Gelli-Baff

For Christmas last year Jack and Oliver got some Gelli Baff.  It's a product that turns your bath water into gel and it comes with a dissolver.  I thought it looked pretty neat.  Yesterday for the first time, Jack asked to have a bath with it.  I had no idea what 40L of water is in the bathtub.  I eyeballed it.  I figured it couldn't be very much.  I think I made a pretty good estimate. 

Jack hated it from the second he stepped foot in it.  He didn't want to sit down but I managed to get him too.  I scooped some up to rub on him and he was completely put off.  He was all "get it off me!  get it off of me!" Oliver thought it was pretty neat until he realized Jack didn't think so and then that was it for him too! 

Thumb Sucking

Reed is a thumb sucker.  He always has been.  He would never take a pacifier.  I tried.  I would have preferred that he take a pacifier because I've been wondering how I would get him to stop sucking his thumb.  You can't exactly take it away.
I haven't minded that he sucks his thumb.  He was pretty much only sucking it when he is tired or is in bed.  I've noticed this past week that he's been sucking it more often.
Jack and Oliver both used a pacifier.  I took it away from them when they started to walk.  Jack was just over 17 months, Oliver was 14 months old.  Why when they started to walk?  Because to me, you aren't a baby anymore if you are walking and I'm not going to lie, nothing annoys me more than seeing a toddler walk around with a pacifier in their mouth.  It is one of my biggest pet peeves.
Reed at 15 months, has just started to pull to stand and is starting to cruise the furniture.  This to me, is the time to start weaning.  The problem is, you can't wean something that is attached.  At least with the pacifier you can go from having it during the day, to nap/bedtime only, to night time only to not at all.
Today, I decided it was time to try to nip the thumb sucking.  I'm using Ecrinal Bitter Nail Polish.  It is made to deter people from biting their nails.  It can also be used to deter toddlers from thumb sucking.  The package does say safe for children 30 months and over but I'm not waiting until Reed is 2.5.

I've always found it cute that he sucks his thumb.  The bigger and older he gets, the less cute I think it is.  I do know that my sister used it with my niece and it only took about 3 days before she stopped sucking her thumb.  I'm hoping it will be that short of an amount of time for Reed too, if it works at all.  A girl can hope, right?
Do any of you have experience with thumb sucking?  How long did your kid(s) suck their thumb?  How did you get them to stop or did they stop on their own? 

Breathing A Big Sigh of Relief

Back in January Jack had gotten sick.  He had made a complaint about his hip being sore.  Upon examination, I noticed he had a lump on his left upper thigh.  It was about the length of a lemon.  It was hard and tender to touch.  With that, we hopped in the car and went to the clinic.  The Drs response there was "well that's not normal, is it?"  and sent us for an x-ray with went smoothly and we scheduled an appt for an ultrasound.  That appt did not go very well.  Jack was freaked right now.  He was scared,  uncooperative, completely irrational.  She told me she could get two assistants to come and restrain him.  I told her to do whatever it is she needed to do and I left the room.  I could not sit there and witness that.  I sat in the little waiting room, Reed with me and I cried.  I felt horrible.  I felt so helpless.  He didn't end up needing to be restrained but the ultrasound didn't show anything.  We were referred to a pediatrician.  I knew this pediatrician from working in the group home and he is also the pediatrician at work in the children's clinic.  He was not concerned.  He figured Jack had probably injured himself and it was healing.  Although it had shrunk a lot in size, you could tell there was something still there.  It didn't look right.  It didn't feel right.  It didn't bother him.  That is, until he got sick again.  Whenever he would get sick or have a fever it would swell and be tender to touch.  The Dr decided to send us for another ultrasound.  He warned if it didn't show anything he would want Jack to have an MRI.  I was really nervous about his having this other ultrasound done.  He was really, really good though.  No drama.  No tears.  He was a big, brave boy.  Despite this, the test was inconclusive.  This meant an MRI would be necessary.  He had his MRI Wednesday.  He was again really, really, really good.  He was very brave.  He did all that was asked of him.  Until it was sprung on me that there was a very big chance that they would need to give Jack some contrasting solution and this would be done with a needle.  He didn't like that very much.  Much to the technician's embarrassement, because Jack moved and resisted so much, she wasn't able to give him enough solution and would need to give him another
needle.  I went into the room for that.  I hugged him, and comforted him until he had calmed down and semi-agreed to let them give him another needle.  A bribe with a trip to the toy store helped.  Just sayin'...He may or may not have a new Lego Ninjago toy. 
The doctor's office called today with the results.  She named it something but I couldn't tell you what for the life of me.  All I heard was "it isn't anything that you need to worry about.  You can choose to have it surgically removed.  This is something to discuss with the Doctor."  Good enough for me!  I will see the doctor at the beginning of September for Reed's well-baby check up so I will discuss it with him then.
My understanding is that it is soft, fatty tissue.  All I really care about is that it isn't anything serious.  Let's face it, all kinds of scenarios were playing through my head.  That is enough of the game "what is freakishly going on in my kids body?

