The Coveted Toy

How is that one small toy can bring an entire house crumbling down when it comes time to entering into sweet slumbering bliss?

Last night, my dear son could not find his sleep bear. My husband (bless his heart) looked in all the familiar hiding spots our son has and even claimed he looked in others. I looked for the precious bear myself and could not find it. I even checked his laundry basket as he claimed the bear needed a bath. 

My dear son, settled on sleeping with another stuffed animal and I went to bed myself, poised to find the bear in the morning during one of little misses naps. 

I woke with the little lady and moved a pile of dirty clothes off the couch, a football and a blanket and low and behold there was the blue bear. Apparently my husband did not look all over the couch as he stated.

The bear has not left my son's side since he woke to see him on the couch.

Feeding baby

It is interesting how over time we change our outlook on certain things. For me the way I viewed feeding my young children changed over the period of 12 years.

With my oldest daughter I breastfed her for as long as it was physically possible and until I found out she had issues with dairy and had to be put on soy formula. When it came time to introduce solids to her, I bought her food and fed her from a jar. Following their label for how old she should be as we progressed through her food introductions. Also I started feeding her solids at 4 months old.

Advance forward 12 years and I am faced with finding out how to introduce solids to my son has changed. So many changes took place between my oldest daughter and my son it was a wonder any one was able to keep up.

The first change came concerning when to start solids. You no longer started at 4 months you waited until they were 6 months. You started with rice cereal and then waited four days before introducing a new item.

The second change came with being told that you could make healthier foods at home using fresh fruits, veggies and meats, creating an assortment of delicious meals for the little one.

Now if you have ever tried the jarred foods you know full well that the taste is horrid. So I opted to make my own homemade baby food and vowed to introduce my little man to all sorts of foods that he would not have tried in the jar.

Now fast forward three years and further changes have been made yet again.

There is the movement of baby led weaning. Where you feed your baby what you are eating in soft chunks that they can hold. This notion horrifies me. I fear choking even though I have been reassured they cannot choke on the food. Right!

It was also deemed that those highly allergenic foods that everyone avoids until baby is much older are now to be introduced first. Again this is something that worries me and a notion I will not cater to.

So here I am on month 2 of food introductions with my youngest little miss. It is interesting how different she is compared to her older siblings. She will not tolerate even the smallest chunks in her food. Texture changes also set her into a not eating protest. The food has to be so smooth for her to eat it. She will eat it mixed with rice cereal so it is thick, but still smooth.

Introducing chicken has been very interesting to say the least. The gritty texture is something she has not enjoyed even when mixed in with some of her favourites.

Over the next little bit, I will start sharing some of my perfected baby food recipes for other moms who choose to go homemade over store bought jarred foods.

Happily Creating

Last week, I ventured over to my local fabric shop and picked up a number of fabrics. I took with me my oldest daughter and my youngest daughter.

I picked out different patterned fabrics that were light weight and asked my oldest opinion of what she thought. I loaded her up with my choices (which towered over her) and had the fabrics cut to the size I required.

I brought home my finds and washed them which had my oldest questioning my sanity and I had to explain to her why I had to wash them first (avoiding shrinking later).

Now, here I sit with my finds in front of me preparing my work space. I have my necessary tools for cutting and pinning. Once that part is complete, I will get out the sewing machine and put it to use creating my youngest some new accessories to go along with her daily wardrobe.

Hopefully little miss will sleep for awhile, while I work my sewing.

Parental TV Monitoring

Each of us has that favourite show we love to watch. We longingly wait for it to come on tv. We count down the days, the hours and yes even the minutes until we can sit down with drink in hand and watch that coveted show.

But how do you do that with children in the house? Little ones who refuse to sleep or up all night long as they master new skills, grow, eat and get those dreaded teeth.

How do you watch that violent tv show you so love? How do judge what is right and wrong for a young one to watch even though deep down inside you know really they should not be watching the mayhem ensue.

This is a battle in my house. My husband seems to think he is the parental ratings monitoring guru. He has deemed shows that I watch unacceptable and should be watched only when the little ones sleep and I accept that. But really my shows are tame compared to what he watches sometimes.

Where do you draw the line and say "hey smarten up, the show you are watching is way to much! "

I am finding that I am losing this battle of censorship as my wee dude watches a television show that has more cussing and blood then Grey's Anatomy. Perhaps some censorship literature needs to make its way into my house.

Or perhaps I should consider finishing my masters in Psychology and write my thesis on the effects of violent tv on the preschoolers mind. In this category I would throw in super hero shows as my son fights bad guys on a daily basis when he watches these shows but doesn't after awhile when all he can watch is Tree House.

Isolation...

They tell you that motherhood is the most rewarding job you will ever have.

What they don't tell you is how your children will be cruel at times and loving at others.

What they don't tell you is how your life is dictated by the children, the house and if you work, your job.

I am sure my experiences as a mother, are not typical.

I have a husband who barely helps and will only help if I ask. He has parents who firmly believe that everything and I mean everything is the wife's job. This includes getting up at three in the morning to make his breakfast and lunch. I refuse to do this.

Recently I had an epic flip out. During which I told my husband some things that I do not regret and some that I do. I was made to feel guilty in the end like everything is my fault and I am the one who needs to do more.

During this epic flip out I made a daily chore sheet that was linked to each day. My in-laws saw this and automatically assumed it was my oldest chores and proceeded to snap on me. I kindly explained that this was the entire chore list for the house, not one single persons chores.

It was my hope to show my oldest that she actually does very little in the grand scheme of things. My husband in his infinite wisdom decided to allot each item a price and at the end of the month do a total and pay each person for the work they did. Sounds like a good plan...

Since Monday all the stupid chore list has done is show me how much I do in a day since no one, including the husband,  wants to help. I could clearly see that I was picking up everyone's slack on top of looking after the baby and preschooler all day.

Last night I ripped it down. The notion that my husband was going to pay my oldest to make lunch drove me over the edge. I don't get paid to make breakfasts or lunch neither should she.

My epic flip out on Friday last week got me no where. It was quickly forgotten.

Here I sit alone and isolated yet again. I watch the youngest two all day and do not get a break. When they nap I am taking care of the house.

They tell you motherhood is the most rewarding job you will ever have. Where is the reward?!

Nap Time Bliss

Oh how I am enjoying nap time today. Feet up. Watching a show on low column while the youngest two slumber peacefully. The oldest is off visiting grandparents for a week. The husband is at work and the cat munched on kibble. The solitude is greatly welcomed.

Loving a lazy summer day!

Summer time fun!

Summer holidays are here so that means the oldest is home for two months.

When it was just her and during this time of year while my husband worked, I had no issues filling up her day with activities to keep her busy. Now she is a teenager and finds what the three year old wants to do uncool. Heck even things I suggest are uncool.

When it was my oldest and the little dude it was also easy to plan activities to keep the little guy busy. The oldest was not forced to participate in the activities, but was encouraged to help out.

This year I am drowning. I have the moody teenager, the busy three year old and now a three month old. All with very unique needs and forms of entertainment. I am thankful that the little guy is going to daycare three times a week so he can get away and play and be with his friends.

Next week my oldest is heading off to camp for two weeks. She may decide to stay up with her grandparents for longer though. Only time will tell.

Is it sad that I am hoping for summer holidays to be over already?