The girls went to bed later than usual last night. Emma didn't nap yesterday and she was absolutely exhausted, but didn't end up in bed until about 8:30. This morning they were up just after 6:30 and still very tired. Within 10 minutes of being awake they were whining, complaining and fighting with each other. Fun times! Luckily they perked up a bit after breakfast and became somewhat pleasant. I know enough when they are like this not to do anything like grocery shopping. This would be a recipe for disaster. When they are cranky I focus on activities that keep them engaged and entertained. Big hits with my girls are: play doh, stickers, colouring, painting and anything outside. They still love their scooters, and are very good at riding them. Maddie likes riding her trike too, but this involves me pushing her down the street while she pedals. She just doesn't have enough leg strength yet to get very far on her own. They also love the park and running around in the field at the neighbouring school.
Their new thing these days is acting out scenes from various movies. They seem to both know the words and the roles they play. I have no clue what movie it is from, but it's still fun to watch. They have hand actions, and props too. It's very entertaining. Emma loves to be the center of attention (sound familiar) and will often say "everybody watch me" and she makes sure everyone watches. Maddie enjoys performing with Emma but isn't as insistent on an audience and sometimes stops if people are watching (she gets a bit shy).
They still love dogs and they are very good at asking owners first if they can pet the dog (I had to teach them this as they would run up to strange dogs if they could)! John and I keep waiting for them to ask us for one! Part of their acting is pretending to be a dog. One will pet the other and say "sit, good boy etc" Then they say "whatchagaboo" which they picked up while listening to other people say "who's a good boy." It's hilarious.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Em and M at 3.5
The girls are three-and-a-half now. It's quite amazing how fast the time has gone. In my mid-twenties I remember a conversation my dad and I had about time and how fast it goes. He said "wait until you have kids." Ain't that the truth. Someone asked me the other day if my girls are in school. I said no, but they will be in junior kindergarten in 2010. Then I realized that 2010 is next year! So a year pretty much to the week, my little girls will be gearing up for their first day of school. Wow. I am pretty sure I will miss it since I am a teacher, and John will do the drop-off. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing, but I can't change it (imagine me calling in sick on the first day of school)! ha ha! I would be a wreck anyway, I cry just thinking about it! But now I am getting ahead of myself. I do get a bit sappy when I think of my life now, and how different it is than before I had the girls. I remember when they were nothing but a hope and a dream and I remind myself often how lucky I am to have them. They really complete me and I feel a fullness in my life I never had before. Those of you with kids of your own will probably know what I mean.
John and I are reading up a bit on different discipline strategies. Our kids are fortunately very good, but as kids will do, they test their limits. I am a big fan of attachment parenting in terms of discipline. This does not mean letting kids do whatever. AP definately has boundaries, but the basis of the philosophy is to raise children who are respectful and compassionate. Distraction, re-directing, expecting obedience and talking/listening are all part of this parenting style. It's interesting and it fits in with our personalities for the most part. But we still use time-outs (this is anti-AP as it can be seen of a withdrawal of love) but time outs work for us! I like reading a lot of different styles and I take some and leave some depending on my own beliefs and common sense.
Interestingly enough, Emma has been the one to ask for her soother the odd time since the soother fairy visited (a few weeks ago). I was so sure Maddie would have had the hardest time, but she gave it up without batting an eye! Who knew? Just when you think you know your kids! lol
Funny story: Emma asked John yesterday if he had a baby in is belly! Time to hit the gym hubby of mine!
John and I are reading up a bit on different discipline strategies. Our kids are fortunately very good, but as kids will do, they test their limits. I am a big fan of attachment parenting in terms of discipline. This does not mean letting kids do whatever. AP definately has boundaries, but the basis of the philosophy is to raise children who are respectful and compassionate. Distraction, re-directing, expecting obedience and talking/listening are all part of this parenting style. It's interesting and it fits in with our personalities for the most part. But we still use time-outs (this is anti-AP as it can be seen of a withdrawal of love) but time outs work for us! I like reading a lot of different styles and I take some and leave some depending on my own beliefs and common sense.
Interestingly enough, Emma has been the one to ask for her soother the odd time since the soother fairy visited (a few weeks ago). I was so sure Maddie would have had the hardest time, but she gave it up without batting an eye! Who knew? Just when you think you know your kids! lol
Funny story: Emma asked John yesterday if he had a baby in is belly! Time to hit the gym hubby of mine!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
So long Soothers!
