It's OUT !!!

What, you ask? Baby Moesha's Fisher Price commercial ! She is the baby walking behind the green Go Baby Go: Stride to Ride Dino, and her name is Lily (it starts with "Meet Lily ...) So cute, we are so proud. Watch for her and if you see her, let me know in a comment what channel and when you saw her.

Don't forget to mention how cute you think she is, this proud mama wants to hear it over and over again !

Moesha teaching goats new tricks

First, she showed him how to crawl through the pipe.

He watched carefully.

And once he saw, he was able to do it by himself !

Moesha's parenting style

First she tends to her baby

Then she gives her baby the milk

Then she crushes her baby

And then she runs away with her baby's milk

The mittens, stores and causes

My mittens are as busy as I am !!! This is what they are up to these days

Online, for my baby adoption:
Morava on Etsy

Where else you can buy them:
Vancouver, BC: Dream, Gastown
Hamilton, ON: White Elephant Vintage

Christmas Bazars in Vancouver:
October 3, Craft christmas fair in Heritage Hall
November, Czech christmas craft fair in Slovenian Hall

Causes I am supporting:
Walk for Cancer (pink mittens will be donated for sale)
DebRA, organization that provides support to the patients with Epidermolysis Bullosa (I will be donating a pair for their auctions, and looking to connect with DebRA in Czech to help as well)

So you can see we're busy !! Good for us and those I can help.

Put your child on the December issue of Today's Parent

Here's how :
When you start up your own subscription (or give a gift of) Today's Parent magazine, — the authority on raising children from birth to age 14 — you'll be able to create your own custom cover for this December's issue! (Click here to do so.)

(I am going to do that and then brag how it's actually a real thing and few years down the road, how baby Moesha was all over the newstands around Canada, haha !!)

Eco.Logical.Mom: Best Recipe Ever, Really.

Eco.Logical.Mom: Best Recipe Ever, Really.: "We love this recipe. Incredibly versatile (for breakfast or dessert), easy-to-make, delicious and very healthy. Have we mentioned the beautiful presentation?
Cranberry Muesli...awesome!!"


•1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
•1/2 cup unsweetened or fruit-juice-sweetened cranberry juice
•6 tablespoons old-fashioned rolled oats, (not quick-cooking or steel-cut)
•2 tablespoons dried cranberries
•1 tablespoon unsalted sunflower seeds
•1 tablespoon wheat germ
•2 teaspoons honey
•1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
•1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine yogurt, juice, oats, cranberries, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, honey, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl; cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Per serving: 209 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrates; 8 g protein; 3 g fiber; 190 mg sodium; 266 mg potassium; calcium (15% daily value)

Monkey Helpers for Disabled

Check this cool non-profit organization out, they are training monkeys to help disabled people (an article was recently featured in People magazine)

Helping Hands

FCC Picnic

Yesterday we went to the FCC picnic (Families with Children from China) I think we were the only ones that haven't adopted yet, and everyone was asking me what's my LID. Turns out no one there had a LID (for the next child(ren) younger than we do. They suggested that I put it on my shirt next to my name ! Baby Moesha was of course stealing the attention. She was one of the smallest babies there, she tried to walk around, falling frequently (she can now though walk quite some distance and pretty fast but she gets tired quickly) Then, of course, when she saw the puppies she shrieked in a high frequence, attracting even more attention. Notice all the people standing around her watching how she was "giving kissies" to one of them (she didn't but she goes coockoo when she sees animals) It was held in an awesome Ryall park in New Westminster, we fell in love with that place ! So much stuff for kids to do. I think that must be one of the best parks around. And look at all those gorgeous kids that were already adopted. They were all so beautiful. I made few new friends, and it was really exciting.

Oh sweetest baby ...

you are one year old now ! At one year, you can:

- WALK !!!
- say mama, dada, gaga, aia, hi, hey, yay and some more
- sleep through the night (or wake up once around 11 pm for your milk bottle)
- melt everyone's heart
- recognize your best friend
- love love love puppies !
- open every single drawer in the chicken even though (we think) they are baby proofed
- not sit still for ten seconds
- sign milk and all done, although you use your own sign language
- have daddy babysit you for a long time
- pull cat's ears and tails but you do it gently cuase you know they have claws
- push your lil car, chair, daddy's cooler and use it as a walker
- shoot commercials
- travel to Europe and back
- collect benefits from Czech government
- read books upside down
- swim, splash, laugh
- swing like a pro
- go to the zoo
- wave using the "all done" sign
- party like a one year old
- beg for food that we think is not appropriate for you
- and many many many more !!

!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET BABY MOESHA !!!

Mr and Mrs Einstein ...

... confirm Darwin's Theory of Evolution ...

