Peekaboo! (31/365)

Playing peekaboo with Nana at the restaurant.

She had a blast. And so did Petite!

Petite and the Cats (30/365)

I don't have many photos of Petite with the cats. I got lucky this morning and she went to cuddle the cats on the couch. On the left is Smudge, on the right is Shadow.

I love this photo.

Walk a Mile in His Shoes (29/365)

Petite in Poppy's sneakers, flouncing around the house in her nightgown this morning.

Too cute.

Shhh! (28/365)

Shhhh! Petite's sleeping.

Somewhere in there she's sleeping anyway...

Diagnosis! (27/365)

This photo was taken two days ago, but I wasn't ready to post it until today.

I had the chance last night (Thursday) to sit down with my mom and tell her about the aches and pains that I've been having since the middle of the pregnancy with Petite. I had spoken to my doctor a few times about them, and after the first time or two brushing them aside, she thought that I might benefit from a consult with a rheumatologist.

That's done. And so is the follow up.

Diagnosis? Psoriatic Arthritis.

I've been on meds for about two weeks now and the difference is absolutely phenomenal. I can, for the first time in three years, take stairs one after the other instead of one at a time.

I have been pretty tight-lipped about this but it's sort of because I was unsure about what was going on. And of course, now with a diagnosis, who wants to admit that at 41 years old you have arthritis?!?! But there you go. The good thing is, it's inflammatory, not degenerative and it can be controlled and really, quite well.

To be monitored as I get older of course. At least I know what it is and how to deal with it.

Poppy with his Girl (26/365)

Poppy and Nana arrived late last night after a journey up the eastern seaboard. They're here for one week, and by the looks of it, they'll be grabbing as many hugs and kisses as they can!

Today, you get to see Poppy with his girl. I promise a picture of Nana will be forthcoming; I just didn't manage to catch one yet!

The Guest Room (25/365)

This is our guest bedroom. It's been known by a few names over the years, but this is the name that it's had most often.

In about one hour, Mom and Dad arrive. They'll be staying in this bedroom for one week while they're visiting us. It's a "stopover" per se: they've been visiting my sister and her family in the States and now, on their way home to the east coast, Mom and Dad had to stop and see Petite.

I'm looking forward to seeing them. I haven't seen them since August so it'll be nice.

Lots to do. Lots to discuss. Plans to make.

I love my family. I am glad Petite can have such a good relationship with them, even if they don't live nearby.

Kitties! (24/365)

My cats, Smudge and Shadow (now age 16). The boys like to snuggle up close. This is a pic of them lying ON me, Shadow on my hip, and Smudge further down my leg. Heaven forbid they're out of my reach so I can't get at them for a cuddle!

Hubby took this photo, I confess. We were all cozy in bed, with Petite lying between us before she went to her own room.

Sorry for the image quality. Darkened room, flash and iPhone do not a superb photo make.

Acronym Conundrum (23/365)

OHSS.

I write about infertility, and I learned about OHSS a number of years ago. For those who may not know, OHSS is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. It occurs when overstimulated ovaries (because of medication) become fluid filled and a plethora of symptoms can follow in a matter of days. From what I know of it, having never experienced it, women should seek medical assistance fairly early if that extreme sense of bloating occurs.

However, all day yesterday, I was in a meeting for the Health and Safety Committee. And all day, I stared at the acronym OHSS...

Occupational Health and Safety Section.

I confess, my brain took awhile to shift gears.

I apologize for publishing late; I was tired last night and went to bed early.

Backdating this one to yesterday so I don't get myself too confuzzled!

Helping! (22/365)

This was taken this morning as Petite was helping us make the bed.

She's such a good helper...

Firsts (21/365)

Banal I know. But this is Petite's first toothbrush.

As she grows up, there are so many "firsts" that she goes through. Many of them I've kept. But I simply cannot keep it all; I have far too much clutter in my house already. (That's a topic for another day!) So I have to toss them out. And this toothbrush has definitely seen better days! Look at those frayed bristles! She just loves to suck on the brush instead of brushing; good thing I help her along!

This is one of those firsts that cannot be reused, so it really needs to be chucked out. Before I do though, I wanted to say goodbye to Eeyore and tell him "Thank you for working with me to teach Petite the beginnings of how to brush her teeth."

So many important things she learns as she grows; this is just one of those moments.

Real Canadian Girl! (20/365)

My girl loves her some hockey, yessirree bub!

No, this is not a helmet.

Believe it or not, it's a glove. About half the size of her. But she was adamant that she was going to put it on her head and use it like a helmet.

Hmm, I wonder if there'll be an NHL for girls by the time she's ready to play...

National Popcorn Day! (19/365)

It's supposedly National Popcorn Day in Canada. I say that as that is what I received in my inbox from SCENE (a points program that lets you trade in points for movies or concessions) with an ad that at a particular theatre today, with the purchase of a regular drink, you will get a free small popcorn.

Well, I love popcorn. I love, love, love, love, LOVE popcorn. When I go to a movie, I'll make it my supper meal. After all, there's enough calories in there to sustain a normal adult for an entire day! And I'll take any excuse to get some popcorn and indulge. I told Hubby about National Popcorn Day and I asked him to get me some.

God bless him. He drove to the theatre and got me a popcorn.

Not only that, he drove to TWO theatres. The first one wasn't yet open for the day so he went to another one. (You know he loves you when...)

Happy National Popcorn Day!

Storytime (18/365)

I am a writer. I love to read. Long before Petite arrived, I was the "reader" for a number of children in my life. I am the Auntie who ALWAYS gives books to kids and enjoys reading them to the children as well, making funny voices, acting out stuff, generally making the story animated for them. Usually, they ask me to read story, after story, after story until they are drunk with sleep.


Petite has so many books. Some I haven't yet read to her. Tonight, she picked this one for storytime and snuggles in Mommy and Daddy's bed.

My Tired (17/365)

Petite mistakes the second person singular, present tense of the contracted verb "to be" (i.e., you're) for the second person singular possessive (i.e., your).

Thus "You're tired" is understood as "Your tired" and she repeats back, "Mommy, my tired."

Here, that is exactly what she said...

"My tired, Mommy."

So she got a pillow, her blankie (thank you Vee. She takes that blankie everywhere and she loves it) and her Pooh Bear to lie down and rest.

Too cute.

No Bullsh*t (16/365)

This is on the wall in my office.

It's something that a few people need to be reminded of now and then.

And it's oh-so-true.

Sunday Treat! (15/365)

The last of this year's Christmas pudding. My aunt makes it every year and it's rummy goodness is just to DIE for! I made a quick rum sauce and boy, did I enjoy every last bite! (Like a kid, I even made sure not to eat too much supper so I would have enough room in my tummy for this sumptuous treat!) Thank you Aunt B!

Sorry I'm a bit late in posting; this weekend was a busy one as Hubby was home and we had a lot of work to do around the house.

After the Snow (14/365)

Our house, after the snow had all fallen.

Hmm, now how to brave the -30 windchill to go out and take down the Christmas lights and wreath?! Brrr!

My Boys (13/365)

A typical lazy, snowy day for my two boys.

This is how they usually sleep, but they are more frequently found curled against my legs!

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful (12/365)

Winter has officially arrived in the capital of Canada. As evidenced by this photo, taken looking outside my dining room window tonight. More of the white stuff and freezing rain are forecast to fall overnight and through the day tomorrow, totalling approximately 10 cms on top of what we already have.

The morning commute promises to be messy.