Proud Mama Bear

Well, ladies and gentlemen...she did it!!!! She didn't win the world championships, but Joannie Rochette is the new reigning World Silver Medalist. Pretty darn good, considering the girl (yes, girl...she's 18) who won, won by 16 points! I'd say pretty commanding and deliberate of her to win. Anyways, Joannie won the silver medal and was the first Canadian woman on the podium since Liz Manley in 1988...21 years! Before Liz it was Karen Magnusen in '77...so I'll say, Joannie has created a legacy for herself. I'll post more on Worlds later on, but wanted to share that my picks were pretty good (but not perfect...there were some dark horses, and surprises!!!):

Ladies:
Medals: 2/3...I got first and second right! (YuNa and Joannie)
Top 10: I got 7 outta 10 right - Cynthia was 15th (ouch), Alissa Czisny was 11th (but 8th in the free), and Carolina finished 12th (BIG OUCH...I had predicted her to be third!!!). The ones I didn't include were Elene Gedevanishvili (of Georgia...always a dark horse), Alena Leonova (of Russia...the reigning World JUNIOR champion...who knew!), and Sarah Meier (of Switzerland. She was injured or else I woulda put her up there, too!).

Men:
Medals: 2/3...I got second and third right!!!
Top 10: 7/10 right here too...Jeremy finished 11th (ouch), Yannik Ponsero was 16th (oh dear), and Vaughn was 12th (so close). I did not, and could not of predicted Daniel Ten of KHAZAKSTAN to finish 8th (and SIXTH in the free to boot!), Andrei Lutai to be 10th (Russia...where did these Russians come from all of a sudden?), and Brandon Mroz to be 9th (dark horse).

As for pairs and dance - I was half right...we did get a medal in Dance, I'll be it by .04, but a bronze nonetheless...pairs was unfortunate and a write-off (although all three teams were in the top 10...7th, 8th and 10th).

Anyways, this is longer than I intended already, when I simply meant to say CONGRATS to Joannie. Maybe she'll google her name and my blog will pop up?! :)

Alexys has a baby shower today...wahoo!!!
kortney elise xoxo

Five in Five Fridays

This is my idea and I think you should join me. And even if you don't, this is partly my way of having a cleaner, organized house. After all, going to school fulltime, being a mom, looking after myself, my husband and daughter...and everything in between...IS a lot of work. I don't want my house to fall behind. I *hate*, repeat HATE, living in an unorganized mess, but find I don't often have time to do anything about the little corners that make for such a mess...that is, until now.

Every Friday I am going to make a list of five things I can accomplish in five minutes each...five minutes really isn't very long, and besides...everyone has five minutes here and there. Instead of checking my email and Facebook that extra time, I'll take that five minutes to accomplish one of my five. I can stay up just five minutes longer at night to accomplish one of them. And it's not even five minutes everyday - just five times a week.

My list this past week was as follows:

1. Organize the "papers" in the corner. I have a filing thing that I try and use, but often the top rack just gets piled high with all the papers in an attempt to keep things tidy.
2. Organize the cutlery drawer. I only have one drawer in the kitchen, so things keep getting piled in there. I got a new countertop utensil holder, so I utelized that, and now have two sitting on my countertop.
3. My spice cupboard - it was a disaster, and I couldn't find a thing in there.
4. Alexys' cupboard...yes, her very own kitchen cupboard. I haven't used it very often so I just kept putting her stuff in there. When I needed something I couldn't find it.
5. The tupperware drawer (under the stove). Again, disaster...almost wouldn't shut.
   

So? Did I accomplish them? Yep, sure did. I've even included pictures for you of everything but the tupperware drawer, completed. Next week I'll be sure to take before and after pictures. Here's the list for next week:

1. The shoe closet. It's a disaster, and we just keep piling shoes on the ground, even though there's a rack. Lame. I'm going to fix it, organize it, and chuck out some old shoes that don't fit (thanks Alexys...being pregnant made my feet grow!).
   
2. Alexys' books - my Dad bought her a proper bookshelf. Hopefully he'll bring it over this week, and I can put them on there. Half of them are on the floor in her closet right now.
   
3. The "junk" drawer. I have a little black thing under our computer desk that I just pile junk into - lighters, extra keys, batteries, whatever. I want it to be easily used.
4. Put my scrapbooking stuff away. It's sitting on the table, and I know I won't get to it for a while now with so much other stuff to accomplish.
   
5. Wipe out my washing machine - the part where the fabric softener goes has SO much buildup, it bothers me!!!

So will you participate? Maybe? Maybe not? Whichever the case is, I assure you you'll feel better about your house when you're done. There's not always time to get the big stuff done, but start small - just five in five - and you'll feel better. At least I know I do.

kortney elise xoxo

STILL Waiting...

Man. I must be the most impatient girl in the universe...and I hate how it's all going to happen at the same time. Hmph. Skating starts on TV at 1pm. Alexys is going to wake up anytime now (she usually has a nice long 2 hour nap in the morning...and then goes downhill from there and won't nap in the afternoon more than 30 minutes!), and I STILL haven't gotten my codes from school. Sometimes it does take a while for them to get posted, but still - I emailed them last night so that they'd get it first thing this morning. I just know all of these things are going to happen at once.

