Jacob started taking swimming lessons when he was 6 months old at our local Parks and Recreation indoor pool and he has always enjoyed the water as long as one of his parents were in the water with us.  This past spring Jacob took Guardian Swim again and Mike him because this course requires that a parent be present in the water and I observed every class from the stands.  I found myself feeling like the money we were paying was not worth the attention that Jacob was getting because with ten other children in the water with their parents and some of the tots as young as 6 months old Jacob was just not learning or progressing. When it came time for summer swimming registration Mike and I decided to move Jacob up to tiny tots pre-school level 1 which would require that he go in the water without US!  Ahhh!  We knew we needed to move up because we just knew that another session of Guardian Swim would be a complete waste of money.  I wondered if Jacob was ready to be in the water without us and so to squash our fears we decided to enroll him in private lessons so that the teacher’s attention was solely on him.

Jacob’s first tiny tots class was this past Tuesday and I was absolutely petrified that he’d cry or refuse to go with the teacher in the water but of course in true Jacob fashion we experienced the exact opposite.  After Mike and Jacob met the teacher for the first time, Jacob simply took her hand and was off into the pool waving to Mike and I as he did.  I’m not sure what we’ve done as parents to help our son have very little seperation anxiety but I have to admit that I am grateful that he doesn’t constantly need us to be right there next to him, holding his hand through everything - but rather sitting on the sidelines cheering him on as he experiences new things in life that are exciting and rewarding!  I’m so happy that he has enough security and belief in our love as his parents that whenever we go away we always come back and that in everything he does we are there for him, encouraging him and guidnig him along the way.  During the class Jacob did far better with the one on one attention then he’d ever done before with Mike or myself in the pool and he actually tried different things that he’d never been willing to try with us.  Overall the class was a great success and he has another one today!  He’ll go to swim class every tuesday and thursday through the entire summer!  Sounds exciting!

Our household is invested with Cooties and they show no sign of letting up!  About a month ago I came down with a pretty nasty sinus infection that just wouldn’t go away!  As a result Jacob got sick and then we both got better while Mike got sick.  Once Mike got sick I was sure the recycled cooties were about to high tail it out of our home and leave us alone at least until the fall but of course as is customary with my luck the cooties lingered and reinvented themselves deep in my lungs with a respiratory tract infection!  Nasty buggers those cooties are because I’ve been suffering immensely for the past week and as expected Jacob is now sick again too!  It’s so frustrating when one of us gets sick and we just play pass the cooties for weeks on end!  I don’t have a freaking clue about what’s going on because typically I am not a “get sick in June/July” type of girl; traditionally I’d get strep throat in October and a cold in April…that’s always been my pattern so I’m peeved right now that I’m living in this hell of a cootie invested bubble!  So…I’m hereby evicting the cooties from our household - you are no longer welcome to kick back and enjoy our hospitality so take your long cigarettes and martini glass and hit the high road!  There are plenty of other people in the world that need you!

Today I turned the big 3-0!  That’s 30 years ago today the world was graced with my birth!  Lucky world!  I know there was a lot of talk from family and friends about planning a surprise party for me but I was really very happy that everyone respected my wishes and I was able to just spend a quiet day relaxing with my family!  We has an awesome time at my mom’s house eating order in chinese with an ice cream cake from baskin robbins!  Mmm!

I got some really great presents for which I am really grateful!  Mike and Jacob got me a Cuttlebug Die Cut and Embossing Machine by Provo Craft plus tons of embossing folders to go with it!  My mother got me a Coach purse, coin purse and a satchel wallet!  I LOVE Coach!  Mike’s mom got me a Cricut Cartridge - one that I’ve wanted for a long time….All Mixed Up!  My brother got me the cricut tools kit and I bought myself the Fiskars Treading Water punch!

Despite feeling horribly ill throughout the weekend and into my birthday I am happy to report that the peaceful day spent with the family was exactly what Melissa wanted!  Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!  I am so looking forward to seeing what excitement the 30’s will bring!

Yesterday afternoon while I was relaxing on the couch browsing Just Mommies I heard a loud thump and then a scream come from Jacob’s room.  Jacob had been napping the 2 hours prior to that moment and in the past few weeks he had been successfully climbing out of his crib unharmed - I leaped up as fast as my plus sized body could leap from the couch and hurried to his bedroom; Jacob had indeed fallen from the rail of the crib.  I made the decision then and there that we were done with the crib and when Mike came home I had him remove the rail from his crib and off we went to babies r us to find a guard so that he wouldn’t fall off the bed at night.  We found a relatively good one for $19.99 and Mike set it up!  Jacob and I were off visiting my mom last night an didn’t get home to 10:15 pm and somehow I expected that he would just go to his bed and fall fast asleep without worry.  Ha!  I was fooling myself because Jacob kept coming out into the living room and proclaiming that it was time to “Play!” and we continually gave him the message that “It was time for sleeping” and put him back into his bed.  Eventually Mike had to lie down on the floor in Jacob’s room and the little fella was able to fall asleep!  Whew!  10:45 pm was the time on the clock!  It had taken us 30 minutes to get him to sleep in his toddler bed which was a lot shorter then I had anticipated when he started coming out.  Today I have to work so I’m not certain what Mike plans to do about nap time but I hope that it goes well and that there are not too many struggles!  I guess I’ll find out later!

Here’s a few pics from when Jacob went up to Wasaga Beach this past weekend.

