yeah, I’m late…give a girl with pus covered tonsils a break, will ya???

Behold the destructive powers:

Yup, she is a monkey!

In other news, we had the girl’s parent teacher tonight, and got her report card yesterday. Our little girl is in grade 1, and doing awesome. She is French Immersion, and so far, it seems to be going well for her. Grade 1 is DRAMA though!

Now the girl has had the flu for a couple days, since she woke up yesterday with a temperature. She is doing okay…when she is on Advil. When it wears off she is feverish, exhausted and achy. Tomorrow is a PA day, so at least she has an extra day to recover before she starts missing school. Now I am really unsure what she and I should do about the vaccine.

Charlotte actually got the vaccine last week, Thursday-she had no reactions. My doctor told me they had a clinic running that night, and the man and I made a sudden decision for me to take her and get it if it is not busy. We walked in and out in 10 minutes. She may have already had the virus…but she is so young and vulnerable and we don’t know, so we decided to just do it. The fact that we heard about the 3 month old who died of H1N1 that day was probably a factor.

I don’t know what the girl and I will do. My doctor said that the flu going around now is H1N1, so if we are sick it was probably that…but also said the official recommendation is if your flu was not confirmed as H1N1 (and they aren’t testing anymore so mine was not and Zoë’s wont be unless she, god forbid, ends up in the hospital) then to assume it was not and get the shot. Great! That helps! I don’t want us to get it if we don’t need it, for many reasons…not the least of which is that there is already a shortage. Which is not surprising since I know many, many people who have been able to talk their doctors or the clinics into giving them shots even though they are not in the priority group…which is upsetting. Believe me I understand being scared and wanting to be protected, but they priority groups exist for a reason, and I certainly would not want to be taking the vaccines from a pregnant woman, or vulnerable infant or someone with already compromised health, and it makes me both sad and angry that so many healthy low risk people would.

1) It is hot. Too hot. I know a lot of people have complained about how cool the summer has been, but I am not one of them. I hate the heat. I am hot and crabby and sweaty and anti-social in the heat. Blech.

2) Charlotte is teething. Or has a virus. Or both. She has been feverish and fussy for days. She also HATES medication, to the point that she makes herself throw up if I force it into her…so it has been difficult to keep her temp down and pain under control. Daytime has been okay (with a lot of baby-wearing and nursing) but nights have been hellish. Besides waking a lot more than usual, getting her to sleep has been a chore. Usually she nurses to sleep between 8-8:30pm quite easily, but not in the last several nights. Instead, she has fussy and tired and WILL NOT NURSE (even though she nurses fine all day). She’ll latch for like 2 seconds, then pull off (sometimes after biting me) and starts screaming and crying until she calms down, and nurses again, repeat. Last night she did this for 2 hours, and then the man walked her up and down the stairs until she fell asleep. Seemed to be on the same cycle tonight, but she did eventually settle a bit more easily than last night. Fingers crossed that this is an indication of improvement.  She is lucky she is so cute:

3) I have had to wear Charlotte a lot. I mean, I always have out of the house since it is easier than lugging a stroller all over (I reallly only use one for places like the mall, for quick trips or to go to places I will be setting her down anyways, I never do) but these days  she likes to be close to me always and I have had to wear her at home a lot too, mostly on my back since I cannot get anything done with her hanging from my front. I have a new (to me) Storch and am working on my back carry (not easy). Luckily I can get her on my back in the Mei Tai very easily.

4) Did I mention I am hot and grumpy?

5) I am really into silver these days. Ihave been wearing a pile of silver bracelets I got, and a silver necklace with some Brighton charms my mom got me. I was always a gold girl in the past, but these days for some reason silver is winning me over!

6) I am very very hot. Hot and sweaty and miserable because I am so hot.

7) The girl has morphed into a dramatic, sassy, attitudy, non-listening wannabee tween. Luckily, she is cute too (I don’t have a recent picture you have not seen, loads on the previous post though).

