Vancouver(ish) Tribe: Chatting in deep summer...

[Ksenia]

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability-- Sam Keen

:sunshine welcome lower mainland mamas! :sunshine
(and mamas to be)

All local mamas are welcome here! Visitors are welcome to pop in too. We are brought together by our passion for conscious/thoughtful/attachment/respectful/wholistic/natural parenting, not always agreeing on the path but agreeing to respectfully discuss, share, and learn together. Feel free to join in the conversation and introduce yourself!

This is our thread for chatting online, discussing issues relevant to the Lower Mainland, and arranging meetings in real life. If you have issues and questions that are not specific to the Vancouver area, please start a new thread in the appropriate MDC forum (e.g. breastfeeding, discipline, health, etc.). You can also post a link to your topic in this thread if you are requesting input from your tribe members. This allows us to

1. adhere to MDC guidelines;
2. keep questions and responses organized; and
3. reduce thread traffic and allow readers more control over which discussions they engage in.

Meet-ups are sporadic and include gatherings at parks, Science World, and people's homes. Anyone is welcome to suggest a gathering time/place. Meet-ups are either announced in the meet-up thread in the Canada Forum or here.

Remember that to get email notification of new posts in this thread, you can post to this thread to subscribe or you can use 'thread tools' and click 'subscribe'.

Please note that our Vancouver(ish) Tribe has other threads in the Canada Forum (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=94), including:

Vancouver(ish) Meet-up thread (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=10289652&posted=1#post10289652)

Knitting Group Thread: look in the Canada forum

Vancouver(ish) Doctors for Children (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=759755)

Vancouver(ish) Dental Resources for Children (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=759231)

FAQ: Greater Vancouver Area Liveability and Affordability (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=10043191#post10043191)

[Ksenia]

hand foot and mouth disease dh and I and dd all seem to have it, but not ds :shrug:. So far the symptoms are rather mild :fingersx:

H&M :rolleyes the general public simply does not get the health consequences (that we all pay for in our tax dollars) of making nursing mothers feel unwelcome :irked:

minicooper wow, you're busy! :thumb

beaner&tiegs good luck with those family dynamics :goodvibes:

Autumn Mama :Thanks for the update. I'm so glad to hear that your family is thriving there. We've been visiting our CSA farm near you but there's never time for a visit if we want to avoid hell traffic. It's surprising how close Langley is for us, though, so perhaps we can visit you when things quiet down in the fall?

tiffani wow, moving right along huh? :wink

vancouverlori your dd's father is *way* out of line :irked:. I'm guessing he's feeling guilty that he hasn't done anything or being involved in any way, and is compensating by being a PItA.

[artparent]

deep summer is accurate, today anyway :sunshine
today i feel guilty for *not* being at the beach :shrug

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[dawncayden]

:)

[artparent]

right, so i went to the beach :thumb with watermelon. why do i live in place where it rains so many days of the year? for the two weeks of summer!

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[Ellp]

Subbing!

[tooticky]

It was a beach day for us today! So wonderful... we spent hours, had a picnic lunch, built sandcastles, ds and I dragged kelpies around, I went for a solo swim....

Perfect weather! :joy:

[tiffani]

Aw, Ksenia, I hope you guys all recover soon!!

There may or may not be a nurse-in -- the manager who was there that day was contacted and said they were very sorry, they weren't aware that their policy was in violation of the BC Human right's code, and they would change it. At this point, it's up to the violated mama if she wants a nurse-in to go ahead... if you're interested, join the facebook group mentioned previously and see how it unfolds...

yeah, it's funny how life works... we're not 100% certain yet, but it does look like we'll likely be heading to New Zealand for a year come mid-september...which means I have SO much to do!!!! I'm glad this opportunity presented itself, because we hit the end of the road with our adoption, we need to move off bowen because of the commute (though like I said before, the commute wouldn't be as big a hardship if we had a better spot here on the island) so we might as well have a grand adventure!! When we get back (or end up in california, where the entire cost of the adoption would be covered by a tax incentive for adoptive parents) we'll likely hop back on the adoption roller coaster, barring any unforseen occurances...

elisa, I was going to mention before when you asked about luggage, that a lot of people who travel to africa with lots of donations pack it all into big rubbermaid containers -- not so pretty, but durable, stackable, easy to carry, and useful once you get there. :thumb I think that's what we'll do if we end up going...

erica, hope your family dynamics are going well!!!

:treehugger:

[mirthfulmum]

:hug

[artparent]

wow, tiffani, that *is* exciting! new zealand, not rubbermaid :wink i'm afraid i need something i can drag around behind me all over europe, but i may go with rubbermaid if i have to ship stuff to england. i've found something with a lifetime guarantee, they'll actually fix it! which is expensive at first but may be worth it for us long term. i gaze with horror into my future of regular air travel.

tooticky, that sounds grand. i'm going to have to get out to second beach, or jericho, for a long day in the sand. my little one gets tired of the beach, i think it is the pebbles. at least she no longer eats it.

i have a great longing for a party. since there's several of us leaving come autumn, i wonder if we should plan a gathering? outside, somewhere? we would love to see everyone.

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[tiffani]

job offer confirmed...start date, sep 29.




:joy:

[artparent]

:bounce holy! that was fast! congratulations - what city?

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[tiffani]

oh, and speaking of getting tired of the beach, the other day when it rained, Lucy said "oh good, now we don't have to go to the beach again!"

tomorrow mark is playing hooky from work since it's the special 2 for 1 tuesday deal at the kayak rental place, so we're going to celebrate his job offer with a kayak trip! we haven't been kayaking in forever, I'm so excited!!

[tiffani]

Wellington! we're moving to the same climate as vancouver too!! slightly warmer, slightly less rain I think, and the ocean is a few degrees warmer, but pretty much the same. but, there is all that warmer ocean further north, with gorgeous beaches, dolphin swims, amazing hiking, phenomenally stunning scenery, and kiwis! so excited! I'm pretty amazed at how quickly it all came together... what a change! :wink

[westcoastma]

I keep putting one foot into this tribe but never seem to keep up with the banter.

Some random thoughts:

My mother is nearly pushing me over the edge. I moved back in, sigh, after the ex and I split in June and can see why I moved out in the first place. For one she is the messiest, dirtiest person ever. I'm talking leaving dishes for 3 days while she does nothing more than watch the tube. I cleaned the whole kitchen tonight and her only reaction was "the floor's wet". Thanks for noticing my efforts. Her negligence to my baby's safety is a whole other story. She left the iron on with the chord dangling from the dining room table the other night (she has gone ballistic with sewing madness which has taken over the whole living room/dining room, really one small room) while ds was crawling around-- starting toying with the chord and when I swooped him up and turned off the iron with a heavy sigh (because any sort of conversation turns into her angry fits) her reaction was "I'm not done with that"; not "Oh, I could have seriously burnt your baby and scarred him for life.". UGH.

The family dog is getting only older, stinkier, deafer, dumber, and more annoying. I used to cuddle this dog like mad and now I only seem to shoo him away. It's really sad that my giving, giving, giving to ds has left me with only irritation for the pup.

It's hard raising a child alone. My day consists of nursing non-stop and ensuring that ds is happy and having fun while trying to snag a meal when I can, trying to shower when I can, and heaven forbid trying to have a breather to myself once in a while. Tonight I NEEDED to make a healthy dinner and while my Mom was out taking a hike (which she didn't take the dog on and chose to leave him behind without telling me that she'd be home late so he did not get a proper walk today!!) I had to let ds crawl around while I did so because he got bored of the Ergo. It didn't take longer than 20 min but ds was tired of being ignored at the end of it and I felt uber guilty. The ex and I agreed to keep him out of daycare so I am left with 2 evenings a week and weekends to work (starting a new job tomorrow-- sales blahhhhh). I don't know if I'll ever be able to climb above the mountain of debt and have enough security to get a place for ds and I. The ex's idea of helping is passing on some diapers once in a while. I can't imagine asking for anything because he is in full time school while his mother pays his rent/groceries etc. so I know he can't afford it.

I sent an invitation to my father for ds' birthday at the end of the month (WHAT?! He's almost 1 year old?!). I was polite enough while making a point of saying how disappointed I am that he has only met ds once when my brother basically kidnapped him for the day and brought him to Vancouver to meet ds and my brother's son (who was then 2 weeks and my Dad didn't even know he had been conceived until that day). I posed the question which had been bothering me for a long time now-- was the gap between us because it was too inconvenient for him to travel from Aldergrove to Vancouver (or to invite us out there), because he'd rather forget he has children/grandchildren, or because he thought I didn't want him around. It's hard to pick up the phone and call the man who still treats me like a 3 year old simply because that was when he spent the most time with me and hasn't noticed all the changes over the last two decades.

Lastly I feel depression is starting to rear it's ugly head again. I feel it in waves at random times. I'm so trying to raise ds well with the best efforts I can muster... Sometimes I feel so sad that I might have done him an injustice by splitting with his father; it's apparent he misses him with the snuggles he gives the ex when he sees him on visits. I know it was an unhealthy relationship though and remind myself that it's better for all of us this way. Just lonely and hard sometimes.

Okay. I'm done. Thank you strangers for letting me vent.

[mirthfulmum]

job offer confirmed...start date, sep 29.

Hoooray!!!! :-wool:-wool:-wool:-wool

[mirthfulmum]

westcoastma - :hug

[Len]

(((westcoastma))) hugs to you.... you are doing a great job. I'm sorry you don't have the support that you deserve.

Tiffani wow, congratulations!

Hugs for anyone else who needs them too.....

Happy Birthday Cassidy! I see that a few of our kids are turning 9, big changes on the way for us..... and it also reminds me, when we first started this "tribe" these same kidos were only 3!! so we've been here for SIX years!!!

Agreeing with Artparent, with so many of you going away (:bawl) a party-ish get together is in order!

