January 2nd is a strange day. We've all just spent a hefty few weeks immersed in holiday festivities. We've enjoyed the craziness of the Christmas season and the excitement of bringing in the New Year with our favourite people. And as hectic as it became to haul our families here and there, we did so with delight and a twinkle in our eye. All the while enjoying food and drink that we've waited all year to over-indulge in. Every Christmas seems so epic and magical.
And then... (sound of a record being stopped on the turntable)...back to reality on January 2nd. What?! Wait!? So I can't drink spiced rum and eggnog and eat fudge all night anymore? What do you mean "Set the alarm clock"? Where do all these empty boxes and bags go? Do I really need to stop singing Jingle Bells with my two year old? (Which by the way, is not even about "Christmas"). It's as if the holidays never happened! Now it's on to the next event on the calendar.
Tyler had 2 weeks vacation over Christmas! We LOVE having him around. He just never gets bored of playing Hide and Seek or Ring Around the Rosie. And he definitely keeps me on my toes. Tyler is not one for relaxing in his pj's all day. Even in these frigid temps he dragged us all out for post-Christmas shopping trips to Ikea and Cabela's one day and Polo Park the next. I would never have done this if he didn't instigate it, but it turned out to be very fun.
New Years Eve was uneventful. Deacon, Hayden, and I spent the night at the farm. Tyler went to a party. My initial plan was to wait until Deacon and Hayden were both sleeping at my parents house and then I would go out, making sure to be back well before Deacon's inevitable 3:30 feeding. This all sounded wonderful in theory, but Deacon didn't end up falling asleep until 11:45 so I rang in the new year snuggling my little baby :) . Next year, however....
I sincerely hope everyone's holdiays were as joyous as ours were! All the best to you all in 2014!!
Love, Liza
Friday, 3 January 2014
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Is It Christmas Already?
I'm here right now to tell you that if you do not hear from me on here for more than 10 days, please just assume that I am having a less than awesome week and I'm just sparing you the less than interesting details of my non-problems. All I'm going to say is that the pseudo-single mom life is starting to take a toll on me. Just when I think we can finally relax and enjoy the holidays and get some Christmas shopping done, Ty gets sent away for another unknown number of days.
If you are a person who has successfully completed a shopping trip with a toddler and 1-month old in tow, I must bow down to you in praise right now. We attempted Walmart last week and it was actually hilarious. I was that mom struggling to keep her toddler seated in the top portion of the shopping cart whilst little baby wailed from his car seat within. Oh the looks.
I have to mention that I am incredibly fortunate to have so many amazing friends and family around to lend a helping hand should I ever need it. Thank god for my parents and their always open door. I absolutely LOVE the drives out to Balmoral. Those drives have become my happy place. Deacon usually cries in the car for the first couple minutes but then he falls asleep and Hayden loves car rides so she rarely makes a peep. On my way out of the city I always swing through the Timmy's or McDonald's drive-through, and get coffee. (It's probably a good thing that we do not own a coffee maker because I am a very likely candidate to become a caffeine junky). So there I am, sailing down #7 highway, swilling my coffee and belting out the tunes like Beyonce. It is truly blissful. Until I hear this tiny voice from the backseat, "Mommy, I don't like this song!" The first time she said it I was like Oh! OK I'll change it. I soon realized that she doesn't like any song if it's not "Roar" by Katy Perry. Lucky for her it's usually played on any given radio station at any given moment. If I don't feel like complying to her requests, I guiltily give her her soother and continue my playlist.
I wish I could say that the playlist on my Ipod is one of jolly Christmas tunes but I'm finding it hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year. I've already made a pact with myself that next year I'm going all out Christmas everything whether Tyler is home or not! This year, I'm just trying to keep whatever good spirits I can manage, whether they're Christmassy or not.
:) :) Liza
If you are a person who has successfully completed a shopping trip with a toddler and 1-month old in tow, I must bow down to you in praise right now. We attempted Walmart last week and it was actually hilarious. I was that mom struggling to keep her toddler seated in the top portion of the shopping cart whilst little baby wailed from his car seat within. Oh the looks.
