The PAR-TAY!

Ok.  Let me just say that I can easily shut down a classroom full of 40 loud, overly dramatic, highly emotional high school kids with attitude - no problem.  But managing 10 toddlers jacked up on pizza and birthday cake and pause… we have ourselves a problem.  That.  Was.  Wicked.  Hard.  Especially when they all started to ‘help’ open William’s birthday gifts!  haha!  I really didn’t know how to stop that train.

BUT OH THE FUN!!!  

For William’s birthday party, we invited all of our friends and a few of Scarlet’s too over for the night.  We bought a bouncy castle (Nate’s idea), and ordered pizza and opened the gates.  It was seriously a ball. 

I think my favourite part of the entire evening was when the kids all started to chant TURN IT OFF!!!  TURN IT OFF!!! TURN IT OFF!!!  They were referring to the bouncy castle that would collapse when the fan got turned off and then obviously inflate after the button got turned back on.  I liked it because I was both terrified and tickled pink that they were having such an amazing time together…and I HAVE kids!  I can’t imagine the horror of the two couples that we invited over who don’t have children!!!  Absolutely mortifying I suppose.  My poor grandfather Fred Enns!  I had to call him the next day and apologize for the screaming in the basement!  He just laughed and said it was a wonderful party and he had such a great time.

ANYWHO, glad it was memorable.  Here are a few pics of the night.  

It was a monster...

Sailing theme...

I love these balloons - they're a little pricy but they last for days after the party!

The newly-weds!  I just love Ali's face.

 All business.

 No smiles with the cupcake, just work.  He meant to eat it before it would be taken from him.

 Woah - spoiled?

And I forgot to take a picture of a beautiful new Advent Calendar that my parents purchased because we already hung it on the wall.  It has to be one of the most gorgeous gifts and I WILL pay tribute to it when I take shots of Xmas!  Thank you so much Mom xx.

Happy Tuesday friends 

XO

Kate

1 Year Old!

Will’s ONE YEAR update!!!

Personality:

Chill Will.  My little heartbeat.  He has been through so much in this first year of his life and handled it like an absolute pro.  We have a sweet, charming, charismatic, smart, loving, cuddly little guy who just couldn’t be any more of a blessing if he tried.  

Sleep:

Will is horribly addicted to the breast and nursing so he still wakes once in a while to feed.  Nate goes in to put him back to bed but Will absolutely lets us know when he just wants his mommy (and her twins).  I give in here and there just so we can all get a restful night.  I really need to start weaning him from it though.  Scarlet was done at this point - she and I were both pretty much over it.  But I know it will be a bit of a challenge for William - especially since he might be our last babe.  I will have a hard time letting breastfeeding go too.

Physicality:

He has graduated from 23 hours out of the day to half time in the brace so he has been crawling, standing, shifting, moving, EVERYWHERE!  It’s exhausting!  I forgot how much work it was…

Food:

He’s still nursing and eats solids four or five times a day.  

I can’t believe he’s a YEAR!.  Birthday party is planned, invites are out and we’re gearing up for a full house of kids and people this weekend.  Will’s favourite food is chicken, veggie and brown rice casserole.  He gobbles it up like no tomorrow.  His second favourite is pasta in mushroom sauce.  He is such a little savoury fan.  I’m actually concerned that he may just scoff at his birthday cake on the day, but his older sister Scarly won’t have any issues helping him out in that department

Me 1 Year postpartum

How are you feeling?

Good.  Excited about this party and looking forward to CHRISTMAS!

Any weight loss?

I’m at 105.  It’s bad.  I really don’t have too much of an explanation except that I have been dancing up an absolute storm.  I’m literally dancing for two hours straight and then eating like a horse in my spare moments.  I really have been struggling with weight - not with the amount I’m eating but with keeping and maintaining a healthy range.  My personal range as mentioned before is anywhere from 110-120 so this is below where I want and need to be.  Scarlet and I both had physicals done at our new doctor (which is closer to home) and the doc even pointed out she didn’t want me loosing anymore.  I explained to her how much I eat and what my day looks like and she said to pay close attention because it also becomes a matter of bone loss in women my age.  So, she’s put me on a prenatal pill (not for any other reason than to keep the good stuff up) and I need to be better.  Like, I NEED to.