Tooticky, and where is that fabulous beach you went to and didn't take me? :wink (do NOT disclose that information here in public :lol)

[dawncayden]

Westcoastma, emailed you :hug


Tiffani! September! WOwee, thats really cool!

[tiffani]

Hey Jen! I forgot to say Happy Birthday Cass!!
:balloons

I keep putting one foot into this tribe but never seem to keep up with the banter.
one foot is all you need! come on in when you like! :)

My mother is nearly pushing me over the edge.
big :hug, not much advice, that's a tough situation you're in...

I used to cuddle this dog like mad and now I only seem to shoo him away. It's really sad that my giving, giving, giving to ds has left me with only irritation for the pup.
it might feel sad, but it's totally normal... I had a friend who was worried when she was pregnant that she wouldn't love her baby as much as she loved her dogs... then the baby is born, and the dogs are pretty much just a nuisance...sad but true. if you pretend you like the dog every so often, and make sure it's basic needs are met, you're golden.

I had to let ds crawl around while I did so because he got bored of the Ergo. It didn't take longer than 20 min but ds was tired of being ignored at the end of it and I felt uber guilty.
DO NOT FEEL GUILTY FOR THIS!!!! Crawling around is an important part of life for kids his age, and playing alone is a valuable skill!! You do not need to fill his every waking hour with entertainment, and doing so is actually detrimental -- he needs to be able to explore the world on his own steam, play by himself, and get into things while you're trying to cook! :wink I am so glad I was introduced to the concept of "benign neglect" when my first was a baby -- my kids have never expected me to entertain them, they play well on their own, and they have a rich inner dialogue going on when their on their own -- they're at peace playing by themselves. If they need you, you do your best to meet those needs, but it's good for a one year old to have some time just crawling on the floor on his own -- bring a few interesting objects into the kitchen, set him down, and do your thing! If he fusses, find a new interesting object for him to play with for a while. It can be really hard to cook while trying to tend to a baby, but guilt should not even enter into it!!

I posed the question which had been bothering me for a long time now good for you! it's hard to initiate those conversations...

Lastly I feel depression is starting to rear it's ugly head again.
:hug

Okay. I'm done. Thank you strangers for letting me vent.
that's what we're here for!!! :thumb Let us know how it's all going!

[tooticky]

[B]

Tooticky, and where is that fabulous beach you went to and didn't take me? :wink (do NOT disclose that information here in public :lol)

:lol Did you see that I at least called you???

[tooticky]

:hug westcoastma... Many :hug to you... You have a lot of hard things to deal with right now...

I wanted to tell you that I felt the same way about my cat after having children. I know of other people who have felt an aversion to their pets and other people's too...

Please vent here as much as you like!!! I know that it often makes me feel better just to write things down and have a few sympathetic hugs.

[Autumn Mama]

I wanted to tell you that I felt the same way about my cat after having children. I know of other people who have felt an aversion to their pets and other people's too...



:truedat: I felt the same about my cats (and suffered guilt twinges, too!) and even felt that aversion towards those folks in our families who weren't able to be "useful" when around our new family. It was like, they became extremely irritating and fell to the periphery of my sense of valueing them. This definitely was the case with my high-maintenance MIL.

All normal feelings, like tiffani said.

Big hugs to you Mama.

One of the things that I love/loved to do to escape the feelings of irritation (and I still have those today with a 6 year old and a soon-to-be-three year old, towards my DH sometimes!!!) is to get anywhere else, even the backyard, and just watch my new LO (and now older DS's) see the "firsts". Watch them enjoying splashing in some water in a Rubbermaid in the shade, or showing them a bird on the lawn, just living through their experiences of the world, and their senses. Heals many wounds, sometimes for me!!!:thumb

[Ksenia]

:champagne tiffani!

:birthday: Cass!

:hug westcoastma -- tiffani and Autumn Mama have shared some wise words with you, but it cannot be easy.

[artparent]

happy birthday cass!

(((westcoastma))) that's rough. it can be hard to live with people, particularly parents...sometimes i find just trying to love them, not change them, works best for everyone. obviously much harder than it sounds...but the element of acceptance can affect your stress level a lot. can you find support in other places? i found john gottman's the relationship cure very useful recently in trying to shift some issues in my relationships. the most immediate effect is for me to do everything wrong :eyesroll but i expect that's the learning process, recognise what i'm doing, how i'm participating in dynamics...

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[mamaana]

westcoast ma :hug

tiffani - wow and congrats. When we're done with the Cowtown adventure, we want to go to NZ so Rick can train for Ironman there.

ksenia - I don't know what that is but healing vibes to you all :goodvibes:


I'm all for a going-away get-together.


I have stuff to give away...PM me if you want any of this

Moose meat and venison - dh's group drew 2 bulls this year so I have to clear my freezer.
Mason jars of all sizes and tons of rings and lids.
Homemade Blueberry syrup I'm not taking it to Calgary

I'm also having a yard sale this Sat - pm me for my address

Gotta run and declutter some more!

[Storm Bride]

I haven't caught up on the whole thread, but

Ksenia: Sorry to hear about the hand-foot-and-mouth - sounds awful. I hope everyone is better soon.

westcoastma: I hope things settle down soon. I remember becoming a single mom, and it was tough even for me - and I was in my own place and my son was 7!

Tiffani: Another one leaving? Wow - this tribe is shrinking almost daily right now. Congrats - hope everything goes well.


We're back. We had a good time, overall. The kids had a blast, and I think my BIL did, too. I had a horrible blowup with my mom, but we're okay again...was a direct result of my total and utter lack of anything resembling self-confidence. If I had any belief that I was even marginally competent at anything, it wouldn't have happened at all. The kids and I are sunburned, and I have a headache - probably from muscle tension, as it was a long drive (by my standards) home from Manning.

I need to figure out a way for everyone to have fun, as dh didn't really enjoy himself much. He likes the campfire to be a quiet time, and the teenagers (ds1 and my oldest nephew) like to sit around and...babble. We'll have to figure out a compromise next time. I have to say that it was really great watching my son and nephew step in and help us find ways to deal with problems (the tarp almost blowing away, and mom's tent collapsing and such). They're definitely not kids, anymore.

[Ksenia]

mamaana -- I forgot to congratulate you too! :champagne

Storm Bride -- IME it helps to restrict the size of camping parties. We find that the more people are involved, the more needs there are to consider.

[Ksenia]

:)

[Ksenia]

Vancouver(ish) Tribe: planning a going-away party (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=11868769#post11868769) :jumpers:

[Storm Bride]

Storm Bride -- IME it helps to restrict the size of camping parties. We find that the more people are involved, the more needs there are to consider.

I agree completely. However, in this case, the only serious conflict of needs is between dh and ds1. I think that next time we camp, which will probably be next year, I'm going to have a separate campsite for ds1 and my nephew (my nephew is usually part of the trip, as ds1 likes to have someone roughly his age along, and they're practically brothers, anyway). They can be with us all day and eat with us and such - and then they can go to their own campfire and sleep in their own tent. It shouldn't matter too much how many other people are with us, if any. I'd definitely like to camp with my BIL and the kids again...dd and ds2 loved it.

[dido1]

Congratulations Tiffani!

Westcoastmama, I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. This is a great place to vent when you need to. Perhaps it's time to reconsider your agreement with the ex regarding childcare? Particularly if he isn't providing financial support to you at this time. IMO, I think that vetos many of his rights to decision making.

I'm on tenderhooks waiting for news about a job DH is up for. We are supposed to find out this week if it's a go. Otherwise, we'll likely start searching in Calgary. We really want to stay in Vancouver, but you go where the work is, right? I can get a job anywhere, but DH is sort of in a niche market.

We had a lovely but short camping trip up in Princeton. DS had a blast being outdoors all the time and I actually enjoyed myself instead of being all uptight like I was last year. Although our neighbours did stress me out a tad as they let their 4 year old roam the very large campsite by herself for most of the day and didn't seem very concerned (actually, I don't think they even noticed) when she was going in other people's tents and trailers and wanting everyone's food. They were too busy reading. They had a 6 month old who sat in the playpen for most of the time we were there to...one time for 45 minutes by himself while the parents were inside their pop up trailer camper reading. To each their own. Sigh.

[artparent]

where can i buy a hotsling locally; or does someone have one they'd like to sell me?

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[dido1]

You can buy hotslings at Crododile Baby on 4th Avenue

[mamaana]

I'm on tenderhooks waiting for news about a job DH is up for. We are supposed to find out this week if it's a go. Otherwise, we'll likely start searching in Calgary. We really want to stay in Vancouver, but you go where the work is, right? I can get a job anywhere, but DH is sort of in a niche market.

Come to Calgary :D

What does your dh do?

[dido1]

Come to Calgary :D

What does your dh do?

He's in government relations. He has done mostly political stuff but recently transitioned into gr for the private sector. He's totally conservative :eyesroll so Alberta would be a good fit, LOL.

[weliveintheforest]

Westcoastma :hug

Wow Tiffani, New Zealand sounds like such a nice place to go. How much stuff will you be bringing with you? Will you find a place to live online or will you wait until you get there?

We went blueberry picking today and it was really nice, I think we will do more of it :D The pay isn't great but what other job can you bring your children along with you, and get paid in food?

I'm looking forward to the next chilliwack LLL meeting so I can meet some other 'crunchy' moms.

