Pic of the Day ~Becca, Mommy &  Lion

It was a dreary, depressing day in California. I have to admit, I much prefer the hot sunny days in California. It just doesn’t seem right to see cloudy skies here.

Becca had a doctor’s appointment this morning. It was kinda a last minute thing. You may have noticed in some of Becca’s pictures that her one eye is a little lazy. *sigh* The doctor is sending us to an eye specialist believing Becca has strabismus. Strabismus is:

…a disorder in which the eyes do not point in the same direction. It typically involves a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles which prevents bringing the gaze of each eye to the same point in space, preventing proper binocular vision, which may adversely affect depth perception. The cause of strabismus can be a disorder in one or both of the eyes; for example, nearsightedness or farsightedness, making it impossible for the brain to fuse two different images. Thanks to Wikipedia

I am pretty upset about the whole thing. J & I both noticed a few months ago. I mentioned it to the doctor in January and he told me to monitor it for a few months and if it continued…well if anything it is getting a little worse. Poor girl. Least invasive treatment, a patch over her “good” eye to help strengthen the “weak” eye. Worse case scenario surgery (probably not though), more than likely, my baby is going to have to wear glasses. I know it is not the end of the world and there are some really cute kids that wear glasses. I am just vain and do not want my daughter to have to wear glasses. More importantly, how does one convince a toddler that glasses are cool and should be worn all the time? Our appointment is not until we get back from Canada, so I guess I get to worry about it till then.

Becca and I had a wonderful afternoon. I bought her a little hardcover “journal” and some stickers at the dollar store yesterday. Today, we worked with the stickers, Becca LOVED IT! She totally got excited to take the stickers and stick them to the pages. It was not long before she would ask “Sticker, Stick Please!” it was so adorable. Then she took a crayon and scribbled on the page and said “Tree”!! I was so proud!! I think I may have created a sticker addict!!!

As you can tell I finished the new theme a little early!! I was hoping to finish it before the weekend ended, but I finished early!! I call is “Dancing Star”. I love the Nietzsche quote and ofcourse Becca is my little Dancing Star!! Let me know if there are any weird quirks! Enjoy!

Pic of the Day ~ Becca the Firewoman

Today was crazy errand day. Poor Becca was dragged from one place to another. She was an angel through it all. It helps that we made a stop at the Starbucks for milk and banana bread!! It was so cute, we walked into Starbucks and Becca squealed with delight!! The baristas giggled and commented that is was wonderful that I was starting her addiction to Starbucks early!! hehe!

All that running around tuckered out my poor toddler. She zonked out for over 3 hours!! We were invited to the park by a friend and her son, so we walked over once she woke up. Becca made me look so good , listened so well and behaved wonderfully! After exploring the park, swinging on the swing a couple times….Becca decided it was time to go. She walked up to us and stated “Bye Bye Park, Home, Supper!” LMAO! We both almost died laughing!! What a kid I have!

I am getting really excited for our trip home!! My dad called today to say he was booking my flight home. I can hardly wait to see everyone and show off my wonderful daughter (lol hopefully she will be on her best behaviour!) I am also looking forward to Easter. Becca is really into bunnies at the moment. Her Grandma gave her a big pink bunny when she was born, and she puts the bunny at the table and feeds it a stuffed carrot! It is so cute! I must try to get that on video!

I am still working on the new theme. I am so darn picky and since I am still fairly new at the process it seems to take me forever. *sigh* I hope I still like it by the time I finish it!

Pic of the Day ~ Becca, the chicken and the tractor!

This morning, Becca & I decided to head over to the Chino Youth Museum. The Mom’s group that I am not really active in, goes there once a month, so we decided to check it out.

It is an awesome museum for kids!! The whole premise behind it is to provide hands on learning with a dash of local history. They had eight exhibits set up (like tiny rooms but the divider walls were short, so a parent could look in). A theater stage, with puppets and dress up clothes, a water room with pipes you can connect and stair to climb, a police and fire station, a general store, post office and a house! Plus so much more!!! Becca really liked the dairy farm exhibit because they had toy stuff chickens she could carry around. She loved exploring the general store and “buying” groceries then taking them “home” and making supper. We stayed there for two hours! lol! Craziness eh? When is the last time your toddler did the same activity for two hours?!?!? The pic of the day kinda sucks, because Becca would not stay still long enough for me to take a picture!!

Once home we had lunch then both went for a nap. I was up early and this time of month is always crappy for me. I zonked out so hardcore three people called and I never heard a thing!! In fact I did not even look for messages until supper time!!

Ok I know most parents would love to have a manual for their kids. I need an interpretor! And pronto! Remember I said Becca was obsessed with chickens….yeah turns out she was talking about the kitchen!! lol! Now she knows about chicken and the kitchen!! Every night right after she brushes her teeth, Becca likes us to play hide and seek. One of us hides then the other takes Becca around the house looking for the other…anyway….Tonight I was like “Where is Daddy?” Becca replies “Kitchen?” and I am like eh? Why are we talking about “chickens”…then the light bulb goes off in my head….Oooooo KITCHEN!!! Poor kid!