Best moment this week?

 Haha - ok this isn’t really the best one but it was good.  I went to bed right after the kids went down rather than stay up late with Nate and watch Netflix (like we always do).  I fell asleep at 7:30 and slept all night till the next morning at 6:30!!!  I haven’t done that since…immmm. ever?  It was good and needed.

What are you looking forward to? 

Seeing all of our friends at the PARTY! 

Have a fantastic day friends!

Kate 

XO

‘Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.  

Well, maybe.  But for me, it happens to bug me a wee bit…and by wee bit, I mean sort of a lot.  This past week when a few of my photos were ‘taken’ on Instagram, was when it really started to bother me.

I heard the above quotation by Charles Caleb Colton many times growing up.  I would come home from school really upset because someone would have copied a drawing that I did, or bought the exact same shoes AFTER making fun of me for having ‘weird clogs’.  But my parents would sit me down and explain that those people wanted to experience the same joy and happiness that I had and they thought that the things or ideas or the clogs that I had in my possession might be able to bring them that same joy.  I was told that I should take it as a compliment and brush it off.  So, I would huff and puff about it but in the end would try to let it go.  Key word: Try.

It’s happened throughout my life - and even as an adult, I still get a bit bothered and think ‘Hey…come up with your own ideas!’  whenever I see something that I feel as though I invented reappear, but this week on Instagram was enough to make me go crazy and delete the app all together.

To make a long story short, I had a few people and accounts use a few of my photos as either their profile picture, or in their feed to draw in more followers.  I personally had to request to two separate accounts to please remove MY photo from their profile picture and use their own.  It felt so weird.  Taking a picture for people to see.  Then getting upset when people loved it so much that they wanted to ‘share’ it, but then for me to get upset that they were sharing it on THEIR account.  It just seemed confusing and backwards and really exciting and sickening all at the same time.

Even writing this blog post I’m mad and honoured at the same time.  What a strange sensation to feel in the same moment.

So, Nate and I had a few long deep conversations about it.  He asks me:  Why do you take pictures?  and I respond: ‘For memories, to be creative, for people to see what I’m up to’  Then he says to me ‘Do you want to have control over who sees what you take pictures of?’ and I say ‘Yes…, and no.’  He says ‘ You can’t have it both ways love’ and I say ‘but…’ and then he reminds me that once it’s out there, on the internet, on Facebook on Insta on whatever medium I choose to open up my life to others who may or not be strangers ‘it’s gone’  It’s mine but it’s not really totally mine anymore.   

Ok…

So, now what?

Well, after the 17 accounts - (yes 17 different totally separate accounts) that took a picture from me without asking permission and the two accounts that used one of my photos as their profile picture, …I’m trying to take a deep breath, and exhale slowly.  I’m really working on viewing this as a huge and sincere form of flattery.  I take photos so that people can see them and so that I can be creative and so that we can share what we were ‘up to’ and so, I need to be thankful and grateful that another individuals think so highly of them.  That is wonderful.  So that's what I'm going with right now.  Hopefully, I'll be able to embrace this idea a bit more as time moves forward.

Just to let you know if you're wondering, these were the shots that we're 'shared' without my aok.  But you know...it's like, not a biggie anymore.  It's all good.  I'm honoured, I feel blessed that they are very desirable photos and I'm happy people are viewing my beautiful little daughter and I having some serious girly time.  If one other human being's day is brightened by Scarlet's smile - so be it.  That is AWESOME SAUCE!!!

Hope everyone has a happy and lovely day. XO  and please don't steal my photos...

Haha!

-Kate

Cute new Vici stuff in Style Section

If you're looking for cute fall clothing, check out Vicidolls on Instagram!  Super cute, cheap and they ship to Canada!  

