A Love Letter to My Husband

Dear Keith,

One of my favourite things is when you are putting the girls to bed, and I am downstairs on the couch (usually watching some lame TV show, or occasionally being productive, folding laundry) and you are reading to them.  I can just hear your voices, but not enough to make out your words. That sound, of you reading and chatting with them before bed, is probably my most favourite sound in the world.  The low tones of your voice reading, and the little giggles and higher voices of the girls.  It is really beautiful.  Probably you think that I love watching TV so much that I don't want to do the bedtime thing, but really I just love to hear that sound.  (geez, these hormones are making me really sappy! 

Love, S

And, unrelated... Gestational update:  I am at the stage of pregnancy where shaving my legs has become an athletic event.  I had the best of intentions today, but just thinking about all the bending and reaching made my tired.  Thus, my legs are still unshaven.  Maybe I'll eat an energy bar today and then be able to do it later.  Maybe not. 

Dear Google,

You know when you have to type in the 2 words for security before psoting something?  Well, first, they are not even words.  Maybe in some strange language that is not mine.  Could you please give me English words?  And could you please use a better font?  Really!  I know my eyes are not 20/20, but come on, for the love of Pete!  It takes me 3 tries just to post a comment on my sista's blog!  It looks like those street signs that the rednecks have shot up with their long guns so you can't even see the speed limit anymore! It's no wonder I hardly ever post things.  Also, could you please find me someone who will buy my car for me, please pretty please?  That would be super helpful. 
Thank you.  

Also, a conversation with Mina, who is very interested in the birthing of this baby, and all things uterine and umbilical. 

Mina: Mom, can Anna please come to see the baby get born?
Serinda: No, it will be just family and Noreen (our fantastic Midwife).
M: But mom, she really wants to see it.
S: No, it will be private.  She can come the next day.
M: But really mom!
S:  I might be bare naked and she should not see me naked. 
M: Okay.  But can I tell her about it?
S: Sure!
M: Even the bare naked part?
S: Yes, you can tell her about the bare naked part. 


ha ha ha ha ha haha !

PD day

 I have surfed the internets this week, and been very annoyed that nothing is new, none of the blogs I stalk have anything new posted, there are no crafts I want to try, as I still have a pile of half finished stuff, and I have enough cloth diapers stashed now that I do not need to hunt down any more deals.  So I figured that I had better post something here, but could not think of anything to post other than my gripes and groans, mostly about gestating this baby...  And really, can't I think of anything else to write about besides that?  Well, sometimes not.  But today, was PD day.  There was no school for the girls, no work for me, so we decided to finally get their eyes checked.  (Yay, no glasses yet! Although I suspect that Abby is a bit disappointed.) Thing is, the eye Dr is in the mall.  The dreaded mall.  I hate malls.  They are loud and crowded and full of giddy teenagers showing their non-ballooning midriffs and old people who are walking slowly, in thier crosstrainers.  There is bad music.  There are so many smells wafting around it is like being assaulted.  (I have a hypersensitive smell thing....) The children want want want everything.  We need lunch, and everyone wants something different so I have to stand in 3 different line ups for 3 different varieties of gross.  After a very short time I get the "mall feeling" which is hard to describe, but it is probably like having a panic attack.   Anyway, Abby, on the other hand, has a totally different mall experience.  I credit this with having auntie NuNu live with us for the first couple of years of her life.  NuNu would give Abby a private fashion show every time she came home from the mall.  (Then she would try to hide her shopping bags so I would not notice them  in the recycle bin and tease her.  ha ha.)  Abby enters a mall, and she starts walking slower.  Her expression changes - like a kid who is entering Disneyland for the first time.  She looks at everything, is happy, wants to go into every store and try everything on.  Look at the map and plan her attack.  Even when Abby could just walk, we would go to the mall, and she would want to spend all of her time in the shoe and handbag department of the department store.  The girls both brought some saved up allowance money to spend.  Each of them choose something that really shows their personalities, I think. Mina choose a little Pet Shop toy.  Abby ended up with an off white linen scarf with black polkadots and a rose on one end.  She has spent the last 20 minutes at home practising different ways to tie it. 

So, that was our long day at the mall.  With 3 seperate trips to the bathrooms.  (only one of them was mine.) Oh, and just as an unrelated thing, Mina has the chin quiver that mom has!  It is so darn cute! 

