My kids have been discussing baby names and what they want to name their baby sibling on the way. I've been mum on the issue as I have a few favorites myself, but here are the suggestions along with the meanings and origins.
BOY
Nolan - Irish origin, means champion. Boys name, but used for girls too. (AJ's choice)
Christoff - Christopher, Greek origin, means "bearing Christ". I'm just making life difficult by choosing a non-American spelling. (Hoping he'll grow up to be an amazing concert pianist)
Alexander - Greek origin, man's defender, warrior. Reminds me of Alexander the Great.
Felix - Latin origin, means happy and fortunate (Dad likes this name, but it reminds me of Felix the Cat a cartoon character)
Jason - Greek origin. means to heal. Biblical reference - He helped Paul and Silas on their journey in the New Testament. Jason and the Argonauts in the quest for the golden fleece is a story from Greek Mythology. He does have a colourful love life though.
GIRL
Rosabella - Maggie's pick
Isabella - Maggie's pick
Isadora - Greek origin, gift of Isis.
Alexandria - Greek origin, a great city in Egypt. Means "defending men"
Victoria - derived from Victor Latin word for champion
Mariel - I like this because it's like Ariel with an M. Also, Mariel Margaret Hamm (Mia Hamm) is largestly considered the best female soccer player in history (retired).
Cheyenne - Native American origin, means "unintelligible speakers". I always like the way Cheyenne Mountain sounds, the NORAD headquarters. However this name is not popular at all though I actually know one person (an older guy at work) who has this name.
Monica - Latin origin, means advisor, counselor; fourth-century saint known mainly by the writings of her son, Saint Augustine
Mable or Mabel - English origin, means lovable. Not a very popular name right now though, but it makes a good match for a Chinese name we have in mind.
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Monday, October 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
Black Sharpie Pumpkin Designs
AJ was very excited about his first field trip with the kindergarten class at Miller's Farm. Although he slept in a bit that morning, he was very keen to jump into his morning clothes, splash pants, rain jacket, and rubber boots all by himself. I did convince him to eat breakfast in the car without the mittens. They took a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch, to choose their own gourd and pumpkin off the vine to take home. He chose a one-pounder about the size of small football; too small to carve but just the right size to do a black sharpie design.
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| Angry Bird Pumpkin source |
What can you do with a sharpie?
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| Ghoulish Face source |
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| Scary Cute Face source |
While searching for a cutesy scary pumpkin face, I found this neat craft and felt idea, like a new take on Mr Potato Head with pumpkin faces.
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| Pumpkin Face Game source |
OriginsThe kids are going to ask me why there has to be a face on the pumpkin and why there is a candle inside. I can explain that Halloween is a tradition of Celtic origin that used to be a scary and frightening time of year. But it's changed quite a bit over the years, and in North America especially, the kids dress up in costumes and have lots of fun. They definitely know about trick or treating! AJ wants to dress up as a fruit or vegetable he says, most likely a Banana. (Really? Why not Spiderman or Batman?) Maggie would like to be a Ballerina Fairy, and Lincoln will probably dress up warm in an Elephant suit and hand out candy with me.
But why the Jack o Lantern? The Irish children used to carve vegetables like turnips and potatoes with a light inside. The story goes, a naughty little thief named Jack who was so wicked that neither God nor the Devil wanted him. He was just a poor wandering lost soul looking for a place to rest, and the only warmth he could find was the comfort of a candle lit in a hollow turnip. My kids are familiar with the terminology of God, Devil, sin, soul, forgiveness and even death, and skeletons in the grave and bugs and mold...
I'll post a picture of what we come up with tomorrow, but here's something neat I heard of before, a man who decorated his white mustang with a fancy black sharpie design. Here's a project masterpiece but there is no room for any mistakes on this perfect canvas of a fine car.
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| Black Sharpie Mustang source |
Monday, October 1, 2012
Manly Reminder for Breast Exam
Breast Cancer Exam Reminder App
Have you seen this before? Did you watch it twice and forward it to your girlfriends?
