Happy Anniversary

Today marks 11 years of being with Brian. 

We orginally met at a party 14 years ago.  I had just starting dating a guy who I ended up dating for 3 years.  Brian was single.  He expressed some interest in me to a mutual friend but she told him that I was not the kind of girl who cheated so he should just move on.  The guy I was with was a very new boyfriend and I wasn't sure at that time if it was going anywhere.  I was 19 years old and wanted to keep my options open.  I was interested in Brian but he ignored me so I didn't pursue him.

Then 3 years later I broke up with that guy and ran into that mutual friend from the party.  I think the last time I saw her was at the party.  She asked how things were going and I told her fine.  She asked about my boyfriend and I told her we had just broken up.  She invited me to come out to the bar the following evening with her and a bunch of her friends.  I thought, what the heck and agreed to go.  The next night I got ready to go and waited to be picked up.  When we arrived at the bar I was introduced to her friends.  I felt very uncomfortable and wanted to go home.  Nobody was really talking to me and the only person who was had a girlfriend and she was looking less than pleased about her boyfriend talking to me.  I got up to go call my parents for a ride when the group announced they were going next door to the other bar.  This bar was a little more like a dance club so I decided to give it another hour.  I was likely to run into some other people I knew so if the people in this group didn't want to talk to me then I could find people how did.  Once we were at the other bar one of the guys in the group came up to me and started talking.  That guy was Brian.  He asked me a bunch of questions about myself.  He was so awkward.  I didn't mind that he didn't seem to have much game.  A good friend of mine had once told me that you will never find a nice guy at the bar.  She said the only way to find a nice guy at the bar is to look past the guy hitting on you at his buddy who's holding the flirts beer and go talk to him instead.  Brian made me think of the "buddy" in that situation.  I remember we danced to some Britney Spears and NSync songs.  He seemed like a really sweet guy.  At the end of the night he asked me if I was free to go for a ride on his motorcycle.  I told him I had plans with my mother.  I could tell from the look on his face that he didn't believe me.  I reassured him that I really did have plans with my mom.  She had asked me to go to some place called Sarnia and look at some Tall Ships.  He instantly looked relieved.  He said he was from Sarnia and he's just bailed on his mom that weekend so he could come out tonight.  I told him to get my number from our mutual friend and give me a call sometime.

The next day I went out with my mom and saw the ships.  When we got back I was watching some tv and the doorbell ran.  I answered the door and it was the mutual friend with Brian and another guy from the previous night.  They wanted me to go rollerblading.  Uhhhhhh, I don't rollerblade but, for this guy I'd make an exception.   I am so clumsy and uncoordinated and that day was no different.  I stumbled and fumbled my way around the block.  Brian was so sweet, he held my hand and asked all kinds of get to know me questions.  I could tell this guy was different.  He was someone very special.

That was early August.  We continued to see each other almost every day for a few weeks and at the end of August Brian asked me if I wanted to be exclusive.  I, of course, agreed.

That was the start of a beautiful relationship and friendship.

Happy Anniversary Brian!  I love you.  You have been an amazing partner.  You are truly my best friend.  Life is a rollercoaster and I can't think of anyone else I rather take the ride with.

Confession Friday

I confess that moving with a baby is not easy.  You can't pack, you can't unpack, you just can't get things done.  Poor Addis spent almost 6 days in his playpen while we painted and cleaned and moved boxes and packed up more boxes.  However, now he's refusing to set foot anywhere near the playpen so getting the boxes unpacked and the house settled is proving to be difficult.  Can't say I blame him.  He was such a trooper and didn't complain for those 6 days.  I guess I just need to deal with living out of boxes and let the wee boy crawl around and stretch his legs.

I confess that I went out tonight with a good friend.  It was a much needed few hours of "me" time.  Thanks Brenda for such a great visit!  As always, it's a pleasure hanging out.

I confess that our new house doesn't feel like home yet.  This could have something to do with still living out of boxes or the fact that we don't have enough furniture to furnish our house. 

I confess that we are currently using camping chairs as furniture in our family room.  My parents gave us an early Christmas present and bought us a sofa.  We bought two chairs that look like the kind you get from IKEA so next week after we pick up the sofa we can set up our new furniture and we can stop sitting on stuff that says Coleman.

I confess that we still had things to pack up the day we moved.  Our old house was small so we didn't have space to put any more boxes.  We had to move some out before we could pack up anymore.  One of the major things that needed packing still was our bedroom.  While I was packing up our bedroom my husband sent his father in to take down our window coverings.  Uh, not cool!  I'm not very comfortable having my father in law in my bedroom.  I'm even more uncomfortable having him there while I'm packing up my underwear.  I just about lost my mind.  My husband didn't get what the problem was but I know all you ladies reading are picking up what I'm putting down.

I confess that it's late and I'm going to bed.

Confession Friday

I confess that I hate wallpaper.  I have just spent the last few days removing wallpaper from our new house and I'm so sore I can't even lift up Addis.  That stuff just would not come off and now it feels like my elbow is on fire.  Hating wallpaper and the person who invented it.

I confess that this has been a long, tough week full of physical labour and I'm not really enjoying it.  I'm more of a laying on the couch with a good book girl then a roll up my sleeves and dig into work girl.  If anyone is looking for a nice housewarming gift I leave you with this suggestion: massage gift certificate.

