Sunday, October 3, 2010
Just the Facts..
Last updated September 2009, The Globe and Mail found that out of the 45, 345 same-sex couples in Canada reported in an accurate census in 2006 that 9% of them had children under the age of 24 living with them. That would be about 4,085 children. Most of these same-sex families reside in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. I am sure that there has been many more same-sex couples and same-sex families since 2006 though so an accurate follow-up census would be appreciated.
A UCLA study shows 20% of American same-sex couples are raising children. It's estimated to be around 270,000 says wikipedia.com while another academic website estimates over 1 million children are being raised by same-sex couples or a same-sex single parent.
It's pretty interested to know there are so many children in same-sex families in Canada and the U.S. Some lesbian women I know are reluctant to start a family because they think they'll lack community support but these numbers aren't small. Knowing two or three lesbian or gay families can really help, socially. You don't have to feel like you're the only same-sex family picking up Ragu at the supermarket with all heterosexual eyes staring at you. I think knowing the numbers will help more lesbian and gay couples make the choice to have a family whether it's co-parenting, adopting or inseminating or raising children from their former opposite-sex relations!
A UCLA study shows 20% of American same-sex couples are raising children. It's estimated to be around 270,000 says wikipedia.com while another academic website estimates over 1 million children are being raised by same-sex couples or a same-sex single parent.
It's pretty interested to know there are so many children in same-sex families in Canada and the U.S. Some lesbian women I know are reluctant to start a family because they think they'll lack community support but these numbers aren't small. Knowing two or three lesbian or gay families can really help, socially. You don't have to feel like you're the only same-sex family picking up Ragu at the supermarket with all heterosexual eyes staring at you. I think knowing the numbers will help more lesbian and gay couples make the choice to have a family whether it's co-parenting, adopting or inseminating or raising children from their former opposite-sex relations!
Extended Family
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| My cousin from my mother's side, Bentley. Adorable! |
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| My sweet cousin Kairo who is 18 months now. |
You are What You eat x2
Grocery Day is Friday but it's going to be different now. Now I'm on a "prenatal" diet so I'm trying to eat nutrition-rich food. I did gain about 40lbs this year but I'm not trying to starve myself. I do want to do light exercises like swimming and cycling but that's about it until after baby's born. I work in a restaurant and I have some great recipes for healthy eating, plus a list of foods that will show up on my grocery list.
Recipe #1: Tropical Salad: sliced avocado, sliced smoked salmon, baby arugula, sliced boiled egg enriched with omega-3, sliced mangos and a honey-lemon vinaegrette. I love this salad, and to add protein I'll add some chickpeas!
Recipe #2 : Healthy Nachos-- whole grain nacho chips, red beans, low-fat Asiago cheese (very sparse), olives and red peppers baked and served with cottage cheese and low-fat spicy salsa. (Yum!)
Recipe #3 - Healthy Lasagne - Wholewheat lasagna pasta, lamb, feta cheese in a low-fat tomato sauce. Baked to perfection.
On my grocery list you'll be finding: salmon, chickpeas, pears, apples, almonds, hummus, avocado, brown rice, omega-3 eggs and light canned tuna (with celery..think tuna salad)
I love food and even though I'll have to say goodbye to sushi soon :( I have a penchant for grilled bacon and thin-crust Hawaiian pizza. There's no beating yourself up over it though. Even if you eat healthy 90% of the time, a few cookies or some butter on your toast won't kill you or your baby! And you have to have fun with food! There is a lot of healthy meals from different cultures. I tried a fiery-spicy chickpea dish from India with naan bread--it was delicious! And Tabule salad from Turkey/Lebanon and babaganouj are very delicious--as well as bulgar wheat salad. A turkey club wrap and a grilled chicken salad aren't the only things to eat! :) I hope this has been helpful!
Recipe #1: Tropical Salad: sliced avocado, sliced smoked salmon, baby arugula, sliced boiled egg enriched with omega-3, sliced mangos and a honey-lemon vinaegrette. I love this salad, and to add protein I'll add some chickpeas!
Recipe #2 : Healthy Nachos-- whole grain nacho chips, red beans, low-fat Asiago cheese (very sparse), olives and red peppers baked and served with cottage cheese and low-fat spicy salsa. (Yum!)
Recipe #3 - Healthy Lasagne - Wholewheat lasagna pasta, lamb, feta cheese in a low-fat tomato sauce. Baked to perfection.