"Let this hot guy show you how to give your breasts some TLC. Download the app for free today. For more info, visit http://www.rethinkbreastcancer.com"
Seriously though, I do this once a year (or so) at mmy annual checkup with the female family doctor. I still try hard not to grimace or giggle when she does the pat down, but it is a fairly serious matter in my family. I'd like to take a moment to think about the survivors in my family as models of strength to look up to.
Heartbreak
My grandmother who is now 97 years old was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40's and decided to do a single mastectomy. The cancer never returned and I only knew about this when I was a much older teenager when my mom and I had to go to a store to pick up a special insert for her bra. She is a remarkably sharp old lady with many amazing stories about other dangers she had survived in the past like the rise of Communism in China, the escape to Hong Kong, and even the invasion of the Japanese in WWII.
My favorite aunt who runs a flourishing Kindergarten School in a small town in Cambodia, also survived breast cancer. Five years ago she had a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, but if you met her now you probably would not even know it. I completely missed the year she returned to Canada for the treatment and recovery, but I think her inspiring faith and supportive family and friends really made things work. I remember her giving me a warm hug when I came to visit with my first child, and I was shocked by the embrace without bosoms and so I held back, but she reassured me that it was OK.
Support
I see this proliferation of pink everywhere - Think Pink, Pink Ribbon Campaign, Run for the Cure or Walk, Run Ride for Women's Cancer. I don't own too many pink items myself, though I have been induced to "buy pink" when certain products are marketed for supporting breast cancer research. Below is the prettiest pink scarf similar to the one from Stella and Dot for eye candy.
I haven't done a run to support breast cancer but I do sponsor my friends who sign up. I was also inspired by friend who holds an annual fundraiser Yard Sale by collecting free donations for items from friends and colleagues at work. That same year, I held my own garage sale and pledged to donate half of the profits. Worked out well because that was enough to cover my $50 sponsorship for my friends team, and pay for a $100 spot on a "Scrap for the Cure" event - full day of scrapbooking. What will you do to support Breast Cancer Awareness this year?
Research
A large portion of money from fundraising goes to Cancer Research. I have first hand experience working in a cancer research lab for my Grade 12 Science Fair Project years ago. My classmate and I had the rare opportunity to work with a leading cancer researcher at the University of Calgary who also provided us with the lab space, materials and a grad student to mentor us on the project - to discover the synergistic effects of combined chemotherapy drug for the treatment of metastasis. We learned many important techniques about the science of DNA, including PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to replicate a large quantity of cancer cell DNA from a very small sample, gel electrophoresis and even radioactive tagging and gene insertion (I believe the grad student did this last part). The goal was to isolate the MMP - matrix metaloproteinase enzyme to halt metastasis, the spread of cancer. We nuked cancerous and healthy mouse cells with various dilutions of four common cancer treatment drugs individually and in combination dosages. We were selected among the top 5 Science Fair Projects to represent our city at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Whitehorse, Yukon that year.
There are alot of fancy words and precise terminologies that I have since forgotten. One thing for certain neither of us were destined to be cancer researchers. My colleague had accidentally stabbed his hand with a pipette loaded with Methotrexate (or whatever) and the white powder in the latex glove immediately turned black. We were so freaked out we never told anyone about it (until now). Anywayz years later, we both graduated from Engineering; he even competed as a Canadian contestant on Jeopardy! and is now married with two or three kids. However that incident is probably the only thing I remember most vividly about this big science experiment, and the biggest reason that I decided not to be a Cancer Researcher.
Remember to download that App!
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| http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsyE2rCW71o |
Have you seen this before? Did you watch it twice and forward it to your girlfriends?
"Let this hot guy show you how to give your breasts some TLC. Download the app for free today. For more info, visit http://www.rethinkbreastcancer.com"
Seriously though, I do this once a year (or so) at mmy annual checkup with the female family doctor. I still try hard not to grimace or giggle when she does the pat down, but it is a fairly serious matter in my family. I'd like to take a moment to think about the survivors in my family as models of strength to look up to.
