In honour of Ann’s Sleep Book Blog Tour, I wanted to share the post I wrote back in March about receiving her book. I participated on the panel for this book, hoping to share some of what I learned or went through as a new Mom. Even today, more than three years later, I am still learning about sleep. Although we are now getting a full eight hours a night, you just never know when you are going to hear the patter of little feet running into your room in the middle of the night.

After reading “Sleep Solutions”, I lent it to my younger Sister when her newest baby arrived. She really struggled with her first and couldn’t understand why I was able to function and she was not. I kept telling her that she had to accept that babies wake up, this she could not do. She figured that she could train her baby to do which ever sleep pattern she wanted. Until she read Ann’s book. She finally realized that not every baby is the same. There is no one solution out there and you have to kind of figure out which one works best for your child. When she finished Ann’s book, she had a new peace about her and was able to accept that she wasn’t going to get eight hours of sleep every single night. She has made it through the last seven months so much better than she did the first time around and she tells everyone that she has Ann to thank for that.

Original post.

The newest addition in “The Mother of All” series! I should start by saying how I was first introduced to Ann Douglas. We are going back quite a few years now, lets say… six or maybe almost seven. Hubby and I had finally come to the time when we were going to get pregnant. We had a plan. We would stop birth control and a few months later we would be pregnant.

We were picking up a few things at Costco and I was browsing the books, like I love to do. And to my surprise there was a pile of books called “The Mother of all Pregnancy Book”. The first thing that caught my eye, other than the word “pregnacy” was the Canadian Flag. I was sick of flipping through books on how to get pregnant and have all sorts of American stats thrown at me. Not that I don’t love Americans, I do, they are family. But, our medical system is somewhat different, so not all the information applies to all of us. I decide to pick up the book. I hid it in my nightside table, away from parents or step-children, and started to read it.

I loved the way the words just flowed. Ann spoke to me like I was a friend chatting it up over coffee. Trying to get pregnant is so easy for some, but for others not so good. I read only to the point where you actually get pregnant, promising myself that I would read the rest when I was pregnant. Months go by and nothing happens, we start going to see specialists and our route of infertility begins. I turned back to Ann’s book on a daily, regular basis. The first time I read the book, I skimmed over the troubleshooting area. Not thinking that we would be having any problems. But, once problems were diagnosed, Ann was able to explain to me exactly what was wrong in plain english that I could understand through my anger and tears.

Fast forward. We go through our ivf and get the positive beta that tells us indeed that we are pregnant. The first thing I did, other than call Hubby and a few girlfriends was pull out Ann’s book and read the rest. I referred to it throughout my pregnancy. I loved it so much that I started purchasing it for friends who were talking about getting pregnant. And I will say, thankfully, that all followed my lead and read the first half first, then waited, and within three months all were pregnant. I also make sure to throw in “The Mother of all Babies Book” for their showers.

Long before, I had ever heard of Blogging, I felt like I knew Ann so well. She was with me for so long trying to get pregnant. Flipping through pages all the time, made me feel like she was right there with me, holding my hand. Then, a girlfriend of mine started up this blogging thing and introduced me to Ann’s Blog. I have now met Ann a few times and chatted through email, blogging and on the phone. Ann is one remarkable woman and I feel honoured that I was able to contribute some of my thoughts on sleep ,or lack there of, for her newest addition “Sleep Solutions for your Baby, Toddler and Preschooler: The Ultimate No-Worry approach for Each Age and Stage”. I haven’t finished it yet, I was too busy taking a nap, but know that it is full of real life wisdom and suggestions. And I can’t wait to read the Toddler section, in hopes that we can reset the clocks here.

Thank you Ann, for being so good at what you do. For having the gift to put words together so well. And for sharing in our lives as we all learn to take on the role of parents.

Thank You.

How is it that all things perfect, just have to be out of range? The price range that is?

Hubby and I are going to a wedding this Saturday and I needed a new dress. Yes, folks I NEED a new dress. I do have a few summer ones that fit well, but fall/winter, I have none. All my stand bys were great pulling on, until they reached my chest area. Then, yikes, no zipping up over those suckers. It would seem as though all my struggles this past year has led these puppies to gain an extra size. While most women pay for them I would like a full refund. So, off I went shopping.

I found two dresses. One at “Tristan” and one at “Femme Carriere“. Although I liked both alot there were two distict differences. The one at Tristan was a V-neck and $65. The one at Femme was a Crew type neck and $295. Of course I bough the one from Tristan.

A nice slimming V neck that hangs to just at the knee. I have the option of buying a jacket to go with it, but since it is not necessary I will hold off. If I were still working in an office I would not have hessitated as it is the perfect black suit with the jacket. That would have brought the total to $175.

The one from Femme was cut at the neck with a few gathers, thus making my already large chest look larger, but in a pretty kind of way. The dress slimmed to the waist, with a darling belt with a bow. And it felt soooooo goooooood. It was THE perfect black dress.

The difference in quality did not go unnoticed. The Femme dress hung perfectly without showing a panty line or a bra line, and it hugged my curves, not buckling in the back at all. I felt like I could be Audrey Hepburn. The Tristan dress, although lined, buckles a bit and I had to pick up some no-see-um underwear, bringing the total of the dress to $120.00, but I can wear the underwear all year round. I don’t quite feel like Audrey Hepburn, but I do feel like BeachMama all dressed up. So, BeachMama I will be.

But, I really wanted the other dress. Perhaps in another few years when my days of working at home are done, I will buy that perfect dress. For now, I am happy with the other one and I hope that I will look as good as I feel in it.