Field trip + play date

I have a pretty well-established routine every day. It goes something like this:

6:30am -7:00am

Wake up and do quiet time with the LORD

7:00am-7:30am

Get ready

7:30am-8:30am

Wake up kids (if they aren't awake already), brush them up and feed them breakfast

8:30am-8:50am

Head out the door and walk Aidan to school

8:50am-9:00am

Walk back home

During this time to 3pm, I sometimes go grocery shopping, run errands, take Kendall to the park, meet friends.

3:00pm-3:20pm

Pick Aidan up from school and walk home

3:20pm-4:00pm

Give kids a bath and give them free time to read/play

4:00pm-5:20pm

Prep dinner, feed kids

5:20pm-6:00pm

Eat dinner with Dennis

6:00pm-7:15pm

Play in the basement

7:15pm-7:45pm

Get kids ready for bed, read them books, sing, tuck them in bed

7:45pm-11:00pm

PARTY TIME!

This was taken during the 8:30am-8:50am mark- on our way to drop off Aidan at school. Today, Aidan's class
went on a field trip to Kortright Centre. 

Aidan was supposed to have a play date with his friend, Maddy from school, but she was sick and didn't come to school for a whole week. You were so upset with me that Maddy couldn't make it to the play date so I scrambled to organize another play date with your friend Mateo. Luckily, Mateo's mom had asked me earlier that week to do a play date with you, so I called her up and it all worked out in the end. Daddy and I had a little mini date at our local mall and had dinner with Kendall at the food court. How exciting.

Kendall at the food court.

Twins- Daddy and Kendall.

Is this the lip balm?

Just a week ago, I've been teaching you how to recognize familiar things and expressing it with your words. I find that you are slower in your verbal skills than Aidan. I want to teach you how to use your words to communicate with me. 

Every evening, when I get you ready for bed, I put lip balm on your lips after washing/brushing and putting lotion on your face. It's the same routine we do every day. I use a pretty distinctive looking lip balm- the EOS lip balm that is in the shape of an egg. I started asking you, "Is this the lip balm?" while pulling out random things from my bathroom drawer wherein you will say, "no." Eventually I will pull out the lip balm and you will recognize it as your lip balm and break into a big smile and shout, "Yeah!" 

I have a good system going

I was so fearful of doing the sole drop-offs in the morning. I was so used to dropping just Aidan off. And he was pretty easy. All I had to do was wake him up, brush his teeth, change him and turn on his morning show while I got ready. You, on the other hand, can't sit for long periods of time watching TV.  I worried that mornings were going to be absolute chaos and I would go to work frazzled and unkempt. It was definitely a looming task that I wasn't looking forward to.

To my delight, it's been actually pretty good. I even get to sleep in a bit later! I used to wake up at 6:10am when daddy dropped you off. I would first wake up, brush up and then I would wake you up around 6:35am after getting your daycare bag ready. You would have your morning milk and then I would send you off with daddy around 6:55am. Then I would wake Aidan up and get him ready, etc. etc. Now, I wake up at 6:35am. I still get myself ready before either of you wake up. Usually Aidan wakes up first around 7:15am. I sometimes brush him up first before I wake you up, but I find that you usually wake up around the same time that Aidan wakes up. After getting both of you ready, I bring you two downstairs and give you both milk and cheese (you guys usually have breakfast at daycare). Surprisingly, you will sit on the couch with Aidan while I go back upstairs to change and grab my bag. Then we head out. This photo is just before we headed out the door. 

Long day

I am pooped! Today was a very long day, but a good day.

We went to the mall in the morning to get some more clothes for the both of you as the weather is getting colder. We quickly had lunch at the mall before we rushed to go to your eye doctor appointment. You've been complaining about your eye hurting for a few weeks now. I took you to a walk-in a couple of weeks ago, but the doctor said nothing was wrong and that I should just put a warm cloth over the eye that was bothering you. However, I knew something was wrong when you kept complaining every day and rubbing your eyes constantly. I was worried that your vision was bothering you and you would have to get glasses. Luckily your eye sight is fine, but the bad news is that you have allergies. Not sure of what, but there is something in the environment that is making your eye itch. The eye doctor prescribed an allergy medication for your eyes, but I think I will have to get another allergy test done soon. Sigh.

After your eye appointment, we went to the library to return your books. We then went to Home Depot to buy cabinet hardware for the kitchen knob that I broke this morning. Usually you have nap time in the afternoon, but I think your body is used to being awake the whole day. You didn't seem as cranky and tired as when you were younger. When we came home, we did laundry and sorted you and Kendall's clothes for donation and to give to Auntie Jess' new baby. After dinner, I texted my friend Jenn to see if her son, Nate, wanted to go to the park with you. I told her I would take the both of the them to the park so that she could have a bit of a breather. You guys played in the park til it got dark and then we went back to Nate's house where you played there until 9:00pm. What a day!

