In sickness, in health, and in "withholding of information" too.....

While cleaning out the plethora of jackets and purses that littered our entrance-way.....

Lindsay:  (excitedly) Ohhhh!!!!  I found money!!!!!

Phil:  (shakes his head) Of course you did.....

Lindsay:  (trying to sound convincing) Hun!  It's a good thing!  It's like the savings plan I didn't even know about!

5 minutes later.....

Lindsay:  (excitedly) Ohhh!!!! I found my wedding ring!!!!

Phil:  (in complete shock) WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So now let me tell you the story behind this big find:

Last week, Phil "lost" his wedding ring and was freaking out.  FREAKING OUT.  The thing is, Phil VERY RARELY loses anything and so it's always a big deal when he does (you know, the whole two times I've witnessed it during our marriage).  Me, on the other hand, I have a track record for losing misplacing items.  Most notably money and apparently, jewelry.  Yes, MY WEDDING RING had been missing for at least two weeks at the time of Phil's freak-out, but I continued to remind him that it no longer fits me properly and always slips off at school in the A/C (the ABSOLUTE truth!).  Thus, my missing ring went by unnoticed for quite some time.  Anyways, after seeing his reaction to this so-called "lost" ring, I was nervous to tell him that mine was legitimately M.I.A.  Here's a recap of our conversation from the incident:

Phil:  (anxiously) Are you sure you haven't seen my ring?

Lindsay:  Yes, but I will help you look for it!

Phil:  (watching me run around the flat) I've looked there.  I've looked there!  I've looked there, too!

Lindsay:  (trying to calm him down)  Okay, well Hun, it's not a big deal.  You probably just misplaced it.

Phil:  (angrily)  NO.  It's LOST.  It's not in any of the normal spots...

Lindsay:  (thinking "oh dear, if he only knew that mine is missing too")  Well, the good news is that you have TWO other ones!!!  Remember, you purchased three for each of us in case this very situation arose!

Phil:  (even more angry) That's not the point Lindsay!

But he found it eventually and things seemed right again in the Parkinson house.  Phil had his wedding ring on and mine was still "too big for my finger given the current A/C conditions in Kuwait".  

And such is the story behind the shock that accompanied yesterday's "I found my wedding ring!" remark......

Don't worry y'all.  He made me feel REALLY, REALLY bad about it last night.  Then we made sundaes and besides this confessional blog post, I think it's been forgotten ;) 

The things you accumulate when you have a child.....

SERIOUSLY - I was a big enough pack rat BEFORE I became a Mom.  Now that we have Nory, the hoarding situation has reached an embarrassingly severe level.  But hey - the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem, right?   

Today was TOY DAY in the grand-O "purge/organize" scheme we have going on.  We went through the entire toy box (all three/four/five? of them) and made a "throw out pile", a "give away pile", a "wash and store for next baby pile", and a "wash and keep in rotation pile".  It seems we've received most of the toys as gifts and have several that were given to us as "surprise gifts" from random places.

Please see Exhibit A:  

We have our good old pal "Prospy" the mucus man.  A serious EW, given to us from the hospital as an advertisement for our "wet cough" medicine.  We have some strange-looking stuffed man that is apparently famous on animated television, but his name currently escapes me.  He was welcomed into our home following our lovely flight on Qatar Airways.  Then we have the dainty wee fairy from the Toronto Sheraton Hotel - the one toy that puts up with MORE THAN HER FAIR SHARE of lectures from Nory.  There's just something about her that makes Nory tick and it's rather hilarious to watch Nory go at her.  I wonder what she's saying....(both of them!)...

Anyways.  You'll be pleased to know that Prospy, Strange-Looking Stuffed Man, and Dainty Fairy made their way to the "give away pile" and we have no regrets at this point in time.  YA, YOU HEARD ME.  NO REGRETS!!!!

We're taking baby steps over here.  It's progress, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see a television crew show up at the door with a professional de-hoarder in tow.........

Memories / She Can Stop Growing Now

This week, Phil and I have been busy trying to purge and organize things in the house in preparation for our move in June.  Yesterday, we tackled Nory's clothes - something she has WAY TOO MANY of.  We had a bin designated for each size (0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months, and 9-12 months) and we went through every drawer, bag, and shelf that contained items she'd outgrown over the past year.  

Before we began, we knew it was going to be a big task.  We had carelessly stuffed away anything "too small" on a weekly basis and it was going to take time to sort through the sizes.  We're talking mystery clothing stash after mystery clothing stash here, people!  The good news is, it ALSO turned out to be a lot of fun (and we got the job done, too)!  Many great memories came back to us as we checked over each piece - memories that seem so far away from what is NOW (our non-stop comedian named NORY).  There was the pregnancy reveal onesie.  The Sheraton Hotel bikini.  The "3 Cheers for Easter" outfit.  Her "Derby Day" dress".  Her lucky sleeper.  The scratch mitts that she refused to keep on.  The rabbit hair moccasins that make Phil sneeze.  The red moose socks that fit only my big toe.  The ducky hoody I paid for in tears because I was just given a "happy Mother's Day" rose from the sales clerk.......