Last night the soo-soo fairy came and took every last soother away and left scooters and dolls for Emma and Maddie. We talked up the soother fairy for a few days. She was supposed to come on Sunday night, but we got caught in a storm and the power went out, so the fairy could not get the gifts from Walmart! Last night the girls lined their soothers up on the windowsill, said goodbye (Emma even gave hers a kiss) and off they went to bed. I was out running but when I came home I heard them talking but then they eventually fell asleep no problem. In the morning (at 6 to be precise) they came in and asked where their soothers were. I told them that the soother fairy must have come. They found their gifts in the playroom along with a card from the fairy that said congratulations you are now big girls who don't need soothers anymore. The scooters were a huge hit, they played with them all morning. Emma asked more than Maddie for her soother, I had initially thought Maddie would have a harder time giving it up as she seems to have it in her mouth more. But Emma seems to be the one needing to adjust, and Maddie reminds her that the fairy took their soo-soo. So let's hope they only ask for them over the next couple of days and then that's it. So far so good, I thought it would be tougher.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Whittamore's Farm
We took the girls to Whittamore's Farm yesterday. It's a farm located in Markham, on Taunton Rd (Steeles). They have amazing food to buy (corn, berries etc) and a great place for kids to play. They have a jumping castle, wagon ride (hay and all), tree houses, sandpits, mini-tractors the kids can ride, swings etc etc. We had a great day. The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowded. The only thing the girls didn't like was the jumping castle because it had big cow heads (not real, inflatable) in it and they were scared in spite of my efforts. I thought Emma might go in so I gave her a gentle push and she said "hey, mama, no pushing" and I said "I wasn't pushing, I was gently encouraging you" and I got a few laughs from surrounding parents. Last night after we had tucked them in and closed the door Emma called "mama?" so I opened the door a crack to find out what she wanted and she said "I had a great time at the farm." We will definately be making another visit to Whittamore's!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Awwwwww!
This morning I heard one of the girls get out of bed. She turned on the tv and I could hear it was CNN. She sat there for 15 minutes (our tv is in a nook at the end of the hallway on the opposite side of our bedroom, but I can still hear it). Then she (it was Maddie) came in and said "can u change it to my show now mama?" I laughed and asked her why she didn't come in to ask earlier. She said "I don't want to wake up my Emma, she have sore neck." So sweet. So out I went and she had all of her stuffed animals surrounding her on the chair. Maddie sleeps with a minimum of 10 stuffed animals which she calls her friends. Emma sleeps with one or two. So she stayed out there waiting for Emma to wake up and every few minutes she would run into our bedroom and give me that cute little impish grin that she gives. Emma woke up maybe 45 minutes later and then we got up for the day.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Little Darlings
The little darlings are enjoying a great summer in spite of all the rain! We have been taking them out after dinner since they go to bed a little later these days (part age, part we are on summer vacation). There have been many trips to the Marble Slab, an ice cream place that we love. The girls' favourite is cotton candy (because it's pink, they had no problem with strawberry when they were out of cotton candy). Maddie loves it with sprinkles and Emma loves it with marshmallows, which she calls little pillows. She likes to find them as they are hidden in the ice cream. When she does find one she calls it her treasure, and then eats it. We also go to the park if it's not raining (those of you in the area know that it has been a wet and cold July). They are expert climbers now and I am comfortable not being right behind them while they climb the various aparatus'. Emma still loves the swing and often congratulates me when I push her high like dad (but she still requests dad to push as he is "stronger.") Maddie hates the swing but insists on going in it sometimes. She is ok but you can't push her, she just sort of sits in it. The other day she said "ok mama, you push me but not bigger like Emma." I pushed her maybe an inch and she said "dats enough, no bigger."! They both like to run around the perimeter on the stones and say they are doing their exercises like mama (note: I do not do aforementioned exercises, I stopped running around stones at 30. lol I do run though and they watch me do exercise dvd's that is how they learned what exercises are)!
