Mommy of 2...on the skytrain

After a very long absence, I am back to my blog...(for now)!
Many things have happened since my last post:
Nathan turned 1..(he's almost 16 months now) and Isabel is 4.
Viv just recently was temporarily laid off from his job so my blissful days of driving to work with my husband are now over and I am back to riding the awful Skytrain. Now riding the Skytrain is awful, but does provide me with something to blog about because you can see some very weird and interesting things on you Skytrain system.
Today I jammed myself on the train at Lougheed Station, and I found myself squished up against a cigarette smelling dude...looks about 20 something. He's got his backpack on his back (which is already annoying on a crowded train). I look at his backpack which is now pressing on the front of me and I notice that it has little red lights flashing on it. I look a little closer and see that it is a Transformers backpack (an Optimus Prime one to be precise) with little flashing lights on it. Now, this might be cool for your first backpack for Kindergarten, but really...an adult wearing a Transformers backpack? Some may think this is cool, but I say "not cool".
Now beside "Transformer-backpack-dude" is a young woman looking like she is headed to an office job downtown. She's wearing a black trench, dress pants, and is carrying a nice bag. Her hair is tied up in a ponytail and lo and behold, it is tied with a FUR SCRUNCHIE! I didn't know you could even BUY a fur scrunchie. First thing I thought was "Really? A fur scrunchie?" Now, I thought most people stopped wearing scrunchies in the 90's, but they are still selling them somewhere...and this girl bought the fur one. Now for all you fashionistas out there (because if you know me, you know I am somewhat fashion retarded), please let me know if the scrunchie is coming back in style, and I will revoke this post.

That is all for now, stay tuned for more tidbits from my journeys on the Skytrain!
-M

What is the Mommy's equivalent to golf?

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed being a "stay at home" mom the past 7 months....Although I have blogged about the stresses of mothering 2 kids, I am glad I'll have this year to spend with my 2 kids, because after my mat leave, I'll be working full time.

Now, we all know that the work of a stay at home mom is just as difficult, if not more, than our "daddy" counterparts' work. I don't know what your husbands like to do, but I have a husband that likes to golf and play hockey. While I don't want to deny him his recreational time, since he definitely deserves it. When he golfs, he enjoys 5 hours of time with his friends and no kids....when he plays hockey, it's 2 hours of time for himself and no kids. Hockey is at least once a week, and golf is usually 1-2 times a month. How I would love to have 2 hours of time by myself once a week, and 5 hours once a month...but what does a mommy do? I can think of shopping, or spa time....is there anything else?
If you have any suggestions/ideas, please post your comments!! :)
Thanks

Thank goodness for grandparents

At this exact moment, it is 10:55am, I am relaxing on my couch...Nathan is asleep, and Isabel is at "Ah-Pah" and Ah-Mah's house...(her names for her paternal grandparents). It is rare that I am lying on my couch with my laptop at 10:55am, so I am enjoying it while I can!!My FIL (Father in Law), Isabel's 'Ah Pah' has the next 3 days off work, so they came last night and whisked her away to their house. In the beginning, she wasn't that keen on sleeping over there...now she prefers to sleep there instead of at home. I'm not sure if I should feel lucky or a bit jealous. My kids are my in-law's only grandchildren, so they spoil them, dote on them and spend almost every moment they can with them.

(right is my FIL, with Nathan)

Sometimes I am so grateful that they just take my kids so willingly...and sometimes I feel like they "take over" my kids a bit. I know they only have the best intentions for the kids, but sometimes I feel like I want to spend some quality time with my kids and my husband by ourselves...so we can bond as a family of 4.

I am glad Isabel and Nathan will be able to know their grandparents well...I never had that opportunity. My grandparents (both sets) were a far awayentity in Japan, and I saw them once every few years.

(near left is a photo of my maternal grandma from Japan with Isabel at 2 months old, just days before she passed away, far left is a photo of my mom with Isabel and newborn Nathan)

Vivian on the other hand, lived with his maternal grandparents and was essentially raised by them, and as a result, was very close to them, until they passed away last year. He wasn't as close to his paternal grandmother, but did see her and talk to her often.

My mom will be moving in with us this summer, and will be helping us look after the kids, especially after I go back to work.....so the kids will also know their maternal grandmother well also. We also lived with my mom for 2 years, so Isabel is used to having my mom around. My mom says there is some Japanese saying about kids that are raised by their grandparents turn out "nicer" or something like that. I don't know about that, but I do believe that a grandparent's influence on a child can be that much greater than that of a parent. I'm not sure what it is about grandparents....they command a certain respect. They've been through alot, more than we probably will know. They have a wisdom, that comes with age, I assume, and they will impart that wisdom on our kids, if we are lucky.

Vivian and I certainly feel very lucky to have our parents to help us raise our kids, especially ones that do it so willingly. They are always there to help us when we are in a bind, and when I've "had it up to here" with them and can't wait to get them off my hands. For those who also have their parents, in-laws helping you out with your kids... consider yourselves so fortunate. Not only does it take the parenting "burden" of you, your kids will get to know their grandparents better, which is a gift in itself.