[tiffani]

(((westcoastma))) that's rough. it can be hard to live with people, particularly parents...sometimes i find just trying to love them, not change them, works best for everyone.
yes, yes, yes. you really have to accept where people are, and how they are different from you, especially if there are things you'd like them to do differently! The best way to get someone to hop onto your way of doing things is to come to a place of acceptance -- instead of being angry about leaving the iron in a dangerous place, it's sometimes helpful to just assume the best, accept that they are doing the best they can, maybe just aren't used to having a mobile baby around, and that they will learn from you if you very gently and kindly point out, in a totally non-judgemental way, how they almost killed your kid. :wink using humor is a bonus. hey, this sounds a lot like parenting... if only we could actually DO this every time!! :thumb


We just got back from an amazingly fantastic day kayaking, and we're grilling up steak and veggies to go with our celebratory cocktails because...not only did mark get the NZ job, but he got hired on with animation mentor, which is an online animation school, where he'll be instructing students! :thumb I think teaching animation is even more fun for him than actually animating! anyhoo, the extra money will help pay off this dang debt even faster, making a future adoption an even more realistic possibility! He got a great wage in NZ as well, so we're super happy about all that. I guess this just had to happen first...:D

have a great night! :D

[tiffani]

Wow Tiffani, New Zealand sounds like such a nice place to go. How much stuff will you be bringing with you? Will you find a place to live online or will you wait until you get there?

the company will rent us a car and hotel for two weeks and they have a bunch of places we can choose from -- we can also look online ourselves, but despite all my research I want to see neighborhoods and houses in person before we commit... we want to be able to have a lot of adventures while we're there, but still pay off our debt, so we're trying to stick to the lower end of the rent spectrum, and I don't want to accidentally commit to a junky house before seeing it!

we're not bringing much. we're getting rid of a lot, and putting everything else in storage, but we're trying to figure out how to get our cats there, otherwise we'll have to find someone here to take them, and then we'd worry...they love us a lot. :innocent If anyone wants two amazingly sweet and friendly yet independent cats for a year or two, pm me!

[Piglet68]

Wow, Tiffani, what a wonderful adventure! I've been to New Zealand many time since my mother's family all live in Auckland. It is a very beautiful country and in many ways very similar to here. I have not been south down to Wellington, however. DH and I would like to spend six months in NZ some time, rent an RV and travel around the country.

I feel like I'm finally coming up to surface after being totally swamped with work lately! Nice to catch up with everybody.

I think your farewell party is a great idea, Ksenia! Aug 29 would work for us.

[Alison's Mom]

Subbing. . . .

Hugs to you, Westcoastma - I don't know you single moms do it! Hope you get some support that you need soon.

Artparent - this mama from the BWing group (http://www.thepracticalmom.com/hotslings-organic/) has some new organic cotton hotslings on clearance.

[artparent]

thanks alison's mom - sadly they're out of my size.

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[widemouthedfrog]

What is this, I go away on vacation and everyone moves? Just stay on MDC, ok?

We had a somewhat rainy and somewhat relaxing vacation. it seems that we had a constant stream of guests coming through, which made our vacation a bit more of a management issue that I thought it should be.

westcoastma, I also couldn't stand either of our cats for the first 1.5 years of dd's life. when the kids get older, they do start enjoying the pets more - and then I felt the pets integrated a bit better into the new family unit. Dealing with a sick animal is also difficult - we've been through a lot with our cats over the past few years.

if anyone is looking for wooden toys, check out woodmouse (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5342617) on etsy.

[westcoastma]

Westcoastmama, I'm sorry you are having such a rough time. This is a great place to vent when you need to. Perhaps it's time to reconsider your agreement with the ex regarding childcare? Particularly if he isn't providing financial support to you at this time. IMO, I think that vetos many of his rights to decision making..

I have looked into childcare out of curiosity and it's way out of my price range (YWCA $1055/month) even if it did allow me to work full time. Plus the wait lists are about 1 1/2 years and by that time ds would be ready for preschool.

I also don't really know how to broach the subject of shared expenses with the ex... He doesn't cost all that much right now, and I think once he does the ex will pitch in for clothes etc because he'll have a job by then. We are avoiding the courts for simplicity's sake... How do people talk about and agree on these things? Man, this growing up stuff is hard. I remember when my biggest worry was having enough beer in the fridge and remembering to brush my teeth at night.


thanks for all the hugs guys. Yesterday was just a particularly rough day. Today despite the lack of sleep (think it's a combo of my stress and teething that has prompted ds to wake more often at night needing actual effort and not just the boob to get back to sleep) we had lots of fun!! Went around town taking some pictures of this beautiful city we live in, went to Trout Lake, had a near encounter with baby and pavement as I tripped with him in the Ergo-- quick super-mama reflexes avoided all harm to him!! Good day. Downtown tomorrow for job interview (I have a couple I was recently accepted for pt but keeping my options open), visit a friend, beach, and more photos. Maybe a nap in there somewhere too. :)

Feel like I'm hijacking this thread. lol Pardon the newbie.

[dawncayden]

Yay CBC! (http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/05/bc-breastfeeding-protest-h-m-vancouver.html?ref=rss)

[Len]

If any of you mamas on the move are planning to sell a good freezer, please let me know :shy

[dido1]

Westcoastmama, my brother and his ex tried really hard to avoid the courts with respect to arrangements for their daughter and sadly it just didn't work. What did work was court ordered family mediation and a lot of time. He told me the other day he wished they had drawn up an agreement about custody, funds, education, care, etc right from the start because it would have made several battles less unpleasant and clarified expectations and roles right up front. For him the unknown and unsaid was really frustrating and created a lot of bitterness between him and his ex.

RE: childcare, I hope you find a way to avoid it, but if you do find you need it, don't forget that you will qualify for the childcare subsidy, which can be quite significant if you are not earning a lot. And don't forget that you can apply for a the bc rental assistance program to if you are not earning a lot. I was also really shocked and upset about the lack of affordable childcare and childcare spaces when I had to return to work. It was challenging but necessary and the way I found the current very good spot we have now was through calling through the West Coast Family Resources Centre's list of licensed caregivers over and over and over again until I found a space that I was comfortable with. And sometimes you have to get creative, like seeking out likeminded mamas who may want a part time child minding job, etc. What ever choice you need to make, I hope you get all the support you need.

Speaking of which, Dawn, did your pregnant friend find a place to stay?

[Autumn Mama]

Hey all,

CBC Radio AM will be discussing the H&M breastfeeding violation on the Mark Forsythe Show which runs between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. today. I believe his show is of a call-in nature...could be interesting. The ad/blerb I just heard suggested it would be questioning why we still keep BF "in the closet". Should be lots of interesting bits.

[dawncayden]

Speaking of which, Dawn, did your pregnant friend find a place to stay?

She did, then she had to stop working because she started bleeding, so she couldn't afford the rent, so she's half with her partying friend and half with us. It's somewhat great to have her with us, but she's in our bed and I'm bunking with Cayden and dh is sleeping on the floor in the office. It's not ideal, but for now it works. She's trying to get into a womens shelter on Main and she hopes to have a good place of her own in the next month or two.

[westcoastma]

I will miss the radio show, already double booked-- we'll see how that works!

Dawn, I never did contact your pg friend... hope she's doing well. Sounds a little cramped at your place!

I did post an ad for childcare on MDC work from home board. Take a look if anyone's interested. I will have to look into childcare subsidy. WOuld they pay for private (re babysitter/childminder) in lieu of daycare?

[dido1]

I will miss the radio show, already double booked-- we'll see how that works!

Dawn, I never did contact your pg friend... hope she's doing well. Sounds a little cramped at your place!

I did post an ad for childcare on MDC work from home board. Take a look if anyone's interested. I will have to look into childcare subsidy. WOuld they pay for private (re babysitter/childminder) in lieu of daycare?

The subsidy does apply to unlicensed care either in your home or out. Here is the link to the website that explains the program, how to apply and how much you are applicable for:

http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/subsidy_promo.htm

[dawncayden]

Does anyone have a hand breast pump for free or cheap?
:shy

[gr8fulmom]

Does anyone have a hand breast pump for free or cheap?
:shy

I might have one for your Dawn... I have to double check when I get home...

[tifille3]

New here, thought I would pop in and say HI :-)

Name is Yvonne and my family - DH Len, DD Anneke (almost 6) and DS Ryker (3) all just relocated to False Creek (south) from Orlando Florida for hubby's work. Hoping to find some at least semi-crunchy mamas to hang out with around here. We used to be homeschoolers in Florida, but it wasn't working well for us, so DD is in Montessori - here it will be in Kitsilano at Pacific Rim. Ryker will not be going to school this year, so he and I need some buddies to hang with!

About us: We are a semi-crunchy family - Baby wearing (well, not anymore -kids are WAAAYY too heavvy), selective / non-vaxing, natural and organic (whenever possible) eating, non-circ'ing etc. I stay home with the kiddos at the moment full-time. I try to follow positive discipline and peaceful parenting styles, but have to admit I am not the best at it when under stress (like moving to another country). Trying hard to improve in that area! We are loving living in False Creek and being able to walk to everything - after being in the 'burbs of Orlando where you couldn't walk anywhere, it is heaven.

Sorry, that is all I can think of for now. Hope to meet some of you "locals" ;-P soon.

Yvonne

[dawncayden]

:w tifille3


thanks Jen!

[tiffani]

Welcome Yvonne!


Does anyone have a hand breast pump for free or cheap?
:shy

yep, and I can get it to you tomorrow. I'll pm you.

edited to say... mine is actually a small electric pump that you can have -- if you wanted strictly manual, no batteries or electricity involved, then never you mind...

[crazyrunningmama]

Don't have time to sort through this whole thread, but on the off chance y'all hadn't heard....

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/st...5-c6d0d2cee6ad

I so wish I was still nursing, we would be all over this!!

[Autumn Mama]

So, did anyone actually get to hear the BF violation discussion on CBC Radio? (I'm tired of giving *the store* publicity by using the store name anymore...so I left it out!)

I went raspberry picking at my landowner's side of the farm and forgot!!!







:o :love

[dawncayden]

Dh listened.

So, did anyone actually get to hear the BF violation discussion on CBC Radio? (I'm tired of giving *the store* publicity by using the store name anymore...so I left it out!)

[Ellp]

Don't have time to sort through this whole thread, but on the off chance y'all hadn't heard....

http://www.canada.com/theprovince/st...5-c6d0d2cee6ad

I so wish I was still nursing, we would be all over this!!

That link isn't working. Can you give us a run down?

[gr8fulmom]

Dawn... I do have an Ameda manual pump which you are welcome to (for free ;)). I can get it as far as Poco tomorrow... pm me if you want it...