Bedtime is one big stall fest. We have an agreement that I read 2 books and I tell them 2 princess stories. They always request Sleeping Beauty and I am very animated when I tell it. I fall to the floor when Sleeping Beauty brings her finger etc and now Emma has orchestrated that John be Prince Philip, and he has to kiss me. So he gets on top of me (at least he is getting some action) and then Emma and Maddie climb on him. Yes, good times. After the princess stories, John reads a book and I read a book. I used to read both but one night John offered to read. The girls were not used to seeing him read and after he finished the story Emma said "good job dad, you did it!" I guess they thought he was illiterate up until that point! After that we finally get them tucked in and then we have to count the stones (stickers on their wall) then another kiss and another hug. The whole process takes about a half hour. So much for plopping them into bed when they were babies! I like this much more though! The odd time they get up in the night to pee, but they can do this by themselves (I will stand there with them, but they get on the potty themselves, wipe themselves and get off the potty etc).
They come into our room in the morning usually around 7. John and I actually admitted that we love this and look forward to seeing their little heads pop up at the bed. They are very good about waiting until 8 (mummy doesn't get up before 8 in the summer). So they will watch tv or they will cuddle with us. Maddie will say "mummy, it too early?" and I will say yes it is and Emma will say "it not 8 yet?" and I will say "no, not yet" and then they are quite for another few minutes. Emma is still such a cuddler. Maddie asks us to cuddle with her but then when we go to do it she doesn't really want it. The odd time she will. She does like to be close by holding my hand and she will often put my arm over her.
Last night we had a big scare. At 5 Emma called me to go pee (which is weird as she will usually come into our room). I went in and when I went to put her on the potty she started wailing and convulsing. We were on our way to the emergency room when John realized it was her neck and indeed she had pulled a neck muscle. I gave her some tylenol and we all piled into our big bed (Maddie was up too and very worried about her sister). Emma went back to sleep until about 8:30. Actually, everyone went back to sleep except for me as I lay there making sure Emma was still breathing. When she woke up she said she felt better, but when she went to get up you could see she was still in pain. I called Telehealth on the advice of my dad, and they told me how to help her. She is much better now thank goodness!
It was my dad's birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday again dad) and the girls were super excited about it (they even said today "it grandpa's happy birthday? We have cake?"). They went into daycare yesterday squealing that is was their grandpa's happy birthday. Emma said "I love grandpa, I miss him." I said we would soon be going to Ottawa to help celebrate grandpa's happy birthday and we will see grandma to. They were super excited about that and Maddie said "we see grandpa and grandma? dat so great!"
When we buy the girls things (which we try not to do that often, we want them to appreciate things not expect them) Maddie is so grateful and cute. I bought them shoes the other day, cute sandals with flowers on them. They needed new sandals for the summer (although with this weather I should have bought them another set of rubber rain boots). When I gave the girls their shoes Maddie said "oh my goodness mummy, you got these for me? I love dem, I love dem so much, dey my favourite! Thank you mummy, thank you!"
As for this stage and phase of their life I really can't complain about much. They are wonderful sweet kids and people have commented a few times on how polite they are (thanks Auntie Julie). They have their moments of course, but that is usually when they have gone without a nap. Emma is very reasonable but can be demanding about doing everything herself and seeing what is going on (as in when I am cooking, she wants to stir, pour, crack the egg etc). I let her do as much as I can, but there are some things she can't do for safety reasons. That's usually when she will have a small and short fit. Maddie is pretty easygoing these days. When she doesn't get her way she still throws her soother (got to get them off these soon) and sometimes she will let out these noises of discontent (I can't even begin to describe it, it's almost like a short scream or something). They are very obedient when we go out to the mall. They listen and they don't run too far ahead. If they do John and I yell "red light" and they stop right away until we catch up. It helps as well that we tell them in advance what they can and can't have. So we will tell them "you can choose one treat, popcorn or ice cream. Deal?" for example. Or we tell them "we are going to the mall but just to walk around, no one is buying anything. Deal?" And they respond deal. So when we get there and they start asking, I usually just need to say "remember the deal?" They are still easily distracted by things, so if they don't accept this (and they usually do thankfully) we bring them over to the elevator or escalator which they love, and all is forgotten!
They are growing up so fast. A friend of mine saw a recent picture of Emma and she said "oh my goodness, she is all little girl, no baby or toddler in her anymore." My response? WAH! sob, sob, sob. Time to have another. KIDDING! I love them at this age because that is who they are.
