Saturday, May 29, 2010

Toddler

It's official. Mac no longer crawls. His grandma also found him on top of the collapsed stroller trying to lever himself to the top of the cupboard (my MIL has been looking after him while I'm in labs).

She also reports that he has been learning to stack things and developed a game for himself that involved picking out different toys and taking them over to a blanket to be wrapped. He also returned a book to the bookshelf completely unprompted. He has figured out that the one remote makes the TV do things. And he is fascinated with the clock in his room, which is also an alarm clock, and which he has (accidentally) set on two separate occasions and scared the bejeezus out of us at 12:00 AM. He has also figured out that if he throws the ball, the dog will catch it and if he raspberries bath water, he can create bubbles (though he forgets not to breathe in).

In other words, where has my baby gone?!?!? Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

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Thursday, May 27, 2010

Student Life

I'm sorry I don't post more often. I'll be even more sorry in about five years when I look back and wish I'd left myself more detail. This blog is my memory box, after all. Mac is growing so quickly. He does something new, funny, terrifying and completely endearing every day. Things I want to remember.

But school, quite frankly, is kicking my ass and I have the bruised ego to show for it. See, my previous degree, a BA with Honours in English, was earned through all-nighters and plenty of bullshit, and maybe a side or two of buck-a-draft. I even worked full time. You can do that with Literature and sort of get away with it.

Nursing? Not so much. I actually study, now, even though it's not easy to find as much time as I'd like with Mac around. When I sit down I make sure it counts. I'm focussed, my notes are tidy, I draw concept maps, I read the material carefully. I've never been this mature and dedicated when it comes to school. And yet I'm in danger of flunking Anatomy / Physiology.

I'm hoping it won't come to that. I'm too proud to let it happen, even if it means I have to have even less of a social life (almost not possible - I stood up my own grandmother last week). I just have to be careful. It's a dangerous time, psychologically, with no social life, no CrossFit (sacrificed due to budget and snapped tendon), and a truckload of stress. But I'm hoping to stay on top of it, to remain calm and to, above all else, enjoy the ride. This might be the last time I get to be a student in the classic sense. And funny enough, being a student actually means more time with Mac, for which I'm exceedingly grateful.

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Monday, May 17, 2010

Dear Mac: Ten Months Old


Oh Mac'doodles. My cheeky, sun-shiny, complicated little man with your toothy smile and sparkling blue eyes and a temper that sends the dog running for the back door. I do adore you at this age. You are becoming so interesting.

  • You've started growing more hair and accordingly have started tugging at the crown of your head when you nurse to sleep.
  • You haven't gained a single pound in a month, but you're also running around so much that I'm not surprised.
  • We swear to God you said "Charlie" this morning. If you repeat it, then we will accept it; your first word was an homage to the dog. So not surprised.
  • When I'm walking you in the backpack or even in the stroller, I can't see your face but I can I see people passing me with huge grins. That's because your smile is irresistible. There's a whole lotta trouble behind that smile.
  • Face it, you're accident prone. Your head is banged up enough to match Grandpa B's (almost). You have a twoonie-sized burn on your right shoulder thanks to an incident with my hot tea. I'm so worried about you that I bought you a baby helmet and everyone is either laughing at me or shaking their heads at my cruelty.
  • With your blond hair, mischievous grin, and predisposition for dramatic self-injury, we've taken to comparing you to Calvin.
  • You are a morning person, often ready to go at 4:30AM. You are not, therefore, a late afternoon person. Holy hell, that's when I get to see the devil inside. I've taken to timing our walks for just after your last nap of the day so that I don't do something drastic like lock you in the garage. You're happy if we're moving. Bedtime is 6:30PM and God help us if we keep you up late.
  • Other than the early mornings, you're a good sleeper. Hear that? 10 months in and I'm finally calling you a good sleeper! There are still a couple of feedings a night, but they're short and you're happy to resume sleeping as quickly as possible.
  • You're turning into a good little eater, too. Tonight you downed scrambled egg 'n cheese, a jar of prunes, a half a banana, a handful of wheat puffs and stars, and half a bowl of 'yellow' soup. I sure do miss the baby poops, though, I gotta say.
  • We love to make you laugh but today you turned it around; you raspberried my cheek and I burst out laughing. You were so pleased with my reaction that you did it a couple of times. Ease up on the drool and I think you really got something.
  • Your most joyful moments involve flicking the light switch to watch the light go on and off. Any light.
  • You have seven teeth. You can motor up and down the stairs. You understand the word "no". You spend a lot less time drowning in the tub. And your walking is coming along. You are looking less and less like a baby as you move into toddlerhood.
My days are full. Very full. But I can't think of any better way to spend them.
Love,
Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma


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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Marital Conversations

TREVOR: Oh my god.
WORKING: What?
TREVOR: (laughing hysterically) You can't be serious. Our poor child.
WORKING: It's for his own good!
TREVOR: Okay, but only around the house. Not when we go to visit people. And please not around your family.
WORKING: They'd understand. They've met Mac.
TREVOR: Still....
WORKING: Look, if there's lots of people around he won't need to wear it. This is for when I'm home alone and I need to get stuff done and can't helicopter parent him. Just a little extra precaution and just until he grows into his mobility. And for outside in the yard, like on the concrete pad and steps.
TREVOR: It's just... (clicks on picture again, both reduced to fit of giggles) Oh god, that kid even looks like Mac. You know he's going to hate us for this when he's older.
WORKING: Fine, let the record show that Dad tried to preserve his coolness while Mom nerded him out for the sake of safety.

