Two Days in the Life: a few bottles at a time BlogHer 09 Part 2

(This post is dedicated to the many wonderful friends I finally met, and the amazing new friends that I made, at BlogHer '09. I will be shamelessly dropping blog names, because they all deserve the linky love and more. I am POSITIVE that I will forget someone that I met, please pardon my old age and forgive me if I missed you here!)

Prepare yourself, for you are about to be see some pictures of a very shiny, happy Karen MEG, likely leaning a little too much on alcoholic courage, to reach out and "touch" (in other words, grab for squishy hugs) virtual friends, who were previous-to-BlogHer-but-will-never-be-again, IRL "strangers". Having attended last year's BlogHer as a head-on-a-stick, I fully intended to enjoy this year's entire-body experience. This is the "fun" post.

It began Thursday afternoon with a BlogHer event in association with Estee Lauder, that I will post about later. It was a big deal as I got to hang out with some great bloggers, including Angella, Anissa, Ree, Renee, Tena among many others (okay, already getting scattered...)

Then came Thursday evening, as we waited outside for the People's Party. Running into Momo Fali and Piper - yippee! Finally squeezing Melissa, Kelly and Tara, Rachel and Donna... and hey look, there's Maggie Nap Warden, Melisa, Weaselmomma ... turning around and seeing Colleen (beautiful sass with glasses), oh and then the other beautiful Colleen ... (oh, I know I'm going back and forth with names/blognames, but my head is still spinning...) ... well hello Black Hockey Jesus, and I look over there and there's Sandy, and Don Mills Diva, and Mandy, and, and...

Well, then it got crowded so I headed over to Room 704 party with - look, it's JustMiss, Red Lotus Mama, my GAWD it's Maria, and lovely Mommy is Moody with their roomie and my new friend Nancy (where have you been all my blogging life?) ... and there's OHMommy grabbing me, with SmartAss Mom by her side...more craziness...to finally meet Lotus, Vdog, Mrs. Flinger...BusyDad, Mr. Lady ...

There was screaming, there was squeeing, there was streaking (yeah, the most calm streaker I've ever seen...). Okay, I'll shut up, here are pics...

Me and Donna

Beautiful Maria

Cynthia and Melissa



The beautiful Misses

The Fab Vdog, and me being drunk much?
Asian Invasion



Stark Raving Hot

Channelling 704

That was Thursday night. The conference hasn't even started.

*****

Friday morning I woke up with a big crease across my face, and I am still puzzled as to the origin of said crease, as I had been sleeping on one of the softest beds on the planet. A little too soft to be truly heavenly.

So I was on my best behaviour and didn't start any alcoholic imbibing until after 6 PM. And this time I did eat. It was kinda neat being checked in at registration by Avitable - a nice guy in real life, although he may not admit it. I met his partner in crime, the fab Miss Britt later too.

Karaoke, the Gecko, Mrs. Potato head, and more partying at the BlogHer Cocktail party with Haley-O, Kelly, Mandy, Colleen and Nancy, Courtney... and then headed over to the fantabulous Mamapop Sparklecorn Extravaganza... more dancing, more party pics...

Ignore my triple chin: focus on gorgeous Nic and Nancy



It's OHMommy and Me!



Me and BFF Melissa

Mommy Always Wins with Piper

Canadians RAWK (Mandy, Kelly, Haley)

Courtney, Anissa, Melissa

Girls with Glasses (Angie and Mishi- CUTE!)

*****

Saturday, last day of the conference, last night of parties. But what a night...

Who else did we see again? Bowlher... with my chicas Courtney, Melissa, Mrs. 4444... and hey, there's Renee, and got to chat with ScaryMommy...

Next up: cheezeburgher, cheezeburgher, we can haz cheezeburgher...

*****

Sunday morning, I finally got some quality time with Haley



and then Emma found me.

What a way to end it, with two local gals that are within reach of a post-BlogHer meetup.

Sweet.

It was a crazy, wild, thrilling weekend. If there was one thing that would have made it better, it would have been to spend more time with more friends. Hugs are not enough.

Will I do it again next year? Well, if I can recover in a year and my new BFF is there, you betcha for damn sure ...

Two days in the life...a few bottles at a time: BlogHer '09 Part I

How do you wrap up a few days of your life, describe an event that you've never imagined that you would ever attend, and encapsulate the various emotions that you've felt ...into but a few words in a blog post?