To Neti or not to Neti

I have an awful sinus cold.  I have been sick for a mere 2 days and I feel so awful I can't stop complaining about it.  I can't take my usual cold and sinus miracle pill due to the gestating baby.  Therefore, I have been searching for internets answers, and all searches lead to the Neti Pot.  Which, if you have not looked at the youtube video yet, involves pouring saline water into one nostril and letting in drain out the other.  This idea kind of freaks me out a bit.  Will it even help me?  I'm not stuffed up, rather I am leaking from my nose and eyes continuously.  With a bad headache to boot.  It's not a sinus infection - I've had those before, this is "just" a cold.  There is no way I can go to work on Monday like this!  I'd have to stuff cotton rolls up my nostrils under my mask.  (Just for the record, I have NEVER done that!  But I know people who have.) And that is even grosser than pouring liquid onto my nasal cavities.  Have you tried it?  Did it work?  Did it make things worse? Is the internet crazy?  (it is, FYI.  One person suggested I "peroxide my ears". ???)

Also, as a side note, isn't is weird how all the baby develpment books compare the size of a fetus to various kinds of produce?  Anyone who has grown zucchini knows the wide range of what a "small zucchini" could be.  Couldn't they just uses inches instead? 

Our Squirmy Baby!

Here she is, baby girl Nixon #3.  I went to a private ultrasound clinic and it was fantastic!  They were so nice to me.  They gave me a fluffy spa bathrobe to keep warm, and had a flat screen in front of me so that I could watch the exam as they did it. I agreed to have a student do part of it which was nice because the experienced tech was there commenting and discussing what we were looking at while the student did it.  So here's a plug for them!  Canadian Diagnostic Centres is a great place for an ultrasound!  I went twice, as the baby was not in the right position for a few of the views they needed.  Each time the wait was minimal, a few minutes really.  They were kind and friendly, and were more than happy for Keith and the girls to come in after the exam.  The waiting room was not bursting at the seams with people and I loved that.  It was busy, but people were taken in right away. They know how to schedule appointments and stay on time. Very much appreciated. 

And, of course, everyone is telling me about how they know someone whose ultrasound said girl, but it was really a boy, so I should not loose hope.  For Goodness Sake!  Enough already!

PS I've never posted a video before, so I hope this worked.  

pregnancy weirdness #87

Today at church, Mina was sitting in (what remains of ) my lap, and eating raisins.  When I got home and changed out of my church clothes, a bunch of raisins fell out of my cleavage. 

And, just FYI, if another person tells my about how this one MUST be a boy, and maybe I'll finally get a boy, or some such comment, I am going to scream.  Boys are great and all, but we make awfully incredible girls here in the Nixon home!  My life is not going to be lesser if I fail to produce a boy. (Ultrasound is Wednesday! I'm very excited to find out the gender of this babe so that I can get sewing!) 

Also, if another person comments on "Wow, August, are you sure? You're so big already!"  Uh, yes I am sure.  So shut it, you rude stranger/friend/person. What's Your excuse for the extra poundage, huh?

Wisdom from Abby

On Friday, after a busy day, Abby said to me, "mom, I had a really good day today."  So I asked her what was so good about her day, expecting to hear something like how well her book report went, or the home reading prize she selected, or something fun that happened at recess.  You know, the usual expected school stuff.  Instead, she surprised me.  "I saw a Smart Car, a guy with a cool moustache, and a blue jay."  And I thought about that for the rest of the day, and the next day too.  Her response makes me really happy!  And it reminded me about simplicity, and beauty.  And how sometimes we "miss the forest for all the trees".  I know I do,  on a busy day.  It is so easy to forget all of the good and beautiful and simple things that make me happy.  I am going to remember smart cars, moustaches and blue jays. 

I am also going to clean out my car because the melty spring smell gags me and distracts me from beautiful things. I know there is a rotting piece of fruit in there, somewhere. Also, no one will buy the lovely little Toyota if it still has goldfish crushed into the carpet....  Reccomendations of mini vans anyone? Thanks.

A Funny Keith Story

A few weeks ago Keith told me this story.  For some reason, I could not stop laughing about it this morning!  Keith used to work for a guy who was a bit, flakey.  This guy went on mystic yoga retreats, only ate raw foods, and had crystals hanging in his window.  (Not that these things alone make someone flaky.  I'm just giving a little background here...)  So.  The plumbers would have staff meetings once in while, and the boss was really into "team building" and so on.  One time, he made all of the guys look eachother in the eyes for 60 seconds each.  So Keith had to sit there, looking deeply into the eyes of all his co-workers.  Including the guy who had only one eye, and the other was made of glass. They were supposed to be doing this so that they could see eachother as fellow human beings. 