What happens in Boston ....

One day, during the time I lived in Boston, I had this most delicious treat. It was a sandwich with something inside, that involved tomato sauce, and cheese and something else. I could not for the longest time figure out what it is. People tried to explain me, but I was not getting it. Only few months later, I finally understood it's called Eggplant parmesan.

I have tried to make eggplant several times. The first time it worked, but then never again. I actually hated it. I hated the structure, and taste (now I know that I haven't baked it enough so it never got soft) I never tried the Eggplant parmesan, until this week.

First piece, I fried. Oh boy, that thing absorbs quite a lot of oil ! So then I found this non fry recipe, and I made it tonight and it's absolutely delicious. I'm of course, eating it with bread as a sandwich. If you're interested, try it.

Little pains

We have some little pains around the house. First, baby Moesha was really sick last week. It was very intense, but short. She had an upper respiratory tract infection and screamed in pain and hunger. I took her to ER but they sent us home without nothing, just to do Tylenol, fluids and cuddling. She finally took the bottle towards the morning, but she slept with me and we held hands while we slept (well, slept, depends on what you do consider slept cause she was up all night, sitting and arching in pain) Two days later we did the follow up and she had an ear infection so she got the antibiotics. She loves them so much that when she sees the bottle, she drops everything and goes kamikadze for them (unfortunately she was on the stairs once, hence more little pains) She is now all healthy and the illness is gone.

I am, though, battling another kind of pain. I don't know what's wrong, but my hip, or muscle or a nerve are just giving away. I walk and the pain that is not a real pain, but something really intense, I dont know how to describe it, shoots all over my right leg. Like if you hit a funny bone on the pelvis or something. I tried to excercise it out (elliptical worked for maybe half an hour after, then the pain was back), I tried some zumba (no go at all), and I tried Tylenol. That worked so I decided to go see a dr and perhaps an xray. I can't walk at times !!!

But that's not all what's happening here. I have started my Librarian school. It's going so well (or so I thought till I saw my first test's grade - need to read instructions more carefully!!) I really enjoy it and I am now sure it's a really good fit for me. My friend Petra moved here from Prague, she stayed with us for two and half weeks and I helped her find a job and an appartment. We had such a great time that we almost cried when she was moving out. It felt like she's been with us forever.

Baby Moesha is walking. She need her toy though but it's so much fun to watch her ! She climbs the stairs like mad, waves and claps (finally!) and she walkes around with holding one hand only. We usually go search for the puppees. Today, I've seen a neighbour out that I've never seen before. I actually really haven't. What a weird complex we live in. They've been here for 4 years and we've been here for 4.5 and I haven't even known how she looks. She has a baby that is 20 months old. I asked her what's her name. She said baby Moesha's real name. Wow !! She said she has never met a girl with the same name yet, baby Moesha was first ! (we have met lots of girls with baby Moesha's real name, though) Then I asked what's her girl's middle name. It's the same ! We have two girls with identical first and middle name living next door and we didn't know (although we spell the middle name with first letter different) I was afraid to ask the neighbour what's her name (lol, it's different) But hopefully the girls will become really good friend and grow up together.

Baby Moesha also sleeps really well. We are back to two naps a day (we tried one but it didnt work at night for her to fall asleep) She now puts up a bit of a fight, and likes to be cuddled to sleep but then she sleeps till anywhere between 11 - 2 am, takes a bottle and goes back to sleep in no time and then sleeps till anywhere between 7.30 - 8.30. Not too shabby !!!

New designs

I have some new cute mittens in my store ! All sales are helping us with the baby adoption costs. Arent' these cute? The first pair was inspired by the folklore design of Eastern Europe and the second pair is just a cozy pair for the Father's Day. I also have a blue pair. If you click on either picture, it will take you straight to my Etsy store.

The end.

And just like that, the end has came today. The end of my school. After long two years, I had my second final test today (I was taking two last courses) and I am officially done. I do have to wait for the results but I feel pretty confident that I acually passed both classes. Even the today's class, which was really really hard, I have a good feeling as the test was not the hardest (the midterm had the 29% class average)

I started this degree 2 years ago, when my company paid. They don't anymore as I'm being laid off next week when my maternity leave is over. But I finished it regardless. It was not easy, during that time I worked full time, ended up on a sick leave (thanks to my then supervisor who felt it's a great idea to share my private medical problems with everyone else), got pregnant, had a baby, travelled to Prague for Christmas and lots of other things. It was not easy and I actually made the decision to swich for the librarian program and I got in three weeks ago. I had a post about it a while back, but I haven't told you that I managed to get accepted. I am also glad I dont need to face the certain teacher at my old school in any future classes.

