Behold, a tired, blue-eyed boy. He is completely lovely, even when he’s finished and exhausted. Since he’s been facing forward, he doesn’t sleep as well in the car. There is too much to see. I can understand it I think. Not only does Dekker always sleep tons, and really feel it when he doesn’t get enough, but he has finally cut his 16th tooth! He is working hard on teeth right now, which makes him super rosy and adorable and cranky and tired.

He is not the only tired one in this house. Not that I’m complaining! But we’re all feeling pretty wiped. Brady has had a few days off work, and we’ve started a bad cycle of staying up waaay too late! I feel old saying it, but a couple nights in a row of staying up until 1-2am is a huge deal! Also, I’ve felt almost car sick for about two days. I couldn’t tell you why, but it sucks. The way Dekker looks in this picture is the way I feel I look all day long. And I don’t mean the obviously adorable aspect of the picture. I mean the zoned, “not all there” type of expression.

Something that is wearing on me that is ridiculous but true is our freaking water order out here. We have to be boiling our water for EVERYTHING! Before everyone heckles – yes. Our town motto is “Taste our Water.” We’re proud of our water system out here. It is not as though we are ruins and screwed up. Construction is being done around our plant, and tests were taken to ensure the safety of our town while all the digging was happening. When construction started, we were all advised to boil our water, just to keep ourselves safe. Recently, a test came back with E Coli. Our advisory has been changed over to an order. And when I am home, I am overly aware of the water. I am afraid. And being afraid, even when it is on the inside and irrational, if exhausting. I don’t want to live in fear, and I will successfully take care of my husband and son the best way I know how. But every time I hear Brady turn on the water, a sense of panic rises in me. I am on edge.

So tonight, I must defrost chicken to make dinner for a group tomorrow. I often defrost things in a sink of water. In a bag, of course, but still, I’m thinking about it, nervous that any little bit of water could get into the ziploc and poison my friends. I know that the food will be completely cooked and free of any bacteria or risk, but I’m terrified to do something wrong and hurt someone I love!

I can feel my anxiety rising as I write this. Time to relax. I’ll just pull our the chicken and throw it in the fridge for tonight. I’ll figure it out tomorrow. All I need to do tonight is spend time with my boys. We had to wake Dekker from his nap at 7:30pm, and he was completely out cold. So it could make for an interesting next hour or so before bedtime.

Spending the evening breathing in and out…

Remember that hair show I was part of last weekend? Salonmagazine.ca just put out an article about it. Guess who is in the first picture!!! Seriously, click the link 🙂

The article isn’t much, but there are a few pictures from some of the stages/booths that were set up at the exhibition. I’ve been waiting, checking the ISO Canada facebook page every day, hoping they’d put up some of the pictures they took. And they did!

Last weekend has been so much fun to look back on. I was the one model in the group that wasn’t preselected. Lots of the other models were actual models, with agencies, not just cheapskates like me who wanted a free haircut and color! What a fun experience!

I can honestly and genuinely say that I don’t have a desire to be a model. I couldn’t wake up at 5am regularly. I can’t walk in heels very well. And I’m not concerned enough about my looks. I don’t want to be, anyway. It is fun to feel extra pretty, and to be mobbed by complimentary people. But I can’t base my value on that. No one should, even though it feels good.

Ok, rant over. I couldn’t resist blogging once I saw that article. Feels good to essentially “make the cover” of something.

I went to a meeting last night that started at 8:00. I don’t mean to be a whiner, but Dekker has some milk at 8:30 usually and goes to bed. Considering that he’s been sleeping in until noon or later, we don’t like to put him to bed too much later than that. However, a meeting at 8:00 got him into bed around 11:00. So who knows when we’ll see him today. With him going down so late, and us knowing Brady was home the next day, we stayed up until 2am. Should be no problem, since Dekker will sleep in. However, our dental office called our house to confirm next weeks appointments. Reminders should never come before 9am, but hey, our doctors office has called with results at 8:05am so I guess I shouldn’t complain.

