Boring Weekend

We didn't really do anything productive at all this weekend. I've got a head and chest cold, so I'm taking it easy. Noah and I did go for a walk Saturday night though, and something magical happened: It started to snow in Seattle. It's not unheard of, but it definitely doesn't happen often in the city so it feels like something out of a storybook, and not like the annoyance that we have come to see it as out east. That said, Noah didn't care.

I got really excited and started to dance around and catch the snowflakes and Small Human may as well have been a teenager out with his highly embarrassing mother. He's probably too little to care but his indifference was hilarious!

Not having any plans at all is the worst. We were supposed to go to our little friend's first birthday party on Saturday, but I started to get progressively worse, so we stayed home. (Sad!) Then Sunday we pretty much stayed inside all day as well, even though we had planned to go out for dinner. Boring. As. Heck. Small Human likes being cooped up about as much as I do, so naturally he started to freak out by late afternoon. At least I'm being responsible and staying inside instead of spreading my germs all over Seattle? No, that still doesn't make me feel better about it.

I never thought I would ever look forward to Mondays as much as I do now. Then we can get back to our usual mommy and baby routine. Oh man, motherhood is weird. Here's hoping I'm less of a vessel of sickness tomorrow. Somebody pass the Vicks and sing me Soft Kitty please.

Here's a gratuitous picture of the Small Human, doesn't he look like a big boy here?!

The Things You Do

It's Thursday night and my husband is out for his weekly game night, while I am at home eating baby snacks for dessert. I realize this is not even remotely close to the most exciting thing you've ever heard in your life, but I thought I'd put that out there anyway.

Eating baby snacks on purpose was the last thing I would've pictured myself doing in my future, and if you plan on being a mother someday, I can tell you now that you will too. At least they are cool, freeze-dried snacks. Astronaut food!

No but seriously, as a mother you will eat everything that your kid doesn't or won't eat, it's inevitable. As it turns out, Small Human is a picky eater. I figured this out the other day when we were eating quiche for lunch. I knew he liked it, which is why I served it at his birthday, but I had no idea just how much. He ate almost as much as momie did.

He was totally fine afterwards too, he didn't puke or burp or act like he had overeaten. What the heck? Had we been starving him all this time just cause he didn't like what we were giving him? We give him pretty much all our food to try, and since everything is new to him it could go either way. Honestly though, most of the time, it's a no.

This is why I am currently eating freeze-dried strawberry yogurt melts. I think his pickiness is also why he always seems to be hungry. That day he ate all the quiche, there was no constant begging for food, he just played for a solid two hours.

Now I just gotta figure out what this kid will seriously chow down on. I gave him the awesomest mac 'n cheese the other day shaped like BUNNIES and he looked at me like I was serving him dirt.

Challenge accepted, Small Human, momie will prevail. Have yourselves a wonderful weekend everyone, stay toasty!

My Crappy Parent Moment

I really wanted to go to the big parade to welcome the Seahawks home and celebrate their Super Bowl victory on Wednesday morning. Seattle just happened to get a cold snap, and in the Pacific Northwest a cold snap means temperatures around the freezing point. I know, everyone else just laughs at us for that, what with your huge snow and ice storms this winter. But seriously, for us, that is ridiculous and unheard of.

Being from Quebec, I'm aware of how to dress for extreme cold weather. I thought I was dressing Noah properly in:

a night diaper for extra absorbency
sleeveless undershirt onesie
short sleeved onesie
leggings
jeans
high collared sweater to cover his neck
winter coat with hood
hat with ear flaps
cotton socks
wool socks
boots
fleece mittens
Seahawks jersey

That all seems fine, right? Well, we started to walk downtown at 10:25, got there at 10:50, met up with some friends and headed for the parade. It was intense. The energy, not the cold. Everyone was so happy and many in the crowd were pretty baked since marijuana is legal in Washington state. There was plenty of cheering, chanting and crazypants loud music. I'm glad we brought headphones cause Noah slept from home all the way downtown and through the loud music.

