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?

Sigh... toys on the floor

I have come to loath children's toys. Particularly cars and any other small items.

In the middle of the night they are extremely unpleasant as I stumble about to get a bottle ready to feed our youngest.

Why do kids make such a huge mess and never clean it up? My son knows the rules and what happens if his toys are not kept clean. He knows that mommy picks them up and they never return to the toy bin. He knows he is to clean them up when he is done playing with them.

Yet he never picks them up.

Why?!

He makes sure to clean up his messes at daycare. What makes doing the same thing at home so difficult? I am sure we will never know the answer to these questions and what posses our children to make such huge messes.

Eventually he will have no toys to play with. I just wonder how long it will take him to notice they are all gone.

The almost three year old

My adorable son will soon turn three, where in the world has the time gone. It seems like yesterday that I was bringing him home from the hospital as a newborn.

I have watched him grow and reach milestones. I have watched his personality emerge and cried tears when he has been hurt. I have wanted to take each bruise and injury on myself so he did not have to feel pain.

I have cuddled him and gave kisses when he needed them most. I have taken care of him during illnesses and times of frustrations.

He is my little man.

He is my only son.

Here I sit writing this watching him play like only little boys do. The guns, the swords and the cars and let us not forget the superheroes and light-sabers as he saves the backyard from pending doom.

He is growing way too fast.

In a few days my little man will be three.

Unique Children

When they tell you that no two children are a like there is partial truth to it.

Being a mother to three delightful children who I find are very unique and at the same time very similar, I can honestly say there are times when children are way to much alike.

I can count the number of ways my children are uniquely different from each other and still create an equal amount of ways they are the same (with the exception of age and gender).

I cherish their uniqueness; actually I embrace it. The similarities though make me cringe and wonder if the oldest one is passing down her bad habits. The little ones look up to their big sister and copy a lot of what she does.

Sweet sweet warm weather!

Oh how I love warm weather! It feels great to be able to put the two youngest children in a stroller and embark on a journey around our neighbourhood. This time last week was unable to do this since we only had a single stroller and my wee dude is a runner.

Over the weekend I purchased a used double stroller where I could put the little lass in her car seat and place it on the stroller and have my wee dude sit in the front. It was the best thing I have bought since finding out I was expecting the wee lady.

We were out for an hour and my son picked which direction we would turn and if we would have a long walk or a short walk. I did choose some times what way we would go so we would get home before the wee lass wanted to eat again. I would not of enjoyed the walk with a screaming hungry baby.

I am looking forward to more walks like this with my two little ones. Eventually we will even add in a trip to the park; as long as the wee dude listens and doesn't take off on me.

Woo hoo for summer!

Five weeks Already

I am having a hard time coming to grips with the idea that my youngest child is now five weeks old. It often just feels like yesterday that I was holding her for the first time. In reality though I know she is five weeks old; she is getting bigger and becoming more alert each and every day.

With this realization, I also know that my other kids are getting older. My little guy is going to be three next month and is getting taller. My oldest is going to be 15 in November and is taller then me. Makes me sad to see them growing up so fast.

I wish life would just slow down and allow my children to be children. My oldest daughter wants nothing more then to be so independent that she can live on her own without her parents. Hard to believe that in three years this could become reality as she goes off to College or University.

With my little guy turning three next month the reality of him going off to school in a years time also sets in. I worry about how he will do at school and if he will enjoy it. Yes I know it won't happen for another year yet, but still I worry about him.

Now that the wee miss is five weeks old it just means a sooner return to work for me. One that is determined by several factors and the waiting response of funding for me to remain home or the lack of and needing to return to work.

Five weeks old and already so many differences.

To breastfeed or bottle feed...

As a mom we are faced with a choice when we have children, will we bottle feed or will we breastfeed? I thought this was a choice we made until recently when several people asked me if I was breastfeeding and then got irritated with me about me choice not to and then proceeded to give me a lecture about not giving my children the best food out there.

Needless to say I was livid!

I made the choice to proactively provide the best for my children. My choice did not come lightly as it was also encouraged by my family doctor with the last two children. I find myself defensive when it comes to people's judgments of my choice.

When I had my oldest I breastfed her right from the start. She was placed in the NICU for for a week and during her time there instead of calling me to feed her, the nursing staff fed her formula. I still pushed through and breastfed her. I brought her home and for a month struggled. She seemed hungry all the time and was eating every hour. When I asked my doctor about this, it was suggested that I also pump and take supplements to produce more milk and to allow someone else to bottle feed her. Eventually I became so sore that I turned to pump on only while someone else bottle fed her.

After two months of still feeding her every hour and things not improving, I turned to formula feeding. She became a little more content and changed her eating habits. Things improved for awhile and then she got really sick. Eventually we moved her to a soy based formula. Turned out my daughter was lactose intolerant.  Breast milk was making her ill and not holding her.

