A Year of Cloth Diapering

My brand new prefolds hanging on the line Jan. 2012!

I first started considering cloth diapering when I was pregnant (duh), as I had visions of piles of disposable diapers creating mountains in landfills.  Something we've all seen in our lives, but once I was pregnant, all of a sudden those semi-permanent mountains of plastic took on a whole new meaning.

Scott and I discussed diapering as part of our soon to be new life with our (amazing, angel of a) doula Jen Mackinnon.  This post-pregnancy life at the time seemed as far off as life on Mars, as when you're pregnant that is your world, being pregnant.  It is actually a shock once the baby arrives and you're like 'uh, now what?'.

Jen being the superstar that she is, told us about cloth diapering her own 4 babies (!!!), and brought a copy of an article that she wrote for Birthing Magazine on cloth diapering basics.

The article has great info, but what got me was the chart comparing costs.  I love a good chart, and my eyes just about bugged out of my head when I saw in print how much it was going to cost to wrap that baby's bum for (approximately) 2 years.

Here is the chart, but for all the great info read the full article here (originally published in Birthing Magazine  2010).

 Or here:  

	0-6 Months	6-12 Months	12-24 Months	Total Cost (newborn to 2 years)
Pampers	$396	$444	$888	$1728
Bummis Prefolds	$175	$160	-	$335
Fuzzi Bunz Pocket	$552	$414	-	$996
Happy Heiny One Size	$899	-	-	$899

That was what convinced me to really look into cloth diapering.  The amount of money that we were going to have to spend, and literally throw out, in addition to all of the other start-up costs of having a baby really weighed on me.  

Then once I really started reading up on the benefits of cloth diapering (in addition to the environmental impact it's also better for their skin - not having those petro-chemicals next to their newborn skin for hours on end), I was sold.

Thankfully my awesome mother in law was a cloth diaper-er from way back, and I took her to our local baby supply store to check out the diapering options.

I used newborn disposable diapers for the first 5 weeks of Ellie's life (since she was Just. So. Tiny!), and then switched to cloth.  It did give her a big ol' booty, but with different methods of folding the cotton and the adjustable covers they have grown with her from 8lbs to 25lbs!

Baby got back

I was able to purchase my entire diapering kit for under $200.  (I was lucky enough to hit upon a sale at the amazing All Bottoms Covered which also helped!)

My diapering arsenal consists of:

• 2 boxes (12 prefolds each) of Econobum prefolds (which also came with 3 covers)

• 6 Flip brand diaper covers (3 velcro and 3 snaps) - I liked the velcro to start with for ease of middle-of-the-night changes, but now prefer the snaps for security, and Ellie isn't able to un-do her diaper.

 

• 1 bag of Rock n' Green soap (I now use Claudia's Choice, works great as well)

• 1 large Bummis wet bag

This was all I needed to get started, and a year later, the only thing I've had to replace is the laundry soap!

So here are my tips from my experience of cloth diapering:

Reseach - which type of diaper is going to suit your lifestyle best?  A pre-fold? An all-in-one?
Find out if there is an online cloth diaper community or forum in your area.  I'm a member of the Central Alberta Cloth Diaper Buy/Sell/Chat group on Facebook.  It's a great place to ask questions, or to look for new/used diapers and accessories.

I also watched a few videos on YouTube to figure out how I was going to wrap this baby up:






Buy Used... or Don't - one thing I would have investigated more was buying my prefolds and covers used.  I didn't know you could do that, and it would save even more money.  If the thought grosses you out you can of course buy new, or like a girlfriend of mine did, have your mother (or someone with sewing skills) sew you your own cotton prefolds.

Don't Stress About The Poop - the big question I get from everyone is how to clean the diapers, and is it horrible?  Some of the other types (eg: all-in-ones) have different requirements of washing that don't take as much effort as prefolds.  

My reasoning is that I pretty much do at least one load of laundry a day as it is, so it doesn't really matter if I have to do a couple more a week.