(below is my MIL with Isabel)

Random thoughts

This morning, I made breakfast for Viv and I, as I do most Saturday mornings. (Isabel is not a big bacon & eggs girl...she's usually happy with toast or cereal). Anyways, our Saturday morning breakfast usually consists of eggs, toast, bacon or sausages, tea, juice, etc......usually the "full meal deal". Today I made turkey bacon by Butterball, in my efforts to be more "healthy". I wasn't expecting it to taste like the real, delicious, pork bacon.....but I have to be honest...this turkey bacon is gross! It's sort of "marbled", to look like real bacon...but the texture is more like bologna. Kinda rubbery...and when you cook it, it just looks like cooked rubber....:(
Now, of course, full fat real bacon is way better....but not all things that are "light" or "low fat" are bad. However, there are some food items that are just not worth sacrificing taste/flavour for it's different (as slight as it might be) health benefit. So then Viv and I were discussing...what things are NOT worth buying low fat. We came up with the following:

-non fat cream cheese (gross, looks like thick yogurt)

-non fat yogurt (this one is Viv's...he hates non-fat yogurt. I find it tolerable, but I bought him a container of Yoplait Source yogurt and he's never let me buy non fat yogurt again..)

-turkey bacon (see above)

-diet Coke (now pop in general is bad for you, but if you're gonna drink pop....don't drink this,
it's gross...if you want a better no calorie cola....go with Coke zero)

-reduced fat cheese (I find this to have a rubbery texture...similar to the turkey bacon scenario)

Now, if you are a fan of these foods, I apologize. I don't want to offend...these are just my thoughts. Of course, in an effort to be healthier, more veggies and fruits are on the menu....but when you have a hankering for bacon....just get the real stuff...it's worth the sacrifice in calories. :)

the 6 month mark

I have got to be the worst blogger on this earth! Blogging is hard work...and time consuming. To those following my blog...I apologize for my inability to keep this thing up! Today happens to be a lucky day for me...I was able to drop both kids off at my in-laws house for most of the day, as contractors begin reno in our basement. I have been able to go to the gym, Walmart and the bank. Sounds boring to some, but it has been a fabulous day for me! This Friday will mark 6 months since Nathan was born, and I became a Mommy of 2. I know my past blog entries have been negative, (and downright scary to some...) and I have scared some of my mommy of 1 friends from having that 2nd child. I apologize for those posts...the tiredness was talking. Tiredness is truly hell....it just makes everything bad. No wonder kids cry endlessly when they are tired! I remember being tired when I had Isabel, but I guess 3 years goes by and your forget....Or maybe the tiredness seems worse because now you have 2 kids to worry about. Now that Nathan sleeps longer, I feel less tired....and as time passes, you adjust to having 2 kids. They start to develop a pattern..Nathan pretty much sleeps from 9pm to 6am, has a bottle, then sleeps til 8 or 9am. He still naps sporadically during the day...sometimes he naps for 20 minutes, sometimes 2 hours. Isabel has become less clingy and definitely has her own pattern. She also LOVES Nathan. She entertains him when I have to do other things in the house. I'm glad they are 3 years apart. It's not too close that I have a toddler and baby (which I think would be craziness), but close enough that they will hopefully play together.
As summer approaches, it's a challenge finding things for the kids to do. I still find it difficult to go out with the 2 kids alone. I haven't taken Isabel to the park as much as I did before, when I only had 1 kid. The next few months will be getting over that fear of going out with 2....I think I have to just do it already! It's still and adjustment, but getting easier...so take heart all you mommies of 1...you can do it! Don't be afraid to have #2. :)

Kids 1-Mama 0

Viv's been back to work for about a week now, and I thought I was doing ok...but today, the kids beat me down.
I should've known, when the day didn't start well..Actually the night didn't start well..Nathan was waking up every 2 hours, unlike his usual 3-4 hours. Then, Isabel's preschool was cancelled because the teacher was sick. Nathan has been very fussy during the day and refuses to sleep. He doesn't seem to want to nap for more than 45 min at the longest. AND today, it seems like he was wanting to eat every hour...perhaps he's going through a growth spurt? So between Nathan's crying and Isabel wanting this and that, I tried to cook dinner and clean the house, but I lost badly. I did manage to make some food, but the house was a disaster when Viv got home, and forget doing any laundry!
Anyways, I know I'm still new at this, and Nathan is only 5 weeks old...but entertaining an active 3 year old and taking care of a 5 week old is challenging to say the least. I'll be honest, I am not enjoying myself right now. I felt like a failure today..I couldn't believe i couldn't cope....people keep telling me it will get better...I do believe them, I just hope it happens soon. I can't wait til winter is over and Isabel can play outside and I can take Nathan outside for walks without freezing our butts off... It's hard being cooped up in this house all day.
ok, I gotta go to bed and try to sleep...can't let the kids beat me tomorrow!

the Portable DVD Player...great invention!

Sadly, just the other day, our Toshiba portable DVD player broke down, after over 2 years of faithful service. We bought the DVD player for Isabel when she was just over a year for a trip to Japan.  Now, if you plan on travelling with a baby, especially on a long trip..you have to have one of these!  Now, before I became a parent, I would see kids with DVD players at restaurants and think that the parents were being lazy...now, maybe I am being lazy, but frankly, I don't care...the portable DVD player is a great invention!!  Now this player has served us well at many a restaurant, house party, long trips to Asia, short trips, and when Viv wants to watch hockey (since we only have 1 tv). I will also say this...don't go and buy the cheapest player you can find.  We chose the Toshiba, since it was the player with a longer battery life.  The Toshiba we bought cost us a little more, but was totally worth it.  We recently purchased a "cheap" dvd player to replace the one that died... thinking, it should suffice...but we were wrong!  It said it has a 2.5 hour battery life, but barely lasted 30 minutes...so now we have to return it and look for a better one.  Bottom line: you get what you pay for.

Now there are so many products that are available now for parents to rear their kids...but a portable DVD is $ well spent...(in my opinion!)  :)