When I spoke with a specialist, while pregnant with my son, they told me not to breastfed since I had so many allergies myself. I would not be able to generate milk that was nutritious for my children and in return cause them to be hungry all the time. It was after several meetings with the specialist, my family doctor and the OB's that I made the decision to bottle feed my little guy formula.  In the end he still got very sick and was put on soy formula. He ended up being allergic to milk protein and can only have goats milk.

When I found out I was having my youngest daughter, I had yet another choice to make concerning her feeding. I had to decide if I was going to start with regular formula or go straight into feeding her soy formula based on the outcome of my two oldest children. My husband and I started her off on regular formal and at a week old she was showing all the same signs as my oldest two of an allergy or intolerance to milk. We moved her to soy formula and are now finally seeing improvements at four weeks of age.

When someone asks me if I am breastfeeding and then the get defensive over how I am not providing my child with the best. I have to keep a level head and just smile and politely tell them that I am providing the best for my children because of health reasons. I even had a doctor tell me while at the hospital that the possibility of a third child having the same issues was next to impossible... well I wish she was right, but all three of my children have issues with dairy just like their momma.

Flexibility is Important!

Over the last four weeks I have had to make major adjustments to my life and daily routines. Not only did I have to make these changes for myself but for everyone else in the house as we all adjusted to life with our newest family member.

I use to tell people that I was flexible...

I now realize that I was not. I was more set in my ways then I realized. Over the last four weeks I have released control to others and have adjust to things not being done when I want but rather when they can be done.

I no longer worry that the house is a mess because I have two little ones to look after with different needs at different times. If I have to skip breakfast to make formula and bottles, then I have to do what is necessary.

I have become less rigid in my daily life and more flexible, but not for myself but for the sanity of my family and children. They have taught me that you have to think outside the box and be flexible otherwise the day is stressful for no reason.

Happy Mother's Day

May your day be filled with relaxing and memory making!

Grumbles... Hand Foot Mouth Disease... blah!

I being an educator, I am well versed in illnesses that children can contract. While I was in college taking Early Childhood Education, we had to create health information sheets for parents that would explain various illnesses and diseases. Each fact sheet would have how the child came into contact with the illness, symptoms, treatment and duration.

Never though had I come into contact with a child who had an illness other than a cold, flu or chicken pox. My oldest never had more then a cold or the flu, other than when she had her appendix removed. I even took her to chicken pox parties in hopes she would get it, but that never happened.

Today, I am dealing with hand foot mouth disease that my middle child has some how caught. He is having a hard time understanding why he cannot touch, kiss or breath on his little sister and my heart breaks for him. He is the second child at his providers home to break out in the virus this week. He started off with a sore throat for a few weeks, then a high fever on Sunday and then a sore mouth on Tuesday. Today he has spots on his feet and hands.

I am overwhelmed with all of this.

Looking after the two young ones and dealing with illness is very hard. My little guy is a social bug and not being able to go and play with his friends or hold and kiss his little sister is making him moody and out of sorts. I am constantly telling him to not touch things that are used with or for his little sister with little success.

Lysol wiping everything also is proving easier said then done when the little guy wakes the baby up every ten minutes and then touches the stuff I just cleaned and runs away.

I can honestly say that I cannot wait until this is all over with and my house can return to normal!

Thrifty mom

It is funny how over time we change our ideals on what should be bought brand new and what could be bought used. How we look at what we have and make sure it is still good and has lots of use in it still. We do this with everything we own; shirt and pants when worn out we toss it or turn it into something else or in my case my oldest daughter takes clothing I am getting rid of and claims them as her own.

I have done this with baby items. Deemed what was usable from others and what we must have brand new. Have I always done this? Not a chance. I must admit I do love new stuff and would rather have everything new. With that said though, there are things that are better off left used and reused until it is no longer possible.

With my oldest, everything had to be brand new. I avoided using anything that was given to us used. Looking back, I was stupid. People were giving us their used items for free and I wanted brand new. I did use a swing that was given to us since it became a life saver since she wanted to be held all the time and would hardly nap even at a month old. I had used clothes given to us, but I would opt for new clothing when dressing her. Senseless amounts of money was wasted on something she out grew faster than I could keep up, or it was destroyed by gross spit up.

With my son, the only new items we bought was a crib, matrices, dresser and the odd clothing items like shoes and hats. I welcomed every used article of clothing, toys, and baby equipment we would use. I did buy new bottles and nipples since it concerned me to use those that were given used. Even at three years old, he wears used clothing because lets face it, he is a boy and gets dirty and blows out the knees. He does get new items occasionally, but he also has become a thrifty shopper and enjoys such stores as Value Village and used children's item stores for those cool finds.