I am going to start a new school in two weeks and I'm really excited. I am going to do everything online, which is great when you have a baby and don't have to worry about babysitting (although I have great friends who helped me when I needed, it was still hard at times) I like to do everything from home, both school and work. I know I can't be a librarian and work at home, lol, but at least I can work part time and close to home which is really important to me.

Now with my degree (if I, hopefully, passed both classes) I can actually have an advantage. The librarians work with computers a lot and one of the concentrations is computers. So that's like I'm done right there. I may not need all the (non)knowledge I have aquired but still, I may possibly know more than my future co-students. Which will be good !

Bye bye old school, I will not miss you !!

Fly Girls

This is a title of a new reality series about the Flight Attendants. I was very excited when I found out about this, but now, 3 episodes later, I'm not really sure. I thought that we will be seeing more about the job, flying, interacting with customers, cities they are going to etc. But they just seem to party, nothing else !

The show shows these girls as very shallow. They don't read, they don't really talk about interesting stuff, they don't care about anything else but good looking guys they meet on the planes and the yachts they are going to. That just doesn't seem right. My friend is a flight attendant and she reads classic books, studies, explores the cuisine of the places she is visiting and I'm sure she could care less about the parties.

On the last episode, one girl, Nicole, was having problems with her boyfriend cause she lived in L.A. and he in SFO. She was afraid he is breaking up with her cause she moved to another city. So later, he flew in to surprise her but she was having none of it. She was ready to go to the party on a yacht with her friends with whom she fought two first episodes and acted really unpleased that her boyfriend is there. In the end she actually got mad at him that he didn't meet other people (did she mean girls ?) and told him to leave cause she wanted to be only with her girlfriends (did I say she fought with them two previous episodes !!) and party away. Who does that, seriously !!!

I think I will still watch it but I am pretty dissapointed.

Sale: Green leaf handknit merino fingerless mittens

These are now $26 plus shipping (normally $35). Handknit, pure merino wool with buttons (the listing on Etsy will show you how they look). Will make a great gift either now or for Christmas. Click on the picture to go to my Etsy store where you can purchase them or let me know directly if you're interested. All sales from my Etsy store help us with our baby adoption costs.

Cry it out, day 3: took 7 minutes

But I spoke too soon. See, I am not a huge fan of Cry it out. I don't like the idea of a baby having to cry herself to sleep, of a tiny baby in a dark room calling mommy and she never comes. I've heard of a baby that threw up each time his parents tried for months. I've heard of a baby that developed serious nightmares that she carried with her long into a childhood. I am sure that eventually it benefits the baby but isn't there a better method?

On top of that, Cry it out never worked for us. We could have a baby screaming for 2-3 hours without any result, even if we tried over and over again. She just wouldn't sleep. If it would be few days, then ok, but weeks and weeks.... I dont' think that shows it worked for us.

I was getting really frustrated becuase everyone was telling me that I have to do that, and what else and such and that their babies slept right away through the night ever since they were born, and similar nonsense (I am not mad at those whose babies slept since 2 months, I had like 5 friends telling me this week, so I'm courious, is that a milestone or so, we did have a change in a sleeping pattern around that time as well, to be honest) I'm just angry when someone presents me with the nonsense that is not true at first sight and is just frustrating me further.

In last three days, we noticed that baby Moesha actually started to fall asleep fairly quickly. We tried hybrid Ferber method (hybrid because I don't really know in details how it works, so I did the bits and pieces from what that little bit I knew slashs some tips from Supernanny) Yesterday it took only 7 minutes !

I was so happy. Until 1 am . Bebe woke up and sang/cried/sand/cried/sang in her crib for 3.5 hours during which she threw up twice. Obviously I had to feed her because she wouldn't not go back to sleep again (she was hungry and gulped down 6 oz which she never doez, 3 is about the record)

Nights like this make me really angry at my husband. He is a very nice guy, but also a tv junkie and I suggested once that perhaps we can have one day a week sans no tv. He wasn't pleased and suggested that to work this out I must wake up at 7.30 am in return. So that would give me full about 2 hours of sleep and then I can get the no tv day and his full attention. Good deal !

At this point, I don't know what to do. Continue with cio or not, naps or no naps... If you leave me a comment, please don't tell me that your kids slept through the night ever since wherever. Today is not a good day for me to read that.

Sale: Old gold handknit mittens

These are now $26 plus shipping (normally $35). Handknit, pure merino wool with buttons (the listing on Etsy will show you how they look). Will make a great gift either now or for Christmas. Click on the picture to go to my Etsy store where you can purchase them or let me know directly if you're interested. All sales from my Etsy store help us with our baby adoption costs.

