A little batty

We went to Pumpkin Hollow last weekend. It was warm and the sky was blue. The kids rode the cow train, jumped on the bouncer, met farm animals, climbed bales, got lost in the maze and checked out the pumpkins. It's hokey and I love it.

I went to 2 Children's Used Clothing sales in the past 2 weeks. I LOVE getting quality clothes for just a few dollars!

I'm presenting tomorrow at our Professional Development Day. Basically, I'm Book Talking with a colleague. I'll be introducing graphic novels to a lot of middle aged ladies. Should be fun! :)

We're hosting Thanksgiving for my family this year. I've never cooked a turkey before. Should be a good little adventure.

I finally tracked down a bat costume for Simon. Who would have thought that a bat would be such a hard costume to find in this city? Now, he never wants to take it off. We've negotiated a deal where he can't wear it to bed but, he can sleep with it beside him. Silly bat!

Summer pics

We've been on summer holidays for almost a week.
Every morning, I wake up my little ones and we snuggle in bed together and plan our day. With the Big Move happening next week, I've been trying to pack our week full of great adventures. We've been to the Splash Park, Wascana for Canada Day, the beach, a bus trip to the downtown library, Nana's farm, Auntie Karri's farm, our old park and a pile of other crazy little places. It's been a blast! I love my job but, I love hanging out with my kids even more!!!
Here are a few pics of our start of summer adventures.

Splash Park fun - a little face paint.

Celebrating Simon's Day - ooops, I meant Canada Day.

Waiting for the bus.

Farm cousins.

Look what Grandma and Grandpa taught him (on Daddy's old trike).

Hope you're having a fun summer too!

Life in Transition

Simon - "Mom, I don't want to sleep in this room anymore."
Simon - "I am sad about missing my ____ Street house."
Simon - "When do I get my new room? I would like it to have dinosaurs."
Simon - "Why are we moving?"
Simon - "Where is our box trailer? Who is with my toys?"
Simon - "When will I see S_____ (neighbour) and talk at the fence again?"
Simon - "Does my new house have tulips? I would like a tulip."

This is Simon's perspective of our temporary life in transition. Claire is a little more clingy and a little more demanding. I am trying hard to keep their routines and the food the same. I am trying to snuggle them more and reassure them the best I can.

I have very similar questions, Simon. I feel a little like a fish out of water without my own "home".

Three

Happy Birthday to my sweet and precious little man. (Today, you wanted to be referred to as "Sore Throat". You also enjoy being called "Little Bat", "Ladybug", "Pancake", "Nemo", "Captain Canada", "Momma's Sunshine", "Zoom Zoom" and the list goes on as far and wide as your imagination.)

You are such an adventurous and intelligent little man. Yesterday, we discussed bats and echolocation. Today, we found Regina on your new globe. You love politics and trying out big words. You love dinosaurs, bats, bugs, Canada, stickers and cars. You're hysterical! You're already tell me the best jokes! I'm so fascinated by the breadth and depth of your interests. I have a feeling you're going to become one very interesting little boy!

We celebrated 3 by having seeing all your favorite people at the same time. We ate yummy BUG cupcakes and we opened loads of presents (you are a spoiled boy). You laughed and cried as you were overwhelmed by the excitement of it all.

Being 3 opens so many new doors to you. Some will be scary as you try new things. Some will be exciting and fun. I promise that Momma and Daddy will stand by you as you try your wings and test your limits. We'll hold you close when you need it and we'll also give you a little push when you need it. We are so proud of you. You are a delight! I'm so excited to hang out with my three-year-old!

Little Guy

"Simon, you're getting so big. Momma's going to have to buy you new pants (socks, shoes, jacket... the works)."

"Nemo is a little guy. Nemo is not a baby." (We watched "Finding Nemo" - it's changed our lives.)

My little baby boy is entering his last month as a 2 year old. These past few weeks, I've noticed HUGE changes in his behaviour. He's starting to make rational choices. He's learning to calm himself down to avoid consequences. He's starting to see and treat Claire like a person. He's constantly trying to please. He's telling jokes. He's becoming this delightful little being to have around the house. I think 3 will be good for us!

Claire, on the other hand, is getting her eye-teeth (all four poking away at her at once) and she's miserable. Poor thing!

I am soon going to have 6 1/2 months of bliss in my house without a 2-year old and then, Claire will transform into a crazy creature for a while.