Heartbreak
My grandmother who is now 97 years old was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 40's and decided to do a single mastectomy. The cancer never returned and I only knew about this when I was a much older teenager when my mom and I had to go to a store to pick up a special insert for her bra. She is a remarkably sharp old lady with many amazing stories about other dangers she had survived in the past like the rise of Communism in China, the escape to Hong Kong, and even the invasion of the Japanese in WWII.
My favorite aunt who runs a flourishing Kindergarten School in a small town in Cambodia, also survived breast cancer. Five years ago she had a double mastectomy and chemotherapy, but if you met her now you probably would not even know it. I completely missed the year she returned to Canada for the treatment and recovery, but I think her inspiring faith and supportive family and friends really made things work. I remember her giving me a warm hug when I came to visit with my first child, and I was shocked by the embrace without bosoms and so I held back, but she reassured me that it was OK.
Support
I see this proliferation of pink everywhere - Think Pink, Pink Ribbon Campaign, Run for the Cure or Walk, Run Ride for Women's Cancer. I don't own too many pink items myself, though I have been induced to "buy pink" when certain products are marketed for supporting breast cancer research. Below is the prettiest pink scarf similar to the one from Stella and Dot for eye candy.
 |
| Wendy's Lookbook |
Research
A large portion of money from fundraising goes to Cancer Research. I have first hand experience working in a cancer research lab for my Grade 12 Science Fair Project years ago. My classmate and I had the rare opportunity to work with a leading cancer researcher at the University of Calgary who also provided us with the lab space, materials and a grad student to mentor us on the project - to discover the synergistic effects of combined chemotherapy drug for the treatment of metastasis. We learned many important techniques about the science of DNA, including PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to replicate a large quantity of cancer cell DNA from a very small sample, gel electrophoresis and even radioactive tagging and gene insertion (I believe the grad student did this last part). The goal was to isolate the MMP - matrix metaloproteinase enzyme to halt metastasis, the spread of cancer. We nuked cancerous and healthy mouse cells with various dilutions of four common cancer treatment drugs individually and in combination dosages. We were selected among the top 5 Science Fair Projects to represent our city at the Canada Wide Science Fair in Whitehorse, Yukon that year.
There are alot of fancy words and precise terminologies that I have since forgotten. One thing for certain neither of us were destined to be cancer researchers. My colleague had accidentally stabbed his hand with a pipette loaded with Methotrexate (or whatever) and the white powder in the latex glove immediately turned black. We were so freaked out we never told anyone about it (until now). Anywayz years later, we both graduated from Engineering; he even competed as a Canadian contestant on Jeopardy! and is now married with two or three kids. However that incident is probably the only thing I remember most vividly about this big science experiment, and the biggest reason that I decided not to be a Cancer Researcher.
Remember to download that App!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Who's alive in there?
In the news today, "Controversial abortion motion defeated". Thank goodness. Why does it matter for the law or the government to decide on whether a fetus is a human before birth. Scientists, lawyers and mothers who want children vs the men and women who don't want the child will have a different opinion. It's not going to change or affect someone's decision to have an abortion or not.
For an expectant mother and her circle of family and friends, really excited about the arrival of a new baby, the beginning of that lifeform started at conception! If you're counting weeks, Day 1 is theoretically the date of the last period even before the sex happened! I would personally be a bit offended if another human lifeform walked up to me at any point during my pregnancy before 22 weeks and said, "Hey your fetus is not a human yet, aka he's not technically alive yet (so you can get rid of it if you want to)". Well hello, if some squishy thing with two eyes and heartbeat is kicking me all the time, someone is definitely alive inside me! 25 weeks is about the cut off mark for a baby that can be delivered with huge medical intervention to possibly survive after birth, therefore it wouldn't make sense to have an abortion after that point.
As much as I support life, I'm really glad that controversial motion to reopen the debate was shot down. In fact, I actually support women's choice on the abortion issue, though hoping though that they would chose life. Think of the movie Juno. Think of Patty, Justin Bieber's mother who chose to keep her baby despite her own elders counselling her to get rid of it.