8. Hot. Very Hot.

we had a great time, but I am too tired and achy (I got a cold…I always get sick when I travel…grrr) to write much now.  so I will leave you with some pictures…

Random Pictures:

i gave her the pickle as a joke…joke was on me she sucked it for at least 30 minutes

Pics from Santa’s Village:

The grounds at our resport (The Baldwins…we really enjoyed…more later):

beach pics (a little cool for Charlotte, so I stayed out with her):

Pics from the Aspen Valley Wildlife Santuary (amazing place):

Photo-shoot on our last evening, when we walked to the beach:

late again, but here is my big baby girl, who turned 7 months old on Thursday:

and last month:

I don’t think she is much bigger, but she sure looks older.

Talking about getting older, the girl has finally learned to swim, without water wings!!! She was making some progress in the shallow end a few weeks ago, and today she just went for it. She was even jumping into the deep end of the pool (with me or her father right there in the water, of course) and then swimming to the shallow end! Sniff, my big girl is growing up. I am so proudof her though!!! Too bad we did not have the camera.  She is sure ot get some practice on our little trip next week though, and I`ll get some pictures then!

Like me, her swimming is not the most aesthetically appealing, not much style there, but she stays afloat and has fun and that is what matters!!!

As for Charlotte, not so much is new. She is eating solids now, but does not touch baby-food.  It is sorta funny…baby-led weaning was my original plan for Charlotte (basically giving her a bit of whatever age-appropriate foods we are eating, and letting her eat what she can or wants to eat) but then because of her (dairy and soy) allergies, I decided to go the traditional route of starting with pureed foods at 6 months.

1) I always knew tanning sucks. Told ya so.

2) Unless I find a good alternative to watchtvsitcoms.com, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me. This is a SERIOUS crisis.

3) This is the cutest hoodie ever. I own it.

4) I want these. Sadly, Lululemon no longer carries them:

5) Charlotte has cut 2 teeth. They don’t show yet, but I can feel them.

6) We are going here next week.

7) We watched Bruno on the internet last weekend. It was funny-ish, but not nearly as funny as Borat.

8 ) I am running again. Slowly.

9) Pictures from Ontario Place:

10) Random  pictures to amuse and delight:

all I have is some pics. okay, lots of pics:

Char in the Beco

The girl helping Charlotte organize her toys:

My peeps:

Bad kitty:

Adorable WCW skirty:

I think it is time to start baby-proofing:

I forgot to use suncreen on my back today…I was so good about the rest of my body!

gap-toothed

toothless

tooth in hand

(continuing to have issues with formatting and focussing camera. oh well)

*this is actually a post I did for a car-seat related bulletin board, so some things are sorta assumed.  I am cross posting here since I know some of my readers are into car-seats, and some of them are getting into car-seats, and some of them should be into car-seats, and some of them just like to look at my car-seats. Please feel free to ask any questions

I was inspired by the clinic I did Saturday and a lot of car-seat discussion recently to finally install the TrueFit.  Whew, lots of work. This involved moving ODD’s Radian from middle to outboard, moving the bucket to DH’s car (which needed a seat-belt with locking-clip install) and then getting to the TrueFit.

It was not an easy install. Getting to the belt-path under the seat cover, finding the UAS straps at the back of the seat and getting them to the right place, installing the seat, and then getting the seat covered again is tough.

I did end up with a rock solid install though, but I needed 3 pool noiodles to get a 45 degree angle. DD is 6 months and has good head control, so I probably could have had it a bit more upright, but I feel better with 45 degrees until she is a bit closer to a year.

I can get to the harness adjuster easily (I know this is a problem for some) but am not sure I’ll be able to when it has less of a recline.

It is a great fit in my Saturn Ion without the headrest, but will have to be a lot more upright when I need to put it on.

Pics:

My 17lbs 6 month 26 inch baby (with and without headrest):

My 6 year old, 43 lb, 42 inch SK graduate:

The recline (weird angle in the picture, but it is 45 degrees) :

the lock-offs:

The harness adjuster:

my big baby graduated from senior kindergarten yesterday. sob. okay..I seriously think the only think sillier than a kindergarten graduation ceremony is a daycare graduation ceremony, but I still got all teary-eyed with pride!!

someone was excited by the festivities

very excited

and a good time was had by all:

Sorry for the wonky formatting!!!