Now with the youngest, I have even gone to the extent of buy others used stuff through buy and swap groups, used children's item stores or posting want adds. I bought new bottles and nipples and every penny that I save goes into an envelope for use on diapers and formula. We did buy a new swing for her since Wal-Mart was having an insane sale and a used swing was the same price as a new swing. We are reusing the crib we had for my son and buying her a be dresser.

Over the last 15 years I have really changed. My frame of mind is no longer on brand new items but rather saving money and going the route of used items. I have become frugal. I will seek out any means possible to gain a dollar that can be used on other items.

I am not afraid to admit that I am thrifty and now prefer to buy used whenever possible.

Sick little ones

Having sick little ones at home is always heart breaking. I feel terrible that they are sick and long to take it away so they feel better faster.

Since last night my little guy has had a fever. He was up all night because of it. He complains of a sore throat and tummy as well. I feel helpless as I have no idea what is wrong and offer lots of fluids and temporary pain relief.

Now today, we add into the mix vomiting.

*sigh*

Now add into the equation a three week old baby who also needs my attention. As well,  company on its way that I could not get a hold of fast enough to let them know about the little guy being sick.

This is going to be a long and interesting day.

Single Parenting

I have to commend single parents and the trials they go through each and every day parenting on their own. They have no one to assist with late night feedings, the nightmares of children, feeding older children or providing time for ones self.

Now with that said, I often feel like a single parent even though I am married. My husband works long hours in a job that is very demanding on the body. When he gets home he is tired and just wants to eat and relax on the couch. He often wants to go to bed early and recently informed me his sleep was more important.

Makes me furious. Prior to that comment, he was willing to help during the night whenever I needed it. I would get scolded by his parents concerning his lack of sleep and how important it was for him to get it. That I should not be waking him up to help with the kids in the middle of the night.

So my sleep is not important?

I may be home looking after the children, but correct me if I am wrong, but is my sleep not important as well. If I am tired, how can I look after the children effectively?

In the end, I will put on my big girl panties, suck up my pride and do what I need to do to provide for my family even if it means I am sleep deprived and so tired my children suffer because of it.

Perhaps being a single parent is better than being a parent with a partner who is absent, but still present in the home. I am tired of the comments that are flung my way... "Suck it up", "Man up", "What is your problem", "Grow a pair and do what needs to be done", "You're psycho", and now the new one "My sleep is more important" all drive me to want to be a single parent.

Blissful sleep

I long for blissful sleep... sleep that goes uninterrupted for a full 8 hours. Having children does not allow for this. I love my children to bits, but sleep deprivation is something I can do without!

With my oldest, she was fussy all the time and did not sleep much until we figured out what was causing all her issues. Then she became the queen of the five minute power naps during the day and slept a solid 7 hours at night by the time she was three/four months old.

My second child had a very predictable schedule that started from day one. He slept peacefully and seemed to enjoy his sleep a little to much. He napped beautifully, but had issues with sleeping through the night. Beck he is nearly three years old and is still waking up lots during the night. 

*sigh*

My third, is all over the map when it comes to sleep and creating a routine for her. While in the hospital, I swear I got more sleep then I have since coming home. There is no pattern to what she is doing with wake and sleep. We had a few nights were she was awake from 12-3 or 4-6. We even had a night were she was so fussy she was up from 12-5:30. That made for a long night and even longer day.  Now last night was even more curious.... she last ate at 9pm and was laid in bed. I anticipated being up in a few hours to feed her, but did not get up until 2am. Fed her and put her back to bed, ready to wake in a few hours, but again I was surprised when she woke up at 7.

It was a welcomed night of rest and one that I do not anticipate happening again soon.

Newborn Energy and Preschooler Regression

There is a lot going on in my house with my two youngest.... heck, even a lot going on with all three of my children but it just seems like the majority of my energy is expelled on the youngest.

I am dealing with issues that I never had to deal with when I had my second child. I guess that has to do with the fact that my daughter was twelve at the time. I did see jealousy issues with her though and we talked about her feelings with her. She seemed to be able to understand and accept her new position as a big sister.

These new issues are rather interesting and I never anticipated them. My educational background should have been considered and reviewed when it came to my son and how this was going to affect him. I am seeing all kinds of behavioural issues, from not listening to regressive behaviours of wanting to be the baby.

I am having a hard time reasoning with him so he understands that he is still loved, but at the same time needs to listen and at times keep his noise level down. I am also trying to remind him that he is not a baby and has not been for some time. I understand that this change of becoming the big brother is hard on him. I wish there was some way of making it easier on him. We have tried to plan special events for him that will keep his interest at his age level. At the same time, I have been taking him to daycare still so that he can have some normalcy in his day like he had prior to the wee lass arriving.