Recipe: Avocado sandwiches

Baby Moesha gets avocado everyday (and likes it!) but she can't eat the whole thing so I have to finish the rest (I hate wasting, especially with all that hunger in the world, it doesn't seem right) I tried few things and I like it on sandwiches the best.

Sandwich 1:
Put avocado on one half, cream cheese on the other, cooked turkey (or any other salami you like), and a bit of onion

Sandwich 2: (I was just told about this one at the recent playdate)
Spread avocado on the bread, cut tomatoes on top of it, add havarti cheese and grill. Yummy !!

If you have any other uses for avocado, than these sandwiches or quacamole, please share !

Cry it out

This refers to the oh so popular falling-asleep method which I am not a fan of at all. However, it actually works for us.

Baby Moesha gave us a very hard time when she was born. She had serious jaundice (just few units from having to have IV, actually!) She slept a lot, but mostly during the day. I got so many advices cause everyone seemed to know what I didn't and of course nothing worked. With each advice I got more and more frustrated as it came.

At seven weeks, a light bulb went on in her head and she suddenly realized that nites are for sleepy times. She demanded to be put into her beddie at around 7, so she can get nice and cozy and sleepy and whiney. She did sleep chunks of hours, sometimes she whined for a long time, sometimes she fell asleep right away. Somewhere between 1 - 3 hours (rather closer to 1) she woke up hungry. She nursed (most of the times, few times she got a bottle) and slept another 2 or so hours (sometimes up to 3 or 4 hours). Then she woke up hungry again.

Then we started solids. She still woke up fairly quickly for the first feeding but slept a bit longer after. But never through the night. Everytime I mentioned she's not sleeping, there was always someone who felt so empathetic to kindly add to my frustration by telling me his/her kid(s) do or did. Everyone was telling me do this do that dont do this dont do that, even though I never asked. Most of the advices were not to pick her up, not to feed her at night, or let her cry it out.

And that never worked for us. We let her cry for hours and hours and she cried more and more and chocked and even had problems with breathing. I also don't like the idea of a tiny baby in the dark room, alone, crying for mommy and she's not coming.

But lately I noticed without actively trying that if I actually leave her she does calm down on her own and eventually falls asleep ! So is it possible that she is one of those babies that respond to this method but was just not ready until now? I do now what seems to be hybrid Ferber method (hybrid because I haven't got familiar with it but I know a bit how it works), and she does fall asleep. Today it took about 1/2 hour but she has been sleeping for about 2 hours so far. The best she has done since birth, was to wake up once.

My friend is trying the sleep training but we can't afford it. But I bought her a sound machine so it's now constantly raining in our bedroom. She seems to be sleeping better. The other problem is that she is really tired during the day, she wakes up and within 45 minutes she's ready for her nap. Then in the pm she is really tired and just rubs her eyes, and doesn't want to eat, or play, and whines a lot. So the sleeping through the night would totally benefit both me and her.

I am also frustrated that all the advisers seem to think that I"m doing everything wrong. But I"m not ! Mind you, I know a lot about kids and all kind of stuff. I think I'm doing pretty well and she's just taking her time to cooperate.

Oh well, I still love her to pieces and one day we will both sleep. At least she doesn't wake up before 7.30 !!

On the go !!!

Baby Moesha is now crawling !! It's the cutest thing ever. She is one of the last babies in her baby friends group to get off the bellies and go places but the wait was really worth it. She can now go chase the ball or the remote (on this note, should I be worried that she will only crawl after the remote, but nothing else? Even if there are three toys closer to her, she will bypass them and won't stop till she gets that damn thing) She only started on Saturday, though.

I would post a video but we lost the cable (I did, actually) so you will get the Easter bunny picture instead.

The admissions

This post will refer to my experience with my school. I need to tell someone. I am having a very hard time, not only with the classes themselves, but also with the school itself. When I enrolled into the program, it was part time. Half way into they changed it for the full time only. I was pregnant, working full time and obviously I couldn't just drop everything including the to-be-benefits, and adjust to their requirements. I kept getting calls from various advisors that I have to do this and that and switch. That I must take 2 more classes then I was already taking to meet the requirements (if anyone out there was pregnant, and working full time and studying full time, let me know so I can get inspired) I was not felling well and this just added to my stress. I kept calling back and clarifying everything just to get another phone call few days later as noone really knew anything and they kept giving me incorrect information. To top it up, the last advisor called me to tell me that the first two classes I took when I started and which were the part of the program will no longer count towards my degree and that I will have to take two more. Perhaps it was an attempt of a struggling U to get more tuition $ from the students that are already broke, I don't know. This resulted in few sleepless night and yet another appointment with yet another student advisor (time, $ for parking and time to get there) who clarified that I do not need another courses.

