Bee:  We're going to playground ?
Me:  yes, you asked to go and play there !?!  did you change your mind ?
Bee:  No !
Me:  ok, let's go

On the way walking to the playground, we saw 2 men painting a fire hydrant.

Bee: what they doing mama ?
Me:  painting
Bee: painting what ?
Me:  they are painting the fire hydrant
Bee: why ?
Me:  because it's getting old looking, they need to renew it !
Bee:  what happened ?
Me:  stuff gets old with time
Bee:  what HAPPENED ? (sounding annoyed WITH ME !?!?!? what the heck ?  I should be the one that is A.N.N.O.Y.E.D)
Me:  because it's out in the rain and the paint chipped off so they need to repaint it
Bee:  why ?
Me: so it looks nice !  Oh, I think it's raining !  I felt a rain drop on my shoulder. Let's go back ?
Bee:  NOooo, it's not, I no feel it !
Me:  trust me, it's raining
Bee:  No it's not.  Look cloud, no rain ! no rain mommy !
Me:  okayyyyy, we'll go then (brain too tired to fight with her !  if she felt no rain then I can't convince her that it is.  I wish the rain will come down hard and soak her !!!!!!)


At the sight of the playground:


Me:  look, your favorite playground !
Bee:  what happened ?
Me:  what do you mean what happened ?  it's your favorite place !  you go and play...
Bee:  what happened ?  (started to CRY !!!)
Me:  (annoyed) what do you mean what happened ?  you wanted to go and I took you, what do you mean what happened ?  nothing happened !
Bee:  (cry louder)
Me:  I don't understand what you're asking ! talk to mommy !  let's go home then ?
Bee:  Argggggggghhhhhh....why favorite mommy ? 
Me:  I don't know ! ...... you like it so it's called- favorite !  OK FINE THEN, it's not your favorite.  Just go and play please.
Bee:  what happened ?
Me:  want to go on the slide ?
Bee:  OK
Me:  (phew, my brain is so exhausted)


After 5 min. of playing, I decided to go on the monkey bar, swinging from one end to another.


Bee:  I can't go mommy.  I want to be big like mommy
Me:  you will ! eat more and in time you will grow
Bee:  I want to be big, higher now
Me:  you can't !  you just have to wait
Bee:  what happened ?  I wanna be big now mommy (started to cry)
Me:  HOW ?  how am I going to make you bigger
Bee:  (sobbing) make me taller mommy
Me:  you're so tall already !  look, you can go on this (pointing at some pole standing thingy she's standing on)
Bee:  I can go on it ! see ?  I'm bigger that's why !!!


Another day with my baby !  I wonder if I talk too much or too less...I can never seem to ask the right question or answer with the "right" answer :-/

They said with kids, many of things are just a phase.  You wait it out.  This proved to be true with picky eater Bee !!!  She went through a period that she doesn't want to eat anything but rice (which I cooked with a little quinoa for added protein).  I was so stress over it, and constantly asking mommies I know and met at the playground, for advices on what food to make for her.  My nights were spent meal planning.  She doesn't eat veggies but likes some fruits and the occasional broccoli.  She hates meat, which I've come to term that I'm ok with it, but I need substitutions for it because there's the iron that she needs. 

I bumped into an old acquaintance, a vegetarian, who was buying bbq meat at T&T.  She saw my quizzical look, laughed and told me that her health on the decline for a while now and doctor ordered her to eat meat (fastest route for iron), because she was lacking nutrients.  I'm sure there are more to the story and she's just giving me the shortest version of it.  Either way, it's a good reminder for me, to have balance, everything in moderation.  I kept that note in the back pocket of my brain.  We don't eat much meat at home but we do eat lots of veggies and seafood so I think we got our bases covered.

When Bee doesn't want to eat meat and there's no way on earth to get her to eat tofu, nuts, legumes, root vegetables, spinach or seafood !!! there was no doubt I went on panic mode.  If it's just a day or 2 it wouldn't be a problem, but it was weeks  O_O  plain rice !!!  ugh !  I want to pull my hair out !

There must be something she likes to eat.  Egg or prawn would be an easy option to attempt, as she likes them before.  But no matter what I tried to make with them for Bee, she still won't eat.  She has no interest in them.  I gave up and let her have her rice and stop fussing.  I was simply too tired.  

