Wordless Wednesdays

Chris and I....pre-baby

















Sick:(

Zach and I have colds! I felt a little off for a few days, but chalked it up to lack of sleep (or something like that) and went about my days. However, Friday night I woke up with an awful headache, scratchy throat and runny nose. The next evening my poor baby was all stuffy as well.

So Zach has his first cold & I feel like crap, so I did what any level headed person would do...I called my mommy!! She came over & is going to stay with us for the next couple of days until Zach & I feel better (or my dad can come and get her!!!).

Zachary already seems a bit better but sleeping is stll rough for my little munchkin. Poor kiddo!

Swimming!


Hey!

We had our first swimming lesson today. I don't know what babies are supposed to be able to do after all the lessons are done, but it sure was fun!
We sang some songs, splashed, kicked and dunked. I wasn't paying attention and ended up dunking Zach more then the instructor said to...oh well, he didn't seem to be too bothered by it. However, I probably should attempt to pay better attention to my poor baby:) The worst part of it, for me, was wearing a bathing suit!! The HORROR!

Since Chris was home, he was able to take some pictures of Zach at his fist lesson. I think he had a good time (Zach, that is). He was pretty quiet and just watched what was going on, but he never cried or whined or fussed...which I was absolutely expecting from him. I hope he really grows to love the water like I do!

Happy that it's Friday but sad that Chris will be back at work on Monday. It has been really nice having him around to hang out with Zach and I!

Our First Ever Post-Baby Date Night!

Every once in a while we are blessed to have Zach's Nanny (Chris' mom) come over and baby sit. She generally comes once a week and I go out to Walmart or the dentist or whatever, but this week Chris was home recovering, so we took the opportunity to go out on a date. Like real big people:)
We went to Grazie, our favourite Italian restaurant in Toronto. It had been so long since we had the opportunity to sit down and really enjoy a meal- so we went all out! We had brushetta and a lovely drink (pom martini for me, some weird wheat beer for Chris). I had Napoletana, which is linguine, shrimp and mussels in a tomato sauce. Delish!
Chris had Tosca (some type of stuffed pasta with a creamy tomatoe sauce and tons of ooey gooey cheese inside). Because we are wild, we also had chocolate cake and coffee for dessert!


It was so fun to hang out- and when we arrived home, our little man was in bed!! Nanny did a great job:)

As a side note, Zach decided he neither wanted nor needed a nap this morning. So I took him to Babyville (our mom and baby group). I thought he would be a terror but he was actually quite sweet and stayed awake for 99% of the time we were there. It was our last class and I'm really going to miss going- it was nice to talk to other Whitby moms and hear what they had to say! On the plus side, Big Z has now been napping for 1 1/2 hours....hopefully he'll make up for his lack of nap this morning!

Wordless Wednesdays

Our original baby....Squeek















Ttttttttttt-uesday

Today is Tuesday.

Lovely day thus far- we checked out a daycare- spectacular and VERY pricey....we played, went for a walk, and now I'm enjoying a Pumpkin Spice Latte that my very lovely husband went out and bought for me.
It has been really nice having Chris home for the past couple of days. Even though he's limited in what he can do due to his hand surgery, it's so helpful just to have an extra pair of hands around.

While Zach has been a rolling machine for quite some time, he now can roll back to tummy to back to tummy, and so on. And he does it ALL THE TIME. Specifically during naps!! While I love to see him excel in the milestone department, I sure would love him to just chill out sometimes and be a baby:)

OK- off to finish cleaning my kitchen and figure out dinner.

I am slowly going crazy...

This week is so busy!

Today we had coffee with our new friends, Lori and Cole (he's 4 days younger then Zach). They're such cuties- they had a whining contest, which I loved hearing:). We also had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa on their way home. Zach showed off his screeching. It was awesome.

Tuesday we are going to look at some daycares. SOB! I hate the idea of putting Zach in a daycare when I go back to work in April, but, knowing him, he'll love it more then being at home. He already loves staring at other people and listening to their conversations. When we were in Parry Sound, visiting my mom and dad, Zach attached himself to another baby and kept trying to pull him closer. At our mom and baby group, he held hands with another baby. I don't think it was on purpose, but we'll pretend he meant to!