Today, I went to apply for the course substition (one of the classes was replaced but I haven't taken it yet so that was fine) I went to pick up the form once already, but after 40 minutes of waiting they told me they ran out of forms so I have to come another day. So today, since I was in a little smaller rush (still rush cuase baby was crying and tired, but I had B with me) I wanted to get that form. I was told I must line up. Ok, not happy, but whatever. I need this done. Waiting and waiting. Holding the baby, she's crying. I finally get to talk to the lady, who just finished talking to previous student for 20 or so minutes and who gives me the form. She says Bring it back when you fill it out. I reply that I am going to fill it out right away. She says No, you have to read it first. I don't want to leave cause I don't want to wait in a line again and all I need to fill is the address and the course numbers. But she says that I can just come to talk to her.

So I leave. I fill my address but I don't have the course number. She has an access to my records though so I return about 2 minutes later. I wait in front of the whole line until she finishes her current student. She says You have to fill the course numbers. But I dont have them. So you have to go use the computer behind to look them up. I don't know how (I actually did try to look up the old numbers but since the program has changed, it's no longer posted) So she tells me to go to the archives. Again, I say I don't know how. So she starts showing me and she stops at the last link, that hides the needed number. SHe will though not click on that link and again sends me to the computer in the corner.

So I go. I move the mouse, but nothing is happening. Computer is plugged, but not working. So I return to the clerk. Again, i have to wait as she is with another student. I tell her neither computer is working. I know, she says. To my question, why did she send me there, she replies that I must now to go the library to use the computer there. The library is on the other side of the campus. She still has the Archive link that hides the damn needed number on her screen. I said I am not leaving and to click on that link. She says that wouldn't be fair to the students that are waiting in the line. I said I am just not leaving again and she finally clicks on that link and provides me with the precious course number. To not make it too easy, she pretends she cannot read the numbers i'm writting down.

I then ask that I need to change my last name too (as I still use the maiden name) To which she answers that I must go to the line as she cannot help me with that, because there have been other people waiting in the line that she needs to help first.

So in other words, I go line up, then I get to her, and I must go back to the end of the line cuase there are people who came after me whom she needs to help first? At that point, I just asked for her name to which she said that I dont need it, so I left and I'm going to have to write a letter with a complaint. I'll just describe her as the blonde lady on the left.

To make things even more interesting, today was the career's day. There were probably lots of new potential students that came for that fair and if she dealt with each and every one of them this way, I don't see how they would be attracted to this University upfront. I also don't see how she can spend 20+ minutes on the previous student but will go out of her way to keep sending me away with an issue that would probably take less then one minute. Am I not eligible to get help when I don't know what to do or what? Before I got to her, I overheard her conversation with the previous student, bits and pieces, and she didn't seem to rush at all, quite otherwise, she let the student talk about totally unrelated topis for a bit.

Today, I am not impressed with my school at all.

Sweet Girlies (Warning: Extremely sad)

You may or may not know that I read lots of blogs. Two days ago, I came across a very sad story of beautiful twin girls, Sydney and Carynne. These little girls were born about a year and half ago, and at the age of 5.5 months they were both diagnosed with a fatal, Werdnig-Hoffman Disease and passed away one month later, a day apart from each other. I read just few first articles and I couldn't go on cause I was crying so hard. I really like how Brook, the mom (that was one of my favorite names to be considered for baby Moesha, btw, with 'e', though, as Brooke) writes about them, and the life after, and I am totally inspired with her fight against this disease. I dont know how to explain what I like about it, and I don't want her to misunderstand should she come across this post, but there is something really heavenly and angelic and so private yet she found a gentle way to share it with her family and friends and blog readers. She is so strong and really inspirational. She also posted lots of beautiful pictures of her gorgeous babies, that just melt one's heart. This mom is one of those rare people that are able to make a difference.

I have never ever heard about this disease. But becuase I like to know things, I looked it up. So if you'd like to learn something new, please go ahead and look it up too. The more we know, the more chances there are that we will make difference, donation, spread the word, and help those who need it.

If you want to read their story, visit www.sweetgirlies.blogspot.com

Blaine, WA

I love going to the States. I actually do love States and I feel blessed that I live so close that I can go anytime I want. Not that I have time to go, but I have a Nexus card to save me a bit of that.

Yesterday was such a pretty day, and me, baby Moesha and our friend Sue went to Blaine. We've been few times before and it's just a breeze. We live exactly 19 km from the Costcutters (I measured the distance from the gas station) Now, with the Nexus card, you just fly through.

Not yesterday.

There was a line up. Scratch that. There were two line ups. I coudln't figure out what's going on. Sue seemed to know more, but still, I was not convinced. Until I realized: the other people are just trying to cut in !!!