[artparent]

anyone going tomorrow? i feel a bit the same about breastfeeding there as i do breastfeeding in england (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2504707/Breastfeeding-rates-in-England-among-lowest-in-Europe.html). like i should do it, because i'd like to live in a world where that's okay, and when my babe needs to nurse, i nurse! but it certainly isn't very comfortable. i'm going to try to go, but i'm interested to see how many 3 year olds are there nursing. (of course, in england, nursing is soothing, not breastfeeding! must review my terminology!)

*

[Autumn Mama]

Ugh! My DH is in a seminar all day. I was planning to leave DS1 (who has a class at LEPS )with him and just bring Ds2. Plans have changed. Sigh.

[dutchgal]

At least 3-4 of my friends are going, one with a 2+ year old, most with walking nurslings. I have to work, wish I could be there!!

[kdtmom2be]

Does anyone have a hand breast pump for free or cheap?
:shy

If you haven't found one yet then yes, I do. It's sitting here in the box, barely used. Not great for lots and lots of pumping I think, but did the job for the few times I needed it.

[tiffani]

Hey Dawn!!

I can't seem to find all the parts of the pump I was going to bring to you today... I think it went in with a box of bottles I loaned a neighbor... I'll keep looking and get back to you, but in the meantime, take one of these other lovely offers! sorry about that...

[mirthfulmum]

Hope the nurse-in at H&M goes smashingly! Sadie and I are there in spirit! I'll nurse her extra today, perhaps in the middle of Superstore as a potentialy-awkward-nursing-in-public show of solidarity. Although I've nursed in Superstore many times before and never gotten any flack from anyone...

[dawncayden]

oops i meant to pm

[lunagal]

i'll be at the nurse in with garret! should be interesting...
anyone else going?

[dawncayden]

I'll be there around 1, but sadly without Cayden. I'll be coming from work.

[weliveintheforest]

:( I'm not going to make the nurse-in, but I wish I could be there!
I just can't justify driving into Vancouver with nothing else to do. I wish there was public transit from chilliwack.

[dido1]

My boss just came back from H&M and said she was sad that not many women were there at the nurse-in. I was pleasantly surprised when she told me she wouldn't shop there any more and that if she was still nursing she'd have participated :-)

[lunagal]

oh, i disagree... i just got back from there and there were lots of people there (maybe 200?) with a few outside on granville street, but then when you went into the mall and into the store, oh, it was amazing! lots of mamas, babies, papa's, etc. i saw lots of LLL moms from north van, my midwives, some business colleagues... so very inspiring. lots of tv cameras, photographers, reporters, etc. one h&m employee tried to tell a photographer "i'm sorry, no photos allowed in the store" ... yeah right! try and stop us! i'm so glad i went. garret happily nursed and eventually fell asleep on the boob. i'll try and post something on my blog tonight with pictures.

[dido1]

oh, i disagree... i just got back from there and there were lots of people there (maybe 200?) with a few outside on granville street, but then when you went into the mall and into the store, oh, it was amazing! lots of mamas, babies, papa's, etc. i saw lots of LLL moms from north van, my midwives, some business colleagues... so very inspiring. lots of tv cameras, photographers, reporters, etc. one h&m employee tried to tell a photographer "i'm sorry, no photos allowed in the store" ... yeah right! try and stop us! i'm so glad i went. garret happily nursed and eventually fell asleep on the boob. i'll try and post something on my blog tonight with pictures.

I'm relieved! She must have gone down to early...I think she just looked at the mall side of the store around 12:15. I'm so glad there was such a great turnout!!!!!!

[weliveintheforest]

I'm glad too, I've been bummed all afternoon that I didn't go into town, but at least it was big enough that one more woman wouldn't have made a difference :wink

[expat-mama]

Hi Vancouver mamas!

Just read an article about the nurse-in protest at H&M in the Sun from Google news and I'm so proud of those of you who went! Thank you for doing this.

I was really happy to read the article, then immediately furious and shocked when i scrolled down to read the comments. They broke my heart. It pains me that we live in culture where women are so hyper-feminized and over-sexualized that there can be near naked pictures of women in ads all over but people are so ignorantly ashamed and offended by breastfeeding. The comments that really got me going were from other women.

Kathy
Thu, Aug 7, 08 at 05:56 PM
I would first like to say that I too have children that were breastfed, but not in public. breast-feeding your child is an intimate moment between mother and baby, it should not be done in public. comparing that to scantilly clad models on posters is ridiculous. its more comparable to seeing two individuals having sex in the aisle, in my opinion. These mothers need to have some shame and stop embarrassing their children. I can't imagine how I would have felt knowing that my mom exposed her breasts in public to feed me, major psychological damage would have insued i'm sure. Breast-feeding is a natural procress but i'm sure it doesn't need to be done in public.

Gail Meek
Thu, Aug 7, 08 at 05:57 PM
Breastfeeding is a 'private' act between mother and child. You would not bare your breasts in public, under non-feeding conditions. Keep them to yourselves moms. Not all women feel this is a public display of privilege. Most women who disagree with you are simply too well mannered to voice their opinion.

Tired!
Thu, Aug 7, 08 at 06:20 PM
Maybe Child Services should be called in and apprehend these babies to make sure there mothers are thinking straight as NO real Mother would even attend a protest with an infant., Also the store should sue the women that started this for all the bad publicity This isn,t a nature show whats the matter they can,t afford a breast pump and bottles everyone else seems to do things in a decent fashion, What an ignorant women if you can call her that I am sure there are other names for a person like this remove that baby from her custody!



ARGH!

[kdtmom2be]

You know, I think what gets me about those comments is the assumption that I am whipping my boob out and flaunting it around when I am nursing my babe.

I was at the nurse-in, not with a nursing babe though, she fell asleep in the car on the way there and stayed asleep when I extracted her from her seat. Never wake a sleeping baby! There were lots of moms there, it was good to see. Glad that the community is willing to stand up and shout when something isn't right.

[artparent]

it was a lovely bit of activism. the mama energy there was so wonderful, i didn't want to leave it! i try not to read the comments, i don't think folks have even seen someone nursing before, so they have no idea how discreet you can be. my tall girl was interviewed by a tv camera, but i don't know who :shrug i may appear nursing my nearly 3 year old in the metro, we'll see. she just wanted to nurse, right before the event, and suddenly she was news :shy. actually, there were only about 10 mamas up until 12.30, when another hundred + showed up! it was quite amazing. i'm proud to live in a place where so many people have the courage to stand up and say what's right.

*

[Storm Bride]

You know, I think what gets me about those comments is the assumption that I am whipping my boob out and flaunting it around when I am nursing my babe. .

:yeah:
I showed way more of my breasts by wearing v-neck t-shirts when I was younger than I ever have while nursing a baby. I'm quite happy to say that I've never had anything but a positive reaction to nursing, though...except from a few of ds1's friend a few years ago. I think I had a positive impact on them, though - they figured out quite quickly that this was just a baby eating.

[artparent]

i see on facebook that my girl talked to cbc - i wonder if they'll use it?

*

[artparent]

yep, 6.00 news..you can see her giving her interview, voiceover...cute activist :love it was reported positively, and tons of pics of nursing mamas!

*

[tifille3]

Appreciate it. Hope to meet some of you soon - getting kind of lonely here without anyone I know now that hubby has gone back to work!

Yvonne

[Ellp]

Hey! I think Ally's photo made it on Canoe's photo page on the nurse-in!
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2008/08/07/6379376-cp.html

Click on the "photo gallery", its on page 5 of 9!

[artparent]

oh, she's gorgeous!

*

[dawncayden]

I was there! Mostly outside holding my sign. I got there after 1 and there were still 100 people inside. I hear there was double or more at 12:30. FABULOUS!

[Alison's Mom]

Wow, I'm impressed with the turn out at the nurse in. I had plans today, but not sure I would have been there. Not really the 'activist' type although I totally agree with the cause. Good for you Ally, and love the new haircut!

While I do breastfeed in public sometimes without using a canopy, I try to be as discreet as possible and I'm becoming less comfortable about it now that DS is getting older. . . .

The stigma exists even in my own home, with my dh having made comments like 'the only women who BF in public are the ones whose breasts you wouldn't want to see!' Of course this is such an ignorant, immature comment, but unfortunately, lots of people still hold similar views about how it's gross, distateful, etc. I was saddened to read the comments from the Vancouver Sun article about taking children away because of the psychological damage! Such ignorance!

[artparent]

just being the nurse-in, and so many people in support of breastfeeding in public, made it so much easier to meet my babe's needs today, riding the bus and out in the city...i'm hoping to take this perspective with me to england.

*

[westcoastma]

Aw, we missed it today! glad so many of you and others made it. Any comments from staff/managers? Missed the news tonight too, think it will repeat tomorrow?

Apparently there's a virus going around on facebook so if you get a message from a friend saying they have a "hidden camera" video of you don't open it. I just did thinking "oh god, what could this be? me scratching my bum?" and am running a virus check now. Thankfully I have a Mac so probably safe, but used my mom's pc to open it after I couldn't so hope it's nothing too bad.

[mirthfulmum]

The stigma exists even in my own home, with my dh having made comments like 'the only women who BF in public are the ones whose breasts you wouldn't want to see!'
Huh. My husband would whole heartily disagree.

Loved reading the articles and seeing the pictures. I've breast fed 3 kids in public over these 6 years, I've never covered up with a blanket, but I am fairly discreet, and I've never not once ever had any negative comments. Actually people usually think my child's just fallen to sleep in my arms. When my dad, Sadie and I were touring Hearst Castle in California and she was hot and tired and thirsty and insisted on nursing in the middle of the walking tour, I had quite a few people come over and give me the "awe, sleeping baby look". Bet they would've been pretty shocked if they had known what I was really doing!