While dealing with my preschooler, I also have the little lady to look after. During the day, she is a dream. She sleeps well and eats ok (she has become very fussy during a feeding and will work herself into a frenzy). At night though it is a different story. She is so wide awake, I have no idea where she gets this energy from. Makes me wonder if she has her days and nights mixed up and how in the world will I fix this issue?!

My lack of sleep is starting to get to me!

On demand feeding... blah!

Feeding on demand with my first child really sucked. She ate every hour on the hour which made my breastfeeding experience a living nightmare. I was home alone with her five out of seven days of the week so, I was also very sleep deprived. It was not until I put her on soy formula (after trying regular formula) that things turned around. She started eating every three hours or so. She even started sleeping through the night but was the queen of power five minute naps during the day.

Feeding on demand with my second was a dream come true. He came with his own schedule right from birth. He would eat every three hours and during growth spurts he would eat more during the feeding and sometimes moved to every two hours. He was the king of the naps during the day and had a lot of sleep issues at night. Eventually, I just stopped feeding him during the night unless I felt he absolutely needed it. He was on regular formula until he started vomiting after almost all feedings around three weeks of age. We moved him to soy formula and he stopped vomiting and was more content.

Feeding on demand with my third child, so far has been an interesting adventure. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to her eating demands. I find myself questioning if she is even really hungry and I am over feeding her. She is currently 13 days old and when I think I know her feeding schedule she throws it out the window so to speak. Her first week she was eating every three to four hours. Then sometime during her second week she changed it to every two to three hours. Making sleeping very hard to do. Right now she is a mix if every two to three hours during the day and every three to four at night. Now I say that, but I must also add in that she sleeps like a dream during the day. At night though she goes for marathon wake sessions.

For my second and third children, my husband is home everyday, but gets up super early. He works hard all day and is exhausted when he gets home. I hate asking him for help during the night out of guilt and guilt that is placed on me by other family members concerning his job. He helps when he can, but really feeding on demand sucks!

The great and powerful melt downs...

I have no idea what is worse...

An 11 day old's melt down?

A 34 month old's melt down?

A 14 year old's melt down?

As I sit here writing this entry, I am trying to wrap my brain around the outcome of this afternoons events and the melt downs I have endured.

I an trying to figure out which one is worse though. In retrospect though I would have to say the 14 year old's melt down is by far the worst as she knows better. The preschooler is trying to gain back the attention he lost with the arrival of his little sister. As for the newborn, she was hungry and I was dealing with her big brother and sister.

Hopefully, things will soon calm down and the older two will not be trying everything imaginable to gain positive or negative attention.

Coping with different needs

Never in my wildeat dreams did I think having children at various age levels would prove to be so difficult.

When I had my oldest, I thought many days were difficult as a new mom with very little help from others especially my husband as his job had him away from home for five out of the seven days. I got very little sleep until she started sleeping through the nights.

When I had my middle child, my oldest was 12. She did not require much from me and spent a great deal of time at her grandparenta house. She helped a lot when she was home with small things and I was able to meet her needs and the little ones needs at the same time. Sure there were days when I was overwhelmed, but it was managable.

Now throw into the mix a newborn. My oldest is 14 and my middle guy is 2. Wow is all I can say. Three years later and I am feeling like I am a first time mom trying to juggle the needs of the hoard. What happened between the birth of my son and our newest addition?!

I am struggling to cope with the needs of my teenager; who takes everything to the extreme and is only willing to help when it suits her. I am struggling to cope with needs of my preschooler; who is dealing with his own emotions as a big brother and wanting my attention. I am struggling with the needs of a newborn; who really needs me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and cannot be told to wait two seconds while I tend to her older brother.

*sigh*

I am struggling with my own emotions at the sametime. Again I am feeling like a new mother drowning in the needa of the many and neglecting the needs I also have.

How does one cope in such a diverse environment as the one I am living in?

Slowly but surely I am certain things will fall into place and everything will work itself out. Until then, I must remember that I am the mom and they are my children. I need to remain level headed for my own sake!

Why this blog?

A few years back, I decided to create a blog depicting my adventures as a mother of two lovely children who by chance had a 12 year age gap between the two of them. I never, not once, wrote a post though. Here we are now almost three years since I created that blog page and not only have my children become older and more independent, but we have just added in another addition to our family.

Why am I now writing this blog?

Why not!

I am doing this more for my children, so they can look back at the memories we create together.

I am writing this as an account of what it was like to be a mother living in "two different" worlds, as I raise a teenager, a preschooler and a newborn.

I say let the adventures, the tough times, struggles and laughter flow.

Now we are faced with the digital age, where our children will be more immersed in technology then we were as children. They will more than likely never read the journal entries I write at the end of the day in my notebook (I know who uses pen and paper anymore these days), but I do know that they will surf the Internet on a regular basis and will more than likely take some time to read to this little blog (or I am strongly hoping that they will.)