I have to mention that I am incredibly fortunate to have so many amazing friends and family around to lend a helping hand should I ever need it. Thank god for my parents and their always open door. I absolutely LOVE the drives out to Balmoral. Those drives have become my happy place. Deacon usually cries in the car for the first couple minutes but then he falls asleep and Hayden loves car rides so she rarely makes a peep. On my way out of the city I always swing through the Timmy's or McDonald's drive-through, and get coffee. (It's probably a good thing that we do not own a coffee maker because I am a very likely candidate to become a caffeine junky). So there I am, sailing down #7 highway, swilling my coffee and belting out the tunes like Beyonce. It is truly blissful. Until I hear this tiny voice from the backseat, "Mommy, I don't like this song!" The first time she said it I was like Oh! OK I'll change it. I soon realized that she doesn't like any song if it's not "Roar" by Katy Perry. Lucky for her it's usually played on any given radio station at any given moment. If I don't feel like complying to her requests, I guiltily give her her soother and continue my playlist.
I wish I could say that the playlist on my Ipod is one of jolly Christmas tunes but I'm finding it hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year. I've already made a pact with myself that next year I'm going all out Christmas everything whether Tyler is home or not! This year, I'm just trying to keep whatever good spirits I can manage, whether they're Christmassy or not.
:) :) Liza
Monday, 9 December 2013
Goal of the Week: Sleep
On Saturday we attended the wedding of one of my longest and dearest friends! It was the loveliest winter wedding. The bride was more beautiful than anything and everyone was so happy - the atmosphere was just wonderful. It was impossible to not have fun.
My joy at being at this event was made all the more joyous due to Deacon being a perfect angel throughout the night. Hayden, we left with Grandma and Grandpa. We could have brought her and I know she would have had fun with the other little ones running around and dancing, but I put my own enjoyment first for this occasion and it was worth it. I can't even express the pleasure of returning home after the wedding and not having to undress and put to bed a cranky, over-tired toddler. Deacon slept peacefully in his car-seat upon our return allowing Tyler and I some much needed Q.T. His work X-mas party was also on Saturday but he ended up skipping it.
Now, if only I could sleep at night...
Lucky for me, I like being awake so I'm not too bitter about my lack of shut-eye. I'm also lucky that I am a night person. I like being awake - at night. Basically I'm a vampire. Then, in a crazy sci-fi twist, I become a zombie by day!! Not a flesh-eating zombie, just an expressionless, go-through-the-motions, Raffi-singing zombie. It's quite surreal. The longest Deacon has slept is 4 straight hours. That, I would gladly take though he hasn't slept more than 2 hours in a row for the past I don't know how many nights. Hayden slept for 6 hour stretches when she was 6 weeks old. But she cried a lot during the day and Deacon doesn't so I think it's a fair trade-off.
Tyler is out of town for the next 2 nights and with these frigid temps it's not looking like I'll be venturing too far from home. I had to get this blog-post out before cabin fever sinks in otherwise you'd be deciphering unintelligible gibberish.
I never know how to end these things...
ttyl! Liza
My joy at being at this event was made all the more joyous due to Deacon being a perfect angel throughout the night. Hayden, we left with Grandma and Grandpa. We could have brought her and I know she would have had fun with the other little ones running around and dancing, but I put my own enjoyment first for this occasion and it was worth it. I can't even express the pleasure of returning home after the wedding and not having to undress and put to bed a cranky, over-tired toddler. Deacon slept peacefully in his car-seat upon our return allowing Tyler and I some much needed Q.T. His work X-mas party was also on Saturday but he ended up skipping it.
Now, if only I could sleep at night...
Lucky for me, I like being awake so I'm not too bitter about my lack of shut-eye. I'm also lucky that I am a night person. I like being awake - at night. Basically I'm a vampire. Then, in a crazy sci-fi twist, I become a zombie by day!! Not a flesh-eating zombie, just an expressionless, go-through-the-motions, Raffi-singing zombie. It's quite surreal. The longest Deacon has slept is 4 straight hours. That, I would gladly take though he hasn't slept more than 2 hours in a row for the past I don't know how many nights. Hayden slept for 6 hour stretches when she was 6 weeks old. But she cried a lot during the day and Deacon doesn't so I think it's a fair trade-off.
