The Good Stuff: Baby's First Year

Before Indio was born, I scoured bookstores and online stores to find the *perfect* baby book. You know, the one where I would record every milestone of his first year of life, glue in photos for each month, and write funny anecdotes of our little guy growing and changing.

I knew I didn't want anything with a *character* like Winnie the Pooh, Peter Rabbit, Sesame Street, etc. I also didn't want a book with tons of writing space because everyone was telling me I'd have little time to brush my teeth during that first year, leave aside writing my child's biography! I also had planned to put together a photo book of his first year, so I didn't need a record book with space for tons of photos.

I can't remember where I came across the one I finally chose; I think it was Barnes & Noble. [But of course I ordered from Amazon because it was cheaper!] It was Anabel Karmel's Baby's First Year: a keepsake journal of milestone moments.

I loved the colours and the layout. It wasn't too *babyish*, if that's even possible for a baby book. And the front cover title square was an easy-to-remove sticker, which I promptly got rid of once I had the book in my hands.

I diligently filled in the family tree info and pages about mom and dad so that I would be ahead of the game once Indio arrived. I was even on top of things during Indio's first month, but that was probably because babies don't do much during that time other than eat and sleep!
And then it all fell to the wayside! I took photos to be pasted into the book, only to never print them. I recorded mini-milestones on scraps of paper, which were put in a pile whoknowswhere.

Once we moved to Toronto and I wasn't working or packing anymore, I tried to fill in all the months I'd neglected, but honestly, it's still a work in progress. Indy is now 14 months old and his book sits half-empty. Hopefully, I'll get it filled before he turns 2!

But, for anyone looking for a nice baby book, I'd definitely still recommend this one for those on a budget. I still love the one I wrote about here, but it's a bit more expensive.

I'd love to hear how others keep/kept track of their baby's milestones. Maybe there's a system out there for me yet!

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Foto Friday: week 8

[day 50: Date night with E at my favourite Toronto sushi spot. We ended the evening with Shutter Island.]

[day 51: Testing out his new boots in the park and holding on to papa for moral support.]

[day 52: I heart potatoes!]

[day 53: E treated me to a delicious home-cooked meal of pepper pork and mushrooms over udon.]

[day 54: One last Buffalo-sauce-covered-fingers hurrah for N, who is due to deliver her baby boy any moment now. If the way they dote on Indio is any indication, N & H are going to be fantastic parents. I can't wait to meet Baby D!]

[day 55]

[day 56: Faiza and I enjoyed an amazing concert at Roy Thompson Hall. I never thought I'd find myself rocking out to a cello and an accordian, especially not at the symphony!]

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A decent egg

Now that the Valentine's candy has been cleared from store shelves, the Easter chocolate is a-plenty. My favourite Easter treats are Cadbury Mini Eggs, and though they are now available all year round, there's something special about eating them with the onset of spring. My former co-teacher and I would gobble them by the bagfuls, chasing them with Starbuck's lattes, his a double, mine a decaf. We even tried the dark chocolate ones, but preferred the originals.

While browsing the aisles of Shoppers my eyes fell on that famous purple bag and my mouth started salivating...except it wasn't that famous bag, it was a bag of Life Brand Mini Eggs!
Of course I had to buy them and see if they matched up. After one egg, I didn't have that feeling that I always get eating real Mini Eggs. You know, the one where my tongue starts itching and I start drooling incessantly until I get another egg in my mouth. The Life Brand egg was more candy-ish and less chocolatey. The chocolate wasn't as smooth as Cadbury's either.

For me they didn't cut it. As spring quickly approaches [thank goodness!], I'll stick to my regular (over)indulgence.

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Perpetual Bounce turns 1!

Can you believe it's been a year since I started this blog? I can't. When I started I wasn't sure what direction I wanted to go; did I want a *mommy blog* or a *photo blog*? Maybe a *food blog*? [restaurants, not cooking!] By the looks of it, I think it's a bit of everything; more a chronicle of the world around me.