That is something I hate the most. Cutting the lanes (and such, like abusing HOV lanes, running through the orange light etc) So not in this life time I am letting a single car in front of me. Seriously, why would someone think that they just arrive, and oops, look at that wait, why bother, I'm gonna go to the front and just cut in. I'm too good to wait like others.

And cars keep coming and coming and those dumbasses-forgetmylanguageyouknowineverswear- DID LET THEM MERGE (forget the big letters, you know I never use those neither cause it's dumb and childish) But I am really madmadmad. It was actually a field of frustration, and a driver in front of us went out to ask the guards if they can do something (kudos to him for doing that and bucket of rotten tomatoes for doing that cause while he was out, a space created in front of his driverless car and more dumb$%& merged)

I sticked to my plan and did not let anyone in. I waited and waited and I on top of that had a screaming baby in the back. I did not let even the "nice lady" which she is now known as, who threatened to hit me if I don't let her go and who refused to go to the end cause "I have been waiting here for a long time" Well when she arrived she went straight to the front. So in my books, that doesn't count.

We kept bumping into her in the stores in Blaine. I wanted to go and tell her something but Sue just thought it would be best to let it go. I know the nice lady didn't know I have a baby (I have dark windows in the back so you can't see inside) This is what I could tell her:

Me: Hi, don't you just love this store
nice lady: yeah it's great
Me: Do you come here often?
nice lady: i do, all the time
Me: So how come you don't know how to use the Nexus lane?

Or, perhaps something like this:

(new lane opens at the cashiers while my baby starts crying)
Nice lady (who was ahead of me): Go ahead...
Me: no, thanks, I do not cut lanes

Or something like that. I really regret not saying anything. I could spoil her day as much as she spoiled mine and other drivers' days too. If you ever see me on the road, or in the store with a crying baby, DO NOT TRY TO CUT IN FRONT OF ME. Chances are I will not like it.

Just for you...

Because I know you will be checking my blog today ...

Sydney

The baby on top is baby Sydney DiMera from Days of our lifes. The baby on the bottom is baby Moesha. Don't they look the same ! I just found out today, cause I don't watch the Days of our lifes and I can't believe how similar they are. There is one more picture if you scroll down to an older post. And there is another thing they have in common that I am not giving out !!

Switching

I found myself at the crossroads, and I am switching. For...???

A librarian program at the University of Fraser Valley, I am still trying to get in. And here is why. I am currently enrolled in CISY at Kwantlen polytechnic U. But I am not doing well. I just basically cannot compete with the 18 year olds who have been programming videogames for 10+ years. I am having a hard time and Im barely passing (with good grades though I might add) But I am not enjoying it. Few years ago, when I was deciding, the librarian was on the map and so were the computers. But my work paid for the latter and I thought with the computers I can work in the library, but not other way. I have wanted to take that program for very long time, even inquired several times when I was already in CISY. And now I have made the desicion. I am not quitting, I am still finishing CISY, so I will have that degree. But I will not continue at the KPU.

The courses I am doing are hard. Thankfully I have great friends (well, most of them) who are very supportive and try to help me when I ask. I wouldn't be able to do it without them, sometimes I even miss the simplest things and it doesn't make sense until I ask. My friends don't judge and don't laugh (well again, most of them) Even people who don't know me, but I am referred to, are helping beyond what I could hope for. Also, mind you, I just had a baby and she's taking lots of my time and I am suffering from what's known as "mommy's brain". So hence the struggle.

Now for the librarian. I must write a letter of motivation to meet the eligibility (among few other things) And I suck with those. So I am going to practice a bit and write down my reasons. First and most important, I love to read. If I could, I would cancel TV (or at least the cable) and just read and read. Books just allow me to imagine stories and people in my own way and I love that (in TV, you see what someone else imagined for you, but there is no room for your own ideas) I dream about books I read, and I cry over lots of them. I even blogged about several books that touched me lately.

I would love for baby Moesha to read a lot, both in Czech and English. She has lots of books and we are going to start going to the library a lot when she is a bit older (she right now shows no interest in books except for eating them and no interest for TV except eating the remote control) Books will give her something TV cannot. Books gave me things TV didn't. I read books cause my dad lead me to it. I read about the adventures and I read lots of books boys do, but girls dont. Im proud of it.

Another big reason is that library is a community place. I want to be involved in our community. I want to be in the middle of the events, know everything first hand, perhaps influence some of them and make sure others know. I have good abilities to make new friends quickly, using my Czech (exotic) accent so I know how to get people talking and asking and I enjoy that.

