I recently ordered some name labels for my daughter through Oliver's Labels and was so excited to open the package when it arrived earlier than expected last week. I first heard of these labels through one of the moms at my daughter's preschool, who also heard about them from a friend. The neat thing about them is that you can opt to having a tracking code printed on them so that if the item is ever lost and then found, the person who finds it can enter the code using the free lost-and-found tracking system. Then I also found out that you can be an agent for them as well and since I liked the idea so much (since it offered this tracking system unlike other label companies), I thought, "Why not?" I've managed to get one sale under my belt but I, by no means, anticipate any sort of real income from this. I just thought I'd try it out. I was also offered to try out Pampered Chef but I can barely cook, so why would I even think of promoting that? Besides, I would feel too uncomfortable pushing products on my friends and family. In any case, I had to try the product for myself and so far so good. I've already used a bag tag (on her school bag), shoe labels (on her boots and ice skates) and a regular label (on her helmet). They seem quite durable but better still, my daughter loves them! Now I'm ready and able to label like crazy!

On a side note, I'm working on a new blog called Baby Product News and Reviews with the main purpose of helping parents decide which products they want to buy for their own children. Of course, I have already (shamelessly) posted an entry about Oliver's Labels because I happen to really like their product. And I think it's only logical to write about products I have tried out for myself. In the future, I'm hoping enough people will read my new blog and leave their own reviews and comments on baby and kid products so that new parents can have some sort of a guide, the kind I wish I had before I spent loads of money on things I thought I needed.

Like most people, I look forward to the Christmas holidays and the excitement it brings. Now more than ever my daughter better understands what it's about and for the first time is eagerly anticipating the 25th. She received an early Christmas gift of a Playmobil Advent calendar and wakes up every morning so excited to open up a new box. (It's such a neat idea!)

In the meantime, I'm crazily trying to care for two kids (what seems like on my own) and prepare for the Christmas festivities. I was doing pretty well, having bought the majority of the children's gifts long ago, but I still have plenty of family members to buy gifts for and there's not much time left. There are so many other things that have to be done and I am feeling extremely stressed, so much so that I have regretfully lost my patience with the kids on a couple of occasions. Isn't that terrible? Through no fault of their own, I have blown up under the pressure of Christmas preparations and other household duties, etc. This is not what the holidays are all about. It's about family and friends, peace and joy, and Baby Jesus, is it not? I must remind myself not to get too caught up in the commercial frenzy that has become of the Christmas season.

I'd rather immerse myself in the memories of my family, and my children and the happiness that they bring to my life...

Things I've Done

I found this list on Fluttering Butterflies and seeing as I can't go back to bed, I thought I'd do it, too. The things I've done are in bold.

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightening at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Rode an elephant

This could end up being my bucket list. Though somewhat unrealistic, it is a list I may very well end up referring to throughout my life as I aim to add to my "worldly experiences." 32 down and counting...

Here I am on the roller coaster that is life. I have just given birth to my second child not 4 weeks ago and was living off the high of that very experience when lo and behold the roller coaster takes a turn for the worst. It was one of those scary moments where you just want to close your eyes and wish the ride was over.

My husband's father had been notified a few months ago that, through his blood tests taken at a regular checkup, his red and white blood cell count was low. As a result, he was required to undergo further testing to determine the cause. Feeling fit as fiddle, my 71-year-old father-in-law complained of no other ailment than perhaps a bit of lethargy. A couple of weeks ago, they tested his bone marrow but unsuccessfully. So they tested him again. He was still awaiting the results when last Sunday he suddenly motioned over to my husband while they were working in his garden. He grabbed his chest and leaned up against the shed. My husband arrived in time to catch him as he blacked out and fainted. The paramedics were called and when they arrived, the only abnormality they found was low blood sugar. At the hospital, they prepared him for the possibility of a blood transfusion. A few days later, he received the results from the bone marrow test and found out he has myelodysplasia syndrome, previously known as preleukemia. The specialist approved the transfusion, after which my father-in-law was able to return home.

He is feeling much better now but still has to wait another couple of weeks to see another specialist to determine the severity of his case and the course of treatment. It has been very hard to see him and his family go through this difficult time. Both my husband and mother-in-law have shed many a tear, fearing the worst. I've tried to be strong for them but it's hard when you cannot find words encouraging enough to rid them of their fears. I still have hope, though, that my father-in-law is strong enough to face what the future holds.

In the meantime, I will hold on tight and continue on this roller coaster ride, patiently awaiting the next summit.

There are only two days left until I reach my due date but I am flabbergasted that it is still Wednesday. This week has been dragging on for what seems to be an eternity. I am in complete and utter disbelief and none too pleased to have been told by my doctor yesterday that I could be looking at another week of exhaustion, heartburn, indigestion, leg cramps, sore back muscles, restless nights and frequent trips to the washroom. And to think I was so certain that this baby would arrive early... Wishful thinking on my part, I know. I was more than ready and willing to have this baby last week since I was full of energy and feeling great. This week, that energy went right out the window and has been replaced with a feeling of laziness and a hint of crankiness.

Okay. Who am I kidding? I've turned into a downright grouch.

Perhaps I'll ask DH to pamper me with a leg massage before bed tonight. No, wait. He's already snoring away in his recliner. Hmmm. Maybe I'll visualize lying on the beach, or floating effortlessly in the sea as the waters ebb and flow. Or I could prepare myself a nice helping of chocolate ice cream and kick my feet up, ignoring the current disastrous state of our humble abode and worry about whether I should lift a finger to return some order to this chaos tomorrow. Sure. That's what I'll do. I just wish I didn't have to walk all the way to the fridge...

Hot Tubs in Toronto

At 39 weeks, I'm starting to feel like a beached whale. Yep, this ol' belly of mine is getting bigger by the second and I'm growing weary at the thought of giving birth to a baby that's any bigger than Madeleine was. She weighed in at a mere 6 lbs 4 oz. This time around, I'm sure I won't be so lucky. If I had to bet, I'd say this one will weigh in at around 7 and a half pounds. Just a hunch...

Well, it's been quite some time since I last wrote a post. It may have coincided with my return to full-time work and hence the lack of free time to keep up with the blogging that I so thoroughly enjoyed. It has only been recently that I have felt a strong yearning to return to blogging and share the wonderful news that DH and I are happily expecting our second child. In a few days time, we will finally know whether our daughter will be blessed with, God willing, a healthy baby brother or sister. I cannot be more thrilled at the very thought of bringing another child into our family. It has been a fairly good pregnancy thus far and there is so much I would like to write about in this regard. So keep your eyes peeled for more updates. I'm happy to be back!