Game Review: Geoguessr

I'd like to take the opportunity today to introduce you to my favourite online game: GeoGuessr.  I came across this game on the internet about six months ago, and it still hasn't gotten old.  (It is true that I don't play it as often as I used to, but that has more to do with having a baby than the quality of the game!)

How it works:
Do you know the "street view" option on Google Earth maps?  Basically, GeoGuessr places you somewhere on a street somewhere in the world, and you have to figure out where you are.  You can move forward and backward along the street and turn onto other streets while looking for clues to help you pinpoint your location.  There is a world map in the bottom right corner of the screen that you use to make your guess.  Once you make your guess, you are shown where the actual location was, and how far your guess was from the correct location.  You are awarded points based on how close your guess was, with a maximum of 5,000 points per map.  One round of the game involves 5 maps, so a perfect score would be 25,000 points.

There are also variations on the basic game that let you select a certain area of the world.  Some examples include Canada, the European Union, and Australia.

I really enjoy this game!  It's kind of like a puzzle or a detective game, and you get to see what different parts of the world look like, as if you were driving or walking along their streets.  Finding clues can be hard or easy, depending on what part of the world you find yourself in.  Flags help a lot, as does checking to see what language the road signs are in.  Highway numbers, city distance signs, and street names are great for narrowing down where you are once you've figured out what country you're in.  And of course you can take hints from the kind of landscape you can see!

GeoGuessr is both fun and educational.  I am really looking forward to when I have kids that are old enough that I can use this game to teach them geography!

Do you like puzzles, maps, or seeing other parts of the world?  You should try it out!

Here is the link:  https://geoguessr.com/more-maps

My top score for the world category is 24993 and my top score for Canada is 24999.  Think you can beat me??

10 Things I Didn't Know About Being a Mom

In the weeks and months before becoming a mom, a lot of people enjoyed telling me about what to expect.  Tips and suggestions were given in abundance.  As I reflect on nearly three months of motherhood(!), a few things came to mind that I had not been expecting as I embarked on the adventure of being a mom.  My list made me smile, so I thought I would share it with you!

10. Your perspective on labour changes.  When I was pregnant, I heard labour often referred to as a marathon.  This was usually accompanied by advice about taking care of yourself, and doing your best to rest, eat, etc. And that was really good advice.  However, after the first few weeks of having a newborn, you realize that labour was more of a sprint.  It's the weeks following labour that are more like a marathon!

9. Everything smells like stale milk.  Everything.  Your clothes, your hair, your bed, the couch, yeah pretty much the whole house.  And the car.  I'm kind of getting used to the smell, to be honest.  It's not so bad.

8. Burping always works - on me.  I used to have an idyllic picture of what burping a baby was like.  You hold the baby to your shoulder and gently pat his back a couple of times and that's all it takes, right?  Apparently it's not that simple.  Trying to coax out that reluctant bubble of gas at times seems on par with untying the Gordian Knot!  I, on the other hand, burp every time without fail!

7. When babies need to pass gas, they just let 'er rip.  And they are not shy about it.  How can that loud of a sound come out of that small of a person?!

6. Bodily functions become super exciting.  Burping, farting, pooing, and peeing all become an interesting part of the day, and an engaging topic of conversation.

5. Lists of dos and don'ts quickly become guilt trips, but don't always guide your decisions.  Sometimes it is simply desperation that guides your decisions.

4. There is no more place for pride.  For example: I don't drink coffee.  I never have, and I still don't plan on it.  I made it through college and got my bachelor's degree without ever drinking a cup of coffee, and I was quite proud of that.  Now I am a new mom.  I have seriously considered drinking coffee.  On many occasions.  I still haven't, but there are days that it is very tempting.

3. Sometimes you feel like super mom and sometimes you feel like a miserable failure.  Sometimes both on the same day.  Or within the same hour.

2.  People actually like being asked to help.  I have been overwhelmed with all the people who have been so eager to help us out.  From people at church who brought us meals, to friends providing free babysitting, to the many many gifts from family and friends, we have felt so blessed!  I don't know how I would have made it through the first month without all of the people who were there for me when I called on them, to help out with housework or watch the baby while I had a nap.