Here's a cute video of Kendall eating Korean rice pops. 

You and Nate at the park. You guys were so wild and crazy. It's like you guys were never let out or something.

BFF's? You and Nate.

At one point, you and Nate were pretending to be magicians and being totally hilarious. There was a woman there with her daughter and she kept laughing at you guys playing.

The day after…

After yesterday's fail with my camera I wanted to make sure I took pictures of you guys this morning while I got you ready for daycare. 

6:30am: I wake up and wake you up. After getting you to wake up (sometimes it takes me a few
minutes because you are still so tired), I take you to the washroom to take you pee and wash up.
You have started peeing in your overnight diaper again. You were doing so well a few weeks
ago with having dry diapers every single night, but I don't know if it's the impending change that is
making you revert back…

Look how sleepy you look.
Today, your daycare is going on a field trip to Black Creek Pioneer Village.

When we go downstairs I put on your sweater, hat, shoes and I give you a milk and cheese
to snack on while you watch your morning cartoons.

Today it's Guess With Jess.

Kendall's stuff all ready for daycare.

I warm up her milk before I wake her up. She's doing really well with the bottle feedings.
She's drinking about 140mL right now.

I took a short video of Kendall, shortly after I woke her up.

Oh no! She is not happy :-(
I think she was tired and she didn't like that I put her down in a sitting position while I was
taking pictures of her. I think the first thing she wanted to do was to EAT.

Awwwwwww.

After her feeding I put a sweater on her and socks. Now you guys are ready to go!

All belted and buckled up.

Bye my lil monsters.

Daddy pulling out of the driveway.

:'-(

Bags under her eyes

One of mommy's daily routine at nighttime is to wake you up around midnight to get a feeding in. I usually put you to bed around 7:30pm so I want to make sure you get another feeding before you sleep through the night. I also do that partly to make sure I'm not engorged in the morning. However, since you're pretty much in deep sleep when I wake you up you tend to have bags under your eyes. I was telling daddy about it and he actually came in to witness himself. I was lucky enough that I was able to take a video of your 'bags' today.

Crazy Friday

Mommy did something that I would normally not do- I went out with all of you (+ Rosco) on my own today. You desperately needed a haircut and Rosco had a vet checkup this morning. Actually, let's backtrack… I didn't take all 3 of you out at the same time. What I actually did was I dropped you and Kendall off at your Toronto grandparents' house while I took Rosco to the vet. Then I dropped Rosco off at your grandparents' house while I took you to the hair salon afterwards. Kendall just stayed with your grandmother the whole time. Even then I was exhausted from all the back-and-forth. I had hoped you would behave, but you always get delirious when you don't take your nap in the afternoon. You were acting up and not listening at your grandparents' house– so much so– that I got fed up and took you all home. Let's just say you got yelled at by mommy the whole ride home.

Your hair was getting so long that it was starting to cover your eyes. Since you have Korean school
for most of the day on Saturdays I decided to take you today. They cut it a little too short so you
look kind of like Lloyd Christmas, but it's ok. I'm sure it will grow out soon enough.

Mommy taking photos of you. 

Halbi actually came with us to the salon because he also needed a hair cut. You kept looking over
to him and giggling.

So while I was at the salon, the daycare that I have you on the waiting list for September called me back to say that you got in. Woohoo! I'm thrilled because it's a daycare that is in your new school when you start junior kindergarten in September. Since kindergarten will not be full-time this year I have to find before/after care for you when you are in school as well as part-time care for you on the days that you aren't in school. I was getting so stressed out because if you didn't get in this daycare I don't know who would have done the pick-up/drop-offs on the days that you go to school. School ends around 3pm and both daddy and I can't get home that quickly from work. Since this daycare is attached to your new school the daycare teacher will pick you up when you are finished kindergarten and take you to the daycare facility. I have to go there on Monday to pick up the package and registration forms as well as drop off the deposit cheque.

I wasn't going to post this because it's kind of gross to post somebody having a bowel movement, but I thought it was so cute. You have a hard time having a bowel movement every day and this makes your stool very hard, big and bloody, but lately you've been doing better. You have been having a bowel movement 2 days in a row now. That has never happened ever since we started potty training you since you turned 3. I think the encouraging thing is helping a lot.

Play date at Asher's house

You've been asking me every day since last Monday (when we had a play date at our house with Asher and Austin) when we were going to go to Asher's house. I think you are now at an age where you want to play with kids your age. Luckily, I saw YJ, Asher's mom, on Sunday and she told us to come over on Monday (yesterday). I decided not to tell you until this morning because I was afraid that plans might change. You got so upset on Saturday when I told you that Nate was coming over for a play date and then Nate's parents changed their mind. You were so sad and upset that you wouldn't stop crying.