Tyler is out of town for the next 2 nights and with these frigid temps it's not looking like I'll be venturing too far from home. I had to get this blog-post out before cabin fever sinks in otherwise you'd be deciphering unintelligible gibberish.
I never know how to end these things...
ttyl! Liza
Sunday, 1 December 2013
Single Parents - I Salute You
The Bedtime Routine Saga continues.... (sorry folks, this is my life at the moment! Bear with me!)
On Tuesday night when Tyler told me he would be out of town for another week and a half, I felt a wave of dread sweep over me - I would once again be the lone parent to look after a barely 2 year old and newborn - all day - all night..... SO once again, I packed my tiny Elantra literally to the roof with all our stuff and high-tailed it out to the farm to enjoy home-cooked meals and live-in babysitters. Two grandparents who are always more than willing to play with my busy bundle of toddler joy!
By day 3 reality sinks in - I have food in my fridge that needs to be eaten, mail piling up, plants that need to be watered, snow that needs to be shoveled (taken care of my mother-in-law God bless her.) All this plus the feeling that me and my crazy crew might be outstaying our welcome at the farm (even though my mom would insist that is never the case).
We came home to our North End Oasis on Friday and went about our day as usual. Then came 8:30 pm and Deacon, right on schedule, began his nightly fuss-fest. Why wouldn't I just skip Hayden's "bedtime routine", you might wonder. Perhaps if she wasn't still in diapers I could skip her bath. I just feel like Hayden needs this routine. She is an unbelievable sleeper and I would really love to keep it this way. I don't want to mess with any contributing factors.
Anyways, everything ended up going a lot smoother than I'd expected. Of course it would have been a lot "easier" with another pair of hands, but I know it will get easier in time. I just have to keep in mind that the only reason any situation ever seems "hard" is because we're comparing it to an experience in which we felt comfortable. I've forced myself out of my parenting comfort zone and now I feel like super mom! Stay tuned for the next week's gripping episode: Going Grocery Shopping. (jk)
Liza XO
On Tuesday night when Tyler told me he would be out of town for another week and a half, I felt a wave of dread sweep over me - I would once again be the lone parent to look after a barely 2 year old and newborn - all day - all night..... SO once again, I packed my tiny Elantra literally to the roof with all our stuff and high-tailed it out to the farm to enjoy home-cooked meals and live-in babysitters. Two grandparents who are always more than willing to play with my busy bundle of toddler joy!
By day 3 reality sinks in - I have food in my fridge that needs to be eaten, mail piling up, plants that need to be watered, snow that needs to be shoveled (taken care of my mother-in-law God bless her.) All this plus the feeling that me and my crazy crew might be outstaying our welcome at the farm (even though my mom would insist that is never the case).
We came home to our North End Oasis on Friday and went about our day as usual. Then came 8:30 pm and Deacon, right on schedule, began his nightly fuss-fest. Why wouldn't I just skip Hayden's "bedtime routine", you might wonder. Perhaps if she wasn't still in diapers I could skip her bath. I just feel like Hayden needs this routine. She is an unbelievable sleeper and I would really love to keep it this way. I don't want to mess with any contributing factors.
Anyways, everything ended up going a lot smoother than I'd expected. Of course it would have been a lot "easier" with another pair of hands, but I know it will get easier in time. I just have to keep in mind that the only reason any situation ever seems "hard" is because we're comparing it to an experience in which we felt comfortable. I've forced myself out of my parenting comfort zone and now I feel like super mom! Stay tuned for the next week's gripping episode: Going Grocery Shopping. (jk)
Liza XO
Friday, 22 November 2013
Hello Winter!!!
This past week I've found myself really eager to get out of the city and move somewhere we can properly enjoy winter. Sleigh rides, snowmobiling, snow forts! Oh, to build a snowman that doesn't require the use of all the snow in your tiny yard (leaving no room for snow angels) and still only stands 3 ft high! One day! Soon!