Speaking of Insta - this week I'll be posting about something that's made me fairly leary of Insta use and what I'm doing (and not doing) to stop it.  Very uncool.

Anywho, stay happy friends.  Hope everyone has a lovely day.

Kate 

XOXO

11 months!

Will’s Eleven month update

Personality:

Charmer, fun-loving, patient and chill.  We call him Chill Will and a thanks to Auntie Laura for that nickname ;) He loves trucks and cars and dogs.  His favourite show is Bubble Guppies and/or Paw Patrol and he loves plain yogurt.  He would eat the entire tub if I let him.

Sleep:

Is SOOO much better.  Lately almost every night he has slept through the night.  The brace is still on but the sleep is just so much better.   

Physicality:

Not totally sure how heavy he is as our next appointment isn’t until he reaches a year but I would guess 22 pounds?  He has four top teeth and three bottom teeth.  SO cute.

Food:

He’s still nursing and eats solids four or five times a day.  

I can’t believe he’s 11 months.  Birthday party is planned, invites are out and we’re gearing up for a full house of kids and people in November.  I’m pumped about the theme (and Nate is too), but poor William is obviously not going to have a clue about any of it until he sees pictures a few years down the road.  We figured since we held a 1st birthday party for Scarlet, we would do the same for Will (for fairness and equality purposes haha).  Anywho, I’m excited about the day.

Me 11 months postpartum

How are you feeling?

Good!  I’m back to ‘work’ part time although it doesn’t feel like work at all.  I’m in a theatre and a studio all day long being creative so my brain is super stimulated and I’m back with my favourite age group of all time.  TEENAGERS!!!  They are THEE BEST.  I love them so much already and it’s been a pleasure to be near them.  I’m excited to get back to it on the days that I’m not there and it’s lovely being able to leave the house for a few hours.  It’s nice having a life outside of being a ‘Mommy’, it helps with my sanity for sure.  

Any weight loss?

I’m at 110

Best moment this week?

Honestly, meeting the kids/students at work and getting back to choreography, dancing, acting - all of it.  

What are you looking forward to? 

More work, the show, the birthday party and just life.  

Have a fantastic day friends!

Kate 

XO

How I deal with Mommy Guilt

 See this face?  

You might be familiar with it.  It’s the ‘holy crap - what the heck - screw this right now - screw everything right now - I suck at this parenting thing’ face that I, Kate Weiland, manage to feel pretty much on a daily basis.

Moms of all ages, races, socio-economic status and every financial income bracket you could imagine - without a doubt - face the perils of mommy guilt.  I mean it.  For me, it’s every.  Single.  Day.  

Like for example.  I have just put down my sleeping son and my daughter is having quiet reading time in her bedroom.  I open the fridge cause I’m hungry.  I see with have both soda water and an opened bottle of chilled Reisling.  It’s 4:30.  I pour myself a spritzer and sit down to write this post.  Cue slight Mommy guilt.

Or how about this one:

You’re in Superstore and you’re walking down the isle with your toddler (and baby if you’re really brave) and the two year-old sees her favourite cookie.  

‘Mommy, can I have one?’ 

‘No sweetie, we’re going to go home and have lunch in a few minutes’ 

‘Please mommy?’ 

‘No my love - no means no.’ 

‘PLEEEEEEEEEAAAASE????’  (Add a puppy dog glance from superstore lady stranger who is on your toddler’s ‘cookie team’ - especially since she said please)  But no!  You are the mommy and you’re sticking to your guns.  

‘I’m sorry.  The answer is still no Scarlet’.  

Cue tears, cue disapproving glare from superstore lady stranger, cue Mommy guilt.