If I'm really on the ball I'll wash the diapers after Ellie is in bed, and then line dry them overnight, so they only need a fluff up in the morning.  They are so thick that it does take a lot of time in the dryer if you throw them in right after, and always line dry your covers!

A note on washing:  I take the contents of the wet bag (which is in a diaper pail), and dump the prefolds, covers and the bag (turned inside out) into the washing machine all together.

I do a cold rinse, then a hot cycle with the soap.  (You can't use regular laundry soap as it will build up a residue and impact the absorbancy.)

Then I line or tumble dry - and that's it!

I do a vinegar soak on the cottons once every few weeks to freshen them up, and in all honesty they look great a year later, and don't stink at all.

Once Ellie went to solids, and the consistency of her poop followed suit, I started using the Bummis flushable liners.  I would say that 9/10 times I can just flick the liner and poop in the toilet or diaper genie, with no other fuss.

The other time it's like the Incredible Hulk snuck in after a big night out and left his mark in her diaper, so yes, there is some washing of the diaper in the toilet.  You can get a scraper or a sprayer, but I just wring it out Little House on the Prairie style and thoroughly wash my hands afterwards.  Having a baby definitely makes you desensitized to poop if you haven't noticed.

I have to POOOOOOP!!!!

Get Some Back Up Butt Cream - you don't actually need to use a cream or salve when cloth diapering, as their little bums rarely get rashy, but if you like using a cream or your baby ends up with baboon-ass courtesy of teething it's always good to have something on hand.

Man teething is a bitch.

I really love the Peas In A Pod line from All Things Jill, and it won't build up on the diapers (which would eventually affect the absorbancy).  When Ellie does have baboon ass however, I do rely on good old Penaten.

Balance The Cloth With The Plastic - if the thought of forgoing your Pamper's gives you anxiety, it's all good, you can use both.  We use disposable diapers for night time (as they absorb so much more and Ellie doesn't feel as wet in them, which then theoretically lets her sleep through the night... sometimes), as well as for some travel (a day long trip to Calgary lugging around soiled diapers along with your diaper bag, lunch, and groceries is not fun.

Scott and I have a compromise as well, as he isn't willing to can't figure out how to put on the cloth diapers, so if he is changing a diaper, he will put on a disposable.

So there is my experience of cloth diapering for almost a year now.  I am a huge fan and will continue to cloth diaper until babydoll is potty trained.

Incidentally - cloth diapered babies apparently potty train sooner and easier than babies in disposables, as they can feel when they wet themselves sooner.  I will let you know how that goes when it comes to that time!

Happy diapering!

The 5 Stages of Leaving Your Baby for a Night Out

No matter how much you love your baby, your husband/partner and your home life, there comes a point when a momma needs a night out.

I've been fortunate enough to have a few nights away from Ellie in her 10+ months.  I truly believe that it's not only beneficial for my sanity, but it also helps my relationship with Scott (ie: prevents me from smothering him in his sleep as I return to his snoring self after getting up every 2 hours with a screaming baby), develops Ellie's bond with her Daddy, and allows Scott to build confidence in caring for her.

There is a definite pattern that I have noticed every time I venture out without Ellie; and by this I mean not just for a coffee date or run, but for a night out with the girls, especially an over-nighter.

Here are my 5 stages in how this goes down:

1 - The Build Up
It's been a while since you've done anything that resembles your previous non-mom self.  You're days revolve around scheduling naps to accommodate story time at the library, staying up late means that you just discovered you're out of home made baby food so you're cutting and steaming at 10pm, and you're getting resentful that your partner gets to leave the house, even if it's to an office job that you would personally slit your own wrists if you had to do it.

It becomes apparent that if you don't get some time away from the house, the laundry, the never-ending chores and yes, the baby, shit is going to go down.  

You send out the call for help to your girls - and because they're your girls, they are on board.

2 - The Preparation High
The night is planned, the girls are in, and the hubby knows for his own sake not to argue or suggest that you stay home.

