Need I say more?
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
9 months!
Today Ben is 9 months old!! Can you believe it? I'm still in a state of shock! It seems like only yesterday we found out we were pregnant. (Poor Adam, I woke him up at 5am to show him the pee stick. He wasn't amused.)...
We went to see Dr. G. for Ben's doctor's appointment (we don't go back now until Ben is a year old!)... turns out that Ben is quite tall... 90th percentile for height... He's as tall as most 1 year olds. However,...he's only in the 10th percentile for weight. Very skinny. We need to start fattening him up with some protein, fat and carbs. Yum. We recently started yogurt (which he loves) so hopefully that will pack on some pounds. We tried cottage cheese too, but Ben shivered and gagged. I'm glad I didn't buy the 4% variety. Ew.
We'll be starting hard cheeses and wheat soon. Ben basically can start sampling whatever we're eating (within reason). I really hope he gets over his gagging though... Dr. G. suggested gradually transitioning to chunkier blends. I hope that works.
We also discussed weaning, as there's no freaking way I'm pumping when I go back to school. I still plan on feeding him in the morning and at night, but he's going to have to drink something while I'm at work. Dr. G. said we could start homo milk now (WHAT?!) although I'm reluctant. We also have to give up the bottle too and only offer milk from the sippy cup. He told me to slowly cut out one milk meal a day (right now we're working on the 1030am-post morning nap meal)... and replace it with a homo milk meal. Ben should be drinking milk 4 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed... ). We're pretty much at that now... some days it's 4 and somedays it's 5. But homo milk? I'm not ready.
Tonight, Leigh and Jesse are babysitting so Adam and I can finally go out on a proper date. Our last date was for our anniversary -- 6 MONTHS AGO. At this rate, we're dating every 6 months. Lovely.
Which brings me to my next point. Dating.
Dating... before marriage and kids
We went to see Dr. G. for Ben's doctor's appointment (we don't go back now until Ben is a year old!)... turns out that Ben is quite tall... 90th percentile for height... He's as tall as most 1 year olds. However,...he's only in the 10th percentile for weight. Very skinny. We need to start fattening him up with some protein, fat and carbs. Yum. We recently started yogurt (which he loves) so hopefully that will pack on some pounds. We tried cottage cheese too, but Ben shivered and gagged. I'm glad I didn't buy the 4% variety. Ew.
We'll be starting hard cheeses and wheat soon. Ben basically can start sampling whatever we're eating (within reason). I really hope he gets over his gagging though... Dr. G. suggested gradually transitioning to chunkier blends. I hope that works.
We also discussed weaning, as there's no freaking way I'm pumping when I go back to school. I still plan on feeding him in the morning and at night, but he's going to have to drink something while I'm at work. Dr. G. said we could start homo milk now (WHAT?!) although I'm reluctant. We also have to give up the bottle too and only offer milk from the sippy cup. He told me to slowly cut out one milk meal a day (right now we're working on the 1030am-post morning nap meal)... and replace it with a homo milk meal. Ben should be drinking milk 4 times a day (breakfast, lunch, dinner and before bed... ). We're pretty much at that now... some days it's 4 and somedays it's 5. But homo milk? I'm not ready.
Tonight, Leigh and Jesse are babysitting so Adam and I can finally go out on a proper date. Our last date was for our anniversary -- 6 MONTHS AGO. At this rate, we're dating every 6 months. Lovely.
Which brings me to my next point. Dating.
Dating... before marriage and kids
- plan a date... with a moment's notice (are you free tonight?)
- day of the date... take a long shower
- day of the date...buy a new outfit...get all snazzy,... take forever working on hair and makeup...think about date the whole time...
- plan a date WEEKS in advance... prepare a babysitter, pump enough milk, get food ready, clean house, make sure there's drinks and snacks available
- day of the date: did I shower yesterday? Yes.. good enough.
the price of children...
~author unknown...
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is - don't have children if you want to be "rich."
Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold (usually covered with jelly or chocolate).
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and
* wish on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's
Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting
the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
The Price of Children
The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.
But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.
Still, you might think the best financial advice is - don't have children if you want to be "rich."
Actually, it is just the opposite.
What do you get for your $160,140.00?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold (usually covered with jelly or chocolate).
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and
* wish on stars.
You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's
Day.
For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
* first step,
* first word,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren.
You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting
the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!
Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren & great-grandchildren!!!
It's the best investment you'll make!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Ben's new talents...