While I'm waiting, you'll notice I updated my blog. FUN! That's what I accomplished this morning. I also did the dishes, laundry and made the bed. I showered and folded clothes...I'll vacuum after Alexys wakes up. I also have a new post idea for Tuesdays...you'll have to wait till later, but I've got it already to go :) I haven't done an Alexys update for a while though, so here it goes.

Alexys at 14 and a half weeks:
What a ham! That's all I can say - I am SO in trouble with this little girl - I have a strong feeling she's going to keep me on my toes. I'm glad for that though, I think (words I may regret)...she's already got a strong, independent personality and I know she's going to be a tough, intelligent girl. She's definitely figured out the difference of showing needs versus wants, and often lets me know. She doesn't *cry* very often - she "wanks", as Jord and I call it. It's kinda talking, kinda crying (but no tears). She's also figured out that she is in control of the volume she projects things in and has figured out to YELL when she's a little bit pissed off. You think it's funny, until you hear it...and then you wonder how that noise comes out of such a little girl.

She spends a lot of time in the jolly jumper - what a fabulous buy!!! She cries when I take her out and has definitely figured out how to JUMP not bounce...she jumps so hard the spring tops out - what a monkey. She'll stay in the jolly jumper and literally jump until she can't keep her eyes open. Good thing she's so chubby - I have a feeling she'll be burning a lot of it off in the next few weeks. She's also SO strong, she's clearly gotten her Daddy's athletic side (thankfully not mine!). Anytime you put her down now, she'll grunt and groan to lift her head up - no matter if she's lying down for a diaper change, or in her chair in the mornings. She's a little daredevil too - loves going over your head or being thrown in the air. What a monkey!

Her latest trick however is one I'm *not* impressed with...but have no one to blame but myself for not knowing better. I don't know if you know, so I'll remind you, but Alexys is breastfed and has been since day 1. She latched on no problem and hasn't had any problems. When I was sick in the hospital (when she was 5 weeks), she took two different types of bottles and had both pumped milk and a bit of formula...she GULPED them down!!! Jordon and I went out for dinner the other night, for my BFF's birthday, and left my mom with the same two bottles she had when she was small...as well as pumped milk. We got a text near the end of dinner - "Alexys won't take a bottle." She screamed for an hour, until I was there to feed her. Sheesh. I want her to be breastfed, but she needs to be able to take a bottle or I'm stuck. I have some things/trips/etc. where I'll need to be apart from Alexys longer than three hours - so she's got to learn. We bought a bottle the other day ($17 dollars a bottle, let me tell you), that looks just like a boob...she's taken a bit from it, so we're working on it everyday, a little at a time. I tend to repeat this phrase in reference to Alexys quite often, but...what a monkey!!!!

Anyways, going to work on my other "Tuesday" post...check back later on tonight for it!!! I'll leave you with the title - it'll be recurring every Tuesday..."Ten in Ten Tuesdays".

kortney elise xoxo

Please...

Please keep praying for Stellan over at My Charming Kids - I keep reading Mckmama's new post and literally crying - prayer is powerful and blogging is a fabulous way to spread a request!

In other news, I wanted to share how well school is going!!! I think it's mostly because it's new and still a novelty, but I'm flying through the beginning stuff! They give you a schedule of where you should be by certain dates (ie: what section you should have finished)...I'm already completed the section that should have been done by April 29th, and completed the final exam (I got 87%)!! That being said the beginning part is easy and fairly "pointless"...things I already mostly knew. I learned about computer software, hardware, the internet (including blogging, hah!), email, Word and Excel. The questions I got wrong on the exam mostly pertained to tables and charts in Excel, so I'm not too worried. The next section is similar but it will be Word, Excel, etc. as it pertains to transcription, so I'll go a little slower, and try a little harder! There's also a large section on typing, which I am NOT looking forward to. Let's just say the outline begins like this:

-Introducing ASDF
-Practicing ASDF
-More of ASDF
(Repeat this with every letter/section on the keyboard...)

That was actually what I did in Grade 5 computer class - I remember good old Mavis Teaches Typing!!! Oh well...I guess some people do type incorrectly!!!!

Oh, and I know this is sick and twisted, but I'm SO looking forward to the grammar section - wahoo!!!

As for now, I'm waiting for my school to email me back the codes for the next section of course!!! Blogging may suffer in the meantime - I prefer to zoom through as much schooling as possible!!!

kortney elise

PS: Isn't my daughter adorable...and mischievous?

Not Me Monday...the Prayer Request

As you might recall, I generally enjoy posting a "Not Me" post each Monday...though I could think of many this week, I will simply forgo though that and encourage you to click over to MckMama's blog at My Charming Kids anyways...her youngest (of four!), Stellan, is in the hospital with STV and needs all the prayers he can get. He's just a few days older than Alexys and I can't imagine what she is going through.

