Random Poptart Antics
18 months is interesting. We have language and physical abilities explosions, coupled with a lack of judgment. Seriously, child, I cannot leave you sitting alone on the counter while you watch the Wiggles on the computer because when you fall? the kitchen tile is hard and unforgiving. So I have to hang around.
And the language explosions. My god. I suppose this is what my mother meant when she said I have to watch my language around the kid.
Scene: I am wrestling with her carseat trying to get it back in the car. Not a difficult process so long as you have the seat in the right position (duh). I do not. So I am wrestling with it.
Me: Oh, shit. What gives?
Later that evening, the Poptart is sitting on the sofa playing with something and drops it.
The Poptart: Oh shit!
Darren: What did she say?
Me: I don’t know! I’m working on my paper!
And the potty training. There’s lots of naked time involved because it’s easier to get her on the potty quickly when she needs it. The other night, she was running around in the buck and blew some air.
Me: Do you have to poo?
The Poptart: No, gas!
And finally, it seems that there is a lot of hockey going on in our house. Darren is a bit of a (hockey) nut, you see. On Monday, the Poptart pulled one of my old textbooks off the bookshelf. On the back cover was this symbol:
For non-Canadians, that’s the symbol for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). They host Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights.
So the Poptart sees the emblem, points at it and says “Hockey!!!”
She is Canadian. Through and through.
What I did on my Summer Vacation
Last week, posts were a bit thin because we all took off on vacation, leaving our Nanny at home because she was going to the PNE with friends. We spent a few days with the inlaws, where the Poptart was overstimulated, overfed and spoiled and decided that she would only sleep with me because, well, she is a toddler.
On Saturday, we drove up. It was Darren’s dad’s birthday and we found out that he reads books like I do: like other people breathe. So we bought him an ebook reader like the ones we have. After, we went to the winery next door and got a couple of bottles of wine for dinner.
Sunday we lazed about while the Poptart had quality time with her grandma and grandpa. It was really great to see them together. Darren’s mom has had some health problems and she’s never so active or happy as when she sees her granddaughter.
On Monday, Darren had to go do a bit of work at his company’s satellite office in the early afternoon, so the Poptart ran around in the garden with her grandparents while I read. And read. And read some more. It was great.
After Darren got back, we had lunch and then took off for the other set of grandparents – about a two hour drive. I had wisely kept the Poptart up and then stuffed her at lunch. By the time we hit the highway (about 5 minutes) she was passed out in her carseat and slept all the way to Enderby – about halfway. We got gas and made a pit stop then carried on.
In order to get to my parents’ place, you turn off Highway 1 to Anglemont. And then you drive along this winding road right by Shuswap Lake for the longest 35 km ever. Seriously. It just doesn’t end. There are these distance markers here and there that say things like “Anglemont 35”, “Anglemont 19”, “Anglemont 11”, and “Anglemont 2”. It’s kind of like they’re telling you, “It’s okay! You haven’t missed it yet! Really! It’s still coming!”
Anyways, we got to my parents’ place, where the Poptart was overstimulated, overfed, spoiled and slept in her own bed because she went for long walks every day with grandma and was tired. Note: once you have kids, even when it’s your birthday, they’re the ones who get presents.
On Wednesday, we went to see the Scotch Creek salmon run. This is the precursor to the Adams River salmon run and is supposed to be the biggest run in like, ever. The Poptart and her grandpa bonded over fish.
And then on Thursday we came back in order to have the long weekend to recover. Today’s plans include: dentist appointments, haircuts and dinner with friends. Tomorrow, I’m making lunches for the week. Monday, I’m doing some lesson planning for an upcoming contract.
I know, exciting. What are your plans for the long weekend?
It’s a good thing she’s cute
I was late for work on Tuesday, and it’s all the Poptart’s fault.
Sometime Monday evening, she took off with my security card and bus pass. Then she was up until 10:30 (?!!) and up at 4:45 (%$*!). And CRANKY, because hello? NOT ENOUGH SLEEP. She wanted to snuggle, except she didn’t. She wanted breakfast, except she didn’t. She wanted a nap, except she didn’t, crazy lady, which is why she spent 5 minutes screaming while I held her.
