A couple of updates from some previously mentioned topics:
1) Things with Tristan have gotten better. Ever since we started him on solids, he's been more easygoing. Not super mellow, but not so Screamy McCranky Pants awful either.
I don't want to jinx it but he has been sleeping much better the past few nights. Basically, he's been eating a huge dinner and then getting topped up (boobs) right before bed. The first night he woke up twice but I didn't feed him. I shushed him, re-swaddled him and hit the vibrate button on the bassinet. And he fell back asleep! And the next night, he only woke up once! Holy crap!
Today he went to daycare because it's my one work day. It was supposed to be a half day but I was busy and in meetings so I didn't end up picking the boys up until after 3 pm. How did he do? He took a bottle! He ate! He slept! He pooped! He cried a biy but they said he did pretty well considering it was his first day and he's only 6 months (almost 7 now).
Since we've been home, he's been totally mellow, pretty calm and generally pleasant to be around.
I am so relieved. It is possible. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Who knows. This might not last (I've probably jinxed it now). But I know that it is possible, that he does have it in him. And that is such a huge weight off my shoulders.
2) Oliver is still totally a mama's boy. Lately he's into "hockey", Basically hitting a ball with a wooden spoon. All He wants to do is play "hockey sticks mama". Too fucking cute. I think I'm going to buy him mini-hockey sticks.
He's developed a rash on his face that has been there for a couple of weeks. We initially thought it was dry skin but I've been moisturizing religiously and it hasn't really helped. I don't want to be neurotic but I kind of want to get it checked out. It is pretty red. He doesn't scratch at it or anything but I figure the doctor's visit is free so why the hell not.
3) I am due to get my legs waxed again soon, probably next week. The last time I got it done was Jan 17.... 6 weeks, not bad! Yes, I will be doing the bikini, probably the brazilian. Yes, it hurts. But the thing is, it only hurts for about 5 seconds and then it's over. And now that I am swimming regularly, it's worth it.
4) We are in the midst of a lovely little snowstorm. So pretty.
5) Things are good. I am happy.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Role Reversal
For probably close to a year, I have been the second choice when it comes to parent preference with Oliver.
Daddy had to hold his hand
Daddy had to feed him his cereal
Daddy had to buckle him into the car seat
And out of the car seat
Otherwise there was a tantrum and tears.
And I consoled myself by reminding myself that
Daddy had to get up when he was called for at night
Daddy had to change stinky diapers
Daddy had to do the bed and bath while mom watched Coronation Street
And it was normal.
But my feelings were hurt.
Things have changed.
Mom is now the #1 parent.
I can do no wrong.
Mom plays cars
Mom sings songs
Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom
No Daddy
I want Mom.
And it. feels. awesome.
In other news, I got my period for the first time in close to 2.5 years.
It doesn't feel so awesome.
Daddy had to hold his hand
Daddy had to feed him his cereal
Daddy had to buckle him into the car seat
And out of the car seat
Otherwise there was a tantrum and tears.
And I consoled myself by reminding myself that
Daddy had to get up when he was called for at night
Daddy had to change stinky diapers
Daddy had to do the bed and bath while mom watched Coronation Street
And it was normal.
But my feelings were hurt.
Things have changed.
Mom is now the #1 parent.
I can do no wrong.
Mom plays cars
Mom sings songs
Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom
No Daddy
I want Mom.
And it. feels. awesome.
In other news, I got my period for the first time in close to 2.5 years.
It doesn't feel so awesome.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Another Reason Why I Love Him
The scene: We are sitting on the couch and flipping through the TV channels.
Me: Ooh, the free sample channel this weekend is diva!
Him: That's the girl channel.
Me: Yeah!
Him: It's all girly shows and movies.
Him: Oooh! Melrose Place! Michael Mancini was such a good villain.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Rocky Start
Today is already off to a rocky start. I was up 4 times with Tristan last night (11 pm, 2:45 am, 4:30 am, 5:30 am).
Sidenote: why is it always that as soon as I start thinking that maybe the sleep situation is improving he totally regresses and I am back up every 2-3 hours all night? Seriously. The last few days he was asleep at 7:30, then up once at 2:30 am then not until 6 am. Then last night, surprise! And at 5:30, he was up and ready to play. Which is why he is in the exersaucer and I am on the computer.
