Maddie pics

Her new favourite pasttime - destroying the tupperware cupboard.

She LOVED the pumpkin patch. It was cold, windy and raining - she's having a blast.

Yeah, we had to do it.

This is today - she came home from daycare having made her first craft.  I was so proud I thought I would burst.  Her little scribbles on that hat made me ridiculously happy.  She was clearly quite proud of herself as well!

First thing she does when we get home from daycare?  Goes and grabs the catfood and tries to fill up their dishes.

xxoo.S

The guilt

I'm still finding it difficult to get used to this working from home gig.  While I know that I was a solidly efficient worker at the various previous jobs I held, no one ever works ALL the time.   I spent time on personal emails, looking at various websites that were not work-related, and just chatting with coworkers.  In fact - if you look at that, and add on an hour for lunch - it probably adds up to at least 2 hours of non-productive time each day (if not lots lots more on those days where you just didn't feel like doing any work).

But now, as I drop Maddie off at daycare everyday, and come back home, I get SUCH feelings of guilt if I'm not working 100% the entire day.  Because the thought goes through my mind - just who do you think you are?  Having someone else take care of your child while you fritter away valuable time at home?  

And being the procrastinating, deadline-driven worker that I am, I often do my best, most efficient work as time is winding down (i.e. late afternoon, or hours before a project is due).  Why am I like that?  I don't know - always have been though and I don't see it changing anytime soon. But of course, that means that a lot of my mornings, while working from home, are spent wracked with guilt.  Guilt that I should be working.  Guilt that I'm paying someone to watch my child while I chat on the phone with a girlfriend.  Guilt that if I wasn't working, I should at least be doing SOMETHING (washing the floors? ironing clothes? I don't know - but I can say in the past, my house is always at it's cleanest when I'm working on a big work project - see, I can channel my procrastination so it's somewhat productive).

So here I am.  Writing a blog post about it.  And feeling guilty...

xxoo.S

She's a weirdo

Our newly mobile (walking around CONSTANTLY) child is now developing randomly odd habits.

The latest being, she likes to try to put her own bib on.  She goes into the drawer where the bibs are kept, pulls one out and then positions it under her chin and walks around with her head down (chin keeping the bib in place).

We got a video of it, but I'm not sure it really conveys just how (hilariously) weirdo this is.

I love that she totally looks like Seth, but when it comes to personality, she is clearly taking after her weirdo Mommy...

xxoo.S

1 yr stats

We had our 1 yr doctor's appointment today. After searching for parking for ages and ages, we arrived at the office just on time, and it was packed! Apparently they were running late, which meant Maddie got to play with the doctor's office grungy toys for almost a full 45 minutes before her name was called.

She also walked around, charming people with her smile and Flirty McFlirt. That's right, she's almost exclusively walking at this stage. A lot of reinforcement from both me and Alexise (daycare provider) - telling her to "stand up!" when she'd start to crawl. So now she usually tries to get around by walking (and falling). She also likes to use her walker lots still - but that's okay - as long as she's not crawling. That's for baaaaaabies!

Anyways, Maddie's name was finally called, and in we headed for the dreaded 1 yr check up. She was weighed and measured - 27-3/4 inches tall and 18lbs 4oz. Still smack dab in the 25th percentile. She's just a tiny one. Everything else is good and apparently she's progressing on as she should be. Then it was time for her shots - the nurse opted to give them to her in her arms, since she was walking - and her thought was that making her legs hurt might put her off walking. My thinking was her legs are bigger than her arms, so it would hurt less in her legs. But apparently I was wrong.*

I had to literally hold her down (to ensure, as the nurse so eloquently put it, that the needle didn't break off in her arm) while she got her shots. And holding down a 1 year old - regardless of being tiny or not - is not easy. Especially after the first shot. She was like a tazmanian devil. A MAD tazmanian devil.

So that's that. We're done with doctor's appointments and shots until 15 months. Boo.

xxoo.S

*As so many nurses in my life are apt to tell me. ;)

A fun weekend

This past weekend seemed to go by in a bit of blur - but a fun blur, not a omigodwhenisitgoingtoend blur - which is a nice change from all the sick/teething/bumrash weekends we seem to have endured recently.

After being in daycare on Tues, Wed and Thurs, Maddie got a break from it and hung out with Mommy on Friday.  She slept in a bit that day, we lounged around after breakfast, went outside to play for an hour before lunch, and by then she was sleepy.  (Side note: we're doing the transition from 2 naps to just one nap a day - tyring to get her used to going to sleep after lunch as that's what they do at daycare, so why not try and make the schedule work in both households, right?)  She took a nap at noon, was up again by 2pm and out we headed to get some errands done at the store, played outside a bit more and that was that really for Friday.  

