Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
Mondays...
How can you hate Mondays when you don't even work? lol
Today was a pretty "blah" kinda day, for no particular reason really.
Now tomorrow, tomorrow will be completely different. I have been looking forward to tomorrow since Friday. Never have I wanted a weekend to end so quickly. The reason is Hubby is FINALLY going back to work! I can't wait to have him out of the house! I can wake up and do whatever I want, my own schedule, my routine.
I have high hopes for tomorrow, and hopefully MV will cooperate but I plan on doing a major clean sweep. Have you ever tried to clean when someone is sitting on the couch in front of you? Or moving around room to room just as you want to do something in that room. Our house really is not that big and even with the three floors we practically were tripping on each other.
And he is working here in town. Bonus. Friday morning we were very stressed because it was looking like he would be packing for Edmonton this week since work here has been scarce but a few hours after deciding he needed to go we got the call. Even though I'm ready to have him out of the house I am not ready to play single mom while he's out West working.
So today has sorta just been about waiting for tomorrow.
Fingers crossed its as good as I'm hoping :)
ps hope everyone had a great weekend!
Today was a pretty "blah" kinda day, for no particular reason really.
Now tomorrow, tomorrow will be completely different. I have been looking forward to tomorrow since Friday. Never have I wanted a weekend to end so quickly. The reason is Hubby is FINALLY going back to work! I can't wait to have him out of the house! I can wake up and do whatever I want, my own schedule, my routine.
I have high hopes for tomorrow, and hopefully MV will cooperate but I plan on doing a major clean sweep. Have you ever tried to clean when someone is sitting on the couch in front of you? Or moving around room to room just as you want to do something in that room. Our house really is not that big and even with the three floors we practically were tripping on each other.
And he is working here in town. Bonus. Friday morning we were very stressed because it was looking like he would be packing for Edmonton this week since work here has been scarce but a few hours after deciding he needed to go we got the call. Even though I'm ready to have him out of the house I am not ready to play single mom while he's out West working.
So today has sorta just been about waiting for tomorrow.
Fingers crossed its as good as I'm hoping :)
ps hope everyone had a great weekend!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Starfish
Last week MV started his swim lessons :) He is a starfish!
He goes every Tuesday and Saturday until the end of the month. He loved the pool in the summer so we wanted to keep him comfortable with the water, plus he is in the class with his cousin and their friend so it's great social time (and it's free because hubby's uncle owns the gym)
This Saturday I am going to bring my good camera but here are a couple pictures hubby took with his phone :)
He goes every Tuesday and Saturday until the end of the month. He loved the pool in the summer so we wanted to keep him comfortable with the water, plus he is in the class with his cousin and their friend so it's great social time (and it's free because hubby's uncle owns the gym)
This Saturday I am going to bring my good camera but here are a couple pictures hubby took with his phone :)
A Yes Parent
Now that MV is officially mobile he is getting into everything. Full on discovery mode is happening here, my kid is full of curiosity.
Hubby and I really do not want MV to turn into one of those toddlers whose favourite word is No, so we're trying hard not to say it...
Now of course we don't allow him to do just anything he wants, but within reason he is free to explore and when it's time to discourage something he is given an explanation ie "that is dirty don't put it in your mouth".
I know some other parents might be laughing right now, maybe even shaking their heads at this foolish first time mom; but so far this IS working. If said in the right tone MV will stop what he's doing... either that or get a devilish grin on his face and do it again which leads to said object being taken or him relocated.
My theory is this. I want him to be curious, to explore, problem solve, discover his surroundings and encourage learning.
I also want to encourage language development. Recently we were in the company of friends and family who each have an almost 2 year old child. These kids were actually only a week apart in age but it was amazing the difference in the language development and overall maturity for lack of a better word. The one spoke simple words like "no" and "ma" and "up" where as the other one spoke almost sentences. I noticed the difference in the way the parents each spoke to their child and I really think that has a lot to do with it. The one who spoke more fluently was spoken to by his parents in full sentences, and not in baby talk or simple commands. Hence our approach was influenced by this.
Have you seen this blog? Play at Home Mom; I found it when looking for resources for a friend and fell in love. The whole blog is about learning through play and discovery, encouraging independent thinking in your child. There are so many awesome ideas on how to encourage learning and imagination in your child.