However, a weird night always puts a strange spin on the day, in my opinion. I have another short meeting today at 4:30 that we have to drive out of town for. Kind of a random time but luckily, Brady has today off so he can take Dekker. We still hope to run an errand to ten in the city today but with the way Dekker will likely sleep, it will probably have to be after the meeting instead of before. Who knows. We’ll figure it out.

Just feels like a strange day brewing. And it’s only 10am. *groan*

Dekker was having a nap yesterday afternoon, as per usual. He woke up a little earlier than expected, and was talking and moving around. This also happens often enough to know that, if I get him up right then, he’ll be cranky and tired for the rest of the evening. So I leave him to chat and drunk crawl around his crib until he falls back to sleep. Normally his second nap goes until 6:30 or 7:00, but I heard him moving at around 5:30.

He hadn’t been down for long enough at all, so I kept crocheting and watching quiet tv, keeping an ear on him. Everything was completely normal until I heard a bit of a bang. That happens once in a while and ca go one of two ways. Either he’s hurt, or he’s moving his crib around (its on wheels for some reason) and it bumped into a wall. So, after the bang, I waited to hear what would happen. And I heard a scream. Not a wail, not a cry, but a scream. I bolted upstairs and went into his room, fearing that maybe he had made it out of the crib. For the record, he’s never even tried to get out of the crib. I don’t think he really has the ability yet, but if he did, he is not sure on his feet and would not catch himself. I think sometimes I just fear the worst. I’m probably not alone in that.

Dekker was in his crib, sitting in the corner, shrucking away, trying to catch his breath. His face was completely soaked in tears. When I reached for him, he barely even lifted his arms for me. Now, usually if Dekker gets a head bump or wipes out and gets scared, he flails around and panics a little. This time, I grabbed him and held is head on my shoulder. I made sure he stayed there and I started singing the song that always calms him down, very quietly and slowly. I didn’t have to hold his head for long. He lay completely still and just relaxed. It may have been the first time that he wasn’t struggling to get down while he bawled, or leaning back. He was completely still, and comforted by my singing and our cuddle. I sang his song at least twice, and just kept walking slow circles around his room.

At this point, I still didn’t know what had happened. He was crying hard before, and I know I heard a bang, but that was it. As I was walking with him, completely sprawled out on me with his face on my shoulder, I noticed that my skin felt different. Tight, maybe, and pulling. When I finally had the nerve to move him from our comfy cuddle, I found a decent amount of blood.

It shocked me. He had never had an injury that caused this much blood. This isn’t a very good picture at all, but it was on both cheeks, his nose, and chin. Of course, he wouldn’t let me near his mouth and I wasn’t going to push and be the reason for more tears, so I assume that he fell in his crib and bit the inside of his mouth somehow. Hard, obviously.

Radisson currently has an advisory up for our water. They’re doing some construction on our water plant and therefore, the water isn’t safe to drink, or really use at all, unless its boiled. Luckily we have a water dispenser thing with hot and cold sides, so I made some warm water in a tupperware container and wiped Dekker’s face clean. I couldn’t see anymore blood coming from anywhere. Thankfully, the mouth is the fastest healing part of the body. However, I knew I couldn’t clean in his mouth without him crying, so maybe it was wrong, but I decided to just give him a good drink of water and hope that counted. Sorry everyone, if that was a bad parenting choice, but I think I would have preferred that had I been in Dekker’s shoes. Or socks. I carried him the entire time we were cleaning up, and he never tried to get away once. He was completely happy to be with me, in my arms, safe. However, when I went into the cupboard to find a sippy cup to fill with water for him, he saw his fruit cups. He has this hilarious sound he makes when he’s excited, mostly about food. Its pretty much just sucking air in and out at warp speed through his teeth, but with a bit of sound behind in. It’s super cute, anyway.

So I walked him around a little bit more until he was feeling a little stronger and a bit less cuddly, and then I plopped him in his chair and gave the little man a fruit cup. And life kept moving. He was completely fine. I probably felt more sad and sick and broken than he did.

I’m sure this is not our last bleeder. But I will do my best to be there for every one.

I had such a great day being a recluse yesterday, I’m wondering if I should do it again.

