Friday before the long weekend we took Carter to Marineland. Marineland is a park dedicated to - you guessed it - marine animals. Seals, dolphins, beluga whales, orcas (since I hate calling them killer whales) and deer.

Deer? Ya, I don’t know how they fit in with marine animals, but they’re there.

The week before going Mike and I were hyping Carter up for this trip. I’d talk him up about seeing the dolphins and seals, and every night he’d ask if we could see the dolphins tomorrow. The utter elation was contagious. So much that I taught Carter the theme song. If you living in Ontario or close to on the US side of the boarder you’ve more then likely seen the commercials and heard The Song so many times it’s engrained.

I found it on the website and it’s been playing CONSTANTLY since. He requests the song over and over AND OVER! Total rookie parenting move: teaching my child the Most Annoying Song Ever.

We arrived at the park early morning hoping to have an entire day (another rookie move) to see everything the park had to offer. First on the plan was the dolphin show.

We arrived at the amphitheatre early and got really close seats.

Mike and Carter went to the tank to get a close up of the dolphins set to perform for us. (Doesn’t that sounds dreadful? Though it’s the truth, it sounds horrible to call it performing.)

There was one dolphin that took a shine to Carter.

It (sorry, not fluent in a dolphin’s intimate parts to decipher which is which) swam by a couple times, then stopped in front of him.

Then sent him a little playful splash.

This kid jumped in the shot just as I took it. Bugger.

We watched some seals.

And a walrus.

Then fed a beluga whale.

And some deer.

He hasn’t stopped asking to go back or to listen to damn The Song.

More photos at flickr!

Hudson just may be going through a growth spurt.

Seriously my boobs are HUGE and engorged within about 2 hours after feeding him.

I now have stripper tits. Horray! for stripper tits!

[See how many google hits I get for that phrase.]

I just fell in love with Lightroom. I seriously NEED this program. The trial version will have to do until my big boobs pay off and I can afford to buy myself a copy.

[Good segue right?]

I spent the better part of yesterday going through old photos and editing what I can while I have access - plus I wanted to add a bunch of stuff to Flickr, just haven’t had the chance. My photostream is now littered with images of Carter when he was a baby and I just can’t believe how big he is now - and how different he looks compared to those days. I feel a sense of nostalgia as I review those pictures and think about how he will never be that small again; how he will only get older from here. First kindergarten, then high school, college and so on.

Hudson - 3 weeks

Carter - 3 weeks

It’s painful to think about them not being this small forever.

More painful because I like little kids, not teenagers.

I know what I was like as a teenager and karma will bite me in the ass with vengeance.

We need to get better at making memories. Memories that are worth holding on to. Sure we do make some at home, but it would be such a shame to sit here on our asses (like we have been) and miss out on these fun years. The years where they can’t hide their smiles and excitement when they see animals at the zoo or going for a picnic is simply the greatest thing ever. I want to see the look in their eyes when they see a killer whale for the first time and hear them talk about our adventures for days afterward. They deserve that. WE deserve that.

I’m not a creative person and, personally, find it hard to think of things that we can do as a family that won’t cost us money and Mike someone won’t find something to complain about. Mike Someone hates walking and strolling without a purpose (even if there was a purpose, he’d rather drive - but not too far from home because then that’s out too) so our choices can be are limited.

Got any ideas for us? What do you do with your children that isn’t too costly and they LOVE. Something that will get us out of the house and not further in debt?

(Weekly Winners are light this week since I was busy editing old photos rather then taking new ones.)

Makin’ Cupcakes

One of my very good friends from college is expecting a baby boy just a mere 5 weeks before our baby is expected. After a tragic miscarriage last year, I’m absolutely elated for her and her husband that their dream to start a family is finally coming true.

Her baby shower is tomorrow and, as excited as I am, I’m dreading it. There’s so much to plan from my end just to get there. Mike’s working all weekend (Sunday included) out-of-town, Carter’s home sick from daycare today, he’s going to my parents house for Saturday night, so I have to pack everything, and I have to drive an hour and a half together there. Oh, and I’m pregnant and can’t stand up anymore after touring the malls for about 3 hours shopping for her gift today (Yes, I dragged my sick child out to the mall today.)

I am awesome.

Oh, and I’m supposed to cook my favourite dish and bring it with me.

I say fuck that. Sorry friend, but I’m putting my foot down. Anyone has a problem with a veggie tray from the grocery store tell them to come talk to me after they work full time, care for a sick toddler and are nearly 7 months pregnant. If they approach me without first completing the above, I am allowed to full on bitch slap them.

You’ve been warned ladies.

Oh, and shopping today? Is there a holiday approaching that I’m unaware of? I couldn’t believe how packed the stores where at 11am. Every teenager - presumably on lunch break - and every stay-at-home-mom in the area were in the malls: with their elderly parents. Fuckin’ zoo. I can’t tolerate crowds even on a good day so I was in a less then stellar mood when we finally got the hell out of there.

I’ve always been taught - respect my elders, I know it can’t be hard to be walking around with a cane, all decrepit and miserable. But what about an obviously pregnant woman with a child in a stroller and about half the house packed underneath? Don’t they deserve some help and courtesy too? But no, all those damn old people and stupid teenagers look right through me and continue on cutting me off nearly causing me to ram my stroller up their asses: which I was more then tempted to do a number of times.

People just have no sense of decency anymore. Everyone is out for themselves and fuck everyone else. It’s so disappointing to see how many people don’t hold doors for each other anymore, don’t stop to allow pedestrians to cross the road and don’t help people who have dropped something. Saying “thank-you”? Thing of the past.

The more I think about how rude I am people are it gets more and more depressing.

Not to mention this fuckin’ heartburn. I think I’m about to breathe fire.

Oh, and because I don’t have enough to complain about:

I figured what the hell, if anything it will give me some good fodder.

What can I say? I’m a glutton for punishment.

I could use one of these right now.

I never understood the appeal of an oxygen bar. Then again, I don’t know much about them at all.

Proponents claim this practice is not only safe, but enhances health and well-being, including strengthening the immune system, and enhancing concentration. It has been alleged to alieviate hangovers and help with migraines, but no formal studies have yet confirmed any of these claims. Individual flavored scents (aromas) add to the experience.

I wanted to try one but was unsure if I was allowed with being pregnant and all. No one with me would do it either. They scare easy with this hippy stuff.

You tried one?

By the way, I’ve been Flickring Vegas photos like a mad woman. Still have about 300 more!