SHOP (now I have that song from Mary Poppins … “I love to laugh” with the snorts and everything stuck in my head ARG!)! Oooo I love shopping. Our budget and lifestyle do not allow me to really splurge, but then again we appreciate so much more this way. It is hard to explain. Waiting for that item, that perfect piece, just feels so gratifying.

I was introduced to a whole new world of shopping when I was living in California. Not only because you can purchase pretty much anything you can imagine, but due to the friendships I forged there. My friends introduced me to a wide range of open ended toys, yarn, fabric and other lovelies that I had never dreamed of. There are many days I daydream of shopping at Target and the other US stores …

Yet now that I am home, in Canada there is a sense of pride supporting Canadian businesses. Did you know you can search geographically on Etsy and shop local? In these times, when gas prices are insane, the ecosystems are crashing around us due to pollution, shopping at home makes even more sense.

I have attempted in my limited time so far to familiarize myself with local shops in my city, going to them first before heading to the internet. I also have a growing list that I need to format and share with you all soon (it is on my ever growing to-do list, luckily we Canadians hibernate every winter so I will eventually catch up) of online Canadian shops.

I have this insane loyalty to those I adore. Bloggers that I worship, I follow them on their other endeavors (or at least try to), so for me that loyalty extends to shopping too.

I adore Canada, I am so freaking grateful to be back home (even though I miss Target), it makes me feel wickedly good that I am loyal to Canadian shops! It is better for the environment to shop local, and I adore supporting other parents and bloggers!

Do you shop Canadian? Local?

Apples ‘n Oranges is hosting The Ultimate I Buy Canadian Blog Party, all the cool people are in on it

I am in shock that it was a year ago today that we welcomed Ethan into our world. Since I never did get his birth story written down, now is as good as time as any to share it with you.

As you might recall last year by 5:45 pm Ethan had made his grand entrance. A few days later we introduced Ethan to all, in fact on my birthday! What lead up to all that you ask? Well grab a cup of tea and I will share the story with you.

J had just returned home from New Mexico, where he was interviewing for a potential position as a researcher at the National Labs. I was scheduled to be induced that evening. I was packed and so mentally ready to have this baby. The hospital called to cancel my induction, as they had a serge of labouring women. Drat! J was relieved to get a good night sleep, I however tossed and turned, not getting much sleep at all. I tried, but my nerves were fried and I was anxious.

The next morning I cautiously at breakfast and was about to shower when the phone rang!!! J & I got ready and explained to Becca that Ethan will be arriving soon. We hop into a cab (allowing Grandma M to have the car) and head to the hospital.

We check in, I undress and wait to meet our maternity nurse. We know that she will be the key to a happy, healthy labour and birth. In walks Nurse K … Oh she was such a magical blessing! I was so nervous being in the US, private healthcare system, the horror stories from women that ironically and better healthcare than I did … Nurse K set my mind at ease completely. She sat down with us to plan our day, including how we can have the labour and birth that we had hoped for. Nurse K was totally a goddess among nurses!

Nurse K set me up with the monitors and the IV, Dr D arrives shortly after a brief vist from Becca and Grandma M. We really wanted Becca to understand as much as possible and be there when she could be.

Dr D broke my water and attached an internal monitor. Now it was just a matter of time to allow the drugs to work with my body to jump start labour.

Nurse K encouraged me to sit up and to go as long as possible without an epidural. J & I talked and joked around a lot. We tried to relax and enjoy every moment. It was so much more fun and relaxed than when I laboured with Becca. That was such a scary experience! THis time around was wonderful and up until Nurse K went on lunch, panic free.

The contractions were intense and coming on strong but J would help me through each one with laughter and breathing. The induction process always makes things so much more. I was struggling when another nurse came in and insisted I lie down. I tried to argue but was feeling weak and overwhelmed. I as I went to lie down the panic set in, and the pain was so so intense. I freaked out. So an epidural was totally necessary at that point for me. Once that was all set I was calm again and the labour progressed.

Dr D came in at 5 pm to see how I was doing. I was fully dilated and ready to push! Ethan was COMING. However, the kid was facing to the side (rather than up or down) so we had to wait till he turned. I was lying on my side and I could sense when each contraction was about to happen. I would lose my breath and feel a little panic. It was intriguing. Eventually Dr D helped Ethan turn and he came into the world.

Becca was scooped away from me due to being preterm. Ethan was placed on me and stayed with us for a couple hours before being taken to the nursery to be weighed and all that jazz. It was so magical to spend that time with him. He was perfect. He still is perfect. His birth day was truly a wondrous day. J & I both enjoyed most of it and the end result was so so special.

That night, the hospital insisted J leave (it was an odd policy that I so do not understand). The woman that I shared a room with never turned her tv off. It blared throughout the night as she snored. Her baby was in the nursery. Ethan and I cuddled and nursed (sort of those first two nights were hard). In the morning I was in so much pain, and no nurse came to see me?!?! It was really weird. So I packed up and was totally ready to leave before J even arrived (he wasn’t allowed to come back till after 9 am!) I was so ready to get out of there! So I pretty much took care of the discharge stuff, never seeing a nurse, except to get some pain meds.