Wednesday we have Story Time at the library. I love it. It's short (1/2 hour), fun, active, and easy for me! I had to stand in line to secure us a spot in story time, but I'd be willing to do it again, as it is so fun to sing and jump and play with Zachers.

Thursday is our last Mom and Baby group. I didn't think I would like going, but I really have. It's run through the health dept. in Durham Region, so there are two nurses that moderate the group. All of the women are professionals, on mat leave, and have so many different opinions and ideas about raising children. Really makes you feel like you're not going to ruin your child for life just because you let them hang out in the jumperoo while you're making dinner.

Friday is our first swimming lesson. ICK on the bathing suit for me! Yeah on the exercise (hopefully???) and swimtrunks for Zach. He's so cute in them. Hopefully he loves the water- although I am fully prepared for him to despise every minute of it. He recently kicked so much water up in the bath that he soaked me, his towel, and the floor. Here's hoping he does that when we're at the pool.

I generally don't like to schedule so much in one week because I find it overwhelming for Zach, but it just happened that a lot of activities overlapped this week...hopefully I make it through in one piece!

PS- New season of "How I Met Your Mother" and "Big Bang Theory" tonight!! I'm so excitied!

I'm a reader...

Yes I am! I finally got back into reading. I couldn't do it during my pregnancy- I had the attention span of my grade 5ers. I started so many novels, just to put them down again and promise myself I'd pick them back up once I had Zachary. HAHAHAHA! AS IF I had time to read once I had Zach. I was lucky if I showered and ate during the day.

Now that Zach is creeping closer to 5 months (gulp!), goes to bed at about 7:30pm, and I have a cleaning schedule that allows me to do chores during naps, I finally have time to read. The library, where we have story time, is now my best friend! I picked up two books last Wednesday and devoured them both. I apparently have forgotten how fast I read and now am desperately searching out new reading material- library only of course!

I read "Velocity" by Dean Koontz- it was good but I figured out who the murderer was about 1/4 of the way into the novel. That always ruins it just a little bit (it's hard to be this smart...).
Then I read "Change of Heart" by Jodi Picoult. It was BEAUTIFUL and heart-wrenching and just a lovely, lovely read. Her books deal a lot with family dynamics and, while this book had a happy ending, it really was emotionally charged and thought provoking.

So- my quest continues for NON-BABY related novels to read...any good suggestions???

Chris is home....

Chris is home- surgery went really well! He was in about 2 hours before he was even scheduled and he was out and ready for home by 2pm.
Yeah!!
Feeling good- Tylenol 3's are on hand, just in case;)

Prayers

Chris is having surgery today on his hand. It's plastic surgery (next, my tummy tuck....lol), but it's scary none the less. He'll be under anesthetic for about 45 minutes and then in recovery for about 2 hours at North York General.
Aunty Lizzy is here to look after the little man...I'm sure hijinx will ensue. Can't wait to come home and find out what happened (praying now for no hysterical crying please!). She's wickedly fun so I'm pretty sure Zach will have the time of his life with her.
Then, his Nanny will be popping by to help Daddy bathe Zach and get him ready for bed. It's so nice that Zachary has so many people that love and adore him.

I've been reading a really good book called "Pray Big for Your Child". It's all about not just asking God to keep your child safe, help them to pass a test, help them to make friends, etc (my normal prayers)... but to have the guts to ask God to make your child a world-changer; someone who excels and defies odds and really lives their life.
It sounds simple, but it's not. You're not saying "God, please make Zach the next Prime Minister of Canada". You are saying, "God, use Zach in a way that will be pleasing to you"....and that might not be quite in line with your hopes and dreams for your little one. It's hard to wrap your mind around but once you start praying BIG for your child, it makes a huge difference.

If I can scam some internet while I'm at the hospital with Chris, I'll update on the surgery! If not, I'll do it as soon as I get home! Thanks for the prayers!

bathrooms...