Then there is information. As a librarian you are working with lots of information, researching, sorting, investigating. At this point I am not sure about the extent but I suspect there is lots of it. I am very good at information research, if you know me, you know that I can look up and find pretty much everything. Basically, in certain ways, that was always part of my job. Plus I learn that way too. Sometimes, out of boredome, I just look up the most unusual things, for example, on Wikipedia, I was recently researching Fubu (not sure if that's the right spelling, the poisonous fish), the language of Nunavut, Moroccan cuisine, and things like that, that you would not think of looking it up. Fun, huh !!!

And of course, there are other benefits. The pay is good, as its a government job, although that's not what Im going to use as a reason. I also like that the libraries are all over the place (as opposed to the hitech companies, that are mostly in downtown, or Richmond 60k away and I just dont want to commute) The library system is pretty much similar everywhere so if I end up moving, I can just apply in a local library. I like the opening hours that are long so I can spend lots of time with the bebe and work around my husbands schedule (of course, if the need for me allows) I like that you can study completely online. Thats a huge benefit cause I dont have to go to the campus. I though plan to take some in class courses, to finish faster. I also like that you can work partime which in computers is quite rare.

And last, but not least, my idea of the best spent November afternoon is in the library with a blizzard outside and a old sweet librarian lady reading books to the kids and giving out a hot chocolate. Or perhaps it is December, and just before Christmas...?

So I am very excited to finally get on track to what I really want to do. Now, I just have to write that motivation letter and be accepted.

First cold

Baby Moesha has her first cold. Bummer ! But on second thought, I shouldn't complain. Except the jaundice when she was born, she has been extremely healthly and this is her first cold. And she's now 8 months and one week ! Not too shabby for the first cold. I blame nursing.

I had a bad cold over Christmas when we flew to Prague. I slept with her in one bed and she has rarely been out of my sight. But she didn't sneeze once. I was impressed. This time she got sick first, and I caught it from her. It's not as bad as the previous one but I'm still not a happy camper. But we're dealing with it and slowly getting better.

Shoe sizes

This is more for me then you although you can use it too... I can never remember, what shoes sized and what age I need:

US UK EURO
0-6 months 01-02 0-1 16-17
6-12 months 03-04 2-3 18-20
12-24 months 5-6 4-6 21-23
2T-3T (2-3 years) 7-9 7-8 24-26
4T-5T (4-5 years) 10-11 9-10 28-29
3-4 (3-4 years) 9-10 8-9 26-28
5-7 (5-7 years) 11-13 10-13 29-32
8 & Up (8-12 years) 1 and up 3 and up 33 and up

Stolen cart

The other day I was in Superstore here in Langley. You know, that one that you have to pay one dollar for the cart (and you get it back if you return it to its designaged spot) That is it, "if". I did all I could and I played by the rules. I did my shopping, drove it to my car, and I was ready to return it and get my dollar back, after I strapped the baby in the car seat. Have you noticed I've done anything wrong, so far?

Well, even though I did everything right, I didn't get my dollar back. While I was strapping the baby in her car seat, someone who was passing by just took my cart with my own dollar in it and walked away with it. I didn't notice cause a) I was busy with the baby, b) there is lots of noise made by lots of people pushing lots of carts, c) it didn't occur to me someone would steal a dollar (resp. a cart) from a mother busy with her baby.

I didn't call police to investigate this theft. It was after all, not an emergency, even though it spoiled my day. And to all the stores out there, I hate your pay for your cart policy. If you can pay a greeter at the door, or a person whose job is to stand out there and tell you to scan your save on more card so you can see what the specials are, perhaps you can also employ another person whose job would be to collect the carts from few of those that are too lazy and leave it all over. It sure would save me my dollar.

Cloth Diapers: First full night

Baby Moesha was cloth diapered for the whole night last night ! That's a first. Well, kinda. Cause she was cd'd when she was born. But it didnt work. She was waking up, I had to change her, which woke her up even further. I was absolutely determined only use CD but unfortunately, it didnt work for us.

I still use CD a lot, always when we're at home and half half when we're outside. I use the sposies for trips (cloth diapers didn't go with us to Prague or Edmonton), outings (if she's at babysitters) andfor the night. I don't think it's complicated or a hassle, I really like it. As you may remember, I posted a while back that we never had any diaper rash, and I believe it's mostly because of CD (and I used eco sposies .. not so much anymore)

Last night I left the CD on her. And she slept a very long time. So when she woke up, I quickly changed her for another CD. And she slept some more. She tends to wake up towards the morning more often which is because of hunger we suspect so it didn't really matter. I didn't see any difference in the sleeping (non)pattern. So we're trying again tonight ! Wish my little eco baby luck ...