On Saturday Seth had baseball all morning, while Maddie and I cleaned up around the house.  Well, she played and splashed in the toilet (ewww), and unrolled the toilet paper (annoying), and pulled on the vacuum cord (ummm, dangerous), while I ran around trying to get some shit done.  Then we had lunch and I put her down for her nap.  Three hours later (and starting to run late on the whole, "go see Daddy play his last baseball game before heading out to a birthday party" plan for the afternoon) I just started slamming around and doing my best to rouse sleeping beauty.  It worked, she got dressed for the party and we headed out the door.  Of course we didn't make it in time to see any of the baseball game, but we got to visit with all the tall baseball boys, who Maddie of course flirted with and charmed the "sox" off (haha - sorry, too punny!).

Then we headed to her first little kids' birthday party.  She wasn't the youngest there, but of the mobile ones, she was.  And it's funny to see how she deals with being in a busy, kid-filled situation.  Pretty much like I think I used to.  She ignores the other kids and heads into the other room to play quietly by herself until she feels comfortable, then comes out and kinda plays around, but really sticking pretty close to Mommy and/or Daddy.  

It doesn't really bother me that she's not one of those kids getting in there, into the thick of it all.  Probably because I get it.  I still hate being forced into a group situation where I don't really know anyone.  I'm much better at hiding my uncomfortable-ness and acting all social and outgoing.  But I'm secretly cringing and hating every minute of it.

And that's why I'll never be that mom that says, "Oh go on Maddie.  Go play with the other kids.  Be social!"

Sorry - tangent.  So we had our bday party and I have the cutest pics of Maddie sitting at the table "like a big girl" with a party hat on her head and eating spaghetti like everyone else.  She was so happy and proud of herself sitting there it almost made me cry.

I should also mention that we had a weekend growth spurt on our hands - so we could, literally, not fill the child up.  She just kept eating.  And eating.  Andeatingandeatingandeatingandeating.  It was bananas.  And I more than once pulled out the line, "Where the heck are you putting it all?  Do you have a hollow leg?".  Yes, I've turned into that cheesy adult with the corny lines I used to roll my eyes at.  Sweet.  Now I really am a grown up!

Wow - another tangent.  Okay - so back on track ... After the bday party was over, it was time for the adults to enjoy themselves a bit.  We played a bit of Wii.  Drank a bit of wine.  Watched a bit of SNL.  And another newsworthy event?  Maddie slept. Through. It. All.  Upstairs in her playpen, just slept away like she did it all the time.  Awesome.  Our social life is officially on an upswing.

On Sunday morning Seth had another baseball game, which Maddie and I tried to actually make this time - unfortunately we made it just in time to see them lose the game by one run.  Harsh.  So instead of spending the morning in the fresh air at the ballpark, we did the next best thing.  Headed to the nearest McDonald's and initiated Maddie on the art of the Big Breakfast.  And holy shit, did she love it.  Couldn't get enough of the sausage, we eventually just stopped giving it to her.  And so smiley and happy and proud of herself sitting in the highchair and looking around at all the other people smiling and commenting on just how much of a cutey she is.  Yes, she was in her element.

After a big long afternoon nap (and a lounging afternoon for Seth and I), Maddie headed out to Uncle Greg's with Daddy to watch some late afternoon football, while I got myself ready and headed into the city for my date with the Goddess of Pop.  Yep - the Madonna concert.  It was good times - and I had lots of fun getting out of the house for a little girlie fun.  Although, when I got home, I have to admit it was nice to hear that Maddie had already woken up for her bottle and apparently was asking for me by name "Mam-mam-mam-mam".  How adorable is that?

So that was our weekend - hope you all enjoyed yours just as much.

xxoo.S

Happy October!

Isn't that just the cutest pic?

xxoo.S

It's a bit lonely

Working from home is a bit harder than I thought it would be.  Trust me, I'm not complaining.  I know I've got it good.  I'm lucky.  All that jazz.

But it is harder than I expected.  It's far easier to be distracted (just ask my fridge, it sees the light of day more often than I'd like to admit).  And it's far easier to procrastinate (as you just have to flip on the tv during "lunch" and then look up and an hour has passed.

And it's kinda lonely.  I talk to people on the phone, yes.  But really, at the end of the day, it's just me sitting at my computer and working in a silent house (silent because anything else is distracting and/or leads to procrastination).

It's only the 2nd week, it is was a short week at that - so the schedule isn't quite "there" yet.  We'll see.  I'm sure I'll get used to it.

At least Maddie and Seth are getting nice home-cooked dinners.  And the house is staying clean.  And the laundry is getting done.  Those are definitely all bonuses that I'm not overlooking.  And hey - who's the superwoman that's working + cleaning + cooking all at the same time?  Oh hey, it's me.  Gooooooooo me!

xxoo.S

Maddie's Year in Review

I wanted to do a year in review - but instead of trying to recap each month, I'm just going to let the pics speak for themselves...