As I sit here in the Chicago O'Hare Lounge, taking advantage of that fact that my flight home has been CANCELLED and I've got an extra couple of hours to fill before the next flight, I will attempt to do just that. And probably not very well. But it's a start.

The Logistics:
Okay, boring start, I know. But this event was HUGE! I thought Toronto rush hour was bad, but I'd forgotten that Chicago rush hour was at least twice as long. Let's just say I was glad that I had booked the earlier flight that I did. Confused shuttle limo service and rush hour did not mix well.

At least I had the pleasure of riding the shuttle with my twitter pal Kellyology and a few more bloghers that I didn't follow. I didn't know I had this talent for picking out people's faces from their tiny avatars, but I recognized Kelly's pretty face immediately. So that was a bonus.

No matter, I still made it at a decent hour, but I did NOT make it to the Social Luxe Lounge as planned, so missed what was likely the best swag of the weekend. A Kodak Video camera, seriously? Oh well, it's not all about the swag. Mini rant over.

The hotel was also HUGE! And freezing. But the amazing thing was, from the time I was in line to check-in, to the time that I got to my hotel room, I met at least six bloggers that I know and who KNOW ME - (at least after a bit of nudging - A Whole lot of nothing; Secret Agent Mama; Her Bad Mother; Redneck Mommy, Mr. Lady, Motherbumper). Cue the faint and silent squee.

More shameless blognamedropping (including fab Ms Rockandrool) to follow.

The Location:
Chicago, what a beautiful, beautiful city. We were situated right by the river, one and a half blocks away from the Magnificent Mile. Although I didn't really leave the hotel until my last day, this trip wasn't about Chicago. I'm lucky I've been to Chicago before and will come again. Last time it was on a wild 10th anniversary weekend, and I got carded and wasted. But this time, the goal was to meet some friends. Alcohol would still be involved, of course.

The Sessions:
Why, yes, I did attend some sessions. It was a conference, after all, come on people! I was here to socialize, but also to bend my brain in ways it hasn't been bent before. The last conference I attended was work-related, and well, this one wasn't. When I initially signed up, I thought I would check out some of the "business" track. This whole area of sponsorship, reviews, blog for profit - it's still very new for me, and I am interested in the world of possibilities. But honestly, the emotional lean was toward the personal blogging track. "Lifeblogging" as you will. For what I learned as a result of this experience, was that mommyblogging is much too narrow a term. For although we are mothers and we are women, we are so much more. We give life, we work life, we live life. So from now on, I think I'll call myself a lifeblogger.

The highlights for me of the scheduled sit-down time?

1/The Rooms of Your Own. These were topics suggested by the BlogHer community, and run by the bloggers, for the bloggers. Bloggers who I read, bloggers who I know, and even some who read me from time to time. The panels were about blogging identity, blogging as you or an alias, blogging TMI (yay Ms Zoeyjane), vaginally-challenged bloggers (inc. my pal Busydad), blogging about celebrity gossip versus pop culture (Mamapop), and the BEST session for me: Humour blogging.

I'm certainly not laugh out loud funny, but I try to inject humour when I can. (I'm told I'm better when drunk, well at least I'm louder). This final session was the one that I learned the most from, as the tips raised during discussion could be applied to any type of blog. Oh, and the women who were on the panel WERE laugh out loud hilarious. So that was a bonus.

2/Community Keynote: a.k.a. Kleenex session extraordinaire.
I was so proud of my girl Don Mills Diva, and some of my other fellow Canucks as they demonstrated why they are such blogstars. Some of my fave bloggers were up there, and I was exposed to more talented bloggers that I will surely follow. All of the readings were phenomenal. But I'm sure you won't be surprised when I tell you that the one post that had me laughing and then sobbing like I should be hiding in the corner, was written and read by brilliant Melissa of Stirrup Queens. (I never thought to follow my husband into the sample donation room during our infertility treatments.) Yeah, go read it.

The parties, the people, more BFF's, the gossip and the pics. I'm exhausted.

So, you'll just have to wait for it won't you?

Part 2 on its way...

Let's spell it together now: W-R-E-C-K-E-D

So this is what eating only two tiny bags of Airline almonds, two chocolate chip cookies, a bowl of wild rice with chicken soup with crackers, and then...

two glasses of wine, one gin and tonic, two martinis and a whole lotta squealing...

will get you.

Wrecked, at 7 AM the first official morning of BlogHer '09.