Anyway, it was a rush and you could just feel the emotions in the air! The parade was supposed to start at 11, but by 11:30 nothing had happened as far as we could tell. We were a few blocks from the start of the parade, but not too far. By 11:40 my toes started to go numb. If my toes were numb, what about tiny little Noah??

This is when Noah started to squirm and whine. He didn't want a bottle, or snacks, or to be held, or to be on the ground. Then he started to cry real tears and scream. My Small Human isn't like this in public (anymore) which meant something was wrong.

Naturally, my first thought was, "Oh shitty shit, I let the baby get frostbite!". I tried to hide my panic, and my sweet friend Robyn obliged my immediate need to be indoors. As soon as we stepped inside, Noah was fine. I was freezing him! :(

When I took his mittens off, I just about stood up and rushed to the hospital because his little baby hands were purple. PURPLE. I warmed them between my hands and he was fine within minutes, snacking on cheesies, running around with Carmen and wreaking havoc at the Washington Athletic Club. I still felt like I won the Loser Mommy of The Year Award and it's only the beginning of February.

I know the grandparents are probably horrified reading this right now, but he's fine! He's alive, he's happy, he does not have frostbite.

We still had a great day, despite the constant baby setbacks that occur when you try to go out and actually you know, do things.

Before the havoc-wreaking

Enjoying the basketball court

Brushing out all that hat hair. He got the hang of it later the same afternoon . :)

See? He's fine.

Nap Time Frustration

I have been trying unsuccessfully, all afternoon to get my Small Human to take his afternoon nap. It is now 5:15pm on a Tuesday and he is howling because I've left him in his crib.

I am feeling so frustrated right now, that it's better that we are in different rooms. I just wanna yell at him and spank him, but I'm not going to do that. He won't understand that mommy is experiencing impatience and anger, he'll just feel confused and scared probably. Also, I would rather burn alive than ever hurt him.

The thing is, if he doesn't sleep now, he will have such a fitful sleep later. That is all I am trying to avoid here. I am going to lose my marbles. Every time he cries, it's like my energy gets siphoned out through my heart. After six minutes pass I cave in.

When I went to get him he just melted into my arms like we were one person. He giggled in that hiccuppy way kids do after they've been crying really hard. How can I deny him the basic need of being comforted and loved by his mama?

OMG I just had an epiphany. The poor kid is clearly transitioning out of his baby double naps and into his one toddler nap. Right? Wait, how do you even do that? Now I wish I had paid closer attention to that annoying mom I met who was obsessed with consolidating her kid's nap time.

If you have any tips or tricks, I'm all ears. Or eyes, as the case may be.

How am I supposed to discipline this hilarious astronaut one day?! 

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My Monday

I know that I have laid out a general daily schedule before, and kinda tell you what I get up to every day, but I thought I'd be really specific and break down a regular old boring day without social engagements. Every day is important. I'm not trying to be witty or funny, it just is what it is, and it's not an instruction manual on how to live your life as the SAHM of a one year old.

What I Did on Monday:

9am: Wake up, Brendan pours me a cup of coffee. I sit at the breakfast table with the boys and help Noah eat his breakfast.

9:30: I clean up the kitchen, wash the dishes, wipe down the table and high chair while Noah drinks water, plays and "reads".

9:45: Finish up my coffee and message some friends on FB.

10am: I play with/sing/dance/hug/kiss Small Human. He has a poop. We brush our teeth.

10:15: Bath time, singing, moisturization time, change of clothes.

10:30: We read a book, pet Toby, I sing and Noah falls asleep at 10:45.

10:45: I wash my face, put on some BB cream and highlighter, curl my lashes. Mascara. I clean my earrings cause they've lost their sparkle.

11am: I eat leftovers for "brunch", and make a to do list. I spray down the kitchen counters and mop floor.

11:15: A package arrives and I put things away and get the recycling ready to go out.

11:30: Reply to Brendan's email about forgetting his glasses at home. I can't find them anywhere.