[Autumn Mama]

:jumpers:

I'm soooo happy for the successful turn-out and proud of those of you that went. Thanks for standing up to make it a child's birthright to be breastfed...ANYWHERE!!!

:joy:

I love how you talked about the mama energy, artparent, I soooo would have felt that too, and had it lift me up, up up!!! I will be parenting differently in the days to come. So inspirational!!!

My DH said he would have totally come with us too, if we'd been able to swing it!!!:love

[Autumn Mama]

yep, 6.00 news..you can see her giving her interview, voiceover...cute activist :love it was reported positively, and tons of pics of nursing mamas!

*

6:00 News!!! Wow!!! :D

I'm going to see if the piece is up on their site, I may check the CBC News right now too!!!

[Ksenia]

:thumb way to go lactivist mamas! :thumb

:tiphat: welcome tifille3

widemouthedfrog -- awesome link to woodmouse

seeking input on Cirkids --
Would my almost-5-yo ds love it? Would it drive me crazy trying to entertain 2 yo dd during it? Should he register for "Lions" (after school) or are there homeschooler programs for 5 yos?

[Ksenia]

Vancouver(ish): What's your fall schedule looking like? (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=11891401#post11891401)

[kdtmom2be]

I was there! Mostly outside holding my sign. I got there after 1 and there were still 100 people inside. I hear there was double or more at 12:30. FABULOUS!

That wasn't you that stopped a lady (me) with a sleeping baby on your way in was it?? Entering from the Granville entrance it looked like the nurse-in was a bust, until you got inside!

[dawncayden]

:thumb way to go lactivist mamas! :thumb

:tiphat: welcome tifille3

widemouthedfrog -- awesome link to woodmouse

seeking input on Cirkids --
Would my almost-5-yo ds love it? Would it drive me crazy trying to entertain 2 yo dd during it? Should he register for "Lions" (after school) or are there homeschooler programs for 5 yos?

I don't know Cirkids exactly, but I do know how much fun circus/acro stuff is and I think it would be perfect for your ds.

That wasn't you that stopped a lady (me) with a sleeping baby on your way in was it?? Entering from the Granville entrance it looked like the nurse-in was a bust, until you got inside!

Maybe...I have brown shortish hair and was holding a sign that said 'Breastfeeding isn't dirty...don't hide it away'

[kdtmom2be]

Huh. My husband would whole heartily disagree.


Mine would too, he think any breasts are worth looking at :lol

The only time I have had anyone comment on my breastfeeding in public was a police officer trying to take my statement after we were in a car accident and I was nursing DD because she was upset and he was clearly uncomfortable when he figured it out (and said so and tried to go away and do something else while we finished) and a parking nazi at the airport who told me that I couldn't breastfeed in the rental parking lot (in an unmarked spot), I had to go park in pay parking. I told him I'd move as soon as DD was finished and he wrote me a parking ticket (but was so flustered he put the wrong plate on the ticket). That was more about being a jerk than about breastfeeding. :eyesroll Oh, and I've covered up exactly ONCE, when DD was 10 days old and I was still having trouble latching without getting the whole boob out there and getting it all lined up.

[dawncayden]

Ticket people and breastfeeding :lol we sometimes drive to Davie to get takeout from Stephos and we park in Shoppers parking lot but our food ALWAYS takes longer than expected and this one time ds was wanting to nurse and we were 15 minutes past our time, but the ticket writer didn't want to come near...so we didn't get a ticket :wink

[dido1]

Do you know what really ticks me off about the negative comments that have been flying around news feedback areas? People don't seem to realize that it doesn't matter if you don't like looking at breastfeeding or if you think it's wrong because in BC a woman's right to breastfeed when and where she pleases is entrenched in the BC Human Rights Code. It is a violation of that code to segregate or banish a breastfeeding mother. ARGH.

[Storm Bride]

seeking input on Cirkids --
Would my almost-5-yo ds love it? Would it drive me crazy trying to entertain 2 yo dd during it? Should he register for "Lions" (after school) or are there homeschooler programs for 5 yos?

My only experience with them was with ds1, and he was 14. He did a session of swinging trapeze, and had a blast. We were thinking of signing him up for a full session this fall, but it's expensive and his math tutoring has made it unlikely that we can pull it off, financially.

There's a program in North Van that I'm going to look into - think it's called the Vancouver Circus School, and it runs through our local rec commission. I've heard good things about it, and it's cheaper than CirKids. It's also morea more convenient location for me, but that wouldn't be the case for you. DS1 had a blast at CirKids, though, and the younger kids I saw leaving when we got there seemed to be having the time of their lives. I'm thinking about putting dd in something like that, and she's close to your ds in age.

I don't know about homeschool programs. It seems to me that I first came across CirKids while researching homelearning activities, but I don't remember the connection.


ETA: The circus school in North Van has homeschool programs, but they're not available until age six. All they have for kids 5 and under is trampoline.

[tiffani]

seeking input on Cirkids --
Would my almost-5-yo ds love it? Would it drive me crazy trying to entertain 2 yo dd during it? Should he register for "Lions" (after school) or are there homeschooler programs for 5 yos?

yes, it's hard to entertain little ones in the cirkids room, but if it isn't pouring rain, you can head outside to the pond, etc. I always let my younger kid play on the equipment in the lion's den (the younger kid room) when the kids were up on the trampolines, but I got scolded a lot. :p

Lucy loved cirkids, dexter loved it for a while, but they have teenagers teaching the youngest group, which is a bad mix, in my opinion -- they just aren't skilled enough to deal with the young kids, though dex's group was only 4 kids, but kind of hard to manage. that may have changed, though... they're a great group of people, and it's a great program, but for the littlest kids, all they really want to do is trampoline, and all the rest is kind of too hard for a 5 year old.

I'd take W~ to the north van trampoline class, actually -- that school was started by the original founding members of cirkids, who left after some conflict or another... unicycle and juggling is too hard for kids that age, but trampoline, they LOVE!!! maybe do trampoline one day and gymnastics another day? I'd save actual "circus school" until they're at least 7 or 8... otherwise I think they can burn out, because it's too frustrating to do some of the skills when you just don't have the coordination yet...

[Ksenia]

:Thanks for the Cirkids feedback! Tiffani -- ds loves to burn off energy, but the coordination isn't there so you make good points.I'd take W~ to the north van trampoline class, actually -- that school was started by the original founding members of cirkids, who left after some conflict or another... unicycle and juggling is too hard for kids that age, but trampoline, they LOVE!!!That only starts at 6 and ds is only turning 5 in Oct. :shrug. We did get trampoline time at Flicka drop-in last year so maybe we should continue with that. I'm getting some pressure from dh to do Cirkids because another family that we know is going - they are really nice and fun and dh respects the mother's opinion. They did the summer camp and are really looking forward to the fall-winter program.

[gr8fulmom]

Ksenia... I agree with Tiffani about cirkids... it did not work for Cass when he was Wolfi's age... and I thought it was pretty expensive comapred to similar activities and not really worth it for what you get (type of instruuction and their ability level) for little kid... we did teh gymnastics program at Arenex this year and my kids loved it! They have times for homeleaners... really they do much of the same stuff except the unicycles which most 5/6 yos find too difficult anyways... I am looking into gymnastic closer to home this year but we may be back at Arenex... Also I think it is hard to entertain little sibilings inside their on a rainy day... not impossible but not fun for how long the classes are... so IME I thought cirkids looked better on paper than in reality for my kid... and it might be worth revisiting when they are much older and are able to do more and be more focussed... and I also agree that within gymnastics the kids seem to like tramp best... but Mac and Cass also love the uneven bars and the rings and the climbing rope at Arenex... HTH

just trying to plan our fall schedule now... I'll post on your other thread soon...

We have been swimming in Rolley lake every evening this week with the hot weather... its divine... just a 2 minute drive from our house (just a little too far to walk and along a very busy road) and we don't even bring a change of clothes, just grab our towels and go... the water is so refreshing... Jay says we can just pretend we're on vacation like all the german tourists we run into on the beach there :lol its these times when I appreciate where I live :D

[lunagal]

hi there. i just posted my blog entry (http://blog.lunapads.com/2008/08/lactivists-take-on-hm/)about the nurse-in at h&m. please add your comments, as i forgot to mention the lovely 'mama vibe' feel of the event.

and yaah to artparent's dd1. :thumb i saw her image her on the cbc news nursing her baby doll and i'm pretty sure i saw you too! but, i can't find the images online or the interview online...?

circus: i know musicmommy had her kids in the north van circus school and her dd1 loves it. ask her... but she's off for 2 weeks vacation tomorrow. best to email her directly, as i know she's not been on the boards for a while.
i took ds1 to check it out, and he was intimidated by all of it. he loves flicka though! go figure.

hey, does anyone know what happened to the public montessori proposal in north van? a group of women are submitting a proposal to the NV school district for a homelearner program in north van. pm me if you want to be in the loop.

i'll be at under the volcano (http://volcano.resist.ca/)on sunday. come visit the lunapads table and enjoy some great music and activism.

[Storm Bride]

That only starts at 6 and ds is only turning 5 in Oct. :shrug. We did get trampoline time at Flicka drop-in last year so maybe we should continue with that. I'm getting some pressure from dh to do Cirkids because another family that we know is going - they are really nice and fun and dh respects the mother's opinion. They did the summer camp and are really looking forward to the fall-winter program.

The North Van program doesn't offer homeschool trampoline at age 5, but they do have trampoline available from 4-6. That's what I'm thinking I might put dd into.

I've heard really good things about CirKids, and may yet go that route. But, for now, we're going to try the other one. Until we get on top of finances (we went a little overboard just after Aaron died, and dh needed a new bike after his wreck last September, and ds1's tutouring is expensive, etc. etc. - been an expensive year), CirKids is outside our budget.