I have a cleaning schedule.
Today is bathroom day.

I never ever in my wildest dreams thought I would have a cleaning schedule for ME. For other people (ahem, Chris...), yes, but for me?? No way!
I have always thought I would get a maid or a cleaning company because I was far too busy nurturing my little genius to clean. So far this has not happened.

In my new role as "housewife" (not desperate yet), I have realized that I really do abhor cleaning. I love the way things look and smell and feel when they are clean, but I just hate to clean. I hate the rubber gloves, the endless scrubbing and polishing, the rinsing, the dusting- I just hate it all. I could realistically go at least 2 weeks without HAVING to clean my home, but it would be disgusting and I do have a child who likes to put EVERYTHING in his mouth (including licking the floors...yup, that's right), so I have to clean.

Here's what my schedule looks like:
Monday- Zach's laundry and room
Tuesday- Kitchen (sweep and mop); Living Room (sweep and mop)
Wednesday- House laundry; sheets; towels; our room
Thursday- Bathroom Day (we have 3 so this takes a while)
Friday- General tidy; sweep; etc....
Saturday- vacuum

So there's my week of cleaning. I've been really good at sticking to it so far (it's only been 5 weeks) and I never feel overwhelmed with a hugely messy house. I do little things, like picking up toys and sweeping crumbs, etc.. every day, but the big things generally get done on a weekly basis now. And I'm pretty proud of my decently tidy and clean house...

However, I'm still holding out hope for a maid...and I continue to make cleaning schedules for Chris in my dreams....

** I have edited this to add that my son has now pooped during his afternoon nap EVERYDAY this week. He has discovered it prolongs the "you have to go to sleep" process. It works. He's too smart for me!**

Wordless Wednesdays

Zach got baptized, my birthday, and a few other gems...











iTouch

Chris got me an iTouch for my birthday (ya, I'm 29...blech).
I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

I didn't need a new phone and I really didn't want to be stuck with a monthly phone bill that was astronomical. I mostly wanted something with a good calendar and a way to carry my pictures of Zach around.
You see, I am kind of a bragger when it comes to Zach and I feel it is important for me to have pictures of him wherever I go so people can see that, yes, my child is incredibly cute, smart, and abnormally advanced for his age.

I also have mommy brain. I used to be able to remember ANYTHING you threw at me. When I was teaching, I never wrote things down because I just didn't forget things. I had a built-in calendar. Since having Zach, that has all changed. I will say yes to a play date, get home, then realize that I had already booked something for that day. Because Zachary is still so little, I can only justify doing one activity a day- otherwise he is worn out and tends to scream....loudly.
I needed something that I could take with me in the diaper bag that would allow me to know exactly what I was doing and when I was doing it.

Thus- the best present in the world- the iTouch. Now if people would only unlock their internet connections so that I could get free internet on it....

The Jumperoo


The Rainforest Jumperoo from Fisher Price is hands down the best thing I have ever bought for my son. He is a jumping machine when he is in it!!!

Zachary used to love to jump on my knees. He would bounce and bounce and giggle and bounce. Great workout for my arms, but I couldn't keep him going for long enough. So, I sucked it up and bought him this giant bouncing machine from Babies R Us.

He cried the first time we put him in it...until he realized he could jump in this contraption. He got the most amazing, serious look on his face, and he JUMPED! Man, did he JUMP! And he hasn't stopped since. If I let him, Zach would spend the entire day in the Jumperoo. He has begun to discover all of the moving parts, like the lion, hippo, polar bear, and whale, and the hanging banana and tucan. He squeals when he makes the music come on and stops jumping and leans forward to get a closer look at the spinning lion, who happens to be his favourite this week.

Jumping is serious business for this 4 month old. One should never make the mistake of touching his Jumperoo during a jumping session- it will result in unconsolable tears. Zach, however, doesn't mind if people clap and tell him what a great jumper he is...in fact this might be his favourite part of the jumping experience. He is my child afterall...and we all know how much I like praise:)

I'm loving seeing my little jumping machine grow and discover new abilities. It's amazing how they change right before your eyes!



