Life is good...mostly.

Monday was a good day here. For the first time EVER Jenna and Aidan went to play in the back yard, without me!! Mind you, I had the window in the living room open, and they were calling me every 2 minutes, but besides that, it was great!! And they played so nicely with each other! I'm not used to that!

Tuesday was interesting. I took Henry to playgroup with me. He needs help with his social skills, and I figured that was the perfect place for it. He did pretty great!! Two meltdowns. One when he finished his snack, and wasn't allowed to play (None of the other kids were finished yet) and one when I made him sit for circle time, instead of crawling all around the kids over and over. But surprisingly, he did really well.

Jenna went to play at her friend Leah's today. And then a whole bunch of other kids came out to play. It was fun watching them :) And I got to talk to other mommy's, which is always nice :)

I'm a little worried about my friend Karen. She's been really down lately, and not getting very good sleep because of her baby Evan. She mentioned yesterday wanting to just walk away. Had it all planned out and everything. I called her Mom. I felt like I was being a total tattle tale. But, in the end I figured I would rather tattle now, than lose my best friend later.

Does anyone have any idea on how to get Mason to sleep at night!? I know he's a big boy, and my doctor assured me that it's probably because he's growing so fast, that he's making up for lost calories during that day...but seriously!! I am soooo sleepy. I really hate to complain about it. He's only 7 months old...but this has been going on for so long now. I look like the walking dead I'm sure :)

Mason had his check up on Monday. He's 20lbs 6.5 oz. Slowing WAY down now. only up 2oz since last month. He laughed through his needle. What a trooper. He's doing a modified army crawl :) I have a video...just need to attempt to post it again :)

Al bashed his toe on Monday. He says it's not broken, but it's realllllly purple, and giving him lots of aches and pains. he's such a man...won't get it checked. silly.

So, that's what's up with us.

Hope all is well with all of my friends.

~Lisa~

Just like the good old days.

Al and I went on a date last night! It was the first time we've been out together since before Mason was born!! And we didn't go to a movie!!

My mom gave us a 'gift certificate' for Christmas that covered babysitting and a night out. So I decided we'd use it for Al's birthday. I'm glad we saved it :)

First we went to a used CD store. Something we'd never do with the kids with us! LOL Surprisingly we didn't get anything, but it was still nice to browse quietly.

Then we went to Baskin Robbins for a cone!! LOL...yes, dessert first. Totally in love with their chocolate peanut butter!!! YUM!

We went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. Big step for me, I am so chicken when it comes to trying a new restaurant. But this place was SO good!!!! It's called Mexicalirosa's. We shared the Appetizer plate. Best quesadilla IN THE WORLD!!!

But besides the food, we got to talk. About things other than the hoolig...I mean..kids. We talked about religion, world events, and how if the girl at the table next to us(who had her boyfriend in the "Don't leave me" arm around the neck hold all damn night) gained another 5 pounds, he was totally going to leave her. LOL...oh yes, my husband and me, we are totally catty like that! LMAO

We laughed a lot, we talked too loud, we held hands across the table, and we reconnected.

It was the best night I have had in SO long.

And then we went to Wal-Mart and searched their TOY department for a damn robot for Aidan. Not a robot can be found. What toy department doesn't have robots?! ugh. I hate Wal-Mart as much as I love it sometimes. :)

So, that was my weekend :) A very good one.

~Lisa~

Big Week.

Well, life is slowly getting back on track. It's been a busy week. Jenna was Thrilled to get back to school after march break. But of course, with that came a very crabby, tired girl that none of us were particulairly crazy to be around :) She's getting better. Thankfully. Else I woulda had to sell her to the highest bidder.

I had a very big day on Wednesday. Jenny invited me to a meeting with Henry's school. There were many important people there. Henry's parents, The principal, Henry's teacher, a woman from the school board, Henry's resource teacher, and an advocate from a place that helps mediate meetings between families with children with special needs, and then little old me. SO Intimidating. I was doing fine taking it all in, but when it was my turn to speak, oh man, I turned about eleventy billion shades of red. At least I didn't say fart instead of part like I once did in a job interview :)

Henry's been increasingly aggressive at school, and we all got together to hash out ideas that would help his EA and the staff to deal with it. I think it went really well, but I also think that his teacher and RT really played everything down. Which is unfortunate. Oh well. I was really honoured to have been asked. His teacher even layed on the praise when he was telling everyone that Henry is well above his peers academically. Jenny has said it before, but to hear from his teacher, in front of so many officials...well...it was pretty nice :)