Ben has become such a smarty pants. It's so awesome to see him grow and develop and become his own unique person. (It's also very shocking...to the point that I keep saying -- wow, Adam did you see him do that?! What a smart boy! This kid is going to have a complex for sure).
Today... he crawled over to his toy box... got up on his knees... shimmied over so he could be closer... pulled himself up to standing... leaned in and grabbed a toy (his pink pig rattle) and began shaking it. After he was done, he tossed it on the ground... (and fell over -- scratching the side of his face on his block bin... sigh. )
We also went to our 3rd swimming class. What a ball! Ben has become an awesome kicker -- he LOVES the water! Today was a life jacket safety class. Ben rested on his back (in his life jacket) and was so relaxed that he crossed his legs! He kept one hand wrapped around my finger though... such fun.
Here's his new duck bath robe for swimming... thanks Grandma Linda and Papa Rick! Ben was super cozy at the pool...(and was quite stylish too!)
Today... he crawled over to his toy box... got up on his knees... shimmied over so he could be closer... pulled himself up to standing... leaned in and grabbed a toy (his pink pig rattle) and began shaking it. After he was done, he tossed it on the ground... (and fell over -- scratching the side of his face on his block bin... sigh. )
We also went to our 3rd swimming class. What a ball! Ben has become an awesome kicker -- he LOVES the water! Today was a life jacket safety class. Ben rested on his back (in his life jacket) and was so relaxed that he crossed his legs! He kept one hand wrapped around my finger though... such fun.
Here's his new duck bath robe for swimming... thanks Grandma Linda and Papa Rick! Ben was super cozy at the pool...(and was quite stylish too!)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Ben and I and Obama...
Here's Ben and I ... watching history. (Well I was watching... Ben was chewing on his fingers)
What am I going to do when I go back to work?
In the beginning, I would write on this blog a lot. Sometimes multiple posts in a single day. Ben slept a lot then.
Now? I'm lucky if I can get him to take 2 naps ... mind you, he has started sleeping through the night. I swore I wouldn't talk about it on the blog in case Ben decided to start reading and changed his mind just to spite me. Right now, he is in bed...sleeping...by 630pm. He sleeps straight (consistently! no wake ups).. .until at least 5am,...lately it's been a full 12 hours. Last night? 7pm-730am. It kinda throws off our old routine of getting up at 6am and doing fun stuff by 1030am. Now he wants to sleep at 1030am. Complicated.
Anyway,... the real reason for this post. Going back to work. I'm excited, nervous, dreading it... it's weird. I want to spend my day with Ben. I want to have adult conversation at lunch. I want to take Ben to the park. I want to see my students, plan lessons, mark tests!? I want to see Ben take his first step. I want to teach him more words. I want to see my class from last year graduate. I want to take a nap at 2pm in the afternoon because I have nothing better to do. I want to sew. Read. Check my email. In my Pjs. I want to drive in the car, by myself...with my music playing (not Raffi...or Sharon, Lois and Bram,... or white noise). Sigh. I wish I could have both.
Lately I've been having back-to-school dreams. When I'm on summer vacation, the back-to-school dreams usually start in August (once the back-to-school commercials are on). Why are my dreams starting so early!? I still have 3 more precious months with Ben!
I'm not sure how I'm going to find the hours in the day to accomplish everything I want to do. How do I wear so many different hats -- wife, mom, teacher, housekeeper, grocery shopper, bed maker, chef, baker, diaper changer, friend, sister, daughter,...? I feel like a slab of butter being spread across a very fresh slice of bread -- Bread tends to tear when it's fresh and the butter is cold.
My work used to be one of my top priorities. I love my job. I obsess about my job. I like to be overly, obsessively anal about my job. I like colour-coded, tabbed, sticky-noted binders. I was in mastermind on the weekend and bought 2 books for myself. Both books I plan to use when I go back to work. I so wanted to be at school today...(shocking, I know). I would have done an entire unit on the historical events happening in the US. I'm glad that I could be with Ben and have him witness such a momentous occasion {we were at our mommy group and turned on the TV for the babies to watch Obama get sworn into office...too bad we couldn't hear anything,... a group of babies in 1 room makes for a lot of noise}. I wonder what my students thought. Did they even care?
I'm afraid that school won't be my top priority when I go back to work. Ben and Adam are my priority. Every second of my day that I have free, I want to spend with them. I've already started planning stuff for school so that I don't have to do any planning when I come home in April. I'm already looking forward to summer vacation and it's only January.