I took a video of you when I told you this morning that we were going to Asher's house. I can't believe how excited and happy you are!

The play date started off well. You and Asher played so well together. However, as the day went on you and Austin, Asher's younger brother, started fighting a lot. Austin is wouldn't let you play with his toys so you were getting so upset. There was a Cars truck that you wanted to play with, but Austin said, "Ahn dae!" ('no' in Korean) and you called to me and air hit Austin. It even got to a point where you were trying to bite Austin! I put my hand in between you guys and I got bit by you!

It was also hard because Kendall is so active now. I couldn't leave her on the ground because there are so many little toys in their house that I was afraid she would swallow it. Then, their floors are all hardwood so I was afraid she would fall and hit her head as she is always trying to get up. She also didn't want to nap so I had to keep holding her. It was a very exhausting day for mommy :-S

Whole Foods and a whole lotta superheroes

Today was so sunny and nice. Although Spring officially began a few weeks ago its still been quite cold here. Because the whole family was so sick I didn't want to take you out when the weather was cold and crappy. All that time spent indoors made me absolutely wonkers so I decided that you and I would go out for some fresh air. What better way than to check out the new Whole Foods near us. I've been to the Whole Foods downtown, but I really wanted to check out the uptown location. 

And here we are!

It was the first time I put you in the shopping buggy, but I thought you would be pretty happy since
you are pretty alert and active now. I knew you would be fascinated looking at your surroundings
and whatnot.
I literally got 5 strangers come up to me to say how cute you were. There was one girl in particular
that came running at us from another aisle just to fawn over you.

Afterwards we went back home and I took you and Rosco out for a walk in you converted stroller (to the seat setting). It was so nice!

When Aidan got home from daycare I got out the new markers and stamps that I bought for him at Ikea the other day.

Here's a page Aidan and I did together with all the stamps he has now.

Pretty stamps that I got Aidan at Ikea. I also got the plastic containers to store all the markers,
crayons and stamps.

Here are the markers.

Aidan made me draw his favourite superheroes- Batman and Spiderman.

Then he made me draw Superman. Not my best…

Here's Aidan's favourite drawing that I did- Optimus Prime :-)

Rough day

I know it doesn't look like it, but it was a rough day today. Mommy is sick with a cold and so are you and Aidan. Aidan's nose has been runny all day and you've also had a bit of a runny nose. Mommy lost her voice and my throat is swollen. I'm just really burnt out these days.

Daddy asked me last night that his friend James asked him to go to Las Vegas with him this week. Daddy asked me if it was ok with me and I said yes. I know that just means more work for me, but I know daddy deserves time alone to enjoy himself. He always tries to make it up to me so I can't get mad. I just hope that Aidan will behave while daddy is gone. Sometimes Aidan drives me crazy!

You were playing on the mat in mommy's office while I was doing stuff on the computer.
Aidan was trying to nap. He takes forever to fall asleep!

Dennis' friend James bought this doll for you. It's almost as big as you!

When Aidan is home with me this is how our day usually goes:

- Aidan wakes up and goes to mommy's room.

- Mommy is usually exhausted so I take Aidan pee and we go back to mommy's bed while Aidan rolls around and talks to himself. I usually don't get any more sleep :-(

- Mommy brushes Aidan's teeth and makes Aidan breakfast- usually waffles or pancakes. Today was pancakes. I put Aidan in his high chair while he watches his morning cartoons.

- Mommy goes upstairs to get dressed and ready. By this time you start waking up. I change your diaper and go downstairs to check up on Aidan. By this time he is finished with his breakfast. 

- Mommy feeds you solids. Today was butternut squashed with rice cereal mixed in (since you refuse to eat rice cereal on its own). After solids it's breast milk.

- After everyone is fed we go downstairs to play. 

- After a while you start getting tired so I put you upstairs for naptime. 

- Around 12:30pm we go back to the main floor so that I can start prepping Aidan's lunch. 

- After lunch mommy puts Aidan down for nap time. He usually takes a looooooong time to fall asleep. 

- You wake up while Aidan is in his bed trying to nap. I feed you breast milk and feed you solids again.

- I try to do some work in the office or watch TV while Aidan naps. You are usually playing on the floor or in your play pen this time.

- When Aidan awakes we play some more in the basement. 

- Mommy puts you down for a nap again.

- Around 4:00pm is when I start prepping dinner. Aidan is watching cartoons again while I prep.

- Around 5:30pm I put on Skype so Aidan can talk to his Vancouver grandparents.