Yesterday was Al's birthday :) He's 29 now :) I think he had a lot of trouble with knowing he's only one year away from 30. Not sure why though. We just did a low key thing here. I made him a marble cake...YUM!! I have decided that I should NOT be left alone with cake. The willpower thing?? not so much. I felt SO bad last night. It was getting late, and the kids were wanting cake, but Al and I hadn't eaten dinner yet, Al said "Let's just go ahead with the cake, and we'll eat after" So, there I go, get a knife, 2 plates. 2 forks. And I slice right into the cake. Poor Al...he comes out and says to me "Do you think you could at least light one candle?" DUH!!! I felt so rotten. I make such a huge deal about the kids birthdays, and yet I didn't even think of a candle for my husband. I certainly hope his 30th is a better birthday than his 29th.

Gotta run. Babies need tending.

~Lisa~

My husband is so Handsome.

Mason messed up his schedule in a big way yesterday. He wanted to nap at 6pm. Okay, fine. Normally if he is sleepy that late in the day he only sleeps for 30 minutes and then wakes up for his dinner by 7. Not yesterday! Yesterday he slept through until 11:15!! I know. I was totally foolish for not waking him. I realize that now.

Anyway. Al gave him a bottle, but there was NO way that boy wanted to go back to sleep.

Watching them, my husband and my son...was the most beautiful sight. My husband seemed softer, and happier. And my son was thrilled with all the attention. There's a special bond between them. It melts my heart every time I see them together :)

We finally gave up on getting Mason to go to sleep and just brought him to bed with us.

There's nothing like a man cuddling his baby.

He's the most handsome then.

~Lisa~

He Sits!!

So, when we were at playgroup the other day, Mason's Girlfriend, Bronwyn, was there. (Bronwyn is Karen's niece, and OH SO CUTE!! She's 5 weeks older than Mason). Anyway, she was sitting up like a champ! I was amazed at her strength :) And admittedly jealous that Mason wasn't showing many signs of doing it yet :(

Then this morning I was chatting to my Mom and she asked if Mason was sitting on his own, because my nephew Damion (3 weeks younger than Mason) can sit between their feet for a few seconds at a time. I said "No, Mason can sit well if he's on my lap, but just topples over if I put him on the floor, or try to prop him on the couch or bed."

So then I got to thinking...I borrowed a toy from Karen just yesterday. You can use it two ways, 1, lay baby under it, and he kicks a thingy to activate the sounds and thingamajigs, or 2, push a couple buttons to lower the top thingy and baby can sit in front of all the bells and whistles to push them to make them go.

So, I convert the thing, and plunk Mason down in front of it. Lo and Behold, this is what he does!!!

I think there are probably laws against babies being this cute. but I won't tell if you won't :)

The little stinker can SIT!!! YAY!!! I am such a proud Mama today :)

~Lisa~

We're so boring.

Nothing much has been going on around here lately. Nothing bloggable anyway. Hmm...I wonder if bloggable is in the Dictionary?? hmm...

Anyway. It's March Break here. And Jenny cancelled me for the week so that they can go to one of the Carolina's (Not sure if it's north or south). Ugh. Either way, they're at the beach, and I am freezing my ASS off!! What happened to the +14C we had on Monday?? Today the wind is supposed to get up to 80Km/hr around here! And we're getting more snow :-@

I took the kids to a new playgroup yesterday. It was fun :) The playgroup(Ontario Early Years Centre) we usually go to is pretty big, with different rooms and lots of 'stations' for the kids to play at. Unfortunately, I am not brave enough to take all three kids there. There's just too much potential destruction...and I am only one mommy...three kids outnumber me...and I am weak. lol Anyway, I digress. So, Karen called me yesterday and asked if I wanted to take my kids to a different playgroup, run by the OEYC, but in a smaller building. "They'll be easier to watch" she said...I wasn't convinced. "They have snack time, and circle time" I liked that, but wasn't convinced. "They have coffee" I was SO there. LOL...and yet I didn't even have any while I was there :)

It was so great to get out of the house like that. I can't go shopping with all three right now. Mason outgrew his Handy Dandy infant car seat. But he still isn't sitting up on his own well enough (or at all really) to sit in the front of the cart. I could take him in the stroller, but, Aidan, being Aidan, and 2, and a boy, he doesn't walk with me well enough to be allowed free reign yet. It's made for some cabin fever around her I'm afraid. So the break in our day yesterday worked wonders for our morale around here :)

Mason is still not sleeping that great at night. He was up every 3 hours last night, and started the day at 5:30. I figure, since he's a big baby, and has grown so much, and so fast in his short 6 3/4 months, he probably does need the extra feedings he gets at night. Especially since he's decided not to nurse as well in the day time. :P He gets distracted by everything :) Especially his rather noisey older siblings. He's also started on Baby food. His favourites are Carrots and Squash. And so far, his least favourites are Pears and Peaches. :) His face scrunches up hilariously when he gets a taste of those :) He does like apples and bananas though, so hopefully he'll like other fruits too.

