The dollhouse that poppa made!
Colouring with Cousin Liam. Suprisingly clean exercise!
Opening a book from Auntie Janice, Uncle Ralph and Cousin Aiden. Thanks guys!
The fantastic santa gift, the ride on car with many hidey holes!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Off To Goderich, T minus 3 hours
That's right, headed home for christmas in 3 hours! Woo hoo! Cured Len of the flu he had yesterday by being subtly (or not so subtly) annoyed and feeding him chicken soup. Success! Now let's hope that monkey bum decides to be agreeable about the drive home!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Da Da
Adara caught sight tonight of a beautiful headshot that I have of Len, which is tucked into the edge of my mirror. She started yelling "Da-Da, Da-Da!" until I gave her the picture. She cradled it close to her for the next half hour, occasionally kissing it and saying Da-Da. It was so sweet that I wanted to cry.
Vindicated
So, my week turned out ok in the end. The very day after my last post, Adara was sweet and kind and gentle and full of hugs for me. The day after, willful and challenging, but not over the top. So, I get some good days in with the challenging ones.
Work wise, I was completely vindicated. An outside voice commented on how I was doing an amazing job and how he thought that I had been unfairly under attack. My coworkers came to their senses, since I had not solicited this comment. This was followed by two other people from outside agencies commenting on how lucky they were to have me on board and how my addition added greatly to organizational strength.
Vindication, and I didn't have to do anything to get it. Sometimes the world works for you.
Work wise, I was completely vindicated. An outside voice commented on how I was doing an amazing job and how he thought that I had been unfairly under attack. My coworkers came to their senses, since I had not solicited this comment. This was followed by two other people from outside agencies commenting on how lucky they were to have me on board and how my addition added greatly to organizational strength.
Vindication, and I didn't have to do anything to get it. Sometimes the world works for you.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Down
So, does anyone else think that all of the newspapers, radios, tvs and computers that deliver the news everyday that the economy has tanked, we're in recession, we all have too much debt and are headed for chaos, should just "shut the heck up"? I mean really, I've had it! Next they're going to act all surprised when they find out that more people are seeing mental health professionals and taking mood altering drugs. Well, duh! You're setting us up for it. You just can't hear this much negativity every day without becoming influenced by it, people.
For me, it's been a hard week. Len and Adara have had the flu (not me yet) and so the level of laundry/cleaning has gone up while the level of general life happiness has gone down. Work has been difficult. I've had very little emotional support and a lot of people attacking me over things that I have very little control over. Len and I have had no time to discuss my work issues as we're just passing in the night. This leaves me just kind of stewing on things. And, worst of all, Adara has suddenly decided to be two (or at least behaviourally). She's throwing fits when she doesn't get her way, coming up and hitting me when Len hugs or kisses me, screaming if Len sets her down, and saying "no, no, NO, NO, NO" to everything, even if she wants it. To give the mite credit, she's gotten in three molars this week and had the flu. But Len and I are really struggling with the fact that that doesn't excuse this willful, mean, out of control behaviour. Now I know, some of you are thinking, she's only one, she doesn't know what she's doing. But, I'm sorry, she's an unusual one year old, and she does know precisely what she's doing. So, Len and I instituted a policy tonight that when she lies on the floor and screams that she hasn't gotten her way, we're saying " I love you, but I don't like the way that you're acting" and walking away. She does seem to understand, but not without a lot of screaming first. Eventually, she jumps up and runs after and we have decided that for this age, we'll just give her a hug and return to playing. There are limits to her understanding, after all. Any other suggestions moms? I realize that this is the beginning of a long battle with behaviour and limits and respect. I just don't know if I'm up to starting the battle this week.
