at 4:30 in the morning...

David and I often talk about the comments people make on others parenting...we also find that the people who think they are the best parents are those with NO children...
We were like that once...idealistic with our own ideas on how to become the perfect parent and 'raise our kids right'...we had a picture in our head about what kind of parents we were going to be...the thing is we are nothing like that picture of ourselves.  Quite honestly I never was, and the parent I am changes from day to day. 
In reality you may think you know what kind of parent you are going to be, but you don't really know until it is 4:30 in the morning and you haven't been to sleep yet, in fact you haven't slept well for days, and your child decides it is time to explore their creative selves through play (I remind you here that is 4:30 AM) that you truly discover what kind of parent you are or will be.
I had one of these moments last night.  I discovered that letting the baby cry and potentially wake up the 3 year old is less painful a thought than trying to stay awake and make sure the baby doesn't fall down the stairs.  I discovered that I don't believe that the baby really sets the schedule (ok, admittedly I already knew that one), I discovered that her learning isn't nearly as cute and exciting at 4:30 am than it is at 4:30 pm, but I also discovered that I have a lot more patience than I thought I did.  Not to mention that I have discovered that staying up until 4:30 am is no longer a thing I can do with ease...my 31 year old self is past the days of staying up all night!
So parents to be...enjoy the dream of your perfect parenting selves and then let it go, it isn't going to happen.  For all my parenting friends embrace the learning...you might just discover something amazing about yourself!

What 7 (almost 8) brings...

So far, David and I have led a pretty blissful parenting life...sure our kids get into things, make messes, wet their pants, throw up all over, try to pull things over on us (and the baby sitters) but generally we have pretty great kids!  Lauren, however, is at a stage where she feels she needs to assert herself.  I can totally relate to this, however, she is being inexcusably rude.  She is calling names, being physical and otherwise using language and tone that we don't approve of.  She is generally a wonderful kid who is bright, creative and funny...but as we enter this thing called the "tween years" there are a few challenges...hopefully with some patience and reminders we can coast through with minor damage.

But while I mention it- what the heck is this thing called 'tween'...???I was never a tween- at least I was never called one...

Lesson 2-

Always unload sharp and dangerous objects from the dishwasher first!  When little ones come to 'help' you they will always go after the brightest, shiniest and most dangerous things first! 

On an aside, it might be helpful to wash large knives by hand.


Tha back story, Maya is now walking and one of the things she loves to do is stand at the dishwasher and pull out all the silverware.  If I don't get it first she always grabs the peeler.  It is bright yellow, shiny and sharp...
Maya also loves to try and get in the dishwasher...

Lessons you learn as a parent...

O.K.  admittedly I have been REALLLY bad at posting on her...but I am going to work on getting better...in fact I think I am going to start a series of posts about the day to day lessons you learn as a parent...

Lesson 1- when potty training a boy who is learning to stand up when he pees, do not keep a basket of magazines next to the toilet...this can only end in a smelly, wet disaster...

Spotlight on Julie!

Julie is 5, almost 6 (her birthday is June 27th). 
She loves to dance and has her 3rd dance recital this Saturday.  She will be performing 3 dances, a tap, jazz and hip hop number. 
Julie is in SK and loves school.  When she grows up she wants to be a doctor. 

That's all she has to say!

Spotlight on Carter!

Our son Carter is now "free" 3 years old.  He is a very active and busy 3 year old who has recently discovered a bit of a defiant streak in himself.  Carter loves to play games and outside.  His favourite movie is Cars.  His most favourite thing to do, however, is to help Papa, especially if he gets to ride the tractor or combine!
He loves to eat and his favourite foods are yogurt, cheese, berries and treats (Smarties). 

I will try and post more recent photos soon!

This was written with Carter's help...he told me his favourite things as I typed!

When its over....

OK, we all have those things in our life that we can't wait to see to completion, like taxes, for example.  Many people say this about certain aspects of parenting--like waking in the night, 2 hour feedings, diapers...and the list goes on and on.  I felt this way with each of my children...until now. 

I think with the older three, I always knew deep down that I would experience all those things again, but with Maya its different.

You see, David and I finally figured out how babies happen, so we cut the wires (or rather, I cut the wires) and stopped it.  So I know that Maya is our last baby. 

I am delighted to watch her grow, but have to say there is a little part of me that is sad when she reaches that next milestone, because I know this will be the last time.  She is sleeping through the night now, and I am thankful for the sleep (I LOVE sleep!), but I know I will never again sit up at 3:00 am in a quiet and dark house, watching the snow quietly fall through the front window, as I nurse a baby back to sleep.  It is those moments I will miss.

Just a couple of weeks ago Maya moved into the next size (3) of diaper.  That diaper seemed so big, and it really signalled the end of the 'tiny' baby stage.  As I commented to David about the bigger diapers, he reminded me of how things have changed since our first...with Lauren we couldn't wait for her to make it to size 3 diapers  because we could buy them in larger (bulk) quantities and that would be so much cheaper.  With Maya, we were a little sad to see it come, we wanted her to be small just that little bit longer. 

It's also funny how David and I view things differently.  Last week we went out for our first dinner without Maya.  David was very excited, we no longer had to bring a baby with us on date night...it could just be us.  I almost cried when he pointed it out, just another way she is growing up so very fast.

The one thing about the kids getting older, however, is that we are on to the next exciting phase of our lives...I will miss the baby stage, but I so look forward to what is ahead. 

Besides, we have lots of siblings to give us beautiful nieces and nephews to love and cuddle and get our baby fix!