Time for TMI (STOP READING HERE IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR MORE INFORMATION):

I still was feeling crummy yesterday, so I went to the Dr. and as it turns out I have a virus in my colon! (And it's swollen and that why it's so sore...) I am on some heavy medication...and I am not allowed to breastfeed while on the meds. Darren and I had to decide if it was worth it to pump my milk and throw it out for two weeks, or just switch to formula with Paige. So we decided it would just be easier to switch to formula. She doesn't nurse all that often anyway...only three times a day since she eats more solid food now. I feel so sad to loose that bonding time with Paige - but on the other hand, she has had almost 8 months of breastmilk. So I guess I gave her the best for the most important first 6 months of life.

Paige was up early this morning - 7am, so we went out for breakfast at Alberts, then to Walmart to buy diapers and formula (that was a mistake, that store was a mad house!)

So now we are home...hoping to do some laundry, and relax before going to my mom's for dinner and festivities.

Today I ended up staying home most of the day. I was feeling great when I woke up..but at the morning progressed I felt more and more crummy. I think it's dairy products still giving me a tummy ache...and a headache? I'll have to look it up.

Anyway - has Scott and Erin and little D. over for supper. We cooked up some of the stakes from our 1/4 of the beef we bought. The stakes were amazing! I am so pleased with the beef! Then we went to "Bright Nights" at Hawrelek Park, and then went for some DQ...and my stomach ached again...(must be the ice cream!) I had to stop eating mid-dessert.

Why does time seam to pass by so quickly? I just feel like I am running out of time during the day to do the things I want to! When I think "Oh, I'm going to update my blog" I look at the time and realise that I should be sleeping instead!

So...busy few days, what else in new?

Sunday - Went to nephew's hockey game in Fort Saskatchewan. It was THE most INTENSE overtime period I have ever witnessed by a group of 10 year olds! They didn't end up victorious, but they played with so much heart, they should still be proud of the second place finish. Later on in the day, I had my side of the family over for Sunday dinner. My mom has been super busy getting ready for "My Fair Lady", so thought it might be nice for her to not have to cook supper for one Sunday. I made my famous chili. Everyone loves it, and it's easy.

Monday - Cookie exchange at T.H.'s. It was so yummy. I have sooo many great treats. I separated them into three batches, and froze two so we would not eat too many in one week.

Tuesday - Movie at South Edmonton Common. Went to see "The Family Stone" It was okay...but Too many people had whiny babies. I know, they are babies, but why do they have to be so noisy?? I am sad...no more movies until mid-January now! My friend T.H. is going back to work Jan. 3. I suppose I'll have to go alone.

Today - Woke up feeling shitty. Sore muscles and back, upset stomach, and massive headache. Paige is also cranky - she must have the same thing as me. Good thing she also wanted to sleep a lot today. I haven't done much today but watch television, sleep and eat soup. That will be my plan for tonight too (in no particular order).

Oh and one more thing....

Keltie for getting the new job! I am so proud of you.

After typing my blog that Paige was asleep last night...she woke up! It took me an hour to wrap one present because she was sooooo whiny and needy. She cried everytime I put her down! She was still really tired, and should have kept sleeping. That little devil didn't go back to sleep until 12:30am! So I didn't get to bed until 1am...and she woke up this morning at 7:30. Let's just say naps today will not just be for the baby!

We have a Christmas party to go to tonight. It is an anual event at our best man's parent's place. It is usually a huge thing, with many, many people. I think I'll get dolled up - even put on make-up (that is a huge stretch for me) and I'll flat iron my hair. I got a lot of compliments at the Gwen Stefani concert about my hair, so I'll do the same thing tonight. Want to be a nice arm piece for my hubby! LOL PLUS it will be the first time for some people meeting Paige and seeing me after having a baby, so I want to look extra hot. Is that too shallow?

Today I stayed in my jammie ALL day!! Paige and I baked Neiman Marcus Cookies today. I am in a cookie exchange on Monday. I realized after I was more than half done that I was cooking them too long, so half are soft and chewy...and half are cruchy! I have eated about a dozen cookies today! Other than basic day to day stuff (laundry, cleaning up, and cooking dinner) baking is all I did today.

Paige and Darren are both in bed - I think I'll wrap some more presents now. I can wrap Darren's presents now too. He has been working 12 hr. shifts, due to a coworker injuring his back. Instead of three 8hr shifts, they are running two 12 hr shifts. It really stinks for our family, because Darren is pretty useless when he gets home from work. All he wants to do is eat and go to bed! I can't say I blame him. He gets up at 1am...for a 2am start time. Starting Sunday night he is working 10pm-10am. I am hoping that gives us more time together as a family. At least it gives us more money! Sometimes the money is just not worth it though.

I know I already emailed everyone on this planet...I'm so proud - but here is my little girl's first visit with Santa:

Stayed out last night at Auntie F's wrapping presents with her until 1:30am. Boy, when Paige woke up this morning, I was not ready to wake up!. Today we are going to the library, and walking around the mall.

Oh....and.....L & P had their twin baby girls last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooooooo excited! We'll be going this afternoon to visit. So far that's what's on the plate for today.

Thanks for the encouragement Keltie! I really needed to hear that. Last night it was a huge battle for Paige to fall asleep. She was soooooo mad that I would not pick her up. Poor thing has to learn some how. It took 1 1/2 hrs for her to fall asleep. I just couldn't pick her up...I had to "win the battle". Even though my every fibre just wanted to pick her up, cuddle her, and make everything okay. Well - I'll keep it up. I put a library book on hold, I hope I get it soon, because I could use some more tips!

