next time i’m going for the kids’ stuff

I bought Kids’ Crest Cavity Protection Sparkle Fun toothpaste for Elliot when we started brushing his teeth. I was happy about it because I thought I’d finally found a toothpaste that was NOT some funky kid flavour that I’d have to wean him off of. The reason I thought that is because it basically looks like a tube of adult toothpaste.

Bad decision.

Remember how I said it looks like a tube of adult toothpaste? Well tonight was about the fiftieth time I’ve grabbed it instead of my own toothpaste. And remember how I said I thought it wasn’t some funky kid flavour? Well it’s bubblegum and it’s DISGUSTING.

To add insult to injury, the expiry date on the tube is November 2007, and there’s no way Elliot’s making it through the tube before November, what with the teensy weensy smear we’re putting on his toothbrush.

Next time I’m getting this stuff. There will be no mistaking whose toothpaste is whose.

downs and ups

After 35 plus years of living, it still surprises me how my outlook can change so dramatically in a short time.

Yesterday afternoon Greg, Elliot and I were all exhausted and at least two out of three of us were feeling crummy with the beginnings of a cold (we’re not sure about E). I think it was the first time all of us were that tired at the same time, and we all had to get through the evening together.

We made it, barely (in hindsight dinner plans should have been scrapped and replaced by takeout), and when I went to bed, feeling icky and exhausted, I wondered how I would get through the week if I was starting out this tired. I didn’t sleep very well, which didn’t help matters.

We dragged ourselves out of bed and to work, and thankfully it was a good morning for Elliot so there weren’t any struggles with eating, dressing or getting in the car seat.

I’m not quite sure what happened, but as the day progressed I realized I was feeling much better mentally, and when I got home I had lots of energy to play with E while Greg made dinner. And this despite the fact that physically I feel like my head is going to explode.

I think part of it is that my job is not very taxing from a physical point of view (compared to my jam-packed day yesterday with E), so some of my energy stores came back. And I had a very nice lunch with two friends, and that boosted my spirits as well.

So tonight I feel as if I will get through the week, no problem! Of course it could all turn again overnight…:)

day one done

Well the first day’s over, and it wasn’t that bad. I didn’t really miss Elliot until I actually saw him after work, and I wasn’t twiddling my thumbs all day. They were quite prepared for me, which is a novelty. In my past jobs I’ve shown up and had pretty much nothing to do for at least the first day, if not the first week.

I am feeling a bit unsettled right now, but I think that’s probably normal. My routine is getting a total upheaval, and once I’m a bit more used to the change, I think I’ll get in the groove.

Elliot had a good first full day at daycare. He slept for almost two hours in the afternoon, and he seemed in good spirits this evening before bed. I must say the evening just flew by, having not seen him all day. Usually I’m looking forward to putting him to bed, but tonight I just wanted to be with him!

So yes, I think I’m still feeling a bit sad at this point, especially if I start really thinking about how much less time I’ll see Elliot, but perhaps I will try not to dwell on that, enjoy the time we do have together, and enjoy my job as well.

Now it’s time for a little escape — 24 starts in five minutes.

Thanks for all the phone calls and kind words, they were much appreciated. (Jen — I deleted your comment by mistake, but I did read it!).

night before jitters

I’m going back to work tomorrow…and I’m feeling all sorts of things. I think the two biggies are sadness that I will no longer be spending every day with Elliot, and nervousness about starting a brand new job. Whose stupid idea was it to make a job change at the same time I’m having to deal with leaving my child for the first time??

I’m also feeling a bit of guilt about leaving Elliot in someone else’s care. I’m surprised at that one — I didn’t think I’d feel guilty. And I’m feeling a bit wistful that I’m losing some of my free time. Yes, taking care of Elliot is a lot of work, but almost every afternoon I get some me time while he naps. Although I will get that sometimes at work — time to take a walk at lunch time, have a nice lunch or poke around a few stores.

