Multi-cultural party!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (and some EC update)

Last night we were invited to a gathering of English-speaking families to the big playground about 20 minutes from our place.
We brought a salad and were a little nervous because we don't know a lot of people here yet and we didn't know how many people would be there. Especially with the weather being so crummy!
It was packed! I think something like 44 people (including children) were there and once it winded down a bit and people were leaving - we really got to chat and connect with other families.
We met another Canadian, an Italian, a Mexican couple, Polish, few French people (not Qu�bec French!), UK, German...the cultures were great! AND EVERYBODY SPOKE ENGLISH!!!! Bonus! AND some Finnish parents that spoke loads of English! It was wonderful to hear it!
I personally get excited when I read something labelled "GB" aka Great Britain aka in English.

Now onto EC...I know - your favourite.
So it's been almost a month of potty-trying with V�in� and we've discovered the best time to try is:
- after eating (solids or breast milk)
- after he wakes up
- after about 1 hr- 1 1/2 hrs since his last attempt or wet diaper
Now he hasn't been giving his bubble signals - so we just try. Worse comes to worse - nothing happens - but so far - it's been really great. As for #2? He never gave a signal for that either.
However when on the potty if he's really relaxed and his tummy grumbles...I wait a bit until something happens. Or if he doesn't seem to be trying to fight to go anywhere - then we stay a bit longer - just in case.
I've also taken up saying "Squeeze" with a very long "ee" in the middle.
Very successful. Now he's understanding what squeeze means (he squeezes his toes as well and grunts sometimes but not loudly) and will stay sitting on the potty if he has to do a #2.

L is for lids and M is for May Day

Whenever you're about to feed your child (or after your finished) - make sure the lid of the jar is shut properly. This little 2 second check could save you a huge mess.
I shook a jar of chicken from the fridge (baby food) and needless to say - the lid wasn't screwed on properly - so the chicken stew went EVERYWHERE. From the window, down the wall, all over the table and into the dog's bowls...they loved it.
Needless to say - I learned my lesson!

May Day (May 1st) is coming up and is a pretty big deal in Finland (and possibly all of Finland?). Everything is closed and if it's sunny outside families and friends get together to have a picnic. Typically the night before people get drunk (since the next day nobody has to work)...so many have hangovers.
As well there are several concerts and activities downtown. In the grocery stores there have been some sort of baked good sold specially for May Day. It looks like a bird's nest and is some sort of batter squirted out of a tube and into a deep fryer then sprinkled with icing sugar. I'll get a package (sold in 2's) and try it out.

Highlights of Helsinki Times Apr. 22-28

So we didn't get the paper yesterday but it arrived today. I'm curious if it's because yesterday was Earth Day? Truly - everyday should be Earth Day.

Anyway - here are some fun things to read about: (In no particular order)

1. Homemade babyfoods make a comeback
In Finland, jarred baby food is more than double of that consumed in Norway.
Finland leads in the world in the consumption of industrially made children's foods with 135 KG/child/year.
In 2007, in Finland 9.9 MILLION kg of baby food was sold = 61 MILLION EUROS!

2. Air traffic slowly recovers
In regards to the eruption of volcano Eyjaflallaj�kull.

3. Bullying starts early
Child welfare advocates stress the importance of early intervention in order to stop exclusion from becoming a habit.

4. Investment funds popular in Finland
Various studies show that ever 5th Finnish citizen, some 860,000 people, owns funds.

5. Broadband to fully cover Finland by 2015
Finland residents can expect a free nationwide wireless broadband service by 2015.
*We had to purchase our modem, but our internet itself is actually free within our building. We have cable internet.

6. Sports clubs and schools "should co-ordinate"
P.E. teachers claim that students are not getting enough exercise
**I find this amusing as I see many kid's biking and walking everywhere and not nearly as many obese children as in Canada.

7. New light on old Helsinki
There will be a photo exhibition of photos from the early 1900's in Helsinki City Museum until August 29th.

"K" is for Keljo, True Confessions and whatnot....

And no it doesn't sound like Kell-joe. The "J" in Finnish sounds like a "Y".

Keljo is a shopping area, similar to that of Bayers Lake but not as many shops. It's a 30 minute walk from my flat and it's quite a nice route actually.
I went today to pick up some things for the baby, some groceries and shoe shop. I went back to Prisma. Tim said that my newest obsession with Prisma and City Market (now that I know it's close to my home - same distance as downtown) - it's like I found a true Finnish version of Walmart.
Prisma is so big (same with City Market) - I could easily spend hours in there. I spent about an hour and a half today. Thankfully V�in� slept the WHOLE TIME!

