My & Jen O.’s mom’s group, Durham Mom’s Night Out, is hosting Jesse Martell from Pulse CPR this coming Wednesday for an informative evening on subjects we hope we’ll never have to draw from: CPR/childhood emergency prevention.

Our evening is normally invite-only, but because this is so important for parents, we want to open it to all moms who read this site.

The cost is just $12/person, which is VERY reasonable for a course such as this.

Any money remaining after the room rental and speaker fees we are donating to Bethesda House: a women’s shelter, and advocacy/support organization for women and children suffering domestic violence www.bethesdahouse.ca

If you’re interested, please email durhammoms@gmail.com and we’ll send you the details. Please note you MUST pay at the door.

For more information on the class and Jesse, see his listing here: http://www.durhamregionbaby.com/health-and-safety/

A Bowmanville-based self defense business has contacted Durham Mom’s Night Out offering to teach us ladies how to kick some attacker ass.

The cost is $15/person for a two hour seminar, hosted at a group member’s house in Whitby. We’re booked for Wed. Sept. 23.

Any of you ladies interested? We thought it was a unique opportunity for the discounted price (regularly $20), intimate setting and targeted approach to moms — so I thought I’d put it to all of you, too. We all know how important safety is, especially with our kids and when we’re heading home late by ourselves Wednesday nights.

Let us know by leaving a comment below or emailing Jen and I at durhammoms@gmail.com ASAP.

p.s. — I’m also working with an infant/child CPR/safety professional — also a firefighter — to come speak to us in October, and will post details about that when it’s finalized.

One of the things I love most about this site and every Wednesday of the week at Durham Mom’s Night Out is the wisdom found in the company of other mothers.

Here’s just a small example, a tiny tidbit of advice that has made my day incredibly less stressful.

One of the biggest battles with have with Lucy is not only getting her to put on her shoes, but to put them on the right feet. I tried to show her that each shoe is the same shape as each foot — curved along the outer edge and straight along the inside — but it just wasn’t sinking in.

It was exasperating for everyone. One of the presumed benefits of having a first child that’s almost three years older than the second is that She Who Came First should be able to do certain tasks without parental support, therefore leaving said (stressed) parent free to get She Who Came Second ready with as little screeching as possible (mine).

While bemoaning this at East Side Mario’s last Wednesday night, my friend Laura gave me this advice, via her aunt, a kindergarten teacher:

Draw a shape/symbol/letter on the edge of each shoe that faces inside. Tell child that the shapes/symbols/letters have to kiss. If the shapes/symbols/letters are facing outside — and not each other, kissing — the shoes are on the wrong feet.

Let me tell you: Lucy has got her damn shoes on the right feet every single day since last Thursday morning. We have flowers on her flip flops, polka dots on her sandals, triangles on her running shoes.

And my gray hairs are coming in at a slightly less feverent pace.

Laura, you rock! Thanks for the tip.

Eric has Alice’s cold, and Lucy is getting Alice’s cold.

My family, they are The Miserable.

I am covered in snot from the fountain that is Alice’s nose. It’s crusted in my arm hair, on my breasts from feeding, in my ponytail. Tell me why I decided to wear black today? A colour that shows sinus mucus in streaks of yellow white on my shoulder and chest?

The attitude from Miss Lucy can’t be seen on the outside, but let me assure you: I am covered in it.

I so need this evening’s Durham Mom’s Night Out. I crave it each week, but this Wednesday in particular it’s an actual survival mechanism.

If you’re in and around Ajax tonight and want to meet us at Montana’s on Hwy. 2 @ Salem Rd. (7:30 p.m.), please do! I will be the one licking the sweet, sweet cornbread. And drawing photos of The Miserable with the crayons on the table…

(With shoutouts to regulars Cristen, Ang, Cathy, Emma and Sarah N. — I wish y’all lived closer!)

After much hand wringing, some general freaking out and a few tears, we seem to have a solution to the State of the House (post and comments here). Or, at least we think we do.