In foregoing the Not Me post I need to share my skating predictions, as Worlds begins tomorrow in LA. I know not many of you care, but I'll post anyways...that way I have my predictions somewhere and I'll enjoy comparing myself later on. Anyways, here the grand ol' predictions (predictions, not wants):

Ladies (Top 10):
1. Yu-Na Kim (Korea)
2. Joannie Rochette (Canada)
3. Carolina Kostner (Italy)
4-6 (any order): Mao Asada (Japan), Fumie Suguri (Japan), Miki Ando (Japan)
7-10 (any order): Cynthia Phaneuf (Canada), Laura Lepisto (Finland), Rachael Flatt (USA), Alissa Czisny (USA)

**If Canada can pull off a combination of 13 points or less (ie: Joannie 2nd, and Cynthia 11th) we can send 3 women to the Olympics next year!! This is HUGE and not happened in my recent memory...in fact, Canada has only sent 1 to the Olympics in previous recent years!**

Men (Top 10):
1. Takahiko Kozuka (Japan)
2. Patrick Chan (Canada)*
3. Brian Joubert (France)
4-6 (any order): Evan Lysacek (USA), Jeremy Abbott (USA), Nobunari Oda (Japan)
7-10 (any order): Tomas Verner (Czeck), Yannik Ponsero (France), Vaughn Chipeur (Canada), Samuel Contesti (Italy)

*I think Patrick could win, but if he does he'll get the Olympic Men's curse...ie: Elvis, Brian and Kurt all won Worlds the year before the Olympics, and all did not win the Olympics the following year.

I'm not too hot on predicting Pairs and Dance but I'm going to say Canada will medal in both disciplines. This is the BEST worlds for Canada going in, that I can remember, EVER!! A medal threat in EVERY category, pre-Olympics. Phew!!!

Anyways. The offer still stands if you wanna come over during the week and watch skating. It'll be on my television morning, noon and night. Woot!!!

kortney elise xoxo

On Joannie

I'm having a party to watch Joannie win a gold medal...and even if she doesn't, I'm still having the party. Next Saturday the 28th from 4 till 8. Let me know if you're interested in coming and I'll send you the details.

I really hope she wins a medal. I might even cry if she does.
kortney elise xoxo

I had to share this video with you because I think it means I'm in trouble. This was only her second day in her Jolly Jumper, and she just jumped for 45 minutes straight until she could hardly keep her eyes open - it was pretty cute. She got so mad when I took her out. What a sweetheart...and a trouble maker ;)

kortney elise xoxo

On Me

Literally. This post is about me. Something else I want to just get off my chest, put into words and share. I feel that if I share what I feel and what I need to commit to, then it might happen. Perhaps I'll run into someone who reads my blog and they'll ask me about it - it'll give me a chance to be honest and keep myself aligned and in check with where I need to be.

Some of you might know what I find to be my biggest struggle - something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember. Something I pray that I don't pass on to my daughter, something I pray EVERYDAY she doesn't struggle with. And that, my friends, is body image. I think perhaps that every girl struggles with this is someway or another, whether old or young. It is a hard thing to be a woman in today's society. It's hard to find your place, your style, when the whole world "expects" so much. I won't delve into details from high school and beyond, but let's just say I've never felt pretty, and so because of that I've never taken the time to "care" about myself.

I struggle with where a balance can be found of where and how God wants me to look, versus how I believe the world wants me to look. I've seen both extremes - the people who don't care about their bodies, clothes, etc. (or at least that's how it looks) because they believe God only sees inner beauty (wait on this...don't leave me yet!)...and I've seen the people who spend hours and hours in front of a mirror and cannot go into public without looking 100 percent perfect. This was a big struggle in high school - can I be pretty and modest? Can I be a Christian if I wear mascara? Life all you want, but it's true. These things are things I struggle(d) with. I always just thought as an "adult" I would learn to love myself and how to dress, etc. Unfortunately for me, it didn't just happen. However, I think I see the light and understand. It's these two verses that have guided me recently:

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own..." -1 Corinthians 6:18-20

Somewhere in between these two verses I have settled my soul and my thoughts. Though it's true God sees only our inner beauty, I believe that he has also given us a body here on earth to take care of. If we're constantly unkempt, are we truly taking care of the temple God has given us? And yet, at the same time, this doesn't mean I need to slather on makeup and be perfect all day, everyday - far from it! God made us beautiful and we have no one's standards but His to live up to. However, we need to love ourselves I believe, and love who we are, in order to love others.

I hope this is making sense...I feel like I'm babbling - sorry.

Anyways. For me, I've never taken very good care of myself, because I've never loved myself. I don't want that example for my child(ren). They need to have confidence in who they are and as such I want to set that example. For me, in order to love myself I need to make a promise to "take better care of myself" and so I am committing to that. And here is what I will do:

-No more sweatpants in public. Sweat pants are good for the house, but I don't need to live in them. I don't need to be fancy, but I need to wear real pants in real life.

-I look in the mirror and I hate my hair. I don't get proper haircuts, and the top of my hair has gone straight (well, wavy) since (during) pregnancy. If you don't believe look at that picture up there. I have an appointment April 22nd to fix this problem - I am going to keep up with my hair on a regular basis. This includes brushing it (especially if in turn it IS straight). I'm cutting off all the dead, gross hair, and getting a cute haircut, but easily manageable.

-A tan. Well, not really. I won't fake and bake, but I have this lotion that gives you a "summery" glow. I'm going to use it partially for this reason, but also because I want nice skin in 20 years and know that moisturizing starts now.

-I am going to get my eyebrows done once a month. They are like caterpillars if not. They're gross, and I hate plucking. Yes, it's $15 a month, but that's three coffees I will just cut out. I can handle it because my Mom bought me a coffee maker (thanks Mom).