Snippets of Joy

I took them back to our favorite summer park 2 days in a row. It was so good to be back in our old stomping grounds. It was pretty neat to explore the park now that it was covered in snow. Simon climbed up the play structure and slid down all the slides like it was old hat. Claire, now a wee walker, was delighted to start exploring on her own. Some older kids had built a snow fort. This was the best thing ever. Claire discovered that she LOVES the teetor-totter and cried when she had to leave it.
This is why I work part time. I don't want to miss moments like these with my babies who are growing up so fast.

Siblings

My kids started fighting when Claire was just 7 months. At first, we thought it was Simon bugging her but, soon we realized that it takes two to tango and that our little princess was pretty aggressive. (Once, when I took Simon shopping by himself, he told me that he was excited to have a cart to himself so that "Claire is not attacking Simon." - Yeesh!) We won't worry whether she can hold her own or not.

Our sweet pea is 14 1/2 months. She just started walking and she babbles up a storm. We're starting to have to discipline her when she throws her food on the floor or when she repeatedly attempts unsafe things (standing in the bath, making beelines towards stairs, etc). We're currently "fighting" about going to sleep without Momma holding her and I need to come up with a plan to wean her. Simon was pretty good about being weaned but, Claire's a little more feisty. She still nurses three times a day and I'd like to cut it back to just her morning nurse soon.

Simon tends to be a pretty compliant little man. He does however, get stubborn about the strangest things (no comments please, Mom). Claire tests and tests and tests to see where the boundaries are. I think she'll give us a bit more of a run for our money.

Wretched

Last night, I spent most of my sleep time battling nausea and some pretty uncomfortable moments of being much too hot and then much too cold. Today, I could barely get out of bed I felt so yucky.
Today, I am thankful for a patient hubby who so lovingly looked after our minions. I am thankful for my in-laws who are having my sweet kids over for play time and lunch. I am thankful that this is probably only a 24 hour thing and that I should be back to normal (whatever that is) soon.
This is our 3rd bout of the stomach flu this year. We've been more sick in the past three months then the past three years. Maybe, our world needs to get colder to keep those pesky germs at bay.

On a funny note, Simon's been obsessed with his "microbes" collection. It started when his Aunt and Uncle bought him a stuffed brain cell. We returned from our Noon Year's at the Science Centre with The Common Cold stuffed toy for Simon and The Measles stuffed toy for Claire. Simon has pictures of all of them and plays microbes all the time. Thus, it was easy to explain to him that Momma has The Stomach Flu microbe (that creepy green guy to the left). Maybe microbiology will be his thing?

Quiet Time Trouble

Simon stopped daily naps when Claire was born. Slowly, he's weaned his naps down to 1-2 times a week. This week, he hasn't napped at all. That hasn't stopped us from giving him Quiet Time. Usually, he sings, reads his books, plays with his animals and does weird 2-year-old things.
Yesterday, he ripped 2 library books to shreds. Eeeek! Major Momma disappointment!
"Simon ripping books, Momma!" was how he gleefully explained it when I entered his room.

After a chat about how that was bad and my removal of all his paper books from his room and a talk about how I had to pay for those books, I had a sorrowful Simon.
Today, I gave him a sticker activity book and a MagnaDoodle to keep him entertained. I'm about to walk into his room to see how that went over. I heard lots of chattering and singing so - I'm hoping for the best.

What do/did your 2-year olds do during their Quiet Times? I'm looking for some ideas to help keep the destruction at bay.

Oh those British...

Every day, Simon asks me to buy him a British flag. Why? Because he's in love with the red, white and blue of Britannia. Today, we went to the British Tea Shop and Purveyor of British Goods. My assumption is that they'd have a British flag of some form or another. I forgot my Baby Bjorn and carried both kids in. Simon had made the connection of what we were looking for and hoping to buy. He was way too excited.
Unfortunately, the British Tea Shop and Purveyor of British Goods had no flags... except a lovely display flag that was not for sale (no matter how Simon tried to convince me to "Momma buy, Momma buy").
Sadly, I left the store with a baby on my hip and holding the hand of a devastated toddler who almost threw himself into parking lot traffic in mid-tantrum. (He's hard to hold on to while tantruming mid-parking lot while I'm trying to keep his sweet, wiggly sister on my hip.)
After many, many tears and much convincing that Momma will someday buy him a British flag, we headed on our way.
As consolation, we watched, on Youtube, the British flag while listening to the British national anthem. Sooooo boring but, made my little man very, very happy.

He also asks for an Italian flag and a Saskatchewan flag. If any of you dear readers come across or already have one of these flags and are willing to part with it, let me know. I have a flag aficionado on my hands.