Anyone who knows my husband will not be surprised at how he took to this dilema: He created a spreadsheet.

(Apparently this is what he gets paid to do all day. Who knew!)

I’ve had to give up the notion of a clean house all at once (as Ang does), and we’re now focusing on a specific few tasks each night. Aside from laundry, each night should only require each of us to spend around 20 minutes cleaning. Of course, this does not include the monumental task each night of cleaning the kitchen up from dinner, but that’s just part of life.

We’re on day two, and I’m loving it so far. I feel like we’re both in this together more, and like that I have a specific thing to do each day. It appeals to the planner/controller in me. But I also told Eric The Schedule and he need to be flexible to accommodate my work, too.

We’ll see how it goes. Maybe something you can try?

In other news, on Sunday night I ate a piece of cheese on my chicken burger. REAL cheese from a cow. And Alice was completely fine.

Perhaps we’re seeing the end of the daily allergy?

At Durham Mom’s Night Out tonight, we’re trying out Mexican Cuban. And I am SO having some more cheese…maybe even *gasp* sour cream.

This is just the second photo in existence of my little family, taken this weekend at the Durham Mom’s Night Out playdate at the park to meet each other’s partners and kids (we had lots of fun, and look forward to planning another this summer. Perhaps with name tags. And food.).

This photo is so fitting of what life if like right now: Me with Alice permanently attached, Eric and Lucy always smiling and playing together. I’m so glad to have a record of it.
It’s so hard to get all four of us together, happy, clothed half decently, and have someone else around to snap a photo! Thanks, Jen O.

Speaking of elusive, have you ever tried to get six people — including two babies and two toddlers — to look up, smile, not fiddle or dance or twist or kick the ground or each other, with open eyes?

My eyes are closed. Jen is being wooed by Alice, while Avery contemplates hitting someone with that bottle. And who knows what planet Lucy and Eirinn are on.

Now the babies are going at it, and the rest of us are looking at different…what? Specks in the sky?

Eirinn and Lucy: “Tra-la!” Avery: “Grass!” Jen: “Did you get one yet?” Carly: “Wha?” Alice: “Ba-ba-ba-ba.” Also: strange dude in the background.

Success! Or as good as it’s going to get.

 All of us at the Durham Mom’s Night Out cookie exchange last week, L-R, starting with Jen O. in the blue coat, Laura, Colleen, Kelly, Carolyn, Michelle, Anie (pregnant, with a girl and due next month!) and Lauren (also pregnant, with a boy, due in April!). My apologies to the two preggo ladies for over-exposing your faces with my camera’s ridiculously bright flash…brings new meaning to the word glowing, doesn’t it?

We had a great mix of goodies, including Rocky Road, pumpkin squares, molasses cookies, mocha cookies, peanut butter cups, magic squares and more. I ended up making maple caramel popcorn.

I dunno what the ladies thought of it, but I think it turned out great: Sweet and caramely, crunchy and salty. And so easy and quick to make. It’d be a perfect Christmas present in a pretty tin or gift bag. I’ve included the recipe, below. Enjoy!

Maple Caramel Popcorn

10 c. freshly popped popcorn (around ½ c. kernels)
1 ½ c. pecan halves (optional)
1 1/3 c. granulated sugar
1 c. butter
¼ c. maple syrup
¼ c. corn syrup
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. maple extract

• Place popcorn in large greased roasting pan
• Break pecans in half (if using) and add to pan
• In large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, bring sugar, butter, maple syrup, corn syrup and salt to a boil over medium heat
• Boil, stirring constantly, until candy thermometer reaches hard-crack stage of 300 degrees F (149 degrees C) – approx. 10-12 minutes
• Remove from heat and stir in maple extract
• Pour over popcorn and stir to coat evenly (do this quickly, as it hardens fast!)
• Let cool, then break into bite-sized pieces