When our Nanny got up, I passed her off and went to get ready for work – all I needed was my bus pass and I was ready to go.
We searched high and low, until 10 minutes after I usually leave to make the train, and the Nanny found it. Under the storage sofa.* So I missed my regular train.
She is so not playing with my pass when I get home from work. It is being clipped to the keyholder in my bag when I’m on the shuttle from the station to home.
The upside is that I got to have breakfast with her – meaning she ate most of mine and ignored hers because food always tastes better when it’s from my plate.
The downside is that 7am is way too early for wine.
But, she is cute.
* We have an extra loveseat in the living room which we affectionately refer to as “the storage sofa” because it’s where we dump all our extraneous crappe that we don’t want to deal with. The baby finds no end of amusement with this.
You can still enter my A&D Diaper Rash Products giveaway here
Administrative Note/Navel gazing
I am alive. Really. I promise. But the whole working-full-time-and-having-a-baby-at-home-while-partner-is-quitting-smoking*-and-finding-some-sort-of-work-life-balance thing is putting a cramp in my blogging time. And since I spend all day in front of a computer, it’s kind of the last thing I want to do when I get home.
ANYWAYS, what we’ve been up to lately:
Thing the Firste
One set of grandparents were visiting last weekend for father’s day. It was great. We went to the Greater Vancouver Zoo and I have a ton of photos on my camera, but don’t have time to get them posted right now. The Poptart walked most of the way. What I want to know, is: how the hell did I become mother to a toddler?
Thing the Seconde
I attended a networking session yesterday and my old boss was there (really my former boss’ boss, but whatever).
The problem with seeing someone after not seeing them for awhile is realizing how much you miss them. I nearly started crying when she hugged me. I miss her terribly, both as a person and a manager. She always inspired me to do better, and she managed to do it again at this event.
And she said it was okay to have other things to prioritize, especially when you have a family. Specifically, she said, “You can have it all, you just can’t have it all right now.”
Thing the Thirde
I have been doing a bootcamp for the last 5 weeks. Apparently, it is a beginner bootcamp, but when we’re doing deadlifts and then I can’t walk properly for a couple of days, I question that. Especially when I start eyeing the Poptart’s stroller at the Zoo and wonder if it’ll hold my weight.
But I liked it and will probably sign up for the summer session as well. I’ve also been shredding for the last couple of weeks and have made it to level 2, and ohmygod. My obliques. They hurt.
So, what have you been up to? You’re probably in my reader, but I have over 300 entries to read. So it’ll be awhile before I get to that.
*It has been a week since he had a smoke, so we’re over the worst of it. And I am so proud of him.
One*
May 17, 2009 @ 6:52 p.m.
May 17, 2010 @ 6:52 p.m.
* Alternate title: WTF?**
**Alternate alternate title: Mr. Lady will hate me even more now.
First Mother’s Day
This time last year I was hugely, hugely pregnant. And sort of hoping that the Poptart would arrive on Mother’s Day. Not only because it’d be a great present, but because it would satisfy my sense of convergence of events.
But she arrived a week later, right on schedule.
The things that happen though, are pretty much the same: last year I was being kicked in the stomach; this year, I was kicked in the stomach albeit from the outside when I took her back to bed with me at 2am (and I am continually amazed at how much space one small person can take in the bed).
Anyways, this is my first mother’s day. Today we are going to get her first birthday/mother’s day photos taken by my friend, Charlotte (and if you want to have some really good photos at reasonable prices, contact her). Currently, I am writing this and the Poptart is playing quietly with her toys, and occasionally doing a Dominic Hasek impression by flinging herself into the floor.
And that is the extent of our grand plans for today. Perhaps a walk later and I would like to go for fish and chips and possibly some ice cream. And I would like a couple of hours to read.
So happy mother’s day to all the moms. May you have a peaceful day.
