My peanut loves playing with water, but like everything with kids it's safety first! You know - no leaving child unattended while in the bath, seat belt chest strap at correct level, etc. I think though as a first time mom you are a bit more cautious. You see, I think to easy to get a bit more comfortable with your second or third or... You get the idea! Last Werk at Julianne's new daycare I saw something that didn't sit well with me. I tried to think of other scenarios and to see if I could live with it. Thankfully, I got a call from a new daycare, one that has better hours and is bilingual, and closer to my office, with dove available for Julianne. I struggled with this because I don't like giving up on people and sympathize with daycare workers. They work long hours for Litke pay and are taking care of or prized family members. I have zero issues with paying for care on stats or when my child isn't there because we are on vacation or just taking the opportunity to hang out with our kid. That being said I do have the need to make sure my daughters wel being is put first. Hence why today I unfortunately gave notice to one daycare and signed up for a new daycare. You gett to see so little of your kids when you work. Honesty I feel like a part time parent as Julianne sleeps, we hang out and eat and getting ready for the day, drive to daycare and she's there while I work, then we drive home, eat dinner, play, have a bath and go to bed. I probably hang out with Julianne for about 4 hours a day during the work week. Weekends I try to balance bonding with her and household stuff to get ready for the next week. That being said, who you have as a daycare provider is so important! They are with your kid for the bulk of their awake hours every week! I am hopeful that Julianne will learn some French at her new daycare, will have the opportunity to grow and explore in a safe space, and that we will have a long relationship with her provider. In the meantime I'll continue my duo lingo lessons in French and maybe when Julianne starts school I'll be able to converse with her! This past week I have been starting to declutter as soon enough we hope to be moving. Currently our house has a conditional offer, and all going well, we could be moving late July. I have managed to already find worthy homes of my much loved, barely worn, clothes that are from my smaller days. I was feeling a little sad about it, but today my co worker shared something beautiful with me.
She simply shared a vision of what would my 80 year old self say and think about my current 30 year old self? Would I reflect on how selfish I was to let myself go and put others first or would she rather reflect more on what I did and what memories I created instead? I am guessing myself will think of the later, reminiscing on the "good ol' days" as though I had it all. Because really, I do. I have a wonderful husband who is a fantastic father. Today he got off work early so he wanted to pick up Julianne so they could have a few hours together before I got home from work. Tomorrow he is going to have daddy daughter day while I spend some much needed gals only time with my friend Carolyn. Its usually always about baby but I need to make sure I make time for me. Besides, daddy daughter time is important too and soon enough (Monday) Chad will be working evenings so he won't have as much time with Julianne (mainly the weekends). Then we are going to have a mom and dad date night! We haven't had one of those for awhile now and its overdue! Again, Carolyn to the rescue, as her and her friend are going to babysit J after the 5 of us enjoy a home cooked meal. I think our date will consider of pitch perfect 2, because we have been meaning to see it ever since the previews came out, and then heading off to a friends social. I am already dreading Sunday morning, as I am sure I will get a maximum of 4 hours sleep Saturday night, but thankfully we can take turns and nap on Sunday. So instead of feeling low, or sad, about my current waistline, I embrace the fact that I am still evolving into this world of motherhood. Finding balance between baby, work, relationship, family, friends, and me time. We always seem to have a lot on our plate but I am sure that over the next few months I will learn how to balance, and embrace the size that I am while working on putting a bit more focus on my wellness as well. Our little peanut is trying to be very independent these days. Don't feed her, she can feed herself! She doesn't want your hand on her dippy cup, as she has two hands thank you very much😀 She is no long using her soother to smooth, but rather an instrument to make noise by banging another object; or a chew toy when necessary! She is a wiggle worm that makes dressing her and changing her bum an acrobatic workout, and she is on the move non stop! The only way to get her to sit still is on her terms and usually involves food. This week she and mommy are going to try running together in the stroller. She lives going for walks and when we test drove the stroller today for a short run it was good (but way more effort for mom!). She has been waking up screaming and needing a by extra comfort to settle. Not sure if this is because of teeth, growing pains, or nightmares. Tomorrow she starts her first day of her new daycare. We looked at more houses today and think we are getting closer to finding the right one for us. My little peanut is becoming a little girl!! In the last 6 weeks she has been in daycare she has blossomed from baby girl to little girl! She no longer wants to drink from a bottle during the day nor eat from a spoon. She wants to feed herself and drink from a normal cup. She is crawling everywhere, finds the tiniest spec of dirt on my floor, and climbing up anything she can to stand tall. She laughs, grunts, points and screams delight. She also knows how to show her displeasure and signal she's exhausted. I have stopped pumping during the day at work as she isn't drinking the milk anyways. We still nurse morning and night and she has resumed night feeds as she isn't drinking during the day except water. Next week we will be starting her at a licensed childcare centre. She will be with 4 other little humans ranging from 15 mo to 4.5 yo. I am excited for her to get to explore learning through others and know this is the best route for everyone involved. We will keep our eyes and ears open as a French emersion daycare may have a spot for her in September which would give her a head start for school (we plan on doing French emersion). In the meantime we enjoy our weekends. Last weekend we had a girls weekend in Brandon for a friends wedding shower. It was a quick trip as always and I didn't get to see everyone I wanted :(. Trips always go by too fast especially now that o have less than 48 hours to drive there and whatnot. We have matching outfits and smiles. We also enjoy grocery shopping together! She enjoyed showing off her crawling skills to her great