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Life as we know it

03 Saturday Jan 2015

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Our current life as we know it is about to change. Baby #2 is due in about 3 1/2 weeks.

As much as I am excited to have our little family of 4 and meet this new little guy, I have been super emotional thinking about Jack and how he won’t have our undivided attention anymore. I’ve been trying to make the most of the last couple months and spend as much time with him as I can. Things are going to change and I want to make sure that he doesn’t feel left out and ignored and still feels all the love from not only his mommy and daddy but everyone else.

Some of our daily routines have change slightly so that when the baby arrives we don’t change things too much for him. It makes me sad that I am going to have to change our morning routine where Jack normally comes into bed with us and we cuddle and laugh and be silly but the baby will be sleeping in our room for the first few months. Sleeping baby and an early rising toddler won’t really mix. Hopefully we can go back to our routine eventually though because it has been a time I cherish!

I’ve been wondering about how to introduce Jack to the baby. I’ve heard bringing the baby in the room after Jack has already had some one on one time with me although that may not be possible in the hospital. I’ve heard buying a small gift from the baby to his big brother Jack is helpful. I Would love to hear tips that have worked for others especially when young children are involved who might not fully understand what’s happening.

I’ve also been thinking about what happens when the baby gets home and people come for visits. My line has been “the baby won’t know he’s being ignored but Jack will” so I’m hoping people will pay attention to Jack first, new baby second. I also want to have a few small gifts on hand so that if a baby gift comes that Jack also has something to open as well.

I know my attention will be divided when the baby arrives so making sure I carve out time for one on one Jack time is going to be super important. He is going to be at daycare during the day so in the morning and in the evening making sure he gets quality time with both Dave and I. I know there are going to be times when we can’t just do what he wants any more and hopefully he will understand that as soon as we are done attending to the baby that we can spend that time. I think the key is not just saying “I don’t have time right now” but letting him know that as soon as I’m done feeding, changing or getting the baby to sleep or whatever it is that we can read that book, play that game etc.

I want Jack to be our little helper with respect to the baby. I think having his involvement in various baby chores will make him feel like he is important to the process.

It’s going to be a transition no doubt. For us all. But I hope to lessen the impact by easing the change as much as possible.

I really feel like Jack is going to be a great big brother. I know there are going to be bumps in the road but my hope is that they grow up to not only be brothers but friends.

Dear Sleep. I Miss You!

24 Thursday Apr 2014

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I knew I would be tired as a parent. I think anyone who thinks they are going to be this bright eyed, bushy tailed parent is being unrealistic. But I didn’t know I would be this tired. Like all the time.

I tried to sleep as much as possible when I was pregnant but it’s pretty hard when you are getting up to go to the bathroom a million times a night. Or when you wake up wondering about labour and can’t sleep because, well, the horror of impending labour and the unknown. Or just can’t sleep because you are a beached whale and so freakin uncomfortable.

I managed to get through Jack’s first weeks on pure adrenaline until I hit the wall and was a total zombie mom. That’s when I realized I needed to do what it took to survive and get some sleep which meant Jack slept with or on us pretty much all the time.

At 4 months and 15 lbs we sleep trained Jack which he took to like a champ. We implemented a dream feed and after a few weeks he was getting that night time feed but was sleeping through until 7am! Finally some sleep. Until my insomnia reared it’s ugly head. Jack was sleeping through and I was wide awake!

It seeks like it’s a cruel joke that as soon as they start getting into a good sleep pattern something throws a wrench in it.

-cutting teeth
-development leap
-first cold
-cutting another tooth
-travelling
-ear infection
-developmental leap again
-cough
-separation anxiety
-cough still
-cutting more teeth

And each time Jack started to sleep through again, I would be up in the middle of the night, thinking about finding a job, or how we are going to get him into a daycare in Vancouver or not thinking about anything in particular but just not being able to sleep.

And then Jack started his early morning wakings which he’s still doing. Oh hi 5am!! Good thing I’m used to waking up early but when you’ve been up a couple hours in the night, 5am is too early!

It’s funny (not really) that I’m writing this at 1:30am. Can’t sleep. Jack’s blissfully sleeping as is Dave next to me. It’s no surprise that after 40 years of not touching the stuff, I’m drinking coffee. That’s how tired I am.

Maybe one day, I will go back to going to bed at a big girl time but until then I am going to stick with my 8:30pm bedtime because as much as I’m tired, like all the time, I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I have Jack. And he’s worth every single sleepless minute.

My Baby is Starting Daycare!!

11 Saturday Jan 2014

Posted by in Baby, Parenthood, Uncategorized

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Our little boy is starting daycare next week. Cue tears.

I’m pretty tortured by the idea of him going. On one hand I know he is going to learn so much and have fun with the other children. But on the other hand, I feel like I’m going to miss out on so much and miss him so much.

I was supposed to be starting work in March at my previous job but I was laid off so that means I will be home with him at daycare until I find a new job. At least I will be able to drop him off late and pick him up early until I find new employment.

I know being a working mom is going to be a tough transition. I worry about the amount of time I am going to be able to spend with him. If its a 9-5 job and Jack goes to bed at 7, I probably will only have an hour or so in the evenings with him. That just doesn’t seem enough does it?

And then how do you find time to workout? Going to the gym has always been a big part of my life. I doubt I will have time at lunch since I’m hoping I can work through lunch to get off early to get home to my husband and baby boy.

I would love to hear from other moms and dads on how they manage to work, workout and spend quality time with their family. It seems impossible!