Life of a mom

If you are a mom, then you will know that nap time is king. You basically have to arrange your day around it. Also, if you're like me where your toddler is no longer taking daily naps, but when they do, you basically honour that time. 

I usually take you out first thing after I drop Aidan off at school because that's when you're in the best mood- you're fed and you're not cranky. Today, I took you to the park because the weather was nice and then we went to Michael's to pick up a few craft items for a scrapbook project that I'm working on for missionaries- Bryan and Christina. Since Michael's is close to Auntie Jessica's house, we stopped by for a play date. By the time we left Auntie Jess' house, it was time to pick up Aidan from school. Lo and behold, you fell asleep on the way home. I had to chill out in the car for a good 15-20 minutes in order for me to let you sleep a little longer. 

And look how happy you are after your nap. That makes it all worth it!

Long lashes, rosy cheeks, berry lips

Such a pretty boy you are… When you are sleeping, you are like an angel. When you're awake, that's another story… ;-P

Everything is new

Because your Kindergarten is not full-time yet, we still have to put you in daycare on the days that you don't go to school. Luckily, we were able to put you in a daycare that is inside your school. I know how much you like routine so I was worried that you would get confused with the different teachers, the alternate days that you would go to school/daycare and the fact that mommy would be dropping you off instead of daddy. Even for mommy, it was a huge change. I woke up at 6:30am to get Kendall out the door for daycare, but it didn't give me enough time to get ready for work and also get you ready for school before we headed out. Tomorrow, I will have to set the clock to 6:10am so that I can get ready before I wake up Kendall. 

Thankfully, you seemed okay in the morning. I think you appreciated that you got to sleep in (even though you usually wake up between 7:00am-7:30am every day). Whereas before, you would sometimes whine when I woke you up for your old daycare (I used to wake you up at 6:40am), you were in a much better mood today. Plus, you got to wear your new backpack and the school/daycare is in a much nicer neighbourhood. It's in a residential area so it doesn't seem so industrial like in your old daycare.

Today was your daycare day. I explained to you in the whole month of August that you were going to a new daycare so that you would be prepared. I think all the preparation helped because you seemed fine when I introduced you to your new teachers. One of the teachers- Maria, took you to the washroom to wash your hands. I commented how lucky you were because the washroom was built perfectly for little people- all the sinks were your height and same with the toilets. That seemed to relax you even more.

Washing your hands in the washroom.

Look how little everything is!

You immediately went to the blocks and started playing with all the toys. Good sign!

Too tired to function

Saturday is always a tiring day for the whole family. You go to Korean school from 10am to 2:30pm (with no nap time) which means we have to drop you off and kill time until we pick you up. Your Korean school is pretty far from our house so sometimes it makes no sense to go home after we drop you off.

Today, we decided to do a little shopping after we dropped you off (you needed new shoes and we also had to buy Father's Day gifts for your grandfathers). After shopping we took your Toronto grandparents out for lunch since daddy didn't see them in a long time.

By the time we picked you up at 2:30pm we were all so tired. Kendall crashed right away on the way home and you were so close to passing out, but I forced you to stay awake so that you could nap at home. I find that when you do a power nap in the car you never nap at home. Kendall must have been so tired because she fell asleep before her thumb could make it into her mouth. She usually sleeps sucking her left thumb. Haha.

Birthday banner- check!

I'm starting to think about your 1-year birthday party as it is fast approaching (Saturday July 20). It's harder this time around because you are much more active than when Aidan was your age. You also don't really nap during the day. So I have to take whatever opportunity I can get to work on your birthday planning. Since you're sick now and napping more than usual I finished making your birthday banner. This is just a sneak peek as I have a 2nd banner with your full name on it. I think for your birthday I'm going to use a lot of colours- pink, purple, mint green and also a lot of patterns- polka dots, stripes, etc. 

I've stood up and I can't come down…

Even though I lowered your crib to the 2nd lowest setting you are still standing up in your crib and you start crying because you can't come back down. I was hoping that lowering the crib would prevent you from standing up, but nope, it hasn't hindered you. This sucks because when I put you down for nap time you don't sleep right away like you used to. You end up going to a sitting position, then grabbing the rails and standing up. You then start gnawing at the wood on the crib with your teeth and then after a while you start getting restless because you can't come back down to a sitting position. Eventually you end up crying hysterically. 

What happened to my dream baby that fell asleep right away?? You used to cry for about 2 seconds and then sucked on your left thumb, which consoled you back to sleep. 