Her first hour - October 9, 2007:

Stretched out sleeping - Oct '07 (1st month):

Already a Daddy's girl - Nov '07 (2nd month):

Her first sit on Santa's lap - Dec '07 (3rd month):

Happy after her bath - Jan '08 (4th month):

Snow angel - Feb '08 (5th month):

First taste of solids - Mar '08 (6th month):

Sitting up now - Apr '08 (7th month):

Leaf's fan (getting pudgy) - May '08 (8th month):

World traveller!  Ireland - Jun '08 (9th month):

Canada's Wonderland - Jul '08 (10th month):

Loves her books - Aug '08 (11th month):

Mischevious - Sept '08 (12th month):

Birthday Girl!  Oct '08 - One Year Old:

xxoo.S

I'm thankful for...

• Being blessed with an amazing, supportive, fun-loving family.
• Having a great group of friends, old and new, that come from so many different areas of our lives.
• Living in a fantastic house that I still can't quite believe that we live in, although I am getting more and more used to it (and looking forward to renovation season!)
• Finding a way to work from home, for however long I'm able to, so that I can spend a bit more time with my little girl as she grows up so fast.
• And of course - for a loving, laid-back, down-to-earth husband who is the perfect complement to my neurotic, high-strungedness.  And for an adorably smart, gorgeous, loving little girl who has made our lives much more rich by just being here.

xxoo.S

PS - pardon the cheese - but hey, it's Thanksgiving.  What are you thankful for?

A fever and some new slippers!

Well, Maddie had another first along with her first birthday yesterday - her first fever!  I dropped her at daycare in the morning and she had felt warm, but when I had taken her temp she hadn't registered over 37.3 (like 99 degrees Fahrenheit?).  I asked Alexise (our daycare lady) to keep an eye on her and to give me a call if she thought she was getting any warmer, I would come pick her up.

She called me at noon to say that she was acting fine, but that she was getting warmer - registering a fever of just 100 at this point.  I knew she'd be fine if I left her - but I figured, she would sleep easily here, and that if she was feeling crappy, she definitely needed her sleep - so off I went to pick her up.

I only got about an hour and a half nap out of her, then she was up for the rest of the day and totally dragging!  I gave her some tylenol and tried to keep her up as long as I could - but by 6 she was ready for her bath (more than an hour earlier than what we usually do).  Before her bath I took her temp again and this time it was 38.6 (around 101.5 f), so I gave her more tylenol and she was tucked away in bed before 7pm.  I had to wake her up around midnight to give her a bottle (as she refused it before bedtime) and she felt sooo hot at this point.  I wiped her head with a cool washcloth and put her back down to sleep.  She was up again around 4am and I gave her some more tylenol and rocked her back to sleep - where she stayed until 8:30 this morning.  Almost 14 hours of sleep!  But the fever was gone - which is good.

From the above, sounds like I handled it like a pro, huh?  Not likely.  I was pretty scared and nervous and, I don't know, whatever it is that new Mom's go through on their first time with a feverish baby.  And with Seth in Montreal the past few days - well, let's just say it wasn't a fun night for me - but I guess whatever I did worked, because she's back to her old self today.

Oh - and she got the coolest birthday gift from Alexise, our daycare lady.  These adorably small Padraig wool slippers.  Both Alexise and her two-year-old daughter are always wearing them when I drop Maddie off, and I've made a few comments on how comfy and cute they are ... so she got Maddie a pair for her birthday - how nice is that??  Anyways - I think they may be my Christmas gift for everyone this year - they are pretty cool.

Have a turkey-lurkey weekend everyone!!!

xxoo.S

Dear Miss Maddie,

Happy birthday little one!  You are one year old today.  Exactly one year ago Mommy and Daddy were sitting on a hospital bed, staring down in wonder at the tiny little being that now ruled our life.  I remember being so afraid of breaking you everytime I touched you - and yet, I couldn't stop touching you, holding you, cuddling you.

And you still amaze me bubbs.  Just yesterday I watched you stand up on your own without any support (or coaxing from me) and I was almost moved to tears.

I just can't believe how much one little person can grow, learn and do in just a year.  You have learned so much and so have Daddy and I.  We've learned how to have a 2 minute shower.  How to get dressed in 30 seconds flat.  We've learned to enjoy eating a cold dinner, as your feeding needs come first.  We've learned to live without tv much of the time, as we're too busy playing with you.  And that a trip to the park to play on the swings can be the highlight of everyone's day, not just yours.

