The Presidency August 30, 2008

Apparently McCain will stop at nothing to gain votes. He has now annoucned his running mate as Gov. of Alaska, Sarah Palin. It seems gaining the woman vote (by counting on the vulnerability of Hillary followers who have been slapped in the face by the Obama campaign) and winning the presidential election is more important to McCain than picking the right person for the job. Hasn’t his campaign been publicising the inexperience of Obama as a key reason to not vote for him? Now he selects this woman who seemingly has a lot of experience at the state level, but I’m struggling to find national experience. And given McCains health issues, what happens if he is elected and has a massive stroke during his term? Vice President gets to take over! When I read about the other candidates he passed over for Mrs Palin, it just confirms for me that this is a selfish political move, not a decision made with the country’s best interest in mind.

Acccording to wikipedia, she has a lifetime membership to the NRA and is a “prominent member of Feminists for Life”. If I wanted to get personal, I’d attack her for naming her 2 sons Track and Trig, but it doesn’t seem right to bring that into it. Just another reason why I’d never be successful in politics!

Environmentalists won’t be happy that she’s allowed drilling for oil in the Alaskan Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I am on the fence on this issue. I can see both sides, because I strongly believe we need alternative fuel sources and need to get oil prices back down, but I can’t believe the only option is drilling in a wildlife refuge.

She is against gay marriage, but claims to have gay friends. I have to wonder how close those friends are. I can’t imagine being someone’s friend but not believing they are entitled to the same social rights I am.

The bottom line for me is that this is a dirty, underhanded stunt pulled by the McCain campaign to manipulate the 18 million Hillary supporters into voting for him, rather than Obama, because he has a woman on the ticket. I hope those 18 million or so women educate themselves on the issues and don’t vote for the republican ticket just because a woman is on it.

Another Divorce August 27, 2008

When I lived in Atlanta I listened to a morning show there that had 4 hosts…2 men, 2 women. One of the women was married to lead guitarist of Sister Hazel. They seemed to be the perfect couple – best friends, lovers, life partners, soul mates. At least that is how it sounded whenever she talked about him/them on the radio.

I just went to the radio station’s website, because I like to read their celebrity gossip, and I found out that they’re getting (or probably already have now) a divorce.This makes me sad, and makes me think if they can’t make it, who can? But then, I didn’t know them personally, and I don’t know what their circumstances are/were. I’m sure they were apart from each other a lot with his band, her radio and TV show…that has to put strain on any couple, especially celebrities.

They had been together 11 years, married for 5, and I remeber her often talking about wanting children, but her husband not being ready. Perhaps that had something to do with it. There are rumors abound that she had an affair, others say he had an affair, but noone really knows except for them, and maybe those closest to them. To go through something like this has to be hard, but I’m sure is just that much harder in the media spotlight. Its just another reminder that if you don’t have two individuals who are 100% committed to each other and the relationship, that it will fall apart. It also makes me wonder how much people go through before they call it quits. Those are the stories you don’t hear.

Small Victories August 26, 2008

In the past week, we’ve had a couple of small victories in the land of parenthood. I wish I could say one of them was Nicklas sleeping through the night, but it wasn’t. TWICE in the last week, he has napped, IN HIS COT, long enough for me to take a shower. I know that sounds like nothing, but up until that first time, I could really only shower when someone was here to watch him. Once I tried to shower when I thought he was asleep, and when I got out, he was screaming. I had no idea how long he’d been screaming for. But lately he’s taken to having a nap around 10:30 am and that has been in his cot. Hey, anything that remotely resmbles a routine makes me absolutely giddy!

While he hasn’t slept through the night, he HAS slept for anywhere between 4-6 hours, usually waking around 12:30 for a feed, then again at 4:30. If I go to bed at 8:30, then by 5 am the next morning, I feel somewhat human. I realise this is going to severely cramp my evening television schedule, but at this stage I’m over the fact I miss L&O:SVU and will gladly take the sleep, thankyouverymuch.

It is amazing how having a shower and drying/styling your hair can make you feel human again. Unfortunately his naps don’t usually last for more than 45 minutes, so getting anything else done is still next to impossible.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but there are times when Nicklas will look over our shoulders, or look at the wall, and he starts grinning so big, and making those adorable cooing noises that babies make. I KNEW there was someone there entertaining him, I just wasn’t sure who. A friend of my mum’s has confirmed it is Mike’s father, who passed away almost 6 years ago, playing games with him. I sure wish I knew what games he was playing, as Nicklas absolutely loves them. I think to witness these sessions would turn a skeptic into a believer in a matter of seconds. Mike played one of his dad’s favourite songs two nights ago, just to see if there was a reaction, and towards the end of it, the laughing and cooing started again. Some will say “coincidence” but I am convinced Chris is here, playing with his grandson.

