Never Enough

Apparently one to state the obvious, it's become increasingly evident that there's just never enough time. Greg has been hard at work on various jobs around the house - lately in relation to the sand point and getting the pump to successfully work (without flooding the basement!). And now he's got to tackle fence construction because our neighbours put in a pool and, by law, need to have the fence put up. However, we had also had plans to go away this weekend, which would have been ideal time for building a fence; in order to accommodate both, we're trying to do it after Greg works this week. So there's been no time to go for walks with Raider, or just enjoy family time. (Though apparently there's enough time for me to come on and blog!) So, hopefully August affords both time to relax and enjoy one another's company before I go back to work, and time to tackle the never-ending list of jobs-around-the-house!

Just a Motorin'

Well, as expected, Isaiah is just a motorin' these days. Not only is he quite the swimmer already (seen here up in Muskoka in the lake), but he cruises from one end of the house to the other in seconds, and rarely stays put. I read somewhere that babies will only somewhat allow themselves to be out of mommy's line of vision at first, something of a comfort thing on their part... but not this guy. Isaiah is an adventure addict, and he doesn't even have a sense of fear... he'd crawl right off the bed if we let him. Hence why I came online today - to search for an area rug as our first floor is entirely hardwood and tile (not so nice on the little knees). I'll get to searching for that when I'm done writing this...

So we've had to make a couple of changes around the house lately as not only can he crawl but he can climb like nothing. He's definitely a little boy - he's already managed to get a few bruises. Actually, today he also has a pretty serious rash that he seemed to have developed last evening on his bum and it has rapidly spread all over his body. My in-laws are certain it is directly related to teething, but he sprouted his two bottom teeth will little effect and the top two are nowhere in sight yet this rash has come. So we're off to the after-hours clinic tonight (can't wait to wait for hours in line...) because the doctor couldn't fit us in. I think I might look up typical baby rashes to determine a prognosis of my own too, as he's had his routine vaccinations and I'm doubting the relation to teeth simply because he doesn't seem to be getting any right now.

Not only does he have a rash, but last night, for the first time, he refused to eat his final meal. He took maybe three sips of milk and a couple bites of cereal and then would have nothing more to do with food. Unfortunately he would also have nothing to do with sleep, so it was a rather difficult night for us. He likely annoyed everyone watching Greg's game because he cried almost non-stop, then seranaded Stacey and I in the car with his cries and then again at home when I took him out of the car seat. Don't get me wrong, he's usually a fantastic kid... but when he gets going, he can be a little devil!

Anyhow, otherwise, he's pretty good. I find him pretty advanced in terms of what he's capable of doing, and incredibly strong. He's gripping the steering wheel of his Grandpa's truck pretty tightly! As per usual, my blog entries seem to be centred around Isaiah, but hopefully one day I'll write about other things too - it's just that he's pretty much our lives right now! So, stay tuned for what he's up to next!

How Quickly I Forgot...

...just how much work teaching is. Yes, I am well aware that we get summer holidays, 2 weeks at Christmas, March Break - all of it. But we really do a lot of work, if you didn't know. Rarely do I come home without marking or planning or some peculiar thing-to-do. In fact, I've not been blogging because my draw to the computer as of late has been to hunker down and get some school work done because, come fall, I predict I'll be rather busy juggling work and motherhood.

And so I've planned, in detail, two of three courses (though I did the worst thing possible and left the worst one until last - worst solely because I've never taught it and haven't got much to go on, so it will be the most work). I hope to get them all done eventually so that I have less to do when I return to work - as English already means a ridiculous but inevitable marking load... but if I can avoid having to plan lessons simultaneously, so much the better.

The challenge is that I've been trying to get this done whilst still being mom to Isaiah (hence the predicament come fall - I bow to all working moms, teachers or otherwise). And even more challenging is that recently Isaiah learned to crawl AND climb, and he refuses to stay in one spot and play with the toys I so carefully select. My little adventurous explorer doesn't exactly let me get much work done, so I've been trying to do so during nap times (which are roughly 20 minutes, 3 times a day... yes, no word of a lie) or after he goes to bed (so last night I was working until 1 a.m. and then up at 6:30 with him again).

And unfortunately Greg has been busy himself with work - overtime when he can and here at the house like a madman lately - so he can't exactly watch Isaiah either. Too bad Raider isn't so good a babysitter!

Anyhow, so I suppose I felt compelled to explain my absence, although I'm not entirely sure as to who or how many bother to read our blog! Hopefully some of you are! I'll be sure to post some pics next go, which will (cross your fingers) be sooner than later. For now, it's back to ENG 4C! Adieu.

No, I Didn't Fall Off the Face of the Earth...

...in case you were wondering where I've been as of late. I've actually been enjoying some well deserved R & R, though not technically. Mr. Isaiah is desperately longing for physical freedom, so I've been pretty busy chasing him around and answering his calls, but I've been doing so up in Muskoka so that counts as being on holiday!

So, obviously an update on the little man is to be expected. Since last posting, he's changed significantly. He now sports two front teeth on the bottom, though the left is more advanced than the right. Therefore he's been slightly fussy and a tad cranky, and no longer will he be put down to bed awake at night but prefers to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. Not sure who's in control these days! Thanks to grandma, he's tasted some pretty sweet treats - strawberry jam and syrup - but he's not quite that close to feasting on adult food in actuality. Grandma just gave him a quick taste test on the end of her finger! Actually, we have been giving him small morsels of certain food, though he's still doing the off-the-tongue-down-the-hatch deal rather than any sucking or chewing. So, like I said, real food is still in the distant future.

He's grown a little more hair - enough to finally cover the bald spot on the back of his head. He's also grown slightly more lean - I think due in large part to his increasing mobility - and his shorts that once fit snuggly are actually quite loose. He's not quite crawling (as in textbook crawling form), but he gets around well enough and is definitely building strength because he maintains "table pose" for a substantial amount of time. He can crawl a little, but tends to get his ankles crossed and either plummets to the ground head first or rolls into a seated position.

He's growing tired of his toys - imagine that - and prefers red plastic beer cups (good thing we've got tons left from our stag and doe years ago) and strings from blinds. Really, these things can entertain him for a good 20 minutes. He babbles to himself constantly, and even does a new trick whereby he makes noise when you pat his lips. He's definitely a character!

Well, there's other stuff to update you on besides Isaiah, but I've got to finish laundry so I can pack up my stuff yet again. This time we're off to Bayfield for our annual family reunion (on the Rebelo side). So, perhaps early next week I'll find time to blog again!