Today I am leaving Paige with Nana after lunch. And I get alone time! Yeah! I heven't had that in so long that I can't remember when it was. I don't know what I am going to do yet...maybe go shopping, maybe come home and do laundry and sleep in between loads...I don't know yet. But I let you know tomorrow what I did!

I've been working on getting Paige to fall asleep without being held. I am hoping to help her learn to "self-soothe" - something apparently I have not been doing. She is not ready to be left in her crib to "cry herself to sleep". We tried that and I felt terrible. She cried so hard she was gagging. Well anyway...what I have been doing is. Cuddling her for 5 mins in her rocking chair (reading or singing, or just cuddling). Sending the message it's sleep time. Then I put her down in her crib with her soother, and leave her room. She can cry, do what ever she wants. I won't come back for 5 mins. Then I go back in and sooth her, rub her head, give her her soother back (NEVER picking her up)...stay no longer than 5 mins. Then leave again for 5 mins. Come back...you get the picture.

Yesterday's naptime took well over an hour! But today...she was asleep in 20 minutes!!! I am going to keep trying this method. Eventually my soothing will be quicker visits, or me just sitting in her room, not touching her, not talking to her. Just sitting. We'll see how it goes! Wish me luck! I've never done this before...

So I haven't written in a few days...but who can complain? My fellow bloggers really suck!!! Some haven't written in over a month (you know who you are :-). I have been pretty busy getting ready for Christmas. I am having fun decorating our house - and wrapping presents! Since I have been done shopping for a couple of months now, I just have to wrap the dozens of presents in our basement! Since Paige is the 9th grandkid on Darren's side - you can understand how many presents I am talking about! I love Christmas!

Friday I went to a potluck with T. and her baby M. It was so fun! Lord knows I love food! Friday night Darren and I watched all the shows we missed while away on holidays...

Saturday I went to baby M's first birthday party. It was a hoot. Paige was in her glory around all the other children. She had so much fun. There was baby bottle bowling..and many other games. Then we delivered S&E's portion of the 1/2 beef they bought with us - thne we went to the Fort for R's birthday party. That old goat! LOL! I had to teas him just once more.

Today is was up early for Paige. Lucky for me, Daddy took her and I got to sleep in a little longer. Then we went for breakfast, did some shopping for a relative...then I went to return a snow suit Paige got for Christmas, that was too small! Busy malls this time of year! Tonight we are decorating my mom's tree, and having dinner there.

Being that it is such a nice day, I'm going out today. I need to mail a bunch of christmas cards, pick up photos from Walmart of our trip, shop for ingredients for a potluck tomorrow, and for a cookie exchange next week. Hummm what else...oh, go see Laura's new house!!! I am so excited!

We went to the builders to sign a couple more papers last night, and would you believe that the base cost of the model of our house has gone up by $30,000!!! Good thing we bought when we did!

Hump Day.

What to do today - it's too damn hard to take Paige outdoor. After a long struggle with the snowsuit, then the carseat struggle, then clearing the snow off the car...it's just not worth it!!

I will finish our Christmas cards today - then go out to mail them when Darren gets home. He can stay with the baby.

I have already made some baby food today, red peppers and pears (not together of course). I think I'll just keep up with that today.

Paige is still sleeping! I can't believe it. She woke up around a dozen times before 4am, so I just brought her in to our bed with us. And there she sleeps. I can't get her room so she'll stay asleep there. Even brought the mini-heater in to make it nice and warm all night. That didn't work. Maybe all she wants is to stay close to us...I don't know! Well, It doesn't matter to us now because we get "alone time" going to bed, and Darren leaves at 5:30am, so it's only an hour or so of us all in the same bed. Then Darren leaves for work and we keep on sleeping! I sure need a nap already - why couldn't I stay sleeping too?

So today is movie day! I'll try and get showered up soon, I NEED to get my Christmas cards in the mail ASAP!! So that's what I am going to try and finish (rather, humm, ahhhhh start) today. Other than that, not to much going on.

God...grant me the serenity...

Why is it that when you are feeling your absolute most grumpy and tired, the world some how knows this and throws a rather larger than normal size of shit for you to deal with??? I have not been sleeping well since coming home from vacation - I have been slightly stuffy, and have a small sore throat. Well my darling daughter is suffering the same pains as I, she is so unconsolable!! As we speak she is laying in her crib crying. I just had to leave her. I can't stand the sound of her cry any minute longer...I have to escape to the computer.

Okay - now she is crying "Ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma" She definelty knows the context of that word! I'll be right back.

So I caved - I picked her up. She instantly fell asleep in my arms. Why is that when you are starting to feel like the devil has taken over her, she turns in to this adorable, sweet cuddly angel??? Urgh.

I ended up visiting with friends until 3:30am last night! Paige has been up since 7:30am, lets just say I am a walking zombie! Yesterday we ended up driving ALL around visiting many relatives. We were out near Elk Island Park, to Fort Saskatchewan, to the West End...and then home again. Then our friends came over at midnight! This morning we are just chillin' - doing laundry, maybe setting up the Christmas tree. But, I can tell you one thing - I am DEFINETLY napping at some point today!!! We have Darren's team's football banquet tonight, then it''s off to a friends Christmas party until the wee hours of the morning!