Then there’s this one.  I left the house with the kids the other day to allow our cleaning lady (who comes twice a month which I also have a sliver of guilt about) access to the space without us getting in the way.  I left prepared.  I had a diaper bag full of toys, books, extra clothes, shoes, baby food, toddler snacks, toddler water bottle and a stroller just in case we popped into the mall.  What did I forget?  Toddler lunch.  Ok.  No problem.  We’ll get a teeny tiny bit of fast food.  I’ll have a salad and my little one can have a kid’s happy meal.  They’re not that bad right?  The apple slices and the yogurt?  I mean come on - that’s basically a protein and a healthy carb right there.  But as soon as I see that deep fried extra crunchy not organic chicken nugget going into her mouth with that sugar sweet and sour sauce - you guessed it.  MOMMY GUILT.

Didn’t get outside for long enough with the kids today - mommy guilt

Went ahead and let Netflix roll into the next episode of ‘Paw Patrol’ - mommy guilt

Neighbour revving his motorcycle during nap times and I still haven’t talked to him yet - mommy guilt

Church when it’s convienent - mommy guilt

Dinner purchased again - mommy guilt

Haven’t set up an educational savings account for second child yet - mommy guilt

Haven’t completed picture baby books - mommy guilt

I ate first - mommy guilt

Spent fifteen minutes in the bathroom - mommy guilt

Did my makeup instead of the laundry - mommy guilt

My hair instead of the dishes - mommy guilt

Took a shower too long - mommy guilt

Said ‘no’ without an explanation - mommy guilt

Said ‘no’ for the millionth time - mommy guilt

Said ‘no’ - mommy guilt

Didn’t register for gymnastics five years ago and now we’re on a waiting list - mommy guilt

The list goes on...

Am I crazy?  

Well - I think the answer is yes, but also no.  Because I guess I have to ask myself why am I feeling guilty?  The answer is because I really do care.  I want things to be perfect for these sweet peas.  I care that they will have the best possible childhood.  I want them to enjoy their life because of me and what I’m doing for them.  I care if they get a full balanced meal and a solid nap (or two) and the best education etc etc etc.  But let’s face it - I’m human, moms are human and we can’t be perfect.  We can’t do it all by ourselves or BE it all or expect our kids to be everything in return, even though they already are.  I always need to remind myself about balance and happiness and letting things go. 

  Really letting it go.  

But it’s a process and one that I’ll be working on for many years to come (I’m sure), but in the mean time, I’m going to go ahead and finish this spritzer without too much nasty guilty baggage because it’s OK and I deserve to enjoy it.  Haha.  

Hope everyone has a lovely week ahead.

Kate 

XO

10 months old!

Will’s TEN month update

This gorgeous little man is getting so big

Personality:

We’ve got our little dude back!  He’s a super happy smiley vivacious big boy!  Major personality coming through. 

Sleep:

Is much better than last month.  We have had a jump in the length of time Will stays asleep and he’s back to doing full nights every now and again (even with the brace). 

Physicality:

Will weighs 21 pounds and has his two bottom and three top front teeth in.

Food:

He’s still nursing and eats solids four or five times a day.  He was eating so many meals of orange coloured veggies (carrots, butternut squash, yams, etc) that his skin was getting a slight orange tinge to it.  oops…

I can’t believe he’s 10 months now!!!  We are looking at dates for his first birthday party which is just totally bizarre.  I feel like he’s six months old or something.  Anywho, it’s also exciting because I just love this next few stages of childhood.

Me 10 months postpartum

How are you feeling?

Great!  We are making progress with Will and that is all I could ask for.

Any weight loss?

I’m at 108

Best moment this week?

Soaking up the last few days and nights of summer with the fam at the beach and at various parks throughout Calgary.  We want to be outside as much as possible before it starts to get chilly.

What are you looking forward to? 

WORKING!  I know it’s crazy to say that, but I’ve been hired to choreograph and I’m dying to get back into that creative side of my life.  I’ll be at work one day per week (I know, very part-time) which is perfect for me and Nate will be with the kids so no nanny or childcare other than ourselves will be necessary.  

Kate 

XO

Potty Training 101

 World's cutest underwear

Hi friends!  