-I'm going to brush my teeth every night before bed, and wash my face, followed by moisturizer. Again, if I want nice skin in 20 years, the regiment starts now.

-I want to wear earrings and a necklace. It makes me feel girly and pretty. I feel better about myself when this is the case.

I think these are simple things to live up to really. Nothing special and outstanding, but it's something. These are things I need to do in order to love myself. I'll bet a lot of these things are things a lot of people do on a regular basis anyways...just not me - because I've never cared about myself enough. This is my commitment.

kortney elise xoxo

Not Me

Here's the weekly edition of Not Me Monday...a blog carnival created by Mckmama, on My Charming Kids. Click over to see what to do if you'd like to write your own Not Me's this week! Or if you like you could just leave your Not Me moment as a comment on my blog...I don't mind! And if you're confused, just remember...the things below? I never did them...not me! ;)

I didn't just slurp (and by slurp I don't mean choke) down the last of my coffee this morning...the coffee I made in my brand new coffee machine. I didn't have to choke it down because I didn't accidentally buy instant coffee, instead of regular coffee, because I always read the label. I wasn't attracted to the easy grip lid, and would always double check the label before purchasing something as important as my caffeine fix. As a former Starbucks girl, I would never purchase Maxwell House because I know how great it tastes...and I certainly don't plan to mix and finish the instant coffee I didn't buy with the stuff my brother's girlfriend brings home from Starbucks for me at her discount. Not me - that would ruin the greatness that is Starbucks Coffee.

I didn't win a free photo shoot at Sears in Guildford from entering one of those instant draw coupons. You know the ones where they never send you junk mail afterwards. I don't win one free 8x10 photo, and will definitely succumb to peer pressure when they try and make me buy their expensive photos. I'm not driving all the way to Guildford just to get one free photo. Not me!

I didn't put (a tiny bit of) gel into my 3 month old daughter's hair this morning in order to maintain the adorable curls she has when she gets out of the bath...simply to capture a photo. Not me...how cruel would that be. After all, she's only three months old and she doesn't need gel to maintain her beauty.

I didn't finally wash the wine glasses sitting on my counter that have been there since my Arbonne Party (which I also didn't win free at Wedding Fair). That party was not from before I left for Alberta...which was most certainly not in February, and definitely not mid-February. That would be disgusting.

I didn't start scrapbooking my wedding last week...after all, I have been married for two and a half years already, and a wedding scrapbook has definitely been sitting on my coffee table since two weeks after we got married. I didn't just finish the album I started 3 years ago of Jordon and I's "dating" years. That would be ridiculous.

Jordon and I didn't eat out for every single meal this weekend (save for breakfast) - not us. We're not trying to be frugal and save money in every possible way to pay off our credit cards and my student loan. We don't have a mortgage and a baby, so going out for dinner is a great way to spend our money. It wasn't because I was lazy on Friday night that we ate Timmy Ho's, and it wasn't because we both secretly craved Food Fair on Saturday at the mall. I didn't eat Tim Horton's for dinner Saturday night (while Jordon gave into White Spot) just to be social with our friends. I didn't eat McDonalds for lunch on Sunday, simply because it was easiest...and we didn't go to my parentals on Sunday night just for dinner. Not us!

So what didn't you do this week? Feel free to be brutally honest behind the vise of "Not Me"!!!
kortney elise xoxo

Inquiring Minds?!

I thought I'd share Alexys' schedule with you. It's not out of one particular book - she doesn't really follow anything like that to a tee. She's very independent and so I guess needs to do things her way. And I experimented with different things until we found things that work for us. I followed a lot out of Babywise, and got lots of good things from the Baby Whisperer. I read all the BC health guides, and read What to Expect the First Year. However, I can't let Alexys cry it out - I just can't. It pains me to hear her cry - it's my belief that when babies cry - especially the first 4 months or so - it's because they're talking to you. They need something. They don't have wants right away, I don't believe, and so they must need something. I believe in listening to their cries and solving the problem. As Alexys grows older, I'm slowly starting to see wants creep up in her life - and so perhaps my theories on CIO will change. However, for now, that's my stance.

8am-9am: Somewhere in between there Alexys gets up. If she doesn't get up by 9am, I wake her up. If she wakes up before 8am, I put her soother in and turn on her aquarium in her bed. Even if I have to get up 15 times to put her soother in I make her stay in bed. I change her diaper and feed her as soon as she gets up.

9am-10:30am: She plays. Sometimes she watches TV if I'm especially tired...I'll snooze on the couch beside her. Sometimes she plays on her playmat, sometimes in her swing. I let this be her independent time. Mostly because I'm not a morning person, and also because I believe in developing these independence skills. This is her most cheerful time of day, and so she plays best on her own.

10:30am: Bathtime and into completely clean clothes for the day. We tried bathing her at nightime, but she doesn't like it and wakes up too much to go to sleep soon after.

11am: Naptime. If she woke up at 8, I'll feed her before I put her down. If she woke up at 9, I'll feed her after her nap. She naps in her own crib and I put her down awake. I've learned her sleepy signs (she pulls her ears, and covers her eyes with her hands).

12 or 12:30: Wakes up and we have playtime. Sometimes we go to the mall, sometimes we hang around the house. Sometimes she plays on her own, sometimes...well it just varies day to day. I don't like having a set schedule here - it allows for flexibility in our day.