You happily feed and bathe baby, humming all the while in anticipation of a night of freedom.  
I will always love the act of getting ready for a night out; sometimes more than the night itself.  Picking out an outfit that will be free of smashed bananas and spit up is a special treat that you don't take for granted post-baby.  

Your boobs resume they're previous status as decorative accessories, instead of the gravity-fighting feed bags that they have been for the past months.

You enjoy a glass of wine and bust out the glittery eye shadow; you may be too old for it, but it's a glitter eye shadow kind of night damn it!

3 - The Driveway Guilt
You're packed, prepared, kissed everyone goodbye and have started the car.  Now the crushing self-doubt and mental bad-mom bashing begins.  

Why do you need to go out anyways?  Isn't this what you always wanted?  A home with a family and a beautiful baby?  What if something happens when you're gone?  Maybe you should call the whole thing off and just go and put your pj's on and watch a repeat of Say Yes To The Dress with the cats.

Thankfully we have technology that allows us to now frantically text our girlfriends/fellow moms who will immediately reassure you of not only that it's ok to go out, but it's damn well needed right now, so you crank the tunes and get on the road.

4 - The Back to the Future Moment
You're 3 drinks in, out in public after 6pm, talking about topics that don't involve vaccines, sleep schedules or day care, and for a few moments, forget your current life.  You laugh, flirt, gossip and re-connect with other grown ups. 

A 'retro' song comes on and you remember how to shake your booty like you're 21.  You do shots with ridiculous names that you wouldn't repeat in front of your mother in law, bought for you by sleazy guys from out of town.  You turn them down and strut off, thanking those long walks with the stroller that you can still strut.
You cab it back to your girlfriend's house and giggle and remember the highlights of the night.

5 - The Happy Return Home
The next morning you wake up with breasts the size and texture of bricks.  Milk may even be leaking down your chest as a lovely reminder of they're current purpose (true story).  You roll out of bed and head to the washroom, thankful that being used to such little sleep actually comes in handy for something.

Depending on where you are in feeding your baby, and if you remembered to pack a breast pump or not, you may even have the pleasure of milking yourself in the bathroom sink.

Yeah.  Enjoy that visual.

Since you're the first one up you make coffee and pack.  The girls get up and you groggily recap the night's shenanigans, enjoying the caffeine and the addition of another night of stories to reflect on.

In the back of your mind though you're itching to hit the road - it's been at least 12 hours since you've held your baby and now not only are your breasts aching, but your arms are too.

You hurry home, and the moment you see your little one with her Daddy, and her squeal of delight at the sight of you is the best feeling.
You see your messy house in a different light, your husband as a partner again, and your baby as the light of your life.  

The night out already seems a distant memory, and that's ok because you're right back where you want to be.

A Day In The Life Of A Mountain Mummy

Not all days are this crazy, but today, in addition to the normal every day dressing, feeding, changing, playing, napping, repeat, repeat, repeat, we had a marathon day of activities.

• 5K jog to the Rec Centre for  swim 'class'.  Class = Singing 'If you're happy and your know it splash around!', and getting the babies used to the water and getting the heads wet for 30 mins.  Ellie has had her head wet since the day she was born, since we have to shampoo her mop, so she's an old pro at 8 months.  I do refuse to dunk myself though.  I apply liquid eye liner in the morning, and it lasts through my run, so I'm not about to look like The Crowe for 30 minutes in the water.  And I'm pretty sure Ellie doesn't care if I go under either - she is learning early that we sacrifice for beauty.

This is what I would look like if I dunked my head during swim class. Better for everyone if I don't.

• 1 Hour power walk - tagging along on the lunch break of my banker buddies.

Not our actual legs, but this is pretty much what we look like. 

• Lunch for Ellie, and breakfast for me, finally at 1pm.  Scarf down everything in sight.

So. Hungry. Must. Eat. Everything.

• Baby story time/sing along at the Library - I swore up and down that I wouldn't be one of 'those moms', but the babes really do enjoy it, so I suck it up and sing, bounce and clap.