On my grocery list you'll be finding: salmon, chickpeas, pears, apples, almonds, hummus, avocado, brown rice, omega-3 eggs and light canned tuna (with celery..think tuna salad)
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| SMOKED SALMON AND ARUGULA SALAD |
Suburbs VS City
My fiancee grew up in the suburbs and I grew up in the city although I spent some refreshing years living in the rural-suburbs. We decided to move out to the suburbs and not the city for many reasons. This isn't to say one is "better" than the other, they just have different advantages and disadvantages.
1. There is always ongoing construction and noise in the city--it's turning into NYC...it never sleeps! The suburbs rarely has construction and is quiet and peaceful...perfect for hardworking mommies and napping babies!
2. There are more rental properties in the City--meaning your neighbours will likely change often and the demographics of a neighbourhood can change quickly too. In the suburbs, you can count on making friends with your neighbours since they'll likely stick around!
3. The schools in the inner city are lacking in funds and aren't up to par. The schools in the suburbs are safer and often have more green space. I can attest to this first hand since I attended both a rural-suburban school and a city one!
4. Living in the City can be pretty expensive--parking fees are exorbitant and rental\mortgage is much higher. In the suburbs, rent\mortgage is cheaper for the same size home and parking is cheaper or included in the price.
5. Living in the City is easier if you take public transit. Living in the suburbs is fit for having a vehicle--and we have a car.
6. There are more provincial parks and green space in the undeveloped suburbs, including more ravines, ponds and wildlife such as deer and rabbits. In the City, there is more infrastructure and less green space other than designated parks.
7. Cities are bustling and busy! Suburbs are serene and quiet. (Did I mention that already?)
8. There are less shootings and crime in the suburbs than the City--perfect for child rearing!
9. Life in the suburbs is more laidback and old fashioned, you can find farmer's markets and get to know your butcher. In the City, expect big corporations and a more avant-garde approach to life.
10. There are often a lot of City strikes. You can avoid this by not living there.
1. There is always ongoing construction and noise in the city--it's turning into NYC...it never sleeps! The suburbs rarely has construction and is quiet and peaceful...perfect for hardworking mommies and napping babies!
2. There are more rental properties in the City--meaning your neighbours will likely change often and the demographics of a neighbourhood can change quickly too. In the suburbs, you can count on making friends with your neighbours since they'll likely stick around!
3. The schools in the inner city are lacking in funds and aren't up to par. The schools in the suburbs are safer and often have more green space. I can attest to this first hand since I attended both a rural-suburban school and a city one!
4. Living in the City can be pretty expensive--parking fees are exorbitant and rental\mortgage is much higher. In the suburbs, rent\mortgage is cheaper for the same size home and parking is cheaper or included in the price.
5. Living in the City is easier if you take public transit. Living in the suburbs is fit for having a vehicle--and we have a car.
6. There are more provincial parks and green space in the undeveloped suburbs, including more ravines, ponds and wildlife such as deer and rabbits. In the City, there is more infrastructure and less green space other than designated parks.
7. Cities are bustling and busy! Suburbs are serene and quiet. (Did I mention that already?)
8. There are less shootings and crime in the suburbs than the City--perfect for child rearing!
9. Life in the suburbs is more laidback and old fashioned, you can find farmer's markets and get to know your butcher. In the City, expect big corporations and a more avant-garde approach to life.
10. There are often a lot of City strikes. You can avoid this by not living there.
Orbit Around My World.
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| Socialite Nicole Richie with an Orbit stroller, she also has a fancy Balmoral too. |
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| The Orbit in Chocolate. Perfect for your little prince or princess! I love the shape! |
Here is a review from BabyEarth.com on the sweet Orbit G2.
Looking for a fresh, modern take on the tried and true travel system? Orbit Baby's Infant Travel System features unique engineering and a chic design that make it standout in the crowd. Now with the newest G2, there are more safety and ease-of-use features than ever before!
Like traditional travel systems, Orbit Baby's Infant Travel System G2 includes a stay-in-car base, infant car seat, and stroller frame. But that's where the similarities end. The Orbit G2's groundbreaking docking mechanism, known as SmartHub, allows the infant car seat to dock onto its base from almost any angle. No more twisting your back to get the car seat in just the right position! Plus, the base itself employs patent-pending StrongArm technology to ensure a secure installation in 60 seconds or less.