[Ksenia]

Now is the time to stock up on butter!! If you order frozen Avalon organic butter now from SPUD, it is dated mid June 2008. That's a time of year when grasses are growing relatively quickly, so that ensures that the butter will have the maximum content of Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 is important for the utilization of minerals, protects against tooth decay, supports growth and development, is involved in normal reproduction, protects against calcification of the arteries leading to heart disease, and is a major component of the brain (http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/vitamin-k2.html)I am trying to buy my year's supply of butter right now. Buying butter at this time of year is an alternative to buying expensive butter oil (http://www.drrons.com/x-factor-butter-oil.htm).

[Autumn Mama]

Does dated mid-June mean that it's expired? :scratch

Did SPUD say how much stock they have available?

[Ksenia]

Does dated mid-June mean that it's expired? :scratchNo, the product is frozen as soon as it's produced at Avalon, and SPUD delivers it frozen. Because they are selling frozen stock, you don't necessarily get the butter that was made last week.Did SPUD say how much stock they have available?I assume they have lots of stock but I didn't ask. I know what the dates are because I just ordered some and researched what the date codes meant.

edited to add: mid june 2008 is when it was packaged, NOT the expiry.

[gr8fulmom]

Avalon also sells direct through a store downtown somewhere...
not sure if the prices are better...

[mamaana]

Hey mamas!

I think I pm'd everyone re the meat but if I missed you please pm me or call

6 oh fore ate 6 eight one o nine 5

Thanks!

[tifille3]

Hi Everyone,

Am wondering if any of you Vancouver "in the know" mamas can help me find an equivalent to a wholesale buying club I ran in Orlando. It was called Frontier, and with a minimum $250 order, they shipped free. They sold mostly non-food items, but also spices etc. All natural, organic, etc. It was where I ordered everything from soap to laundry detergent, deo, hair stuff, whatever. Carried most of the big brands. Anyways, I would love to find or start something similar here. IT saved me mega bucks and I am actually considering a Package delivery place across country lines so I can keep ordering through them, but would rather not have to deal with that. If anyone can advise, I would be eternally grateful.

Thanks!

Yvonne

[gr8fulmom]

there is nothing equvialent to Frontier... some of us order from them and get free shipping to a po box in blaine, wa and then go pick it up :wink there is Discovery Organics and Horison but they carry different items and prices are not as good... they also order stuff from Frontier ;)

[tifille3]

Are you looking to add more people to your order group or shall I just order on my own? Also, do they make a big fuss at the border about doing this or do you just declare the invoice value and pay GST or what? I am already missing my U.S. ebay ordering, Amazon.com bulk, Frontier, etc.

[dawncayden]

We have been swimming in Rolley lake every evening this week with the hot weather... its divine... just a 2 minute drive from our house (just a little too far to walk and along a very busy road) and we don't even bring a change of clothes, just grab our towels and go... the water is so refreshing... Jay says we can just pretend we're on vacation like all the german tourists we run into on the beach there :lol its these times when I appreciate where I live :D

Thats where we went camping. You must live near dh's uncle, he lives just down from Rolley on Bell Rd.

Avalon also sells direct through a store downtown somewhere...
not sure if the prices are better...
There's the Avalon dairy right near here just off of 41st between Rupert and Victoria, I wonder if their prices are better buying direct.

[gr8fulmom]

yep... bell is two streets away :) too cold for a swim today tho ;)

[tooticky]

I am wanting to get my SIL a hand carved wooden bowl (or other vessel) as a wedding present, and am wondering if any of you know of any local carvers. If so, could you PM me? :shy

Sorry! Back to the regular programming!

[weliveintheforest]

Are you looking to add more people to your order group or shall I just order on my own? Also, do they make a big fuss at the border about doing this or do you just declare the invoice value and pay GST or what? I am already missing my U.S. ebay ordering, Amazon.com bulk, Frontier, etc.

I order from frontier too and would like to do an order in the next month or so, if anyone wants to order together. I can order (I pick up in Sumas), or I can order with someone else, whichever :thumb I like to order sale stuff and I don't really need anything from this month's, so I wouldn't mind seeing the september sales catalogue :wink

[Autumn Mama]

I am wanting to get my SIL a hand carved wooden bowl (or other vessel) as a wedding present, and am wondering if any of you know of any local carvers. If so, could you PM me? :shy

Sorry! Back to the regular programming!

This (http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?type=store&item=7700708)or this (http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?type=store&item=6800584)from Ten Thousand Villages isn't local, but they are lovely!!!

[Autumn Mama]

I order from frontier too and would like to do an order in the next month or so, if anyone wants to order together. I can order (I pick up in Sumas), or I can order with someone else, whichever :thumb I like to order sale stuff and I don't really need anything from this month's, so I wouldn't mind seeing the september sales catalogue :wink

If you can link me to their catalogue, I will check them out. I'm around 252nd and 80th in Langley, closer to the Aldergrove side, Weliveintheforest. We're close enough to meet up with you to swap!

[Len]

I am wanting to get my SIL a hand carved wooden bowl (or other vessel) as a wedding present, and am wondering if any of you know of any local carvers. If so, could you PM me? :shy

I saw some really nice ones at the Harmony Festival craft market at Ambleside last week. The market will be there again sat-sun if you want to check it out. There was also a guy selling cedar planks for cooking (someone asked a few pages ago :p) and there's a show by cirkids alumni at 11:00 that I'm planning to check out. Harmony Arts (http://www.harmonyarts.ca/saturday_aug9.htm)

Frontier and such, I'm wondering if perhaps Point Roberts is a better option for parcels, since there's probably less people wanting to cross that border? Does anyone have any experience with a mail box there? Otherwise, I also order every couple of months from them. Even if you had to pay tax (you rarely do) it's way cheaper than here, especially at the current exchange rate.

And Kudos to all of you who attended the nurse-in. My little activist has his nap at around noon so he had to miss his first public demonstration. Problem is, I had barely heard about that store before, and with all the fuss and with what I've read now I'm curious to see their clothes :shy maybe I'll stop by and nurse my toddler while I'm there and see what happens :wink

[mamaana]

I cancelled my yard sale due to the rain but any mamas who are coming by for a pickup are more than welcome. I'll be home most of the morning but you may want to call me just to make sure.

Thanks!

[artparent]

oh dear, anyone else have the flu? my tall girl was up all night puking. she was so civilised about it, patting me and saying, mama, i think i might throw up. could you please come with me? :love

musicmommy, i hope we didn't pass it on :(

*

[Ksenia]

Frontier and such, I'm wondering if perhaps Point Roberts is a better option for parcels, since there's probably less people wanting to cross that border? Does anyone have any experience with a mail box there?I'm planning to try this mailbox (http://www.thelettercarrier.com/index.htm) in Roint Roberts (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=point+roberts&ie=UTF8&ll=49.018959,-123.056488&spn=0.403477,1.224976&z=10). Apparently it's really quick to cross the border there and a friend recommended them. It seems like you don't have to have anything set up, just have a phone number on the parcel for them to call you. I want to try it out as many companies have free shipping in the US.

Keep in mind that it's against the user agreement to run a co-op here in this thread. We can have official MDC co-ops in the co-op forum that are local-only though.

[Autumn Mama]

Oh, artparent, hope your girl is back to normal soon:goodvibes:

No illness here, yet. Fingers crossed!

[artparent]

thanks autumn x at least it is raining. :gloomy: nothing worse than illness on a beautiful, hot day! i never know if anyone has a fever!

*

[megansar]

I'm planning to try this mailbox (http://www.thelettercarrier.com/index.htm) in Roint Roberts (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=point+roberts&ie=UTF8&ll=49.018959,-123.056488&spn=0.403477,1.224976&z=10). Apparently it's really quick to cross the border there and a friend recommended them. It seems like you don't have to have anything set up, just have a phone number on the parcel for them to call you. I want to try it out as many companies have free shipping in the US.

Keep in mind that it's against the user agreement to run a co-op here in this thread. We can have official MDC co-ops in the co-op forum that are local-only though.

I use TSB shipping in Point Roberts...http://www.tsbshipping.com/services.htm
You have to register with them (in person) and they give you a number that you include as part of your shipping address when you order. Then they email you to pick up - costs $3.00. I like them well enough and it IS pretty quick to cross the border. They are only open during the week, though - so if you work full time it might be harder to pick up packages. It's been awesome having this option, though - saved me megabucks in shipping charges and duty as well, since the border guards usually just let you go if your packages aren't too pricey. I've only had to go inside once (Christmas presents).

Oh yeah...and we LOVE gymnastics at the Arenex in New West - it is a great program and dd loved the week long gymnastics camp that she attended in July. We're signed up for Saturday morning classes for September. She got to go on the trampoline, the uneven bars, the rings, the ropes, balance beam, vault, and lots of tumbling. It's taught by teenagers, but they've had lots of training and they seem really good (from my limited experience). It is brutally hard to keep a sibling occupied at the Arenex, though. The classes are an hour long and my little guy went nuts. I started taking another adult with me to take him outside to run around because it was too much for me to handle. But I guess that also depends on your child's personality - my ds is a little ball of crazy energy who just wants to get into everything and it was torture for him to watch all the big kids tumbling and jumping while he was stuck playing on a little plastic playground.

We just got back last week from camping in the Kootenays for a week - it was awesome although the weather wasn't fabulous. It was so cold at night that we had to drive in to Nakusp and buy dh and I fleece jackets from the thrift store. Gotta love $1 fleece jackets! :thumb I don't know why, but I over packed for the kids and underpacked for myself? :o The kids LOVED hanging at the beach every day and with 4 adults to watch them (my mom and dad were there, too), the bickering and squabbles went way down and they actually started playing together for more than 5 minutes without screeching at each other. It was magic...makes me realize just how awesome living with extended family could be...(well, maybe not! :D) But it was really nice having someone to either cook or occupy the kids while I cooked.

Now that we're back, ds is sick - he had a fever for a few days and then started coughing and now has a nasty runny nose. LOVELY! There should be a rule about kids not being allowed to get sick in the summer.

Lots of mamas leaving...:( Would it be weird to show up at a farewell party if I haven't met most of you in person?

[Alison's Mom]

Huh. My husband would whole heartily disagree.