^via rob j brooks

For the past 365 days I've struggled with writing all the blog posts I come up with in my head. I have countless photos stored in iPhoto that were taken with the intention of blogging about them, but they just sit there. Once the moment has passed, it seems funny to go back and write about something that was so *in the moment*. I have a bunch of drafts in Blogger that have yet to be finished and published. I fret when writing each entry because I want it to be *perfect*, which often leads to it not being published at all.

For the next year, I am going to make a concerted effort to blog more consistently and to finish what I start, and to be more free and less self-conscious. Oh, and I might actually start telling people I know that this blog actually exists.

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Oops, day 15 was MIA!

[day 15: Cooper sulking on the couch while my book group girls and I ate Marta's delicious chocolate and cheese fondue 15 ft away.]

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Foto Friday: week 7

[day 43: Snapped seconds before I woke Indio up to go pick E up at the airport. I love how he crosses his feet when he sleeps.]

[day 44: My little guy had a tough weekend.]

[day 45: V-day gift from my man.]

[day 46: Aloo gobi [potatoes & cauliflower] made by my cousin, Rita.]

[day 47: Another fun toy at nani & nana's house.]

[day 48: Holding the mammoth book, The Brightest Star in the Sky with freshly painted nails. I swear my wrists hurt after my nightly reading.]

[day 49: President's Choice chai...pretty good, but not as good as *real* chai. I liked the illustrated instructions though.]

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Modern day box o' wine?

E and I aren't that into V-day, but we always commemorate it somehow, usually with a nice dinner. This year was a bit different because both Indio and Cassius were sick, which left little choice for a romantic interlude.

But once Indy was tucked in and Cassius was fed and walked, E and I sat down to dinner of Swiss Chalet and some Little Penguin cabernet-sauvignon. Now, I've heard of wine in a Tetra Pak and have even tried quite a few screw top wines that were great, but this was my first wine that came in a plastic bottle! And it was really tasty!

As we were drinking it, all I could think of was how great a plastic bottle would be during the summer when we go to the beach, on a picnic or just a jaunt in the park. Genius!

Maybe it's time to rethink the stigma behind a box of wine. ;)

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's day with your loved ones.

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Always, Sometimes, Never

I'm always on the lookout for fabulous blogs and stumbled across The Madness of Mundanity through other blogs I read. Laura's blog is fairly new, but she has some fantastic photos and does a product review every month. This month she is having an amazing giveaway that includes a Lomolito disposable camera and Haribo gummies. As part of her giveaway, she has asked readers to complete the following:
So here goes...

I always...use moisturizer and eye cream after I shower...stay up later than I should...have my camera with me...eat a piece of chocolate [or three] a day.
I sometimes...wear mascara...can be snarky [without intending to]...attempt to cook.
I never...am without lip gloss...go to bed without kissing my baby or hubby goodnight.

If you want to enter just click the image above. Good luck!

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100th Post: a reflection

Lately, I've been feeling the *winter blahs* and have absolutely no motivation to do things I really should be doing. [Why put away laundry when you're just going to wear it again?] I've spent a lot of time worrying about things that I really have no control over, but when I sit down and think about all that's surrounding me, I realize there is so much good stuff to be grateful for. So, in honour of my 100th post, I decided to write an entry of *gratitude*. I have to credit Faiza's blog for inspiring me to write this post, especially the quote she posted recently:

"Your outlook on life is a direct reflection on how much you like yourself."

