• 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

Yesterday, at the diner, I ordered French toast.

I can’t remember the last time I was so hungry. I was stupid and packed a snack for Lucy, but not for my pregnant self (typical mom moment, right?), which can demand food at any second with little warning.

So I got Lucy set up eating, ripped apart the sweet bread, covered it in syrup, and started shoveling. I ate for several minutes, mindlessly, oblivious to the people around me, only wanting some relief from the empty, famished, nauseated feeling in my stomach.

A few minutes later, I reached into my lap for a napkin and realized there was a dotted line of syrup down the front of my shirt.

“Oh, look, Goose, we got Mummy all dirty!” I said loudly, without thinking.

We. Not I and myself. We.

Because godforbid I admit to being a slob — albeit a starving one –  when there’s a handy toddler right there to share the blame.

Today, I saw a man. A retired farmer, if I had to guess by his plaid shirt and suspendered jeans. Gnarled fingers, his wrists turning inwards. Arthritis, maybe?

What’s most interesting are these little metal rings he’s attached to all the pulls on his person: To the zipper on the front of pants, the Velcro straps on his shoes, on his keys.

It’s so his thick, curled fingers can work these intricate pieces of everyday life. The ones you and I take for granted.

He reminded me of my Dad — he’s clever like that, too.

***

A girl at the bank. She had long blonde hair in a tight ponytail on top of her head, then braided like a whip down her back. It was still wet.

She had very round glasses and her features sort of protruded from her face.

She kept rocking back and forth at the front counter, silently moving her lips.

I’ve seen her before, at the grocery store. She never stopped moving while we shopped for apples.

***

Why do so many young girls wear such low pants that only push their hips and bellies up in exploding muffin tops?

Eric cooked sausage on the BBQ the other night, and when he sliced it open like the street vendors do, the filling blobbed out the sides like keloids. The girls look like that.

***

Dear Lucy,

You were so brave getting your hair cut this morning.

I was so proud of you, especially when Debbie took the red sucker right out of your hand to rinse the hair off, and you didn’t make a peep.

Love Mummy.

If you haven’t seen this already, Maple Leaf Foods has recalled a TON of deli meat contaminated with nasty listeriosis.

One person has died, and 17 cases of listeriosis have been confirmed: 13 in Ontario, two in British Columbia and one each in Saskatchewan and Quebec. There are still 16 more suspected, but unconfirmed, cases of listeriosis also in Ontario.

The products that are part of the recall have been distributed to nursing homes, delis and restaurants across Canada, including McDonald’s and Mr. Sub.

Exposure to the listeria bacteria can lead to listeriosis, particularly in the elderly, the very young, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps and fever.

See a full list of the recalled meats and a detailed story from CTV here.

We rarely buy deli meat anymore because of the nitrates (and other goodies you can read about here), but occasionally buy preservative-free, cooked, fresh sliced meat from our local butcher. Ironically, because of running short on time, I picked up some processed turkey from the grocery store this week — luckily, it wasn’t from Maple Leaf.

In other news, dollar store ponies can attack your children with eyes that fall out! Not so plush now, are you, made in China Playful Pony imported by Canasia Toys & Gifts Inc. of Vaughan.

UPDATE, MON. AUG. 25: All meat has now been recalled from Maple Leaf’s Toronto Plant. Click here for more details, and here for a complete list of affected products.

Specifically, California, Chicago, New York, Nashville, TN or El Paso, TX, because the Baskin-Robbins’ there are giving away free soft-serve ice cream this coming Wednesday to knocked-up ladies.

Yep, it’s Bump Day 2008.

While I think anything free is totally awesome, it’s sorta sexist, isn’t it? Do they do a similar day for Dad-to-be’s? Or maybe men with guts who look pregnant?

And what if you aren’t showing yet (as many first-time moms don’t until even five months or so)? Bring in the pee stick? That’s a wonderful scene to ponder, isn’t it? Hormonal, hungry women lined up with urine-soaked tests in their hands, demanding free ice cream.

The fluffy little Easter Bunny is hopping around town. He always sneaks up on me each year.

He’s at both the Oshawa Centre and the Pickering Town Centre until this Saturday — click the links for hours, photo packages and more.

Lucy is at the age where she’s totally ready for an Easter egg hunt, and I’m so excited to have one this weekend. As Jen O. said, I’m not entirely thrilled about loading Lucy up on sugar, but am planning more of a modern day hunt: There will be some chocolate and refined sugar, but also some notepads and stickers and markers and other small little presents any toddler would love.

My Mom bought Lucy the most adorable dress for her birthday, perfect for Easter: It has embossed bunnies, sequins, ribbon, little chicks and other whimsical bits. She’s going to look adorable. She’ll probably smear her dinner or dirt on it 0.598 seconds after we put it on her, but that’s part of toddler living, right?

Sunday we are heading to my parents’ house to visit with them, my Grandma and Aunt Judy and Uncle Randy. It will also be my birthday dinner, as I turn the big 29 on Saturday, March 22. The last year in my twenties! Friday I’m celebrating with the Game Night Hooligans and Lucy with Thai food at my fave restaurant in Ajax, followed by ruckus back in the Boonies after. Gooood times.

Got any Easter plans? Big hunts planned for your wee ones? Giant dinners with family? Chocolate gorge fests? Can I come?

I’ve spent an eye-crossing amount of time updating and adding to the links section the past week or so. They desperately needed to be done to preserve my sanity, and also in response to what Mr. Google says people are looking for (namely: stuff to do, places to go, and birthday party centres — all for Durham).

Things are now split into what I hope are easier-to-navigate categories for y’all:

Durham links: The main entrance, also found on the right-hand toolbar over there, and directly above, under the logo

Places to play: Municipal recreation programs, indoor gyms, dance, birthday party centres

Stuff to do: Get out of the house with grown-ups (including, of course, Durham Mom’s Night Out!), Early Years Centres, public libraries, event listings, travel/tourism links

Durham daycare/nannies: Places to find childcare, resources

Safety and support: Recalls, breastfeeding, car seat safety checks, postpartum depression, parenting etc.

Local businesses and mompreneurs: List of consignment stores, baby gear, online sales, local entrepreneurs

Health: Labour, fitness, beauty

Fave Canadian retailers: The Eh! online stores we love the best

Coming soon: Baby shows, crafts and photography. Got any to add?

Have a site you love you want listed? A category to suggest? Business to add? Leave a comment or drop me an email. These are ever-expanding.

Enjoy!

My new journey south on Wednesday evenings to Durham Mom’s Night Out takes me past Haugen’s restaurant.

Normally passing a restaurant on a sultry summer evening wouldn’t cause a second glance, but Haugen’s on Wednesday nights holds the title of Creating Its Own Traffic Jam because of an awesome spectacle: Classic Car Cruise-In.

Hundreds of classic cars pour into the field behind and beside the restaurant. I’ve never gone to the show, but just seeing it from the road takes your breath away. So many cool cars! And the atmosphere — couples walking hand-in-hand, grease monkey-types bending inside hoods, biker dudes chatting with middle-aged white guys, all against the setting sun — is entertaining and so…summer unto itself.

The food at Haugen’s is pretty good, too, especially their seasonal pies (strawberry and blueberry notably) and butter tarts.

Maybe us Moms will have to check it out some night.

(p.s. — Thursday night is a Motorcycle Cruise-In!)

Remember back in September, when we changed Lucy’s diaper on the table of a Tim Hortons and the Internet took a hit out on us?

I was thrilled to find a local Tim Hortons that is, finally and truly, family friendly.

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