Holy Crap August 20, 2008

I don’t think I’ve ever been this tired in my life. And tomorrow, I’m going to be sore AND tired, because I played (well tried to play) tennis today for the first time in at least seven months. And it is NOT like learning to ride a bike. I had all the elements against me though…my toes were hurting in my shoes, the new sports bra I got was bugging me, my left eye is STILL blurry and I couldn’t focus on the ball to save my life. I’m falling apart, and its all been worse since being pregnant. I think around 37 weeks I really started to fall apart.

On a somewhat serious note, it was really discouraging today. I felt uncoordinated, fat, slow, lazy. I used to love tennis, and loved running all over the court. Two of the three women I was playing with played with me before I had to stop and know what I can do, the other woman probably thinks I’m this awful player and doesn’t know what everyone was raving about. Oh well, I guess it’s just going to take a little while to get back into it. Hopefully not TOO long, I’m going to need the exercise.

I’ve also printed my resume and a cover letter to apply for a one-day-a-week job at TGG (pay cash and pay less!). They’re hiring a casual for one weekend day a week, as a cashier. It would be a good way to stay in the workforce, so that in a couple of years when I want to go back to work I have been working, and Mike is home on the weekend to watch Nicklas…so we’ll see how THAT goes.

I can’t stop yawning, I’m going to brush my teeth and go to sleep.

29+1 August 13, 2008

Today is my birthday…for another 1 hour and 23 minutes, and I am “the big three-oh”. Honestly, I don’t feel old and I’m not worried about turning 30. Truth is, most of our friends for the last 5 years have been in there mid-to-late 30s or older, so I’ve never really felt like I was in my 20s anyway. And really, 30 is pretty good. I have a great husband, a gorgeous 6 week old son that I get to stay home with and raise, we live close to family and friends, in a beautiful place. What more could I want? I mean, I COULD want a lot of things, but that would just be selfish. I’ve got all I need. I think I like 30.

More Olympics, Reflux and Grandma August 10, 2008

Contrary to what I swore black and blue, I ended up watching part of the opening ceremony to the games. Honestly, without cable, there was nothing else on. We started watching, turned it off, went to sleep and then woke up for Nick’s first feed just as it was ending. It seems like every Olympic opening ceremony has to out-do the last. Personally, I’d like to see the opening ceremony be more about the athletes and less about countries spending ungodly amounts of money on something no one will remember in 8 years time, if not sooner. I didn’t realize so many athletes don’t ATTEND opening ceremony because they have to compete the next day. At the very least, have the athletes march in before the festivities, that way they can go back to the village and get some rest if they are competing on Day 1, and they don’t have to miss out on the excitement of walking into the stadium with their team. I might make it sound like I hate the Olympics, and there are definitely parts of it I could do without. But I do enjoy a few of the sports, like swimming, diving, and beach volleyball.  I’ll be looking forward to watching them over the next couple of weeks.

Unrelated, Mike has this week off work, and it will be nice to have some help with Nick while he’s home. We took him to the dr yesterday after I started to suspect he was suffering from some reflux. I explained his symptoms to the dr who agreed a “mild” case of it was likely. We stopped on the way home and bought a wedge to put under his bedsheet that keeps him propped up at about a 20 degree angle. We added some sheets under the mattress, to prop it up a little more, and last night he slept 4 hours in his cot. I don’t think he’s done that since coming home from the hospital. He’s been in there for about an hour or so now, and stirs every now and then, but hasn’t woken up fussing yet. Hopefully this will help him until his stomach matures enough to figure out the whole digestion thing.

And on a more sombre note, my grandmother suffered a massive stroke two nights ago and is not doing well. They’ve given her morphine to make her comfortable, and now we wait. It is sad, but in some ways it is a blessing. When you get to the point that you can’t see or hear very well, and you can’t get around without assistance, and you don’t do anything but lie in bed and “wait”… its not much of a life anymore. I am SO thankful that we took Nick up there 2 weeks ago and she got to hold him and see him.  But I am not looking forward to the next few days.

