Guess who's ONE ... already!!!

I don't think I ever got around to blogging about one of the coolest events of my life (because I was being a terrible blogger at that point). Anyway, I'll try to cath you up now. A year ago, I got to watch this little guy be born. His Mom and Dad were awesome enough to allow me to be in the delivery room. It. Was. Fascinating! That's honestly the best word I can use to describe it. If they would've let me, I would've pulled him out myself. When I was up beside my best friend rubbing her head and trying to be somewhat supportive, it was super hard to watch her be in so much pain, but when the baby got stuck and Daddy came to stand beside her and be her support, I wasn't sure exactly where to stand. Well, I ended up having a front row seat to watching his entry into the world. I'll be honest ... I kinda forgot that I was watching my BFF go through this. I was so enthralled by what was going on that I just took it all in ... and captured it all on film. I know, some of you are mortified at the thought and don't worry, I won't subject you to any of the pics, but that's what I was told I was asked to be there for ... to take pictures ... and I fulfilled my duty. No, I don't look at Jennie in a different way now. Well, that's not to say that I don't think she's the most courageous, strong, amazing woman. Some people have asked if we look at each other weirdly now that I've seen that side of her. You'll have to ask her how she feels, but I only feel more love for her after I've seen what she's been through. She's awesome and I'm SO glad I got to be a part of it.

Anyway, I can't believe a whole year has gone by already! Seriously, where did this year go?

I got some pics of him yesterday at his party. He doesn't sit still for long! Closer, closer ... let me have that picture taking thingy!

And then it was cake time.

His first time having sweets.

Let me try this spongy thing ...

Wow! This is amazing! I need more of this RIGHT NOW!

Yup, I'm going in again. I think we have a winner, people!

I couldn't resist the cute, little, striped cardigan, sweater and shoes that I saw in the store. I knew they MUST be his! :)
Nathanael, I can't believe that you went from this ...

and this ...

to this ...

so quickly. Happy birthday and I love you, buddy!

Words of Wisdom from Janet ... Miss Jackson if you're nasty!

I'm still attracted to control, but I also know that an attraction can turn into an addiction. The more I have, the more I want. Just as there is no drink that will set the alcholic free, no drug to liberate the junkie, there is no amount of control that will satisfy that kind of freak. Only God is in total control. Not me, not you, not anyone.

Literally, the velvet rope is the barrier that keeps partygoers outside a nightclub from getting to where they want to be. You can look at these partygoers in many ways, however. It's those people who simply want to have fun but are unable to gain admission to the fun room. It can also be those people who are seeking relief from the weight of their problems, and people looking to belong. To get beyond that rope - at least the rope that exists in my imagination - requires, in the words of the songs, not putting people down, but rather freeing ourselves from feelings of hatred and oppression.

I believe we're either moving forward or moving backward. "That applies almost to everything," my friend explained. "We can change cities, countries, and hair colors, but nothing changes until we figure out how to change our attitude and belief system. We move backward when we keep doing the same things and expect a different result. We get discouraged and fall into despair. Superficial external moves - like a new wardrobe or a new apartment - just have us moving from side to side. Different scenery, some sensibility. Be careful, because all of that may be just smoke and mirrors, because it's not going to cure your pain. But to move up, to gain a higher consciousness and a more effective way to deal with our problems - that requires faith. Faith in something bigger than yourself."

My growth depends on faith, as it must for everyone else as well. My spirit of generosity and selflessness also depend on faith. I'm grateful for the comfort that my work provides. I'm grateful for the privileged life that I lead. But I realize that it's the spiritual life that sustains, that nourishes us. In the early morning hours, when I read my Bible, when I pray, when I talk to Jesus, I'm no longer haunted by remorse. I know that the mistakes I've made are in the past; they're gone, forgiven, and no longer cause for guilt or shame. I'm looking forward, not behind.