Then, to top it off, one of the dogs (Neurotica) took the biggest crap/pile of diarrhea in her crate. So as I am sitting here on the computer all I smell is shit. I was going to wash her bed but it is so nasty I chucked it outside and will get Brad to put it in a garbage bag and dispose of it. The thought of washing the bed and then drying it and having all of the dog hair stuck in the washer (again) and the dryer (again) just made me say fuck it.
I am working today and then hopefully meeting a good friend for lunch, so I hope the day gets better. But I am certainly off to quite the start this morning!
Sidenote: why is it always that as soon as I start thinking that maybe the sleep situation is improving he totally regresses and I am back up every 2-3 hours all night? Seriously. The last few days he was asleep at 7:30, then up once at 2:30 am then not until 6 am. Then last night, surprise! And at 5:30, he was up and ready to play. Which is why he is in the exersaucer and I am on the computer.
Then, to top it off, one of the dogs (Neurotica) took the biggest crap/pile of diarrhea in her crate. So as I am sitting here on the computer all I smell is shit. I was going to wash her bed but it is so nasty I chucked it outside and will get Brad to put it in a garbage bag and dispose of it. The thought of washing the bed and then drying it and having all of the dog hair stuck in the washer (again) and the dryer (again) just made me say fuck it.
I am working today and then hopefully meeting a good friend for lunch, so I hope the day gets better. But I am certainly off to quite the start this morning!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tristan
Tristan is a difficult baby. It's taken me a while to admit it, but it's the truth.
He is a cranky and crabby baby.
- He hates to be left "alone" for more than 2 minutes. Alone, meaning the time it takes me to go to the washroom or check my email.
- He is a horrible sleeper. For 6 months he woke up every 2-3 hours every night. He has gotten better, I am now up 1-2 times a night. But some nights are worse than others and we are back at square 1.
- He fusses all the time. He hates the car seat, he hates his coat, he hates getting dressed. Everything annoys him.
- He is an ok eater. But he is refusing to take a bottle. Yesterday I had a meeting to go to so I left him at the daycare for the afternoon. He refused a bottle, he only ate some pears. When Brad picked him up he tried the bottle again unsuccessfully. When I got home at 5:30 he was screaming his head off. Tristan, not Brad. Although Brad was not far behind.
- Most of the day he wants to be in my arms or at least have me talking to him or making eye contact as much as possible.
It is frustrating because Oliver was the easiest baby and I can't help but compare them. Everything with this kid is a challenge. Brad and I are also very divided on how to handle it. Brad feels like we should let him cry, we shouldn't encourage him to be fussy. But I feel like he is too young to put 2 and 2 together that way, that if we let him cry for so long he will just feel abandoned.
Does anyone out there have a fussy baby like this? Does it get easier? Do they outgrow it? Please tell me they outgrow it.
PS He is completely healthy, albeit small. But it's not colic or reflux or.... anything other than crabbiness.
He is a cranky and crabby baby.
- He hates to be left "alone" for more than 2 minutes. Alone, meaning the time it takes me to go to the washroom or check my email.
- He is a horrible sleeper. For 6 months he woke up every 2-3 hours every night. He has gotten better, I am now up 1-2 times a night. But some nights are worse than others and we are back at square 1.
- He fusses all the time. He hates the car seat, he hates his coat, he hates getting dressed. Everything annoys him.
- He is an ok eater. But he is refusing to take a bottle. Yesterday I had a meeting to go to so I left him at the daycare for the afternoon. He refused a bottle, he only ate some pears. When Brad picked him up he tried the bottle again unsuccessfully. When I got home at 5:30 he was screaming his head off. Tristan, not Brad. Although Brad was not far behind.
- Most of the day he wants to be in my arms or at least have me talking to him or making eye contact as much as possible.
It is frustrating because Oliver was the easiest baby and I can't help but compare them. Everything with this kid is a challenge. Brad and I are also very divided on how to handle it. Brad feels like we should let him cry, we shouldn't encourage him to be fussy. But I feel like he is too young to put 2 and 2 together that way, that if we let him cry for so long he will just feel abandoned.