Loved reading the articles and seeing the pictures. I've breast fed 3 kids in public over these 6 years, I've never covered up with a blanket, but I am fairly discreet, and I've never not once ever had any negative comments. Actually people usually think my child's just fallen to sleep in my arms. When my dad, Sadie and I were touring Hearst Castle in California and she was hot and tired and thirsty and insisted on nursing in the middle of the walking tour, I had quite a few people come over and give me the "awe, sleeping baby look". Bet they would've been pretty shocked if they had known what I was really doing!

Yeah, I think my DH is just remembering his past where women didn't nurse in public as often as they do now, and according to him, it was the 'crunchy granola types who don't shave their armpits'.

He was kind of traumatized by an incident when I was pg with our 1st. We were in a furniture store and there was a woman with what looked to be a 3yr old in a ring sling trying to 'force' him to nurse. Her whole breast was exposed and she was jiggling it in front of the child's face to try to get him to take it but he wouldn't. Now that I look back, he was probably due for a nap and she was trying to get him to nurse to sleep, but I remember saying 'OK, I wouldn't do that, but I'm not going to judge her for doing it', and DH was grossed out and left the store.:o

However, when I brought up the subject to him yesterday, he was pretty supportive of the whole nurse in concept and fully supportive of a woman's right to nurse anywhere. He probably just thinks discretion should be used.

Funny because I always nurse at doctor's offices, in the waiting room and in the examining room and the only time I got a comment was from Dr Hal Brown, the ND, when I was nursing when he came into the room, and he asked if I wanted him to come back later! I was surprised, thinking that he would see nursing moms all the time, and said this would be the only chance I got to talk to him without DS interupting!

[artparent]

i guess the trick is that it sometimes is very difficult to be discreet. i've had two bouncy toddlers who were eternally popping off to check out a noise, and it is pretty hard not to expose a lot of skin! or pushing clothing around. mine will have a fit if i pull clothing down, rather than up...we have had rows about dresses :eyesroll oh well :love

*

[tooticky]

Yep! :lol DD is quite adamant about lifting my shirt ALL THE WAY UP! :p

[Autumn Mama]

Uh-huh, :nod Especially when I'm in a public place, DS2 will insist on having my shirt higher than ever, with me trying to gently pull it down around the rest of me, and he will say "MMMMMPH!!!" in a vehement tone with his little eyebrows furrowed as he shoves it right back up again.:D It's very cute, but annoying.

This rain makes me feel like Summer is over and I should be getting back into something resembling routine, much to my dismay. (I'm not a lover of structure! :p ) So in my head I am screaming NOOOOOOO!!! I don't want to see Summer end just yet. :( I hope the rain stops soon. It was off and on today a few times. When the sun shines tomorrow I'll go back into planning denial!! :D

[dawncayden]

:twothumbs:2whistle:

[dutchgal]

Uh-huh, :nod Especially when I'm in a public place, DS2 will insist on having my shirt higher than ever, with me trying to gently pull it down around the rest of me, and he will say "MMMMMPH!!!" in a vehement tone with his little eyebrows furrowed as he shoves it right back up again.:D It's very cute, but annoying.

...doesn't really help when they start to shout the word "Boob!" in between efforts to keep the shirt way up either. :o

[Storm Bride]

DD made it impossible to be discreet. She used to get distracted all the time, and there were several occasions when I got her latched, only to have her immediately pop off...and leave me sitting there spraying milk around a food court. *sigh*

I always go through an acutely self-conscious phase when I start nursing a newborn, but it has more to do with not having it down than with exposing my breasts. I just feel so awkward in the early days.

[weliveintheforest]

:twothumbs:2whistle:
what what what?

[kdtmom2be]

what what what?

I think I can guess but don't want to spoil it for anyone else! :thumb

[mirthfulmum]

:twothumbs:2whistle:

:fingersx:

[mamaana]

:twothumbs:2whistle:

:thumb

[widemouthedfrog]

:thumb

:yeah:

[Len]

:yeah:

:yeah:

[dawncayden]

I just found out yesterday! I'm due in April!

:love

P.s. If you know me in real life (ahem Corene) keep it hush hush and on the down low, hehe.

[mirthfulmum]

I just found out yesterday! I'm due in April!

:joy: :joy: :joy: :joy: :joy: :joy: :joy:

[artparent]

:thumb how exciting, dawn!!

*

[sea island mama]

:jumpers: :balloons Congratulations!! :banana :broc: :D

[dutchgal]

Congrats Dawn!! Cayden will be an excellent big brother...:joy:

[Autumn Mama]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

:balloons :joy: :balloons

[megansar]

Yay, Dawn! That's awesome! :joy::joy::joy:

[widemouthedfrog]

:thumb :joy: :joy:

[Ksenia]

:D:D:D dawncayden :D:D:D

[beaner&tiegs]

Oh, congratulations dawn! What exciting news to wake up to!!!

Happy Sunday everyone!

[westcoastma]

I just found out yesterday! I'm due in April!

:love

P.s. If you know me in real life (ahem Corene) keep it hush hush and on the down low, hehe.

lol

YAY!!! That's so awesome, Dawn!! :) :jumpers:

:balloons

YOU: :makebaby:

:heartbeat:joy::joy::joy::joy:

CONGRATULATIONS!! :)

[weliveintheforest]

Thats what I was hoping you meant :D

Congrats!!

[DevaMajka]

I just found out yesterday! I'm due in April!

:love

Yay Dawn!!!! Congrats!!

[gr8fulmom]

congrats dawn!! :jumpers:

[lunagal]

congrats dawn!!! very exciting :jumpers:

[tiffani]

Congratulations Dawn!!! :joy:

elisa, dex had a pukey bug last week, just for a day, but lots of pukes and sleeping....it was kind of nice, actually. :innocent I had a great book I was reading, so it was the perfect excuse to just cuddle him on the couch and read! and race him to the bathroom every hour... :lol

[tiffani]

Hey Becky! congrats on your new moderator status! :thumb

[Piglet68]

Congratulations, Dawn! :balloons

Our good news is that Sasha got into the Deep Cove PPP this year (I only started checking last week; talk about leaving it to the last minute!). He'll be in the 4 year old group, although I don't even know the schedule yet - I was so excited there was a spot I forgot to ask! I've heard very good things about the place and I'm really excited for Sasha - he and his sister get along wonderfully but she is very domineering and it will be good for him to get some time to blossom on his own.

I want to register Emily for some of the classes at Silbury but have to figure out how to make it work - it's a 45 min commute from our house and not worth it if we're just there for an hour.

We just got back today from four days at Englishman River Falls campground. It was SOOO lovely!! The forest is so amazing - my favorite place to be. My Dad and stepmum met us there. It was the most relaxing visit ever.

We barely saw the kids - I gave DD a walkie-talkie each morning and off they went making friends and playing. Emily found this one boy and the two of them were inseparable for the whole weekend! His grandmother was so cool - her eyebrow was pierced and she had some nice tatoos and she knew what Bonfire was! (I was wearing my sweatshirt).

So relaxing for the adults, too. We're tired but very happy and very much looking forward to Bonfire in two weeks! Woo Hoo! :banana

[Piglet68]

I use TSB shipping in Point Roberts...

I'm reviving this subject since I missed it the first time around. We're interested in getting a PO Box but want an actual mailing address, not a PO number. Does this TSB place do that? What about the place you mentioned, Ksenia?

[dawncayden]

:happyt: thanks guys!

I'm so emotional these days...so many things make me cry :innocent

[Alison's Mom]

I'm reviving this subject since I missed it the first time around. We're interested in getting a PO Box but want an actual mailing address, not a PO number. Does this TSB place do that? What about the place you mentioned, Ksenia?

I haven't used this place, but looked into it a couple of years ago. Yes, it's an actual address and not a PO Box.

Re discretion while NIPing. In the world according to my DH, he would probably respond to your comments about how it's hard to be discreet with 'well, if the kid is old enough to say 'boob', or lift up your shirt, then it's time to stop breastfeeding!'. He makes comments like this with my DS, who turned 2 today! However, when I'm trying to limit his nursing during the day, and he's crying like crazy, DH feels so sorry for him.

Congrats Dawn - that's such exciting news!!!!! Yay!

[dawncayden]

Re discretion while NIPing. In the world according to my DH, he would probably respond to your comments about how it's hard to be discreet with 'well, if the kid is old enough to say 'boob', or lift up your shirt, then it's time to stop breastfeeding!'. He makes comments like this with my DS, who turned 2 today! However, when I'm trying to limit his nursing during the day, and he's crying like crazy, DH feels so sorry for him.


Ds is 2.5 yrs old and just last week said 'num nums'. It's benefitial to nursing to have a late talker :wink

Happy Birthday to your ds!!!

[Alison's Mom]

Ds is 2.5 yrs old and just last week said 'num nums'. It's benefitial to nursing to have a late talker :wink

Happy Birthday to your ds!!!

Thanks. We used to think DS was a late talker until his vocab really blossomed the last few months. A couple of weeks ago he said to my friend 'sometimes I like to have milk. Mommy says no'.

He also for some reason says all the time 'I want a little bit (of) milk after my daddy gets home'. Don't know where he got that from at all, as recently, I've limited him to naptime, and bedtime, plus through the night, and have never said to him that he could have milk after his daddy gets home!

[tooticky]

Yay, Dawn! Congrats!! :joy:

DD says "milk" pretty clearly now, and even "side" (to mean she wants the other side :lol).

Dh has been asking when she'll be weaned. Poor guy was a bit disappointed to hear of my intentions. :wink

[kdtmom2be]

I'm so glad that my DH is as nursing supportive as he is. Today we were talking about it and he said "you're not trying to wean her yet are you?!" all shocked at the thought that I might want to cut out a nursing session here and there (she's teething and it's been getting to me to have her want to nurse ALL.DAY.LONG!!). No dear, I'm not trying to wean her, I'd just like a little bit of ME once in a while!:treehugger:

[eper]

I just found out yesterday! I'm due in April!


