The Little Red Farm Worldwide Cultural Exchange

I have recently come across an amazing blog called The Little Red Farm; the author had the wonderful idea to organize a Worldwide Cultural Exchange which we have just signed up for. So what is the objective of this cultural exchange?

The objective is to share information with a group of other families about the country in which you live (or that you will be representing) so that they can get a feel for the culture of that country. This is achieved by sending a package to the family (usually addressed to the child or children) with bits and pieces that you have chosen to give a good overview of what it is like to live there.

I remember the excitement of receiving letters from penpals, and postcards from other young kids like myself when I was a girl and I believe my daughter will benefit greatly in doing such cultural exchange. I want her to be aware of the rich diversity of the world and feel that she is part of it.   I will keep whatever she receives in a special treasure box, until she is old enough to do it herself. I am so thrilled about this, I thought I would share with fellow culture/languages enthusiast readers.

I will keep you updated !

Minus 12 – Baby and Me First Winter Walk

Walking on Sunshine

Since she was born, the baby had never felt the warmth of the sun on her skin or a cold breeze on her face long enough to enjoy it. So today, we got out for our first winter walk. I chose my day well. It was minus 12. She didn’t peep the whole time. She was too curious about her new surroundings. While she was busy looking at each and every tree with wonder, I froze. Literally. But it was worth it. I should have done that earlier.

Project 52 #week 1

Random Short Story: Leftover Chicken for Breakfast Anyone?

The baby was still asleep this morning when my husband left for work. He usually feeds her before going to work if the timing works out which allows me to sleep a little longer since she usually goes back to sleep for a little bit after her bottle. But not this morning. And I think this is the reason why my body clock is messed up today. I was pretty hungry and decided to go fix myself a snack. I checked the microwave clock and saw a 1 and assumed it was passed one so I decided to have some leftover from last night, instead of a piece of banana/nutella bread. As I was eating my meal, I felt kinda sick. It just didn’t feel right to eat that piece of chicken at that time. So I checked the clock again – only to realize it was 10am. Not 1pm. I feel pretty sick right now at the thought of having had chicken for breakfast. And the first thing I thought was: “OMG. I am losing it !”. I think I am going to call my husband to let him know he married a crazy cuckoo.

The 52-week project

I am a photography enthusiast. And a stay-at-home mum. I have been taking pictures of my daughter everyday since she was born and I have decided to start taking a picture every week, same person, same place. This way, I will see her grow as the background becomes smaller and smaller. I am very excited to start this project and hope you will take interest in it !

I will post my first picture of the week tonight. Stay updated !

Feel free to share your own photography project in the comments area and I will be happy to visit your blog/website.

10 things I do NOT miss about being pregnant

1. Severe Morning Sickness. 24/7. It was the worst about it. I was sick as a dog the first 5 months and sick until delivery. I didn’t think I would make it to the end. I had to stop working right away as I would throw up more than 7 times a day. I couldn’t sleep, and would even get sick on water. I lost a lot of weight but regained it slowly. I went through two different buckets, that would follow me everywhere in the house. When I had the baby I told my husband I didn’t want it to be anywhere near me so he would have to get rid of it before I come home.
2. Starving. I felt extremely weak if I didn’t have a little something in my stomach. In fact, if I was hungry, I would get sick. So I had to eat. And when you are weak, tired, and sick, you don’t want to fix yourself a snack, let alone cook. I went through a lot of craving phases (orange juice, watermelon, celeri, vegetarian sushis, chinese noodles, rice, purees,…).
3. Take good care of myself. Don’t get me wrong. What I mean, is, drinking a lot, taking prenatal vitamins, eating more vegetables, (…) felt like hard work. I did it for my baby but it wasn’t always easy.
4. Lower Back Pain. I used everything to get some kind of relief: maternity belt, heating bottle, massages from my husband, and still, it was really painful. Especially towards the end !
5. Lack Of Sleep. I couldn’t sleep because of severe acid reflux and sickness. I slept on the couch pretty much 5 months out of 9 during my pregnancy. I don’t know what it was but I slept better there. Until it didn’t do anything for me anymore. My husband would sometimes stay in the living room with me to keep me company. Such a sweetheart ! Since I had to sleep in an upright position, I would prop myself up in what my husband would call a “nest” with my body pillow, and a couple more propping items. We shared the same bed but there was a mountain between us.
6. Excessive Salivation. I thought I’d use some kind of “medical-sounding” term to spare you the horror parts ! But really, the first 4 months, I had to spit up constantly. It was socially-handicapping (how would you feel if you needed to keep a plastic bag with you at all times so you could spit up.) I became a complete hermit. LUCKILY, it stopped after four months. Hallelujah.
7. Needing to pee constantly – including nights.
8. Prenatal care stress. Although I feel very lucky to live in a country where prenatal care is taken seriously, I found it very stressful to get needles and tests done during 9 months. First fetal hearbeats, ultrasounds and maternal serum tests were also very stressful. I am so blessed to have a healthy baby girl.
9. Being uncomfortable in my body. The waddling, not being to tie my shoes or put nail polish on my toes, being exhausted all the time, taking forever to walk a flight of stairs…
10. Being on bed rest. Depressing. And postpartum pains. I had an episiotomy. Sorry, TMI.