For the ultimate smooth ride for children, QuadShock™, Orbit's patent-pending 4-wheel stroller suspension, gives a plush ride with hassle-free, non-air tires that are made with lightweight and responsive EVA. And with the world’s only car seat fabrics certified healthy and clean by Oeko-Tex, this product is one of the most eco-friendly you can buy.
To complete the travel system, SmartHub allows the infant car seat to dock to the lightweight stroller from any angle with a 360 degree rotation that allows baby to face rear, forward, or sideways. And, because all Orbit Baby products are designed with the same interchangeable SmartHub technology, you can continue to use the base and stroller with other Orbit Baby seats and accessories.
Features:
Car Seat Mode:
- Infant car seat rotates for simple and ergonomic docking and undocking
- Deep-cradle design is fully lined with EPP foam for maximum side-impact protection
- Patent-pending soft carrier handle enables exceptionally comfortable carrying
- Ballistic nylon skins offer durability and elegance similar to high-end luggage
- Seat base includes an integrated seat pad to protect your vehicle's interior
- Includes 5-point harness, plush microfiber upholstery and infant insert
- Patent-pending upholstery design easily removes for machine-washing
- orbitgreen™: Certified Fabric - The first car seat with fabrics and foam certified clean by Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, ensuring they are easier on your baby's
- Meets or exceeds all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS 213) and ASTM (F2050 and F833) safety standards; CPSIA compliant
Stroller Mode:
- 360 degree rotation allows your baby to face rear, forward, or sideways
- Sunshade extension provides extra "paparazzi" coverage
- Easy. true, one-handed compact stroller fold
- Strong and lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum frame
- Removable cargo pod
- Telescoping handles accommodate a wide range of parent heights
- QuadShock™: patent-pending 4-wheel stroller suspension
- Tires made of lightweight and responsive EVA, also used in the midsoles of performance running shoes
- Built-in cupholder and key tray
- Car Seat supports infants 4-22 lbs and up to 29 inches
- Car Seat Weight: 10 lbs
- Stroller Frame Weight: 16 lbs and has a maximum weight capacity of 40 lbs (using the Orbit Toddler Stroller Seat, sold separately)
- Stroller Frame Folded Dimensions: 32.5"L x 15.5"W x 13"H
- Stroller Frame Width Unfolded: 24"
- Includes 2-year Limited Warranty
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| The Orbit in drool-worthy red. Worth every penny! |
Washing Instructions for upholstery pad - Machine wash cold, normal cycle, do not bleach. Line Dry.
Skipping On Our Way To The Fertility Clinic
Most heterosexual couples do the "baby dance" to get preggers. Well, we'll be doing the "syringe" dance. I have enlisted the help of one of the best fertility clinics in Ontario--Astra Fertility Clinic to help us embark on the journey of motherhood. Well, to be honest, we're already quite prepared. We have already stocked up on a lot of stuff (who can resist Robeez booties and Roots Junior sweatpants??). It isn't our first time trying--but it is our first time trying the clinic route. We tried (unsuccessfully) to get impregnated via the "Turkey Baster Method" with a wonderful, reliable 'known' donor who is a very intelligent doctor and a kind man. Unfortunately, our hectic schedules made it impossible to keep a commitment so we decided to head on over to the FC (fertility clinic).
Our first appointment is in November, because there's a waiting list. We are pretty excited. I have made some steps to adjust to getting ready for baby. I quit drinking (ahem...today), and bought cute little pink prenatal pills. The world of motherhood is cutthroat. If you don't have Omega 3,6, 9 in your prenatal pills, mamas and mamas-to-be will think you're neglecting and abusing your unborn fetus (or in my case, my non-existent fetus). If you eat a burger, you're a monster. If you don't do prenatal yoga, you're a fat, lazy monster. It's quite competitive out there. But I'm ready. I'm armed with cloth baby diapers!
People often ask me how I "pick" my donor. Well we looked at the donor catalogue (kind of like shopping online at Holt's ) and put together some criteria. At least 6"0, Caucasian (preferably Icelandic, German, Croatian, Danish, Swedish, Nordic, Greek or Italian), blue eyes, blond hair, nice teeth (I don't want our kid to go through a horrible 4 year stint with braces like I did!) and high intelligence, good health history and no allergies. See? Simple. We could easily get more complicated like ear shape, etc but I think people who do that are a bit pyscho! My fiancee is European so I wanted a donor who would match her background, although ultimately it wouldn't matter. I'd be happy with a Chinese or Hawaiian donor!
