Non-Napper

After the sleep deprivation woes of 2009 and early 2010, I am soooooo pleased that Simon is a fantastic night sleeper. The only time we deal with him after 8 pm is if he's teething hard and needs some Tylenol. (I'm afraid to jinx the good thing we have going with Claire if I share so, I won't...).
However, since just before Claire was born, Simon has given up regular naps. He naps 2-3 times a week. The rest of the afternoons, I plunk him in his crib and he plays in there for ~2 hours. We have a video monitor (thanks to my folks) so, I can watch what he does. He must have some wild imagination to keep himself entertained and happy for those 2 hours. I guess this is the beginning of quiet time for him. It's also some much needed Momma alone time, as long a Claire cooperates and naps too.

It's almost 4 in the afternoon. Time to "release" my boy from his solitude and wait for the Little Miss to decide she wants to eat.

Beauty in Banality

I don't have much to say. The beautiful mundane is my every day. I love it but, it leads little to write about (unless you want details on my two, very messy diaper changes in less then 5 minutes or a recitation of "Animal Gym" - Simon's favorite Golden book).
Here are some pics. They speak volumes about what goes on around here!

Sunshine

Finally... a little sunshine for these cold prairie bones.
I can't get this song out of my head so, I thought I'd share it with you! (I was Made for Sunny Days by the Weepies)

Fingers Crossed

One of my sweet students is in the hospital and pretty sick.
If you get a chance, can you lift up A.S. and her family today in prayer.
Thanks!

27

It dawned on me that Shiya's been my bestest bestie for the past 27 years. Okay, maybe not Kindergarten or grade 1 but, when we realized that we both loved to do the same things at recess in grade 2, we've been inseparable.
We've survived my weird pre-20 something dating life, our own quirks, French immersion, high school, Basic Training (definitely her - I'd cry too much), a variety of post-secondary schooling, moving all over Canada (once again her - I'd cry too much), the Navy, 3 high schools for me, a wonderful Mexican holiday, 2 marriages, my two kiddos and too much geography between us. Still, whenever I pick up the phone to talk to her, she's the same person that spent all of grade 6 pouting with me by the ball diamonds. We've grown up, have gone through so many different and life-changing experiences and still, she's my best friend.
We try to see each other as much as our finances will allow. Fortunately, for me, her hubby has family here so, they both want to come back regularly. I wish it could be more. Simon knows who his "Auntie" Shiya and "Uncle" Marshall are and identifies them in pictures. I wish he could grow up knowing them better.
I miss her lots today. It's her B-day and she's 32. I wish I could turn back time and buy slushies and decapitate gummy bears with her all afternoon. Instead, I'll make a long distance call and long for a hug.

Happy B-day, beautiful! I love you!

Whoosh...

My little Miss is 2 months old.

When did that happen?

Growing up

One of my former Lanigan students came over today for tea. It was so good to see her all grown up. She's absolutely fabulous and I'm proud to say that I've taught her.
Students are the best thing about my job. It's nice when I can make a connection that goes beyond the curriculum. It's nice when they grow up and become my friends.

We Don't Get Out Much

We're holin' up inside. It's winter in SK and baby, it's cold outside. So, we make our own fun and have a lot of play dates. Claire's started her cloth diapers, she's started smiling and cooing and she's been giving me good sleeps at night. I've been trying a lot of different ideas to keep Simon entertained while we're cooped up inside.
We bought our double stroller and I'm dreaming of the days when I can strap in the kids and walk around in the sunshine. Until then...

Toddlerhood - Life's a Scream

(This is a picture of the way I see Simon at least 30 times a day. Usually, he's sayinng "Up peeease".)

Simon's started screaming lately. Maybe he sees that it works for Claire and is testing it out for himself. His scream usually sounds like "MMMMOOOOOOooooaaaaaam"!
He has discovered the art of closing the doors in his house. He only "locks" himself in rooms 2-3 times a day which results in screaming sessions. Every now and then, he'll say "'elp, 'elp but, mostly it's a scream.

He's on a mission to put all the Kleenex in our house into our toilet. He likes to fish diapers out of the garbage and put them into the cloth diaper pail. He follows me around the house with books saying "ho-rey" (story) and screams when I don't stop, drop and read.

He plays pretty independently (see above adventures) when I nurse Claire. He's been enjoying giving Tigger sips of his pretend tea and changing Tigger's diaper. He helps me burp Claire and he likes to play with her toes. He says "oh no" and "I know, I know" to her when she cries.

Today, I took him for a walk in his sled and he insisted that he had to hold his Canada flag (with his thumbless mitts) for the whole walk.

His favorite car "toy" is the tourist map we still have from our Canmore trip because it has a Canada flag on the back.

This morning, I heard him sneezing in his crib and then, I heard him say "'hank-'oooou" to himself.

His naps are not too often. He plays in his crib and his own "quiet time" for about 2 hours but, it's only 2-3 times a week that he naps now. Good thing he loves playing and wrestling his animals in there. (We have a video monitor and watching him play in there is hysterical.)

He's successfully peed on his potty (our Christmas gift to him because we're those kind of parents) and we're hoping that this will lead to good things.

It's official - I have a toddler on my hands and I love it.

Other then the screaming, I laugh out loud at him at least once an hour if not more. He still throws his baby arms around me and gives me slimy kisses and he still insists on snuggling during stories and Sesame Street. I'm going to miss these days someday when he's a big, smelly, grunting teenager who stomps around my house, eating my food and refusing to be anything but monosyllabic with me.

Escaping my Escapism

Sometimes, the internet (this blog, FB, other blogs, etc.) steal my time away from my children.
I'm going to try to change that. I don't want my kids' memories to be of me being "too busy" for them. Of course, there will be plenty of times when "Mommy has busy hands" (words I say to Simon often) however, I want those busy things to be things that serve my family.
Wish me luck because somedays, it'd be nice to escape to la la land for a bit. :)

Welcome 2011

Simon woke up saying "I know, I know...". :) Glad he's starting off his New Year on a good foot.
Claire stayed up to ring in the New Year and then slept through the night. She slept hard ALL day. She's getting too long for her sleep sack and her sleepers... I think my girl's on the grow.

These are my 2011 goals:

1. Lose baby weight sensibly.

2. Eat more vegetables.

3. Vacuum more.

4. Cloth diapers both kiddies and potty-train the Schmoo.

5. Nap every so often - because I can.

6. Find another cool concert to go to with my honey.

7. Recycle more... buy less.

8. Create practical items and gifts to reuse.

9. Have more family dance parties.

10. Take the family on more travel adventures.

I'm sure that I'll do most of these to some degree so, I won't let myself down with any lofty resolution. What are you resolved to do this year?