then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then you make me late

Dear littlest Russell,

There is one thing in this world that drives me completely nuts...being late. I have always made it a habit to be early for appointments and events. I would much rather waste my own time arriving early somewhere than wasting other people's time waiting for me to show up. Lately, I can not figure it out. We have been "running behind" several times over the last couple of weeks and it is driving me nuts. It's rude and it gives me a panicky feeling that I don't like. I find myself saying things like "We would love to come for a walk. We will be there around 10:30ish." and I hate that. What is "ish" anyways. It's like I'm warning the other person that if I'm not there right at 10:30 not to panic or something. People make excuses for us me and that needs to stop.

Also, I've noticed that your schedule is changing a bit. You are back to sleeping right through the night but you wake up for the day around 5am (so not cool) and don't take your first nap until 9am. By then I'm not able to go back to sleep myself as I usually have something planned for us so I have to get ready. Hmmmm maybe we need to cool it on the morning adventures for a bit until I can figure out your nap times. I feel bad because lately I've been having to wake you up to go on our outings. I'm lucky your such a cool guy and you usually fall back asleep on the car ride to wherever we are going.

And since we are talking about naps...can we have a small chat about how you nap differently when Daddy is home on the weekends? Why is it that you sleep longer instead of catnaps? It makes me look like I sit here all day doing nothing for hours at a time when in fact you and I both know differently.

Recently I purchased an espresso machine (to make those 5 am wake ups bearable.) Here's hoping that the extra caffeine in my diet doesn't make you crazy too.

Isn't it pretty? Please say hello to my new best friend. 

Love and Hugs,
Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then the flu happened

Dear littlest Russell,

It has now been just over a week since daddy and I got sick from the flu. If there was one thing we ever did right as parents it was taking turns being sick-haha just kidding I'm sure there are many other things we do right. I was very happy that you didn't end up getting what we had too. Although, you didn't get off completely scott free. I was lucky that your Daddy is so hands on with you. It allowed me to be by myself when I couldn't move from the bed/bathroom for about 18 hours. Trust me it was a sight you wouldn't have wanted to smell see. The only problem was I did not have near enough pumped breast milk so you were brought to me when you needed to eat. I nursed you through my sickness because I had read that by that point you had already been exposed to the illness and the antibodies in the milk would further protect you, plus I was so afraid of my supply going down.

It was another full day before I could keep down any food or water and so you could imagine just how dry I felt after a couple of days. Nursing alone makes me feel pretty dry on the best of days. The only thing you suffered from through all this was a week's worth of constipation. The first few days I wasn't so worried but as we approached the one week mark and you still hadn't pooped I really started to feel for you. Especially when you would cry so hard only to have released the nastiest smelling farts.

So since we have introduced a few solid foods to you I crossed my fingers and I gave you some pureed prunes. All I can say is I'm so glad the diapers that you are in right now fit really, really well. I'm sorry that you weren't feeling great but I am so glad that the prunes worked and that I was able to freeze most of the jar to use if we ever need them again in the future.

Don't worry, we did manage to get some actually inside your mouth too

Who could resist this face?

Love & Hugs,
Mom

then comes marriage...then a house...a dog...then we are all Canucks

Dear littlest Russell,

We have a lot to catch up on small child. This past weekend was supposed to be your very first live Canucks game. I got the tickets back in the summer when I was still pregnant (and had no clue about parenting). The plan was to buy you some noise canceling headphones and for you to sit on my lap there as we watch them crush the Flames. I made you a Canucks hat and everything. But this was what I didn't know back then, that your self regulated bedtime is the same time the puck hit the ice and you've outgrown the whole falling asleep in my arms. No you much rather fall asleep these days in your own crib. Sure the car seat, baby carrier and stroller sometimes work but I couldn't use any of those there. So to save my sanity and the sanity of those seated around us the troops were called in (aka your grandparents came over to babysit you and the dog) and daddy and I went on a date. 

Not bad for a couple of sickies

I must admit I was worried we would come home well past your bedtime to you screaming/wide awake but I figured if you were going to cry it would be better for you to do it here than at the game. You had been pretty constipated so I gave you your very first Tylenol and much to your visitor's dismay you were asleep for the night twenty minutes after we left. Charlie on the other hand was wide awake and in full play mode when we came home. Next time I know to drug the dog too (just kidding).

 

Love & Kisses,

Mom