Oh yeah - photo proof

Not the greatest shot as I haven't actually done it since it's been cut. I kind of like the crazy waves I've got going on... makes it easy not to do. :)
Here are my 2 favorite shots of the kids this week as well!

(Dr's appt today. Simon screamed bloody murder. Claire smiled and performed amiably. Claire is 18 lbs and off the the chart for height. Simon is a whopping 29 lbs 8 oz and almost a meter tall. Simon's got a cold and losing his voice - his little raspy talking is pretty cute. Claire's trying to walk when we hold her standing. Yeesh - time is flying by for me with my kiddos!)

Outside

"Outside, outside, outside" is Simon's mantra every day. Rain or shine, all the little guy wants to do is run wild in the backyard or explore the many fabulous parks our fine little city has to offer. His favorite activities involve picking berries off the vine (and storing them in his cache in our apple tree), picking dandelions and playing in the mud or dirt. He comes inside covered in dirt, mud, grass stains and he has the grimiest little face and hands. Good thing we have baths and do laundry.
Claire's a pretty good sport. She's a happy baby in the Bjorn and she's trying new things like the slide and the swing. Mostly, she just wants to sit on the lawn and chew on pieces of grass or other things that make her way into her grabby hands.

Laughing Through My Days

Kid, you make me laugh! I love being your Momma!

"Wild Things"

28 "Wild Things" cupcakes
22 people in our tiny bungalow
5 yummy dishes in our little brunch potluck
1 sad cat hanging out in the garage
2 years of Simon to celebrate

We had a "Wild Things" themed B-day brunch for our little man (based on one of his favorite stories). It was a blast.

Two

Hard for me to believe but, my baby boy is a two year old! Happy Birthday, Schmoo!

Outside... peeease!

All my boy wants to do is play outside. We go through so many pairs of pants (falling in puddles) that I may just start potty training to justify the laundry. It's much more fun now that he can walk. It's also a little frightening because he can get away so quickly.

Good Life

Today, I couldn't help but smile about my life. This is as good as it gets! :)

Waiting for Spring

March 2011


March 2010

Things haven't changed all that much in a year. March still means waiting (and waiting and waiting) for spring so we can run around outside.

The Discipline Diva

The day started with the rousing chorus of "Up, Up... Simon.... Ballloooon" coming from the room next door. After a major meltdown over cereal (drat... we ate all the bread already?) and a time out (poor Claire is always "left out", our day proceeded with a series of scream fests and meltdowns.
After lunch, I decided I needed to leave these four walls and see the sunshine. I piled the kids into my buddy Bob and headed out of the garage to the wail of a baby and toddler. Once we got going, they settled down. The only problem was that Simon was obsessed with his "little snowball" (which is very hard to hold onto wearing mitts) and he kept dropping it and screaming. He also kept screaming "flag! flag!" (our destination had flags). After we reached our destination with flags, he started to scream and sob "up", "all done", "Simon's house" and flailing in the stroller. I was that Mom with that kid. Fortunately, it's winter and there aren't too many other walkers out and about.
When we got home, I plunked him in his crib after stories, snuggles and prayer and didn't hear a peep for 2 hours.
Unfortunately, the good mood he woke up in didn't last too long.
Good thing Claire's such a chipper little thing.

Our time outs are evolving from some time in Mommy and Daddy's room alone with Mommy (or Daddy) into Simon alone in Simon's crib sans stuffies. Soon we'll have a timer and a naughty mat. Sigh...
Any discipline tips?

Maybe it's an ear infection. The earliest appt with our Dr. will be on Wednesday.
Maybe it's teething.
Maybe it's that he's almost 2.
Maybe I've got to step it up as the boss of the house and show my little dictator that I mean business. After all, this why I get paid the big bucks, right?

...and we have take-off

SIMON IS WALKING!!!!!

This is pretty exciting news in our household. I'm trying to be all casual about it with other people but, I feel like doing the happy dance all the time for him and all I want to do is brag!
The other day, Trevor told him he should walk to me instead of crawling and, it was like a little light went off in his head and he just sauntered over to me like it was no big deal. Since then, he spends most of his play time walking back and forth between furniture and giggling. It's pretty awesome. :)

I know that some people would be concerned that he's 19 months and just starting to walk. All I can think of is my tiny newborn with his crooked little feet screaming and screaming and screaming at me while we had his casts put on. That sucked so badly. This is our pay off. It's sooooo worth it.

I'm so proud of you, my little Schmoo.