I feel bad for Hayden now that the snow is here. She loves playing outside and I would love to take her out, but with Deacon so small still, I'm worried about him getting a chill! All this makes me wonder what they did back in the day with babies in these harsh Canadian climates. Memories of my childhood obsession with Road to Avonlea are coming back to me: wrap the wee ones with layer upon layer of wool blankets and rest them in the pram to take in the fresh air! I just don't know. I'm now on the hunt for an oversized winter coat that I can zip over the Ergo-baby, keeping Deacon warm and cozy inside. "You'll just have to wrap yourself in furs, like the Inuit!" - Tyler. :)
Tyler is currently away on his first work trip since Deacon was born. The first night I stayed home with the kids but that damned bedtime routine is just a little too nutty for me to take on myself, so the next night I packed everything up and went out to the farm. Deacon and I stayed 1 night and Hayden 2. It was like being on holidays. Grandparents are awesome.
In the baby department, Deacon has had a major growth spurt. At his Dr.'s apt at 3 weeks he had gained 3 lbs putting him at exactly 10 lbs. If he keeps this up, he'll be right on par with Hayden who weighed almost 15 lbs at 2 months.
Deacon's still pretty unpredictable. There's not really anything he likes or doesn't like. I think my chocolate addiction was pissing him off, so I actually gave up chocolate! Just for him!! (Not really, we just ran out of leftover Halloween treats). The only pattern I can see is that he gets cranky every night at around 8:30 or 9:00. It's kind of thrown a wrench into Hayden's bedtime routine, much to her dismay. ** He has good days where I don't hear a peep out of him, and other days where I can hardly put him down! He's starting to look around at everything with these big wide eyes. He is trying so hard to get a smile out! I can see it in his eyes but he just can't get his little mouth to form it! So cute.
XO Liza
** If you're wondering what Hayden's bedtime routine entails:
1) Clean-up Time - Co-operation level = varies night to night
2) Bathtime - Co-operation level = good (until it's time to get out). If I wash her her hair = disastrous
3) Getting the jammies on - Who would have thought the act of getting a kid to put their pj's on would be the equivalent of trying to dress a baboon. Co-operation level = -10
4) Brushing teeth - Co-operation = poor (but improving!!)
5) Bedtime stories - Co-operation = awesome
I feel bad for Hayden now that the snow is here. She loves playing outside and I would love to take her out, but with Deacon so small still, I'm worried about him getting a chill! All this makes me wonder what they did back in the day with babies in these harsh Canadian climates. Memories of my childhood obsession with Road to Avonlea are coming back to me: wrap the wee ones with layer upon layer of wool blankets and rest them in the pram to take in the fresh air! I just don't know. I'm now on the hunt for an oversized winter coat that I can zip over the Ergo-baby, keeping Deacon warm and cozy inside. "You'll just have to wrap yourself in furs, like the Inuit!" - Tyler. :)
Tyler is currently away on his first work trip since Deacon was born. The first night I stayed home with the kids but that damned bedtime routine is just a little too nutty for me to take on myself, so the next night I packed everything up and went out to the farm. Deacon and I stayed 1 night and Hayden 2. It was like being on holidays. Grandparents are awesome.
In the baby department, Deacon has had a major growth spurt. At his Dr.'s apt at 3 weeks he had gained 3 lbs putting him at exactly 10 lbs. If he keeps this up, he'll be right on par with Hayden who weighed almost 15 lbs at 2 months.
Deacon's still pretty unpredictable. There's not really anything he likes or doesn't like. I think my chocolate addiction was pissing him off, so I actually gave up chocolate! Just for him!! (Not really, we just ran out of leftover Halloween treats). The only pattern I can see is that he gets cranky every night at around 8:30 or 9:00. It's kind of thrown a wrench into Hayden's bedtime routine, much to her dismay. ** He has good days where I don't hear a peep out of him, and other days where I can hardly put him down! He's starting to look around at everything with these big wide eyes. He is trying so hard to get a smile out! I can see it in his eyes but he just can't get his little mouth to form it! So cute.