This is the short list. I know I'm leaving out a lot, but these are the things that are getting me through my day lately:

1. My boys. E, Indio, and even Cassius. No matter how sucky my day has been, these three have the power to make me forget it all.
2. My girls. There are a select few women in my life who I speak to regularly, though that that could mean everyday or once a month. This week alone, I've separately shared stories over Super Bowl snacks, sushi, noodles, and poutine, and also had the pleasure of catching up with a another girlfriend on the phone last night.
3. My family. One of the biggest reasons we moved to Toronto was to be closer to my parents and brother. I can't put in words how lucky we are to be near them. My parents spoil us with delicious home-cooked food and they offer to have Indio over for slumber parties almost every weekend. It makes my heart smile when I watch Indio with his grandparents. I didn't fully realize the amazing support an extended family gives until I was the recipient.
4. The Blogosphere. I'm probably following too many blogs, but there are so many creative people out there that give me the push to get my butt moving on stuff like organizing my house, cooking dinner, or writing a letter to my grandmother. And then there are the *fluff* blogs too that just showcase pretty pictures or silly quotes. I love it all.
5. Me time. This week, E has been out of town. It's been hard, but it has also given me time to do things I never make time for like trying to complete Indy's first Blurb book before he becomes a teenager or reading for more than 5 minutes before bed or getting my Ellen and Oprah fix.
6. Winter. Yes, I know I started this post saying I had the *winter blahs*, but that has more to do with the lack of sunshine and warmth. Luckily, Toronto hasn't been hit with any huge snowstorms this year and it really hasn't been as cold as it has in the past. I'm thankful that we haven't had to dig ourselves out from mounds of snow...yet.
7. Tea. I drink a cup of tea almost daily. It is such a ritual in our family that my day seems incomplete if it doesn't end with a warm mug of Tetley or maybe a fancier loose-leaf chai.
8. Snail mail. I know I've talked about snail mail a lot lately [here, here, here, and here are just a few entries], but that's because it's a surefire way to bring a smile to my face. Writing a letter by hand is so very different than typing an email. There's something about it that makes me feel more *connected* to the one I'm writing to.

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Foto Friday: week 6

Can you believe we're almost halfway through February? That means we're just thatmuchcloser to spring! Woohoo!

This week's selection is a smorgasbord from the Blackberry, Canon ELPH and Nikon dSLR, though I have to admit, it's been hard remembering to take interesting photos everyday. I've been trying to play with my camera functions to get photos that really *pop*, but I don't always remember what setting I used last. Maybe it's time I read the manual.

[day 36: You're bacon! No, you're bacon! Or is it *Urba-con*? This shot's for Alicia.]

[day 37: A daily reminder of what I miss most these days.]

[day 38: Entertainment in the Dr's office. Maybe the toddler toy shouldn't be attached to the wall directly above the exposed electrical socket. Just a thought.]

[day 39: Pretty Dollarama sugar sticks.]

[day 40: Jennee's birthday lunch at Asian Legend -- noodles=YUM & FUN!]

[day 41: Sophie has been getting some love lately with Indy's new teeth popping through.]

[day 42: 16F? (-9C for all you Celsius folk.) Gah, too cold!]

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Missive Memory

[Apparently I was going through my experimental phase with my printing, choosing the typewriter 'a' as opposed to the regular, run-of-the-mill third grade 'a'.]

While rifling through some of my stuff that I still have at my parents' place I came across a handful of letters, postcards, and birthday cards. Among that pile were a few letters from my grandfather, Bauji.

I had only met him a couple of times before he passed away in 1994 because our visits to India, where he lived, were few and far between, but I felt very close to him because we kept in touch through writing. He would sometimes reply to my letters on the same paper that I had written on so I had a copy of both sides of our correspondence, kind of like today's email chain.

The letter above is one such letter. I cringed when I read the improper use of "good" instead of well TWO TIMES, but smiled at how formal I tried to sound, how grown up. I read the letter to my brother, who got a kick out of being labeled *naughty* so many times and that he was able to dress himself at 4.5 yrs old.

I'm glad I've kept all my old letters, but I'm trying to think of a good way to preserve them. Maybe a Blurb book? How do you preserve your missives? Do you keep all your letters and cards?