Our planned route to parenthood is simple. We plan to do two rounds of IUI per cycle with a low dosage of Clomid (I don't want to end up another Kate+8 if you know what I mean). I understand our likelihood of conceiving twins are high because I am under the age of 25, but we are prepared for that. We ultimately want one healthy child, but two is a blessing! In Ontario, I believe the cost of IUI is covered by OHIP although we will have to pay for the sperm donor's sperm and the sperm-wash out of pocket plus the cost of the Clomid fertility medication. The estimated cost per month of TTC is between $650-$750. IUI is a relatively cheap fertility procedure, if we had to do something more complex like IVF or ICSI we'd be looking well into the thousands.
My approach to motherhood is simple and natural. Breastfeeding, reusable/cloth diapers, homemade baby food, co-sleeping and baby-wearing. I have such a natural approach because my grandmother is a nurse, and our home was filled with books and books of natural health care and homemade remedies. I am so used to taking ginger root when I have a queasy stomach or rubbing aloe on a cut to heal it, that the chemicals and synthetic products used in today's society just strikes me as absurd.
Jumping into this, I feel very hopeful and I'm extremely excited as is my fiancee. Starting a family means so much--having conversations at the dinner table, driving Junior to hockey games and bedtime stories and lots of cuddling. I get to teach Junior all the great pastimes of my own childhood--sleighing, skating and snowboarding before a cup of steaming hot chocolate and swimming up North in the summer (gotta teach him how to burn leeches off his feet too!) whilst my fiancee can teach him her laidback Mediterranean lifestyle--sunshine, patios, Turkish coffee and soccer (a.k.a football). Her family is so close--dinners together and conversation after with a glass of wine, I really feel our kids will have a very enriched life!
Read on to the next post to see some baby accessory candy I REALLY want to purchase (although in the eco-friendly manner of which I operate, I'll try to get everything as sustainably as I can). Which means, borrowed or second-hand or from a store that donates a percentage of their profits to charity.
Our first appointment is in November, because there's a waiting list. We are pretty excited. I have made some steps to adjust to getting ready for baby. I quit drinking (ahem...today), and bought cute little pink prenatal pills. The world of motherhood is cutthroat. If you don't have Omega 3,6, 9 in your prenatal pills, mamas and mamas-to-be will think you're neglecting and abusing your unborn fetus (or in my case, my non-existent fetus). If you eat a burger, you're a monster. If you don't do prenatal yoga, you're a fat, lazy monster. It's quite competitive out there. But I'm ready. I'm armed with cloth baby diapers!
People often ask me how I "pick" my donor. Well we looked at the donor catalogue (kind of like shopping online at Holt's ) and put together some criteria. At least 6"0, Caucasian (preferably Icelandic, German, Croatian, Danish, Swedish, Nordic, Greek or Italian), blue eyes, blond hair, nice teeth (I don't want our kid to go through a horrible 4 year stint with braces like I did!) and high intelligence, good health history and no allergies. See? Simple. We could easily get more complicated like ear shape, etc but I think people who do that are a bit pyscho! My fiancee is European so I wanted a donor who would match her background, although ultimately it wouldn't matter. I'd be happy with a Chinese or Hawaiian donor!
Our planned route to parenthood is simple. We plan to do two rounds of IUI per cycle with a low dosage of Clomid (I don't want to end up another Kate+8 if you know what I mean). I understand our likelihood of conceiving twins are high because I am under the age of 25, but we are prepared for that. We ultimately want one healthy child, but two is a blessing! In Ontario, I believe the cost of IUI is covered by OHIP although we will have to pay for the sperm donor's sperm and the sperm-wash out of pocket plus the cost of the Clomid fertility medication. The estimated cost per month of TTC is between $650-$750. IUI is a relatively cheap fertility procedure, if we had to do something more complex like IVF or ICSI we'd be looking well into the thousands.
My approach to motherhood is simple and natural. Breastfeeding, reusable/cloth diapers, homemade baby food, co-sleeping and baby-wearing. I have such a natural approach because my grandmother is a nurse, and our home was filled with books and books of natural health care and homemade remedies. I am so used to taking ginger root when I have a queasy stomach or rubbing aloe on a cut to heal it, that the chemicals and synthetic products used in today's society just strikes me as absurd.