I should go sleep while he’s still asleep. He’ll be up in a couple of hours for his next feed and I need all the sleep I can get right now. I feel like a zombie.

Olympics & 30th Birthdays August 6, 2008

My posts are going to become fewer and further in between, as every day is a struggle to even get out of my pyjamas, let alone find time for a blog post. It WILL get easier though, right?

The Olympics are almost here, as is my 30th birthday. I feel more strongly about the Olympics than I do about “The Big Three-Oh” and am disgusted that China was awarded the honour of hosting the games. Does the IOC not VISIT the cities that they award the games to? Surely they didn’t think all that smog would go away by shutting down factories for a couple of months and taking cars off the road? As a side note, what are all the workers from the factories doing for those 2 months?

They reported on the news tonight that several American and British protesters were captured after waving “Free Tibet” flags. I’m not sure if you have to be really BRAVE or really STUPID to protest in China, but I’m going to go with stupid.

The Olympics in general have become less exciting for me over the years. I think its a shame that professional athletes are used. I think its a shame that sports like soccer, judo, tennis, table tennis, all get to be Olympic sports, but Golf is still left off the list. And to those of you who say golf isn’t a “sport” I challenge you to go head-to-head with any PGA or LPGA professional for 1 year, and see how demanding their “game” is.

To top off my disdain for the Olympics, I’m sure it’ll be the only thing on TV for the entire 2 weeks, or however long it goes for.  Why do the rest of our shows get bumped for it? And really, how much Olympic coverage do we need? Oh, and I forgot, I really HATE Opening Ceremonies. I think they’re cliche and boring.

Much like turning 30. Honestly, I’m not upset about it, or worried about it, or even really thinking about it. I’m going to dinner with hubby, bub, mum, nanna, sis & her boyfriend the night before, then the evening of my birthday, mum will babysit and Mike and I are going up the top of Q1, the tallest residential building in the WORLD!  Which also just happens to have a killer view of the entire Gold Coast. Knowing my luck, it will probably rain. It seems like most people here have fancy dress parties for their 30th birthdays, which is all good and well if you’re into that kind of thing. Personally there’s not many parties I can think of that I dread more than “fancy dress”. I think that’s why I never cared for Halloween.

But really, 30 isn’t all that bad. Actually, its pretty good. I have a great hubby, I get to stay home with our beautiful son, and I have a TON of friends and family. I just wish all those friends were in one place, instead of scattered all over the globe. Now THAT would be a great birthday present – to have Australia, England and the US all within a couple hours flight of each other. THAT is what I wish for.

One Month August 1, 2008

On Wednesday, Nicklas was one month old. Time DOES fly when you are a parent.Every time I think that I can’t possibly get more exhausted, we get through another night and I am MORE exhausted!

But in the last week, he’s started smiling, and that is so rewarding. He also does this half-sneeze thing, which I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before or not, but he doesn’t actually sneeze, he just shakes his head and makes the “ah-hoo” noise. If I can get it on video one day I’ll upload it. It might be the cutest thing I have ever seen and heard!

He loves to sleep on his daddy’s shoulder, and he has been sleeping in bed with us every night. Pre-parenthood, I swore that would never happen. And it is my goal to get him in his cot by the time he’s 3-4 months old. But when we do try to put him in his cot, it lasts anywhere between 15 and 30 minutes before he realises he’s not with us and he wakes up fussing.

He loves his bath, but hates having his nappy changed. He loves it when you hold him and bounce on the yoga ball. Sometimes it is the only thing that will calm him! He makes funny grunting noises when he’s farting or pooping, and kicks his feet up to his butt.  He is constantly moving his hands and his arms, as if he’s still trying to figure out what they’re for. He is still looking over my shoulder, watching something (or someone) in amazement. Yesterday he was smiling really big, like whoever is entertaining him was making fun of me or poking his tongue out at me.

He is also very strong with his legs and is always pushing with them, like he’s trying to stand on you. He can scoot himself up the bed, the change table, or your body if you’re not careful! He also holds his head up if you put him on your shoulder, and can hold it up for 20-30 seconds. He is very strong.

It is still so hard to believe that Mike and I created him, that I grew him inside me and birthed him into the world. I still wonder every day what kind of person he will grow in to.

He was asleep, but is starting to fuss again. That didn’t last very long! Here’s one of his one-month pictures, that every time I see I can’t but think, “How YOU doin’?”