2pm or so: She generally gets sleepy again, and naps. If we're out, I just let her nap in her carseat or wherever. If we're home, I put her in her crib. I didn't put her in her crib to nap until she was 2 months old or so. I just let her snooze wherever before that.

3pm: She eats again, and generally stays up until her next feeding at this point...although sometimes, depending on if we're out or going out again, she'll fall asleep again. If she falls asleep here, then she doesn't have her early evening nap.

6pm: She eats. She's pretty set on her every 3 hours. I won't switch her away from this until she either A) sleeps through the night or B) eats solids as at least one meal a day. I only let her eat sooner than three hours if it's at night (cluster feeding during a growth spurt), or if I am going somewhere that I feel nursing might prove to be difficult (though I nurse in most places comfortably).

7pm: If she didn't nap at 3pm, she'll nap now. I don't put her in her crib for this nap, because this will eventually be an earlier nap in the afternoon, combined with the other one. This will also eventually become bedtime. If I put her to bed at this point, she goes to bed fine, but then gets up at 4 or 5am, ready for the day. Not cool. Not quite ready for an early bedtime. This is generally just a "snooze"...45 minutes or so.

8:30pm: We start our bedtime ritual. I wash her with a washcloth, change in her into all new clothes (undershirt and pjs)...even if she just had her clothes changed an hour ago, I still do this. I have seperate outfits that she only wears as pj's, and never during the day. I give her a mini-massage with body lotion - just 5 mins. I rub her legs and feet, rub her arms and hands, then her belly. I put her in her chair in her room, and we read a story. I show her all the pictures and talk about the story after. Depending on her tiring signs, this can be a short story or a long story (ha). We say our prayers together, and then she has a snack to fill her up before bed (ie: she eats).

9pm: She goes in her bed awake. I kiss her. Daddy kisses her. I turn on her aquarium (best invention ever...forty bucks at Toys R Us, worth every penny), give her soother and leave her be. Generally she'll fall asleep pretty quick, but if she fusses, I'll go in, reassure her, and leave her.

2am: Sometimes this is earlier. Once it was later. Up for a quick feed. I don't turn on lights. I don't change her diaper unless it's poop, and we don't talk. I pop her on, pop her off, and back into bed. No soother, no aquarium, unless fussy.

5am: See above.

And then the day begins again. That works for us. I'd encourage research and experimenting with your babe to find out what works for you. I would encourage some sort of schedule, but don't be so regimented you can't go out or do something different. We still go out for dinner, we still go to the mall, we go to friends' houses...we just make the schedule kinda work around that. And if it doesn't work that day, that's okay. We work with it and turn back to it the next.

kortney elise xoxo

Back By Popular Demand...

Don't say I didn't warn you...and if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all? Okay? Deal (seriously, sad comments make me cry. My hormones aren't adjusted yet.).

I absolutely *hate* when people complain about being moms. I suppose it's my own doing, since I read a lot of baby forums, and know a lot of young moms, who weren't trying to be pregnant. I guess there's also different situations out there and every one of them is different. However, I have to tell you...being the mom of one three month old is not hard. It's not even really that tiring. And I am so sick of people telling me that it's hard, that it's tiring, that they're tired, that there's just not enough hours in the day...and so on and so forth.

Yep, it's hard work, but isn't everything in life? Everything is what you make it. I can tell you that working at McDonalds is hard work - but there were days that I made it easier by the choices I made. There were also days I made it harder to be than necessary. Again, everything is what you make it. When you found out you were going to be a mom, planned or not planned, didn't you expect long nights and early mornings? I did. And I can't even say they're bad really...and no, my daughter does not sleep through the night. I don't find nights bad, even though I get up at least two, sometimes three times a night. I did my research before - I knew different ways to make baby sleep, I knew different ways to put the baby on a schedule...I read a LOT. I was prepared. I was prepared that not one method works with every baby. I was prepared for ways to solve problems. I wasn't set on one way (though I hoped some methods worked over others). Truthfully, because I was so prepared in reading, I believe that I follow a combo of "methods" for raising, scheduling, etc. my child...those combined with instinct and love.

I know I have a good tempered baby, but part of me wonders if it wasn't me who helped make Alexys that way. I suppose I'll find out the answer to that when baby number two comes along (in the far future). I know that times will be tougher, and that'll I will have busier days as Alexys gets older. But how can I be tired now? She naps two or three times a day, and sleeps at night (ish...she gets up at 2 and 5...and sometimes before 2). If I'm tired I'll nap with her. If I'm really tired, I'll go to bed at 9 with her. You might say I'm lucky, because my baby so easily fell into a schedule - partly yes, but the other part of me wants to say no. No, I'm not just lucky - we've worked hard everyday to put Alexys on a schedule and introduce her to the world. There's been rough days, and nights, when we were experiencing and learning. There were nights she didn't sleep at all. But we worked on it. It's nothing caffeine can't handle.

I'll admit I'm not supermom, and no one ever is. I realize that if I had twins, I'd pull my hair out. I couldn't imagine having two to put on a schedule...but then I suppose we'd steer that boat if we had to, too. I can't imagine having a one year old and 3 month old...but we'll pray that doesn't happen ever. I have my bad days too, but as soon as I see Alexys, I melt. My heart melts, because I'm SO incredibly blessed to just have a child. I can't stop thanking God that He's given her to me.

