Playtime

   Now that Emma is older she's so much more fun to play with. She explores and learns new things all the time. Although, some games mommy doesn't really approve. I think her favorite game is "What can I taste next?" I know some kids stick everything in their mouth, but I think Emma is obsessed! I mean she goes around with her mouth open, a predator look in her eyes looking like she's ready to attack. She chews on metal poles, toilet seats and the end of the hose that brings the dirty water out of our washing machine..very sanitary. Sometimes she lies on her stomach - arms and legs spread out on the floor, chewing on the end of my boots. She looks so ridiculous :D

Emma helping out with chores

   Whenever we're somewhere with less people around, I let her crawl around on the floor. No joke, if she had a leash on it would feel exactly like walking a dog.

    Angelina Jolie mentioned a qoute in her book: "you can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation". I've realized that's really true, and it's so much more fun spending time with someone if you get to explore your imagination. I try to spend as much time as possible playing with Emma, but honestly it would be a lot more fun if she would understand what I say. I try building obstacle courses, tents and other games for us, but she doesn't seem to care for them (or maybe just not yet...).

Our little jungle :)

Money money money

Somehow I feel like I need to vent this out, and maybe, someone will read this and learn not to bring the topic up.
When Emma (Lil'E) was born, I figured money wouldn't be an issue. I thought so, because in Finland you're under the impression that the government helps you with finances when times are tough. It's true, but sometimes that money just isn't enough. Anyways, I hoped once Emma was a few months old we could move to our own place and not need to cram into my mom's apartment. My hopes were quickly crushed once I started calculating our expenses. Many people ask how much money we get from the Finnish government (Kela). We qualify for max 759e. Awesome. Now if we were to pay rent we'd qualify for the government to pay some of it, but i'd still end up paying about 200e. After that theres electricity, water, insurance, phone, internet, buscard (when school starts), gym (contract ends in november), maybe daycare (30e), diapers, cleaning & sanitary products (50e), Emma's food (200e), Emma's clothes (50e). That makes roughly 628e. So 759-200-628= -69. Wohoo I have NEGATIVE 69e to buy myself food every month. It's quite the feeling knowing I wont be able to afford healthcare, going for coffee, going out, going to the movies or even taking my kid to the zoo.
So when you decide to question my comment "we can't afford to move out" better keep it to yourself. You think I don't want to give Emma her own room? Or furnish a home to our likings? It makes me feel like such a failure of a mother because I can't give us our own home.

Beauty Procedures

 Ear piercing
 
   I've been thinking Emma could get her ears pierced. In Costa Rica all baby girls get theirs pierced at birth; since Emma doesn't look Hispanic, I figured that way people would notice she's not just Finnish. Down side is, people in Finland consider piercing a baby's ears some form of child abuse. It's bad enough people immediately assume young mom = bad mom, but now they'd have something to 'prove their point'. Also I was thinking it might hurt her or she might get her ears infected, but naturally I'd take them out if I see they're getting very red. Anyways, if the procedure hurts her, its not like she'll remember it in a couple hours :P
   My dad thinks it's a good idea and maybe this way he'll stop calling her "boy face" (such a nice grandpa). I keep thinking that the longer I wait, the more it'll hurt her to get them so any opinions are welcome to speed up my decision. It being such an huge dilema and whatnot -__- .


Some funny moments this week:

Emma decided to splash around in the dog's water bowl at my dad's place. Not only did she get herself all wet and made the hugest puddle on the carpet, but once I undressed her and re-filled the dog bowl, she rushed right back to it!!!

  ....and again emptied it all over the floor :D But it was the cutest thing to watch her have fun!















Thought Emma was choking so I hung her upside down to see if whatever she swallowed would fall out...

I don't think there was anything there, but atleast Emma had fun hanging like a bat. Cool "yay! let's party" expression :D

15.01.2012

   I've been thinking about starting a blog for quite some time. Problem is I have NO idea how to use this blogger!!! It's took me 3 days to figure out how to put a picture up (the one that's up at the top). It' not the most flattering picture of me and Emma but it'll have to do since I don't understand how to change the sizing. I would like a picture of myself on the "about me" section on the right, and a timeline strip thing(??) that a lot of people have on their blogs showing for example their kid's age or a countdown to an event. So if anyone knows how to add them, don't hesitate to comment :D

   Starting this blog is more of an experiment. My ideas are always jumping up and down and I forget everything, so maybe this will keep things organized. Also, everyone is always asking about Emma so if anyone wants to know what's going on in her life, here they can see what she's been up to. I've also heard requests to write about "the emotional struggles of a single teen-mom", but I don't like sharing my feelings so probably not gona happen. Anyways, already know what my first proper entry will be about but who knows when Emma will give me the time to write it!

Restfull Sunday to all :)