In which I gaze upon my navel and rejoice in the fact that it is Saturday
Why Saturday is a good day despite the fact that it is cold and rainy and I had to turn the furnace on (Spring? Really? WTF?):
1. The end of my first week at work. When you live with a baby, everything changes, all the time. From that tiny blob you bring home to 11 months later when she is walking (oh lordy) every day brings something new. And then you go back to work and you realize that nothing really changes. The office might be a bit crazier than it was before, there might be a few new people, but at the end of week, it’s still pretty much the same.
Speaking of work, I got invited to a going-away toast/hockey watching thing for the person who is losing her job because I went back to mine. I begged off, saying we had to get the Poptart used to me coming home at certain times, but really it just felt kind of weird.
2. Baby snuggles. I picked up the Poptart this morning and she snuggled right into me for about 45 minutes.
3. Tax refunds. They came yesterday. Today, we shop because we both need shirts, pants and shoes.
4. The ‘Burbs. One of my all-time favourite bad movies. It’s on TV at the moment. Others include: Joe versus the Volcano and Hudson Hawk.
5. In some ways, going back to work wasn’t that bad. This is going to sound odd, but I like the chance to miss the Poptart. It makes me appreciate all the time I do have with her (and the fact that she decided to get up for 3 hours from 12-3am on Thursday, and then get up for the day at 3am yesterday is made infintely easier because it’s time we can spend together).
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes, or Why we are in so much trouble
So my last post, where I talked about the cold turkeyness of recent days here? That’s just a snapshot of the changes we’ve been having.
Since our Nanny arrived at the end of March, the Poptart has:
- learned how to clap (I have trained her to clap at the appropriate times to the song, “If you’re happy and you know it”)
- started handing me things to put on, eat, fill, etc (she will pick up an empty bottle, stick the nipple in her mouth and then give it to me – indicating she wants a bottle)
- gotten her first cold that I’m aware of (and to prove she is our daughter, she didn’t do it halfway: throat and ear infection needing antibiotics)
- we purchased a humidifier
- started climbing the stairs (we purchased and installed a gate)
- Will come up to me, say “Mum” or “Mama” and lift her arms up (or try to pants me as she pulls herself up)
- Started walking (and I was right. We are in so much trouble because now she can walk around and reach things like my wine glass or coffee cup)
Cold Turkey
One week from today, I go back to work full-time. There’s no transitioning in period; I go back fulltime, cold turkey.
I have arranged my hours, my transit pass, my childcare (and honestly, everyone needs a nanny), and refilled my zoloft. The Poptart has weaned, cold turkey. Next week, we are going stateside for a day, I think, to do some shopping as both Darren and I need new clothes.
A few weeks ago, I was pretty much done with breastfeeding. My goal had been to breastfeed through flu season (end of February) and anything beyond that was just gravy.
I am an only child. I am used to having my own space and I enjoy my own company. Of course, I enjoy the Poptart’s company more, but I needed some space. Although we were down to one or two nursing sessions per day, I was just done. I wanted my body back. I was tired of wearing a bra or nursing tank at night. I wanted to be able to exercise without feeling like I had to bind myself with duct tape.
So one morning in March, I just didn’t offer and gave the Poptart some eggs and oatmeal with prunes instead. And she didn’t ask to nurse. She had a bottle a bit later and we snuggled, and she fell asleep in my arms like she usually does.
And that, as they say, was that. I expect she would have nursed if I had offered but she seemed content with snuggling and having a bottle. I expressed to relieve pressure and broke out the pump once when it looked like I had a blocked duct.
About 10 days later, our Nanny arrived. I had to get used to someone else living in my house, cold turkey. This, of course, was made easier by the fact that I didn’t have to clean much any more. But it is kind of weird that there’s someone living in the house that does the cleaning that isn’t me.
This week, I don’t stop cooking entirely, but Monday through Thursday, dinner will be made for us, allowing me to spend time with the Poptart when I get home. I just make sure the groceries are in the house.
And that, as they say, is that. Cold turkey.