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Giveaway Numero Uno

No no, not mine! Bianca of Goodnight Little Spoon is having a giveaway now that she has a 100 followers! Click the link below and enter by February 14:

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Foto Friday: week 5

This week was inadvertently Indio-heavy: 43% of the photos contain my little guy. [ETA: I originally had 60%...apparently there are only 5 days in my week.] Good thing he's cute.

[day 29: Cassius sitting pretty for the camera.]

[day 30: Saturday CNN catch-up--I woke up to find all 3 boys sitting in front of the tv like this. Isn't it cute that both E and Indy have their feet crossed?]

[day 31: Inspired by a couple of other Project 365 blogs I follow [here and here].

[day 32: E teases me all.the.time about the lack of fruits and vegetables in my daily repertoire, but I really do like them, especially these oranges. They are the prettiest shade of pink inside!]

[day 33: No one felt like cooking dinner so we decided to try Julie's Cuban restaurant. Kind of fitting that Indio is wearing his *Che* shirt.]

[day 34: A current favourite around here.]

[day 35: Quick after-work stop at the grocery store, toddler in tow. Lots of good times were had in the produce department with the incessant cries of "banana!" as we walked by all his favourite foods. Guess it's better than screaming for candy.]

How was your week? Can you believe we're already into month 2 of 2010? Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

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1826 days

Five years ago I found the missing piece to my heart. I love being the luckiest girl in the world.

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It's cloudy! How did he see his shadow?

Wiarton Willie, the groundhog, saw his shadow. I can't take 6 more weeks of winter!

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What I loved in January...

I'm a product junky, I will admit that. I like trying new things, whether it be toiletries to easy-to-prepare foods to new electronic gadgets. I can get obsessive about researching new products just to find the best one out there. And I can't pass up a deal!

I love to share my new finds with anyone who will listen because who doesn't love a good thing? Of course, each month I'm also going to share those new found treasures and good ol' standbys with you too! Head on over to the blog, Keep on S'myelin to see K*OS's January list!

Here is a smidgen of the things I heart this past month:

1. Monthly get together with my book club girls, even if I don't finish the book each month. This month we're reading Marion Keyes's The Brightest Star in the Sky. I'm trying really hard to finish it before our next meeting!


2. Last month's book club pick, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.


3. Audio books. My first foray into the spoken book world was with the wonderful story, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger. Definitely makes the commute to work much more bearable.
   
   
4. Aveeno Baby Wash: so gentle and safe for Indio, but unlike many other *hippie* products, this one also smells great!
   
   
5. Dollarama: The swankiest of dollar stores, Dollarama is fun-tastic! You can find *almost* everything here [I still haven't found any larger-than-address-size labels though.]
   
   
6. Mail! Sending and receiving *real* snail mail.
   
   
7. Clover Leaf Flavoured Tuna. Quick'n'easy when my hands are full of a squirming 1-yr old but my belly's empty! My favourite flavours are sundried tomato and basil and spicy peanut satay. So good over salad or pasta.
   

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The Good Stuff: Pelli Drawers

[NB: E always calls underwear *drawers* and he does not like the word panties, so for him, I'll refrain from using it too.]

While browsing at Costco the other day I came across this 6-pack of hipsters [not the kind you find lurking in Williamsburg, Brooklyn!]. Since I've been on the prowl for new, flattering, comfortable drawers since, oh about a year ago when my body completely changed on me without my permission, I thought I'd give these a try. Well, I wasn't disappointed! They are so soft and comfy! Plus, they have the added touch of girliness with the lace waistband. They sit high enough to cover my mommy-belly and low enough not to be considered granny panties [oops, I said it!]. And there is enough bum coverage that I didn't spend the day picking out a wedgie. I chose the pink-brown patterned assortment [I'm wearing the chocolate brown pair as I type this], but there was also a blue-brown pack and a pack of solid colours too. The best part was that they were only $12.99! For 6 pairs of underwear!

I couldn't find a picture on the web so I scanned the box for all of you who will be searching for them on your next Costco run.

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