12pm: Found the glasses and Small Human has woken up. Diaper change. He eats various lunch foods.

12:30: I try to trick Small Human into sitting still while I trim his nails because he just scratched the crap out of my leg with his deadly fingernails that I just trimmed on Friday. He makes up for his squirminess by giving me kisses over and over!

12:45: I put proper clothes on to go out while Noah plays with the yoga ball in the bedroom and steals my foot cream off the nightstand. I give my ponytail a quick comb through, and get Noah dressed for the semi cold Seattle day. Small Human clucks like a chicken, we giggle.

1pm: We are finally out of the house even though I had to go back twice to get my sunglasses, and then the recycling I had prepared.

1:15: We walk to the park and it is SO windy and freezing that we head up to the post office instead to mail out packages.

1:30: Go to Walgreens to run errands. (toothpaste, AAA batteries, etc)

1:45: Go to the grocery store to buy organic carrots with tops for the bunnies, and ingredients for dinner tonight. (open faced hamburgers I saw on Pinterest)

2pm: Stop by Starbucks for a much needed iced caramel macchiato. Visit my favourite baristas on earth. Noah's starting to look drowsy.

2:10: We head over to the other big grocery store because they have the sparkling juice I like. I buy the name brand and generic brand to test the difference since the name brand is two whole dollars more expensive.

2:15: I manage to avoid crazy people yelling on the street and head home.

2:20: I get the stroller laden with stuff up 8 steps into the apartment, pop Small Human out who has fallen asleep clutching a Mum-Mum, get him out of his coat and hat and into his crib to nap.

I briefly worry that he has hypothermia because he hasn't gone down that easily for a second nap in weeks.

2:30: Put away the groceries and the stroller. Check the mail. Wash the pot I had soaking in the sink. Dust living room.

2:45: Start writing this blog post, simultaneously message some friends, have my third glass of water for the day.

3pm: Put new batteries in Noah's microphone toy that he has played with to death. (Thanks Tita Nini!) Pick up all of Small Human's toys and books and put them away.

3:15: Lay Valentine cards out on the table. Hopefully get a few done. Put away dishes. Water orchids. Try on the shoes that just arrived in the mail. I think I'm exchanging them, but Zappos is awesome so it'll be easy.

3:40: Realize that I am starving to death and make myself a sandwich. I also plan to eat a cupcake.

3:45: Noah wakes up, starts violently screaming until I dance and sing when I come to get him. Diaper change.

3:50: Noah steals my peanut butter sandwich. I try to get it back by offering him vegan food snacks. It works. We snack in peace. I play some jams on Pandora.

4:15: I run the dishwasher and Noah makes out with it and starts to drum on it with a pot lid, I take the pot lid away and give him a drumstick. He is cool with the switcheroo. We have some milk and sing songs and dance for a while until he gets bored with me and plays with Tidbit.

He plays independently throughout the house for 45 minutes until he poops. Bugging Tid; visiting the dishwasher; playing with his reflection in the oven door; reading his library books; sitting in and standing on his chair; looking out the balcony doors at the people and cars and birds; All the while, talking and laughing to himself and to me, and playing music on his microphone that he must've missed while it was out of batteries.

Meanwhile I blog, message friends, pin some things on Pinterest. I change his poopy diaper, which is really yogurt-y. His diaper pail is getting full but I'm going to push it another day.

5pm: I start thinking about dinner, re-read the recipe and execution, modify recipe. Recipe is making me hungry, so I have another snack. Start second guessing my dinner choice and consider just going to Dick's Drive-In.

5:10: Throw the towels in the washing machine. We head out for a short walk in the remaining sunshine because Noah is bored and has started to do all the things he isn't supposed to do, like touch my bicycle, pull out plugs, and pour water over himself and momie.

5:30: We are back home because it was freezing cold outside. I turn on the tv and put some Doctor Who on in the background while we read Small Human's favourite books of the moment. Noah dances to the opening music, imitates Donna Noble's noises.

