Granola

I didn't realize what a granola-crunchin' mom I've become until this weekend! This was highlighted by two incidents:

1. We are in the middle of a potentially record-breaking heat wave in Vancouver. The temperature is hovering between 30 and 36 degrees Celsius and with the humidity feels like closer to 40. As a result, Gavin is super thirsty and is wanting to nurse very frequently. I've become very comfortable with breastfeeding since having my first baby 7 years ago. I'll feed him pretty much anywhere, anytime without a great deal of fussing over covering up. Anyway, Gavin was fussing and wanting to go on the breast, so I took him from my hubby and went to get him latched. My hubby very thoughtfully handed me a receiving blanket to cover up, as I would have done with my first two kids. However, I realized I am long past feeling the need to hide my baby's head under a blanket (which he now would just rip off anyway), especially since the thought of sitting under another layer fabric when I'm already cuddled up and nursing just about slays me! So I just got him latched and fed him as we sweated it out au naturel.

2. I can't find my hotsling! I had no idea how fond I've become of babywearing until I can't find my effing hotsling. I used it to wear Gavin yesterday, but Dave was driving so when we got back to the van I carried the sling in my hand instead of stashing it in its usual hidey-hole, and now I can't find it anywhere! Not that I'm superkeen to be cuddled up unnecessarily in this heat, but it's so handy in so many situations, not the least of which is when he's fussing to be carried around right before sleepytime and I've got other stuff I need to get done. Love the free hands!

This also goes back to my last post on touch. I didn't wear my first two kids much. I only had a Snugli that I found very uncomfortable to wear, especially since Trevor was such a huge baby. My friend Victoria, however, has had a ton of experience with different baby carriers and was such a devoted fan of them I decided to give it a try with marvelous results! Love the hotsling, though I can see that it may get a little bit uncomfortable to wear G in front as he gets heavier. I also got a cuddlywrap which I also love. It's better for around the house as it is super long and a bit more difficult to deal with tying on when I;m out and about. It's even more comfortable than the hotsling so I use that when I know I'll be wearing him for a longer period of time i.e. watching a lacrosse game.
Finally, I just ordered a babyhawk mei tai and I can't wait for it to arrive (especially since I can't find my effing hotsling)! More on that when it gets here.

How my kids might be feeling these days....

This is too funny. I spotted it on the Mommy Blog which I read regularly.

Playtime!

How's that for a getup? Ahhhh, to be five again...

We are lucky to have kids who are good at playing. As a teacher, I see more and more children who have no idea how to play because they are rarely given the opportunity or encouragement to play. Often, they are a product of too much TV and waaaaay too much time spent on video games. In a Kindergarten classroom in September, these kids are easy to spot: they're either sitting by themselves wondering where to begin or how to join in, or they're in a yelling match at the sand table because they've never had to share anything in their lives.

I don't want to sound all sanctimonious, but lately we've hardly had the TV on at all for the kids. Really, they'd much rather be playing (I can tell that they'd rather play because when they do watch tv they get bored and harangue-y all over me and each other). Now that the weather is nice we stay at the playground nearly everyday afterschool. At home, dressup and the accompanying dramatic play is a favourite pastime. Sports are a biggie at our house, too: hockey, soccer, lacrosse, tennis, golf...and less structured but just as active pursuits like skipping, riding bikes, and dancing with the music on really loud (sorry, neighbours). There are board games and card games; right now we are really working on the idea that winning isn't really winning if you cheat. There are puzzles, and dancing, and making up plays, and Lego, and .... the list goes on. There are gazillion things to do rather than plunking the kids in front of the tv.

Play doesn't have to mean enrolling in expensive programs or buying top-of-the-line toys. One of Amy's favourite things to do as a toddler was to play with a coffee can and a bunch of coloured clothespegs. She could put the clothespegs around the edge of the can, we cut a small X in the top of the plastic lid that she could push the pegs through and of course, there's the most fun: shaking the can full of pegs! It was a dirt cheap toy, and it kept her entertained long enough for me to get dinner ready.

Sure, it's a little more work for me sometimes when Trevor and Amy need me to mediate a conflict or set up some equipment. I am hoping, though, that in the long run it will pay off to have kids who are reasonably socially capable and are motivated to be active and engaged in life, rather than isolated, dull and firmly planted on the couch.

Ever wonder what mommy-guilt looks like?

...A great big stuffed purple horse. (Gavin, you look like I feel!) Let me explain...


I forgot Amy's show and tell this morning. This is not normally an issue as she is very good at remembering to bring something to share and has some interesting things to prepared to say about it, even if I don't practice it with her. The problem today, however, was that Gavin was supposed to be Amy's show and tell and, therefore, she needed me to bring him in! We were in our usual big rush this morning after blissfully sleeping in until 7:45 (thank you, Gavin, you amazing 2-month old, you!). I arrived at the school in yesterday's smelly clothes because I didn't see the point in wearing nice fresh clothes before having a shower...which I planned to do upon returning home from drop-off. Got back to the house, fed Gavin for half an hour while playing lame video games, and suddenly realized at 9:30 that I had totally forgotten about Amy's show and tell. Feeling about an inch high, I fumbled Gavin into his car seat, headed back to the school (still in yesterday's smelly clothes) for show and tell, mumbling some lame excuse about mistiming a feeding.

What about the horse, you're wondering? Later, while birthday shopping for a friend's party at Toys R Us, I bought that big, ridiculous toy for Amy, just because she asked. Which is terrible parenting. For which I have even more guilt. At least it was half price.
Nice.

Echoes

Yikes. Do you ever hear your kids talking to each other and hear yourself in their conversation? Sometimes it's positive, but sometimes it's positively cringeworthy.
I really notice it in my daughter, Amy, who's 5. Every so often, usually when things aren't going her way I can hear her frustration and impatience and know that she is echoing the way I sound when I'm stressed and impatient. Really not flattering. And I'm hearing more of it from her lately which means she is probably hearing more of it from me lately. I'm more tired and easily stressed than usual with a new baby around, and she's less secure and more stressed than usual, also partly because of the new baby and the fact that Mommy is a bit high strung these days.
I guess if I'm not crazy about her tone lately, it's time for me to get a hold of mine.

Why Vocabulary Matters

Excerpt from a conversation with my five year old while driving in the van the other day:

Me: How was kindergarten this morning?

Amy: Good. We talked about body science today.

Me: Wow, that sounds interesting...what did you talk about?

Amy: We learned about the tentacles.

Me: Hmm. And where are the tentacles, exactly?

Amy: Next to the penis on a man.

Me: (trying not to laugh out loud with that little visual in my mind), oh, was it maybe called testicles?

Amy: No, Mommy, I don't think so.