I have the opinion that the women who choose abortion were the ones who didn't want their baby for various reasons. They already acknowledge the baby is a life or a responsibility they don't want. The government deciding legally that the fetus is a human or not will not change it. It's sad but they already know that they don't want that baby and they don't want to be a mommy. No amount of legal or societal pressure is going to convince them otherwise. A legal abortion within the first 22 weeks is actually more medically safe for everyone involved. Even if they outlawed it people are going to find their own way to do it, sometimes unsafe and costing even more resources, at the risk of the life of the mother.
On the flip side, is there a legal gap in the definition of a crime that involves injuring (or killing) a pregnant woman in Canada? In some States, taking the life of a pregnant woman would count as two murder charges, but not here in Canada. But what about a woman choosing to assault her own body with drugs and alcohol while being pregnant? But I wouldn't want someone to go to jail for that or having an abortion.
If someone is not going to be a good mommy, then how will they raise their child properly to be a good and law abiding citizen contributing to society? I know that my opinion goes against the popular opinion of my Christian religion, to actually support free choice. But I hope that they would choose life. I think it would be productive for the government to support counselling and charities like Birthright that provide help to a teenage mom who's really scared or victim of a crime that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy.
I like the law in one of the States that mandates a medical description and actual ultrasound of the fetus and the heartbeat be shown to a woman seeking abortion at a licensed clinic, immediately before the procedure. However, hopefully this doesn't put too much of a burden on the technician to do counselling at this point.
For an expectant mother and her circle of family and friends, really excited about the arrival of a new baby, the beginning of that lifeform started at conception! If you're counting weeks, Day 1 is theoretically the date of the last period even before the sex happened! I would personally be a bit offended if another human lifeform walked up to me at any point during my pregnancy before 22 weeks and said, "Hey your fetus is not a human yet, aka he's not technically alive yet (so you can get rid of it if you want to)". Well hello, if some squishy thing with two eyes and heartbeat is kicking me all the time, someone is definitely alive inside me! 25 weeks is about the cut off mark for a baby that can be delivered with huge medical intervention to possibly survive after birth, therefore it wouldn't make sense to have an abortion after that point.
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| Image Source: her baby |
As much as I support life, I'm really glad that controversial motion to reopen the debate was shot down. In fact, I actually support women's choice on the abortion issue, though hoping though that they would chose life. Think of the movie Juno. Think of Patty, Justin Bieber's mother who chose to keep her baby despite her own elders counselling her to get rid of it.
I have the opinion that the women who choose abortion were the ones who didn't want their baby for various reasons. They already acknowledge the baby is a life or a responsibility they don't want. The government deciding legally that the fetus is a human or not will not change it. It's sad but they already know that they don't want that baby and they don't want to be a mommy. No amount of legal or societal pressure is going to convince them otherwise. A legal abortion within the first 22 weeks is actually more medically safe for everyone involved. Even if they outlawed it people are going to find their own way to do it, sometimes unsafe and costing even more resources, at the risk of the life of the mother.
On the flip side, is there a legal gap in the definition of a crime that involves injuring (or killing) a pregnant woman in Canada? In some States, taking the life of a pregnant woman would count as two murder charges, but not here in Canada. But what about a woman choosing to assault her own body with drugs and alcohol while being pregnant? But I wouldn't want someone to go to jail for that or having an abortion.
If someone is not going to be a good mommy, then how will they raise their child properly to be a good and law abiding citizen contributing to society? I know that my opinion goes against the popular opinion of my Christian religion, to actually support free choice. But I hope that they would choose life. I think it would be productive for the government to support counselling and charities like Birthright that provide help to a teenage mom who's really scared or victim of a crime that resulted in an unwanted pregnancy.
I like the law in one of the States that mandates a medical description and actual ultrasound of the fetus and the heartbeat be shown to a woman seeking abortion at a licensed clinic, immediately before the procedure. However, hopefully this doesn't put too much of a burden on the technician to do counselling at this point.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Halloween Treats
Hands off, kids! These are for me. I'm gonna try to make this one tonight! Candy Corn Fudge.
Very inspiring but much too ambitious for me. Halloween Lego Mini Figures and Cake Pops! They are made from ice cube trays you can buy from Lego at http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Minifigure-Ice-Cube-Tray-852771
This one I can make. Halloween Jello Treats with gummy worms.