I think what I’d like to do is fast-forward a few weeks. To a point where I’m more used to the routine of not seeing Elliot every day, and to a point where I’m useful at work. I hate not being busy at work, and I hate not being useful…two things that are inevitable when you start a new job.

The plus of all this is I’m taking Thursdays off to spend with Elliot, and I’m really looking forward to our day together. I think it’ll break up the week quite nicely, and I’m lucky to be able to have that day off.

I’m off to bed now…I think I just need to get the first day over with and move on.

so what to do?

Today I dropped Elliot off for the afternoon at RC’s, in preparation for him spending three full days there next week when I go back to work. I had a massage, but that only took 45 minutes, and after that I realized I had a good hour on my hands. What to do? (My soon-to-be-PM will probably wish I did some work during that time, but she’ll have me at her fingertips soon enough…)

I was right by the mall, so I ventured in. I got some vacuum cleaner bags (how exciting), and then wandered around aimlessly for a bit. I didn’t feel like stopping in at Starbucks, and I didn’t feel like sitting and reading. So I decided to shop, with money I don’t have but will soon be earning. That’s what credit cards are for, right?

I bought myself a stupidly expensive pair of Skechers, and I love them. They go well with a couple pairs of pants I bought a couple of weeks ago with more money I don’t have. Good thing I’m going back to work.

Anyway, it was an odd feeling, having the afternoon with no plans. It was enjoyable, but it felt a bit weird not to have a purpose. Elliot’s going again tomorrow afternoon and Friday, and tomorrow I think I’ll go for a run with Yoshi. I may as well enjoy this leisure time while I have it!

And Elliot did awesome while I was gone. He had a good lunch, slept for almost two hours and barely noticed me when I came back three and a half hours later. I think next week will be much harder on me than him!

reflections

A year ago right now I was lying in a hospital bed in the worst pain I could imagine.

So far today I’ve had breakfast with my son, played with him, gone for a walk with him and Yoshi, and opened his birthday presents with his Dad. And now I’m about to go make a birthday cake.

Although the outcome of that day a year ago was the most amazing event of my life, overall I’m liking today a lot better.

I think every parent feels that time goes by fast when it comes to their children, and I’m no exception. I look at pictures of Elliot when he was born and I can’t believe it was such a short time ago. We’ve had such a great year, Greg, Elliot and I, and given how fast time is going by, I’m glad we’re only just starting year two.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes for Elliot — he’s one loved little boy.

a great day

My face feels like it’s been pelted a million times over with tiny needles, my back hurts, my legs feel like lead, I’m tired, and my ankles have bruises from my new boots, but it was a great day!

It snowed HARD all day and it was very windy at the top of the chairs, but the snow was nice. West coast powder, and hardly any ice. The visibility was pretty brutal at times — a bit like skiing blind. But it was a great day, honest! 🙂

It was good to get up on a hill after a three-year hiatus. I went up with S and A, and S was a trooper in the weather. When I was her age, I wouldn’t have been out skiing, that’s for sure.

And Elliot had lots of fun with Gramma. That was the longest I’d left him with anyone other than Greg, and when I got back to his Gramma’s house, he smiled at me, came over for a hug, and then promptly went back to playing.

one of those days…

It started out okay. I got to have a shower AND blow dry my hair this morning. That’s a treat. I got my hair cut on the weekend and it was my first chance to see how good I could make it look. 🙂

After blow drying my hair, I went to pick up Elliot from the bathroom floor so I could brush his teeth. I forgot I’d left a drawer open behind me, and as I stood up, I scraped my lower back on the corner of the drawer. Holy crap, did it hurt. I put Elliot down, still holding him, and had a little cry. He was very calming — didn’t cry, just looked at me lovingly.

A few minutes later I was able to stand up and survey the damage. Big welt, a bit of blood, a lot of pain, but I was going to live.

About an hour later, Elliot had a bit of a meltdown from fatigue, and I ended up having to give him a nap. This was a bummer because it screwed up my plan for the day. And I do way better with a plan. Damn child.

