Cheatin'

Today is Trevor's first day back to work and my first day alone with both kids... kind of.
I'm a bit of a cheater.
I'm still using my baby-sitter... part time. Gulp, I shared it. That's right world, I am paying another individual to look after my child while I adjust to Claire.
Although, I do feel terribly guilty, I also feel a little relieved. Slowly, Simon, Claire and I will figure out how to do life together. Until then, Simon will still get his much needed play time with his favorite girls. It's just for a few mornings for a few more weeks. Our baby-sitter is so amazing, it's hard to imagine Simon's life without her.

This year...

Dear Riders,
Last year, you broke our hearts.
This year, could you pretty please bring home the Grey Cup?
Simon turns 19 months old today. He loves to say "Go Razzzz" (Go Riders) and he loves to throw his hands up in the air when we say "Touchdown". He's wearing his "Ri-dehzzzz" shirt and is excited to watch the game with his buddy Kade.
Good luck, guys! You have an entire province watching with baited breath to see how you do (and if you can count) this year!

Settling

Sleeping Beauty - She's finally out of our bed and into her bassinet.

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Simon's attempt at Movember.

Life is settling into a simple routine around here. Basically, we revolve around our children and whatever they need the most at the moment. Mostly, this means I read Simon stories and nurse Claire. That's a pretty good job description for a Momma of 2 little people.
On Monday, Trevor goes back to work and it's two against one here. I'm a little nervous and yet, I'm excited to get some sort of routine organized. I'm sure that there will be some hair pulling moments on my part as well as some pretty sweet times. My biggest challenge will be taking the two of them out. I like to get out of the house so, I'm up for the challenge. We'll see how things go.

Breaking me in easy...

Claire is an EASY baby. How do I know this? My lovely little man was not.
I always knew that Simon was a challenging newborn but, the past 5 days have revealed that to me even more. My poor little man was one hurting unit during his infancy. Those casts and surgeries didn't make things easy on him (or us). He's such a happy little guy now. I know it was PAIN and not personality. However, I had no idea how extreme it was at the time.
I had been dreading Claire's infancy so much because, my only experience with a newborn was so stressful. He was so unhappy and all I wanted to do was protect him. Claire is sooo different. I can see why people love newborns. She's such a happy little snuggler. Her days and nights are a little mixed up but, she'll straighten them out. She protests her car seat for all of 5 seconds and then settles nicely. Her biggest trauma to date was her bath and, she'll get used to that too.
I'm also still in the honeymoon stage. Trevor's still home. We have no real routine yet. Life will change again next week when it's two against one. Fortunately, I think that this week of bliss with Trevor will give me the rest I need to figure out a routine and the logistics of how to take two little non-walkers out and about in the snow and cold.

Welcome Claire Aimee

She's here!

Claire Aimee kept us up all of Monday night. We went to the hospital at 12:30 to find that, although I was 4 cm dilated, I wasn't having consistent enough contractions to stay. This turned out to be an okay thing because, I was able to manage 3 more hours of sleep in my own bed. By 7:30, we were back at the hospital with very consistent contractions.
I was happy that my Birth Plan (read EPIDURAL) went smoothly and then, we waited a few more hours. Claire only made me push for 20 minutes and she was out. 7 lbs 5 oz, 51 cm long on Nov. 16th at 10:59 am.
I was so blessed with such a smooth and positive delivery. My nurses were amazing (I had two very lovely students wait on me hand and foot). My doctor is also amazing and she showed up on her day off to catch Claire. The new L+D unit as well as Mother/Baby are fabulous!
We arrived at home last night and have been very content to snuggle our babies on this very cold and stormy November day.

Overdue - A Top Ten List

While googling "overdue" (because that's what one does while overdue), I came across this humourous list of the Top Ten "Things Not to Say to an Overdue Lady". It made me smile and, because I actually have readers checking in regularly (another one of the joys of being overdue), I felt pressure to write "something" besides giving you the run down of all the household chores I've been up to. :)

10. Now, when was your due date?

9. Your belly sure is, uh... huge.

8. Are you sure it isn't twins. (Positive... absolutely positive!)

7. Have you tried....? (Insert random wives' tale here... of course we've tried them!)

6. When will you be induced? (Never, I hope...)

5. Doesn't that placenta have, like, an expiration date? (Stamped on it's side, actually.)

4. Maybe they got your dates wrong.

3. When I was pregnant...

2. Oh, being overdue isn't that bad.

1. Don't sit there, your water might break...

(Posted here originally.)

The photo was taken courtesy of my sweet MIL who took my little boy to play in the snow because she has way more energy then me!

Remember

I teach a lot about war.
I still can't explain why it happens.
As a mother, I hold my little boy close today and remember all the mothers who've lost their children.
I will not forget their sacrifice.

3

I'm a little overdue but, feeling swell. :)

We're currently savoring our last few days as a family of 3. 18 1/2 months old is bliss. We love Simon's belly laughs, babbles and constant desire for interaction. If he could have dream day, we'd read all morning, eat raisin toast and Nutella for breakfast and lunch, play with all four of his grandparents until nap time, party in his crib, zonk out and then wake up to play balloons with his baby-sitter and his favorite 2 girls. (We could do without the frustrating tantrums but, they're part and parcel of where he's at in life).