*Can be stored in an air-tight container for up to one week

• Does anyone else agree the Tim Hortons drive thru should be reserved for pregnant women, those with kids in the car, the elderly and the disabled? Kind of like a “women and children first” thing? Because do you, chain-smoking cell-phone chatting man in a suit all by himself in the car, really need to clog up the line? Obviously you’re capable, what with your multi-tasking ways. And you’re one more unnecessary car between me and a much-needed tea, which I could not secure (nor a shower) because of how long it takes to stuff two squirming kids into winter gear and get out of the house
• Where in the world does babies’ green poop comes from? The yellow-brown shade I can relate to, but green? I know it’s normal, but each time I open Alice’s diaper and see those vibrant chunks, it makes me eye her suspiciously
• It’s taking me days and days of working in snippets, but I’m sending out a December newsletter this week. It’s going to include a 15%-off coupon for a neat new and local online children’s clothing resale store started by a Whitby mom
• We moved Alice into her room Sunday night. It was so nice to get our bedroom back, so we can brush our teeth with the door open, and turn the news on before bed. We kept her in so long for fear she’d wake up Lucy. But two nights in, and all is well — last night she only woke up once to eat, giving us two four-hour blocks of sleep…I’m a new woman
• Our neighbours across the road are getting geothermal heating put in, so have a giant drill in the backyard digging and digging and digging. The floor in here is rumbling, and there’s a constant hum outside
• “Is it Christmas Eve yet, Mum-Mum?” asks Lucy at every. single. meal. together. Jen O. has a hilarious post about this on My Tornado Alley
• Speaking of Lucy, today is her last day at Julia’s until Jan. 5, as our provider shuts down the two weeks of school holidays
• Tomorrow is the Durham Mom’s Night Out cookie and treat exchange, and I’m terribly excited to see everyone and come home with goodies. I’d planned to make caramel popcorn, but in the middle of the night started having second thoughts. Would you enjoy receiving a bag of that, even though it’s not a conventional cookie/treat?
• Today is the last day to enter to win the Jungle Safari gift basket from Finest Expressions! Click here to find out how to enter

I am missing Wednesday night out with the ladies so much. I knew before how important that one night a week to myself was — it completely re-energized me for the whole week — but it’s REALLY apparent now. And am needing it more than ever now, too, what with two darling yet demanding children requiring so much time.

We’re starting Operation Get the Baby to Take a Bottle in the next week or so, but until that’s well established and she’s sleeping a bit more at night — rendering Eric and I a bit less zombie-like in the evenings — regular nights out are still a ways off. I’m hoping to be back sometime in January.

That being said, the second annual Durham Mom’s Night Out Cookie n’ Treat Exchange is scheduled for Wed. Dec. 17, and there’s no way I can pass up dozens of delicious desserts.

Need a night out sans babies and partners, and want to collect a menagerie of baking for the holidays? We’d love it if you could join us. The more people, the more treats to exchange!

Interested? Email durhammoms@gmail.com and I’ll add you to our weekly email invite, and send you baking and location details.

For those of you already on the list, please RSVP by Wed. Dec. 10 so we have time to plan and shop and bake.

Hope you can make it!

p.s. — a bunch o’ enthusiastic people have joined DMNO over the months, but never made it out: Shy? Nervous? Strapped for time? This low-key, holiday-themed night is the perfect time to come out! Check out the site, linked above, to find out what we’re all about. Lots of new activities planned for 2009.

For those that know the shores of Lake Ontario in Whitby, can you help?

I’d like to plan another evening sunset stroll with the Durham Mom’s Night Out ladies (wanna come?) this week, and would love to check out Whitby’s waterfront. But I’ve never been south of Victoria, and have no clue where to meet.

Pulling this map down, I see the Lion’s Promenade, Rotary Sunrise Lake Park and Heydenshore Pavillion Park — all of those sound promising, but I’m not sure where parking lots are, if there’s a trail to waddle meander down etc. This Waterfront Trail site suggests Heydenshore and Sunrise as main access points with parking.

Suggestions from you Whitbites (Whitibians?) or those-in-the-know would be much appreciated…

I will even bribe you with a photo. Because how can you resist flour on the nose and the cute jutting chin?