Back to Work

It's been two full weeks now since I've gone back to work and the transition couldn't have gone more smoothly.  It of course helps we only need someone to watch the kids one day a week.  We have been able to work it out so Shawn is home with the kids two of the days I work.  This really helps keep down the cost of daycare.  We have been lucky enough to find someone who has recently graduated from ECE to come to our home to look after the boys.  It's way more affordable paying her by the hour then having them in a daycare.  Way less work for me than trying to find a daycare who can take all 3 kids, into the evening, only once a week or on an as needed basis if I want to pick up any shifts at work.  I like her.  The kids seem to like her.  Jack says he likes her and that she is good to them.  She told me she would like to gain more hands on experience.  My house is the perfect place for that.  I've got 3 boys all at different ages and stages and all with very different personalities.
Work has been going well.  I like my job.  I like it's lack of stress.  I like that I don't have to take my work home with me.  I like the hours I work.  I like the pay.  I guess I even like the people I work with.  Although it can get to be a little monotonous at times, overall I enjoy doing my job.  That has really helped with making going back so easy.  I do miss my boys though.  I like when I'm busy at work because it keeps my mind occupied.  It's once I get home that I realize just how much I missed them.  Especially because once I get home, it's time to tuck them into bed.  Then I have to wait until the morning to see them.  I'm glad I get a 3-day weekend every other weekend. 
I'm really grateful that I was able to stay home for the full year with all three of my kids.  I'm also very grateful that I get to spend as much time home with my kids as I do.  My work-family scale is pretty well balanced and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Life is mostly pretty good right now.  Jack is asking to play a game.  Why do they ask these things of me so early in the morning?  Time to go and get my ass whopped in whatever game he decides to play.  Sadly, I don't have to let Jack win most of the games we play, he can just beat me. 

Happy 1st Birthday Reed

I wanted to have this done and posted for Reed's actual birthday which was Sunday, but then life got in the way and I didn't have time to get it finished. It's finished now and that is all that really matters, right?

Happy 1st Birthday Reed.  With tons of love! xo

My First Vegetable Garden

It finally feels like spring.  Although a little cold right now, it's nice that there is no more snow, that flowers are growing and leaves are blooming.  It's nice to look out the window and see green trees.  One sunny day last week, I was cleaning out a flower bed.  I am not greenthumb.  I don't really know a plant from a weed.  It was during this time that I thought to myself that since the flowerbed isn't being used aside from a few plants, I was going to try to grow a vegetable garden.  I dug out the few plants I knew weren't weeds and transplanted them to another flower bed, tilled the dirt, and added fresh soil.  Now it's time to get serious and plan out the garden and what I am going to try to grow.  I did buy some green beans, wax beans, carrots and baby cucumbers.  I will likely also get a tomato plant or two, maybe some peppers.  Since this is my first time trying to grow anything, I'm thinking that may be enough.  Should be an interesting process.  I'm not expecting much, if anything.  It doesn't hurt to try.  I will  have to learn through trial and error.

Helicopter Mom vs Free Range Parent and Finding Balance

Helicopter Parent:  It’s a term for parents who believe their child is so vulnerable — to injury, to teasing, to disease and disappointment — that they have to sort of hover (like a helicopter) over the child, ready to swoop in if anything remotely “bad” happens.

Free Range Parent:  Common sense parenting.  Letting your child do things he can when he shows he is ready to.

