The Squeak Threshold.

I really think there is one.  There is only so much squeaking a household can take, right?  The sound is an annoying one and too much of it is sure to drive any person BONKERS.  That being said, a squeak-less home in the presence of pets and small children seems a bit bizarre too.  Such is why I believe there is a magical "squeak threshold" - an ideal amount of squeaking that does not hinder nor enhance the family environment, yet simply "exists" in all busy and happy homes.  I'm certain it varies among individuals and families - with our family being on the lower end of the squeak spectrum - but I really think it is a THING.  

ANYWAYS.  A couple of weeks ago I blogged about hiding "Sophie the Giraffe".  Sophie's got quite the squeak in her and Kumari brings out Squeaky Sophie 2.0 whenever the two cross paths.  (If I were on Twitter I believe "#nannyproblems" would be an appropriate remark).  The thing is, due to this newly discovered "threshold", I'm no longer sure I can lock Sophie up.  Kumari the Incredible de-squeaked other areas of our life which has left room for Sophie's not-so-desirable mode of communication.  Yep, it's as if Kumari went about oiling every hinge in the flat with the sole intention of granting Sweet Sophie a lifetime of freedom. And it worked.  Sophie has been released!  Husband and wife earplugs may ensue.....

Nory and her newly rescued pal!!!

One more thing.  Now that the apartment door doesn't squeak, you can easily sneak into the house without anyone knowing about it.  Yesterday I made a quick entry to pick up something I had forgotten.  What did I happen upon?  Kumari singing "MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW" at an embarrassing pitch and volume while rocking Nory in her nursery.  HA!  Both of them were ALL SMILES.  So nice to catch them letting loose together ;)

The MA-FRA!

Today the KIA SPORTAGE went to the SPA.   I would normally call it the CARWASH but with an overly diligent crew of men working to shine your wheels to perfection, I don't really think you call it that.  I mean - these people cleaned EVERYWHERE.  We requested the "inside/outside" service and let me tell you, they should have added "under/over/in-every-nook-and-cranny" to the tagline. 

Shannon is the one who graciously lead us to "The MA-FRA" for this full-fledged CLEANING!  Haha.  It couldn't have been MORE awesome.  I mean....we LOVE OUR CAR.....but these people just might LOVE IT MORE!  Check it out:

Ah - nothing beats a SPARKLING CLEAN KIA.  Especially when you live in a sandbox!

Security!

It's a tough job but SOMEBODY has to do it.  And Nory has happily stepped up to the plate!

 Today was a busy one at work ;)  First we discovered the apartment door had not been locked.  Then there was a SOOSH scare which was resolved once he swam out from his sunken tunnel.  Lastly, we caught who stole the cookies from the cookie jar!  That would be one not-so-sneaky Daddy - busted in the kitchen at 5 o'clock!

I wonder what tomorrow will bring......hopefully she can take it a little easy with it being her TWO MONTH BIRTHDAY and all ;) 

HAPPINESS & EXCITEMENT.

I am thrilled from the inside out about SO many things this moment....

1)  A couple I adore is officially ENGAGED!  CONGRATULATIONS AIMEE and PATRICK! XO

2)  A ba-zillion people we know are pregnant.  This makes for an exciting Facebook newsfeed.  The next due date is May 12th!  And they are having a girl!!! 

3)  A ba-zillion people I don't know but pretend to know are also pregnant.  Kim Kardashian, Kate Middleton, Halle Berry.........

4)  A brand-spanking-new salon opened a two minute walk from our house (stroll speed, too!).  Provided it's good....and provided they install a Tim Horton's in the small shed beside our building......we may just be able to live in this flat forever ;)

Nory has some excitement of her own too:

HER MLB INTRODUCTION!

Look at these two.  Snuggled up to watch their first TIGERS game as a Father-Daughter Duo (YES - THE GAME IS ON TV HERE!!!). 

Oh heavens.  This 12-pound MUNCHKIN has no idea how happy she makes him.

P.S.  GO JAYS GO!!!!  (I don't always let Phillip proofread my posts...)