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| Source: Candy Corn Fudge |
Very inspiring but much too ambitious for me. Halloween Lego Mini Figures and Cake Pops! They are made from ice cube trays you can buy from Lego at http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Minifigure-Ice-Cube-Tray-852771
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| Source: She did it! |
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| Image Source |
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The UnSuspected Existence
I read the story about Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh of Team USA who was five weeks pregnant during her gold medal match and didn't really know it for sure at the time. She played her best and held nothing back, even barely wondering herself why she was feeling grumpy and moody at times. And what about the woman who miraculously survived after falling from an airplane while skydiving with a faulty chute; she landed in a hay patch only to discover she was actually four months pregnant, and the eventually delivered a healthy baby girl. Tough chics! And the teenager who accidentally delivered her baby into a toilet at Walmart and just walked away without flushing, while another patron and paramedics were able to revive the baby back to normal. And of course, the recent story about the British infantry soldier in the frontlines of Afghanistan who gave birth suddenly when she thought she simply had stomache pains. And the men were left wondering, how could she not know she was pregnant?
Well I can't answer the part about how someone would not know she was pregnant, cuz it's always been blatantly obvious to me. There's no denying that a slithering and kicking creature is growing inside my belly, and I'm not fat because I'm eating too much (though according to my daughter that is how babies are made, when mommies eat too much so the egg becomes a baby). Too cute, I'll explain peripherally what happens when she really asks.
How did I first figure out I was pregnant? This is baby number four in production right now, so on some days this is quite a frightful picture I have in my mind what my life will be like very soon.
Basal Temperature Experiment
For baby number one, it was the first time I heard about a basal thermometer and I was very curious about the tracking of basal body temperatures and I just wanted to verify for myself if the textbook fertility chart example was indded true during a regular menstrual cycle. I was not necessarily trying to conceive, I just wanted to establish a baseline graph for myself in a normal situation. Anyways, halfway through the month I saw the characteristic dip and then the expected rise in basal temperature but it continued to stay up! I thought that was rather wierd but I didn't think much of it. My periods are usually very regular and I seem to have a six sense based on certain body functions or food cravings that my period is coming up very soon. That day came and went and I started to think, what if this is true? That was the same week I was travelling to Hong Kong on a trip without my husband. Well I waited a week but I think I already knew the truth by then. Not sure if my food aversions or hyper sensitivity to certain asian food smells were real or imagined, but I bought two pregnancy tests at the local supermarket and used both to confirm what I already knew. I called my husband on the phone right away and he was rather speechless.
First period appears once
I became pregnant with baby number 2 when my firstborn was about 6 months old. I got my period back shortly before that and I remember thinking that it was wierd I didn't the second period on time. I didn't think too much of it because I was told that while breastfeeding a newborn, the period is sometimes irregular. Anywayz I think it was way too long so I commented about this to my friend who adamantly suggested that I should do a pregnancy test. I wanted to buy one at Shopper's Drug Mart but the price was rather excessive for something you just pee on so I went to the doctor instead (to see if I could get a free pregnancy test). However, she sent me for an ultrasound, and there it was a pulsing, blinking bright little dot that was the heartbeat of baby number 2. The ultrasound also gave a very accurate prediction for the due date. So my number one and number two are 15 months apart.
Too much Christmas Eating
Probably on the same day my husband returned home from Afghanistan, I'm pretty sure something happened (wink). Anywayz a month later close to Christmas time, I also noticed that my nails were growing longer and faster, my hair did not clog up the bathtub after each washing and that my pants were getting a little snug. What was even more annoying was the older ladies at church were asking so are you having another baby? Woah, way too early to be even showing so I'm gonna just say they were politely telling me I looked fat or just hurry up and get on it. I suspected that it was the Christmas eating, but then I started to wonder, well why am I late? I wore a very tight and unflattering shirt and even my friend I only see once a year asked me if I was pregnant. I had to laugh and say no way! Well I waited till after Christmas and I bought the pack of two tests and used one. I accidently peed on my hand too so that was gross; and then shortly after Maggie turned 3 and AJ turned 2, there was the baby brother!