I love my collection of funny stories about my loved ones.  My kids especially love hearing the ones about Gramma (specifically Windstorm, Hot Pepper and Butter Dish.)  Uncle Sean and his Flip Flops is also popular around here.   We should make a book... 

So there ya go.   Todays ha ha.  

Post Script

(SO much better than just PS, don't cha think?)


After going to bed last night, I thought I should have posted a picture of Keith's side of the counter around the fridge.  It contains: A coffee maker and a kettle, the sugar bowl and spoon.  And that is all.  If anything somehow lands on that side of the counter, a hair elastic, a book, a roll of tape, anything, it is promptly brought to MY side of the counter.  This is mirrored also in the state of our bed in the AM.  On my side, the blankets are all tangled up in knots, and on his side, you can barely tell that someone was even sleeping there.  I'm not sure what this means about Keith and I as people, or as a couple, or about our states of mind, but it sure is funny to me... ( there is a small chance that sometimes I put random objects on his side of the counter just to see what happens to them....) 

On another subject, being pregnant gives me weird, detailed dreams, that are really long and super crazy. And I always remember them.  Sometimes I look forward to going to sleep so I can find out what strange things await in my dreams... For example, last night, I had this very involved dream about a bizzare family holiday.  In part of this dream, Keith wanted to grow his hair long again, and was tired of waiting.  So, he got extentions.  

Dear Betina,

I hoped maybe that showing you my counter top of doom might make you feel better.  On it you can see the following:

• Knitting project.
• Abby's reading log, DNA folder and homework.
• Book about the politics of birth.  ( I know, I know...)
• Cheque book with no cheques left in it, reminding me to order more.
• Take out menu.  Because sometimes I resort to pizza just to get Mina to eat SOMETHING without telling me how disgusting it is.  
• Tax forms and what not that I still need to file.  Better yet, I need to just do the taxes for last year...
• Many sticky notes with lists of things I need to do/buy/plan/think about.
• Some other things that are under the pile that I forgot about.  

And  on the wall behind the phone is are "awards" that the girls made for me, for being a great mom. 

We all have a counter of doom.  Mine haunts me too.  But then I look up and see my trophy's and go back to building the lego towers because that is how I earned the awards. (And under the counter of doom is our "Drawer of Requirement."  If there is anything you need, it will be there.  Except the SSRI's of course.  Those are kept locked up.)

Does this count?

I think as far as mormon stuff goes, blogging on a Sunday is A-OK.  To me it is like journaling, which is heavily reccomended for a Sunday afternoon activity.  And shoveling the snow is A-OK too, as long as you make it a service to others and shovel both of your neighbours walks too. Which was nice to do today because my one neighbour has gotten to it first for the past few snowfalls, taking away my good deed intentions.  I think retired people must sit all day looking out of the window, just waiting for that last snow flake to fall so they can get out there with their fancy snow removal tools. 

So, my secret it all the way out.  I finally got the courage to tell work about the baby-to-be, and there is just no hiding it in Sunday clothes anymore.  Keith was laughing a bit about my attempts, ha ha, so I finally just gave in.  I got really fat right away this time, which my doctor said probably was because I had to stop 3 of my medications at once, and that apparantly is a recipe for getting fat.  Anyhow, I always like the first few months of pregnancy, having this little secret that only a few select people know about.  Watching other people try so hard to bite their tongues trying not to ask the seemingly obvious.  And the day you finally give in to the elastic waisted pants and feel soooo much better.  I also like the day or two when it is just me and only me who knows about it.  It is like this incredible sparkly present that you get to give to the one you love the most.  Even if it is an unexpected present. 

Kid update:

Mina cannot for the life of her say the word "envelope".  She says something like "antelope" instead.  Also, the other day we had a conversation about being old. 
Mina: Mom, are you old?
Me: I'm older than you.
Mina: But are you old?
Me: I'm old enough. 
Mina: Is Daddy old?
Me: He's old enough too.
Mina: (getting frusturated with me)  But is he old, like an old shoe?
ha ha ha. 