Congratulations Dawn!!!! Great news!!!

I haven't posted for a while but I skim through the posts here and there. I am working full time in the summer b/c dh is home, so I haven't got much time or energy. We went camping to the Kooteneys for a couple of weeks but apart from that, summer is a bummer for me. I can't wait for September.

[robugmum]

Whew!
I have been away for most of the last month - there is soooo much to catch up on!
Tiffani - I am so excited for you all - what an adventure!
Happy Birthday Cass!:joy:
Congrats Dawn!:D
Welcome newbies!:love
I'm sorry I missed the nurse in:( It would have been so great to participate...
although chance of Mary actually nursing ther would be small. She is only interested in checking every few days to make sure there is still milk available:eyesroll

Must run, dh is waiting on the deck with a post holiday drink for me!

[megansar]

I'm reviving this subject since I missed it the first time around. We're interested in getting a PO Box but want an actual mailing address, not a PO number. Does this TSB place do that? What about the place you mentioned, Ksenia?

TSB doesn't have PO boxes, you basically just write your name (plus your special number) and their address when you are filling in the shipping information online. That way, if a company says they don't deliver to PO boxes, you're okay because it looks like a residential address. I think that's how these work - when I used Hagen's in Blaine, they asked me to be very discreet and not mention anything about Hagen's or whatever when filling in shipping information. So when your package comes, they just store it on a shelf in their warehouse until you come get it.

Thanks. We used to think DS was a late talker until his vocab really blossomed the last few months. A couple of weeks ago he said to my friend 'sometimes I like to have milk. Mommy says no'.

He also for some reason says all the time 'I want a little bit (of) milk after my daddy gets home'. Don't know where he got that from at all, as recently, I've limited him to naptime, and bedtime, plus through the night, and have never said to him that he could have milk after his daddy gets home!

That is so funny! Matthew asks for "udder meh" (other milk:p) and recently has started calling one side "little meh" and the other side "big meh" (although they seem to switch names?). We were working towards nursing less during the day, but then we went camping, he got sick and we're back at square one. Oh well...September and back to work is coming soon and I guess we'll try again after he gets used to all those changes again.

[niki_73]

Congrats Dawn!

[tifille3]

I order from frontier too and would like to do an order in the next month or so, if anyone wants to order together. I can order (I pick up in Sumas), or I can order with someone else, whichever :thumb I like to order sale stuff and I don't really need anything from this month's, so I wouldn't mind seeing the september sales catalogue :wink

Hi Sheila,

I would certainly be interested in ordering in September. Hoping our house will have sold by then and we can afford to buy soap - lol :p Things sure are pricey here in Vancouver - we are in a bit of sticker shock! Guess it is worth it for the views and the gorgeous trees! :treehugger: We explored Lighthouse Park this Sunday and it was truly amazing!

Let me know how you like to collect order information. Maybe we can swap out going down to pick up every other time. I would prefer not to order this first time though so I can get the whole package delivery thing set up.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Yvonne

[widemouthedfrog]

Alison's mom, dd (at just-turned-three) calls my breasts pooh and piglet.
And she has talked for a long time. The other night she was saying, "Ah, I am having some yummy mommy milk, mommy milk is so good and it tastes like peaches."

:eyesroll :o

She nurses twice a day now, on wake up and at bedtime. Sometimes we'll nurse more by mutual decision - she would still be nursing 20 times a day if she could, but distraction works well with three-year-olds. :wink

I haven't enjoyed nursing much for the last year, but dd really loves it...so I continue. I've only gotten a couple of comments from my parents. Dh seems to think it is a good excuse not to put dd to bed, so he likes it. :wink

[dido1]

My DS, who weaned at 3.75 surprised me yesterday by swooping over to me when I was naked and nursing on one side for a few seconds. He stopped and said quite sadly, "There's no more milk Mommy". Poor little beaner. He's fluey and wanted a little mammas milk I think.

My DH wasn't super supportive of my nursing for so long, but every time DS would cry or fuss, DH would tell me to give him some "teta" already :-)

[robugmum]

OK Ladies!:joy:
I am looking for a group to get together to can tomatoes! I need to find a good source of organic, ripe tomatoes and then some likeminded friends to hang out with for a day to process them! Anyone interested? Anyone know of a good tomato grower?:eat:
I am home for most of the rest of the summer except from the 20th to the 26th or so...:thumb

[artparent]

:carrot

here i am! i'll can anything!!

*

[widemouthedfrog]

He also for some reason says all the time 'I want a little bit (of) milk after my daddy gets home'. Don't know where he got that from at all, as recently, I've limited him to naptime, and bedtime, plus through the night, and have never said to him that he could have milk after his daddy gets home!

This could be his response to your dh's lack of enthusiasm for ds's nursing?

For example, dd knows that it hurts my back to carry her all of the time and we have had numerous discussions about this. This seems to result in a need to be carried MORE when mommy is around then when mommy is not around. She needs to be carried because she is worried that mommy won't carry her.

:dizzy:

So goes my reading of the 2-3-year-old psyche, anyway.

[beaner&tiegs]

My first baby is eight today. how did that happen?! We pooled together her birthday money this year, and have booked a dolphin encounter at the Vancovuer Aquarium in a couple of weeks - and of course she needs to have an adult with her, so I'm pretty excited about going along with her!!!!!!! Her requests for today were to go back to the pool where she can now have an eight-year old band on and therefore not have the lifeguards hassling her for going down the slide or off the rope, and then out for Thai food for dinner! I'm feeling kind of old today......

[artparent]

happy birthday!! i have trouble believing mine is almost 8, too. it makes me feel really :dizzy:

*

[robugmum]

Happy Birthday Kea!!!:joy:

[tooticky]

Happy birthday Kea!

[sea island mama]

:balloons Happy Birthday, Kea! Have fun with the dolphins!

Hard to believe my big girl is 8 already as well! She is so excited to be going to horseback riding camp next week - oh, what have I done??

[Ksenia]

:birthday: kea!

[tiffani]

He also for some reason says all the time 'I want a little bit (of) milk after my daddy gets home'.
I might be totally reading into this, but it sounds to me like he's trying to make a statement of some kind?? Or it could just be a landmark in the day that he's basing wanting to nurse around, same as naptime, bedtime, etc. OR, maybe he feels ignored when your dh comes home and he wants your attention at that time? whatever he's thinking, it sounds pretty smart to me! :D

Congrats Dawn!

what what what??? niki was here? :wink how the heck is it going with you guys? and where's that kelsey been hiding? get her over here too!

We pooled together her birthday money this year, and have booked a dolphin encounter at the Vancovuer Aquarium in a couple of weeks - and of course she needs to have an adult with her, so I'm pretty excited about going along with her!!!!!!!

that's such a great idea!! and it fits so nicely with your dolphin theme! :wink

On the pullyblank front, our car was stolen last night, right here on bowen island! mark parked it "in the cove" on friday morning, and when the kids and I walked down to get it, it wouldn't start. so... we left it there, and went to get some stuff out of it on sunday afternoon. it still wouldn't start, and mark didn't feel like he could fix it, so we were going to have it towed to the repair shop this morning. I was literally sitting there with my BCAA card out to call them to have it towed when I got a call from the police that it was in a ditch up on cates hill. WHAT???? so we figure a drunk mechanic must have stolen it. anyway, they crashed it into a ditch, and I'm hoping it's totaled, because we were just going to fix it up and sell it, and this would be so much easier! so send us 'totaled car vibes' !! :thumb

[dawncayden]

Happy Birthday Kea!

I'm in for canning as long as its not a tue, wed or thur daytime.

[tiffani]

Hard to believe my big girl is 8 already as well! She is so excited to be going to horseback riding camp next week - oh, what have I done??
horseback riding camp would be awesome!! she'll have a great time! I'm hoping to find a fun horseback riding experience when we go to NZ, as my kids have done a little riding and they love it! as long as the horses are the kind that just follow the one in front of them, we're good...

[dawncayden]

:goodvibes: I hope your car is destroyed Tiffanu :mischief :lol

[robugmum]

Happy Birthday Kea!

I'm in for canning as long as its not a tue, wed or thur daytime.

How 'bout a Monday?
I made a couple of calls today trying to find a source for tomatoes but didn't get very far. I'd love some suggestions:shy.

[Ellp]

Happy Birthday Kea! Sounds like a fun day is planned! IMHO, the Thai food part sounds really really good...:eat

Hope your car's a wreck too, Tiffani! :D

A possible source for organic tomatoes is at the local farmer's markets. I know the Coquitlam market has organics farmers, but I haven't been the last few weeks so I don't know if they would have tomatoes yet. I was intending to go this coming Sunday so I could pick some there.

Edited to add: I think this is the farmer at our market. Apparently they sell at a few of the local markets so you should be able to find them easily. Maybe call them to see if they have tomatoes ready?

http://www.fjordhorse.net/indexfarm.html

I'd love to come tomato canning if the timing works out. I did a bunch of jam canning a couple of weeks ago and its so satisfying knowing that there's food waiting indefinately in the basement.:D

[robugmum]

Thanks Ellp, that was one of the farms I contacted. They grow mostly showy heirloom types, not really suitable for large scale canning. For canning whole tomatoes, apparently, I need Roma, or plum types (or something similar).

That sucks about the car Tiffani!:irked: I guess you'll have to get a big ole sidecar on Mark's motorcycle!:p

[artparent]

from the vancouver homelearner's list, :

Katie and Gabriel at Sapo Bravo organics, who are at the
East Van Farmer's Market every Saturday.

and

Go to www.bcfarmfresh.com they have a good website listing local Fraser
Valley farms from the Vancouver area to Chilliwack, everything from fruit,
vegetables, meat, cheese, etc.

*

[Autumn Mama]

:whale: :balloons HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEA!!! :balloons :whale:



Ummm, that was the closest smilie I could find to symbolize a dolphin :s