2 weeks or some more days went by and one morning, Bee woke up and asked for eggs for breakfast.  JUST.LIKE.THAT.  I was so relieved.  I feel as if I have been holding my breath in all these times and finally can exhale.  The next few days was easier to get her to eat, but some meals I still have to coax her a bit. 

This week has been looking up for the both of us.  Yesterday Bee ate cereal for breakfast, had some fruits at Strong Start, then had 2 eggs for lunch.  She had a cheese stick for afternoon snack, and rice with salmon and snow pea tips (from our own garden which she helped me picked) for dinner.  It's beginning to look promising.  It's not the end yet but we're moving on !  Yay !  and I didn't have to do anything ... which puzzled me a bit.

As a mom, I can't help but wanting the best for my kids.  I feel happy when Bee eats.  The lines on my forehead thank her when she eats :-)  so they can relax a little.  My heart thank her for putting less stress on it !

I think by always giving Bee so many choices and too focus on getting her to eat, I made Bee into a picker eater.  I still remember what my colleague Julia said to me about meals at her house > she makes whatever for dinner and the family eat what's on the table.  If her daughter eats, great, if not, that's fine too.  She doesn't go to make another meal for her daughter (like I do) !  By making meal a family event and giving no other option, her daughter has no choice but eat what's presented in front of her or else she'll go to bed hungry.  Simple but hard for me to follow :-(  because Bee will choose to be hungry and then bug me at ridiculous time at night to get her something to eat.

What I learned, is that sometime we just have to chill out :-D stop fussing over our kids and let them be.  Of course monitor them to see if there's more to them just not wanting to eat, there might be some underlying illness or teething or other issues.  In general though, if they are happy and active and sleep well, then they are OK !  and if so, it's OK to let them go through their freaky-picky phase.

We live and learn as parents.  Not all kids are alike, some eats, some don't, some eat lots, some little, but they ALL eventually EAT !  they are human after all :-)  they will go hungry and want food !  Although, I has a suspicious feeling that Bee is more than just mere human !  She told me she has "power" and I must agreed.  She always know exactly what I will do next and always a step ahead of me.  I must practice my power to beat her !

HomeSense is the place to look for cute, cool, funky, designer, unique pieces at discounted price.  It's a hit and miss as their stock moves quickly, so I try to visit every week if I can.  Each location is different from one another.  Around here, I like the downtown Vancouver, Coquitlam (School House), and the White Rock location most.  They have more than the usual dishes, towels and pillows :D  they have good looking furniture, like occasional chair, bench, dresser, etc.  I saw an interesting looking console table at the White Rock location, but hubby thought it was too rustic looking for our home.  Bummer :-(

If you like cute stuff (like me) !  give HomeSense a chance !  They got loads and loads of them, at every price point.  When ever we're up at the cash register, C would say to me "I hope you're not buying it for the cute factor !".  I would say "what ? no !" it's nice and also, well, it's too cute to pass :-)



Cute stool for $49.99

All kind of basket variations !  $10-$20  ($6 gets you a small one)

Super cute bird house !  this one goes for $24.99 but there were cheaper ones.

A house for Tweety at $12.99 each. 

More baskets !  The bucket right in the middle is perfect for picnic or farmer market day !

Solid wood stools.  $99 each, a bit steep but solid wood is always pricey :-(

Bee loves elephant so we bought this for $7.99

This hand blown pear from Poland is so cute !!!  I gotta have it at $9.99

Plant from beastie's house to put inside the pear !  Free of course :)

Bee and I went out for a short walk, waiting for C to come home.  While walking, we passed by a house and Bee pointed out and talked in her usual loud voice (yelling decibel) to me:

Bee:  he's naked mommy !!! (keeps on pointing at the guy)

I noticed the topless teen standing outside in his yard, sun tanning his pale body

Me: he's sun tanning baby

Bee:  look (point at herself), Bee wear shirt.  Bee no want to be naked

 Me: very good !  you should always wear a shirt.  (I was too tired to explain to her boy can be topless but girl shouldn't !)

The guy heard us, and I can see he felt embarrass, so as I shush Bee to keep on walking, he went back inside !  Oh kid !  they do say the darnest thing !