The Big Give Away
Fast forward nearly 18 months. I had just given away all my baby stuff - the bouncers, the crib, the car seats, high chair, strollers, baby onesies, blankets, bibs, infant toys, baby swing and baby gym toys. I gave away the maternity clothes and I was about to chuck the nursing bras. I even threw out the second unused pregancy test cuz why would I ever need it again. Well it was February and I was enrolled in women`s swimming lessons. I didn`t want to miss my lesson because of girl problems so I bought a giant pack of best value tampons (never used them in my life until that day). I had the expectation that nothing should stop me from swimming ever, so I might as well just go big at Costco. Anyway the next month came and went and I am still stuck with the giant pack of tampons. My friend who has advised me of my possible pregnancies previously (even before I told my husband) told me that Dollarama has pregnancy tests for a buck or two. So on the same day as my 35th birthday I confirmed this with a $2 test.
Expect the Unexpected
I`m gonna go with my theory on pregnancy test kits, they are only useful for confirming something you already know, so the pregnancy test kit from Dollarama will be just as good as the digital clear blue one with all the fancy features like "know it before your missed period" for $19.99
Seriously though, I do not mean to make light of the seriousness of conception. Every life is a miracle. Things may seem to happen by chance, but I also believe that all of my children were created by God for me and my family as part of His plan. And I am very thankful for the new baby on the way.
Well I can't answer the part about how someone would not know she was pregnant, cuz it's always been blatantly obvious to me. There's no denying that a slithering and kicking creature is growing inside my belly, and I'm not fat because I'm eating too much (though according to my daughter that is how babies are made, when mommies eat too much so the egg becomes a baby). Too cute, I'll explain peripherally what happens when she really asks.
How did I first figure out I was pregnant? This is baby number four in production right now, so on some days this is quite a frightful picture I have in my mind what my life will be like very soon.
 |
| My firstborn one month old. |
Basal Temperature Experiment
For baby number one, it was the first time I heard about a basal thermometer and I was very curious about the tracking of basal body temperatures and I just wanted to verify for myself if the textbook fertility chart example was indded true during a regular menstrual cycle. I was not necessarily trying to conceive, I just wanted to establish a baseline graph for myself in a normal situation. Anyways, halfway through the month I saw the characteristic dip and then the expected rise in basal temperature but it continued to stay up! I thought that was rather wierd but I didn't think much of it. My periods are usually very regular and I seem to have a six sense based on certain body functions or food cravings that my period is coming up very soon. That day came and went and I started to think, what if this is true? That was the same week I was travelling to Hong Kong on a trip without my husband. Well I waited a week but I think I already knew the truth by then. Not sure if my food aversions or hyper sensitivity to certain asian food smells were real or imagined, but I bought two pregnancy tests at the local supermarket and used both to confirm what I already knew. I called my husband on the phone right away and he was rather speechless.
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| Image Source |
I became pregnant with baby number 2 when my firstborn was about 6 months old. I got my period back shortly before that and I remember thinking that it was wierd I didn't the second period on time. I didn't think too much of it because I was told that while breastfeeding a newborn, the period is sometimes irregular. Anywayz I think it was way too long so I commented about this to my friend who adamantly suggested that I should do a pregnancy test. I wanted to buy one at Shopper's Drug Mart but the price was rather excessive for something you just pee on so I went to the doctor instead (to see if I could get a free pregnancy test). However, she sent me for an ultrasound, and there it was a pulsing, blinking bright little dot that was the heartbeat of baby number 2. The ultrasound also gave a very accurate prediction for the due date. So my number one and number two are 15 months apart.
Too much Christmas Eating
Probably on the same day my husband returned home from Afghanistan, I'm pretty sure something happened (wink). Anywayz a month later close to Christmas time, I also noticed that my nails were growing longer and faster, my hair did not clog up the bathtub after each washing and that my pants were getting a little snug. What was even more annoying was the older ladies at church were asking so are you having another baby? Woah, way too early to be even showing so I'm gonna just say they were politely telling me I looked fat or just hurry up and get on it. I suspected that it was the Christmas eating, but then I started to wonder, well why am I late? I wore a very tight and unflattering shirt and even my friend I only see once a year asked me if I was pregnant. I had to laugh and say no way! Well I waited till after Christmas and I bought the pack of two tests and used one. I accidently peed on my hand too so that was gross; and then shortly after Maggie turned 3 and AJ turned 2, there was the baby brother!