• Mom & baby yoga - I thought it would have involved the babies more, but really it was a class for moms to do yoga, where no one cared if your baby cries, or if you need to stop and nurse. I hadn't been to yoga since the day before I gave birth, it made me a little teary-eyed thinking about it!

Also pretty much what I look like at yoga... except flabbier... and sweating...but my eyeliner does not run!

• 35 min Walk home.

• Inhale 3 veggie tacos and contemplate going to bed with Ellie at 7pm.

Post-tacos.

A great, long day, that I'm sure I will miss once I'm done my maternity leave.  Sniff, sniff.
Which is either a few weeks away, or a few months away, depending on when I return to work.

Gulp.

In the meantime I will  enjoy being a mountain mummy, and all the calorie-burning that comes with it.  And more tacos.

Happy 6 Month Birthday Ellie Bean

Dear Ellie,

Today you turn 6 months old.

Can we just take a moment and realize how momentous this is?  Never mind the fact that 6 months has blown by in a blink, but also that you are so happy, healthy, change every day (slow down please!), and most importantly, we're all still alive?

Here is Gramma and Momma - who is actually in labour in this photo and had you a few hours later!

There have been some hairy moments kid, and I wasn't sure we'd get this far.  But things seem to get getting easier now*, and we're starting to have so much fun.

You have gone from this little creature that I used to stare at and wonder 'what the hell just happened?', to this smiling, babbling, laughing little monkey who just lights up every room that she's in.

I think I'm finally used to getting stopped by random strangers who just have to tell me what a beautiful baby you are.  More often than not, after the initial 'look at all of that hair!' comment, the next to follow is 'she is just a little dolly', and you really are.

The Dolly

You are now so strong and smart, and can now sip from your cup (or any bottle or glass offered to you), want to feed yourself with your spoon, and as of today can travel the length of the living room by rolling over (and over, and over, and over).

Girl loves her peas!

I can almost see your little neurons zapping away when you're figuring out something for the first time; it truly is amazing to watch you grow Ellie.  People say that this time of babyhood goes by so quickly, but you really don't understand it fully until you think you have a handle on what your baby needs and is doing, and then the next day it's completely different.

One day old...How were you ever this little?

It's also amazing the change in myself - I've gone from being 'omg look how big this pregnant belly is!' to 'holy sh*t - we have a BABY'.  I didn't think I could do this in the beginning - I was scared to leave the house with you - scared to drive in the car with you by myself, scared to do most things actually.  But you have been very patient with me, and we're learning together.  

The new family - can you see the fear in our eyes?

Not to say that there aren't still moments when we're both crying together, and I say to you that I'm sorry and that I'm trying my best - and I always will my little Stinker.

That's the problem with being a first-born: your poor dumb parents make all of their mistakes on you, but you're a tough little kid and I'm sure soon enough you'll be rolling your eyes at Daddy and I, and then instant messaging your friends how lame we are.

As long as this doesn't happen while you're in kindergarten I think I can handle it.  I think.

I am so looking forward to the next 6 months Ellie.  Your first Halloween (now I can dress you AND the cat!), your first Christmas, and your first birthday.  Your life is a bit of a Truman Show experience right now, but we are so lucky to be able to share all of your 'firsts' with our friends and family, across the country and the world, online.  

(Especially since your Mimi and Auntie Vicki have shown your photo to every bank teller, grocery store clerk and gas station attendant in 4 different time zones!)

Talking to Mimi!

Thank you for being such an amazing little person, for the laughs, the snuggles, the crazy hair-do's, and the look of 'HI MOM!  Did you know it's a brand new day?  AGAIN!' from your crib when I pick you up in the morning.

The little Stinker face - first taste of yams!

You are so special my cheeky little monkey, and we all love you so very much.  Now go to sleep so Momma can drink her wine in peace.

Love, 

Momma

This was us 6 months ago!

*If things actually don't get easier, if they are in fact harder than the first 3 months of sleep deprived insanity, please DO NOT tell me.

Save Ontario Racing, Save a Town

Seriously Dalton, what IS your problem?

My hometown will always be Fort Erie.