I've been really struggling lately.  Especially since the weather has become nicer.  With the weather being nicer, the neighborhood kids are out and around a lot more playing.  Although I would love to be outside for 3+hour stretches at a time, what is becoming every single day, I just can't do it.  I've started to wonder when it is okay to let  your kids outside to play in your own yard/driveway without being there hovering.  I have started to let Jack out to play without my direct supervision.  His full time supervision has been downgraded to semi-supervised.  There can be anywhere from 2-7 kids ranging in ages from 4-8 outside at any given time.  Some of these kids are neighbors and others from down the street in both directions.  They tend to congregate here at our place or next door.  I go and check on things every 10-15 minutes, sometimes with just a quick head count and up date on where the other kids have gone and sometimes I just peek out, make sure everything is okay and say nothing.  Jack has done well with this.  He stays in the yard as asked.  He always comes when I call him.  He continues to play well with others.  He enjoys himself and has fun. 
I do not do this yet with Oliver.  He is too much of a wild card.  It's hard because his time outside is a little more limited having to be directly supervised still.  Poor pumpkin. 
Some of you might not agree, and think that 6 is too young but I don't think so.  I could play the "what if" game but I don't see anything productive in playing that game because "what if nothing happens and he's missed out on all that fun for nothing".
I wonder at what age it will be okay for Jack to walk himself to school.  When is it okay to ride your bike around the block on your own?  I just don't know the answers to these questions.  While I'm sure it will be different from one child to the next, how do you know when your child is ready.   Jack has shown me through the times he has been outside on his own to play that he is very capable to do so. 
I'm neither a helicopter parent or free-range parent.  I don't know if I have it in me to be a free range parent, but I'm also working hard to put away my hover-mama tendencies. I'm somewhere in the middle, trying to find the perfect balance.  What about you -- where do you fall on the protective parent continuum?

Slacking

I have done nothing but be a slacker all month.  I've been neglecting many little corners of my life.
I had enough of the chaos that was surrounding me this week and went on a clean and purge bender.
I now have only the kitchen left to tackle and our bedroom closet.  It has felt very good.  Very refreshing.
I love freecycle because when I purge,  I put all the shit stuff I've collected into little lots, post them and people come and take it.  I don't have to go anywhere.  I don't have to do anything.  People just take it.  THANK YOU!   I've also unpacked from when I was at my Mom's last.  When was that you ask?  Oh the week of March Break.  If there is anything worse than packing, it's unpacking.  We tend to just live out of the suitcases once we get back home.
It's been a really long time since my kitchen floor has had a decent washing.  Spot wiping counts right?  Tell me it does.  Tell. Me. It. Does!  We very rarely ever eat at the kitchen table so it is just covered with a heaping pile of mess (eh Tiff).  Every time I clean it off I tell myself I'm not going to use it as a dumping ground.  That lasts until I have something in my hand I just want to put down and don't know what to do with. It's no wonder I've had to write Jack's teacher 2x this year to tell her I can't seem to find his sightwords (both times I found them buried under said crap on the table).  The second time, I also let her know that I lost my mind and couldn't find it either.   

Speaking of Jack.  He has lost two teeth.  His little toothless grin is very sweet.

He gets very excited when he finds a "piece of money" under his pillow.  The going rate for teeth these days seems to be a bit steep.  While "our" Tooth Fairy leaves only $2/tooth, the going rate apparently can be anywhere from $5-$20 to even a toy!  Seriously?  For a tooth?  I am unable to wrap my head around such a thing. 
My little Oliver.  Boy that kid is so cute.  With his big brown eyes and his sweet, little smile he could melt anyones heart.  He really is a sweet, caring and loving boy.  Honest.  He is also a little hellion.  He is at a frustrating age.  He's all "hey i'm a big boy" one minute and "i'm not a big boy" the next.  I've said it before and will say it again, the threes are horrible.  I don't believe there are "terrible twos".  I believe the threes are.  I often wonder how starting school is going to be for him.  He's still so little to me.  He is still going to be 3 when he starts school. 
Reed has finally cut a tooth.  He now has two teeth.  Took long enough.  Coincidence that every time Jack loses a tooth Reed sprouts one?  He has also figured out that he can move when up on all fours and not just rock back and forth although that seems to be his favorite thing to do.  He doesn't move far up on all fours but he can crawl.  He does know it is much faster to slither on his stomach so this is what he usually does. 
I'm working on getting him to use his pincer grasp.  He seems to be a little delayed in this area compared to the other two boys.  I know, don't compare the kids but I just feel like we should be beyond the raking and grasping.  I'm anxious for him to begin feeding himself and giving him real food.  I make a significant amount of my baby food so I know the food is "real" but I mean food that isn't mushed up together.  I guess I will just have to wait until he is ready. 
I have been completely neglecting my camera and haven't been taking many pictures of the kids.  I get mad at myself when I do this.  Goal for spring...take more pictures of the kids. 
Well school morning is calling so I should probably feed Jack some breakfast and make his lunch and all the fun things that go along with a school day. 

