Frowing up

Last night at about quarter to 12, I heard a little voice calling for mommy. Olivia had woken up and thrown up everywhere. She was so sad about it - she tells me every time that she really doesn't like "frowing up" and i have to tell her that no one does. She has had a rash on her arms off and on for a week and I was wondering if the two were related, but she ate an enormous amount of dinner, so I think it might have been that. After cleaning her up and changing her bed, tidying up the carpet and her toys, she said she wanted to go back to her own bed, but moments later was crying for us and saying that her tummy hurt. She was pretty adamant that she was not going to throw up again, but I was pretty certain we weren't done.
She eventually climbed into bed with Al and me and laid there for a while rubbing her belly. I told her about throwing up in garbage cans and toilets and let her know if she felt sick again to tell me and we would run to the bathroom. after about five minutes i heard her breath hitch and asked if she was ok - she gave a little jump and told me we should run. We did - and we almost made it.
Poor sweet girl. It's so hard to explain to her that she should try to get it all out and to go ahead and spit everything into the bowl.
We got the second round cleaned up and she said she felt a lot better. She climbed into our bed again and was sleeping in moments and, oddly, even had a giggly moment in her sleep about a half hour later.

I cannot stand feeling so useless. I really hate frowing up too, so I can only imagine how terrifying it is for a three-year-old.

She seems to be in good spirits today, so hopefully it was a one-night thing.
Take care,
V

Rachel, meet evil Olivia

Yesterday our sitter got her first "real" taste of the other Olivia - usually reserved for Alan and I.
When Rachel brought Dan down from his nap, Olivia was coming upstairs from the basement. When they met in the kitchen Olivia started to cry because she wanted to go see Dan in his crib (she likes to greet him when he wakes from his nap)... Awww, cute, huh?
Not quite - Olivia will not stop crying. Rachel is trying everything and then asks Olivia if she wants to go upstairs to her room to try and calm down. "No." Now Olivia is getting angry and saying an arbitrary "No" to everything Rachel suggests. Rachel tells her to go to her room for a bit. "No." What to do? Rachel tries to talk to Olivia and then..."I don't like you. I'm going to punch you." WHAT???
Where did she get that? Alan and I were racking our brains last night to see if we had ever talked about punching one another in front of her... We cannot figure this one out. So, once again I sit and try to explain the rather mature concept of Threats to a three-year-old. And what does she say to me as I am explaining that we consider that really bad behaviour? "All right, all right, all right..." Grrr.
What have I been saying in front of her? I don't think punching comes from Treehouse, much as I'd like it to be the root of all evil and take the blame for me.
I admit i would have been less shocked by the f-bomb being dropped. That one definitely slips out despite a solid effort on my part to clamp down on it.
I still say she is a remarkably good child like 90 per cent of the time, although it is nice to have a third party witness our "other" Olivia for once.
Take care,
V

step by step

Hoorah!!!! Yesterday Dan took steps - not just falling step, but real steps - like five steps toward me.
I was so excited. I tried to get Olivia to be excited too, asking her if she wanted to see and getting her to clap. But when she started showing us that she could spin and dance, I realized I may have been too enthusiastic about Mr. man's walking. So she got loads of kudos for her talents too.
Take care,
V

Muddah's Day

My aunt Donna gave me a night in a hotel for my b-day, so Alan and I decided to take the kids and go to the Science Centre. The kids play area there was fun for Olivia - she splashed a little, ran a little, danced a little - all in all a really good time. Dan had fun in the toddler areas - loved the abacus. Olivia found all these little animal tracks on the floor and every time she would see a line of them, she would stop and say, "Hey! Come look! It's a mystery. I better follow them..." and off she would go. It wasn't long before she had other kids chiming in - "Hey! A mystery! Let's go look!"
After the Science Centre, we were off to find some dinner - I drove a little out of the way so the kids could have a little nap. Unfortunately that made them a little cranky when we finally decided on Boston Pizza, so they were both in poor spirits when we went in. But, after feeding Dan some crackers, he cheered up. Olivia stayed sad, saying that she was thirsty...repeatedly. I was also thirsty and, sadly, was to remain so. We waited for 15 minutes for someone to come take a drink order, but it was not to be. It was especially frustrating that there were only about 10 other people in the place and the staff was all in view at the host stand pointedly ignoring us and our stares. So we left, and it will be a loooong while before I return.
We went in search of a guaranteed hit - McDonald's, but as the hotel came into view we both agreed that room service would be a good idea. (Man, we did NOT call that one correctly, but I'm sure they'll get the pizza sauce out of the white duvets.)
After dinner, we headed down to the pool for some splashing. Dan gave some very clear signals that the pool was too cold for him. So, he and I checked out the hot tub (really just a very warm tub), while Olivia and daddy played and splashed in the pool. Dan loved the hot tub - he was wall walking all over the place.
Next was bed time. Our kids cannot sleep while we are awake, so even though they were pretty excited and it took some extra doing to get them down, we were all asleep by 10.
Pretty good night tho - one or two wake ups and i somehow ended up in the bed with Olivia at 4 a.m. The next morning we decided to take a trip to the zoo after a really nice breakfast (thanks Auntie Donna!).
The zoo was fun and it was a really nice day for it. Olivia got to see almost all the animals and Dan really enjoyed being outside. It was a great way to celebrate mom's day - just the four of us in no rush at all.
Thanks Al, Oliv and Dan!
Take care,
V