I know situations are different, and I don't want to offend anyone by the post, but I just feel like people need to stop complaining about being parents. It's the best thing in this world, and no matter how hard the days get, you'll get through them. No. Actually, you know what. I don't believe you should just "get through them"...you should enjoy everyday, because the days simply go to fast. Take every moment you have with your child, hold them in your arms, tell them you love them, and tuck them in at night.

I don't feel like I've really accurately put into words just what I'm feeling, but it'll have to do for now.

kortney elise xoxo

PS: I've edited to add I believe that postpartum depression would have a large affect on a mom, and is nothing to joke about. It is very serious and if you suffer from this, please get help. That's all.

On the Dentist

Since I deleted my last entry for today, I will instead share with you about my journey to the dentist, and the irony of it all.

I am going to admit something here and you might judge me as gross or disgusting...but I'm going to tell you anyways. I hate brushing my teeth. I always brush my teeth in the morning or before I go out for the day, but not always before bed. I hate doing anything before bed. I don't like to wash my face, or brush my teeth or anything like that. I like to play on the computer or read or watch TV until my mind shuts off, and then I slump into bed. I don't want to stop and do anything on the way. I do floss my teeth, but only if I've eaten steak or beef jerkey or something that gets caught in my teeth...I floss my whole mouth if that's the case, because I don't like the feeling of being uneven.

Okay, now that I've admitted that, I'd like to tell you about my husband's dental cleanliness. He brushes his teeth every morning for 5 minutes, and every night for at least 15 minutes. At least. He brushes and brushes. He flosses every other day. Religiously. He wears his retainer to bed EVERY night, and can't sleep without it, he loves it so much. He thinks I'm disgusting when I don't brush my teeth enough and never fails to tell me.

We both had dentist appointments this week. Jordon has 22 cavities...I kid you not. He has to go back to the dentist SIX times next month. He may need a root canal too. He's also got geographic tongue that needs monitoring every 3 months.

I have no cavities. Not one.

I don't think that brushing your teeth prevents cavities - that is a crock. It's all genetic. Let's pray Alexys has my teeth, okay? Oh, but I do have to go back to the dentist and get a cavity refilled - I've only ever had one cavity in my life...this one. The dentist told me I grind my teeth so hard at night I've literally ground the filling pretty much off. I also need to get fitted for a mouthguard - apparently Jordon was right. I do grind my teeth pretty hard at night. Oops.

kortney elise xoxo

PS: I don't really think brushing your teeth is a crock. It's just ironic.
PPS: My last post was about moms and complaining. Maybe I'll re-post those thoughts another day, when I figure out how to put what I'm feeling into more polite words.

Some Thoughts

I changed my mind on this post after thinking about it in the shower.
kortney elise xoxo

Dreams Come True

Well, I already knew that dreams come true from the day Alexys was born. However, even more dreams are coming true...slowly, but surely. Here's the "About Me" quote from my sidebar (if you didn't notice):

"I'm a 23 year old Mom...by choice! My husband and I were married November 18, 2006 and haven't looked back since. I enjoy being creative - I scrapbook, I knit and I figure skate (but I especially enjoy synchronized skating). I want to learn to sew and quilt, and wish I spent more time cross-stitching. Blogging is one of my favourite outlets, and right now I am a stay-at-home Mom...I want to be a Medical Transcriptionist, and continue coaching figure skating on the side...so that I can be a stay-at-home Mom forever."

I wrote about how I'd like to be a stay-at-home Mom forever, but knowing very well that we don't make enough money on one salary alone once my mat leave is up. I refuse to put Alexys in daycare, because I don't want someone else raising my kids, and plus it's too expensive. I know my mom would watch Alexys a couple days a week, but that's a lot of pressure and a burden I don't want to put on my mom (even if I know she'd enjoy it). I'd rather her be Grandma, than a fulltime caregiver. Anyways. The point of this story is I also wrote that I'd like to be a Medical Transciptionist so that I could work from home and be here with Alexys. True, she'll have to learn to entertain herself sometimes, while Mommy works, but at least she can be in the comfort of her own home with her Mamma. And so?

So I'm going back to school! I really am going to be a medical transcriptionist. I enrolled in an online college program, called Canscribe, and I got approved for a student loan. We sign the papers today, and in just two business days I will begin. The course is entirely online and I have up to a year to complete it. I don't have to only do it during certain hours of the day - I can do it any time of day or night...that works especially well into our schedule. This will definitely mean a cutback on internet time for me, since I usually blog and Facebook while Alexys is asleep or content by herself, but it will so be worth it (and let's face it...we all know I'll still blog). These times will become schoolwork time. Sometimes I'll escape to my mom's house to work there and make sure Alexys is still entertained. Really I'm just excited. It's over 1000 hours of schooling, which is about 20 hours a week - but the faster you type, the faster you complete it...and I'm a pretty (school) smart cookie. So here's hoping.

Anyways, I'm excited for this journey to begin and so excited there's things like this to help people stay-at-home with their kids, and still make money. Wahoo.

kortney elise xoxo



PS: I couldn't resist sharing this photo with you. I put Alexys' hair in pigtails - she wasn't upset about the pigtails, only that it was naptime...what a sweet little girl!