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GiST

1) Mac bear-hugging his comforter as he naps
2) Sun-shiny day
3) The fairly smooth comprehension of coronary circulation and the difference between veins and arteries (veins TO the heart, Arteries Away!)
4) Anticipation of watching House tonight with Trevor
5) Sun-shinerific day (seriously deserves two mentions. It's been raining / snowing for two weeks). Sun, sun, sun!!! I'm sun-drunk.

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Tuesday, May 11, 2010

On the Injured List... Again

"So what happened this time?" my doctor asked, peeling off my bandaging job. Mac sat still for once, wide eyed at her hijab and stethoscope.
"I put my tea on the table where it would have been out of reach last week." I didn't add that I was right there, and that I only dared to look away for half a second. Just like I looked away for half a second when he launched himself backwards off of the stairs yesterday. I barely caught him and wrenched the damaged ligaments of my wrist. My wrist was the reason I'd booked the appointment, only then the tea incident happened. Burned baby trumps wrist.
"Did you take him to see anyone?"
"Like, the hospital?"
She nodded.
"No, because his last burn was worse than this and they just told us to take him home. And the HealthLine called social services last time, so I didn't bother calling them."
"Oh yes, I remember. How did you treat this one?"
"Aloe vera gel and that non-adhesive bandaging."
"Yes, I see. Okay, I am not worried about it. You made the bandage a little tight so I would loosen it and maybe not use so much. It's only that spot on the shoulder so it doesn't really need to wrap around the entire torso like that. Also, I will give you some cream to take down any pain or itching."

I could spend more paragraphs lamenting my stupidity. But I stand by my parenting. I may be learning the hard way, but I am learning. No tea on low surfaces. No stairs unless my eyes are superglued to him. When he toddles off at full speed in that drunken Frankenstein's monster way of his, I'll be right behind him, arms open and ready for the catch. I've learned my lesson so hard that I even ordered the little dude a helmet online and he will wear it and he will be made fun of by, well, everyone. Even the dog is going to laugh at him. But dammit, I'm going to be a good parent here. For once.

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Monday, May 10, 2010

Dreams

Last night Mac slept from 10PM (which is when we arrived home from Kamsack) to 4AM. My body was so confused by this that around 2AM I reached over and tried to pick up Trevor. I kid you not.

I've decided to restart Grace in Small Things. It's such a great way to keep track of how awesome life is.

1) A walk by the lake near Duck Mountain Lodge with the in-laws.
2) Seeing where my SIL's wedding is going to be.
3) Watching Mac play with his grandpa out in the yard.
4) Watching Charlie swim like a mad otter suffering from spring fever.
5) A particularly deep conversation with Trevor on the drive home through a dark and stormy night, Mac and Charlie snoring in the back seat.

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Marital Conversations

WORKING: I'm so stiff. My neck.
TREVOR: Why are you so stiff?
WORKING: Because of my gift massage on Friday. My body is reverting back to its pre-massage state, only now I feel it. Luckily I have a book. I just have to reach it..... (struggling to pull book off of top shelf with fingertips).
TREVOR: Here, why don't you just let me get it?
WORKING: We're the same height!
TREVOR: Yeah, but I can use my penis for leverage.

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Monday, May 03, 2010

Tired But Standing

We just witnessed Mac's first ever real full-blown temper tantrum. There was lots of fake crying and scrunching of eyes and throwing of tupperware across the room (with associated flying puffed wheat) and he does this thing where he throws himself backward, hard, so his head hits the floor with a meaty thud. He lies there in a fake stun before unleashing the fake wails of fake tragic injury.

What set him off this time? I dunno; we ignored him or hurt his feelings or he's just crusty from WAKING UP AT A GOD AWFUL HOUR EVERY DAMN MORNING. Trevor and I decided 4:45 AM is just the new normal and we'd better stop complaining and adjust. Maybe we'd even start going to the 6AM CrossFit. This morning, however, was a big ol' adjustment fail. Mac is angry, we're tired, words have been spoken and CBC has been yelled at more often than usual.

I don't want to give the sleep thing too much focus anymore because I think that's what helped make it A Big Thing. And there are good signs - Mac is napping solidly during the day. He puts himself to sleep regularly with minimal crying. I dream feed him at my bedtime and he sleeps through until 3AM'ish so I'm getting five hours in a row now. Not bad. Not bad at all. I just wish we were morning people. But we'll fake it 'til we make it.

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Sunday, May 02, 2010

Marital Conversations

(Mac just crawled by carrying my socks in his mouth. Further evidence of who he takes after most. The dog, that is)

4:45 AM on Sunday morning. Mac climbs on Trevor's face and stomp-kicks Working in the neck.

WORKING: Oh. My. Gawd.
TREVOR: Do we have any baby chloroform?
WORKING: No.
TREVOR: Right. Forgot to pick some up at the Walmart Super-whatever.
WORKING: We still have recalled Tylenol and Motrin products. They're supposed to be higher than regular doses....
TREVOR: I'll just get up.
WORKING: (to Mac) Don't worry, Daddy's not leaving.
TREVOR: I'm just going to buy a pack of cigarettes. Be back later, I swear.
WORKING: Oh no you don't, buddy. If you're going to "buy a pack of cigarettes", I'm coming with you.

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Saturday, May 01, 2010

Marital Conversations

MAC: Bub-bub-bub-bub...
TREVOR: yup, those are Mom's boobs.
WORKING: Ew! Not boobs! When it's your mom, it's 'nursies'. When it's your girlfriend it's 'boobs'.
TREVOR: And when it's your wife it's 'off limits'.

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