The Big Give Away
Fast forward nearly 18 months. I had just given away all my baby stuff - the bouncers, the crib, the car seats, high chair, strollers, baby onesies, blankets, bibs, infant toys, baby swing and baby gym toys. I gave away the maternity clothes and I was about to chuck the nursing bras. I even threw out the second unused pregancy test cuz why would I ever need it again. Well it was February and I was enrolled in women`s swimming lessons. I didn`t want to miss my lesson because of girl problems so I bought a giant pack of best value tampons (never used them in my life until that day). I had the expectation that nothing should stop me from swimming ever, so I might as well just go big at Costco. Anyway the next month came and went and I am still stuck with the giant pack of tampons. My friend who has advised me of my possible pregnancies previously (even before I told my husband) told me that Dollarama has pregnancy tests for a buck or two. So on the same day as my 35th birthday I confirmed this with a $2 test.
Expect the Unexpected
I`m gonna go with my theory on pregnancy test kits, they are only useful for confirming something you already know, so the pregnancy test kit from Dollarama will be just as good as the digital clear blue one with all the fancy features like "know it before your missed period" for $19.99
Seriously though, I do not mean to make light of the seriousness of conception. Every life is a miracle. Things may seem to happen by chance, but I also believe that all of my children were created by God for me and my family as part of His plan. And I am very thankful for the new baby on the way.
Variations on Turkey Handprint Crafts for Kids with Poem
Canadian Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I found my kids' Thanksgiving crafts from last year. They are all Turkey-themed but very simple to complete at school or at home.
Finger Paints
Apply finger paints to the child's hand, taking care to use the autumn theme colours on each finger as feathers, the palm of the hand will be brown. Press the hand directly to paper and draw in a beak and eyes. The attached poem was provided by the JK teacher last fall.
CRAYON
Trace the child's hand with a marker. Add a turkey face, wing and legs. Colour the fingers with crayons in autumn theme colours.
SUNDAY SCHOOL EDITION
The Thank You God for Friends, Faith, Forgiveness, Food, Freedom and Family Turkey craft. This is a great photocopy reproducible for a Sunday school craft.
It would be better to photocopy the worksheet and colour the pieces before cutting. The older children can do their own cutting.
The mom providing snacks at the Toddler Sunday School this week made this beautiful snack platter for the kids. Cheese and bread cutouts with a cookie cutter, sliced grapes and yoghurt covered raisins for the turkey feathers and half a pear, decorated with food colouring.
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| by Maggie 2011 |
Finger Paints
Apply finger paints to the child's hand, taking care to use the autumn theme colours on each finger as feathers, the palm of the hand will be brown. Press the hand directly to paper and draw in a beak and eyes. The attached poem was provided by the JK teacher last fall.
Here's the poem:
This isn't just a turkey,
as anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
which is a part of me.
It comes with lots of love,
especially to say,
I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
 |
| by Lincoln 2012 |
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| by AJ 2011 |
CRAYON
Trace the child's hand with a marker. Add a turkey face, wing and legs. Colour the fingers with crayons in autumn theme colours.
 |
| by Maggie 2011 |
SUNDAY SCHOOL EDITION
The Thank You God for Friends, Faith, Forgiveness, Food, Freedom and Family Turkey craft. This is a great photocopy reproducible for a Sunday school craft.
It would be better to photocopy the worksheet and colour the pieces before cutting. The older children can do their own cutting.
GOBBLE GOBBLE SNACKTIME!The mom providing snacks at the Toddler Sunday School this week made this beautiful snack platter for the kids. Cheese and bread cutouts with a cookie cutter, sliced grapes and yoghurt covered raisins for the turkey feathers and half a pear, decorated with food colouring.
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