For the past 2 weeks we’ve had what seems like Thunder Storms every 2-3 days primarily in the evenings but also during the day on some occasions.  A normal person might welcome the storms and perhaps even sit on their covered porch to watch them but as a migraine sufferer I have got to say the shifts in the pressure are starting to make me very irritable.  I know we need the rain to make things grow but honestly this is getting a bit much!  Next week marks the first day of July (and my birthday!) and while I don’t mind the cool weather I’d really like for the storms to hit the highway.  When it storms we are primarily stuck inside with Jacob all day long which  makes for a very long day!  I am wondering what the summer has in store for us and hoping that the temperatures will be manageable.  Last summer was a scorcher of a summer and this past winter was filled with a ton of snow and freezing temperatures so I’m hoping that Mother Nature is going to provide us some respite this time around!  I love the East Coast weather of the maritimes where the days are warm but not humid and the nights are cool and perfecting for walking.  I know, I know that’s a lot to ask for when you live in Toronto but I’d like to believe that despite our over population and pollution it is possible - anything is possible afterall right?

Both of my boys are gone this weekend up to my parents cottage in Wasaga Beach.  My  mother needed Mike’s help moving something and I had to work so the compromise was that I would stay home and the boys would could go up and help out.  It turns out that I wasn’t feeling well and ended up calling in sick to work today and boy oh boy did I really need it.  Yesterday when I got home from work I slept from 330 until 730 pm and then I fell asleep around 11pm and woke up at 7 am - after being awake for just a few hours I ended up back in bed at 10 am and slept until 12 pm and I am finally starting to feel refreshed.  It’s so weird to be around the house without the men in my life and it definitely was weird (although somewhat nice to stretch out) to sleep in the bed without Mike last night.  I’m not sure what time they’ll be back today but I am currently contemplating cleaning the kitchen and making something nice for dinner.  When I spoke to Mike last night he said he had a hard time getting Jacob to go to sleep in the bed with him which I suspected since Jacob doesn’t really enjoy sleeping anywhere else except his crib - I suspect he’ll sleep well tonight when he’s back at home in his own familiar environment. I’ve been sitting here most of the weekend thinking about some of the stuff that we need to get rid of around here in preparation for a move to a 4 bedroom house soon.  I tried to make a plan of attack but truthfully it’s too overwhelming and I really dont’ want to take all the crap in this place with us to the new bigger place.  Anyways I’m rambling and boring the heck out of myself now so I’m sure you bloggy people are no less entertained - I’m off to dig around in the freezer for something to make tonight!

About a week ago now I got tagged by my bloggy friend Manda! Thanks Manda (insert sarcasm here) and due to the chaos that is called my life it has taken me until now to even be able to sit down and think about  a blog post so here it is in all it’s glory - the taggy post curtesy of Manda..

The rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer. *** except I’m not gonna tag anyone because everyone I know has done this one now!

What was I doing ten years ago?
10 years ago I was in college trying to get my degree so I could become a youth counsellor!  I was able to pull off straight A’s despite majorly procrastinating on almost all of my hard assignments and papers!

What are five (non-work) things on my to-do list for today:
1. Go to the doctors
2. Take Jacob to Mr. Sub because he’s been asking for his favorite turkey sub that he likes from there!
3. Get Jacob and Mike packed for their wasaga weekend.
4. Laundry
5. Sit on my arse and watch a little insanity tube…a.k.a television!  (after Jacob is in his usual night time coma of course!)

5 Snacks I enjoy:
*Watermelon and Strawberries!
*Doritos Zesty Cheese!
*Roasted Red Pepper Dip and Pita
*Rice Crackers and Cream Cheese!
*Orange or Green Jello!

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

*have weight loss surgery and then surgery to remove extra skin, get my boobs smaller and lifted

*pay off homes for Mike and my parents

*purchase our dream home in the exact location that we prefer

*donate some money to charities that support children struggling with mental health difficulties

*make a totally rocking scrapbook room for me and a high tech computer lab room for Mike

*do some random acts of kindness for friends and family

Places I have lived:

Mississauga, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario

***yea pretty lame….ha ha

Jobs I have had:
Babysitter
Summer Camp Counsellor
McDonalds Crew, Crew Trainer, Shift Supervisor then Manager
Home Depot Cashier
Counsellor for pregnant and parenting young women
Counsellor in a home for youth with dual diagnosis (mental health and a developmental disability)

School Counsellor in a specialized class for kids with behavior struggles

Child and Youth Counselor in a residential setting for children experiencing emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric struggles.

Two years ago today I gave birth to the most wonderful little fella in the world.  We are blessed to be his parents and he has enriched our lives during the two years that we’ve been his parents!  Jacob Daniel was born at 7:03 pm on this day in 2006!  Happy Birthday Little Man!  Keep on doing what you do every day…bringing joy and love into the lives of everyone who knows you!

Yesterday was Jacob’s 2nd birthday party and it was such a success that we are all so exhausted today and have spent much of the day trying to recooperate!  The weekend was filled with record breaking temperatures and after spending yesterday (party day) outside in the scorching heat, we were all happy to be at home in the air conditionning with our feet kicked up!  Thanks to all of our family and friends who came out for the party!  We love each and every one of you and Jacob is so lucky to have so many great people to share in his special memories!  We’re happy to report that we did not come home with “too many toys” and a lot of the things that Jacob got were educational so while we are scrambling to find space for some new things…..it’s actually not as bad as we had anticipated!  Here’s a few pics from Jacob’s special day!

And last but definitely not least…this is how the adults were cooling off!