But last night I got prettied up at Macy's by the lovelies at Estee Lauder, wore my rockin' brand new John Fluevog's that I just bought at V-town over the weekend, and partied it up with so, so many of the blogpals I wanted to meet. And have started making new friends already.

Partying like it was 1999, with my body that wished it were again.

Hopefully a shower will help.

Pictures will come, promise!

(note to husband: no, I did not puke. Love you man).

Where oh where...

has my blogging mojo gone?

Isn't the timing perfect? I mean, I am literally days away from attending a major blogging conference, ready to drop my blogname, and hand out my url and fancy schmanzy minimoo Mommyblogger cards, to anyone who will look at me in Chicago... and I feel that I have nothing, nada, zero-point-zero, to blog about.

I suppose I do have an excuse, and it involves a couple of kids and a neglected husband. And some quality time with them. So this space has had to take second place.

Which is honestly where it should be, shouldn't it?

It's all about balance, and it feels about right.

Friday Fragments

Welcome to another edition of Friday Fragments, the brainchild of the lovely lady Mrs.4444, who I might add, I am SO excited to hopefully meet next week. Make sure you visit her place and give some comment love.

On with the show...

It was my sister's birthday this past Tuesday. We took her to a Peruvian restaurant in her neighbourhood,and as usual, there was a bit of drama. Yes, the restaurant got my reservation numbers wrong, and yes, they tried to blame me for the fact that the person took down the wrong information. Oh, and yes, they did charge us the standard service charge for large groups (even though we only took up 8 spots, 4 of which were children) and tried to sneak it by us by only giving us the credit card chit and the end, and not the entire, detailed bill. Don't you just love it when they try to get you to tip on top of the tip? An honest mistake? Maybe, but this has happened to us before... grrr.

The beer did help a little, and the food was good. But I was left with a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth because of the service. My sister had a great time, though, and she only remembered that she also had problems with service the last time she was there, after I had these issues.

Nevertheless (and this was supposed to be a happy fragment) she had a wonderful time. I've offered to take her to a cooking class with me when she has a chance, as a present. She's always great with presents - remember the gorgous Giselle - me, not so much. So I'm looking forward to that.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was crazy, so it helped diminish some of the melancholy about not having Dad around at the celebration. Things are starting to get a little easier. The girls' birthdays next week (they turn TWO!) will be a tough, though I'm sure.

*****

I had an interview on my sister's birthday. So, a very busy, crazy day. All I can say is that it went well, it was great to be chatting about my work life. To be honest, the biggest sell was to myself, that this was me, and that if it was really something I wanted, I could do it. For that, I was proud of myself. We'll see.

*****

I will be taking some family time over the next few days, so may not be posting as much. It's summer vacay, right? All this focus on career, work stuff in the past very intense couple of weeks, has made me appreciate my family and my flexibility with the kids right now, all the more.

"What to wear?" Wednesday

"Mom, you really like to take pictures of yourself, don't you?", he said with a smile.

"Yeah, I guess I do. I guess your Mom's crazy that way." I replied, with a smile back.

This blogging addiction has made me do a lot of things I wouldn't have thought I would do in a million years.

I haven't put up a Fashion Friday post in a while. Not much posting about anything, truth be told. There's a lot of stuff happening lately, my head is spinning and my stomach is doing flip flops as I re-examine my life, my goals and how they fit in with my precious family. Emotions have run high and low. Pretty serious stuff.

It's time to do something completely frivolous again.

This time, however, there's an actual goal to this posting of my wardrobe. What to wear to BlogHer? It didn't seem that important to me at first, but the stakes are higher now. (And if you're sick of reading about BlogHer, please feel free to plug your ears, sing "la-la-la" and look away - that's what I did last year. I'm trying to keep these posts to a minimum but I'm just too freakin' excited to completely shut up about it.)

It appears that fashion guru Tim Gunn of Project Runway fame, will be in attendance at BlogHer 09, next week. And as I read about the various fashion dilemmas floating around the blogosphere, I noted that I myself, have no idea what I will be donning for the three day whirlwind. I'm going to check out his appearance, and if I'm lucky, might get a one-on-one session with him.

