When I started this blog, my thought process was "I like to write. Blogging would be fun!" So I started a blog. I was sort of surprised to realize that eventually people other than my friends and family were reading it, and it has slowly grown over the 10 or so months that I've been writing. What I didn't know when I started was just how much there is to know about running a blog. From design to networking, to Search Engine Optimization (I still don't really know about that one...) there is so much out there to know. And I have found that it can be really hard to learn it on your own.
So, when a blogger I follow posted that she and other like-minded bloggers had formed a "Blog Alliance" called Eclectic Six, and started a forum for bloggers, I headed over to check it out. It's exactly what I was looking for. A community of bloggers ranging from very experienced to newbies like me. A place where you can ask questions about blogging and people actually answer you. And truthfully! There's tutorials, help with design, sharing of opportunities, and most importantly a community of other bloggers to draw support from.
And the best thing is that since the forum is just starting up, it's not intimidating to join. It's small and supportive. But of course there is strength in numbers, so I definitely encourage you to head on over and check it out. See you there!
That I actually made something from Pinterest which was not food! And it turned out awesome...which you can't tell from this horrible picture. However, said picture is taken from my new Blackberry, which also makes me happy.
That my brother decided to purchase Advent calendars for Hubby and I. How awesome is that?! 32 days of crappy chocolate, here I come!
One of the major reasons I have not yet dropped all the baby weight: Eggnog Latte. Oh sweet deliciousness, get in mah belleh!!!
And of course this little man. Don't you just want to die of cuteness?!?!
What are some things that are making you happy today?
So, even though I don't have to go to work at the moment
(because staying home with the babe is totally not work...
riiiiigggghhhhttttt)
Mondays still suck.
Today's evidence:
Woke up, fed Peanut. Noticed my shirt was pretty wet. Held Peanut out at arm's length and realized he had had a pooplosion out of the leg of his diaper. All over me. Which had soaked my shirt. Ick, right?! So, we rush to the change table, where I strip him down and attempt to get off his sleeper and dirty diaper without him somehow getting poop all over himself.
Finally manage to remove diaper. Peanut decides that perhaps he has not quite finished pooping. Poop gets all over (already dirty) sleeper, and all over change pad cover. Luckily, none in my hair.
Eventually remove both of the offending items, and manage somehow to wipe Peanuts bum and back without getting poop all over the plastic-y, now coverless change pad. Somehow manage to wrangle the squirmiest of babies into a new diaper (mostly by waiting for the brief double-leg-kick-arm-flail to quickly close one tab). Savour the moment for 0.2 seconds until Peanut pukes.
Puke travels all the way down the change pad due to it's inherently slippery nature. Every inch of skin touching the change pad is now covered in puke. Let out a huge sigh. Finally remove my poopy pyjama shirt, and lift Peanut from the slimy change table.
Somehow manage to hold Peanut with one hand to clean off puke with the other. Reach over for a too-small sleeper from the closet and manage to finally zip it up after re-placing feet in the legs about 30 times. Success! Sit back to admire my work, and Peanut pukes all over clean sleeper.
Realize I just spent 20 minutes getting a baby dressed who needs a bath. Curse my over-tired brain and run the bath like I should have way back at getting the clean diaper on. Remove dirty sleeper which was worn for 10 minutes (and took just as long to put on). Remove clean diaper. Begin to move Peanut into bath. Get peed on. Sigh and resign myself that today is just going to be one of those days.
We definitely have a case of the Mondays.
(Oh, and if you wouldn't mind clicking right here and scrolling waaayyyy down and giving Up Mommy Creek a thumbs-up, that would be much appreciated. Would love to stay in the Top 25 Canadian Mom Blogs. Voting ends on Thursday. Thanks!!)
*Please note that I was able to view these films free of charge in order to write this review. However, all opinions are honest, and are my own. Thanks!*
You may have seen my previous post about the release of the follow-up films to The Business of Being Born. Well, today is the day! They are now available! The original film raised a lot of issues (and more questions) which weren't really explored in-depth due to restrictions in length. More Business of Being Born (MBOBB) attempts to answer some of these questions, and provide some more information about the issues raised in the first film.
If you're not familiar with The Business of Being Born (TBOBB), let me quickly sum it up. The film by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein explores the maternity care system in America. It raises a lot of issues as to the motivations behind many common practices in the medical community when it comes to birthing. It basically shows the differences between home birth and hospital birth, midwife care versus care from an OB-GYN and "natural" birth versus augmented or medicated births.
Hubby and I watched this film while I was pregnant, and it was a big influence in shaping how we wanted our birthing experience to be. Being in Canada, things are a little different here, but the basic trends are the same, and the issues it raises are definitely things I think all expecting parents should consider. I often hear feedback when discussing this film that it is biased. However, I think it's important to keep in mind that the film is presenting one point of view, and that the information it presents is valuable information to have, regardless of which choices you make regarding your birth. It's designed to make you think.