Dekker had gone to bed quite late so yesterday he slept until 12:30pm! When he got up, he ate a bunch and played downstairs for a solid two hours. He is getting so sure on his feet, and while he still only walks along furniture, he is letting go a lot more often and just standing. Then he sees me watching him, smiles, does a little bouncy dance, and either grabs back onto the couch or sits down. He is frightfully adorable. It seemed like one of the few days where he just played, and didn’t get into anything. I didn’t have to correct him over and over, you know? As a parent, I think we do enough of that, because kids needs to learn what is ok and what isn’t. But I love that he’s learning, and makes choices based on things we’ve taught him.

As I said, he was up for about two hours before he started “drunk crawling,” as we call it. Just knocking into stuff and losing his footing. He was completely tired. So he went down at 2:45pm and I didn’t see him again until about 6:30. No, I don’t know what made him this way. Yes, I would tell you if I did. Wait – no, I wouldn’t. I would bottle it and make millions.

So for the rest of the day, I got to be my hermit self. I crocheted and finished the project I was hoping to finish. I played Minesweeper and beat some of my old records. I ate strawberries and drank coffee. I watched court tv. I played with my make up. I know that last one might sound like it doesn’t fit with the rest, but I’m enjoying playing with new colors and looks with my new hair. Plus, a woman knows that it can feel really nice to be made up, even if we’re just staying home. Right? Anyone?

Brady brought Subway for supper, which we do once a week. I LOVE Subway day! Yesterday was all around great! I’m sooo tempted to have another hermit day, but I think a few things should get done. I don’t know if I’ll do them, but it seems like something I should write on here so people don’t completely judge me, haha! Ok, let’s say…one load in the dishwasher for sure. It won’t even dent the dishes in my kitchen but its a start. Aaand…I want to make a few meals to keep and freeze, so maybe I’ll get one in the crock pot. And sweep the floors that are covered with Cheerios. And attach buttons to the slipper orders I have. Yup, that sounds like enough.

Even hermits have to clean up once in a while.

Today, I think I will be a hermit. I have had some very fun and different days and am feeling relieved and rested. It feels so nice. However, my house is in desperate need of some attention. Our dishes are always the worst. They get out of control so quickly, and then trying to catch up is the worst. If I just did them every day, or even every other day, it wouldn’t be so overwhelming I guess, but it seems like every time I do dishes, its a huge job. Not my favorite. And they need to get done soon, trust me.

I was still coming off the high from the Marianas Trench concert when this hair show weekend came up. Now I’m super pumped off of that! I know it sounds shallow, but it was genuinely fun. I am by no means a model. I don’t have the walk, the height, or the desire frankly. But everyone was so complimentary and adoring. It felt nice to be fussed over for a couple of days. Plus, if I can be totally honest, I really love the new look, and I feel super pretty. It is really nice to feel like you look nice, and more put together. Right?! I can’t be alone in this.

So because I’m still on a bit of a high from recent weekends, the last thing I want to do is housework. I suppose if I do anything worth while cleaning-wise, it should be dishes. What do I want to do today? Be a hermit. A recluse. I want to bring Dekker downstairs and play with him. He points now, and I think he’s finally coming up with some words! I want to hear them more. And when he goes for his long naps, I don’t want to work then either! I want to crochet! I have a few “orders” sitting, plus one project that I started before the weekend and haven’t had a chance to keep working on! This partial project is just staring at me, saying “Ok, you’ve worked on your looks, now work on mine!” I’m all over it. Hopefully.

Anyone else need a hermit Tuesday? Might even go against my better judgement and have a few cups of coffee this morning from our brand new coffee maker. That thing makes some delicious coffee!

I love Dekker’s doctor. She was y family doctor as a kid, and then moved to the states when I was about 11 or 12. She came back several years ago but we didn’t get our names in quick enough, and I haven’t had a solid family doctor since. Then I found out that she would take new prenatal patients and then keep the babies born as her patients. Wanting my kids to have the best, I went to her as my prenatal doctor and haven’t looked back. I want her as my doctor so much, so I’m hoping that if I have enough kids with her as their doctor, she’ll eventually agree to take me as a patient as well.

