp), and if you pay to be a member (which I am) you earn weekly badges. The site gives you different tasks on two different games, and then you must achieve them (things like spell 18 different anagrams this week, or win the game 15 times in a row), in order to receive your badge. You also have the option of chatting while on Pogo...and quite some time ago my Mom made a friend on Pogo named Shirlee. You'll notice she's commented on this blog sometimes!!! Anyways, over the years my mom and her have become pretty good friends....even I'd say really good friends. They've never met though. Shirlee and I began chatting here and there through Pogo, too. And now she's even cooler I think!!! She sent Alexys the SWEETEST blankets I've ever seen in my life!!! They're handmade with this fabulous material - it's got just giraffes on it (my favourite if you didn't know), and then she lined it in crocheted pink. It's perfect. We've decided NOT to order the sheets that we were going to use, and instead just buy some bumper pads and a bottom sheet and use these as the sheets for her bedroom.

So, since I know Shirlee reads this, THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES OVER. I absolutely adore the blankets...so much we're using them to theme her entire room. You're the BEST :) (And of course I'll post picture of them in her room when it's all finished!!!).

kortney elise xoxo

Not Me Monday

I'm a little late, but better late than never.

I enjoy this blog nearly everyday - My Charming Kids - and Mckmama has this fabulous post every Monday wherein you post things you "haven't" done this week. It's a great, and amusing, way to tell the world stupid things you've done by pretending you haven't done them. So here's the first of (what I hope to be) many "Not Me Mondays!"

This week I didn't ask if Birth Certificates have expiry dates. I certainly didn't receive the response that "Yes, they do...but only if they're death certificates." (In my defense, this was more referring to the fact that perhaps the actual piece of paper expired and a new one would need to be re-issued...).

I don't sleep on the pullout couch at night because I'm too chicken and too lazy (ie: the 4am feeding) to put Alexys in her own bed (her bed is currently the playpen, which is beside the pullout couch in the living room). Not me...I'd rather sleep with my husband. I don't enjoy having the queen size mattress to myself, and certainly don't dread weekends when Jordon comes onto the pullout with me.

This week at Zellers I most certainly did not roll my eyes at the lady in the pharmacy section when she told me she didn't know what Nair was. I would never call her an idiot to her face and walk away. She didn't hear me. My husband did not proceed to get angry at me for my lack of patience. Never. He doesn't do things like that.

I didn't make croutons out of past-stale, but not yet moldy, bread, simply so that my jars could be full...they're pretty and sit on my counter, but look lonely without croutons in them (and no, I don't plan on using them ever).

I didn't walk around the mall with Alexys today for almost two hours carrying her in my arms, since I'm waiting for my sling to be returned in the right size, and my stroller is at my parents. No, I would never do that - she's far too heavy. She certainly didn't fall fast asleep.


I think that's a good start. If I told you all the humiliating things I do in a week, I'd have to write a novel. So until next Monday...

kortney elise xoxo

Coupons

I have a LOT of coupons. The problem is I don't use them. Not on purpose. I just forget and they expire, or else I just don't get to the store in time to use them.

How do you use coupons? I want to hear!! I want a creative way to make sure I actually USE my coupons - something tangible, simple and reliable...

(And here's a REALLY cute picture of Alexys. She saw the camera today and actually started smiling! I was one happy Mamma!!!).

kortney elise xoxo

Awww

My poor baby is sick. It kills me to see her not feeling well - she's got a stuffy nose and a cough and is fairly congested. I hate that there's no medicine I can give her, and so she just has to lie there and suffer. I've used saline drops in her nose, and sucked out the snot with the aspirator, but besides that, and a lot of cuddling, I just have to wait it out. She doesn't have a fever, so there's no need to see the doctor, but I did have to cancel the shots she's due for Thursday.

Because lying down on your back is really annoying when you have a cough and a stuffy nose, I've been letting Alexys sleep in the bed with me at night, and propping her up on a pillow. She sleeps SO much better; it scared me a little that she'd get used to this, so I've been making sure she naps on her back, in her own bed, during the day. She's going down for naps quite well - I put her down awake and she generally falls asleep. In the next month or two she'll be in her own room at night, so it's a good thing for me she does this easily enough. Here's hoping it stays that way!!!

kortney elise xoxo