These words have reminded me yet again that everyone's relationship with God is different and their own. You may not agree with how they live it out, but that doesn't mean they don't know God in their own way. I'm finding the same thing as I read Kris Jenner's book and learn that she went to Bible Study at Pat Boone's place in the 80s and became a born again Christian. It always urks me when I tell people that I've read/heard that Bono's a Christian and they say, "No he's not." How do you know? You may think I'm naive when I read these things and believe that these people are Christians, but who am I to judge them? If they're saying it but they really aren't, God will convict them of that and deal with it Himself. I think I've talked about how much I loved the book Blue Like Jazz. It blew the little box I was living in apart and opened my eyes up to the fact that everyone's journey is different and you have no idea where they've come from, so let go of the judgment. These two books were a great reminder of that. I think we may be surprised by who we meet in Heaven. :)

Bossypants

Unless you live under a rock (make that 30 Rock - hardy har har), you will most likely have heard of Tina Fey. Funny, funny lady. I first grew to love her when she did Weekend Update with Jimmy Falon on SNL. Their chemistry was SO hilarious together! I was actually quite sad when she left SNL. I've watched a few episodes of 30 Rock and they are definitely funny, but I've got so many other shows that I watch, I haven't yet put it into full repitoire in my TV schedule. I know ... I'm lame. When she came back to SNL to parody Sarah Palin, she was an instant hit. No matter your thoughts on Sarah Palin, love her or hate her, Tina nailed it!

When I heard about Bossypants, all I heard was how funny it is ... so naturally, when I needed a break after all the trauma/drama of The Hunger Games, I picked it up. Here are a few of my favorite parts:

The 70s were a small-eyed, thin-lipped blond woman's paradise. I remember watching Three's Company as a little brown-haired kid thinking, "Really? This is what we get? Joyce DeWitt is our brunet representative? She's got that greasy-looking bowl cut and they make her wear suntan pantyhose under her football jersey nightshirt." I may have only been seven or eight, but I knew that this sucked ... (in the middle here she goes on a long, funny rant about being different and in the end how that's a good thing) ... And if I ever meet Joyce DeWitt, I will first apologize to her for having immediately punched her in the face, and then I will thank her. For while she looked like a Liza Minnelli doll that had been damaged in a fire, at least she didn't look like everybody else on TV.

Ah, babies! They're more than just adorable little creatures on whom you can blame your farts.

When people say, "You really, really must" do something, it means you don't really have to. No one ever says, "You really, really must deliver the baby during labour." When it's true, it doesn't need to be said. (this came about after a funny part about women who tell you that you must breast feed)

And then her prayer for her daughter is quite hilarious ... but too long to put all here, so click HERE and you can read it. Now that I'm skimming back through the book, there are so many parts I'd like for you to read, but to just pick a couple of lines doesn't do the whole chapter justice, so I'd recommend you do what I do and go to your local library and pick it up.

For some reason I'm on a biography kick right now. I'm currently reading Janet Jackson's True You, my library just emailed me to let me know that Kris Jenner's and All Things Kardashian is in (don't judge me) and I've still got Ellen DeGeneres' Seriously, I'm Kidding on my hold list (I'm #97 on the hold list, so I'm sure I'll get to read that one sometime in 2015) and next I'm going to ask for Rob Lowe's Stories I Only Tell My Friends. With all the old 80s clothes coming back in style (which I'm having a hard time with) and starting to celebrate my friends 40th birthdays while reminiscing about old times and dancing to 80s music, I'm reminded of The Outsiders and how all those cute boys were "nobody's" back then and I want to read about what Rob's got to say about that era ... which is probably also why I'm reading Janet Jackson's book right now. Her albums Control and Rhythm Nation were playing constantly on my tape deck in the 80s. Aaaaahhhh, good times.

Anyway, all that to say, go pick up Tina Fey's Bossypants. You won't regret it.

V-day cupcakes

When Danielle told me she needed 48 cupcakes for her class for Valentine's Day, I thought that sounded like a lot, but I told her we'd give it a try. I'd seen a great idea on Pinterest to make cupcakes into heart shapes ... I couldn't find a marble like they suggested, but their 2nd suggestion was to crumple up tin foil and put it between the tray and the paper liner.

We separated the batter into 3 bowls, left one bowl white, poured a little bit of red food colouring into another one to make pink and the last one we poured double the amount of food colouring in to make red. Then we started drizzling away in all the liners to make multi coloured cupcakes. I thought it would be fun to have a dab of colour in the middle and by accident, one looked like a heart, so from then on, I purposely drizzled a heart in the middle. Here's to hoping it would work!