I confess I caved and had McDonald's today. The only reason being because I had V�in� with me in the stroller and Hesburger was across the massive parking lot in the City Market building. I prefer Hesburger. I can't believe it's been at least 2-3 years since I had McD's last! Clearly I'm not missing much.
Everybody says that no matter where you are in the world - McDonald's will always taste the same. I thought it tasted disgusting (1/4 pounder with cheese meal) and nothing like the McDonald's in the HRM. Maybe it's just me or maybe Hesburger is THAT much better.

I bet you're wondering "Wasn't she just there on Sunday and she got herself and her friend lost on her way home?!"
You're right. This time - I got smart. I brought my digital camera with me and before I left the path - I took a photo of the closest thing (another shop across from Prisma) - so I knew what I had to get to - in order to get back on the path to take me home.
Naturally - I got lost anyway. When I got off a side path - I wasn't sure if I was to go right or left. Genius I know.
So I went right (I think?) and found I was on a path heading into a little neighbourhood. I believe this is where I went with my friend Johanna. So I took that path for a bit then realized my error and saw that I wasn't on the same side of the road as when I first got to Prisma. That was another clue - on and a huge sign that said "RAUTOPOHJA" with an arrow pointing left. SO! I turned back and followed the sign and was walking along the side of a highway - I'm just glad it wasn't busy.
Then I got to the path and successfully was on my way home.

I apologize I can't find last week's copy of the Helsinki Times to give you some highlights. I recall the food section being about genetically modified foods. There was a big piece on alcoholism - as majority of Finns consume quite a bit of alcohol. I probably mentioned before that beer and other drinks with the same or lesser alcohol levels is sold in all the grocery shops - oh and they have gambling machines in most Kioski (corner store brand name) and some grocery stores too. There was an interview with 3 members of the A.A. program here in Finland. It was interesting to see

Tomorrow/today/Thursday - we'll be getting a copy of Helsinki Times - so I'll jot down some things as soon as I can!

For the Facebook people - I've decided that "Today's True Confessions" are wonderful, and 100% true. It helps me realize I do a lot of stupid stuff....yet I still can chuckle over it later on. Some is therapeutic to be honest.
I've decided to mix it up with "Today's FB (flashback)"....enjoy.
They're completely random and can be songs, movies, technology...whatever.
Enjoy!

How to get LOST....

Sorry TV fans - I'm not referring to the show "Lost".
I really mean how to get lost. Not in a rude way either!

Today I needed a day off from being a mom. I needed a day for me and figured I would go downtown and look for shoes for an up-coming party we're going to. I didn't bring a lot of clothing OR shoes with me to Finland - figuring I'd get what I need as I needed it. I have a pair of Adidas sneakers (not the running kind) from a friend, a pair of winter boots I brought and my mesh sneakers (more like hiking sandal-shoe?). Not very dressy for a dissertation party if you ask me!

I sent a message out to my friends, Sini and Johanna, to see if there was any interest in going shopping with me...as I enjoy shopping alone but with friends is better. Especially when it comes to shoes - I need motivation! I hate shoes in general as my feet are wide and flat. BLEGH!
Sini's out of town so Johanna suggested I meet her and some of her friends, not downtown, but in a different direction!
It was actually the same route I took on a bus last week with Tim and the baby to go visit a friend, so I felt very confident in getting there without getting lost. I did it no problem!

I found a spring coat (didn't wear one today at all - stupid me...it was quite chilly!) for under 20 Euros (I love Prisma and City Market!) and got some other groceries. Johanna had left her bike at the university - so we decided to walk together on the way back.
Here's the funny part. We walked for quite awhile and I didn't recognize anything - I just didn't remember walking by so many houses! So then we realized that it was Johanna's first time being in that area (or one of the first) and my complete first. Oh dear... we're lost.
We walk a bit further on - and then I remembered something crucial! I have a map! So we look at the map and we're quite far away from the main road that I originally took to get to the shops. Turns out that neither of us are very good at maps - but obviously Johanna is the better one, since I am presently at home in my pajamas....
About 20 minutes later - I could see the main road! How exciting!!!!
The downfall? We had to go down a very steep woodsy hill to get to it.
Johanna insists there must be a path but we can't see one - so carefully we go down the hill....
We walk ahead about 50 steps and what do you suppose we find?
A FREAKING PATH! Oh well - we got our exercise for the day.

I'm honestly surprised she didn't kill me. But she had a good point - we had our groceries with us - so the worst thing that could've happened is that we would've had a picnic somewhere.