Now? I'm lucky if I can get him to take 2 naps ... mind you, he has started sleeping through the night. I swore I wouldn't talk about it on the blog in case Ben decided to start reading and changed his mind just to spite me. Right now, he is in bed...sleeping...by 630pm. He sleeps straight (consistently! no wake ups).. .until at least 5am,...lately it's been a full 12 hours. Last night? 7pm-730am. It kinda throws off our old routine of getting up at 6am and doing fun stuff by 1030am. Now he wants to sleep at 1030am. Complicated.
Anyway,... the real reason for this post. Going back to work. I'm excited, nervous, dreading it... it's weird. I want to spend my day with Ben. I want to have adult conversation at lunch. I want to take Ben to the park. I want to see my students, plan lessons, mark tests!? I want to see Ben take his first step. I want to teach him more words. I want to see my class from last year graduate. I want to take a nap at 2pm in the afternoon because I have nothing better to do. I want to sew. Read. Check my email. In my Pjs. I want to drive in the car, by myself...with my music playing (not Raffi...or Sharon, Lois and Bram,... or white noise). Sigh. I wish I could have both.
Lately I've been having back-to-school dreams. When I'm on summer vacation, the back-to-school dreams usually start in August (once the back-to-school commercials are on). Why are my dreams starting so early!? I still have 3 more precious months with Ben!
I'm not sure how I'm going to find the hours in the day to accomplish everything I want to do. How do I wear so many different hats -- wife, mom, teacher, housekeeper, grocery shopper, bed maker, chef, baker, diaper changer, friend, sister, daughter,...? I feel like a slab of butter being spread across a very fresh slice of bread -- Bread tends to tear when it's fresh and the butter is cold.
My work used to be one of my top priorities. I love my job. I obsess about my job. I like to be overly, obsessively anal about my job. I like colour-coded, tabbed, sticky-noted binders. I was in mastermind on the weekend and bought 2 books for myself. Both books I plan to use when I go back to work. I so wanted to be at school today...(shocking, I know). I would have done an entire unit on the historical events happening in the US. I'm glad that I could be with Ben and have him witness such a momentous occasion {we were at our mommy group and turned on the TV for the babies to watch Obama get sworn into office...too bad we couldn't hear anything,... a group of babies in 1 room makes for a lot of noise}. I wonder what my students thought. Did they even care?
I'm afraid that school won't be my top priority when I go back to work. Ben and Adam are my priority. Every second of my day that I have free, I want to spend with them. I've already started planning stuff for school so that I don't have to do any planning when I come home in April. I'm already looking forward to summer vacation and it's only January.
Finding the time to write... when we have partying to do.
This past weekend was crazy! We had 3 birthday parties to attend...and they were big ones! 1st, 30th and 50th!
Here are some pictures from our weekend...
Ben and his blocks. He's getting into a partying mood =)
Leia turns 1!!!
She loved the cake!
Ben loved her toys!
Such a fun party!!
Ben...trying to make Leia his girlfriend. He likes older women.
Celebrating Malka's 30th... sans Mr. Potato. We had a wicked, freaking, awesome time out ... need to do that more often.
Us at dinner...
Ben pooping...prior to party #3...(he wanted to make room)
Adam and Ben at Shirley's 50th...
Adam's family -- his dad, Auntie Shirley (the birthday girl), Auntie Greta and Grandma Rose!
Here are some pictures from our weekend...
Ben and his blocks. He's getting into a partying mood =)
Leia turns 1!!! 
She loved the cake!
Ben loved her toys!
Such a fun party!!
Ben...trying to make Leia his girlfriend. He likes older women.
Celebrating Malka's 30th... sans Mr. Potato. We had a wicked, freaking, awesome time out ... need to do that more often.
Us at dinner...
Ben pooping...prior to party #3...(he wanted to make room)
Adam and Ben at Shirley's 50th...
Adam's family -- his dad, Auntie Shirley (the birthday girl), Auntie Greta and Grandma Rose!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Grandpa Jerry and Ben fight back...
...with the Leafs Jersey!
Thanks Jerry and Lucretia for Ben's awesome jersey! (Maybe the Leafs will finally get close to winning the cup this year? Or at least in Ben's lifetime?)
Thanks Jerry and Lucretia for Ben's awesome jersey! (Maybe the Leafs will finally get close to winning the cup this year? Or at least in Ben's lifetime?)
Monday, January 12, 2009
Our weekend in pictures...
Visiting my parents...
Going to Lauren's 1st birthday party...