Located in the Niagara region, we may have joked growing up that it was 'Fort Dreary', but it was a beautiful and safe place to have a family, with the added benefit of being directly on the US border (which is why I can bust out a Yankee accent after a few drinks).

I really had a shock this past July when I spent a month in my home town.  It appears to be dying... in terms of business and industry that is, not in spirit.  I've been gone for 10 years now, and of course there will be changes, but there are bigger things very recently affecting the wonderful people who live there.

What has been happening to this little town?  Well, there are many factors, which I'm sure someone with an economics degree could identify in more detail, but I will state my own observations.

Fleet Industries closed - my uncle and many other people worked at this manufacturer while I was growing up.  As is typical when a factory closes, there is a result of a surplus of out of work people with a specific skill set no longer needed.  Look at any town with a Ford factory.

The American dollar, and the ease to get over the border changed dramatically.  After 9/11 there was a sharp decrease in the amount of our American neighbours who came over to spend their money in Canada; whether it was shopping, entertainment, or yes, gambling.

A busy day on the Peace Bridge

You may scoff at the idea of a bingo hall closing being a sad event, but don't think of the people who religiously attended, with their special markers and lucky charms, think of the people who worked in those halls to feed their families and pay their taxes.

Douglas Memorial Hospital closed as a full-functioning hospital and became an 'Urgent Care Centre'.

Lord don't even get me started.  This issue is certainly not specific to Fort Erie itself, as it is unfortunately a wide-spread practise throughout Ontario now.


Now the Ontario government, with Dalton McGuinty at the helm, had pulled the slots from the Race Track, and with some shady reasoning, is destroying racing in Ontario - with Fort Erie closing this fall, and Woodbine in Toronto shaking in its boots. 

The Race Track has a very special place in my heart, as I of course love horses, and had an amazing experience working there when I was 18. 
It employs a wide range of people, who are all in the racing industry because something called to them.  If you've ever worked with horses you'll know it's not easy work or short hours, so for most people involved it is a labour of love.

When I visited the Race Track this past July for the Prince of Wales Stakes, I couldn't believe that the Track is actually set to close in a few months.  The number of people that it employs, from the hot walkers on the backside, to the track maintenance crew, to the bartenders on the frontside, will be out of work, and for many of them, have no place to go.  It may be a few hundred horsepeople affected directly in Fort Erie, but the concentric circles of this decision to close Ontario tracks (except for Woodbine at this time) affects an estimated 60,000 people.

Already affected with little (or no) notice are the hundreds of slot workers that lost their jobs this past spring.  All part of a master plan to help relieve the province's massive deficit. 
 (That's how you fix a deficit you know, by taking jobs away from people and destroying entire industries.  Oh wait, that doesn't make sense...)

Many 'trackers' join that life early on, and never leave.  It is a lifestyle that has you up before the sun, in all elements, and at the mercy of high-strung, 1000lb + athletes.  It's a life of dedication, and has a skill set all to its own - one that is not easily transferable. 

But part of McGuinty's plan is to provide transition training for Track employees to gain skills to use in new jobs.

Hmm.

Let me put my old Human Resources hat on here.
What new and employable skills are you going to teach a trainer, exercise rider or groom who has been doing their job for decades? 
Especially since the job market in Ontario is just booming right now (the unemployment rate as of May 2012 at 7.8%), these people will be in such high demand in such a competitive market!

Oh I'm sorry, did that sarcasm drip on you?

When I left the Track after the Prince of Wales Race, I noticed that there were flyers stuck under the windshield wipers of many of the cars in the (completely packed) parking lot, encouraging people to write to the Ontario Ombudsman about how unfair and unnecessary closing the Race Track is.

(Contrary to the information spouted by McGuinty's office, the racing industry was never subsidized.)

I did just that, and I will keep writing, and hope many more people do as well, since this issue doesn't just affect my town and it's amazing people, but so many other people in Ontario.

If you'd like to read my letter to the Ombudsman, read below.
To submit a complaint yourself, click here.