I was extremely overwhelmed with emotion when we got home. Hormones surged through my body, as I tried to balance my feelings fr Ethan, Becca and the world around me. As the weeks went by it all settled into place, but those first few days were tough.

So there it is. Ethan’s birth story. I hope to share some of the things that Ethan is doing as of his first birthday. For now though I am going to cherish this day with my family, celebrate an amazing first year.

Happy Birthday Ethan! We Love You!

Well, it is that time of year again. The time to reflect on the past and look forward to what is to come. This will be a two part post. The second part will focus on the year to come. Right now I want to look back at this amazing year.

The year 2007 has seen the Soodz clan live to two different states & two different countries! Plus we have added new members to the family and lost a member. It has been a year of grief and loss, but also a year to celebrate and gains. We have watched our children grow, as we too have gotten older and hopefully a little wiser.

January we were in California, pregnant and happy. Becca and I were adventurous and enjoying time with new friends. We enjoyed trips to Disneyland and the zoo. I was knitting and enjoying time with Marina and Holly. We also welcomed some fellow Canadians to California!

February was a warm month in California. Becca swam in our little yard, in her kiddie pool (something tells me we will NOT be swimming outside in February here in Canada)

March was my baby shower for Ethan, it was so amazing to be surrounded by so many mothers and celebrate. Some of those women I never saw again

April was all about Ethan! He arrived with perfect timing and left us in awe and bliss. J’s Mom stayed with us to help out and we learned how to be a family of four.

May was a flurry of play dates, adventures and visiting. I was trying to experience it all before we left California. My Dad came for a visit and to meet his new Grandson.

June we celebrated Becca’s third birthday early with all her friends. It was a wonderful pool party, perfect celebration of our time in California.

July we arrived in New Mexico. Our stuff did not.

August we went on our first family camping trip. It was so FUN! We adopted Skippy the Alley Cat. I injured my foot pretty badly, then limped to many chiropractor appointments to get back on both feet.

September my Dad came to New Mexico for a visit. We also said good bye to our dear sweet cat, Charisma and watched as Becca’s heart broke. J went for an interview in Nova Scotia for a tenure track professor position.

October was a blur. J was offered a position in Nova Scotia … to start January 2008. Started Packing. We celebrated Ethan’s first Halloween in style. Ethan as a Hot Dog and Becca as a butterfly.

November we continued to prepare for our trek back to Canada. Said our good byes in New Mexico.

December we made it home. Our stuff arrived in tact and on time. Sadly our car has not. It is on a train in Ontario and has been for almost two weeks. ugh. We have enjoyed the snowy walks and adventures with the children. Ethan’s first Christmas ws magical. Becca received a call from Santa and believes in all the magic Christmas has to offer. We even had friends come to visit us in our new home.

We have finally arrived.

We shall begin.

That is a very brief recap of our year … Now for a visual … Happy New Year Everyone …

… To get back on the road again …

We spent our first night of many in a hotel last night. With the movers packing up most of the apartment yesterday, it was simpler with the two kids to camp out down the street rather than work around all the boxes.

I thought I was reserving a room with two rooms, so that Becca could retire when she was ready and we could stay up later, preparing Ethan … etc … I was mistaken. So we all went to bed at 9pm … hehe … Actually it turned out great. Ethan only got up once through the night and J & I slept really well too!

The movers are finishing packing and loading their truck as I type … We hope they will be done mid afternoon then we hit the road to Flagstaff … I cannot wait to go! This waiting around part kinda sucks.

We are heading over to the apartment to check on the movers progress then get Becca’s hair trimmed and some lunch. Not sure how we will kill the rest of the time.

I am eager to go, but it pains me to leave everything we built here behind. New adventures to come I am sure … I hope … Venturing to the unknown is so hard, yet so much fun in the long run. Byeeee Riverside !!

Pics of the Day ~ Becca the Swimmer and Chubby Cheeks Ethan ~

I am still here … Life got way crazy the last fews days preparing for the move, more good byes, the kids, the husband … AHHHHH!

We sold out backyard play equipement & our fridge (thank you Craig’s list), all of which we had made last minute decisions on. We got good coin that we plan on putting towards the purchase a bigger play structure for Becca if we have a backyard.

J has a much greater apprecaition for how little one can get done with a newborn & a toddler in tow. It feels like you get one all settled and the other is ready and eager for attention. Yet we are making progress and ready or not the movers appear tomorrow to pack up the apartment.

We have a hotel booked for tomorrow night (the cat is not welcome but he will bask in having the entire apartment to himself), then we take off after the movers load the big rig with our gear. We did a dry run packing the car and all our junk fits with room for miscellious crap to squeeze in.

Since WiFi is everywhere I should be able to blog on the road, keeping you all in the know of our progress. J booked us a suite in Los Alamos so we can crash there till we find the next Home of Soodz. I have been reading posts on the fly and miss sharing my thoughts … I should get back to packing …