A Good Example Feels Good!

I consider myself a fairly active person. Or at least, I used to be. Like many women, I have struggled with my weight off and on throughout my life, sometimes I've been thin and other times not so thin.

Before the baby came I was able to get to the gym with a fair bit of regularity if not zeal. Not so much these days. I have tried going since we had the chimp, but a combination of fatigue and c-section complications have kept it from becoming a habit. Also, and I know how stupid this is going to sound, but I'm going to say it anyway, I've been scared to leave her at the gym daycare with people I don't know and who don't know me. Not because I don't think they'll take good care of her for the hour I'm not there, but because my baby is so damn smiley and happy. A stranger could come and take her out of there and she'd probably just laugh and smile the whole time.

Anyway, I broke the child-minding seal this weekend when the four of us (God, that happened fast! A family of four!) all went to the gym. Mojo and the chimp stayed in the daycare while the hubby and I sweated it out upstairs. It was awesome! My body felt like a car that's been sitting in a traffic jam when suddenly the road opens up and there's no speed limit! I actually ran (however pathetically) on the treadmill -- something I haven't done in years -- shameful, I know, but true. When I got home my body felt good and tired in a way that it hasn't in far too long. I'm actually looking forward to going back to the gym. While I'm still loathe to leave the chimp in the daycare (without her sister to oversee her) during the week, I am determined that I will at least go every other weekend and make the trip a family habit. I know that's not often enough to exact any major changes in my physique or even my general health, but it's a start and it's enough to make me feel good about paying for the gym membership, if nothing else! But it's not just that - I know we're setting an example for our kids -- showing them that it's important to set time aside for yourself to do something healthy; to look after your body and to make it a habit. Now if I could just stop heading down the candy aisle at the grocery store -- that would be a real example!

Progress

People have been asking me for updates on the chimp so here are the latest stats:

As of July 4th:

Weight: 20 lbs 2 oz (yes, this is considerably above average - okay, it's off the chart)

Length: 66 cm (within normal range)

Head Circ: 42.5 cm

So I have an incredibly chubby baby and until recently it was completely my own doing. However, we started her on the cereals about a month ago and in the last week or so we've started introducing some veggies to her diet. Some are more popular than others, but none are as popular as the boob.

In the last three days we have also begun to employ the cry it out method of getting the chimp to sleep. I hate it. I feel like a terrible person and that I am scarring my baby for life. The thing is, I think it's starting to work. The crying time seems to be shortening (touch wood) and hopefully soon there will be no crying at all. I'll keep you posted.

Movies For Mommies, Not Strollers

This week some of the ladies from my mums group decided to live on the edge and try taking our 6 month old babies to the movies. For those of you who are unaware, during the day, many movie theatres offer up one of their theatres for people with young children. The sound is turned down from the usual zillion decibels and there is a table on which you can change your baby so that you don't need to miss the film.

We selected a mid-town location that was conveniently located, but I had no idea just how inconvenient the experience would be. We were warned that there might be some competition for the elevator going up to the theatres, so we met early in order to beat the rush.

Well. First of all, just getting into the damned mall was an exercise in frustration. I ended up going in through the book store and luckily finding the elevator up from there. However once I got to the exit that emptied out in front of the theatre, I found that there were only stairs leading down -- no ramp.

Then when it was time to head up for the movie, we headed toward the "elevator." More like claustrophobic nightmare. The "elevator" was big enough to fit one stroller and I dare say that if you were in a wheelchair, you'd be heading up alone. The "elevator" required the rider to press the "up" button until it finished climbing incredibly slowly up to the second floor -- scraping up the concrete wall ( yeah, no sliding doors on this one, it really just cranked up a concrete shaft ). When you reached the top, presumably one is able to exit the "elevator" although I'm not sure because when I let go of the button, I started going back down to the first floor! As though the trip up had not been traumatic enough! When I reached the first floor again I backed out of the "elevator" and reported to the ladies waiting to get in that I didn't know what had happened to cause my trip to be a total failure, but that I would not be repeating it ever again. One of them (one smart enough to bring her son in a sling) was kind enough to navigate my stroller up the narrow escalator while I carried the chimp.