You can also sign the petition or contact an Ontario MP.

If you'd like to get really pissed off at the corruption and disgusting practises that Dalton McGuinty has been leaving as his legacy, go to this blog, which lists many (but not all since there are so many) of the scandals, with legitimate and factual references.

If you want to know why this Race Track is so close to my heart, watch this short video on how this Track has brought so much to so many people for 115 years:




Thank you for listening, and hopefully your support.

Letter to the Ontario Ombudsman, August 12, 2012:

Summarize the matter:
I grew up in the town of Fort Erie, and worked at the Race Track when I was 18. I have now lived in Alberta for the past 10 years, and I am so distraught at what my home province is going through, now that I see it through the eyes of someone who lives in a province where there are actual resources for its inhabitants.
The Race Track, and the racing industry, is a part of Fort Erie, and Ontario as a whole.  Pulling the slots from the Track (and the reasons behind this decision certainly stinks of corruption) and closing the Fort Erie track has left my hometown in a state of shock.  A town that has already seen its other core industries and our hospital close and/or change capacities; with the closing of the slots and Track, it is a death wish for the people who live there.
The economic impact that this will cause to the Town of Fort Erie, as well as its surrounding areas will be devastating. Its not just the horse people who will suffer, it's the feed suppliers, the tack sales, the truck and trailers that will get returned because payments can no longer be made, the horse breeders and the other amenities in town (hotel, food & beverage) who benefit from the Track.
This senseless decision will put money in the pockets of very few (who certainly do not live in the Niagara Region), and will decimate many more.

Summarize what steps you have taken:
I plan on writing to you, the Ombudsman, to the local Niagara MP, to the province, to the local papers, on my personal blog on this matter.

I am certainly not the only one who is writing about this decision, and hope that my voice will add to the collective shock and anger regarding this issue; and hopefully institute a change.

Is this matter considered urgent?
This matter is extremely urgent.
The Fort Erie Race Track is due to close this fall, with 200+ people who rely on the Track then out of work.
The 'retraining' fund set aside for these people will result in a few who may learn new skills, but with the current job market and provincial economy, where will they work?  For the rest of the people, will they end up using provincial social assistance (welfare)?  Will crime rates increase?  Will drug and alcohol use rates increase?  It is proven that in areas of poor economy and employment that these societal factors increase.
If nothing is done to assist Fort Erie, its Race Track and the Ontario Racing industry, it is a death sentence for not only this generation, but for the next as well.


For more information, go to Save Ontario Racing.

Snapshots of Home

This photo means so much to me, as this tree and yard is my 'happy place'.  The place where I envision I am if I'm trying to go to sleep, or if I'm stressed out.  It's in my Nana's backyard, now my mom's, and it meant so much to me to be able to spend a whole month with Ellie in Ontario, and to see her in my happy place, since she is my happy little person.

Ellie in front of my favourite tree.

With her 'Mimi' at Waverly beach, where I spent countless days.

Overlooking Lake Ontario at Niagara On The Lake, one of the prettiest towns I've ever seen.

Very happy in Mimi's invention!

Let Me Tell You About Ollie

This is how I will always remember Ollie!

Dear Ellie,

Your Great-Gramma, my Nana, died this morning.

I'm so sorry that you didn't get a chance to meet her, but let me tell you a few things about her, since she was a very special lady. 

Nana 'drinking' a giant Corona beer.  In reality she never touched booze, but had tea all day long - with 4 sugars!

She was born in England, the daughter of a butcher.  Her sisters Pops and Edna stayed, but Olive (Ollie) met a dashing young Scottish man, and after the war, moved to the wilds of Canada.

Bob & Ollie's wedding photo

Your Mimi was born in Geraldton Ontario, (which is 'up north', but then I used to call anything north of Toronto 'up north', and now you were born in the Rocky Mountains!) one of 7 children that Bob and Ollie had.  

For the record, you may be an only child.  I do not know how Nana did it that many times.  You will one day also be thankful for birth control. 