I took Abby to a Harry Potter day at the University science department.  They had all of these booths set up where you could do science experiments and check out "magical" things. They had the expected acid base things, and dry ice, but she also got to extract her own DNA from a saliva sample!  How cool is that?  I was so proud of her - she knew all of the answers to questions about obscure animals - like that a male platypus has a poisonous claw on his hind feet!  She was shown a skull and identified it as the skull of a Komodo Dragon. This girl is incredible!  (She also knew all of the answers to a Harry Potter quiz, but I expected that.) 

Thats all for now folks.  Oh, and I joined facebook.  (I was planning to never ever do so, but that is where my midwife updated her clients if she has to rebook an appointment. )

Musings... A bullet List

• I was going to blog about how much I hate the bleeping cold.  But, it has warmed to only -24 degrees, so I feel much better about it.  I was not enjoying the -44 of yesterday.  
• I keep telling myself that it is cheaper and more practical to by new car seats and booster seats than it is to buy a new car.  But the Mazda 5 is calling me!  Alas, a couple of Britax Marathon's should do the trick.  Or  perhaps the Radian 65's which are also narrow.  
• I made the most delicious lasagne over the weekend.  It was golden and bubbly and perfect.  I even took a picture of it for my archive of fantastic food that I have made.  I also have many pictures of various yorkshire puddings and apple pies. 
• The museum is having a Chair exhibit and I am unreasonably excited.  People thing I am a bit strange, but I can't wait!    

I should really not have started this list now, because I have to go get Abby.  More later!  TTFN!!

Mommy Confession # 73

Sometimes, when she is asleep, I sneak into Mina's room and put chapstick on her.  I just cannot abide those little chapped dry hurting lips, that keep getting licked in the cold, and never get chapstick-ed because she hates it. Sometimes, I even use vaseline.  

Merry Ho Ho!

Of all the gifts I gave this year, these are the ones I was most excited about.  I learned to knit in 2011, thanks to my amazing Mother-in-law, (and you tube, when she was not around to ask for help.)  I had a lot of waiting time in doctors offices, etc, so I got a lot of knitting done!  The Gryffindor scarf is so awesome - I knit it in a tube, so that both sides are nice, and it will be really warm. Mina's hat was a last minute project, but it turned out perfectly!  Thanks for the pattern Betina! 

We had a really fun Christmas. Mom, Anders and Celeste came over and it was very festive indeed.  I even had a festive tablecloth for the dinner.  Fancy!  And I did not run out of cutlery!  We went skating on Christmas Eve, did a secret Santa for someone, and saw some Christmas lights.  There were new PJs for all (thanks Eve!) and even new dresses, since it was a Sunday after all.  I quite enjoyed church on Christmas day. ( I always kind of envied the Catholics who get that every year, and for us it is only when the 25th falls on a Sunday. I am also envious of thier stained glass.  But I suppose I should not be envious....)  Anyway.

Merry Christmas to all!  Hope your Christmas has been happy!  And a Happy New Year too, in which we shall celebrate with the amazing cream cheese cinnamon buns, drool. 

Let There be Light!

We are officially the brightest house on the block!  Keith has revealed his previously unknown competitive streak. Next year I think there may be lawn ornaments and perhaps a mechanical lighted moose.  Every time I turn the corner and see our house lighting up the street I can't help but smile and laugh a bit because I love them so much.  Merry Christmas! 

In other festive news, my band concert was on Sunday and it was fantastic.  I love playing with a full orchestra (minus the string section).  It was the first time I know of that brass, saxophones, drums etc.  were allowed to play in the chapel.  The stake had to get special permission from SLC!  They even removed 3 pews so that we could make a little orchestra pit.  It was just beautiful, I wish you could have been there.  I invited my neighbours and and 2 of them came! This was big for me, as I have never invited a non member to a church event. There was a choir as well, and some solos.  I have 2 new favourites to add to my list: "Still, Still, Still", and "Guard Him, Joseph".  Especially when done by Brother Hatch.   

so, have a merry Christmas!

PS the Christmas recipes may be a little bit late, so to those sibs who have not sent any yet, you still can, we will just call them new years recipes this year. 

Happy #5

Here Mina is at Christmas, wait a minute!  That's not Mina, it's me!  ha ha ha.  THis picture came from the Late Aunt Connie's photo album.  When dad showed it to me, I could not believe how much Mina looks like I did at that age.  It is incredible.  I love it!