Secret Smile

I'm a dork and this game looked like fun on Facebook...and since I am too lazy to write a real post, maybe this will tide you over...and I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to play, feel free and pretend I tagged you. There's a couple of these that could be accurate perhaps...

Rules:

1. Put your music library on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song title as the answer to the question, no matter how silly it sounds!
4. When you're done, tag 20 people in this note.


1. If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say:
"Tango Maureen" - Rent (Perhaps if it were Maureen who asked me I could say, "Tango, Maureen.")

2. How would you describe yourself?
"Bubbly" -Colbie Caillet (Yes, I suppose I am pretty bubbly, huh?)

3. What do you like in a girl?
"Puttin' on the Ritz" (Does this mean I like a, uh, girl, with money? I do!)

4. How do you feel today?
"Crash Into Me" -Dave Matthew's Band (I had an afternoon nap...I crashed, I suppose.)

5. What is your life’s purpose?
"Tale As Old As Time" -Beauty and the Beast (I don't get it...)

6. What's your motto?
"Somedays You Gotta Dance" -Dixie Chicks (how appropriate!!!!)

7. What do your friends think of you?
"Candle In the Wind" -Elton John (Guess they think I'm a pushover?)

8. What do you think of your parents?
"The Coffee Song" -Frank Sinatra (I suppose this applies...)

9. What do you think about very often?
"Mad World" -Gary Jules (I do think about our world often, and it is mad...hmmm.)

10. What is 2 + 2?
"You Are Loved" -Josh Groban (Sure, I suppose so...)

11. What do you think of your best friend?
"These Are a Few of My Favourite Things" -SOM (It's true!!!!)

12. What do you think of the person you like?
"Suddenly I See" -KT Tunstall (Well, I'm not sure what's so sudden about it, but it works, I think.)

13. What is your life story?
"Just Dance" -Lady Gaga (This is the second statement about my life and dancing...)

14. What do you want to be when you grow up?
"I Hope You Dance" -Leann Womack (Now this is getting weird...like actually.)

15. What do you think of when you see the person you like?
"Pepino the Italian Mouse" -Lou Monte (I'm telling Jordon this is what I think of him...)

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?
"Don't Cry For Me Argentina" -Madonna (I didn't actually, but it could have worked thinking about it...)

17. What will they play at your funeral?
"When She Smiles" -Matchbox 20 (Wow. This could work. Good suggestion.)

18. What is your biggest fear?
"Pina Coloda" - Simon and Garfunkel (Hmm...)

19. What is your biggest secret?
"How You Live" -Point of Grace (My life is a secret apparently...hmmm, NOT!)

20. What will you post this as?
"Secret Smile" -Rascall Flatts

Not Me!

"Not Me Monday" is a blog carnival created by MckMama over at My Charming Kids - if you want to see more of this kind of post, head over there. If you want to participate, head over there, too, to see the rules and figure out this all works. If you're just totally confused about what I'm talking about - you should click over to visit MckMama's site. She's an incredible lady and I absolutely love reading her blog (and no, I don't know her!).

I do not belong to four different survey companies online, and don't fill out their online surveys almost everyday. I don't participate in at home surveys too (ie: through snail mail), because that would mean I gave my address online at some point. That is a big online "no-no" right? I definitely don't participate in these surveys for the "chance to win $1000" and cross my fingers everytime. I don't collect 100s of points doing these surveys, even though it takes hundreds of thousands to actually be able to redeem. And of course, I definitely read every question and don't just click random answers. That would probably be cause for skewed results for major companies that pay people like Ipsos Read lots of money for proper results. Not me.

I did not make dentist appointments today for tomorrow and Wednesday for me and Jord. I did not call expecting to have to wait until the summer to get into my (fabulous) dentist. I am not excited to go to the dentist because I like the feeling of my teeth hurting. That would be plain weird. I know I won't be in trouble for not flossing - I definitely floss everyday. I never used to look forward to getting my braces tightened because they would hurt and I would enjoy it. This does not make me sound like a masochist. I will not brush my teeth extra today just to get ready for the dentist.

I did not squish Alexys into clothes that were too small, simply so I could have a picture. What kind of strange, cruel Mamma would so something like that? I have not done this with all of her 0-3 month clothes, bit by bit...let her wear them "one more time", take a picture, and then wash and put away. Nope, not me.

I did not win a free portrait from Sears after entering a contest. I'm not excited about this and not going on Monday...even though we're not getting family pictures done on Saturday by our wedding photographer (who is my favourite). I am not stressed out trying to decide on outfits. Not me. It's just a photo.

I guess I really didn't do much this week - at leat not embarrassing things that need to be admitted. Phew. Maybe this week will be more entertaining for you :)

kortney elise xoxo

Blankies

Alexys is really into playing with her blanket now, and I think it's so cute. She gets excited when I give it to her and even talks to it sometimes. It's one of those blankets that is a blanket and a stuffed animal - it's a pink rabbit from her Grandma. The last few days, however, Alexys has taken to chewing on anything I give her. I knew things go into babies' mouths frequently...I just never knew it happened this young. I'm going to have to start washing that little blanket much more often, I think! I also find her with the whole thing over her head sometimes; she gets very upset when this happens, and doesn't realize she did it herself. So cute.




