The Holiday

We've been in Timmins for nearly a week and we haven't stopped! Charlotte's first Christmas was amazing! She got so many new toys and was the highlight of everywhere we went!

Melvin and my dad got up at 5am on Boxing Day to hit the sales at Future Shop. My dad was there 3 times before 7:30! The first round they got: a laptop for us and a Kobo E Reader for me, and one for my dad. They came home, and my mom decided she wanted her own Kobo. Off my dad went again. Then, when he got home, she decided with all the new toys, they may as well get a new laptop too, so on went the boots and off went Jerry back to the store, with a stern warning this was the last time he was going! Melvin and I went to the Source for 9am to get ourselves or eachother the new iPod touch. We got the last 2!!

It's been pretty cold in Timmins! Yesterday morning it was -40 with the windchill and today it was -30, thankfully no windchill. Charlotte hasn't been out much, but that hasn't stopped me! I think I've been to the mall 3-4 times! And it's just a teeny tiny mall! Ofcourse, I've bought a few things for Charlotte and a few things for Melvin, and possibly a thing or 2 for myself! The sales are pretty good, and there are way less people here than there would be in Toronto!! I bought my first pair of back to work pants at Ricki's last night. It was kind of a bittersweet moment! Happy to see I'm the same size I was before, but sad that back to work is so close I have to start thinking of my wardrobe!! I am way overdue for new work clothes though and they were 70% off!!

My obsession/collection of David's Tea has gotten a little out of control. I had ordered some tea online last week and had it sent here, I got some in my stocking + the stash I have at home. I will be drinking tea until Charlotte leaves for University! My mom got me the David's Tea Timolino (http://www.davidstea.com/timolino-travel-mug-with-infuser), the lady at the store told her the tea would stay warm for 2 days. We are going on 3.5 hours with just boiling water and it's still steaming! It'll be interesting to see tomorrow morning!

My new fascination is sewing. Before I came to town, I bought a pattern for reusable sandwich bags (think fabric Ziplocs but with velcro) on Etsy. I bought this pattern without having a sewing machine and any idea how to sew, but with big plans to make them! Thankfully my grandma just happened to have an extra machine around the house and my mom has some experience sewing. I bought everything I need today to make 10 bags. So we will see how they turn out! Pictures to follow!!

Charlotte is tiring everyone out, but having so much fun playing with all her toys! Melvin is napping, or I should say gone to bed, since it's 8:15, my mom is on the floor playing with the Little People House and my dad is recovering from his earlier game of catch with Char! It's almost PJ and bottle time though. And then I think everyone else will be heading to bed shortly after!

Next up is my friend Roxy's wedding reception on New Years Eve!!! Then it's home time and back to the grind! Or well, swimming lessons and mommie and baby fitness for us!

I can't find where Melvin has hidden the pictures on this new computer, but here is Charlotte playing with her toys Christmas morning!

Where do I begin??

This Friday, we are leaving for Part 1 of our drive to Timmins. We decided to spend the night in North Bay to cut the drive in half. My Mommy and Baby Fitness instructor is having a holiday party on Friday morning, Melvin and the dogs are picking Char and I up and we are leaving from there. That means I have to be packed and ready to go Thursday night, or get up and rush around Friday morning. I think not. I've been making randoms lists for the last week or so in an attempt to get organized. Thankfully Melvin is self sufficient and can pack for himself. That just leaves me the 2 dogs, Char, myself and all the goodies we are bringing. The dogs are easy; food, leashes and a blanket for the car. Charlotte may be tiny, but she sure doesn't travel light! We have my mom's pack and play for the hotel, pump, bottles, medicine (just in case), clothes, extra clothes...the list goes on. Thankfully, my mom keeps an extra supply of bath soap, towels, wash clothes and my grandma already got us a case of diapers! Then there's me. I want to go running in Timmins, I have a wedding reception, snow boots, nice flat boots...Oh and did I mention both Melvin and Charlotte have a cold? It's been a fun week and it's only Tuesday!! Today, we are doing some last minute errands at Costco for my mom and picking up a few last minute gifts. I'm also trying to finish everything in the fridge, so dinners might get interesting by the end of the week!!

I am excited to spend the night in a hotel though. North Bay has a few pet friendly hotels so we are lucky! Although, I can picture Oreo peeing on everything, and Rambo barking at every single noise all.night.long!! We are hoping to get there early enough we can take Charlotte down to the pool and we can show off her skills to daddy since he hasn't been able to come to swim class since it's during the week. Then, we will be up bright and early Saturday morning to finish off our drive and get to Timmins! My dad has already warned everyone that he gets Charlotte first since my mom was just here last weekend, that's fine, until she gets hungry! That's my excuse!! I miss her when there are lots of people around! hah but she did surprise me last weekend with my mom and grandma. She cried and just wanted a few cuddles from her mommy!!

My goal this Christmas is to NOT get sick! I dodged this last cold going around, there is no Taco Bell in Timmins (nasty experience when I was 6 months pregnant last Christmas - ask my mom) and I learned my lesson with the raw cookie dough last weekend (again, ask my mom - she seems to visit at all the right times!) I do plan to go running a few times as long as it's not too cold. When I was in Timmins this summer I ran 8 out of 12 days and I still gained 8lbs!!

Charlotte is napping in her crib now, so I should get packing, instead, I will sit here and watch Marilyn Denis and plan my lists! Going to Costco a week before Christmas is enough for one day!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Well it's Official!

Charlotte has officially been enrolled in day care for April 2012! I called 2 day cares in our area back before she was even born in March. Some friends had told me to get on waiting lists as soon as possible. We recently visited the 2 day cares we were wait listed for. The first one was nice and clean, but just didn't feel like it could be a home away from home for Charlotte. The 2nd and winning daycare is called Curious Caterpillars. They were so welcoming from the minute we walked in the door and Charlotte even got to participate in a music class! It's a brand new building and the centre just opened in July! They have music classes once a week, do arts and crafts, learn french and sign language and the organic food is catered in daily! We were in love! Well as in love as I could be with a place that is not my arms for Charlotte! There was one remaining spot so we had 24 hours to decide. Not much of a decision really, we were only on those 2 waiting lists and we had visited both, what's the difference between deciding now or in a few months? I just came back from dropping off the signed papers and Charlotte will slowly start transitioning in March! She is also guaranteed a spot in the toddler room once she's 18 months and again in the pre school room when she's a bit older, but I can't even think about that yet. I get all teary eyed when I come within 5kms of the daycare! Seriously though, I know she will be a good fit for them, and them for her. She was so happy during the music class and me NOT going back to work was never a real option. I like my job, and the people I work with. Plus, a 2nd income never hurt anyone! My mom's advice was "as long as it's somewhere you can drop her off and feel comfortable going to work everyday" and Curious Caterpillars is that place for us!

In other news, my mom and grandma are on the way here to spend the weekend with us! We have lots of shopping planned and Melvin and I have a date night on Saturday! We are going to the Keg!! I can't wait!!

I've been enjoying my 24 days of tea calendar! Sure, there have been a few cups down the drain, but better a cup than a whole bag or tin!!

I'm off now to cuddle my baby for the next 4 months before I have to abandon her!