Gosh it felt good to relive these beautiful, beautiful moments.  Gosh it went by fast.  GOSH, she's getting so OLD.

Somebody please press "PAUSE" so we can all just BE for a minute over here.  PLEASE!  (Also, we don't have room for any more BINS.  Nory just might have to stay this size FOREVER!)

So Emily sends me a message on WhatsApp......

One that inquires whether or not I'd be interested in a "mobile spa" treatment at her flat.  Ah-hem, as in not being invited to go to the spa, but rather being invited to her house so that the spa could COME TO US.  The idea seemed so SHOCKINGLY SURREAL that I had to say yes (after reading and re-reading the message) simply to confirm the existence of this so-called luxurious experience.  I simply HAD TO live this for myself.....HAD TO. 

The next day, I arrived at Emily's house with snacks (and a MASSIVE SMILE, obviously) and she had the kettle going for tea.  We were ALL READY TO GO (NOWHERE) when the phone rang and, turns out, these people do INDEED exist.  Within minutes, they were at the door - two little Filipino ladies and ALL OF THIS (which made me wonder if they were moving in with Emily too):

Who knew that two mani/pedi-requiring people required so much?

SO MANY COLOURS TO CHOOSE FROM!!!  There were two other big boxes to peruse as well.  We decided to be TWINEES and get matching coral polish :)

We hung out in the other room so the ladies could "set up".  I think that in order to truly appreciate this process, you had to be there....

Let's just say there was a "scent selection process", candles, foot baths with roses, current issues of trashy magazines, and E! Entertainment Network playing in the background.

With a big cup of tea by our side (and snacks!), we had the best time acting like Princesses in Emily's living room.  Although, I'm not sure we remained as "composed" as a true Princess would in a similar situation.  It would be fair to say that some Princess Diaries stuff was going on.  Some OH-MY- GOODNESS-WE-CANNOT-BELIEVE-THIS-IS-HAPPENING sort of stuff.  Some "SHUTUP!!!!!" sort of stuff.  Some LET'S-LOOK-AT-EACH-OTHER-AND-GIGGLE-SOME-MORE sort of stuff.  Loomi even filled in as our very own "Fat Louie"!!!

Oh Gem.  You found a likewise GEM to keep in mind for future mani/pedi appointments.  I welcome any similarly exciting WhatsApp messages in the near future, too!  XOXO

These TWO.

Narrating the CAMERA ROLL.....

(Remember this feature post?  I feel like it's been AGES!)

I love walking into the toy room and seeing THIS.  Makes my teacher heart SO, SO happy!

That time Nory pulled us into Harvey Nichols (a place we sure as heck DO NOT belong) and started to dance in the entrance.  It was the same time that I THOUGHT I was taking a video and it turned out to be only a picture.  WHOOPS!

Qout Market on Saturday morning.  It was our very first time visiting this once-a-month event held on the rooftop of a building downtown.  Despite being a little on the warm side, the morning was BEAUTIFUL.  We purchased some fresh bread, almond spread, playdough, and delicious Argentinian sauce that I cannot remember the name of.

A new sign installed in Kuwait recently.  Both Nory and Phil are wearing their Detroit sports hats in the picture.  GO DETROIT (not really).   

Playing with our new playdough!  It was the same day I had "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen stuck in my head.  Perfect timing, really.  It served as great inspiration for this afternoon project!

POOF is the very word that had us in stitches while reading the other morning.  Don't ask me why.  It came out of nowhere, just like the word "Budapest".

Veggie-packed muffins inspired by an article my Dad sent me.  I followed this recipe, using 1/2 cup of spinach and 3/4 cup of zucchini for the vegetables.  I also used ALL whole-wheat flour and added some cinnamon for extra flavour.  They are so yummy and moist (as voted by all three Parkinson family members).  EVEN PHIL ATE THEM.  THAT says something, people!

These are NOT granny panties, folks.  These are the diaper covers I've been looking for FOREVER and finally stumbled upon at Centerpoint yesterday!!!  YIPPEE!!!  Summer dress season is officially in full swing for Miss Eleanor Douglas!

Why HELLO to you too, My Inner Martha Stewart!

With it being spring break, I finally have time to do some of the things I've been LONGING to do for a while now.  One of which is crafts.  One of which is blogging.  Both of which have happened so far and I am THRILLED with the achievement :)

When Nory went to bed the other night, I brought all of my out-of-arms-reach crafting supplies to the living room and had a full-out hay day.  I showed pretty good crafting stamina too, considering how out of shape I am (I believe this is a thing, with blogging too).  Mmmm hmmmmm....I finished five Easter eggs, two carrots and one bunny before cleaning everything up, packing it all away, and waiting anxiously for Nory to wake up the next morning.  [Please notice that, YES, my inanimate bunny has a heart, and YES, it's one of my signature traits in the world of Arts and Crafts.  Ah-hem, such hearts have also been spotted on inanimate-inanimate objects made by me, such as teacups and spoons.]