He napped for a couple of hours, which was good, but I am now worried my evening’s going to be a bit hellish. He and I are driving up to Nanaimo tonight with friends and he’ll either fall fast asleep (which will be fine) or it’ll be a LOUD car ride. We’ll hope for the former.

So I ended up being at home when my cleaning lady arrived, which I hate, but I did a bit of work and finally woke Elliot up at noon right before the vacuuming started. We had lunch and started our plan for the day, just a bit later than anticipated.

So then I ended up wasting $13 (and an hour of my time) getting my car cleaned inside and out. Is was a waste because they didn’t do the back, which was the part I wanted cleaned. And I’m driving it up to Mt. Washington tomorrow, so what was I thinking getting the outside washed?? I should have just paid a toonie at a gas station and vacuumed out the back myself. Oh well, they did vacuum E’s carseat, which was nice. And the front of the car looks good, as does the outside, until tomorrow anyway.

I got home, we had a snack, and then it was off for a walk with Yoshi. There’s a flat tire on the jogging stroller, so I knew I’d have to take the backpack. Remember that wound I suffered in the morning? Right where the waistband of the pack goes. Lovely. I winced as I put the pack on, but after a while the weight just numbed it.

During our walk it poured, which is no surprise given the weather we’ve been having today. At least it didn’t hail. Remember how I blew dry my hair this morning? Pointless. No one even saw it, except E. Although if he could talk I’m sure he would have told me it looked great.

Okay, so it really wasn’t that bad, except for the scrape on my back. Tomorrow I’m spending the day at Mt. Washington while Gramma takes care of E. A very nice treat for me! And right now E’s happily playing while I write this post, so maybe we’ll be fine on the car ride.

house plant disposal

I have about ten house plants. Not many, but enough. Well, too many actually. They are dependents I do not need or want. With the exception of three of them, they offer me little joy. For almost two years I’ve wanted to get rid of them, and I don’t know how.

Obvious Option #1: Throw them out. But I can’t do that…I feel too guilty! Not from an environmental perspective, as I’d just compost them, but from a guilt perspective. I just can’t throw out a living plant.

Obvious Option #2: Let them die and then throw them out. Perhaps that would be easier? Easier to get rid of something dead and ugly than something green and oxygen-providing. So I have gone on a watering strike a couple of times. But they end up looking so pathetic that I water them again. And within hours they are perky and green again. Stupid hearty plants.

The other problem with #1 and #2 is that throwing them away is a lot of work. More work than continuing to water them. I’d have to empty all the dirt, clean up all the pots, clean up the mess I’d make while doing all that. And a couple of them are quite large, which means I’d probably have to cut them up. I can’t even throw them away…how could I cut them up??

Obvious Option #3: Give them away. One friend has shown an interest, but that was months ago. Nothing has come of it. My cleaning lady is coming tomorrow so I’ll ask her if she wants any of them. I should make it an all or nothing deal. You want that one? Well you’re taking these six as well then.

There is another option, which I’m currently testing to see if it works. I’ve put two in our sunroom, which is very cold at this time of year. I don’t see them on a regular basis, so I won’t be reminded to water them. Hopefully they’ll die peacefully, and next time I notice them they’ll be unrecognizable and I’ll quietly throw them in the compost, guilt-free. Of course, one of the ones I put out there is currently flowering for only the second time in the eight years I’ve had it. As if to say “keep me, keep me!”. Stupid plant.

The only three I want to keep are a fig tree and two African violets. The fig tree was one of my first house plants ever. It almost died once, but I nursed it back to health. It deserves to live. One of the African violets was from a good friend’s wedding. It desperately needs to be repotted, but it’s hanging in there. And the other African violet is just a really healthy plant that flowers often, doesn’t take up a lot of room, is in a very pretty pot, and requires very little attention.

So, uh, does anyone want some plants?