Pic of the Day ~ Becca & Mommy

I have kept a journal since I was twelve years old. It has always been a form of therapy for me, writing down my hopes and dreams, my heart aches and disappointments. This blog is an extension of that. I still keep a private journal (a beautiful leather bound book from my Mother-in-Law), for more personal rambles and things that are deep in my heart. Yesterday was an emotional day for me, and I thank everyone that sent their support through comments and emails, your virtual hugs, thoughts and well wishes totally warm my heart and it really does help.

I am not alone in tapping into the power of blogging for therapy. I would venture to say 99% of most “serious” blogs are an outlet for the people that write them (there are always the spoof blogs that are just funny). I feel like I am apart of a huge social network of amazing, intellectual people, that support and help each other in the good times and the bad. That is very comforting and rewarding. I feel socially empowered, that I can help another through a difficult time, share a comforting comment, celebrate in the joy and laugh at life. Sharing in your world, enhances mine.

I was reading through my daily blogs earlier today and I came across one that started my tears all over again. BridgerMama shares a very personal and moving situation that occurred in her life. I think the cosmos are trying to tell me to relax, enjoy life, make friends and be in the moment…not yesterday, not tomorrow…RIGHT NOW! This blog post is a MUST read for everyone…Go!! (ok I have more to say, so go read it after you leave a comment here!)

I saw this at Heather’s and totally thought it fit my feelings yesterday.

“People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you’ll know exactly what to do.”
– Michelle Ventor

When I read the quote it meant a lot to me. I am the “season” friend at the moment. J will be moving us (again) and my time in California will be over, I will start over in another location (hopefully our last then I can be the lifetime friend). There have been times that I started out as the “season friend” and turned into the “lifetime friend”. I am the ultimate chameleon friend! It is very hard to start over and make new friends, loss touch with old friends and trying to keep up friendships long distance when life gets so crazy. The friends that I maintained have been totally worth it. They are amazing women that I cannot imagine not having as part of my life. I am very grateful to the Internet and Instant Messaging, because it makes staying in contact much easier. Many hugs to all my friends!

I had my “deep clean” at the dentist today, the first of two appointments. Miraculously it was not as bad as I had expected! YAY! Afterwards, Becca and I had a nice quiet, rainy day reading, snuggling and chasing the cat.

Pic of the Day ~ Becca on our Hike

My brain is just not functioning properly today. Becca & I were to join the Mom’s group for a Nature Hike. It was only suppose to be 43 minutes away, however that is only the case IF you take the correct freeway!! As I see Palm Springs on the horizon, my brain finally makes the connection that maybe, I am going the wrong way. UGH! So I turn around and head back (all the way back) and get onto the right freeway *sigh* Two hours later we arrive, only to discover I did not pack any diapers. I have had this kid kicking around now for over an year and a half, one would think I would remember that she needs diapers. Thankfully, most mothers understand Diaper Karma, and one wonderful mom rescued Becca & I from leakiness and ultimate doom. To top off the morning, I go into the port-a-potty (yeah yuck) to discover that my day is just getting better & better, the freaking witch arrived 6 days early, leaving me unprepared.

As Becca & I walked along the path, I never felt so alone in my life. Here we were, blessed to have a great group of women and kids to hang out with and I just want to cry. Not wanting to be “the crazy one” in the group, I swallow back my tears and kept hiking. It is not like one really wants to have a mental breakdown with a toddler in tow, with a group of women you barely know, in the middle of, somewhere. Being the girl that is from another country, that will be returning to that country at some point, is not the greatest opening to a friendship. It is hard to develop that bond with someone you know is going to leave, I totally understand that, it is hard for me too. However, that leaves me with no one to talk to, share my fears with, my pain, and my mental breakdowns. The relationships that are made are usually that of the superficial kind, not the ones you want to pour your heart out to. This is where my blog comes in. You get to read about all my craziness, you are my support, my shoulder to cry on. Yet I hold back sometimes, not wanting to worry anyone and afraid that I will come out sounding like a future mental patient. I so hate this time of month! My hormones are all whacked out, I am an emotional train wreck and my head hurts like hell.

All that being spewed out…Becca & I had a wonderful time (despite my spacey head) on the hike. Becca really enjoys watching the kids and is starting to run around with them a little more. As I have mentioned, most of the kids are older than Becca, but she loves the company. The drive home seemed quick (I did not get lost so that helped). We watched a little Dora and played with some playdough.

I cannot wait for this day to end. I need a hot bath and a good nights sleep. Hmm maybe a little rum & diet pepsi too…

ps..thank you for all your kind words about the theme, you guys are so swell!