What a difference a Year makes.

October 2010

October 2011

October 2010

October 2011

October 2010

October 2011

More Corn Maze/Farm photos to come this week!

What they're saying, October 2011

Toby is much more verbal now. He has a few words, and uses a lot of pointing and grunting. His favorite is "Uh-Oh" and loves throwing things on the floor just so he can say it. He also says it when he finds something on the floor- so cute that he knows it doesn't belong there and imagines it must have been dropped. He says "Dada", using it for me too. I point to myself and say "mama" but he then takes my hand and point it to my chest and says "Dada" with the biggest smile on his face. He's said something that sounds much like Willow (Waawaa) and I'm not surprised; it's probably the most commonly used word in this house. He also says "Dat" for That or What's that, and "fish".

He likes to talk on the phone- the phone can be his hand, his shoe, his musical seahorse or the actual cordless. He makes "Oooh? Ooooooohhhhh" noises when he talks on the phone. The sign language has disappeared. Mom got lazy. He's lost the signs he had even, I just stopped doing it.

Willow is expressing her imaginative self even more now, telling stories, pretending to be someone/something different, telling me about her dreams (many of which are a bit disturbing).

She has learned some new words too- stupid & hate to name a couple. She's having a tough time with something lately, teeth maybe or some emotional development. Some days everything is "I hate this", "I don't like that". It's hard not to laugh sometimes when "I hate eating" comes out of her mouth when I call her for breakfast.

Sick kids, cuddling. So sweet!

I've been absent for a couple of weeks. Very busy time as well as a nasty cold passing through our house. Everyone is on the mend but things aren't slowing down. Attempting to get this photography business going, getting ready to go back to work, taking care of numerous things that should get done before I go back to work. I'm going to try a bit harder to get a least one post in a week. Hopefully two. :)

Dear Willow (The 2 1/2 year old!)

Dear Willow,

You are 30 months old now! You are 35.5" tall, and weigh about 29 lbs. You eat pretty well, healthy stuff like the rest of us, you wake up a couple of times a night still, and keep us on our toes at bedtime. You like to get out of bed repeatedly for an hour or so- this is new. You wear diapers at bedtime only, and wake up dry often. Night time potty training isn't far away. You use a pacifier, "mo-mo" at bedtime too. You're showing signs that you're not so dependent on it now, so I hope you wean yourself from it.

You are a sweet, sweet girl, with typical 'terrible two's', and some jealously towards your brother. Now that he is walking and getting into your things, you get angry with him, push him down, scratch his face. It's very sad for me and I'm working on helping you with it. We'll find a solution soon I hope. Your tantrums have returned- you need things done in a particular way, at a particular time. Asserting your independence- normal two year old stuff.

You are sensitive, emotional, happy. You're in the best mood in the mornings normally, and after you have a bath or shower. You squeal and giggle and make everyone smile. Toby laughs hysterically when you are like this, he likes it a lot. When we are out, or with unfamiliar people you are very shy. It's getting a bit easier for you- as we go regularly to library programs/playgroups you get used to it, and begin participating. You are really pretty. People stop me and tell me that you look like Shiloh Jolie Pitt all the time. Or they tell me " Oh, you're in trouble, with those big pouty lips". I think you look much like Daddy when he was your age. Something reminds me of a younger me too- your hair and forehead I think. Family think you look just like your cousin Haylee. I think you look just like you! You're amazing, and I love you "A Big One" (as you say).

I love you (A Big One),
Mummy

Wordless Wednesday (watching The Wiggles edition)

Dear Willow (The meanie)

Dear Willow,

Please please please!!! stop pushing/hitting/scratching your brother. I am at a loss for what to do to help you overcome this. It breaks my heart when you say, "I don't like Toby anymore", or "I hate him". I know I haven't been able to spend enough time with you lately, but I'm doing my best.

Love Mommy

Toby's Week

Toby's had a big week. There is a sticker on his calendar almost every day. His new tricks include:

• Standing for long periods of time without support
• Throwing things
• Waving
• Saying "uh oh" and "dat"
  
• Pointing (and says "dat")
• Will point to moms eyes and nose when asked
• Points to his own eye after pointing to moms
• Dancing to music
  
• WALKING! First just a couple of steps, then 3 or 4, now about 8.