Anyways, there are some days when saying no is needed but we are really trying hard to avoid it. I have already received some skeptical "good luck with that" responses from people about this, but I figure he's my first child and your supposed to learn with them right? ;) lol
Hubby and I really do not want MV to turn into one of those toddlers whose favourite word is No, so we're trying hard not to say it...
Now of course we don't allow him to do just anything he wants, but within reason he is free to explore and when it's time to discourage something he is given an explanation ie "that is dirty don't put it in your mouth".
I know some other parents might be laughing right now, maybe even shaking their heads at this foolish first time mom; but so far this IS working. If said in the right tone MV will stop what he's doing... either that or get a devilish grin on his face and do it again which leads to said object being taken or him relocated.
My theory is this. I want him to be curious, to explore, problem solve, discover his surroundings and encourage learning.
I also want to encourage language development. Recently we were in the company of friends and family who each have an almost 2 year old child. These kids were actually only a week apart in age but it was amazing the difference in the language development and overall maturity for lack of a better word. The one spoke simple words like "no" and "ma" and "up" where as the other one spoke almost sentences. I noticed the difference in the way the parents each spoke to their child and I really think that has a lot to do with it. The one who spoke more fluently was spoken to by his parents in full sentences, and not in baby talk or simple commands. Hence our approach was influenced by this.
Have you seen this blog? Play at Home Mom; I found it when looking for resources for a friend and fell in love. The whole blog is about learning through play and discovery, encouraging independent thinking in your child. There are so many awesome ideas on how to encourage learning and imagination in your child.
Anyways, there are some days when saying no is needed but we are really trying hard to avoid it. I have already received some skeptical "good luck with that" responses from people about this, but I figure he's my first child and your supposed to learn with them right? ;) lol
Monday, November 5, 2012
Harder than I thought.
This parenting thing is difficult.
Much more difficult than I ever thought it would be. Sometimes I feel like I was completely unprepared.
Sometimes I worry if how I'm feeling is normal, if I'm the only one to deal with this life. Every now and then someone validates my feelings and tells me how they feel or felt the same. It's nice to hear that, nice to know its not only you.
When I was pregnant I had this vision of what it would be like to have a baby. I imagined having a perfect, well kept, organized house. Plenty of time to do crafts, and take tons of photographs of my baby most of which would be inspired by my pinterest finds. Of course dinner would be made ever night and our life would be full of nothing but rainbows and unicorns.
Of course in this dream world I would also look fabulous because I would drop the baby weight quickly and buy a chic and stylish new wardrobe. We would be oh so happy.
Ok reality check time...
I spent the first 6 months postpartum covered in baby puke.
I've lost too much weight to wear my maternity clothes but not near enough to wear my regular clothes.
I feel like a slob, My self image is crap. And buying a stylish new wardrobe is out of the question while on maternity leave.
My baby cries and whines a lot. He's very happy but also very emotional in general.
He relies on me for everything. Duh obviously right? Ya I knew this but I didn't anticipate how mentally exhausting it would be to be relied on like this. Sometimes I need/want a break.
I'm probably more emotional and easier to anger now than while pregnant. My hormones are out of control and my hair is still falling out.
I am ashamed and disappointed in my lack of photographs of my child.
I don't have any spare time. What you might consider spare time is usually taken by my own need to nap. No matter how much I nap I am still tired.
It's surprising how well I can function on so little sleep. It's even more surprising when all of a sudden my body realizes its exhausted and can no longer function properly.
I cook dinner maybe twice a week. The rest of the week we eat cereal, or left overs, or pancakes etc.
My marriage is strained, and at moments at risk of failing. I struggle daily with finding the balance of my roles as mother and wife.
I'm jealous of moms who have "easy" babies, moms who somehow have a life.
So that's how it is. Don't get me wrong I love my baby, my husband, my life. I just wanted to be honest and put that out there because I know that the few honest posts like this have really helped me feel better on those tougher days.
oxo
Much more difficult than I ever thought it would be. Sometimes I feel like I was completely unprepared.
