Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Cinder and Ashes!

Leo has been changing so much lately. It's quite amazing. He's putting two words together -"Eelo tootoo" when he wants to take the train, play with trains, or watch himself in a video we have on the IPhone where he's on the train. He says "mama um" when he wants to be picked up. Most of the time we still communicate as if we were speaking different languages, through pointing and naming. His vocabulary is half words, half sounds. He understands both English and French but only speaks English. He sings constantly. He dances, too. He is really able to express his feelings and desires. It's really neat to see him grow and to see his brain develop. It can be frustrating, too, because he is quite stubborn -but I love that he feels safe enough to say no. And boy, he says no a lot (actually he says "non.")

He's also in a major sleep regression phase that started right around the time we switched our clocks back. He now refuses to go to bed alone most nights, wakes up for 1-3 hours every night, and usually wakes up super early in the morning. And now he can climb out of his bed -so I can let him cry it out all I want but after 5 minutes he'll be out, open his door and play in the living room (like he did this morning) or he'll fall hard on his head (like he did tonight. Ouch). It's time for a toddler bed and it scares me -because now he's really going to be able to get up all the time. I thought sleep issues were over. Wrong! Today I was such a zombie. I was unable to have an intelligent conversation with anyone and had to look for my words all the time. I hope this phase / regression passes soon because my patience is super stretched, I must admit. Going to bed knowing you will be up in the middle of the night is not fun. Waking up with your heart beating fast because you thought you heard your baby cry (dread!) and either not being able to fall back asleep or indeed having to get up to put him back to bed... not optimal.

Apart from this sleep issue... all is well! I'm on a new diet (Weight Watchers) and will receive the 30-Day Shred DVD tomorrow. I'm excited to finally be careful about what I eat and drink and see results. Yay! Work is super busy but mostly excellent. And we have bitter sweet plans that should pan out in the next few months. Life is good!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful

Léo is napping. Joe is watching football. The dogs are snoozing somewhere. And I am relaxing, ready to make tea.

I am so immensely thankful today - for a loving husband, an adorable toddler, a loving family, amazing friends who are my extended family, and a job I really love. I am thankful for a God who loves me unconditionally and who loves others the same. I am thankful for the lessons of the past and for my dreams for the future.

I am a blessed and lucky woman.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Hard Day

Today was one of those days filled with first world problems -I say that because finally I read about Gaza and Goma in depth tonight and I know my day is awesome in comparison to any person living in these two places -and many more, actually.

This morning I dropped of Léo at daycare. He was sick yesterday and probably a bit sick still today but I dropped him off anyway because both Joe and I needed to be at work. He cried big tears when I left and ran after me saying "mama, mama." I felt pretty guilty about that -and it wasn't even 8AM. Then I just couldn't focus at work -and I had 5 meetings total, including one where I had to lead and show my A game. That didn't happen and I felt pretty defeated. I couldn't read the news, couldn't read reports, couldn't-couldn't-couldn't. Then tonight Léo was in a super tough mood all evening long and refused to go to bed until 845. He tantrumed, screamed, and cried for a good hour before I finally put him in his crib and left the room for 10 minutes. He was calmer when I picked him back up and agreed to drink his milk. He fell asleep fairly quickly and I just cuddled with him for 10 more minutes because I need to hug my baby, damnit. That extra time cuddling his sleepy and warm body made the world right again.

So rough day at home, rough day at work. I am so thankful for the upcoming 4-day weekend -and many more things, like, oh, living in a country that doesn't know war within its borders and not having to wonder whether the next bomb I hear is going to kill my baby. Reading the news tonight definitely put things in perspective!