Does anyone out there have a fussy baby like this? Does it get easier? Do they outgrow it? Please tell me they outgrow it.
PS He is completely healthy, albeit small. But it's not colic or reflux or.... anything other than crabbiness.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Rant #2
Dear Brad,
1) Your house keys have been lost twice (found once) and your car keys have been lost once. My keys were lost and then found (by me, in the laundry hamper). For the love of God, please stop giving them to the child as a toy. Obviously it's going to cause problems.
2) I appreciate you getting out of the house so I can get some work done, I really do. But leaving me here with a sick 6 month old baby (while you take the child swimming) doesn't help me. I am still here taking care of one kid which means I am getting 0 work done.
3) Why do you let the dogs in without wiping their wet muddy paws? Yes, we have leather furniture but that doesn't excuse everything. And the floors don't clean themselves. Ditto for wet boots on children and yourself.
4) When the baby is crying and I am obviously busy WORKING would it kill you to go and take a look and see what he wants? I know, the Malcolm in the Middle repeat you were watching was fascinating, but maybe you could help me out for once?
5) Again, when you get home from work, please don't complain about the children whining/crying/being crabby. I have been home with them all day and am well aware of how annoying it is. The only thing more annoying is that now I am listening to your whining as well.
Love,
Constance XXIX
Your wife
1) Your house keys have been lost twice (found once) and your car keys have been lost once. My keys were lost and then found (by me, in the laundry hamper). For the love of God, please stop giving them to the child as a toy. Obviously it's going to cause problems.
2) I appreciate you getting out of the house so I can get some work done, I really do. But leaving me here with a sick 6 month old baby (while you take the child swimming) doesn't help me. I am still here taking care of one kid which means I am getting 0 work done.
3) Why do you let the dogs in without wiping their wet muddy paws? Yes, we have leather furniture but that doesn't excuse everything. And the floors don't clean themselves. Ditto for wet boots on children and yourself.
4) When the baby is crying and I am obviously busy WORKING would it kill you to go and take a look and see what he wants? I know, the Malcolm in the Middle repeat you were watching was fascinating, but maybe you could help me out for once?
5) Again, when you get home from work, please don't complain about the children whining/crying/being crabby. I have been home with them all day and am well aware of how annoying it is. The only thing more annoying is that now I am listening to your whining as well.
Love,
Constance XXIX
Your wife
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
On my mind
Oliver is still going to daycare 2 days a week. I think it's good for him to keep going, since he will go back once I am at work full-time, and socialize and participate in their activities. It's also nice to have some time alone with Tristan. Usually I try and get some housework done, and we go for walks and I usually take the time to go for my swims.
The daycare is really great. The staff are friendly and I get the feeling they genuinely like the kids. I have been really happy with it for the most part. There is only one thing that is bugging me.
The staff in the toddler room where Oliver is are really nice and friendly and do lots of great activities. But they are disorganized. We used to get a daily report of what he did, what he ate, how he slept, etc.... I admit, it was a bit much. I would much rather they take 2 minutes when I pick him up and tell me how his day was. I don't need it written down. But they don't even do that anymore. I pick him up, they say something like "he had a good day" and that's it. Sometimes his coat is on his hook, sometimes I have to rummage around to find it. Same with the boots.
This morning when I dropped him off I was really disappointed. The "manager", we'll call her Dee, came out in her pyjamas.
When she saw Oliver (not in his pyjamas) she said "where are your pj's?!?!"
I said "I didn't know he was supposed to wear them, no one told me."
She said "Didn't you get the letter last week?"
"No."
"Seriously, they didn't give you anything? There was a letter for parents last week."
"Nope, otherwise I totally would have put him in his jammies."
Luckily he was wearing jogging pants and a comfy shirt and Robeez, so it's not like he was in jeans or anything, but I was really disappointed.
Dee has told me before that the girls in Oliver's room have gotten in trouble with Sara, the owner, because they are disorganized. And I know they are busy, and I know it's daycare, it's not a huge deal. But it still bugs me.