Today, he learned to scratch. He LOVES to "tickle" other people. He loves putting on his dress-up hats and watching Sesame Street. He loves to cuddle. He also loves to learn animal noises. He's finally added pig grunting to bahhing, mooing, meowing, panting (dog), hoohooing and roaring. He's mastered the stairs and has the most adorable version of a jump that I've ever seen.

Don't get me wrong, we're pumped for Schmoo 2. We're just enjoying where we're at too. When people call to "wonder how I'm doing" as an overdue lady, I smile to myself. Simon was 5 days overdue and I was pretty anxious. He came... he's fine. I have no doubts that this little one will show up in his or her own time. Until then, I'm going to bask in being the mommy of just one before the busy days of a newborn are here and all I write about is sleep exhaustion. :)

Due Date

Waking up on the wedding day sportin' his 4th hair cut.

Our little family.

My handsome men!
On Simon's due date, I was sad and lonely. My friend Nancy took me for tea and cheered me up.
Today, I was thrilled that Schmoo 2 decided not to make his/her appearance today (or yesterday).
I LOVED celebrating at Jared and Jeanette's wedding. They had the most perfect day. Both were beautiful and I'm so happy for them.
Today, I was able to go to a family brunch and play with Simon.
I'm going to do a little house cleaning and then, I'll take a nap.

Schmoo 2, we are NOW as ready as we will ever be for you. We don't mind waiting... do things on your own terms but, we want you to know that you can come whenever you want now!

Close

Every night, when I go to bed, I try to coax a promise from Baby that he or she will be late so that I can celebrate this weekend with my fabulous brother-in-law and his almost bride.
The wedding is Sunday and I think we're going to be tied up with wedding-y things until Monday afternoon. I'm absolutely thrilled for Jared and Jeanette so, I hope I "hang in" there until everything is done.
Simon gets to wear a suit (a gift from his Great-Grandma) and I'd hate to miss that as well. (Due to his incredibly difficult feet that we can never find shoes for, he'll also be sporting his super snazzy Tigger runners with the suit. Classy!)
I haven't swelled up too badly so, I think I can actually wear dress shoes instead of Crocs.
Trevor will be in a tux and I will be sitting pretty close to the front so, I anticipate making eyes at him through most of the ceremony. Simon will be at home napping so that he will be pleasant at the reception instead of a basket-case.
I love Trevor's family. It'll be fun to see and visit with all his cousins, aunts and uncles. I'm looking forward to that as well.
Therefore Baby, please, please, please, give your Momma a little bit of time to celebrate Uncle Jared's BIG day. After that, it'll be all about you, little Schmoo!

Jill-Day?

I feel a little lost today.
I liked going to work.
Don't be alarmed... I am NOT sad to be done. The very thought of a nap this afternoon makes me smile.
I dropped Simon off with the baby-sitter's after a long breakfast, chat and story-fest. I've missed that little guy in the mornings. It's weird not to have him with me but, I've been able to do a few little things that wouldn't happen if he was home.
I'm washing tiny sleepers and some of Simon's newborn clothes and marveling at how much he's grown and changed in just 18 months. It's exciting to think of our next little miracle. I still can't believe he or she is just days away from joining our little family.

Well, I'm off for my massage and pedicure. Spoiled... I know. I'm going to want to re-live this alone day over and over and over again in the next year.

C'est l'Halloween

(Hey Frenchy friends of mine... do you remember that song? I think of it every Halloween. After tons of searching, I still can't locate a copy.)

Simon went out and about trick-or-treating as Tigger this year. We went both Saturday and Sunday nights and went to a whopping 7 houses. He enjoyed putting treats in his bag and he love the suppers with both sets of grandparents. He liked being Tigger but, he refused to wear the pants that came with the costume. Ah well...

I pinned this lovely sign to my belly for dress-up day at school. A little lazy, yes but, I do think I was clever. Also, check out my stellar artwork. :) I was a Goth the day before. It was such a rushed day filled with appts and temper tantrums that I missed out on a picture. Let's just say that I was spectacular. :)

Simon has been chattin' up a storm lately. I have no idea what he's babbling about but, he's fun to listen to. He's got a pile of words and animal noises that he loves to say. He's also gaining confidence walking. I predict independent locomotion by Christmas.

I have 2 days left of work and a pile of marking. Silly students don't seem to understand that pretty soon, it'll be impossible for me to mark their already late assignments. Gasp... a real, honest-to-goodness deadline! Shocking but, reality. :) It's good for them.

I'm tired but, I'm already looking forward to a total Jill-day on Thursday for pampering, relaxing, nesting and laundry. I may even sleep in. :)

I'm still grinning ear to ear for my crazy and fun work friend Jana who just got her referral for her Chinese adoption. Check out her exciting journey here Sooo excited that she'll be a mommy soon!