It’s September and for me this month has always been a major increase in ‘learning’.  Something about the crisp autumn air seems to snap my brain into wake up mode from lazing around at the beach all summer and I’m eager to get those dendrites firing again.  So for this post, I wanted to share some knowledge that I’ve experienced over that past few months with Potty training.  I found that there was a fairly small amount of quality info (at least that I found) and it was difficult to know what to do next and when to even start the whole process so here are some triumphs that we’ve experienced now that Scarlet is almost 100% potty trained.  I know that some of the other mommies that read the blog have also expressed the need for this so hopefully it helps!

So first off, I just wanted to say loud and clear…

1. ONLY start to potty train when you and your little one are ready

I made the mistake of starting too soon with Scarlet.  For some strange reason I had it in my mind that a one and a half year old would be able to understand, verbally express to me, pull down her own pants (and remove her diaper) sit on a toilet patiently and then release her inner muscles to relieve herself.  This is kinda asking a lot of someone who was just starting to put sentences together.  Scarlet would willing sit on the potty after I did all the work but it didn’t really ‘teach’ her.  She got used to getting comfortable on the seat which did help, but in hind sight I could have waited at least another month or two.  

2. Reward reward reward

When your sweetie starts to successfully use the potty (like even just sitting for a few minutes which is a huge triumph for a toddler) feel free to praise, clap, holler with glee, hug, kiss, squeeze, call Grandma (and Grandpa) as much as humanly possible.  They LOVE it and feel so proud. Then if you want to, stickers are a huge positive reinforcement because the child can see the progress as their potty charts begin to fill up.  The following may be too much information, (so feel free to skip this bit if you are grossed out) but peeing for Scarlet was not too much of a problem, it was getting her to poop in the potty that was a bit of a challenge.  So, I introduced a very special treat when she pooped - MnMs.  She would ask for them after a while but then it seemed that once she got used to ‘going’ she sort of forgot about the chocolate.  Now, she both pees and poops without any rewards even though I offer them because her desire to get back to what she was doing is stronger than the treat.  One big help that I noticed worked for Scarlet was I told her to push her poop out with her body.  She initially would press on her stomach with her hand and make a pushing noise (which was so cute), but eventually she got the hang of things.

 Scratch and sniff strawberry

Scratch and sniff chocolate

3. Always be prepared and try to foresee the next ‘potty occasion’

I know, as a mom it often feels like you schlep your entire life into a diaper bag and are expected to have everything at all times ready and handy.  When you are potty training, it can be even worse, but I can’t stress how important it is to be extra prepared.  There was one point when I remember asking Scarlet literally every five minutes, do you have to go pee pee?  And she would say ‘no’ a million times and then if there was a little accident (which there will be) I would always very gently try to remind her, when you need to go just tell mommy ‘I have to use the potty now’.   Then we won’t have an accident.  When you have an accident in public, you’ll need extra pants, extra underwear and extra wipes if it’s really bad.  Trust me… Also, lysol wipes help if a number two gets on the public restroom floor.

4. Get into a rhythm

For us, it was after every meal and before any ‘fun’ stuff.  I would say ‘You can colour AFTER we go quickly use the potty’ or ‘You can watch Bubble Guppies AFTER we go pee pee’.  She would just get into the habit and it was almost like her body got used to it.

5. Sometimes, privacy is the best policy

It’s strange how these little tiny humans go from being needy dependent snuggle bugs to full blown opinionated, independent I-need-privacy-to-poop-now people.  I have been told (and so has Nate) to wait right there!  So from afar, I can hear her pooping or peeing successfully, but if I hover it might not happen.  

6. Try not to get mad, frustrated or discouraged

It’s hard not to, I won’t lie - especially when you feel like you’ve gotten somewhere with your toddler.  It can be a full week of successful potty use and then bam, you have an accident out of nowhere.  But getting mad at your precious blessing won’t help them and may even scare them away from using the potty which is the reverse of what you want.  Breathe, tackle the mess as best as you can, talk it out and then pour yourself a class of Cab Sauv - you will have earned it.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Luvs

Kate 

XOXO