ETA: I guess it is a biggish deal to me, since it's bugging me so much. I really like the facility and the staff and everything about the place. I just wish these girls could get their shit together.
The daycare is really great. The staff are friendly and I get the feeling they genuinely like the kids. I have been really happy with it for the most part. There is only one thing that is bugging me.
The staff in the toddler room where Oliver is are really nice and friendly and do lots of great activities. But they are disorganized. We used to get a daily report of what he did, what he ate, how he slept, etc.... I admit, it was a bit much. I would much rather they take 2 minutes when I pick him up and tell me how his day was. I don't need it written down. But they don't even do that anymore. I pick him up, they say something like "he had a good day" and that's it. Sometimes his coat is on his hook, sometimes I have to rummage around to find it. Same with the boots.
This morning when I dropped him off I was really disappointed. The "manager", we'll call her Dee, came out in her pyjamas.
When she saw Oliver (not in his pyjamas) she said "where are your pj's?!?!"
I said "I didn't know he was supposed to wear them, no one told me."
She said "Didn't you get the letter last week?"
"No."
"Seriously, they didn't give you anything? There was a letter for parents last week."
"Nope, otherwise I totally would have put him in his jammies."
Luckily he was wearing jogging pants and a comfy shirt and Robeez, so it's not like he was in jeans or anything, but I was really disappointed.
Dee has told me before that the girls in Oliver's room have gotten in trouble with Sara, the owner, because they are disorganized. And I know they are busy, and I know it's daycare, it's not a huge deal. But it still bugs me.
ETA: I guess it is a biggish deal to me, since it's bugging me so much. I really like the facility and the staff and everything about the place. I just wish these girls could get their shit together.
Monday, February 4, 2008
10 Things
10 Things my MIL has Actually Said to Me:
1) You should give the kids multivitamins so they aren't short like their dad.
2) Babies start to teeth as soon as you give them solids.
3) I brought some antibiotics back from South America in case you want some.
4) I don't take children outside during the winter, it's mean.
5) You should give the baby (5 months old at the time) a piece of steak. It's cute to watch him gnaw on it.
6) How are my babies? (in reference to her grandchildren. You know, the ones I GAVE BIRTH to!)
7) Can't you bring the kids over now? I miss them. (at 6 pm when the boys are in bed at 7 pm)
8) Why don't you call me? Don't you love me?
9) Why is he in daycare? Don't you miss him during the day?
10) The only reason Oliver could be in a bad mood is because you're pregnant again. Are you pregnant?
I know you ladies out there have some good ones too, so share!
1) You should give the kids multivitamins so they aren't short like their dad.
2) Babies start to teeth as soon as you give them solids.
3) I brought some antibiotics back from South America in case you want some.
4) I don't take children outside during the winter, it's mean.
5) You should give the baby (5 months old at the time) a piece of steak. It's cute to watch him gnaw on it.
6) How are my babies? (in reference to her grandchildren. You know, the ones I GAVE BIRTH to!)
7) Can't you bring the kids over now? I miss them. (at 6 pm when the boys are in bed at 7 pm)
8) Why don't you call me? Don't you love me?
9) Why is he in daycare? Don't you miss him during the day?
10) The only reason Oliver could be in a bad mood is because you're pregnant again. Are you pregnant?
I know you ladies out there have some good ones too, so share!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Men are Babies
Last night Brad woke me up a few times with his snoring. As I have done in the past I touched his head or arm to kind of wake him up so he would roll over. When that didn't woke I tried rolling him over myself (he only snores when he is sleeping on his back). He woke up and got annoyed that I had woken up and stomped off to the spare room to sleep there.
I was amused. He is complaining because he was awoken ONCE in the night and asked to roll over. I am awoken MULTIPLE TIMES by a crying hungry baby who demands I get OUT OF BED and FEED HIM.
Suck it up Brad.
Men can be such babies.
I was amused. He is complaining because he was awoken ONCE in the night and asked to roll over. I am awoken MULTIPLE TIMES by a crying hungry baby who demands I get OUT OF BED and FEED HIM.
Suck it up Brad.
Men can be such babies.
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