I guess the grunge, "I borrowed my 16 year old daughter's Ed Hardy Tee" look probably won't work, especially since I don't even have a 16 year old daughter. (Get this: my son says that my new hair cut is pretty and reminds him of Demi Lovato; so perhaps I am trying a mite too hard):



But I hear that butterflies are all the rage this year. I am contemplating this outfit, and because my husband hates this dress, it's probably better that he's not accompanying me to Chicago. And never say never to leggings, even though I did and lived to blog about it:


Or maybe another boho look (no, I'm not pregnant, but where the heck were these clothes when I was?):


And finally, I think I will pack this little mini number:

With another LBD under consideration.

Decisions, decisions.

In all seriousness, I'm not too stressed about this. After all, I'm not attending as part of my business; sure, I'll be there to learn a little about this whole blogging explosion, but my mission is to finally meet and have good times with some people who have become friends. To be a part of this blogging community, in real life. And perhaps make new friendships along the way. Two hundred of them if I'm lucky, as I don't want to be stuck with a whole buncha Mini Moo.

I'll be trying my darnedest to be just: Me.

In cute shoes, of course.

Soggy Saturday Morning and posting about hawt

There you go, SEO types, what a perfect title.

Well, people don't read blogs on Saturdays anyway.

First of all, thanks to all my beloved bloggy peeps for your words of encouragement. I actually spruced up my C.V., attached it to my e:mail and hit "send" to my friend the Head Hunter (let's call him, H.H; I know the term these days is "recruiter" but, the girlie's been watching Madagascar 2 about 25 times non-stop in the last couple of days, and that resounding tribal beat, you know... and besides, I'm old, so we'll use H.H.)

As I was saying in my previous post, about my lack of walking-in-heels-prowess... I met with H.H. this past week. I think I'd mentioned that I've "known" him for over 10 years, actually contacted him wayyyyyy back when I was trying to break into the field. He didn't have any jobs for me then, but he had some great advice. And after I did eventually get into industry, I would chat with him from time to time about hiring etc. But I've never met him face to face. And never really thought about what he might look like.

I remember in my last job, I was working with our HR manager and she asked me if I had ever met H.H. And I said, no, I hadn't. She suggested I should, because uh, he was pretty good looking. He was actually a gymnast when he was younger. I was surprised, we laughed about it a bit, because whenever I've talked with him the image in my mind has been of a science geeky type, as his voice is a little squeaky. I don't know how else to describe it.

Since I've been home with the kids, he's followed up with me from time to time. And I've contemplated finally meeting him, just for coffee etc, as suggested by my husband. After all, it's always good to keep your foot at least partway through the door, and this fellow's quite connected. If I ever want to launch back in, this is a good guy to know.

I got to his office, parked in the concrete jungle and couldn't figure out which entrance was the right one...hence my poor toesies, as I did a bit more walking than I had intended. Finally finding the building and floor, I popped into the washroom, as I always do before meeting, just to check on the face shine, for any last minute stuff between the teeth etc... I wasn't really nervous because it wasn't an interview. Just a chat to find out about an opportunity, and to finally meet in person. Still, it felt weird to be in a corporate environment again.

I walked out into the hall, just as this fellow was stepping out of the men's washroom, and he looked at me and said, "Karen?" just as I uttered "H.H.?".... while sucking in my breath and totally not believing how incredibly fine he was, and OMG, he was wearing a great casual outfit, blue long sleeve fitted -tee with khaki pants, and yes, he looks like he was indeed a gymnast... stop salivating, Karen!

All kidding (well, not entirely) aside, we had a great meeting, talking about my career, what I wanted in my work life, what opportunities he had... the usual stuff. I was there for over an hour, but had to leave to get the kids. Yes, the kids, yeah, them ;). Yes, married with kids. Well, both of us, very happily at that.

We'll see where this all goes (the job thing, I mean) but it felt good to be talking about work again, my accomplishments, and not so much about being a Mom. I love being a Mom, but there's the other part of me that's taken a back seat. I said as much to him, that I don't want all the years of education, training, experience, my skill set and the career that I built to be wasted after working so hard for it. And I remain conflicted.

I got home and here's my little e:mail exchange with the husband:

Me: "BTW, met with H.H. today. He's quite hawt. Hurry home."

Hubs: "See-i toLd you it would be worthwhile mtg him."

Me: "You know, if we weren't already married, I'd sooooo have an internet affair with you ;). "

We're demented, I know.

Happy weekend!

Are you smarter than a kindergartener?

I'd forgotten that a four year old has the capacity to talk non-stop. From the time that the girlie wakes up in the morning, until her head hits the pillow at bedtime, the verbal onslaught is relentless.