*Ben waving!*
A mommy-to-be in training...
The birthday girl!
Ben and Simon... best buddies...
Relaxing at home...
Visiting Beth...
She has the best exersaucer...
Going to Lauren's 1st birthday party...
*Ben waving!*
A mommy-to-be in training...
The birthday girl!
Ben and Simon... best buddies...
Relaxing at home...
Visiting Beth...
She has the best exersaucer...
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Swimming Lessons!
Today we started swimming lessons. Ben had such a great time...smiling and laughing through the entire class. He wasn't too sure at first -- the water in the big pool was cooler than he's used to... but once we were both in, he was okay. (It also totally helped that he clung to my suit and stole all of my body heat!)
Our instructor did a couple of songs and Ben learned how to kick using a flutter board. Then we did some back strokes... and finally!!! got to go in the baby pool (which is a lot! warmer!). Ben could touch the bottom in the baby pool so I think he was much happier.
The downside though... Ben being mobile. I can't put him down anywhere because he's on the move. He tried crawling away while I was getting dressed. I brought a couple of his favourite toys to distract him but I left with wet hair...and wet socks. At least he was warm and dry... and happy.
And while I'm on the subject of movers and shakers... I'll just stick in a mini vent (why not, eh? After all,...this is MY blog.). Ben no longer likes to get his diaper changed. In fact, he no longer sits still long enough to properly change him. Today, I managed to change his diaper while he sat on my knee! I was so afraid that he would pee all over the carpet. As soon as the diaper is off...he's on the move. I keep trying to flip him onto his back,...and he quickly flips back onto his tummy. It's quite the challenge. At first, I found it funny... (what a clever boy!),... until I realized that it was only the beginning. Life was so much easier 7 months ago.
Granted,...I love the stage that he's in now. He's fun and entertaining. He amuses himself easily, knows what he likes and lets it be known if he's not happy with something (like diaper changes -- he actually gets mad!)... He can sit by himself. He can choose which books he wants to look at and which toys he wants to play with. He shows choice. How cool is that? But he's exhausting. He's constantly on the go. I can't leave him for a second now. I can't turn my back. I can't pee with the door closed. He's constantly at my feet... trying to pull himself up on my pant leg.
I wouldn't change it for the world though. My new favourite thing is when Ben reaches his arms up to me. He's picking me. Above all others. Because I'm his mom. And that's special.
Our instructor did a couple of songs and Ben learned how to kick using a flutter board. Then we did some back strokes... and finally!!! got to go in the baby pool (which is a lot! warmer!). Ben could touch the bottom in the baby pool so I think he was much happier.
The downside though... Ben being mobile. I can't put him down anywhere because he's on the move. He tried crawling away while I was getting dressed. I brought a couple of his favourite toys to distract him but I left with wet hair...and wet socks. At least he was warm and dry... and happy.
And while I'm on the subject of movers and shakers... I'll just stick in a mini vent (why not, eh? After all,...this is MY blog.). Ben no longer likes to get his diaper changed. In fact, he no longer sits still long enough to properly change him. Today, I managed to change his diaper while he sat on my knee! I was so afraid that he would pee all over the carpet. As soon as the diaper is off...he's on the move. I keep trying to flip him onto his back,...and he quickly flips back onto his tummy. It's quite the challenge. At first, I found it funny... (what a clever boy!),... until I realized that it was only the beginning. Life was so much easier 7 months ago.
Granted,...I love the stage that he's in now. He's fun and entertaining. He amuses himself easily, knows what he likes and lets it be known if he's not happy with something (like diaper changes -- he actually gets mad!)... He can sit by himself. He can choose which books he wants to look at and which toys he wants to play with. He shows choice. How cool is that? But he's exhausting. He's constantly on the go. I can't leave him for a second now. I can't turn my back. I can't pee with the door closed. He's constantly at my feet... trying to pull himself up on my pant leg.
I wouldn't change it for the world though. My new favourite thing is when Ben reaches his arms up to me. He's picking me. Above all others. Because I'm his mom. And that's special.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Sick baby = sick parents...
Thankfully, I'm still not sick (fingers crossed). Adam has had a fever since Friday. Not fun at all.
At least Ben is feeling better.
The joys of being a family. Lovingly sharing our sicknesses. Yum.
At least Ben is feeling better.
The joys of being a family. Lovingly sharing our sicknesses. Yum.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
We're officially in big trouble...
It's not pretty, but it gets the job done.
Army crawling -- caught on video.
Army crawling -- caught on video.
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