Here is the real Mina!  She had a pyjama themed party, and wore her new birthday hat (a gift from Eli, the aformentioned childhood stealer.  He is forgiven.)  And the cake, was delicious!   Best frosting recipe ever:  Put 8 oz whipping cream and 8 ounces baking chocolate, we used semi sweet, in a bowl.  Microwave until w. cream is very warm, and chocolate begins to melt.  Let sit a few minutes, then mix it together.  Pour over cake, smooth it, let sit overnight or a few hours to harden.  I put a layer of it inbetween the layers of cake too.  wowza. 

So, Happy birthday Mina!  You are hilarious, beautiful, kind, sweet and loving.  You have a great imagination, you love your friends, you adore your sister.  You love watching Mr. Bean, and Sponge Bob, you appreciate a good joke.  You love to read, take the bus to school, play with Anna, your best friend, stretch your incredibly flexible body, and make cookies with mom.  You love candy, and have the dental work to prove it.  (you are also, incredibly well behaved in the dental chair, thank goodness.)  You love to come and cuddle in my bed before my alarm goes off, asking me questions like "what starts with Q?", before I have fully woken up.  Mina, I love you.  Happy Birthday!

A Very Harry Halloween!

Happy Halloween all, it has been very Potter-ish around here!  I did not get  a photo of our "HP/Deathly Hallows" Jack-o-lantern, but here are Abby and Mina in costume, (that would be Ginny and Arnold the pygmy-Puff). The picture does not really show the tie, headband and co-ordinating nailpolish, the wand or the robe.  But, you get the idea. Mina's fluffy vest is rather simple, but it was a last minute costume switch (she was going to be a skeleton until Abby decided she should be a pygmy-puff.  Luckily, Mina was more than happy to agree.)   Abby spent much time trying to get Mina to sit on her shoulder.  There was also a themed dinner, with mashed potato ghosts, orange/purple jello, and deviled eye-balls.  And I hand piped no less than 60 gingerbread skeletons for the class parties.  This stay at home mom stuff is getting really fun, now that I am not in agony.  Sadly, only 2 weeks left then it will be back to work for me.  I always thought I would go insane if I did not get to work, but it turns out that this is not the case.  I am actually really enjoying this.  Alas.  Now I know what I am missing. 

Also pictured is Mina's first day of school, and mom baking bread with the girls.  They had a great time!  Clearly, I will never get a commercial kitchen license, as our baking practises are rather unhygenic.  I have no idea why Mina has no clothes on.  I was in a post surgical daze, that is my excuse. 

Another Gem

Mina: "Mommy, let's play castle.  Abby will be the queen and I will be the princess.  Daddy will be the King."

Me: "And what will I be?"

Mina: "Mommy, you can be the cook-servant."

thanks. 

As as side note, Martha Stewart always has really good hair.  Doncha think?

My sweet 4 year old...

On a Sunday Morning, getting ready for church. 
"But Mom, really, please, I have never been naked at church before!" ~~Mina

In other news, she is slowly loosing her innocence.  As much as I love seeing my kids grow up, learn things, go to school and make friends, it tears my heart apart to see them being subjected to the world.  Mina has a hat, well, one of many, and it is her yellow kitty hat that Granny made,  It has cute little ears on it.  She Loooooves this kitty hat, and wears it often.  She has me stuff the ears to they don't flop over.  She wears this hat to church and to bed.  One day, she came home from school with the yellow kitty hat in her backpack, and told me she would not wear it anymore.  Because Eli was laughing at it, and trying to take it away.  Eli!  You stealer of childhood! You breaker of a mother's heart!  So, since that day, the beloved kitty hat has sat alone in the bin.  Very very sad.  It is the thing about school that I hate the most.  I wish I could forever cocoon my children so that they could always be pure "Äbby"or pure "Mina", without all of the influences of the Eli's of the world.  (It kind of makes me think of the plan of Salvation in a way, and how HF must have felt about sending us down here and watching us grow up...)   Today the kitty hat, and songs about farting.  Tomorrow, well, I hope my girls are strong enough to love what they love, and be true to themselves.  I hope the kitty hat will be dusted off and worn proudly again. 



BTW, Happy Thanksgiving!  gobble gobble. 

The Things I Have Lost

Well, today I took off the remainder of the steri-strips from my tummy.  And, it turns out, not only have I lost 60 + cm of small intestine, I have also lost my belly button.  Very unsettleing.