For me, it's been a hard week. Len and Adara have had the flu (not me yet) and so the level of laundry/cleaning has gone up while the level of general life happiness has gone down. Work has been difficult. I've had very little emotional support and a lot of people attacking me over things that I have very little control over. Len and I have had no time to discuss my work issues as we're just passing in the night. This leaves me just kind of stewing on things. And, worst of all, Adara has suddenly decided to be two (or at least behaviourally). She's throwing fits when she doesn't get her way, coming up and hitting me when Len hugs or kisses me, screaming if Len sets her down, and saying "no, no, NO, NO, NO" to everything, even if she wants it. To give the mite credit, she's gotten in three molars this week and had the flu. But Len and I are really struggling with the fact that that doesn't excuse this willful, mean, out of control behaviour. Now I know, some of you are thinking, she's only one, she doesn't know what she's doing. But, I'm sorry, she's an unusual one year old, and she does know precisely what she's doing. So, Len and I instituted a policy tonight that when she lies on the floor and screams that she hasn't gotten her way, we're saying " I love you, but I don't like the way that you're acting" and walking away. She does seem to understand, but not without a lot of screaming first. Eventually, she jumps up and runs after and we have decided that for this age, we'll just give her a hug and return to playing. There are limits to her understanding, after all. Any other suggestions moms? I realize that this is the beginning of a long battle with behaviour and limits and respect. I just don't know if I'm up to starting the battle this week.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Gorgeous Preview
This is from the photo shoot that we did last weekend. There will be more posted here and some people will be getting pics for upcoming events. But this one was so sweet I just had to put it up.
It was taken by our friend, professional photographer and lovely person Tobi Asmoucha. Check here out at www.tobiphoto.com
Baby Chaos
I unexpectedly (but happily) ended up hosting my mom's group Christmas gathering today. I kept it super low tech but it was still 6 moms, dads and babes, so 14 total as not all came. Fortunately the furnace guy was able to rig up something that works for the weekend this morning. He'll have to come back on Monday and replace some piece that will cost a bunch of money. He tells me that our furnace will still be completely useless in four or five years as it's "the wrong furnace for our house". And we were supposed to know this how? We put in what we were told to. When did it become acceptable for a top of the line $5,000 appliance to break in ten years. Our parents never would have accepted this crap.
It was very fun to see all of the babies and moms though. Adara terrified all of the other moms by standing on the seat of her rocking trike, holding the handles and rocking while standing. Today, just for fun, she added drinking a bottle at the same time to this trick. Can you say "Circus kid?" I forgot to take any pics of todays gathering though, so tonights are not from baby chaos. This is Adara' favourite new obsessions.
1) She loves being given a whole peeled apple to eat. She'll gnaw away on it for a good half hour and usually finish it.
2) Julia's quilt that she made us. Adara loves finding all of the frogs and fish and naming them and petting them right now. I tried to get a better pic, but she was in super motion, Jules, sorry!
It was very fun to see all of the babies and moms though. Adara terrified all of the other moms by standing on the seat of her rocking trike, holding the handles and rocking while standing. Today, just for fun, she added drinking a bottle at the same time to this trick. Can you say "Circus kid?" I forgot to take any pics of todays gathering though, so tonights are not from baby chaos. This is Adara' favourite new obsessions.
1) She loves being given a whole peeled apple to eat. She'll gnaw away on it for a good half hour and usually finish it.
2) Julia's quilt that she made us. Adara loves finding all of the frogs and fish and naming them and petting them right now. I tried to get a better pic, but she was in super motion, Jules, sorry!
Friday, December 5, 2008
When the Husbands Away, the House Will Break
Why do major house things only break when Len is at shows and not getting home until very late? There are very few times that major things in our house have broken. Major plumbing malfunction, October of last year, nine day old baby, husband coming home at midnight and leaving at 6am, sewage threatening to back up into my house.
Tonight, furnace not working, Len at show, home at midnight, repair man can't come until 8 am. We're fine, the baby has an electric oil heater in her room. The rest of the house has dropped 3 degrees in two hours.
I just question why these things don't break when the handy guy is home? I choose to believe that the gods are accenting to me my perfectly capable and problem solving nature. 'Cause it would just be rude if they're just having a laugh at my expense!
Tonight, furnace not working, Len at show, home at midnight, repair man can't come until 8 am. We're fine, the baby has an electric oil heater in her room. The rest of the house has dropped 3 degrees in two hours.
I just question why these things don't break when the handy guy is home? I choose to believe that the gods are accenting to me my perfectly capable and problem solving nature. 'Cause it would just be rude if they're just having a laugh at my expense!
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