Cheers

It's Almost That Time

So holy shit.  It occured to me just the other day that I am due to return to work in (gasp), 3 more months!
I cannot believe that 1-Reed is 9 months old now (well days away from being) and that 2-It's almost that time.  The time to return to my other job.  My job that pays. 
Of course I can believe it's almost time because I've done this twice before but for some reason, the time seems to have gone by way faster this time around. 
With only 3 months to go, I should be getting on things like I don't know, maybe looking for daycare for the kids.  I have no idea how or where I am going to find daycare that is going to have an opening for 3 kids, is within walking distance to school and accomodates shift workers.  Oh, do I hear a near impossible?  Oh let me add to this list.  They won't be going full time.  They might not even need to go the same days every week This should be fun.  I do have a phone number for two home daycares that do accomodate shift work, and one of those is within walking distance of school.  I just don't know that they will be able to take all 3 kids.  It's hard looking right now too because I don't know what days exactly I will need someone.  I work part time (Mon, Wed, Thurs and every other Saturday).  Shawn is in the midst of starting a new job so I have no idea what his schedule is going to be like until his training is finished.  I think this is the beginning of April.  Oh that's cutting it close.  I'm hoping that between our two schedules, we can work it out so the kids don't need to go to daycare very often or at all.  I do however know that I am not looking forward to paying the daycare bill for 3 kids!!  Ouch.  It's going to hurt.  Lets all pray we can work it out so they go very little.  My bank account will thank you for those prayers. 
As much as I enjoy being home with the boys, I am also looking forward to going back to work.  I like my job.  I like the people I work with.  I like the time away from the kids.  This full time SAHM thing just isn't my cup of tea.  Working part time is a good balance.  I still get to be home with the kids during the day (I work evenings), 2 days a week plus every other Saturday and all Sundays plus I still get to go out and use my brain and skills outside of the house.  I couldn't ask for a better work arrangement while the kids are still small. 

Happy 6th Birthday Jack

It was exactly 6 years ago, at 0516 Jack's wet, slippery body was placed in my arms and I offically became a mother.  It was this day, that my life changed forever.  Please, bare with me as I reflect on this time,

Our first meeting

I can still remember so vividly the day I found out I was pregnant.  It was an unexpected shock.  As I was walking into the clinic to get some birth control pills (I had no more refills, which I didn't find out until I went to renew my prescription), I certainly wasn't expecting to be walking out with a prenatal package.  It was the scariest day of my life.  I was scared as hell, shocked, stunned even.  Shawn and I had only been dating a little over a year and a half.  The topic of having children had never really come up.  What the hell was I going to tell my mother?  Although I was okay with being pregnant (I was in a relationship, I had graduated college, I had a job, I was 24), I knew my Mom would be disappointed that I wasn't married.  I waited a long time before getting the balls to finally tell her.  If I remember correctly, I was 11 weeks.  It was after I had my first ultrasound.  I didn't know how to tell her so I just got her to sit down, close her eyes and I placed the ultrasound pictures in her lap.  Needless to say, she was very surprised.  Her first words being "Are you ready for this?" like I had a choice anymore.  Too late to be thinking about that Mom. ;)