XO Liza
** If you're wondering what Hayden's bedtime routine entails:
1) Clean-up Time - Co-operation level = varies night to night
2) Bathtime - Co-operation level = good (until it's time to get out). If I wash her her hair = disastrous
3) Getting the jammies on - Who would have thought the act of getting a kid to put their pj's on would be the equivalent of trying to dress a baboon. Co-operation level = -10
4) Brushing teeth - Co-operation = poor (but improving!!)
5) Bedtime stories - Co-operation = awesome
Tuesday, 12 November 2013
Week 2: Stuck Like Glue
Not too much has changed in the past week. Deacon is still your basic eat / sleep / poop newborn. Hayden is still completely in love with him, thank goodness. She's always kissing and hugging Deacon and wanting to pick him up and hold him. I'm so proud of her!
We're currently in the process of rewriting Hayden's pretty much set-in-stone daily routine. Before, we always had "craft time" and "story time", "puppet time", "excercise time", "dance time", etc. etc. Now, we've added a big chunk of "cartoon time" to the list. We don't watch that much TV in our house. We still rely on our bunny ears which surprisingly bring in CBC and Global in HD. CBC can be pretty limited but lucky for us we have Netflix on the Smart TV. I feel guilty putting shows on to keep her entertained but its kind of my only option at this point being stuck in the lazy boy breastfeeding every 2 - 3 hours and changing zillions of diapers. I know we'll be able to go back to our old activities eventually.
Little Deacon has decided to kick it up a notch in the past week! He's added "fussing" to his list of skills. He's not actually "fussy", it's just gas. Typical newborn stuff I guess. He'll be sleeping so peacefully and then out of no-where he turns into old Grunty McGee, squirming around, his little face all red and scrunched up. Hayden did the exact same thing. I learned, with her, to just let her work it out on her own. If it gets to the point where he starts crying, its into the Ergo-baby he goes and I don't hear another peep.
The baby carrier has been a real lifesaver! I don't know what I'd do without it! It's allowed me to keep the kitchen clean, the laundry done, the floor vacuumed - standing stuff. I love the Ergo baby for it's versatility and comfort. (Hayden still goes in it once and while). But its a little bulky for around the house, so I ordered a Moby wrap off Amazon.
When Hayden was a newborn I didn't have the internet or an Iphone. This time around, whenever Deacon is doing something that concerns me in the slightest bit, I find myself on Google looking up baby poo or something else like that. I don't recommend it.
Sleeping: I've become accustomed to sleeping in 2 hr chunks through the night. And I've given up on trying to keep putting Deacon back in his bassinet after every feeding. He sleeps with me now. "That's not good!!!!!!!" my mother says. Yeah yeah yeah.... With Hayden, I would NEVER have co-slept. I painstakingly put her back in her crib again and again and again until she slept there. This time, I need to sleep at night bc I don't have the opportunity during the day like I did with Hayden. SO there. He will eventually sleep in his bassinet, you mark my words. Luckily they've been napping at the same time in the afternoon so I've been able to have naps (except today I'm writing this).
Annnd my times up!!
Liza
We're currently in the process of rewriting Hayden's pretty much set-in-stone daily routine. Before, we always had "craft time" and "story time", "puppet time", "excercise time", "dance time", etc. etc. Now, we've added a big chunk of "cartoon time" to the list. We don't watch that much TV in our house. We still rely on our bunny ears which surprisingly bring in CBC and Global in HD. CBC can be pretty limited but lucky for us we have Netflix on the Smart TV. I feel guilty putting shows on to keep her entertained but its kind of my only option at this point being stuck in the lazy boy breastfeeding every 2 - 3 hours and changing zillions of diapers. I know we'll be able to go back to our old activities eventually.