The boy was certainly chatty enough at this age; but the girlie takes it to a whole new level. When the L-boy used to verbalize each and every thought that happened to pop into his head, he would still be content even that we let him unravel a soliloquy, with the occasional head nod, or "yes", "really?", "well, that's very special"... to acknowledge that at least our subconscious was still following him. After all, who can respond to each and every single question that comes out of a kindergartener's mouth?

Well, in the world according to the girl, her parents are supposed to. If we just nod an "um-hmmm", she'll yell, "Hey, you weren't listening to me! Listen to my words!"

But there are some glimpses of brilliance hidden amongst the verbal diarrhea. And I'm not just saying that because I'm her mother.

The other day she asked us,"Mommy and Daddy, where was I before I was born?"

Now we initially thought this was an open invitation to launch into the sex talk, but at 4, we thought it a bit premature. We were at a loss, and then before we uttered anything, she pretty much answered it for herself. She was talking spiritually. As in, "Was I with the other babies in heaven, waiting to be born? Like where Gong-Gong is?" Wow. Silent mutual stares of "help" between the parents seemed to have saved the day.

And then yesterday, I inadvertently (well, because it was right on the road being run over by the half a dozen cars in front of me ) ran over an already flattened road pizza formerly known as skunk. As we drove over it, and I sucked in my breath (wishing I knew how to kiss my teeth), bracing myself for the stink that would now envelope the van, my girlie asked what was the matter.

So I told her that I had run over a skunk, and that I wished I had been able to avoid the poor thing. But that it was already dead when I ran over it.

And she asked me this:

"Mommy, why don't they just make sidewalks for animals? Then they can walk on their own sidewalk in a line, and people will know not to run over them. And maybe they can put up a sign to show drivers that there are skunks and other animals on that sidewalk."

Good point. Never mind about the details of having to train the animals to stay on their side of the road. But the sign is a grand idea - look at this:


(image from stock.exchange)

At least skunks have legs.

And my son's response when I told him I ran over a skunk? He checked out the tires to see if there were any skunk guts adorning them. No such luck. Boys.


But the best one yet?

As I ran the kids out of the house this morning to drop them to their camps, decked out in my "interview" suit to meet the headhunter (more on that later), the girl looked at me and said,

"Oh, I like your outfit mommy. I like your necklace. You look like you are going to talk at the front of a meeting. You know, the lady who talks to all the people when they come to a meeting, you look like her!"

"Well, Mommy did do something like that before I had you and stayed home. Do you think that might be what you want to be when you grow up, sweetie?"

"You had to stay home to take care of me and Goh-Goh, right Mommy? So we don't get hurt (guilting already!!), right? I can be that lady when I grow up, but only when you're a Grandma."

And then she took one look at my shoes and said, "Oh, but be very careful Mommy. You don't know how to wear heels."

And she was brilliantly right.

My feet are KILLING me.

Wordless Wednesday - Sweet

Type A much?

I contemplated accompanying hubs on his most recent trip for business. I initially jumped all over it because he actually asked if I wanted to go (the opportunity doesn't come that often because of all the work he's got to do, and he's not always comfortable with the optics. But I take my lead from him).

But with BlogHer coming up, and our family vacay ... and the fact that I didn't think the kids would appreciate spending the week doing workbooks at Grandma's (she runs a really tight curriculum, especially during summer holidays)... I thought better of it.

And the hubs is apparently relieved with my decision too.

I got the following message this morning, letting me know that after having to switch planes he finally got there:

"Arrived safely-waiting in a ridiculously long customs line.....its times like these I am glad you aren't here :) not bc I don't love you but I don't miss a play by play account on the delay..."

Know me much?

Friday Fragments - A Pictorial

Total Friday randomness...

You know how we have our bed to ourselves now? Well, I forgot about this guy:

No, unfortunately it isn't some fancy marital aid.

I don't know if I ever told you, but I think our bedroom ceiling fan is haunted. Every summer, it gets a little warm in our bedroom, which sits over the garage. So we installed a ceiling fan, one complete with a light and three spinning speeds. It's wonderful what a little air circulation will do.

After about a year or so, it started to do some funny stuff. Like all of a sudden crank up from level one to hyper level three speed. Or if the light was off, it would turn on. Or the whole thing would shut off. All completely on its own. At first it used to freak us out.