I confess that this week Addis has slept through the night four times.  FOUR TIMES!!!!  It's sheer heaven.

I confess that I got a ticket for talking on my cell phone this week.  Shame on me.  STUPID, STUPID, STUPID.  I know better. 

I confess my dad got home from England yesterday and it was really nice to see him.  He's been gone a month and I missed him while he was away.

I confess I need a day to myself and soon.  I feel burnt out.  I dream of going away to a hotel with a jacuzzi tub and staying there all weekend.  I would bring a few good books and just laze in the tub or in bed and revel in the sweet silence.

I confess that right now I'm listening to Addis pounding on the front door.  Obviously I won't be enjoying much quiet time today.

I confess that lately Addis has taking up screaming to get attention and I'm at a loss of how to handle it.  I'm open to any and all suggestions, so please give some if you have any. 

I confess that people just showed up to help us start moving so I need to sign off and get cracking.

Good Things Come In Threes

Two whole nights!  Sleep, no interruptions.  No waking up.  In. A. Row.  In case you still don't know what I'm so excited about, Addis slept through the night two nights in a row.  It's amazing what a little sleep can do.  We've only had three nights in the three months we've been together so two nights back to back is something to celebrate and get excited about.

Today marks three months together.  Being together is a blessing I'm thankful for each day.

We get the keys to our new house today.  Today marks the beginning of a fresh start and a new journey.

We are a lucky family of three.

Confession Friday

I confess that today was an amazing day.  First we had a great family day at the African Lion Safari where we connected with some other Imagine families.  We got a chance to meet a family who had the same DTE as us and who I have been in contact with for over a year and their son was in the transition house with Addis.  We followed up by an evening walk with the dogs and Addis taking his maiden voyage in his wagon.

I confess that with the exception of Monday, this has been a pretty good week.

I confess that while I haven't been feeling like myself lately, I know that what I feel is actually quite common.

I confess that on Monday when I had a bad day I received some very kind words from 3 really great women and their words meant a lot to me.  Thanks Brenda, Ruth & Rana!

I confess that we only have 3 more sleeps until we get the keys to the new house.  I'm starting to get excited.  It still doesn't feel real.

I confess stepped on the scale this week and it wasn't pretty.  I've put on 6 pounds.  Ugh!  I'm hoping that once we are in the new house I can carve out some time a few times a week to use the treadmill & bowflex and try to lose this weight.  Oh, and if I'm really serious about it, it's probably not a bad idea to lay off the chips, because those aren't helping.

I confess that I'm going to keep this post short and instead go play with my son and enjoy the rest of what is left of this really great day.

Sunshine Through The Rain

Today it's been raining non-stop but even with all this rain I still see some sun.  Today is a much better day then yesterday.  Addis is happier.  So in turn, I am happier.  I took some time today to post some pictures on facebook to remind myself of the good days we have had since Addis has been home and also to remind myself there are far more good days then bad.  I'd post pictures here on this blog but I'm technically and electronically deficient so, for now, if you want to see some pictures, you'll have to check out facebook.  If you aren't on facebook but want to see a few pictures, leave a comment and I'll email you some.

If You Can't Beat Them, Join Them

I got up this morning at 7am and from about 8am on, Addis has been crying off and on all day.  Nothing seems to make him happy today. 

He cries if the dog kisses him, he cries if his Lightning McQueen car gets stuck in a corner and he can't turn it around, he cries because he's standing on his Laugh and Learn chair and doesn't know how to get down.  You get the picture.  He's obviously over tired and when he's tired he gets very clumsy so of course we have more tumbles and head bumps from him walking around with his car today. 

Addis also wouldn't go down for a nap.  I had to fight for hours to get him down and once he was down he didn't sleep soundly. Normally once he's asleep he's a pretty sound sleeper but not today.  Every little sound would disturb him, so of course today is the day the dogs decide to bark at every little sound themselves.

I went to my gym today to cancel my memebership.  I haven't been in almost 4 months.  There just doesn't seem to be the time to go, but more importantly there just doesn't seem to be the money while I'm on parental leave.  However, giving up my membership felt a little like defeat in the constant weight lose battle.

We have been eating pretty crummy food lately.  I haven't felt like cooking and with moving we've been busy.  Today I decided that I was going to take the time to cook a nice homemade nutritious meal for Brian and I.  After spending an hour and a half at the stove, I ended up with an overly seasoned burnt meal.  For some reason the carrots wouldn't cook and the last time I made this meal Brian complained that it was too bland.  In an effort to make sure if had plenty of flavour, I obviously used too much seasoning and trying to get the carrots to cook, I left it on the stove too long so it started to burn.

Neither my breakfast or lunch was very enjoyable today so I had high hopes for dinner.  At breakfast Addis kept trying to grab my protein shake because it looked like his formula and he liked my cup better then his bottle.  At lunch it took me over an hour to finish my soup because he kept getting into things and needed some comforting when he cried.  Needless to say the soup was cold by the time I finished.   When I sat down to eat my burnt, overly seasoned meal and Addis started screaming and crying, again for no apparent reason, I decided that in some cases it's best to just accept that if you can't beat them, you might as well join them.  So I put my fork down and sat at the table and had a really good cry.