Dekker started losing weight a while ago. He went from 26 lbs 15 oz to 26 lbs 5.5 oz. Not a huge drop, but enough that we wanted him to catch back up. So she asked to book an appointment one month after we found out for a weight re-assessment. That was today. I had another few questions for her about him so I was looking forward to the appointment.

The lab tech who called us back weighed Dekker first. He is officially back up 🙂 27 lbs 9 oz! I felt so much better already! Then his doctor came in and went over everything with us. She had lots of answers that I actually hadn’t thought of for the few questions I had. She really does a wonderful job of answering and listening, but I feel like she really trusts as parents. She’s also pretty candid about her life and stories about her kids. I like her openness.

Towards the end of the appointment, I wanted to ask her a question about something relating to me, and not Dekker. I kind of apologized my way through it. She kind of laughed at me, and I just said I knew that I wasn’t technically her patient and she didn’t have to worry about my weird little ailments. She seemed a bit surprised and said “You’re not my patient?” I reminded her that I was only her prenatal patient. She asked me if I had another doctor, and I told her I didn’t. She simply said “Well, all my kids are finally in school so I work full time now. Of course you can come to me!” I have literally waited years for her to say that. Goodbye, huge weight from my shoulders.

After such a good appointment, we did a bit of shopping, and then dropped a very tired little boy off at my parents before we headed to a friends house for supper. Best. Steaks. Ever. I am now full and tired and dozey and done blogging.

I love this feeling at the end of the day.

I have never loved my hair this much! Ever! I’m so thoroughly happy with my experience today. What a fabulous break from reality so I could feel like a diva for a day or two.

There are so many stories I’d like to share, but considering that I couldn’t sleep until 3am and had to be awake at 5am, I’m completely bushed. So they may be in super short form, or they may be missed, but I’ll do my darndest! (Hahaha, spellcheck thinks I’m going for “dragnets.”)

I arrived at the exhibition at 6:15am-ish. Fifteen minutes early. It was freezing in there, and remained that way all day long. Never once was I warm. It is challenging being cold all day. And this time, it wasn’t in my head. I am always cold, but everyone else was cold with me. Oh well, doesn’t matter. We were all in full make up, dressed in little black dresses and heels, and lined up by 8:45 for the show to start at 9:00am. They were going to do four “shows” where two main hairstylists would cut or style hair up on a stage in front of tons of people while wearing headset microphones and describing everything they were doing. After all the prep,  I found out I wasn’t needed until the second show anyway. So the few of us that weren’t starting out huddled around one of those hair dryers that goes over your whole head and tried to keep warm. Yup, like homeless people around a burning garbage can. We got a good laugh out of it.

During the break between the first and second show, my hair guy Christopher informed me that he was going to cut my hair the entire next show. 1.5 hours of cutting my hair while another woman styled the other girls’ hair. Christopher casually threw over his shoulder “I can do anything I want with your hair, right?” I responded with a confident “yup” and he laughed and walked away. Five minutes before the show would begin, I asked him what he was planning on doing to my hair. He said he didn’t know yet. Amazingly, I didn’t freak out. It was sooo freeing to not know! So I went up with him and he talked and combed and talked and combed. I think he was trying to figure out what to do with me. When he finally started cutting, he started telling the audience about me. He really played on the angle of me being a mom. He began with “Hailey’s a mom of a fourteen month old son, and she’s neglected her hair for the last year.” Ouch! Haha! He’s so sensitive, isn’t he? He mentioned how I was kind of the wild card thrown into their company for the weekend. Most of the other girls they had chosen were part of modeling agencies, but I was just there because I said they could have free reign on my hair. As he cut, he brushed strays off my face, assured me I looked gorgeous, and teased me about whatever he could come up with. Christopher stands at a whopping 6’4″ and even from that height, he would notice little bits of hair stuck in my lipstick and pick them off. I loved him 🙂 In a very safe way, as I’m quite certain he isn’t interested in women if you know what I mean. All of a sudden, my cut was done. I guess it took the full 1.5 hours but it felt fast. I didn’t panic until he motioned towards the runway and asked me to go for a little walk and show off my hair. I warned him in advance that I didn’t have a model walk and he laughed at me and teased me for not perfecting my “pivot turn.” He didn’t care. So I just walked, paused, and came back. Then, he mentioned that I should go walk around the crowd so they could all touch my hair and see it close up. So I went around the back of the stage and came out to the crowd. And was bombarded by people with cameras! It was hilarious actually! They were all asking if I loved it, and I hadn’t seen it! Apparently it was quite asymmetrical, but I had not the faintest idea of what it might look like. Very “What Not to Wear” if you will. I was very popular for a solid 15 minutes before I could go for a bathroom break to go check myself out. And guess what. I looked awesome!!! In my opinion, anyway, hahaha!