Bedtime is one big stall fest. We have an agreement that I read 2 books and I tell them 2 princess stories. They always request Sleeping Beauty and I am very animated when I tell it. I fall to the floor when Sleeping Beauty brings her finger etc and now Emma has orchestrated that John be Prince Philip, and he has to kiss me. So he gets on top of me (at least he is getting some action) and then Emma and Maddie climb on him. Yes, good times. After the princess stories, John reads a book and I read a book. I used to read both but one night John offered to read. The girls were not used to seeing him read and after he finished the story Emma said "good job dad, you did it!" I guess they thought he was illiterate up until that point! After that we finally get them tucked in and then we have to count the stones (stickers on their wall) then another kiss and another hug. The whole process takes about a half hour. So much for plopping them into bed when they were babies! I like this much more though! The odd time they get up in the night to pee, but they can do this by themselves (I will stand there with them, but they get on the potty themselves, wipe themselves and get off the potty etc).
They come into our room in the morning usually around 7. John and I actually admitted that we love this and look forward to seeing their little heads pop up at the bed. They are very good about waiting until 8 (mummy doesn't get up before 8 in the summer). So they will watch tv or they will cuddle with us. Maddie will say "mummy, it too early?" and I will say yes it is and Emma will say "it not 8 yet?" and I will say "no, not yet" and then they are quite for another few minutes. Emma is still such a cuddler. Maddie asks us to cuddle with her but then when we go to do it she doesn't really want it. The odd time she will. She does like to be close by holding my hand and she will often put my arm over her.
Last night we had a big scare. At 5 Emma called me to go pee (which is weird as she will usually come into our room). I went in and when I went to put her on the potty she started wailing and convulsing. We were on our way to the emergency room when John realized it was her neck and indeed she had pulled a neck muscle. I gave her some tylenol and we all piled into our big bed (Maddie was up too and very worried about her sister). Emma went back to sleep until about 8:30. Actually, everyone went back to sleep except for me as I lay there making sure Emma was still breathing. When she woke up she said she felt better, but when she went to get up you could see she was still in pain. I called Telehealth on the advice of my dad, and they told me how to help her. She is much better now thank goodness!
It was my dad's birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday again dad) and the girls were super excited about it (they even said today "it grandpa's happy birthday? We have cake?"). They went into daycare yesterday squealing that is was their grandpa's happy birthday. Emma said "I love grandpa, I miss him." I said we would soon be going to Ottawa to help celebrate grandpa's happy birthday and we will see grandma to. They were super excited about that and Maddie said "we see grandpa and grandma? dat so great!"
When we buy the girls things (which we try not to do that often, we want them to appreciate things not expect them) Maddie is so grateful and cute. I bought them shoes the other day, cute sandals with flowers on them. They needed new sandals for the summer (although with this weather I should have bought them another set of rubber rain boots). When I gave the girls their shoes Maddie said "oh my goodness mummy, you got these for me? I love dem, I love dem so much, dey my favourite! Thank you mummy, thank you!"
As for this stage and phase of their life I really can't complain about much. They are wonderful sweet kids and people have commented a few times on how polite they are (thanks Auntie Julie). They have their moments of course, but that is usually when they have gone without a nap. Emma is very reasonable but can be demanding about doing everything herself and seeing what is going on (as in when I am cooking, she wants to stir, pour, crack the egg etc). I let her do as much as I can, but there are some things she can't do for safety reasons. That's usually when she will have a small and short fit. Maddie is pretty easygoing these days. When she doesn't get her way she still throws her soother (got to get them off these soon) and sometimes she will let out these noises of discontent (I can't even begin to describe it, it's almost like a short scream or something). They are very obedient when we go out to the mall. They listen and they don't run too far ahead. If they do John and I yell "red light" and they stop right away until we catch up. It helps as well that we tell them in advance what they can and can't have. So we will tell them "you can choose one treat, popcorn or ice cream. Deal?" for example. Or we tell them "we are going to the mall but just to walk around, no one is buying anything. Deal?" And they respond deal. So when we get there and they start asking, I usually just need to say "remember the deal?" They are still easily distracted by things, so if they don't accept this (and they usually do thankfully) we bring them over to the elevator or escalator which they love, and all is forgotten!
They are growing up so fast. A friend of mine saw a recent picture of Emma and she said "oh my goodness, she is all little girl, no baby or toddler in her anymore." My response? WAH! sob, sob, sob. Time to have another. KIDDING! I love them at this age because that is who they are.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Bad mummy, haven't posted in eons!