aunt and uncle. She sadly also got her first heat rash:(. Thankfully she recovered quickly thanks to coconut oil! We spent lots of time with grandpa john and we're happy to return home to daddy:) How did 3/4 of a year fly by already?? Sadly I know this remaining three months will also fly by and soon enough my peanut will be a year old! I remember getting this cabbage patch wig at Christmas and Julianne not fitting it at all! At this rate she will be too big for it once the snow flies again! I have so enjoyed being a mom but am loving the balance being back to work is providing me. I crave routine and enjoy people interaction. Plus, I enjoy working! I don't mind the commute and Julianne and I have found a routine. Chad is awesome as when he is home in the evenings he does bed time routine so I can go for a walk or run and have some me time. Unfortunately like all good things comes challenges. I truly believe things happen for a reason and so we are currently looking for full time licensed child care. Our current sitter is fabulous but has had some u foreseen circumstances arise causing us to help her find balance. We are also tentatively homeless come July 20. Before you get too concerned we have clauses in our dad contract that when their subject tos are completed we have two weeks to secure our accommodations. Whew! So I am sure the perfect house is out there and we have found a few we like and one we love (if only it wasn't half a million!). Yikes! One thing for sure is I don't want to be house poor. So that's it in a nut shell. Julianne is teething like crazy and more lovey these days. She's trying to stand up and crawling like a machine! She is so fast I can't leave the room even for a second un less she is contained in her crib or high hair as she is into everything. Just like her mama was ! Happy Mother's Day weekend to all my fellow mamas out there! I sure am spoiled this year with love! Yesterday I had a massage - not relaxing but it worked out the kinks in my neck and hips. Then today I went for a brisk walk with my neighbour to catch up over coffee and then chad watched Julianne so I could meet up with two fellow mamas at thermea spa in the city. This place is awesome! I highly recommend going and the only thing that would have made it better was being sunnier out and having chad there ! I'll have to take my mama to thermea when she is out next time! It's a full afternoon affair and transplanted me into vacation mode. Even with the city traffic and rush hour I still feel relaxed! Ah it finally happened after what seems like a long 8.5 months!! Julianne slept 10 hours without waking or feeding this pastFriday night! Thankfully I went to bed at 10 so I got 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep for the first time since well - a year ago I'm sure! She has been down to one night feed for the past week. She is eating a ton, having bowel movements daily (a first for her) and she is firmly in size 9 month clothing now. She also is wearing size 3 diapers! My little bean is growing up! I have enjoyed spending all weekend with her - we did family fun yesterday doing errands first and then visiting my gf Melanie and then having a dinner date night at lovers. Julianne enjoyed chomping on a rib bone Then we managed to go through all her clothes and organize into sizes and prep the switch over from 6 to 9. I was worried we wouldn't have enough but we have a decent amount of summer appropriate 9 month clothes between new and slightly used. Today was prep day for the week but chad watched j while I got in a sleep in. We then went for a walk at the park as it was so nice out. Julianne loves eating and trying new things - today she had pasta and apple chunks (not puréed). She likes to feed herself so I made more yogurt drops for her for this week at childcare. Another busy week ahead but only a 4 day work week as I am heading to the spa Friday for a ladies day:). I'm uber excited and happy and I'll have sat and Sunday still with j and chad. Life is wonderful! I couldn't be happier and I think I've found my home away from home. Last week seemed to fly by and I think in part because I am comfortable being at work as I like it there and I know Julianne is in fabulous hands! I then capped off the week with having some ladies over to check out a friends new business called thirty one. Saturday we cleaned the house and did chores so Sunday we could enjoy family and friend time at the park having a bbq! This week proves to fly by and finding balance is easier than I expected! Yesterday I went for a run while chad put Julianne to bed. Today at lunch I played mini golf with my coworkers:). Then snuggled my Julianne and spent one on one time while chad worked late. Tomorrow I'll run in the evening and walk at lunch. I think the biggest thing I've learned since going back to work is its possible! So today was day two of being back to work. Yesterday I was beat tired as getting up at 6am after two night feeds was tiring and then working all day plus the commute and pumping milk four times in a day was more than I have done in a long time! But I loved it! I love my baby but I've never been good at staying at home (hence Julianne being on five round trip flights in her 8 months). I am a workaholic who now has to find that work life balance and quality of life human resource staff and unions are always talking about. Today was another great day and even though Julianne woke up at 4 am happy playing in her crib until 445 and then wanting to stay up until 645 am meaning I was up pretty much since 4 am I am still buzzing from the high of working today and how happy I am to be at an office that support work life balance and the style of worker that I am :) That being said I love and embrace my morning snuggles and feeds with Julianne and even snuck over to feed and cuddle her at lunch time. Tonight we had a fun time at dinner dancing and playing with avacado. She fought going to sleep but her rosy cheeks and extra snuggles might be those bottom teeth finally coming in (she won't even let us see her gums without a serious fight these days as she is mighty protective of them!) Tomorrow is bath night which her and I love! She gets pretty wired up from baths so it'll be a right after dinner event for us but since daddy will be at the jets playoff game it'll be mommy and baby girls night to enjoy each other's company and extra cuddles mid week! Thankfully her care provider is only looking after Julianne during the day while her girls are at school so Julianne gets lots of cuddles. Today she even introduced Julianne to my lentils I made for her and she liked them! |
Archives
December 2016
Kate MoirMy daughter was born August 22 2014. She's my little peanut brittle, ninja, smiling eyed beauty. Her dad and I have been together since 2009 and married since 2012. We have two dogs and live in blistery Manitoba. This is the story of us raising our little blessing and the lessons along the way! Categories |