Once on the appropriate floor, I made a bee-line for the washroom, because, of course, the chimp had pooped right through her clothes up to her neck. When I was done laundering my baby, I headed for the theatre in which one is not permitted to bring a stroller, and lugged my kid, my popcorn, my beverage and my diaper bad up to the seats where the other mums were sitting.

The movie was cute. Entertaining and the chimp was fairly accommodating. She played contentedly on my lap until she tipped over and bunked her head on the arm rest, then she screamed at the top of her lungs (only I can injure my baby in a room where most of the furniture is upholstered!). Once calmed, she only kicked up a fuss again when she got tired and I did have to walk her around a bit and then nurse her until she fell asleep. Then, bliss. For the last 20 minutes of the film. Then it was time to go.

I had an easier time getting out of the theatre -- I headed directly for the escalator, although this is better done with a partner because when I got to the bottom I nearly killed myself and the chimp -- good thing the stroller is light enough to lift with one hand! Getting out of the mall on the other hand was not as easy. I actually had to ask at the information desk how to get out of the mall with my stroller.

I was actually relieved to get back to my steaming hot car. Too bad about that theater -- now I can never go back. Well, I could go back without the stroller, but on principle, I think I may not.

I can go to the movies without my stroller, but people in wheelchairs cannot go to the movies without them and it made me pretty friggin' irritated on their behalf to be in this theatre. If there was ever an emergency evacuation of that theatre, anybody in a wheelchair would not survive -- what the hell is up with that? -- it's 2008 for Pete's sake.

Green P Parking = $14
Daytime Movie = $11
Snacks = $10
Eye Opening Experience = Priceless.

Tradition - Just Suck It Up And Do It!

So in my last post I made mention of the impending Christening of our little chimp. Again, those of you who know me are likely surprised by the decision to baptise the baby. I admit, I am conflicted. I have a bit of a problem with organized religion as I know it. My family is Eastern Orthodox, which is a lot like Catholic with a few variations. Lots to be offended by if you're looking.

The hubby and I elected to side-step the church when we got married in favour of a ceremony which we had more control over. The church has a lot of rules, I guess, and I don't really like to be told what to do. Especially when it comes to something as personal as one's faith. The conflict though, is that there is some comfort in the ritual of religion. Many of the ceremonies that we go through in life are based in religion and modern society has not been able to separate itself from that. Unfortunately, if you're looking for ceremony, more often than not you're headed to church (or mosque, or temple, or what-have-you).

What ceremony am I looking for exactly? Well, I'm not really sure. As far as Christianity goes, I'm not overly concerned about the chimp being absolved of her original sin or getting into heaven when her time comes -- in that regard I'm a pretty bad Christian. But I am interested in the idea of the recognition that comes with a christening. A welcoming into the community of humanity, if you will. And while I suppose we could have just thrown her a party, the weight of it just isn't the same.

Also, the assigning of god-parents is an idea that I really like. Not the kind of parents who will tell you to go to your room when you've been bad or slap a bandage on your knee when you fall off your bike, but parents whose focus is a bit broader, and fuzzier. In our case, we've chosen two people with different types of knowledge. My brother - the godfather - knows about our (my)culture's and family's traditions. Things which he, having had similar experiences to my own, can pass on to his niece. My friend Gern on the other hand - the godmother - is a person to whom faith and spirituality is a reality in her life. She is the only person I know who has actively gone shopping for a church which suits her personality and lifestyle. She is the only one that I know who can act as an example when it comes to matters of faith. Not that I'm not interested in teaching the chimp about that stuff, it's just nice to have some options for people you can go to when you're looking for info and answers about yourself.

In any case we're going through with it. I've already spoken with the priest, and told the family, and in particular, my grandmothers are thrilled. The good news, is that in my culture, most of the work is left to the godparents (although, let's face it, my mum will likely take care of many of the details) and the birth parents don't have much to do at all -- now that's the kind of tradition that I could get used to!