1. Your mood can change in a moment.  When you're tired, frustrated, at the end of your rope, and wondering why you ever wanted a baby, it only takes a moment - one little smile, a perfect tiny hand clasping your finger tightly, or eyelids drooping into gentle, trusting sleep in your arms - and suddenly it's all worthwhile.

Are you a mother?  What did you find surprising or unexpected when you first became a mom?

You're Doing It Wrong

Why is it so easy to feel like everyone is pointing their finger and saying you are wrong?

I was wondering about this the other day.

I was having a very innocent conversation with another mom and she happened to mention that her baby doesn't use a pacifier.

Immediately I was on the defensive.

Is she judging me because I use a pacifier with my baby?  Does she think I am a weakling who needs a crutch to calm her baby?  Is she judging my ability as a mother?  Why is she so "holier than thou"?!

Outwardly, I smiled and nodded, and the conversation went on.

Later, I was pondering what had happened and my inward gut reaction.  Why had I responded like that?  She had just been giving me a piece of information, not telling me what I should be doing.  She doesn't use a soother with her baby?  Good for her.  I use a soother with my baby?  Good for me.  WHO CARES??

Apparently I do.

And I'm guessing I'm not the only one.

Of course, there are some things that parents should really not do when raising their children, but when it comes down to it, the spectrum of acceptable child-raising practices is quite broad.  And different people do it differently.

So why are those differences so threatening?

And I don't think it's just a mom thing.  We can see this tendency all around us.  Not only do we think that people who are different than us are wrong, we think that by being different they are telling us that we are wrong.  But often that is simply not the case.

Perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to assume that other people are judging us.

As a mother, and a human being, I am trying to change the filter I wear over my ears.  Instead of hearing: "This is what I do, and you're doing it wrong", I want to hear what was actually said, which was simply: "This is what I do".

Maybe we will end up having a conversation about why we have each made the choices that we have made; maybe we won't.  Maybe one of us will decide to give something else a try; maybe we won't.  I think that's okay.

It's okay that we are all different.

The world would be a pretty boring place if everyone was the same.

Midnight Reflections on Family

One night, after one of Steven's feedings, I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, and I found myself reflecting on life and family.  I thought I would share some of those reflections with you.

I think my bedroom is a lot like my family, or at least it reminds me of how I want my family to be.

Steven's crib is in our room, close to our bed.  This reminds me of how I always want to have my children close to me.  To know how they are doing.  To hear them when they are sad or scared or lonely.  I want them to know that I am always there for them.

On my other side I hear Jesse's quiet breathing.  We share the same bed, just as we share the same life, "for better or for worse".  He needs to be my priority.  We need to tend and nurture our relationship, no matter how busy the rest of life may be.

And as I looked up at the ceiling, my thoughts went to our heavenly Father who is our Life.  Side by side with my family - those dearest to me - my deepest desire is that we may all keep our eyes fixed on our Shepherd, Sustainer and Saviour, who will provide all that we need to make it through the adventure of life.

Sleeping like a Baby

I'm sure you are familiar with the phrase: "I slept like a baby".  This phrase generally seems to be used when referring to a quiet and peaceful sleep.

Huh.

I would like for us to all pause for a moment and consider what you are REALLY saying when you say that you slept like a baby:

- You slept on a firm mattress with bars around you and no pillow.
- You made all sorts of funny grunts and groans in your sleep.
- You woke up crying every three hours or so because either:
  a. You pooped your pants,
  b. You have gas, or
  c. You are REALLY hungry and want milk RIGHT NOW.
- But at least you looked super cute while you were sleeping.

Two Months!

Our precious Steven just keeps getting bigger and bigger!  It is amazing to me how he has been a part of our lives for two months now.  The past week has included a couple fun "firsts" - first weekend away from home (a trip up to Skaha so Jesse could go climbing), and first time rolling over from his tummy onto his back!  Today Steven is wearing six-month clothes (admittedly a little baggy still) and I am wearing pre-pregnancy jeans for the first time (admittedly fairly tight still)!

Here are a few pictures, because you know you want them:

Mommy and Steven enjoy "picnics" out in the sun.

Lunch on the trail

Learning that naps can happen anywhere!

First family adventure!

Two months old  - and getting cuter every day!