That being said, I feel extremely blessed to have had a regular, healthy pregnancy (despite the severe sickness) and healthy baby girl. I would do it again in a heartbeat. My husband was so supportive of me – I honestly don’t know what I would have done without his help.

If you would like to read “the 10 things I miss about pregnancy”, click here.

How about you? Anything you don’t miss about pregnancy you would like to share?

Big Eyes and Polka Dots

Seeing Double

homesick: adj : “longing for home and family while absent from them” (merriam-webster)

“Quand je te quitte un peu loin, ca ressemble au chagrin, ca fait un mal de chien.” M.Lavoine

I left my douce France in July 2010. Before leaving, I managed to see all the people I loved and cared for, and organized a Goodbye Party for myself. Yes, I did that. We celebrated with baguettes, wine, saucisson, fromage and everything oh-so-French ! I asked everyone to come dressed in either blue, white or red. Yes, I did that too. We listened to Edith Piaf and other classic French singers and we all had a great time.

I was sad to leave everyone but I was very excited to go to Canada, reunite with my now-husband. The future was promising, exciting, and foreign…Since then I have worked a couple jobs, I got married and had a baby. I couldn’t be happier with my life – I have the most wonderful husband and an amazing daughter. But something is still missing. Other than a career for myself, I miss home, terribly.

5 random signs of homesickness:

1. I heard a French girl talking while I was waiting for my baby to get her immunization needles and I couldn’t help it. I had to talk to her. It felt so good to speak French with a French person. She said “ca suffit” to her daughter and I thought that was so French. I loved it.
2. I have been listening to French music a lot – including music I didn’t use to like.
3. “Midnight in Paris” made me cry. When we left the movie theater, I was surprised to hear people speaking English. This movie made me travel.
4. I watched Amelie (Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain) three times and I am thinking of watching it again.
5. I felt emotional when Jean Dujardin won the best actor award at the 84th annual academy awards. He’s French, we are family.

10 things I miss about home:

1. My family and friends. I have three younger sisters and I haven’t seen them for so long it hurts.
2. The food. I miss “boeuf bourguignon”, “tarte a l’oignon”, “raclette”, “fondue au fromage”, “creme brulee” and many other French delights.
3. The streets of Paris; cafes and bars, bridges and museums, shops and tourists. Ses beaux quartiers, and bien sur, the Eiffel Tower.
4. I miss the French language.
5. The bakery downstairs.
6. Watching the world go by sitting at a cafe terrace.
7. The culture.
8. London. (It is not home, but I have lived their long enough to miss it.)This city is very dear to me and so close to home.
9. My hairdresser. She’s done my hair for over 10 years and I can’t believe I haven’t done anything to them since I arrived.
10. Myself. I miss my old self.

Click here to listen to “Je ne veux pas travailler” (I don’t want to work) by Pink Martini. It is an American band but the song is in French. Sixtine and I have been listening to this song a lot lately.

I would love to hear how you cope with homesickness and what are the things you miss from home…Please share !

Infant Stimulation: Early Education

Sixtine and I have been doing Maths this week. I know. She is four months old. But it is never too early to learn. My little girl loves looking at new things, and interacting with me and a few flashcards. The excitement she gets from it is priceless – she will move her arms and legs, and smile like she is having the time of her life.

I showed her numbers from 1 to 20, and she looked at each little dots or mini flowers with great interest, noticing, or I like to think so, the difference between each card. We also counted mummy’s fingers, and sang a French song called 1, 2, 3, nous irons aux bois which teaches children how to count up to twelve.

I also changed the scenery around her changing table – I printed and laminated 5 paintings from well-known artist such as Renoir, and Leonardo Da Vinci (Sunflowers, Mona Lisa…) and she noticed the difference right away ! She seems to enjoy Mona Lisa more than any of the other paintings but babies love human faces so nothing surprising here.

I recently moved her mat in front of a mirror so she can look at herself and be aware of her movements. She absolutely loves it. I added a few birds, and butterflies pictures and she seems to enjoy them as well. It seems to help a lot with tummy time (she’s not a big fan but enjoys it more when she can see herself in the mirror.) It is too funny to see her lift her bum up and push on her leg to move around. I find it much easier for her to do so when she is wearing very few clothes on. I need to get her leg warmers…any suggestions? It is kinda cold here in Atlantic Canada.

She has lots of fun seeing the world from the top of that big stability/exercise ball I got for her. I borrowed a similar one at the end of my pregnancy thinking it would induce labor. I don’t know if it was a coincidence but my water broke at 2.30am that night ! Ahh…memories !

We also did a lot of singing and dancing this week. We sang in French, English and even Spanish (although I don’t speak this language).

Between Doman, Montessori, and other methods of learning I am interested in, we definitely have things to entertain ourselves with. I love to see how thirsty for knowledge she is – she learns so fast ! I can’t believe how great she’s getting at coordinating her movements to take her bottle or soother out or in of her mouth !

I am looking to buy a few toys for the baby and all I want to say is: Long live Etsy for great handmade toys, ideas and resource ! If you check out my Pinterest profile (I just started it) you will see my long list of wants for the baby ! Although I know everyday items work just as fine – I have been wanting to get her a Gobbi mobile, a baby rattle, a teether and a couple wooden toys (other than her hairbrush !).

Any other suggestions?