Celebrating my moms

Mom - you are easily one of my best friends. I love how we have grown together and come together. You have always been my greatest defender and ally; my trusted advisor; my leader and guide; and the bringer of laughter. Thanks mom. I love you more than can be measured.
Mom B - I cannot believe how lucky i am to have you in my life. There are horror stories about moms-in-law and i just have to marvel at our friendship and thank everything good in the world for bringing you into mine. Thank you for your friendship - and thank you for Alan, in case you haven't heard it enough - you did such a wonderful job with him. He is respectful of women, he is loyal, brilliant, kind and funny and he did not get that way on his own...
My aunties - you have all been so wonderful to me and my family. I have always felt loved and protected and comforted in your embraces.
I may be the luckiest girl.

Dan the man

For Dan, who turned one on April 22.

One year ago another light entered my heart. Dan, our little man, of the sucked-in lip and furrowed brow. The big blue eyes that do not miss a trick. Having you with me this past year has been the most wonderful adventure. Discovering the world all over again with my beautiful boy. May your life be blessed with happiness, joy and hope, as you have blessed mine with them.

Forever and always, my heart,
mommy

Olivia is such a fun big sister! I love seeing the two of them together.

Notice the look of complete adoration and worship in my daughter's eyes as she meets her first princess... Olivia was a joy to travel with to Dis-a-ney World. We had a great time - although a couple of times seeing daddy's with their sons gave me a quick heart pang. She was in good spirits the whole time (well maybe one or two moments - but only lasting about 30 seconds, so you can't complain about that!). And now she cant wait to show everyone all around the Magic Kingdom when we go down again in December.

Back at it

I am now entering week 3 of "back in the workforce" and it is a mixed pleasure. I know normally people would say a mixed blessing, but that didn't fit and I am trying to not go back and edit the way i think/write as much. So a mixed pleasure it is.
There is something to be said for adult conversation about the trivial fun stuff, about office politics and gossip and about work itself. I have been, admittedly, taking my time to get back in the swing of things here. I haven't been putting too much on my plate as i take a good long look and figure out who I am when I am here, meaning what my role will be: what projects and areas I will focus on and how to build strategies for that.
I am missing the children - but not as much as i feel other people think i should. How terrible that sounds. I am thrilled to come home after work each day. I get big smiles from both the kids and i want to hug and kiss them for hours, but while at work I find I am involved enough in actual work that I just don't miss them. Although, at the end of the day I do find myself wondering what i might be missing. I am eager to hear about their day and like the stories Olivia tells me. So, I'll feel a little guilty for a little while longer that i simply do not want to be a stay at home mom.
We sorted out our daycare woes - no spots available for Olivia full-time and no spots for Dan anywhere near our home or work routes. We found this great young woman who is coming to our house to watch the kids until September when she heads back to University and Oliv and Dan go to a daycare centre. I have spots reserved for them (I think, I hope - they are rather vague), but due to aforementioned vagueness, I am going to search for some back ups!
I cannot believe Olivia is going to go to school in September! How did that happen. She's still such a little girl - was I that young? She is starting to be very grown up in some ways and really wants to make all decisions for herself. When I came home from work last Friday, she asked if she could go next door to play with the young girl who lives there. I said sure and walked her over. "Hi Meghan," I said to our 8-year-old neighbour. "Here's Olivia come to play!" Blank stare. "Did you invite Olivia over?" (crap, sinking feeling...) "No....but she can come over if she wants..." (crap - note to self - tech Olivia about inviting...) "Great!... umm I'll call over when she should come back home." (Gah!!!) Anyway, they ended up having a lovely time playing tag, house and who knows what else.
Take care,
V