What's a holiday-lover to do with a big box of felt, a glue gun, a sleeping baby and an upcoming H.O.L.I.D.A.Y.?  Begin to celebrate the next big event, OF COURSE!  EASTER!!!!

Nory's starting to get the hang of the felt boards a little more now.  If you recall, our last felt experience was at Christmas time and she was big into UN-decorating the tree after I took the time and care to decorate it.  Now, she realizes that these sorts of things STICK and actually contributes to the "putting up" portion of the activity.  Don't get me wrong, she still loves to clean sweep the boards, but she is DEFINITELY getting more interested in the putting up process.  And that to me is a WIN!

Seems she is drawn to the colour orange.....

Can spring break live on forever? We're really having too much fun for it to come to an end on Saturday....

Emily told me to listen to this song the other day.

She said it was for Phil and I.  I'm going to pay it forward and dedicate it to YOU and YOUR HONEY! 

She has a car seat threshold of about 8 minutes.....

And it's been something we've battled for her entire 14 months of life.  She's simply never, ever been a fan of getting buckled up and asked to sit in one place for extended periods of time.  The same goes for her baby swing, stroller, jumperoo, exersaucer, high-chair.......this gal has a strong desire for FREEDOM and we've yet to find a suitable solution for her phobia of buckling up.  [The unexplained phenomenon that happens in the Ergo is something I should write-in about.  It's the ONLY restrictive device that she has embraced.  It's the ONLY restrictive device that we do not regret paying big money for.]

In terms of the car, we've tried just about everything to make the four-wheeled journey a little smoother.  We have tried it with me in the front seat, completely out of her view and silent as all get out so as not to alert her of my presence.  We've tried with me in the backseat, entertaining in ways that would make you think my life depended on it (or that I was a complete WACKO).  We've tried mirrors for her to have a better view of the road ahead.  We've tried soft music, loud music, adult music, children's music, and NO MUSIC.  We've tried the iPad and the iPhone and the "whatever else is around us and somewhat baby-friendly".  We even had a portable DVD player installed in the backseat once we reversed her car seat (ANOTHER FAIL) and have, yet again, had ZERO LUCK.  Her maximum level of tolerance in such a scenario continues to be EIGHT MINUTES.  Roughly.  If we're lucky.  

Anyways, yesterday we went to the Avenues. The drive usually takes a mere 10-15 minutes, which means we don't hear too much fussing until we reach the parking lot.  (Totally) manageable.  HOWEVER, we don't typically go to the mall on Mondays and we weren't expecting to hit such heavy traffic at 8:30 in the morning.  Who knew the highway was such a parking lot at this time of day?  Who didn't think to look out the window to assess the traffic situation prior to departing the house with an almost-14-month-old who has "car seat" as their MOST HATED ITEM OF LIFE?  (That would be me.  The Mom.  WHOOPS!)  As you can imagine, I had visions of THIS last night (see above) and I'm convinced that nobody should EVER, EVER, EVER leave their homes at 8:30 in the morning, in Kuwait, if they are me.  Does that sentence even make sense?  (I'm tired.  Bad dreams will do that to you.)

When we arrived at the mall (thank goodness!), we were in the elevator when I turned to Phil and said, "I'M 100% CRAZY."  I went on to explain that I am FAR MORE AFRAID (and that's me NOT being dramatic) of the 2 hour car ride home from the airport than the 20 hour journey home to Canada.  It makes ZERO SENSE but I kid you not, I mean it!  Barring any severe turbulence that makes that evil seat belt light go on, I think the airplane will be a much happier time than the car on arrival (sorry, Grandpa!).  [I've also planned ahead and told Phil that I am willing to get hollered at by airline staff, sign a seat belt waver aboard the plane, and pay a fine for failing to comply despite their efforts - in the instance that the seat belt light remains on for the entire journey.]

Ah.  Hence our decision to stay one night in the airport's Sheraton hotel once we land in Toronto.  Gotta build up strength somehow!

Congratulation to all of you who have quiet car travelers.  I'm welcoming any tips and tricks ;) (Or similar horror stories.  I'd enjoy those, too!)

We should know by now. If it happens to one of us, it happens to ALL of us!

Remember how I told you that I had a cold and I was hoping and praying that Nory didn't catch it? HAAAA!!!!!!  That was funny, wasn't it?

Nory got sick on Monday.  After two sleepless nights, Phil got sick on Wednesday.  After a total of (now) four rough nights, I am STILL sick.  Thank goodness we didn't have to go into school today because I don't think my voice (or Phil's!) would have lasted.

We are on spring break now and all colds aside, it feels GREAT!  Nory and I had a relaxing morning reading books and playing toys in the playroom.  I tried to keep our activities as QUIET as possible so that Phil could have a sleep-in (he's been INSISTENT on being the primary caregiver in the evening hours), but apparently our silence was a red flag.  Phil claims that things were "too quiet" and "he was worried" and he woke up reasonably early anyhow!  Haha.  Who knew that Nory and I had such a noisy reputation?  Certainly not us.......

Here's to the end of sore throats, stuffy noses, and coughing.  It's bound to end soon, right?  RIGHT?  RIGHTTTTT?!!!!!!!

XOXO