In other news, V�in� crawled a bit today...it looked painful because he'd scooch his bum up in the air and have his face flat on the floor....and then stretch out and he'd move forward an inch or so. But we're making progress!
He's a potty whiz!! Tim finally caved and did the pottying with V�in� today while I was gone and had great success! Apparently Tim doesn't make any "psssssssssssssst" sounds and V�in� just does his thing. We've been using disposables a lot lately because of V�in� not being consistent with his bowel movements. It sucks rinsing a cloth diaper - but we'll do it if it happens of course! That, and it's harder to strip him fast enough to use the potty -if he has a cloth diaper and a plastic cover on top of that... but so far we've been able to get V�in� to potty 2 or 3 times before having to change the diaper!

And no I didn't find any shoes that I liked and that were comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Maybe next time!

Fearless

No I am not referring to Taylor Swift's album title or music.
I'm referring to my son who is 5 1/2 months old and absolutely fearless.
His new thing is putting his hands in the dogs' mouths while they're trying to kiss him or chew on a bone.
He also loves to pinch, twist and pull my boob while we're nursing. I've tried putting mittens and socks on him and he just pulls them off. I'm beyond frustration now...
I'm bruised here and there all over my boob because he's so ridiculously strong. I can scream and yell the roof off in pain - and what does he do? He doesn't cry or jump or pout. He smiles and laughs his head off.
Some of my friends told me when they were nursing and their babies started to teeth - as soon as they bit them and they yelled in pain/surprise - the baby never did it again.
Ha. I literally scream and yell as if going in labour again - and V�in� just keeps going. Sometimes he'll pat me like it makes the pain go away - then he goes on pinching again.

Other acts of fearlessness? We can spin around in a circle holding him and he just laughs...we can let him slip backwards so he's hanging upside down on our laps and again - just laughs. His neck is strong enough that we can fly him around on his side or toss him in the air (without letting go) and he just chuckles.
The dogs have launched themselves off of him (if he was in his car seat and in the way of the couch) gently ... as gentle as a 75 lbs dog can be .... and he yelled in surprise and then laughed. I personally cry every time the dog steps on me too hard.

However if we go in the bathroom for potty time - then the tears flow.

I'm terrified I gave birth to a dare devil.

At least I'm honest.

Today I had an orthodontist appointment for 5pm. I made sure I wore my elastics (they're to correct a bit of a cross-bite I have going on) to my appointment, which Tim pointed out: "You rarely wear them. So you're wearing them now in hopes he doesn't figure it out?" HA.

When I finally got to the office and went into his room, my orthodontist asked how I was doing. I smiled and said everything was great. He asked if I noticed a change with the elastics...I said "Not really!"
He was a little surprised. I advised him, "Honestly - I haven't worn them everyday. BUT I have a good reason. I eat a lot." Which is true - for breast feeding purposes I eat like a pig.
He just chuckled and said: "Yes it can be difficult keeping them in if you talk a lot."
Jerk. I'm sure that's not what he meant - but you know - it seemed that way!

After every appointment we book the next one and I get a print-out of my bill. Compared to Canada INCLUDING the exchange rate - it's so much cheaper to get my braces adjusted/looked at every month. I simply don't get it!
In Canada I paid $210 or $205 per month for my braces. Work covered a portion but stupid me, I didn't submit a claim early enough to cover a chunk of the overall costs.
Anyway - here in Finland, my bill today was under 50 Euros. I only see my orthodontist once a month or every 5-6 weeks, just like in Canada. They do the same work here as they do in Canada yet I was paying so much more!

Ah well.

EC is going great with V�in� - although he's now in the phase of crying as soon as we sit on the floor of the bathroom. I have the potty aimed towards the shower drain - so any splatter can hopefully aim in that direction...and thanks to the hose by the sink - I can just rinse the floor quickly. He's peeing at least once a day on the potty - which is promising. If he cries longer than about 5 minutes - then I'll stop and take him off the potty, congratulate him for trying and we go about our day from there.
My friend Hanna told me she's only changed about 5 poopy diapers since the New Year - because her son is doing great with communicating to her when he has to go. I hope I'm able to get to that point by the time V�in� is 1! Mind you, she started E.C. with her son when he was 2 months and I'm starting at about 5 1/2 months.

During a recent visit to our "future home" - I looked in at the toilet when changing V�in�'s diaper and YES there is plenty of space for me to reverse sit on the toilet with V�in� if he's not comfortable on the potty. :)
I cannot wait to move...I hate our washing machine. It's on a bit of a deck/stand and whenever it's spinning too hard - it tends to fall off and continue to spin...quite a racket!