It is true that after viewing this film that I had hoped that I would be able to have an unmedicated birth. But, if you have read our birth story, you will know things didn't go as planned. Mostly due to TBOBB we were hoping to avoid using medication to induce labour. Unfortunately, Peanut was very overdue, and in order to attempt to deliver at the hospital of our choice, we had to induce. I really feel like this was a lot of the reason our birth played out the way it did. I think my labour was so long and hard because a) my body wasn't ready to go into labour and b) the Cervidil caused my contractions to be much more intense. I had a hard time coming to terms with how things happened, and this was where I was a little worried about watching More Business of Being Born. I thought that it might be difficult to go back and explore these issues without feeling like I "failed". However, I actually felt that watching MBOBB was helpful in coming to terms with my whole birthing experience.
The first part (Down on The Farm: Conversations with Legendary Midwife Ina May Gaskin) was perhaps the least informative for me personally (I felt some of the anecdotal speculations one of the midwives brings up sort of lost me a bit), but it was definitely interesting to see the Farm and listen to Ina May speak. I read Ina May Gaskin's books in preparation for birth, and there is no denying that she is an amazing woman who has contributed so much to women and birthing.
The second part (Special Deliveries: Celebrity Mothers Talk Straight on Birth) was probably the one I was least interested to watch, but it ended up being my favourite. It was actually really great to listen to the birth stories of celebrity women. They did a great job of getting many different types of birth stories, from home births to c-sections. I especially loved hearing Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Laila Ali's stories, as their experiences were very similar to mine. I actually teared up listening to Kimberly's description of her c-section experience because I felt the exact same way.
Oh man, I <3 Alanis!!
I was unable to watch the 3rd part (Explore Your Options: Doulas, Birth Centers & C-Sections) before writing this review, but this seems to sort of be the "meat" of the informational aspect of the film series for sure. Looking forward to it.
I also enjoyed the 4th part (The VBAC Dilemma: What Your Options Really Are) because it is something I will have to consider if we have another baby. A lot of interesting things to think about, for sure. Hubby watched this one with me, and we both thought it was well worth the watch.
I highly recommend watching these films. They are chock-full of make-you-think tidbits and information, and they are entertaining. In my opinion, they are pregnancy must-sees, and I found them particularly valuable as a potential second-time mom. Head on over to www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com for descriptions of the films, more info and to purchase either the digital downloads or the DVD set.
But, exciting news! One lucky Up Mommy Creek reader will get to watch them for free! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me which film you are most interested in seeing and you will be entered to win a digital download of all 4 films!
(I am trying out a new widget for the giveaway, so please use that to enter.)
So, last night I had a craving for Thai food. Since my maternity leave doesn't really allow for too much room in the budget for frivolities like eating out, I decided to make Pad Thai.
This recipe is the real deal, so to speak. It's from a cooking school (basically, 2 ladies, 6 hotplates and a whole bunch of delicious!) in my favourite place in Thailand: Railay. It actually might be my favourite place of all the places I've ever been. It's definitely in the top 3.
Railay is this awesome little island-like paradise. It's on the mainland in Krabi province, but only accessible by boat due to the crazy cliffs, which makes it a rock-climbing paradise. It's also probably one of the most beautiful places in the world, and is filled with some of the best people on the planet. I lived just a short longtail ride away for almost 9 months, and I think about it almost every day... Hubby and I can't wait to go back someday.
Yup. I used to live right around that big rock on the right...sigh.
Anyway, this is the recipe for Pad Thai, from The Rock in Railay Highlands. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
(serves 2-3)
a couple handfuls of rice noodles (pre-soaked in cold water for 30 mins, or prepared according to the package directions)
1 Tbsp of oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
prawns or chicken (I used 2 small chicken breasts)
2 eggs
1 large handful of bean sprouts
3 or 4 green onions, chopped into 2 cm pieces
2-3 Tbsps of Thai sweet chili sauce
2 Tbsps of fish sauce
1.5 tsps of sugar
1 tsp of soy sauce
(original recipe calls for 1 cup of sliced cabbage and Tofu chopped into cubes, but I omit these)
peanuts, lime and cucumber for garnish
Directions:
Heat the oil in a wok on med-low heat. Add tofu (if using) and then garlic. Add prawns or chicken. When cooked through, add eggs and stir. When egg is dry, add prepared noodles. Then add all the rest of the ingredients and stir. Add the seasonings and stir until everything is heated through. Garnish with peanuts, lime and cucumber. We also sprinkle dried chili flakes on our servings to taste.
Notes:
As with most Thai cooking I have been taught, measurements are approximate, and the recipe works best if you adapt it to your own tastes. It's pretty much impossible to screw it up. Trust me. ;)
Also, it is really fast to prepare, so it's best to do all your chopping and prep before so everything is ready to go when you start cooking. I usually mix the sauces and sugar together in a little bowl so I can just dump it in at the end.
I'm Amy, and I'm a Mommy with nary a clue as to how to do this whole "parenting" thing. As a former traveler, I view this as another journey, although this time without a map, a plan or a clue! We call Canada home.
~ weighs about 16 lbs