Since my hair was completed, I wasn’t sure what would be required of me for the rest of the day. I was looking forward ti putting my comfy shoes on and going to check out the other tables. But since my cut went over so well, they called me on stage to brag me up during the other two shows. It was fun to feel so pretty!

The day ended at about 4:45. It was a solid, long day, and I loved it. I brought my cute self to Dalmeny right afterwards to show off my new ‘do. Behold!!!

I‘m so happy to be home now. I’m tired, as you can tell by these pictures, but I’m completely happy and content.

Now, as per usual, there is a bubble bath with my name on it, and my feet hurt. So, goodnight. Very, very good night 🙂

I got picked! I was lumped into the group of people who sort of have an “anything goes” attitude about their hair. You would think we’d be the most popular section, but we weren’t. I guess stylists come to the show with a book of styles they want to produce and just look for people to match, no matter what group we’re in. However, the man I interviewed with originally several weeks ago approached me and mentioned that a particular manufacturer was looking for someone to spot a really wild color for them. I simply said “hit me” and he heaved a sigh of relief and said to follow him. I actually ended up having my hair done in the building across the street.

I was picked and fussed over for several minutes before they got to the coloring. I’m not going to tell you guys what the color is yet 😉 It processed for what felt like forever, and took a good long time to wash out. I guess I have more hair back there than I thought! Then my stylist, Tyler, blew it dry so the color could really shine. It was gorgeous! However, the manufacturer came over and sort of turned up his nose at it. Apparently it wasn’t quite bright enough. So, round two! We did the whole thing again, and I’m SOOO glad! It is completely gorgeous and I’m so excited about it 😀

I get it cut tomorrow at the show, so I’ll post a picture of the finished product then. I have to be there at 6:30am!!!!! That means leaving my house at 5:30! AM! Not ok. But hey, they’re gonna do my make up and feed me, so I can’t really complain.

I guess I can complain a little.

No, not the song.

I don’t want to be the person who talks about really obvious things, but yes everyone, there was wild freezing rain last night. Therefore, I am totally stranded in my house. I was planning to meet a friend today, but highways and back roads are treacherous places right now! I’m going to wait until noon and then see how they are looking. I’m sure ploughs and sanders will have been on the highway already, I’m just worried about the secondary roads. Hmmm…

I actually accomplished things yesterday! I have made a toque for a little girl multiple times and cannot get the thing to fit! But yesterday, I made my most hopeful version yet! Hopefully I’ll get to try it on her today. A little less successful were the slippers. I’ve always been scared to make slippers. However, I promised someone a pair last year and chickened out. So I texted her and asked if she still wanted them. I went for it, going the ballet slipper route. Somehow ended up with…Toms? They’re still cute I think, so hopefully they count!  I’ll add a couple buttons, and they should be perfect. I think they’ll even fit, haha!

In the evening yesterday I finished up some baking for the weekend with a batch of my lemon fudge. I don’t know what it is about that stuff but it is SOOO good and takes like ten minutes to make. Yum. Not sure why I don’t make it more often. Now that I’m thinking about it…

My day today is sort of on hold until the highways decide to smarten up. If they don’t, I’ll likely hole up and wait the day out. However, tomorrow is hair show day!!! If we can all pray that the highways are clear tomorrow morning, that would be wonderful! I have to be at the school, washed and ready, at 8:30am! Which is painfully early for me as it is, not to mention that I’ll have to leave my house at 7:30am. Barf. Hopefully its worth it though. Hopefully someone picks me to do my hair. Hopefully it is as much fun as I’ve been hoping it would be this whole time.

Please clear the roads!