The marinated salmon was actually really good though, so I wouldn't mind giving it a second try, and just pick my own toppings more carefully (no edamame!). I never thought of myself as a picky eater, but now that I think about it, I have some weird food habits, like this thing with the edamame. I also don't like raw nuts, particularly peanuts. I wonder if this would have been different if my parents put me through baby led weaning, which we've just started with baby S.
The marinated salmon was actually really good though, so I wouldn't mind giving it a second try, and just pick my own toppings more carefully (no edamame!). I never thought of myself as a picky eater, but now that I think about it, I have some weird food habits, like this thing with the edamame. I also don't like raw nuts, particularly peanuts. I wonder if this would have been different if my parents put me through baby led weaning, which we've just started with baby S.
From the left corner and going clockwise, this platter includes:
I was pretty stoked when Glory Juice gave me my own code (LUWESA15) for 15% off their fresh cold-pressed juices this week. When I was in Victoria, I had gotten into the habit of drinking Tropicana's orange juice with LOTS OF PULP, which I'm sure is just loaded with sugar and not very healthy, but I needed the vitamin C in the juice to go along with my iron pill. It actually makes a huge difference in my energy level when I don't take the iron pill with vitamin C, and an even bigger difference when I don't take the pill at all. Making sure my iron levels are maintained at a regular level is just another part of being a breastfeeding mom...
We've been cooking a lot at home and haven't been going out to eat or getting take out, because H and I are trying to save up some moneys for this person:
We did get bento boxes from Fujiya, while we were there to get groceries:
Great value. Best bang for your buck, if getting Japanese food!
Anyways, it's been a busy week. Baby S's naps are getting longer, but her wake time is also stretching out, so I'm spending more time playing with her, rather than working on this blog. What will happen to my attempt to post weekly, once we have to start moving next month?
Today's haul consists of:
So far, being back in Vancouver has been a mix of anxieties about the pandemic and meeting up with our loved ones. The grandparents were able to come visit and helped us babysit once or twice before gatherings with individuals outside of our household were discouraged by our lovely Dr. Bonnie Henry.
It had been a while since the grandparents were left alone with baby S, and what an experience it was this time around. The use of white noise to help infants fall asleep is quite common nowadays, but both sets of grandparents were very confused when we instructed them to ask our Google Nest to play this loud annoying sound when putting baby S down for a nap.
One set of grandparents asked Google to play "white music", and instead of noise, somebody (presumably a person of Caucasian decent) started singing.
Both sets of grandparents had a tough time enticing baby S to take the bottle, now that she could recognize mom as the source of food and comfort. H and I received many calls to "come back home NOW," but every time we would tell them we're on the way, when really, we were still finishing up whatever we were doing.
Baby S eventually calmed down with them, and by the time we arrived home, she was an angel again.
I can't wait for our curve to start flattening again, so that our babysitters can return.
I'm currently craving a burger from The Hive Eatery. Food from hole in the wall places tend to be the most delicious...
On yet another walk with baby S, we picked up pastries from La Roux Patisserie.
They use fresh local ingredients, which makes for a beautiful burger. Even the brioche buns were fresh from the oven.
Baby S is now four months old, and as mentioned previously, she's going through a sleep regression/4 month leap. She used to just let us put the pacifier in her mouth whenever she was upset. One day, she realized that if her mouth is too small for the pacifier, we won't be able to do that anymore. She started to keep her mouth smaller instead of wailing with mouth wide open, so that she can still complain and whine but the pacifier won't fit. Just as easily, she forgot how to sleep for more than two hours at a time, and so I'm swimming in exhaustion for the past few weeks.
It's just easier to go out and pick up lunch, rather than cook. H found a great little spot for Vietnamese sandwiches, Ba le Deli Victoria.
Baby S has been going through a pretty bad sleep regression, and although I expected it around the four month mark, I still was not prepared for it. It is harder than usual to soothe her to bed. The only solution that allows both of us to sleep was for me to lie next to her while nursing her to sleep. However, sometimes, I wouldn't fall asleep that easily, and just as I'm dozing off, baby S is ready for another session of milk.
Wouldn't it be amazing if there was something for adults where they could be soothed back to sleep by sucking on a pacifier?
K suggested that I ask my husband to soothe me back to sleep, but I think I'll stick with coffee in the mornings.
Good thing I am in close proximity to Hey Happy. On the days that baby S gets up bright and early despite waking up every two hours throughout the night, their delicious coconut milk iced latte keeps me alive:
We visited Chesterman beach as well. Sand got into my shoes, and it was too cloudy to catch a nice sunset.
Dinner was takeout from the Wildside Grill, because we had to try their gumbo. The food was great, the wait was not. We must've waited for at least 30 minutes, and baby S was throwing a fit by the time we returned to the hotel, because we were out way past her bedtime. H and I were tuckered out too.
But surprise, surprise! I ended up sleeping better at the MAQ hotel than at home! Their bed and all their linens and towels are so soft, their peppermint hand soap smells so refreshing, and all the art placed around their lounge created a very interesting space to hang out.
I suppose being out all day, traipsing around the little town and beach hopping, contributed to filling up our tired tanks as well. Baby S still woke up every couple of hours, but we both slept more soundly than usual.
Overall, it was an average trip with a grumpy baby, and parents who don't actually enjoy the beach life. I think H and I were so determined to get the most out of this trip and see as much as possible that we just forced ourselves to go. We just won't let small things like sleep deprivation and the gritty feeling of sand in our shoes get in the way, because we are the grit!
Who goes to a beach vacation town in October anyways?
H and I love browsing thrift stores and hunting for treasures, and now that baby S is outgrowing all the clothes we brought along with us to the island, we decided to visit second hand baby stores. Children's fashion is not very sustainable, and if I can reuse something rather than buying new, I definitely will. One of the thrift shops we've visited so far is Sailor Jack Consignment. It's a tiny little place, packed with clothes for the small people, and they have a solid inventory of almost new children's wear in excellent condition.
Right next door is Fry's Bakery:
Their set menu didn't look very appealing to me, because we wanted salmon only. H doesn't like tuna (he doesn't like a lot of things okay!?), and I didn't want to risk the chance of ingesting mercury because I'm still breastfeeding. Luckily, creating our own bowls was not too difficult, and with a few simple clicks, we could do it all from their website.