Whew! Big week. No wonder he's not sleeping, with all of this excitement.

Wordless Wednesday (Our Big Tree Edition)

Beach Clean-up

Sunday we participated in The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup. It was a gorgeous, sunny autumn day. We live very close to the beach. It amazes me how much litter there was, even though it is cleaned regularly by municipal staff. Thousands and thousands of cigarette butts were picked out of the sand that children play in every day. Amazing.

I like to participate in things like this, and now that I have kids I think it's even more important. I want to set an example for them, show them what action looks like, and help them to know the impacts of thoughtlessness. We can't go on wasting, polluting, avoiding the consequences of our actions any longer. It's our kids future that we are changing; they are the ones that will live with the results of how we live today.

I hope I can instill in them a love for nature, people and our planet.

Being Mom

A particularly rough night has inspired this post. A night where, I thought, "well, the kids are asleep, hubby is out, I'm going to watch a movie!" Ugh. Big mistake. The movie ended around 11, I still had some laundry to finish up, soup to put away, baby food to puree and a dishwasher to finish filling. By the time I got to bed, I was wired. Finally fall asleep, hubby comes home and disturbs my sleep. Toby wakes up, 1/2 hour to put him back to sleep. Another hour trying to fall asleep, and then..... sleeping bliss. An hour later Willow wakes up, calling out for me. I make hubby go. And 1.5 hours after that, Toby is up again. And this time there is no putting him back to sleep. After 2 hours of trying I give up- we're up for the day.

Moral of the day- Mom, don't ever take time for yourself. It will backfire. Even if this time was productive, even if you made soup and baby food and did some sewing while the movie was on and didn't even get to enjoy it. You're still expecting too much. It's not worth it. Get over it, and face the reality that you won't have any time to yourself for 15-17 years (and then this "time for yourself" will mostly be spend worrying and wondering if your kids are staying out of trouble). From today on, vow to be in bed before 9, because the kids will not let you have a good night sleep. They also won't let you sit down, have a rest or a nap during the day. So get over it, you are 'mom' and that is all. It really is a 24/7 kind of job.

They say as a mom you have to take time for yourself to stay sane. Enough said.

Oh, and the movie? A crappy rom-com in which a couple dies in a car crash, leaving their 2 best friends to raise their baby. There may have been some funny parts, but I missed them because I was too sad thinking about the poor baby missing her mommy, and the poor dead parents who will never see their child grow up. And now that I've re-read that last bit, I feel incredible guilt that even though I have no time for myself, even to sleep, I still have my beautiful children that I get to watch grow every day (even if I'm half asleep).

My life as a mom- sleepless, thankless, guilt ridden and full of love.

.

10 Months!

I'm ignoring the fact that 10 months is awfully close to 12...... OK, I can't do it. I cannot believe my little guy is ONE YEAR old in 2 short months. He still seems so little. I go back to work in a few short weeks and will be leaving him a couple days a week- all day long. I am thankful I don't have to go back full time yet.

At 10 months Toby can.....

• Copy sounds and noises. He likes to mimic Willow's chatter.
• Say mum mum mum when he wants me.
  
• Cruise furniture like a pro.
• Stand for a few seconds before carefully lowering himself to the floor.
• Bring himself to standing without holding onto anything.

At 10 months Toby is.....

• Only sleeping a couple hours at a time once again.
• Deciding that one nap a day suits him just fine.
• Eating well- purees and solid chunks, loves beets, any kind of meat, and orange veggies. And fruit- any kind and lots of it!

At 10 months Toby has.....

• 6 teeth.
  
• Chipped his top front tooth (no idea how!).
• Tripled his birth weight.
• Met all 5 of his great-grandparents.
• The softest, fluffy hair! It's getting so long and I'm not ready for a hair cut yet.
• And the sweetest little guy voice I've ever heard. Love how he sings & hums while moving or eating!
  

At 10 months, Toby loves.....

• His sister.
• The sandbox.
• Playing with tools, cars, and watching very 'boy' tv shows.
• Being outside. If either kid is cranky, going outside makes everyone happy!
• Standing up.
• Having his picture taken! I'm a lucky photog mama :)