I can't believe my last post was in May! Yikes. What can I say, busy time of year for those who teach and I took an intense two-week all day course at the beginning of July. I still have a research paper to complete but things should quiet down for me at the end of July.
The girls are amazing as always. They are so full of life and energy. Maddie has become more assertive with other kids (at the playground, for example, she will say "hey, dat my turn now"). She loves to collect things to bring to her bed at night. So this little thing is surrounded by umpteem treasures and stuffed animals. At Julie's she naps that way too, sometimes sleeping with dvd cases right next to her face. Makes for funny cheek imprints at times! She is a great eater for such a tiny thing. She can wolf down 2 adult sized portions of mac and cheese, or 3 pieces of pizza. But this doesn't happen every day, usually only when she is experiencing a growth spurt. She is quite a picky eater and won't try something unless she liked the look of it. She doesn't like things mixed in together, so her foods need to be seperate. Those plates that have dividers have been great for us. She loves to play outside and is amazing at casting her fishing rod all by herself. She also loves to do karate moves, so much so that John has mentioned enrolling her numerous times. She is pretty good with her hockey stick as well!
Emma is still a cuddle-bunny thank goodness. She will come into our bed in the morning and she loves to lie cheek-to-cheek with me while she wraps her arm around my head. If I move my face away by accident she pulls it back. She is a great communicator and sometimes seems older than her age. She seems to know what death/dead and die means, which is somewhat disturbing yet also pretty amazing. She uses it in the right context and everything. She loves to dance and also loves being outside all day. She is a great singer and knows the words to every Princess song which she belts out wholeheartedly. Emma is a great eater not in quantity but she will try new things no problem. She loves to eat lentil curry couscous, beans and soups. She loves dogs, but is scared when they bark. Julie has a dog, Bruno, who she adores.
In a few weeks Santa will be coming and he will leave a present in exchange for their soothers. They go back and forth between buying into this excitedly and saying 'no, don't want Santa to take my soo-soo." It's time, they are almost ready. They only have it for sleep now and they are both attached to other things (Emma her blanket and Maddie her books). Let's hope it's smooth sailing!
They are both up from a long nap so I am off to get them a snack before we go out to play. More later!
The girls are amazing as always. They are so full of life and energy. Maddie has become more assertive with other kids (at the playground, for example, she will say "hey, dat my turn now"). She loves to collect things to bring to her bed at night. So this little thing is surrounded by umpteem treasures and stuffed animals. At Julie's she naps that way too, sometimes sleeping with dvd cases right next to her face. Makes for funny cheek imprints at times! She is a great eater for such a tiny thing. She can wolf down 2 adult sized portions of mac and cheese, or 3 pieces of pizza. But this doesn't happen every day, usually only when she is experiencing a growth spurt. She is quite a picky eater and won't try something unless she liked the look of it. She doesn't like things mixed in together, so her foods need to be seperate. Those plates that have dividers have been great for us. She loves to play outside and is amazing at casting her fishing rod all by herself. She also loves to do karate moves, so much so that John has mentioned enrolling her numerous times. She is pretty good with her hockey stick as well!
Emma is still a cuddle-bunny thank goodness. She will come into our bed in the morning and she loves to lie cheek-to-cheek with me while she wraps her arm around my head. If I move my face away by accident she pulls it back. She is a great communicator and sometimes seems older than her age. She seems to know what death/dead and die means, which is somewhat disturbing yet also pretty amazing. She uses it in the right context and everything. She loves to dance and also loves being outside all day. She is a great singer and knows the words to every Princess song which she belts out wholeheartedly. Emma is a great eater not in quantity but she will try new things no problem. She loves to eat lentil curry couscous, beans and soups. She loves dogs, but is scared when they bark. Julie has a dog, Bruno, who she adores.
In a few weeks Santa will be coming and he will leave a present in exchange for their soothers. They go back and forth between buying into this excitedly and saying 'no, don't want Santa to take my soo-soo." It's time, they are almost ready. They only have it for sleep now and they are both attached to other things (Emma her blanket and Maddie her books). Let's hope it's smooth sailing!
They are both up from a long nap so I am off to get them a snack before we go out to play. More later!
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