Eventually they moved down to Crystal Beach, Ontario, but for many years wintered in Florida.  (Which is part of the reason why she and Poppa both had skin cancer - we fair-skinned girls need to wear out sunscreen!)

Your Mimi and Ollie had many adventures together, just like your Momma and Mimi.  I think that we'll continue this tradition with our own adventures one day!

Ollie in Vancouver

An 'adventure' later on in life with Mimi

I knew my Nana and Poppa always being in this house:

In the summer...

...and the winter!

 and Nana was so very proud of her gorgeous garden.

Mimi and Momma in front of Nana's rose bush

 

It used to seem like a jungle to me, and now it seems so little, but is still so beautiful.

Nana loved 'Daffy' the duck.  He has a sunhat for the summer, and she made him a little toque for the winter!

Nana was an artist and an amazing baker.  Every visit was filled with home made shortbread cookies, lemon loaf, strawberry shortcakes, or my favourite, rhubarb pie.

All of us cousins had at least one of Nana's knit hats.  I still have mine!

I used to love going to pick strawberries with your Mimi and my Nana - we would make shortcakes, jam, and of course, cheeeeesecake - which I still love to make, and eat!

Nana's recipe, still one of my favourites!

She made a lot of her own decorations, and you'll now grow up with having many of her creations on our Christmas tree, just like I did.

Nana loved decorating the Christmas tree... and the whole house!

A few of her home made decorations.

Ollie had a wicked sense of humour, even when feeling crafty:

This hung on the wall in the kitchen for years - Nana liked to put her needlework to good use!

And even decades after leaving England, she still said 'farted' like 'fawhted'.  It was awesome.

She loved cheeky humour, and in her final years could watch the same episode of 'Two & A Half Men' over and over in the same day and still find them hilarious as the first time!

Nana loved silly things, like this 'cheeky' Christmas card that your momma gave her!

She was also pretty shrewd - your Mimi told me a time when my Poppa once may have been, ahem, visiting, with another lady (which is a no-no when you have 7 kids at home).  Rather than accusing Poppa, or throwing a frying pan at his head (which you mother would probably do), Ollie instead had the lady over for tea, which was quite the surprise for Poppa when he arrived home!

That was the end of Poppa's visiting.

Even though Nana grew up in an age where you 'keep your head down and your mouth shut' (as she once told me), she still loved girl-power.  When your mum broke up with an old boyfriend, and acquired a set of golf clubs (ask your Uncle Kevin about that story) as sort of 'payment', Nana was just tickled.  She would ask me years later 'Do you still have those golf clubs?'  'I sure do Nana' I would reply, and she would finish with a nod and a 'Good girl'.

One summer when I was home visiting we even got creative with the Ontario heat wave.  Nana knew how much I love rhubarb - so we cooked up some stalks with sugar in a pot, then made 'rhubarb-sicles' in the freezer!  They were delicious!

We also tried to cook an egg on the sidewalk, but I guess it wasn't quite hot enough out - but I loved that she wanted to try!

 

My darling Ellie, I'm sad that you won't get to meet your Great Grandma, but I know she is looking out after you.

Nana hard at 'work' cleaning a fan, and your mother needing a longer shirt

Early this morning, I went into your room to feed you (since you're not sleeping through the night anymore for some reason), and your 'sucky' (pacifier), which I always place  in your crib above your head, but out of reach, was missing.  Now you're not moving around in your sleep too much yet, so I'm not sure what happened to it, but in my fuzzy 4am brain, I thought 'I'll bet that Nana has passed, and she's playing a trick on us'.

Sure enough I got the news a few hours later.  And I still can't find your sucky.  (Can I please have it back Nana?)

I look forward to sharing photos and stories with you Ellie about your Nana, and can't wait for you to build your own memories with your Mimi.

Mimi, Nana and your Momma

In the meantime I'll have a cup of tea and admire my golf clubs, and will smile knowing that both Nana and Poppa are watching out for us now.

Love,

Momma

Nana, Poppa and your Momma, at about the age you are now.  These are your new angels my Dolly.