I've also included this fabulous and hilarious video of Alexys. Or at least I think it's hilarious. She is pretty good at playing in her Exer-Saucer now, and spends a little time in there each day. As long as she is awake and not sleepy she'll stand and kinda bounce, and hold her head up nice and strong. She just leans there if she's too tired. Anyways, she's starting to hit the toys and what not, and this one toy makes this awful, loud noise...Alexys hates it. I didn't catch it on video fast enough, but she kept hitting it over and over and then getting mad. I had to hit the toys in the video, but it's still funny.

kortney elise xoxo

Things

Things Alexys can do/does do/has done/does lately:

-rolled over from back to tummy...more than once.
-sits in her Bumbo and enjoys it.
-enjoys watching the Food Network (I'm not even kidding. She shows preference to channels. I thought it was based on the colours and music, but the Food Network has neither of those...).
-LOVES story time - like actually smiles and looks at the pictures.
-laughs...except it's more of a gaspy, snort...I'm pretty sure it's her laugh.
-weighs 13lbs. 3oz and is 25inches tall. That is 50th percentile for weight, and 75th for height.
-plays in her Exersaucer...but only if there's a pillow under her stubby legs.
-outgrew her 0-3 months clothes, save for a couple things that Mom isn't ready to put away yet.
-can sit on her own for a couple seconds...she just doesn't have the balance.
-was told by the doctor that "Mommy is in trouble" since she is SO strong (Alexys, not mommy!).
-slept through the night...OH WAIT. Nevermind. This is no where NEAR close to happening - not my porky little girl ;) She just needs to eat and eat...sigh. One day, right?

kortney elise xoxo

Life as a...Mamma

Lately I've been at a loss of words on my blog, though I'm not sure why. It seems I only post Not Me Mondays and pictures...perhaps it's because a picture is worth a thousand words. Maybe it's because Facebook is easier. Who knows.

Being a mom is still really weird to me, quite honestly. I love every moment of it, from late night feedings to early morning ones (though I find it easier to get up at 3am, than 7:30am - haha!), from poop explosions to laundry disasters, from cooing to giggling, from smiling to frowning! I love everything about being a Mom. It's weird to me, though, because I still can't believe Alexys is MINE. Sometimes I just feel like I'm babysitting...even if I can't imagine life before her anymore. It's strange to have someone so fully depend on you...and never want to let her down. No feeling in the world can compare sitting next to your daughter, holding her hand and playing with her hair for over an hour...while you both just stare into each other's eyes - NOTHING is comparable. She's so beautiful, I could just squish her (in a good way of course!).

It's a strange thing to worry all day - to wake up and worry that you've slept two hours in a row - is she still breathing? Part of me doesn't even want Alexys to sleep through the night - I'll wake up far too many times worrying! I don't even know what I'm going to do when she's older. I guess everything (well mostly everything!) my parents did and said makes sense now. Sigh - they always warned me I'd think this way one day. It's strange to worry about her future, and think about things like who will she be? Will she be a doctor? An athlete? Will she get married? I know those are future worries, but sometimes laying in bed your mind can't help but wander.

I love being a mom, and I wouldn't trade this for anything in the entire world.
kortney elise xoxo

Not Me!!!

Would you like to participate in this blog carnival and enjoy what other people haven't been doing this week? Well, click on over to Mckmama's Blog and read up on the rules and find some new reads!

I am not presently so tired I cannot keep my eyes open - not me. I'm not spending time writing this post and playing on Pogo just because I wanted some alone time today. I shouldn't be sleeping, not at this hour...not when Alexys will be up in just two or three short hours (I wrote this Sunday evening at around 11:45pm!).

I didn't go through our fridge yesterday and find some rice and veggies from before we went to Alberta. Instead of opening the lid and braving the mold, and washing out the dish, I did not just throw out the whole container (yes Mom, it was my own container). That would be wasteful in such a time of recession.

I didn't spend the night at my mom's house twice this week, mostly out of pure laziness and the desire to be lazy. How ridiculous would that be! Especially since one of the night's was my second night being home from Alberta and the suitcases were definitely not laying on the ground full of clothes. I did not enjoy laying in bed with the laptop, while being served Starbucks from my Dad. Not me - I'm not spoiled!

I did not check on Alexys 16 times in one evening, the first time she slept in crib. Not me - that would disturb the baby and wake her up from all that opening and closing of the door. I did not freak out - twice - thinking she wasn't breathing, and place my hand directly on her mouth to feel if she was breathing. That would be overkill, especially since I don't need to stand on a stool to reach the baby's mouth (because the crib is too high and I am too small).

I do not have four empty picture frames on my wall and/or mantle - they do not contain pictures of the models that come with the frames. People haven't noticed this and commented - multiple times (but in my defense we're getting professional family photos done in two weeks and I wanted to wait until then to fill the frames!).

I did not buy the cheapest, most uncomfortable feeling toilet paper (two whole packages) in the world from Safeway simply because I got 50 airmiles for purchasing it. I have since then not proceeded to use more than necessary amounts of TP everytime I use the washroom just to use up the rest - not me...that would be wasteful.

I did not send out the last of our Christmas letters and birth announcements last week - how silly, as Alexys is two and a half months old and Christmas was long ago. Not me ;)

kortney elise xoxo