- Daddy usually comes home around 5:50pm or 6:10pm, but today he went to the casino with his friend James.  

- After dinner Aidan plays again in the basement while he has his milk and cheese.

- At 8:00pm that's when I put Aidan to sleep.

- After Aidan sleeps I put you to sleep.

- I wake you up again around 11:00pm to breast feed you so that it will last you the rest of the night.

- That's it! Phew~

Here's a drawing I did while we were playing in the basement. Aidan was so happy. It's of his
socks that he wore today.

I had very ripe bananas so I baked banana muffins today. They were delicious!

So why was it hard today? It's because Aidan doesn't listen! I'm trying not to yell and spank anymore because I've noticed that Aidan has started talking back and even trying to hit and spit on me. I know the easy way to discipline is to yell and spank, but it's only good temporarily. Today I was trying to discipline Aidan by not talking to him in a raised voice and talking positively to him. For example, when he says to me, "I'm going to beat you!" I'll respond by saying, "Aidan, please don't say that to me because it hurts my feelings. Can you not say that?" He will repeat it again and I will repeat what I say back to him and also add, "Aidan, I love you. Do you love me too?" Whereas he will nod. Then I say, "Please don't say that to me again." And he will respond by saying, "I will not do it again!" 

Aidan does do it again, but I guess this is something that I will have to repeat over and over.

I think Aidan was tired today and when he is tired he is very difficult to handle. Even putting him to bed was a feat because he kept coming up with every excuses in the book to not go to bed. He was telling me he wanted another bedtime book, he was too cold, he was too hot, etc. etc. He threw 3 tantrums while I was trying to put him to sleep. I'm beyond exhausted, but I have to feed Kendall now before I go to bed :-(

Being a mom is not easy!

Long day

Daddy told me just this morning that he was on-call at work so he couldn't go to church… again. He hasn't gone in months! He said that he told me a few days ago that he might have to go into work on Sunday, but I don't remember him telling me that. He probably told me while I was sleeping. Ugh. I'm so sick of him making excuses every Sunday morning. 

I decided to go with you (Aidan) only. Even though daddy was on-call I didn't take Kendall with me because that would be too hard for me. If daddy got called in he would have to take Kendall or figure something out. 

I was very annoyed because I think I've come down with another cold. My eyes were bloodshot yesterday and I don't feel like myself. I feel like lately I've been a single mom. Daddy's been going to the casino a lot. I can't complain because he's been coming home with earnings, but it just sucks that he isn't there for you guys. You kept asking me where daddy was and I kept responding that he was at work making money so he can buy you lots of toys. I think daddy felt bad that I was doing the brunt of everything so he let me go shopping yesterday. 

We didn't go to church in a long time so I was afraid you would cry when I dropped you
off at the children's program. Yesterday, you cried a lot when I dropped you off at Korean school.
However, you went in without a hitch. When I picked you up after service you were dressed up as
a firefighter. The bad news? You caught my cold because your nose was runny the whole time you
were at Sunday School. 

After you and I came home from church we just chilled at home because we had to babysit your friend Nate in the evening. Nate's parents were celebrating their birthdays (they have birthdays 4 days apart from each other) and they asked if we can babysit Nate while they ate out.

I thought I would take a few snapshots of Kendall when she wakes up from her nap. She's always
on her belly. She has a tendency to pull down all the crib bumpers so she can see beyond her
crib. What a smart girl!

And these are her chiclets. Aren't they so cute?

She always smiles when she sees me. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside when she does that.

Although it doesn't look it you and Nate had a lot of fun playing. Here you are watching a movie.
I have tissues plugging both nostrils because your nose was running so much that I had to keep
wiping it. I didn't want the skin under your nose to become dry and red so that's why I have tissues
plugging your nose.

I was really unimpressed with daddy because while we were sitting Nate he scared the crap out of him. You weren't really listening to me while Nate was over. You were banging your toy microphone around everywhere. When daddy told you to stop you hit daddy's face with your microphone. I don't think you meant to do it so hard, but daddy lost it. He yelled at you full force in front of Nate and took you upstairs to spank you. You were crying hysterically and Kendall, hearing you cry, started crying too. I think this spooked Nate out because he started crying and saying, "Where's my mommy? I want to go home!" I felt so bad. I had to hug and console him for 15 minutes. When daddy came down with you I told him not to yell in front of Nate. However, a while later you did something again that made daddy angry- I think you banged your microphone on the glass side table. Daddy yelled at you again and took you upstairs. And guess who freaked out again… Nate! Ugh. I think daddy felt bad so he called to Nate to sit on his lap and Nate wouldn't go to him. When Nate finally did he started crying on daddy's lap. I think he is scared of daddy…