No-Cook Fridays!

I don't. I won't. Friday's are my day of rest!!!

I actually used to like to cook, but my time is very limited now and the meals that I create are planned and started during one nap and finished off usually as Chris is walking through the door. It doesn't really allow for the creativity and time that I used to put into my food.

When Zach was a bit younger, and naps were sporadic at best, Chris was lucky if I put a frozen pizza in the oven. That's when I created No-Cook Fridays.

We've graduated from greasy drive-thru take-out (although McD's is still my favourite) to yummy Greek, Spring Rolls pad thai, and East Side Marios pasta/bread/salad. I absolutely, without a doubt, look forward to my No-Cook Fridays. It gets me through the day- especially when it has been an exhausting week! I think about what Chris will bring home all day long- I try not to eat too much during the day so I don't ruin my appetite for the deliciousness that is food not cooked by me.

Friday's used to be dedicated to Starbucks (aptly named "Starbuck Fridays"), but construction right outside of my favourite Starbucks has led to its demise. So now Fridays will be renamed "No-Cook Fridays"- and will continue to be my favourite day of the week:)

ps- it's my last day of being 28 years old...sigh:(

Sleeping is totally for LOSERS!

This is the first and best lesson my son has taught me. Who really needs or wants sleep??
Not my 4 month old, that is for sure!! I have read all the books and tried all the various ways that are "100 % foolproof ways"...uh-huh.

1) lull him to sleep with your voice (he screams louder...apparently my voice doesn't lull very well)
2) swaddle and shhhhhhhhhh (worked until he figured out how to get out of the swaddled and cried louder then I could shhhhhhhhhhhh)
3)rock, swing, shhhhhhhhh (again- his face would get so red and his cries would get so loud that I was too scared to keep trying this one)
4)cry it out (he just keeps crying...then he stops and plays...then he cries again...the cycle is endless)

Zach does sleep- and once he falls asleep he's usually pretty good about staying asleep. It's just that he has it in his mind that sleep is unnecessary for him and I (his mother) need to learn that.

So he plays, and smiles, and coos, and practices his crawling and rolling and turning. He does the cutest things in his crib when he knows he should be sleeping, all in an attempt to get picked up and win this battle that we have going on. He'll whine and fuss and spit (yup, that's his new thing). I keep walking back in, patting his back, giving him a kiss, and creeping back out before he realizes I'm gone. It's a fun game for him...but he never does win. Eventually, his eyes will start to close and even though he continues to roll and turn and practice that crawling, he will finally be still and go to sleep!

In the end, I have resigned myself to just continually trying to come up with new ways to put him down for naps and for his nighttime sleep. And Zach continually tries to come up with new and cute ways to teach me that sleep is for losers and he is SOOOOOOO not a loser:)

Wordless Wednesdays

I normally won't post more then once a day, but I wanted to make sure that I started doing Wordless Wednesdays with some of my favourite pictures of my baby!















Welcome!


Well, I have decided to blog! Even though probably only my mother, maybe my husband, and a few other bored people might read this on a regular basis, I felt that I needed a new creative outlet...and blogging it is!

You see, I'm now a stay at home mom- at least until April 2010. I absolutely love it- but let's face it- my son, Zachary, is only 4 months old. And while he's a bundle of fun and keeps me very busy, I do need some "grown-up" conversation every once in a while. Hence, the blog- a way for me to clear my mind of all the thoughts that are running around in there. Self-indulgent, but necessary!

I had Zachary Christopher on May 2nd, 2009. He is the absolute joy of my life and I could not imagine living without him. I don't even remember what life was about before I had him. He has taught me so much it's hard to really put into words what he means to me. Each day he discovers something new...and teaches me a new lesson about life.

So hopefully I'll have a few people join me as I pass along Zach's life lessons. I really feel like it's his world and he's just letting me live in it and have some fun on the ride.

 photo copyright.jpg
envye template.