30 weeks

I had the best pregnancy every.  I had very little to no morning sickness.  I think maybe twice I felt nauseous.  I felt great the entire time.  Not that I was in denial about being pregnant, but it was nice to be able to just carry on as if I wasn't (aside from a few minor tweak).  I never had to miss any work.  I worked right up until a week before Jack was born.  I didn't need to modify my work at all.  I simply carried on.  I think I will always remember getting busted by my supervisor scrubbing the bathroom floor on my hands and knees.  I think I was 37 weeks along.  I think I did more nesting at work than at home.  I don't think I did any nesting at home.  I gained a whopping 40lbs when I was pregnant.  I very much went the whole "I'm pregnant and I can eat what I want, whenever I want" route.  My biggest weakness:  the brownie.  I ate one just about every single day.  My days were not the same without one.  One time, my roomate ate the last one.  Good thing he was at work when this was discovered because it probably wouldn't have been pretty. lol  Despite my 40lb weight gain, I didn't get any stretch marks.  Well, I got I think two, tiny little ones.  Hardly noticeable.
Labor and delivery went very smoothly.  It was Superbowl Sunday.  I had gone to bed pretty early, probably like 7pm.  At 9, I woke up having to go to the bathroom.  I went.  I went a few times, peeing only a few drops at a time.  I was feeling a little crampy but thought nothing.  At 11pm, I was still getting these cramps so I called the hospital.  All this time, Shawn is downstairs watching the Superbowl.  I haven't mentioned a thing to him.  She asks me a couple of questions then suggests we go in just to be assessed.  My first thoughts "oh shit.  shawn has been downstairs having some beers."  I wasn't due for another week.  I go downstairs and tell Shawn what has been going on the past two hours and tell him we need to go to the hospital.  Luckily, I don't think he was too many beers deep as it was a work day the next year.  Regardless, he drove me to the hospital.  Once there, they hooked me up to the fetal monitors.  When the Dr decided to check to see if I was dilated at all, it was discovered I was already dilated 8cm!!  That freaked me out.  I still had to call my Mom.  She still had a 2 hour drive to make.  I wanted my Mom!!  They took me to the delivery room.  I asked for an epidural.  Being as far along as I was and managing as good as I was, the nurse didn't think it was necessary and tried to talk me out of it.  I had just been so dead set on getting one that  I didn't pay any attention to what the nurse was saying to me and insisted on having one.  Looking back now, and having delivered two more babies naturally, I wish I had listened to her.  45 minutes of pushing and my little bambino was born.  All 6lbs 14oz of him.

Minutes within being born

My life has never been the same since.  The intense feeling of love you feel for you children is beautiful and scary.  From the very first second you see them and hold them you would do anything in the world to protect them.  Not a single thing in the world matter more and it's crazy when you think that and you have only just met them.
I'm very proud of the young man Jack is becoming.

At 6, Jack can count to at least 120.
At 6, his favorite thing to do is play wii
At 6, his best friend is his cousin Nicholas
It has been 4 years since Jack has eaten a vegetable
At 6, Jack loves Star Wars.
His favorite toy is his General Grievous lightsaber.
At 6, Jack still has and sleeps with his blankies
At 6, Jack is the best big brother I can expect him to be
At 6, Jack still loves to cuddle as much as ever and I love it!

Happy 6th Birthday my little Jack Attack.  Mommy is very, very proud of you and I love you to infinity and beyond!

My handsome boy

Sophie the Giraffe

Just about everyone who has an infant or toddler knows who Sophie the Giraffe is.  She is made of rubber (which I think smells nasty btw).  She is soft, light, and easy to hold.  Babies especially seem to love her bumpy head for chewing.  Hell Reed shoves a whole leg in his mouth and gnaws away.
Sophie however is pretty expensive.  She retails for about $25.  That is quite a chunk of change for any infant toy. 
I was far too cheap for spend that much money on a teething toy.  Then Reed started teething.  I remembered my niece had one so I asked my sister what she thought of it.  She had stated that Rita loved it.  She asked me if I wanted to use it.  To save myself the $25, I said sure. 
Reed's Sophie is very homely looking.  After we washed, and scrubbed her clean, she was left with no spots.  She is just a white giraffe.  Not nearly as cute as she looks new.  Whatever, I didn't care. 
I can however say that she would be worth every single one of her $25.  He loves this thing.  I would say it's his favorite play thing.  He loves to chew on her.  It's really quite cute watching him chew on her.  I'm actually  glad sometimes that she isn't as cute because I think I would feel bad when she is looking up at you when he is chewing away on one of her legs. 
It's hard to know what products out there for babies/kids are worth the money and which ones are just a trend.  I always thought of Sophie as a trendy toy but as I said earlier, she is very much worth the money.     I don't think of her as a trendy toy anymore. I wish I had known about her when Jack and Oliver were babies.  I would definitely suggest this teething toy to any of my friends who are having or have babies. 