We thought it might be the batteries in the remote. But we've changed them, and it doesn't make a difference. Some weird phantom just loves to mess with us just as we're trying to get to REM stage. So what do we do? We sleep with the remote...and whosoever happens to be awake when the light goes on at 3 AM, or the blades of the fan fly at speeds that threaten to decapitate us while we're in dreamland; well, that person has to hit the appropriate button. I think we're destined to keep those LOSER T's permanently...

*****

Welcome to our fridge:

I forgot that I put Ms. Little Pony in there for the girlie; hubs apparently saw it the other day when he went to get a beer, but didn't comment. Gee, this Dad thing must be old hat to him now.

Just so you know, this is our treatment for Little Pony vitiligo. Pony turns white when you hold it, so it must go back to deep freeze to get its pink on. Girlie is turning into an ingenious vet these days.

*****

MOOOOOOOOOOO...

Yes, I splurged and got blog cards for the upcoming BlogHer-thing-a-ma-bop...and while I was at it I also got myself a totally frivolous Betseyville bag for a steal at Winners. The animal print is as garish or as stylish as can be, depending on who you talk to.

It's a computer case, but looks like a typical carry-on, so people don't necessarily think you're carrying your laptop in there and won't steal it. Except now I've just told the internet. Great. Well, I'm in the market for a new one anyway.

Now I just need some comfortable but sexy shoes. Oxymoron, I know. Seriously, no Fashion Fridays in a long, long time means there's a void to fill.

*****

Oh, and my hairstylist is back from mat. leave. Whoopeee!!!

For better fragments, visit the home of Mrs. 4444 when you get a chance.

So now what do we do?

My kids get away with a lot. They're good kids, but they know how to work the system.

Take my daughter, for example. She's four AND A HALF now, she's quick to point out. And she just graduated from junior kindergarten. In September she'll be a "senior".

But get this; she has her own room, complete with her own pretty bed...which she hasn't slept in since she was three.

Where has she been sleeping, pray tell?

Why, in her Mom and Dad's room, on the couch next to their bed. Mommy and Daddy need T-shirts with "LOSERS" blazoned across them.

How did this happen? Well, she used to go to bed pronto right a 8 PM, we'd tuck her in with her stuffed guys, give her a kiss good night, and she'd be good. No drama for the night.

But she started getting up in the middle of the night and crawling into bed with us. And then before we knew it, she was spending most of the night in bed with us... so our new rule was, get in the couch, if you're coming into our room.

Then somehow we ended up being too tired, and she weaseled her way into getting tucked into the couch right away, bypassing the whole bedroom ritual entirely. (I suspect it was the hubs that allowed this to happen on a night while I was out. Yeah, I blame him for everything, and this is no exception. No willpower against girls who have certain grown men wrapped around their cutie little fingers). And to be honest, there's something just too sweet about hearing your little girl's gentle breathing next to you.

It just became habit.

But this was ridiculous. It's just bad news to lose the sanctity of your own bedroom. It can't be good for a marriage. Bad enough that kids invade your entire consciousness, let alone your sub and then total unconsciousness.

She promised, though, that she would go back to her room, eventually. Before she was ten at least. Well, that argument didn't fly, so she deferred it to her sleepover with her baby cousin, which was two weekends ago. She slept in her room, with her cousin in the playpen beside her. Not a single hitch.

It was beautiful.

But guess what? She went right back to our couch the next day. Grrrrr. And I have little energy to fight.

So here comes my little hero.

"G, if I sleep next to you on the air mattress in your room, will you stay in your bed?."

"Yay, it will be like a sleepover. Yay Goh-Goh, I will, I will sleep there all the night if you're next to me!" she shouted with glee. Literally jumping up and down and clapping.

Her last words to me as she faded into sleep this past Monday were,

"Mommy, if Goh-Goh sleeps here with me forever, then it's okay, I'll sleep in my own bed."

And she did.

And she has every night now, since Monday.

With her big brother by her side.

I asked my boy on Tuesday if he wanted to go back to his room. He replied,

"Uh, no, not just yet. It's comforting hearing her next to me sleeping. It's okay Mommy. I'll let you know when I'm ready to go back."

Where did we get this kid?

And so his Mommy thanks him. And his Daddy too.

Because of him, we've got our bedroom back.

Not that we've got the energy to do anything with this new scenario, but it's the principle right?

"Wordless" Wednesday - Happy Canada Day

Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians!

Celebrate!

(photos from StockExchg)