Jenna has had a HUGE improvement on her letter sounds!!!! We took Jes's suggestion and got the LeapPad Letter Factory video. BOTH Jenna and Aidan are mesmerized by it!! And even better, Aidan is picking up the letter sounds too!! yay!!

Aidan is my mischief maker. I caught him spreading margarine on the counter yesterday. He'll also take Jenna's beloved Blankie and hide it. He's famous for being heard saying "HA HA HA, they'll never find it NOW!!!" It's a good thing he's so stinkin' cute. We'd have to sell him on the black market otherwise.

Al is still loving his job. He even got handed over authority for the service department!!! YAY AL!! Although, it means that he's working just as long as he was when he was towing. Which is so frustrating or me :( I hate to be bothered by how much he works. But I do realize that he has to, and that it's not forever...well, I hope not anyway. We've been spoiled lately. Since he starts work at 10AM, he gets to be here until about 9AM!! I've even been able to go back to bed some mornings for an hour or so!! Lovely that :)

I have a sight words program, and a "How Are You" program to write for Henry. I really should get moving on those :) They're different than the other programs I have written before, but I'm looking forward to them. Henry is so funny sometimes(In hindsight of course :)) I was working with him on Saturday, and he was supposed to count to 4. Nearly everytime he screamed at me 1, 2, 3, VIOLET. I have NO idea where it was coming from, but he did it eventually.

Anyway, not much exciting around here. I've been thinking of Helen and her dad's passing a lot. I feel so terrible that there's nothing much that I can do for her :( I hope she knows how much she's loved and appreciated.

Hugs to all.

~Lisa~

Dear Mason,

Hi there Baby. We need to discuss something. Again. I know that I have spoken to you repeatedly about this matter. I have begged, even cried a wee bit that one time...but Mason, this needs to stop. We can not continue with this 5 in the morning play time.

Mommy is tired.

Mommy has an important job that requires her to THINK.

Mommy has 3 kids to care for.

Mommy cannot think straight lately. And my son, it's gone on plenty long enough!!

Here's the deal. I am FINE with you waking in the night. I will put you to bed at a reasonable hour, and I will feed you 4-5 hours later. And THEN...this is the tricky part my love...after that feeding...I will get up with you again 4-5 hours later...but you MUST be willing to go back to sleep again Mason James. You are a little BABY...you need more sleep!!!

So, to recap. 5 AM is NOT the time when Mommy would like to spend one on one with you. We get that in the afternoon...there's NO need for it before the sun rises okay?? I do love you, and I do love playing with you, seeing your delicious smiles and lovely laughs. But not, I repeat NOT at 5 am.

All Clear??

Good. I love you!!

Love Always,
Mommy

My new Mob-Boss name is "Sticky Eye".

Or

Flush eye with water for 15 minutes

Or

How to lose your husbands respect

Or

Okay, no more Or's...

I was trying to be super mom this morning. One of the kids Little People swings was mysteriously broken by gremlin's in the night(as I discovered upon asking all guilty looking parties "What Happened"). So, out comes the crazy glue. The first bottle I have ever been the proud owner of...In...my...LIFE! TRUE! But, there's a problem...the glue is stuck...hmm...get a pin. So, I poke and prod at it for a bit, and managed to squeeze out some gloopy not-sticky-enough crazy glue. That would not do. I only succeeded in partially glueing my finger to the toy...no idea how. Thus the reason for my lack of glue in previous years apparently. So, I poke and prod some more, getting out the gloopy glue in the hopes that the running good glue is hiding underneath.

I gave one good squeeze, and out came the rest of the gloopy(Lovin' that word today!!) glue, and out spurted the runnier glue. IN MY EYE!!! I stood for a fraction of a moment praying that I was wrong, that there was really nothing in my eye. And then it started to Burn!! I calmly said to Al, "What would I need to do if I got this glue in my eye? SERIOUSLY!" I thought he would think I was joking, and not help me! LOL While I stood there burning my eye out, and holding it open! LOL

So then I had to flush it out with water for 15 minutes!! Pain in the arse!! But, much better than walking around with my eye glued shut forever!!

And after all that, I got the toy fixed :)

Also, Big Happy Birthday to My George!!!!

~Lisa~