The bad thing is that this happens in the middle of the night now. I am awakened at least once because you wake up and get up to a standing position. This has made me really annoyed and tired.

I was able to take a video of you today doing just that- standing and crying. You saw me while I was filming that's why you were crying more :-(

Tomorrow, I'm going to have to lower your crib to the lowest position. I don't think it'll stop you from standing up, but here's to hoping…

The most interesting human being I know

I was very tired this morning because Kendall woke up a few times in the middle of the night. Her nose is so stuffed up because of her cold that she is having a hard time breathing :-(

Then after I feed her and put her back in bed I can't fall asleep because daddy is snoring so much! 

You always come into mommy's room in the morning and this morning you came quite early- just before 7am. I was soooo tired that I couldn't get up to take you pee. You just lay beside mommy while talking to yourself. I was so tired and annoyed that several times I yelled at you to be quiet. Then I must have nodded off because the next time I awoke it was close to 10am when I heard you whimpering beside me. I looked and saw that you had your pants off and you had both legs in one leg hole of your underwear. I guess you were whimpering because you were stuck and you couldn't get your legs out. I helped you fix your underwear and put your PJ's back on. That's when I realized that you didn't have your overnight diaper on. I asked you if you went pee on your own and you said yes. You said to me, "I didn't want to wake you because you were tired so I tip toed to the washroom. I also tip toed across the hallway so I wouldn't wake up Kendall." I asked you where you put your diaper and you said in the trash can beside the toilet. I checked and lo and behold it was there. I was so impressed by you and how you were trying to be quiet so you wouldn't wake me that I just grabbed you and kissed you all over. I can't believe my little boy is growing up!

I've also noticed that your tantrums are becoming a little less frequent now. You didn't cry when I dropped you off at Korean school on Saturday and same on Sunday when I dropped you off at Mustard Seed. Today, you even went as far as to say to me, "Mommy, I will listen to you!" when I told you it was time to go for nap time. Previously you would throw a fit and cry, but I was so amazed that you listened to me. 

So sick…

You are so sick right now.

Last night was brutal because you kept waking up. Your nose was so stuffy that you couldn't breathe and you kept coughing. I had to constantly check up on you because I was scared you were going to develop a fever. I tried putting a sweater on you, then I took it off because I thought you were too hot. Then I tried sleeping on the floor with you since you kept crying, but that didn't work. Let's just say I didn't get much sleep…

When you woke up this morning your face was a mess. It was all blotchy and your nose was all crusty. I'm so stressed out because I'm so worried about you. You were just very lethargic the whole day and very whiny and cranky. My poor baby…

I'm not looking forward to tomorrow because your brother will be home with us. It will take a lot of energy taking care of both of you. Sigh…

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!

Meant to be in front of the cameras

The more your personality develops I'm convinced that you are meant to go into a performing field. You love to sing/dance and pose in front of the cameras. 

Today, you ended up staying home because there was a snowstorm. Daddy decided that it was best not to take you to daycare. I was a little annoyed because daddy told me that after I had gotten you dressed for daycare. There was no way you were going to go back to bed. It didn't help that I hardly got any sleep because you and Kendall kept me up last night. Kendall woke up with poo in her diaper and then right after you woke up screaming for me. I tried to sleep after daddy left, but you were rolling around and talking in bed with me. I had to yell at you a few times to be quiet. It's been a little hard these days for mommy because Kendall's been waking up in the middle of night because she is pooing in her diaper. I think all the solid foods that she is eating is making her have bowel movements at night. And, she no longer sleeps until noon. 

So while Kendall was napping in the morning I was reading a book to you in bed. Then we were surfing on my phone and I was showing you this blog. I saw the post where I posted your new clothes that we bought you last week so I decided to try that on you at that moment. I was eager to see how the jogging pants would look on you. That's when a mini photo shoot happened. I ended up taking several photos of you trying different outfits. I just love doing that!

The H&M jogging pants are way too big on you, but I rolled it up so that you can still wear it in this shot.

Here's another one. I showed you how to do the West Coast symbol with your hands, but you could
only do the peace signs. Keke.

You look like such a hipster here.

I couldn't resist a muscle shirt so that you could show off your puny muscles. Love you!

I posted these photos on Facebook and so many people commented that I should get you to go into modeling. I'm not sure how you would deal with a room full of strangers as you are not very social. It is something to think about though… You are pretty darn cute.