I look back at our life just over a year ago and am shocked at just how different it is.  Daddy has changed jobs twice since last year - all in an effort to have more flexible hours and be home more often to spend time with his little sugar pop.  Mommy is still off work, opting to work from home instead, which gives us lots more freedom and time together - at least for now, while you're still getting used to daycare.  We don't go out to dinner, rarely order in take out, and I can barely remember the last movie we went to at the theatre.  Our Saturday nights consist (maybe) of a rented video and some popcorn after we've tucked you in for the night.  And we are blissfully happy with that arrangement.  Priorities have changed, shifted, focused.  We are a family now and you made us that way.

I was going to write you a letter that highlighted a mood, feeling, or memory from each month of your life - but then I realized that is what this blog is already.  It's my diary of our lives to you.  And I hope someday you enjoy reading back over the first of hundreds of entries - as much as you may silently roll your eyes and chuckle at just how novice of a mother I once was!

So instead, I'm writing to you today about who you are right now.  An inquisitive little one year old, that flirts with everyone you see at the grocery store, park, mall.  An extremely loving, happy, laughing little girl that is also strong-willed and demanding of attention.  

You are happiest playing with your toys while either Mommy or Daddy are sitting there with you.  You absolutely love when we play games with you - chasing you around, letting you chase us, "racing" you across the lawn, hide and seek, peek a boo - you name it, if you have both Mommy AND Daddy's attention on you at once, you are laughingly, giggingly, happy!

Your sleeping is getting better, but you're still no star sleeper - and I'm guessing you may never be.  You need to be reassured at night when you wake up - maybe you don't like the dark, maybe you don't like being alone, I'm not sure.  But it's a rare night when we don't spend at least a few minutes rocking in the rocking chair and having a quick cuddle before you go back to sleep.

You're getting used to daycare and you seem to like other children, but you still won't sleep for her and rarely take a bottle from her.  But you never cry when I drop you off and you're always laughingly happy to see me when I come pick you up, so I think you like it well enough.

You are still a tiny little thing, barely wearing 12 month clothes.  Most of the 'warm' stuff I have for you is still a bit too big - but you don't seem to care, notice or  mind.  The one thing you do care about though, is your shoes.  You like to play with your shoes in your closet.  You love when we try different shoes on you.  And you really enjoy when we're out shopping for new shoes and showing you the different choices.  Never did I think that it was possible that a shoe addiction could be genetic, but you are your Mommy's and Grandma Thompson's little girl in that regard.  And we love you for it!

Your best friend right now is Simon, the kitttttyyyyyy.  You love to cuddle him, lay on him, give him hugs and kisses and more hugs and more kisses.  And he loves you too.  He wouldn't be around, sitting directly in the middle of your play area constantly if he didn't.  Although I have to say, I feel sorry for Garfy (the more timid kitty) when you start running around.  He's going to need nerves of steel very soon.

It's been a fast, but also long, year for us.  It feels like it's flown by, but it also feels like we've been doing this forever now.  I can't imagine life without you sugar pop - you are the apple of our eyes.  I hope I always remember just to enjoy the moments - because that's what this past year has been all about.  We've (both) been happiest when we're just enjoying each other, spending time together and playing.

You are a very special little girl.  We love you monkey. 

Love,

Mommy

Milestone day

Maddie stood up on her own today and took some steps, unprompted.

She stands up by sticking her butt up in the air, straight legged, and then just straightening up.  After many tries, I finally got a video this afternoon - I'll post it soon.

Such a big girl now - it's kinda crazy how fast it all happens.

xxoo.S

The partaaaayyy

So we had Miss Maddie's birthday party on Sunday - and it was a success to say the least.  My main concern was how Maddie was going to weather all the attention and people, and I'm glad we kept it small, as I think she was close to the breaking point a few times.

Everyone was very generous and there were lots of presents to open.  And Maddie was actually pretty interested in the opening presents part (with the help of her cousins, of course!).

After we finished opening presents and Maddie got a chance to play a bit (and the grownups got to eat a bit), we moved on to cake!  We stripped Maddie out of her party dress, down to her diaper, for the cake eating event - there was no way I was letting that pretty dress get ruined by the red icing!

I was pretty happy with the cake, and it was so worth all the work it was to see Maddie's face when I showed it to her.  She loves her Elmo!

We let her get a taste of icing before giving her a piece of cake with most of the icing scraped off (yes, mean Mommy) - she liked the cake, but not as much as the icing!

She had a great time at the party - and when everyone left - slept for almost 2 hours that afternoon!  

Thanks again to everyone for making the drive up for the party - it was definitely appreciated!

xxoo.S

PS - I can't believe I forgot to tell you how she looked like she was going to cry while we all gathered 'round and sang Happy Birthday.  She just kept staring at me the whole time, like "what the heck is happening mom?  please make it stop!" ... I guess it's hard to understand what really is going on at that age - luckily she got her mind off the attention by digging into the cake as soon as the singing was done ... here's a video of the action...

Playgroup pics!

Here's a few pics of Maddie hanging out with her playgroup friends...