P.P.S.  This one is for MY DADDY - Phil's exact words, circa two minutes ago:  "I think Nory is a Lions fan, a Tigers fan......and a LEAFS fan."  Hip, hip!!!!!  We won't let him forget it :)  

CHARADES (We're Still Learning).

Narrating the CAMERA ROLL.

Seven weeks old and already TWEETING!  Oh dear me.

"Mommy says you INAPPROPRIATELY named my new owl HOOTERS.  Is this true?!"

We happened upon this sign at a clothing store today.  My question is this:  what else would you do in these rooms?

So maybe I left the mall with one of these bags today.  And MAYBE there was a really beautiful bag INSIDE of this bag.  SPOILED, I KNOW!  Happy early Mother's Day and Anniversary to ME!!!!

Phil would look EXCELLENT in one of these.  Especially with his new glasses! 

LOOKING SPEC-TACULAR!!!

Daddy's got NEW SPECS and I'd say he's looking EVEN MORE DREAMY than before! 

Our conversation leaving the mall.....

Phil:  (excitedly) WHOA!  Hun, you have no idea what this feels like for me.  It's like I'm in a 3D movie!  I can see SO GOOD!

Lindsay:  You really were missing out before!  Wait until you see Nory.  She is SOOOOO beautiful!!!!!!

Ever since we got home from the mall he's been showing off his "x-ray vision" by reading the news scroll on the television and providing me with detailed receipt information from far away.  Welcome to the world, MY LOVE!  It looks good, right?!  AND SO DO YOU!

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR (DECAF) TEA.

*  What is this "Candy Crush Saga" and why oh why is it polluting my Facebook newsfeed?!

*  Michigan lost in the NCAA finals last night.  BIG BUMMER.  I would have secured an additional $200 for Nory's college fund if they had won!  Thank goodness we have about 16 more NCAA pools to go before she packs up and leaves us...

*  So - you're familiar with the on-going birth certificate, passport, and citizenship issue?  Well the latest news is that we needed to get the Arabic birth certificate re-translated and this led to some illogical confusion about her date of birth being in 2003.  Yes, we always knew she was wise beyond her years!  In terms of the citizenship, the embassy predicts it will now take about one year.  It's a little sad to think that Nory will be a citizen of NOWHERE during this time, so I've decided that she's a PERMANENT & FAVOURITE citizen of our HEARTS and that is the best citizenship one can attain.  Little Girl, you BELONG TO US! XO

*  Are my nailpolish days over?  I had a mani/pedi last week and the bright pink polish lasted about FIVE minutes before I noticed some chipping.  Phil's response was, "WELCOME TO MAMAHOOD!"  I think he's right.  And I don't mind the trade-off.    

*  Speaking of all things LOVE....I can't wait to watch "READY FOR LOVE" when it's available for us overseas folk tomorrow.  A new reality show about finding your soulmate - hosted by the Rancic's - ohhhh it's going to be a GOODIE! 

Phil trying out some updated lenses!  I think he looks like a SUPERHERO!

*  Phil and I got our eyes tested the other day.  The process is a little different here and we didn't even expect to get the tests done when we did.  However we ran into a friend at the mall, who called a friend from the mall, who told us to get it done at one of several locations AT the mall!  Weird, right?!  You walk in to one of these vision places, try on designer glasses while you wait, have a cup of coffee that they bring to you, and then spend a lovely time with a really kind and understanding optometrist.  Turns out Phil is basically blind and I am basically perfect (BAHA!).  No - Phil REALLY does need to wear his glasses more often and requires a serious upgrade on his prescription.  As for me, my vision started to go a little downhill during pregnancy and she says it's up to me whether I'd like to get glasses now or not.  I think I will wait it out and cross my fingers for a miraculous recovery!

*  Yesterday we went to a "Basketball Appreciation Day" hosted by one of the team's biggest fans.  It was a great, three-hour event with lots of snacks, mini-competitions, scrimmages and a pizza party!  The boys had a good time and I woke up this morning with some SORE MUSCLES!  This leads me to believe that I should shoot a ball around more often...

A Moment of SILENCE!

Phil:  (in the most sarcastic voice EVER)  Parenting is SO EASY.

Haha.  What he really means is thank GOODNESS for CAFFEINE and fingers crossed there's more left in the pot!