Review: Shipping labels

Do you sell online? And do you use PayPal and such as, the shipping labels? I do. I have tried quite a few brands and I ran into issues with hard peeling (I get really frustrated when I sit here for 5+ minutes trying to peel each and every corner and neither is working) or having to cut the edges. I use the half labels (meaning I do not print the bottom part, the confirmation), so I had to cut them all, and perhaps make a mark on the wrong side so I don't accidentaly print on it (I did, many times, though)

So imagine my relief when I found the labels that I don't have cut and they are easy to peel. They are called labeldogs labels and you can buy them on eBay right here. They come with a precut line so you don't need scissors to cut them in half (I can never find scissors when I need them, I see them now on my table though !!) They have a print on the wrong side so you cannot make a mistake while printing, they are supereasy to peel (yay) and they have a precut line so you can just peel them out without the yucky edges. The seller offers Free shipping within United states and you can get them for $11.39 for 200 labels, which works out for about $0.056 per label (one other thing I did is to compare lots of listings by converting the price to the price per label) Turns out these were one of the cheapest (if not even cheapest) and the best. I am really happy with them.

The doctor from the Trumpeters' House

When I was in Prague, I found a book from Ilona Borska, a famous Czech author, called the Adventurers with a half-pension. I really enjoyed reading it, I read some child books from her when I was little, but I didn't know she wrote some way more interesting books. One of them is called "The doctor from the Trumpeters House" - Doktorka z domu Trubacu, and tonight, I would like to introduce this extraordinary woman to you. I picked up that book because it starts in Baghdad (awh, Orient, my love) and because the book is "about a woman that lived far ahead of her time".


Vlasta Kalalova was extraordinary even when she was young. At 17, she spoke 7 languages, including Turkish. She left for Baghdad when she was 28 years old, in 1924, being able to secure a loan of 244.000 czk (that is huuuuuuuuuuuuge amount for today, yet alone for back then!) from the Czech president Tomas Garyk Masaryk to establish a Czechoslovak hospital there. While waiting for the necessary permits, she worked in Instanbul for 6 months, living very simply in one room with three narrow windows in a very old house in the old part of town. When she finally was able to move to Baghdad, she established her own small hospital with only one other nurse, driver and a cook, and worked tirelessly at providing the health care and surgeries to especially women, who didn't have a chance to see a physician as most were male. Vlasta was battling lots of problems, including the hot Baghdad summers, prejudices, and the beliefs of the Baghdad people, that believed they can be cured by spells and faith and often sought the doctor when it was too late. She also battled very pure hygienic conditions and high infant mortility.

She enjoyed her stay to the maximum. In her free time she sat on her house's roof and starred at the sky while smelling the scents of the Orient, met local people, made trips to the desert, collected samples of insect for the National museum in Prague, and samples of various diseases that could only be found in Baghdad area, which she sent to Prague for further studies.

In Baghdad she met and married Giorgio di Lotti, whose wife passed earlier from the tuberculosis. Because of her he learnt Czech and they had two children, Radbor and Drahushka. Later, when Vlasta became sick with Dengue fever, the family decided to close the hospital (or pass it to someone else, I dont remember anymore), and move back to Czechoslovakia.

There they lived for a while in Prague and then in her native Bernartice. Radbor seemed to have a mental disability he most likely suffered during the birth, so he couldn't attend school, but Drahushka was very bright and the book shows notes from her diary. Vlasta worked tirelessly in curing people, even through the second World War.


On May 8th, 1945, one day before the WWII ended, the retreating German soldiers shot dead her beloved husband Giorgio and both children (16 and 14 at that time), in the garden of their home. Vlasta survived only because the murderers thought she is dead as well, but she was shot several times. She healed and travelled to the United states and Norway, learnt even more languages (eventually she was fluent in about 14 of them!) She took care of everyone who needed her, even if for a while, and spent lots of her time writing postcards and letters to friends all over the world and missing her family. She never remarried again. Towards the end of her life she was becoming more and more sick and died in 1971, very lonely, after living a very incredible life story.

If you have any questions about her, please ask me, I will try to do some research. If you want to read some more, please visit this link: http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlasta_K%C3%A1lalov%C3%A1

Its in czech, but you can use the language tool on google, its pretty good.

As I sit here and cry over this book, I am mad at myself that I worry about such silly things like having a snow for olympics, or that my baby doesnt want to go sleep at of yet and I want her to. I worry that my dishes are not washed and perhaps I need to fill the tank of my car. Isn't it silly? I wish that I live a life this doctor most of us have never heard of (I certainly haven't till I read that other book and I thought I know the Czech literature quite well). I wish that I made such an impact on other people's life like she did. I will never be able to, but I can certainly take an inspiration in her. So this post is a salut to her, and even though she's been dead for almost 30 years, I think it's about time that you get to finally know her.