Well, it took us quite some time, but we managed to make 48 cupcakes. We had just enough time to clean up while ...

the last batch was in the oven.

We were VERY pleased with how they turned out. I haven't seen her since she took them to class on Tuesday, but I'm hoping they were a hit.

My Valentine's gift this year was quite heavenly. While out for a walk that night, I saw this:

That was definitely gift enough for me. Stunning.

Show of hands, please

Hypothetically speaking, who thinks it would be weird to date your cousins widower?

I mean, hypothetically speaking, I'm sure someone's parents are well intentioned, but seriously? Come on ... am I the only one that thinks that would be weird? Please, help me out, here. I'm trying to prove a point .... hypothetically speaking, of course.

Results

After feeling like I was going a little mental for the last couple of months, I went to my doc to have a chat and tell him what's been going on. The thing I love about my doc is that he doesn't make me feel stupid or tell me that it's all in my head. He takes me seriously and sends me for tests. Today I got those results. I'm perfectly healthy. "So, I'm just going crazy?" I asked him. "Looks like it," he said, then laughed. No thyroid problem. Hormone levels are "really quite good" he said. I don't have asthma (I've been having a cough that reminded me of the 100 day cough I had a couple of years ago). So, what now?

Well, he's going to test me for sleep apnea. I told him that I sleep quite well, actually and it makes me wonder why I'm so tired all the time. He said he's going to check if I'm breathing properly while I'm sleeping. He said it can seem like a person gets a full nights sleep, but if you're not breathing properly while sleeping, it can make you tired when you wake up. So, that's next.

I've been having something weird happen with my eyes. He sent me to an Ophthalmologist and he prescribed glasses. I've been wearing the glasses for 2 months now and it's mostly the same, but a few times it's gotten worse. Now I have 2 appointments downtown with another specialist. Aaaaah, ain't getting older grand?

Part of me feels like I'm falling apart and the other part of me knows it could be must worse. I'll just bide my time and do what the doc says for now and stay positive ... and get out for more exercise now that the sun's been shining!

I'll take what I can get!

So, my parents are in town for a few days and although it's not unusual for my Dad to call me, most of the time it's my Mom. I heard my phone ring and saw that it said, "Dad's Cell." I figured it was my Mom letting me know that they'd gotten here safely and to set up a time to see me ... yes, I have to schedule time with my parents when they come here. They used to live here for many years plus they have a lot of family here, so I'm lucky if I get to see them twice while they're here. I'm not complaining ... I'm glad they've got friends ... it might just be a tad embarrassing that my parents are busier than me! haha! JK

Anyway, when I answer the phone, I'm a little surprised to hear Dad's voice on the other end. We chit chat about their drive out here for a bit and then he says, "What are you doing on Sunday around 4:00?" My mind quickly peruses my schedule but before I say anything, I had this fleeting thought ... "Is there a Canucks game on Sunday? Does he want to take me to a Canucks game? Sweet!" I calmly say, "Nothing. Why?" to which he answers, "Well, there's a certain football game on that I want to watch" and then it hits me ... he wants to use me for my TV! (they're staying at my Uncle and Aunt's place who have a very old, small TV) haha! Well, I was right about it having something to do with a sporting event! :) I said, "Are you wanting to watch it on my TV, Dad?" "I need a nice, big screen to watch it on!" he says in a whiny tone. "Of course, Dad. Come on over."

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm offended, because I'm totally not. My Mom will, of course, come with him and her and I will chat and catch up ... maybe play some Banagrams while Dad's watching the game. We'll swap seats when the half time show comes on and I'll wonder what Madge will come up with and he'll think it's "garbage" but it'll be fun. Mom said she's got buns and cold cuts (did she bring them all the way from Alberta? Doesn't she realize we have those things here, too? - they crack me up!). I told her that's great, but we have to have pizza while watching the Superbowl, so I'm sure we'll order in as well. I'm sure Dad will fall asleep at some point, but don't worry, I'll wake him up to see the end.

You see, my parents have come out here for a funeral of a long time friend. I know the kids of this man and it really makes me think, "What if that was me?" So, I'm going to cherish this time of watching the 2012 Superbowl with my Dad and playing games with my Mom.

What are your plans for the Superbowl?