Little Deacon has decided to kick it up a notch in the past week! He's added "fussing" to his list of skills. He's not actually "fussy", it's just gas. Typical newborn stuff I guess. He'll be sleeping so peacefully and then out of no-where he turns into old Grunty McGee, squirming around, his little face all red and scrunched up. Hayden did the exact same thing. I learned, with her, to just let her work it out on her own. If it gets to the point where he starts crying, its into the Ergo-baby he goes and I don't hear another peep.
The baby carrier has been a real lifesaver! I don't know what I'd do without it! It's allowed me to keep the kitchen clean, the laundry done, the floor vacuumed - standing stuff. I love the Ergo baby for it's versatility and comfort. (Hayden still goes in it once and while). But its a little bulky for around the house, so I ordered a Moby wrap off Amazon.
When Hayden was a newborn I didn't have the internet or an Iphone. This time around, whenever Deacon is doing something that concerns me in the slightest bit, I find myself on Google looking up baby poo or something else like that. I don't recommend it.
Sleeping: I've become accustomed to sleeping in 2 hr chunks through the night. And I've given up on trying to keep putting Deacon back in his bassinet after every feeding. He sleeps with me now. "That's not good!!!!!!!" my mother says. Yeah yeah yeah.... With Hayden, I would NEVER have co-slept. I painstakingly put her back in her crib again and again and again until she slept there. This time, I need to sleep at night bc I don't have the opportunity during the day like I did with Hayden. SO there. He will eventually sleep in his bassinet, you mark my words. Luckily they've been napping at the same time in the afternoon so I've been able to have naps (except today I'm writing this).
Annnd my times up!!
Liza
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Week 1: Our New Son
With both babes sleeping it gives me a quick opportunity to provide you all with a glimpse into my first week with Deacon at home:
I was expecting it to be SO insane with Hayden and a newborn and now that it's not insane at all, I'm very pleasantly surprised. My only newborn experience was with poor colicky Hayden who couldn't be put down for more than 5 minutes before she'd start wailing! Deacon hasn't had one fussy episode since he's been born! Of course he's only 1 week old so I'm not making any conclusions about his temperament at this point. At first he didn't like having his diaper changed but he's over it now. He still doesn't like going in the bath.
Other than that, he's so content to sit in his baby seat. He loves being held and his little eyes light up when I sing to him. :) He's so so so relaxed. He just flops around and really needs help holding his head up. His hands are alway relaxed, palms open. Hayden's newborn hands were always in tight little balled up fists!
Hayden loves Deacon! I was a little worried judging by the way she treats Rocky, but she totally gets it that Deacon's a tiny baby and needs us to take care of him. She's been an absolute angel to him. She's so proud to be a big sister!
As for myself, I feel amazing. I literally had a 3 day recovery after having Deacon and now I feel as though I never gave birth at all! I am SO grateful for how smooth this first week has gone! Sure, I haven't got more than 3 straight hrs of sleep, but I know this period will pass too soon so its a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make!
XO Liza
I was expecting it to be SO insane with Hayden and a newborn and now that it's not insane at all, I'm very pleasantly surprised. My only newborn experience was with poor colicky Hayden who couldn't be put down for more than 5 minutes before she'd start wailing! Deacon hasn't had one fussy episode since he's been born! Of course he's only 1 week old so I'm not making any conclusions about his temperament at this point. At first he didn't like having his diaper changed but he's over it now. He still doesn't like going in the bath.
Other than that, he's so content to sit in his baby seat. He loves being held and his little eyes light up when I sing to him. :) He's so so so relaxed. He just flops around and really needs help holding his head up. His hands are alway relaxed, palms open. Hayden's newborn hands were always in tight little balled up fists!
Hayden loves Deacon! I was a little worried judging by the way she treats Rocky, but she totally gets it that Deacon's a tiny baby and needs us to take care of him. She's been an absolute angel to him. She's so proud to be a big sister!
As for myself, I feel amazing. I literally had a 3 day recovery after having Deacon and now I feel as though I never gave birth at all! I am SO grateful for how smooth this first week has gone! Sure, I haven't got more than 3 straight hrs of sleep, but I know this period will pass too soon so its a sacrifice I'm more than willing to make!
XO Liza
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