When the kids sleep the mother comes out to play…

Taking care of 2 kids is not easy. However, I'm lucky that you and Kendall are far apart in age that you can entertain yourself while I'm tending to Kendall. Still, having 2 kids at home is a lot of work. So you can imagine how happy I am when I get a few hours to myself. That's why it's so important to get you both to nap. 

BTW, you have tissues in your nostrils because you had a bloody nose. You've been having a lot of bloody noses lately. It's concerning me…

All about Kendall

I feel like all I've been doing is blogging about the Advent Calendar. Since you are too young to do it I feel like I have to dedicate a full post just on you since Aidan's been getting all the attention. Since Aidan went to daycare today it was just you and mommy during the day. I usually wake up early (either 6:20am or 6:40am) to get Aidan ready for daycare. You have been sleeping through the night ever since you turned 3 months so it's been so great. I put you to bed around 8:00pm and you don't wake up until well after 10:00am. I'm so lucky… 

When I get Aidan out the door I pump some breast milk since I'm pretty engorged. I'm wide awake by then so I surf the internet on my phone until I eventually fall asleep until 9:30am-10:30am. That's when I feed you and get ready for the day. I mentioned earlier that you've been flipping nonstop. It's made things a bit more difficult. Since you don't know how to flip back to your back, you get really frustrated and start crying. I'm afraid that you'll get tired and put your head down and suffocate yourself so I'm constantly watching you. I can't just leave you in the crib anymore. I had to put you on the Bumbo in the washroom while I quickly showered. I think you flipped over 20 times when I put you in your crib for a nap and even in the play pen. Again, I have to watch you when I put you down. Eventually you get tired from all the flipping/crying that you fall asleep.

I swear, I put you down for 1 second and you are on your belly. You are super fast!

You usually poo 2 times a day now so when you pooped in the morning I gave you a bath. I couldn't resist taking pictures of you while you were doing bath time. You are just too cute to be true!

I know I keep saying this, but you are just one happy baby. Daddy and I constantly talk
about how you laugh way more than your brother when he was at this stage.
I can just look at you and you will break out into a full-on smile.

You have the softest skin too. Much softer than Aidan. 

But one thing that you share with your brother is your love of the water. You never once cried
while we gave you a bath.

I had to do a few errands today, but before we went out you fell asleep in your crib.
You're wearing what your Toronto grandparents bought you from Korea. I love this because
I can put this over your regular clothes and it's not too bulky when I have you in the Bjorn.

Excuse the hair. Your hair is a crazy mess right now. I'm tempted to shave it all off, but I'm
also wanting your hair to grow as fast as possible so that you look more like a girl…

Seeing the world from a different perspective

Your neck is strong enough now that you can flip over onto your belly and prop your head up without your head weighing you down. You keep flipping over onto your belly non-stop. You've even started flipping over in your crib when you are sleeping at night. I was paranoid about that, but you seem to position yourself so that you can still breathe. I find you sleeping on your belly in the mornings with your left thumb in your mouth. The good thing about that is that because you are sleeping like that your head is now facing the other way. I was worried that your head would be a weird shape since you always slept facing the left side on your back. Now you are sleeping facing the left side sleeping on your belly (so the right side of your head). 

Sleeping lovely

I've been noticing that when I put you down in your crib for a nap you always do a complete 180 before falling asleep. I guess it's from all the effort of turning whole little body around. I had your head on the left side of the crib, but when I checked up on you a little while later your head was pointing to the right. Haha. You also have a terrible habit of only sleeping with your head turned to the left. I'm worried that your head will be lopsided… I think you do that because you only suck your left thumb…

Out cold…

Thanksgiving Sunday

Your Toronto grandparents asked us to go to their church this Sunday so that the mok sa nim (lead pastor) can pray for you. 

On our way to your Toronto grandparents' church. You always sleep in the car seat.

Your brother, Aidan, sleeping in the car. Mommy tried to put him down for a nap before we
left for church, but it was unsuccessful. He never wants to nap!

Daddy holding you right before we went up to the front. You were so good- not making a
peep. I wish you were like that at home.

Here is the view of the front of the church.

After church we headed back home. While we were chilling at home I put you down on the couch and every time I looked at you you broke out into a huge smile. Here's a video of you smiling at mommy. You don't smile so much at daddy because you don't see him as much.

Later on in the evening we went down to the basement and daddy was kissing you. I wanted to capture this cute moment on video, but to my dismay Aidan was video bombing the whole time! What a guy…