Family Photos 2010

Remember that disastrous family photo shoot we attempted back in December?  Here are a few of my favorite shots.  I am very happy about the few photos of Oliver she was able to get in the 3 minutes he cooperated.  I'm still sad that we weren't able to get any of Reed but what can do you?

Photos are courtesy of Jillian Bickle in Cobourg.

Loose Teeth

Jack has his first loose tooth.  This is a time that I have been completely dreading.  Loose teeth give me the heebie jeebies.  The wiggling creeps me out.  Seeing teeth just hanging there is gross.  Watching people attempt to pull teeth out makes me sick to my stomach.  I had to inform Shawn last night that he will indeed be the designated tooth puller.  In my perfect little world, none of the kids teeth will get pulled out but will just fall out on their own in their own good time.  I however, remember what is is like being a kid and wanting your loose tooth pulled because it can get in the way and make eating difficult and being anxious for the tooth fairy to come.
Jack was very excited to tell me that when his tooth falls out that the tooth fairy will come and leave him gold coins under his pillow.  I was quick to inform him that the Tooth Fairy is not a pirate and although she does leave coins under the pillow, (I emphazied the coins part because this tooth fairy is not leaving paper money under the pillow) they will not be of the gold variety (unless he considers loonies gold). 
Although I have an idea of how many coins will be left by the Tooth Fairy, I question - How much does the Tooth Fairy leave for teeth at your house?  Did she leave more for a first tooth then subsequent teeth? 

Jealous Girlfriends?

I pick up the most recent copy of Sports Illustrated off the bathroom counter and began to leaf through it.  I get 11 pages into it and see this:

"The annual SI Swimsuit Issue will be published in February. If you're a subscriber and would prefer not to receive it, call our customer service center toll-free at 1-800-528-5000 and let us know. If you choose not to receive the SI Swimsuit Issue, SI will extend your subscription."

Really?  There are SI subscribers out there who do not wish to receive the Swimsuit Issue?  Who are these people?  They are telling me that there are enough guys out there who don't care to receive a magazine with hot chicks in bikinis?  Huh.  Interesting.

Excuse me....

while I get my ass kicked in Yahtzee Jr by both my 5 and 3 year olds. 

Final Score:  Oliver 21, Jack 19, Me 12. 

'Tis The Season

I hate the winter months,  Winter here in Durham is not what I call winter.  It's horrible.  It's cold but we don't have any snow.  I'm not exaggerating either.  We have absolutely no snow.  What does one do with small children during the winter months when there is no snow?  I have no idea.  I can only play so much hockey.  The grass is frozen.  The toys are frozen.  Everything is frozen.  My poor children.  I feel horrible for them.  It does not help with getting them outside for fresh air.  I don't know how many times I've heard they are bored of going for walks.  I'm stumped.   
Winter is also the season of colds.  I've already waved my white flag.  I did this a few years ago.  There is no avoiding colds.  I've already come to accept that between November and April, somebody is going to have a cold.  I should really buy stock in Kleenex.  Toilet paper too come to think of it.  That stuff is gold.  We have all had a terrible sounding/feeling cough for weeks now.  My poor Jack ended up with a nose/throat/double ear infection.  Reed's been put on puffers for wheezing.  Shawn has started taking Buckley's.  He talked me into trying it, I couldn't do it.  I swallowed the tiniest sip and spat out the rest. lol  It was awful.  It tastes exactly how Vick's smells.  Yuck.  No thank you. 
The kids are all tucked into their beds (hurray for quiet time).  It more often then not ends in naptime for Oliver and Jack doesn't have a problem being quiet as a mouse.  Reed, he has no sleep pattern.  He just sleeps whenever he feels like it.  We haven't any kind of routine.  I've very much just let him sleep whenever he wants for however long he wants.  I know it would be very benefecial to get him into a routine but we aren't really a routiney family and well, I don't really  have a problem with his sleep routine right now.  There will come a time (spring) when I will begin to mind it and I'll just cross that bridge when I get there.   
There is so much I could be doing now.  There is always laundry to do, there are toys everywhere, my floors would probably love to have a date with some water.  I think I chose to forget about it and will curl up and read a book.  That sounds a lot more pleasant.