6pm: Dinner time for Small Human, change into pajamas, he farts and laughs hysterically, then more independent play while I throw the laundry in the dryer and get dinner ready. I always feel a bit anxious when trying a recipe for the first time.

6:45: Noah gets his night bottle, starts a game of  "Chase Me Momie" while I cook.

7pm: Noah begins to get whiny and clingy. I stop cooking and snuggle with my babe, brush his teeth, put on a night diaper (his old one was poopy!), nearly break the diaper pail cause it's full. Reluctantly change the bag, while Noah cries because I've stopped paying attention to him. I stick him in his sleep sack.

I turn down all the lights, turn off the tv, we read 3 books. I hold him close to my heart, sing some French lullabies, tell him good night and he goes to sleep.

7:20: I turn the tv back on, clean up the living room which is littered with toys and books.

7:25: Return to the kitchen. The cipolline onions I attempted to caramelize have mostly been charred. Blerg. At least the recipe didn't call for it, I was just being fancy. Put the hamburgers in the oven.

7:45: The open faced burgers are amazing. Glad I modified the recipe to make it my own. Add heirloom tomatoes and a bit of mayo before serving and it's perfection!

8pm: Brendan comes home. We chillax and hang out until we've digested. He loves the open faced burgers!

9:45pm: Attempt P90X. Brendan breaks a water glass.

10pm: P90X disappeared from our hard drive. We do random free P90X 35 minute workout on Youtube.

10:15: Noah wakes up cause we're being loud about the ab exercises. Pause P90X for 5 minutes.

11pm: I swore I would make at least one Valentine, but I am now nauseous and sleepy. Will shower in the morning instead, too tired now.

11:05: brush teeth, exfoliate face, bed. Finish post.

Exeunt. Scene. 

We Are The Champs

We had a really great weekend! We celebrated our friends baby's impending arrival and their sweet new house, and I don't know if you've heard, but our local sports team won a victory yesterday. 

No big deal, the Seattle Seahawks just won THE SUPER BOWL. I gotta say, it's pretty exciting and super fun to be the winning team!

I love the camaraderie it inspires and the shared jubilation of an entire city of people. The energy is so positive and invigorating! It's especially cool to share a name with the star quarterback, Russell Wilson. 

Noah and I, along with our friends are going to celebrate with the rest of Seattle at the parade on Wednesday morning. It's going to be bananas.

When Small Human and I walked downtown two weeks ago, we got cheered, high fived and hollered at happily just because Noah had his Seahawks jersey on. I can't imagine what it's going to be like this week! 

That reminds me, I have to go wash his jersey cause it's covered in guacamole and what is probably boogers.

GO HAWKS! 

It Caught Up To Me

The stress of being a stay at home mom has finally caught up to me. I think the last straw was reading yet another blog post by a mommy blogger about how mundane life as a mom is. I find this really insulting, because I try really hard every day. Some people might not find it as fun or rewarding, but I do.

Only now I'm starting to feel like my life sucks. I'm tired. I'm tired of cleaning up after people. I'm tired of digging out dried, caked on food from the crevices of a high chair. I used to love cleaning. I'm tired of Small Human fighting his sleep. I'm tired of organizing and putting things away. I'm tired of cooking and washing dishes. I'm tired of trying to figure out why my baby is whining and how I can help him be happy again.

I am just sick of it and now I feel like a bad person because I'm supposed to be grateful that I have all of these things, because this is just life.

People mistakenly believe that I somehow have all the time in the world to do things for myself and everyone, and that my life is easy breezy. I guess it just looks like all I do is hang out with a cute baby all day long, but that is not all that being a mom to a one year old entails.

Most of the time, I try to be positive about motherhood, because I really do love it. I just wish other people could be just as positive.

It can be wonderful but it can also be very difficult. I think I need a break. "But what about that 90 minute deluxe facial you had the other day?" <---- I think I need more than 90 minutes, just sayin'.