Sometimes I worry if how I'm feeling is normal, if I'm the only one to deal with this life. Every now and then someone validates my feelings and tells me how they feel or felt the same. It's nice to hear that, nice to know its not only you.
When I was pregnant I had this vision of what it would be like to have a baby. I imagined having a perfect, well kept, organized house. Plenty of time to do crafts, and take tons of photographs of my baby most of which would be inspired by my pinterest finds. Of course dinner would be made ever night and our life would be full of nothing but rainbows and unicorns.
Of course in this dream world I would also look fabulous because I would drop the baby weight quickly and buy a chic and stylish new wardrobe. We would be oh so happy.
Ok reality check time...
I spent the first 6 months postpartum covered in baby puke.
I've lost too much weight to wear my maternity clothes but not near enough to wear my regular clothes.
I feel like a slob, My self image is crap. And buying a stylish new wardrobe is out of the question while on maternity leave.
My baby cries and whines a lot. He's very happy but also very emotional in general.
He relies on me for everything. Duh obviously right? Ya I knew this but I didn't anticipate how mentally exhausting it would be to be relied on like this. Sometimes I need/want a break.
I'm probably more emotional and easier to anger now than while pregnant. My hormones are out of control and my hair is still falling out.
I am ashamed and disappointed in my lack of photographs of my child.
I don't have any spare time. What you might consider spare time is usually taken by my own need to nap. No matter how much I nap I am still tired.
It's surprising how well I can function on so little sleep. It's even more surprising when all of a sudden my body realizes its exhausted and can no longer function properly.
I cook dinner maybe twice a week. The rest of the week we eat cereal, or left overs, or pancakes etc.
My marriage is strained, and at moments at risk of failing. I struggle daily with finding the balance of my roles as mother and wife.
I'm jealous of moms who have "easy" babies, moms who somehow have a life.
So that's how it is. Don't get me wrong I love my baby, my husband, my life. I just wanted to be honest and put that out there because I know that the few honest posts like this have really helped me feel better on those tougher days.
oxo
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Just do what works
Yesterday MV and I went to Ottawa to visit my moms family. Hubby has been sick so we hitched a ride with my brother who was driving home from Toronto, we just had him pick us up on his way.
We don't visit too often as it makes for a long day since we always drive there and back in the same day. Most visits we spend more time traveling than visiting.
Yesterday we actually were there for a nice long stretch of time. MV was fairly well behaved, slightly tired and fussy. There were bucket loads of drool coming out of his mouth, quite obvious he was teething.
Despite this I attempted to feed him solids (he doesn't like to eat when his teeth hurt). We happened to be sitting beside my youngest uncle and his wife (my uncle is only six years older than me and his wife only two), they have two young children aged three and two so we were discussing child related things. I was mentioning MV's general disliking for eating solids and told them I feed him most successfully while he is in his exersaucer and said that I don't really know if that's the right thing to do.
Their response was the best and most simple piece of advice or encouragement I have received yet.
"there is no right thing, just do what works"
It was sincere, and empathetic and just the reassurance I needed.
We don't visit too often as it makes for a long day since we always drive there and back in the same day. Most visits we spend more time traveling than visiting.
Yesterday we actually were there for a nice long stretch of time. MV was fairly well behaved, slightly tired and fussy. There were bucket loads of drool coming out of his mouth, quite obvious he was teething.
Despite this I attempted to feed him solids (he doesn't like to eat when his teeth hurt). We happened to be sitting beside my youngest uncle and his wife (my uncle is only six years older than me and his wife only two), they have two young children aged three and two so we were discussing child related things. I was mentioning MV's general disliking for eating solids and told them I feed him most successfully while he is in his exersaucer and said that I don't really know if that's the right thing to do.
Their response was the best and most simple piece of advice or encouragement I have received yet.
"there is no right thing, just do what works"
It was sincere, and empathetic and just the reassurance I needed.
Too big
I posted this on instagram last week but forgot to post here ....
On the left is the sleeper he wears now at 8 months (size 12m) and the right is a sleeper he fit in when he came home from the hospital.
My baby is growing way too fast :(
On the left is the sleeper he wears now at 8 months (size 12m) and the right is a sleeper he fit in when he came home from the hospital.
My baby is growing way too fast :(
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