Jumping into this, I feel very hopeful and I'm extremely excited as is my fiancee. Starting a family means so much--having conversations at the dinner table, driving Junior to hockey games and bedtime stories and lots of cuddling. I get to teach Junior all the great pastimes of my own childhood--sleighing, skating and snowboarding before a cup of steaming hot chocolate and swimming up North in the summer (gotta teach him how to burn leeches off his feet too!) whilst my fiancee can teach him her laidback Mediterranean lifestyle--sunshine, patios, Turkish coffee and soccer (a.k.a football). Her family is so close--dinners together and conversation after with a glass of wine, I really feel our kids will have a very enriched life!
Read on to the next post to see some baby accessory candy I REALLY want to purchase (although in the eco-friendly manner of which I operate, I'll try to get everything as sustainably as I can). Which means, borrowed or second-hand or from a store that donates a percentage of their profits to charity.
Meet Our Family
My sweet, selfless, generous, loving and wonderful fiancee L. She's pretty amazing.
Me: the research geeky girl.
Roman - our ex-puppy.
Marco - our ex-dog.
Me: the research geeky girl.
Roman - our ex-puppy.
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| Roman (pug). Marco (Pomeranian-mix) |
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| My fiancee and I. |
Welcome to Our World!
My fiancee doesn't do the posting--only me. She thinks "blog" is some kind of disease associated with exhaustion. She's a bit inert when it comes to the Internet. So now we are trying to start a family and I thought about blogging about it because our methods are different and I haven't found much material on the Internet showcasing and detailing the whole big kalapalooza of Artifical Inseminations, particularly for lesbians. We are lesbians and we are going to be mommies. We live in Ontario (Canada) and have been together for 3 years and plan to get married June 2011. Yay!
So for your unsavvy TTC readers out there (TTC= Trying To Conceive) I'll post some descriptions so you're not scratching your heads.
IUI- Intra uterine insemination (where pre-washed sperm is injected into your uterus by a doc)
ICSI -
ICSI is an acronym for intracytoplasmic sperm injection - which is a fancy way of saying "inject sperm in the middle of the egg". ICSI is a very effective method to fertilize eggs in the IVF lab after they have been retrieved from the female.
IVF - In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the womb, in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVF
Sperm Donor - Sperm donation is the provision (or 'donation') by a man, known as a sperm donor, of his sperm, known as donor sperm, with the intention that it be used to impregnate a woman who is not usually the man's sexual partner in order to produce a child. (Wikipedia)
Fertility Clinic - Fertility clinics are staffed medical clinics that assist couples, and sometimes individuals, who want to become parents but for medical reasons have been unable to achieve this goal via the natural course. Clinics apply a number of diagnosis tests and sometimes very advanced medical treatments to obtain the desired conceptions and pregnancies. (Wikipedia)
Fertility Drugs - Fertility medication is a drug that enhances fertility. For women, fertility medication is used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary.
Turkey Baster Method - The Turkey Baster Method is the most common way to get pregnant and have an insemination at home. More often than not you do NOT actually use a turkey baster but a disposable syringe.
So for your unsavvy TTC readers out there (TTC= Trying To Conceive) I'll post some descriptions so you're not scratching your heads.
IUI- Intra uterine insemination (where pre-washed sperm is injected into your uterus by a doc)
ICSI -
ICSI is an acronym for intracytoplasmic sperm injection - which is a fancy way of saying "inject sperm in the middle of the egg". ICSI is a very effective method to fertilize eggs in the IVF lab after they have been retrieved from the female.
IVF - In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is a process by which egg cells are fertilised by sperm outside the womb, in vitro. IVF is a major treatment in infertility when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IVF
Sperm Donor - Sperm donation is the provision (or 'donation') by a man, known as a sperm donor, of his sperm, known as donor sperm, with the intention that it be used to impregnate a woman who is not usually the man's sexual partner in order to produce a child. (Wikipedia)
Fertility Clinic - Fertility clinics are staffed medical clinics that assist couples, and sometimes individuals, who want to become parents but for medical reasons have been unable to achieve this goal via the natural course. Clinics apply a number of diagnosis tests and sometimes very advanced medical treatments to obtain the desired conceptions and pregnancies. (Wikipedia)
Fertility Drugs - Fertility medication is a drug that enhances fertility. For women, fertility medication is used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary.
Turkey Baster Method - The Turkey Baster Method is the most common way to get pregnant and have an insemination at home. More often than not you do NOT actually use a turkey baster but a disposable syringe.
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