I've been hearing a lot of stuff on WHEAT.  I've read too many articles on both side of the fence and frankly, it's too much to process.  Everyone claimed to be an expert on the subject, so who do you trust ?  There're all kinds of articles on the good, the bad, and the ugly of it.  I am so confuse !!!  Am I the only one ?  I've been following all the trends :)  flax, hemp, kale, chia, quinoa, coconut oil, to name a few.  And I'm still using them along with my organic findings.  To be honest, I feel no where better from where I was before.  I feel the same :-(

 

Wheat is bad:  http://paleodietlifestyle.com/11-ways-gluten-and-wheat-can-damage-your-health/

 

Wheat is good:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fiber/NU00033

 

In my opinion, I think it doesn't hurt to cut down on the consumption of wheat.  Everything in "moderation" is key !  We consume a lot of organic wheat (apparently even organic isn't good).  We love waffle and bread around here.  While our family has no allergies or any illness, I like to take the precautionary route, if anything, it's only good for us. 

In order to cut down on wheat, I have to educate myself on what food they hide in and what name they go by !  Here's a list of names for wheat and the types of food they live in.  I'm sure this is just a short menu of it, but it's a good start for me.  Wish we luck !

Excerpt from About.com / Food Allergies / Foods to Avoid on a Wheat-Free Diet

Other names for wheat

• Bulgur (bulghar)
• Durum, durum flour, durum wheat
• Einkorn
• Emmer
• Enriched, white and whole-wheat flour
• Farina
• Flour (all-purpose, cake, enriched, graham, high protein or high gluten, pastry)
• Farro
• Fu
• Graham flour
• Kamut
• Seitan
• Semolina
• Spelt
• Sprouted wheat
• Triticale (a cross between wheat and rye)
• Triticum aestivum
• Wheat (bran, germ, gluten, grass, malt, starch)
• Wheat berries
• Wheatgrass

Ingredients that may be derived from wheat

Avoid foods containing these ingredients unless the label states they are not made from wheat.

• Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
• Modified food starch
• Vegetable starch or vegetable protein
• Gelatinized starch
• Natural flavoring

Foods that often contain wheat

• Baked goods such as pastries, doughnuts, pies, pretzels
• Baking mixes, powder and flour
• Beer
• Bread or bread crumbs
• Cereal
• Chicken and beef broth (cans and bouillon cubes)
• Condiments, salad dressings, and sauces
• Crackers
• Deli meats
• Falafel
• Fried, breaded chicken, fish, or other deep-fried foods
• Gravies
• Host (communion, altar bread and wafers)
• Hot dogs
• Ice cream
• Imitation bacon
• Meatballs or meat loaf
• Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• Pasta, including couscous, gnocchi, spaetzle, chow mein, lo mein, and filled pastas
• Pie fillings and puddings
• Sausages
• Soups
• Soy sauce or tamari (unless gluten-free)
• Tabbouleh
• Tempura

Non-food sources of wheat

• Cosmetics and hair-care products
• Medications and vitamins
• Children’s play dough
• Pet food
• Wallpaper paste or glue

Foods That Are (Surprisingly) Wheat-Free

• Buckwheat
• Kasha

Sunny Father's day Sunday ! Bee went and gave C the card she and I made (painted with beet juice), and a Ben Holiday miniature house. Bee screamed (actually she just talk really really super duper loud) "happy father mother day daddy !".  He kissed all of us. We spent sometime looking for miniature furniture that we can furnish the mini house with, then C and Bee took off. They went out to do one of C's favorite thing, coffee and browsing HomeDepot.

After getting Lovebug and I ready, I picked some ripe fresh strawberries from our planter for Bee.  She inhaled them when she got home.  We all then packed up and went down to WhiteRock beach for a stroll and some gelato. Lovebug screamed the whole ride then slept the whole time at the beach !!! 

Dinner was spent with C's parents and we ended the evening with C taking me for a short ride on his new foldable bike.  It was short ride because it a wobbly ride.  He haven't rode a bike in years.  I'm sure it won't be long before he mastered it again.  I want a bike too !

C came out of the shower and was digging through his dresser for a t-shirt.  Bee saw his armpit hair for the first time ever, she pointed at it and said "THAT'S NOT RIGHT!"