What timing

P.S. I finish blogging and go to deal with Isaiah, and he's fallen asleep, just like that. What timing!

A little conversation

So I've noticed that lately Isaiah has begun having conversations with his stuffed animals. He's really become quite a talker, actually, as he refuses to let us have phone conversations on our own these days too. He MUST speak to the person on the other end of the line, it is imperative. Anyhow, he is right now in a stubborn avoidance of sleep, talking with his In the Night Garden characters as he lays in the playpen alongside them. He is asking them what their name is and then, in a voice slightly changed, responds "in character." How can I tell him enough, that it's "na-nacka" time and he shouldn't be talking, when he is just too darn cute?

I've actually sometimes a really hard time getting him to sleep, particularly at night, and with Greg he is even worse. Monday night he was up 'til well past 11 pm because I'd gone into London for skating and he does not listen to daddy in the least. We're mostly to blame; because we're not home every single night with the same routine, he has not got the structure he needs to have a regular bedtime. But I find it hard to be home at a certain hour every single night and to have to be the one to sit with him through all that "bedtime" entails. Which is going to be worse come next week, my first full week back to work.

(Yes mom, I hear you now... attend the lecture you mentioned.)

Braylon is not so much a sleeper either. I really feel a bit of a failure as a parent about it, actually, when other babies are sleeping through the night within a few months, or weeks, while mine are hit and miss. Most nights we've two little bodies between us in our queen size bed. It's getting to be ridiculous. But at a certain point my body needs sleep, I need to function in the morning, so we eventually give in, after trip after trip to each boy's room in an attempt to convince them of sleeping there.

And I really hate to get mad. Having to raise my voice irritates me - as a teacher and a mom. Life is so much easier when children listen! Were it that easy. Isaiah sometimes has these fits about going to the potty, when at other moments he is desperate to show me what a big boy he is. He's been wearing underwear successfully, periodically, but pees in his pull-up worse than in his diaper. And we're far off from getting him to do anything more than pee in the potty. He gets so embarrassed about it, and won't even let us change him.

Anyhow, this blog has gotten fairly jumbled in the end, it seems. I began in one place and ended somewhere completely different. Sorry about that. Okay, I've got to deal with this stubborn toddler as it is now after his usual wake-up-from-my-nap hour. If I don't manage a blog or two in the next while, it is because I'll be back to work and likely very busy. (I'm on strike from anymore work at home at this point because I wanted to enjoy my last few days at home with the boys.)

Inevitably

...I'll return to work, and no longer be home every day with my boys. The clock is ticking down, my time as a stay-at-home mom is coming to an end. Granted we're planning to have a third, so I'll once again be home on maternity leave for another year at some point. But this mat. leave is quickly coming to a close and I'm back to driving, working, marking... Ideally I'd love to be home until they're in school, like I've mentioned time and time again. Though I have to be fortunate for what we are afforded here in Ontario. We do have a year to spend raising our own children.

It's pretty sad when I got emotional that this morning was my last morning grocery trip with the boys (not that I do groceries every Monday morning, but I've definitely taken advantage of the crowd-free times). It's more that I'm going to miss the little moments throughout the day.

Or Braylon's first steps. I've been anxiously awaiting him to let go and walk, which he's apt to do any second were he to muster the confidence, but I'm thinking I may now miss that stage. I know, no biggie if I look at the big picture, but I thought I'd witness the first steps and the teeth erupting from the gums too, of all things.

So, it's a few days left with the boys... dancing and singing to Raffi, building Lego towers for a minute or two before moving on to something else, marching animals up the mommy-leg hill, racing cars from one end of the couch to another. I hate to say it, since I'm just beginning work again, but I am looking forward to summer holidays already! Hmm... maybe my first day back to work will be a snow day?! Afterall, it did snow in Strath ALL day today (and it still is!). Keep your fingers crossed!

On Second Thought

So I hope I didn't sound unappreciative of my life in that last blog. I am very fortunate, particularly in these times, to be able to travel and to be home for a year with my boys. And yes, I realize I take much for granted. I just meant that I can't believe how quickly things are happening in my life; take Braylon, he'll be a year already in two weeks. Where did all that time go? I very much enjoyed my vacation, I am still passionate about synchro (why else would I invest in it at this age?). I like to keep busy, I always have. In many ways, I don't know how to function when I do have time. So should you have read that I don't stop and smell the roses as you read that last post, it's not entirely true. It is simply that I can't believe the pace of life these days. And on that note, since I return to work in a week, back to the grind it is for me. (Seriously, why is it so tempting to procrastinate?)

Whirlwind

It seems life is much of a whirlwind - especially lately. Christmas came and went, our vacation to Mexico flew by, I've skated in another competition and been to a Raptors game live all in a matter of weeks. Sometimes I don't even get a moment to stop and relax. Take today, I'm on the go again, planning a first birthday party and trying to get some school planning done while the boys enjoy a day with their friends at my mother-in-law's daycare. And blogging, apparently. Since there's some soft guilt-stricken twinge in me at times that I'm supposed to be keeping up with this better than I do. But, like I said, life's busy.

Yes, I am well aware that I just went on a week vacation to Mexico, and that should have been relaxing. Which, in some ways, it was. We sat by the pool sipping fruity blended cocktails, true. But we were busy every day - doing excursions to Chitchen-Itza and Isla Mujeres, jumping waves in the ocean, sharing in a special wedding and celebrating New Years; it seemed as though there was always something to do. Vacation came and went, as vacations always do.

And upon return, after load after load of laundry and a semi-decent house cleaning, I attempted to begin planning courses and prepping school work before I was off again to skate in a competition in Mississauga, then back to Toronto to watch a Raptors game yesterday. So it feels as though I need a moment to just stop and breathe. I guess that's what Wednesday night yoga class is for because I've a long to-do list and little time to accomplish it. Did I mention I return to work in just over a week?

I'm slightly envious of Janice and Stacey - Janice still has a few months left of her mat. leave and Stacey starts her second in 3 months or so. I've really grown accustomed to the life of a stay-at-home mom, and I'm not entirely looking forward to returning to work. Who is? Ideally, I'd like to stay at home until all my children (I'm hoping to eventually have a third) are in school and then return to teaching, but unfortunately that is not possible in my profession. Greg is supportive of the idea, but we live a two-income life and I'm not entirely certain we'd be willing to make the necessary cuts for me to stay at home. Besides the fact that returning to teach in Thames Valley wouldn't happen if I were to leave. So then what?

Anyhow, I've got to keep working because the urge to procrastinate is still fairly strong. So adieu for this afternoon...