Snow Angel

Max's first snow angel

What a fabulous day in the snow!

We left at 11am with Max in the backpack and he promptly fell asleep as we walked along the low road.

We thought this would be one of the safer routes, but really, we chose it more becuase it is mostly level and the other routes all seem to have huge and possibly icy hills. It was very interesting to see all the drivers racing along the road (over half of them were talking on their cell phones - I now support the creation of a law that prohibits cell phone use while driving). Crazy behaviour, considering the road conditions.

It was cold and snowy, but we were dressed with layer upon layer of clothing, so I'm pretty sure everyone was warm. Especially Max, who spent almost an hour asleep in the backpack. Considering the noise of the trains on the low road, the trucks and the traffic, as we hit main street. He must have been warm enough!

We ended up stopping for lunch, so we peeled off our layers and had a nice relaxing lunch. After layering back up again, we braved the cold. We took a different route home, which was nice, so Max got to practice some walking in the snow...

and then of course, some other forms of transportation for Max... heehee, I had to throw that one in...

Max likes to do things on his own, especially walking, so it was quite a pleasant surprise that he would hold our hands as he walked through the snow. I imagine it was because of how unsteady he felt on the ice and snow, because he has been confident enough to RUN, when it isn't icy out. Which really just means I need to be on my toes to keep up with him.

We came home and spent some time visiting with the neighbour and her "puppies", all playing in the snow. Max had so much fun. But was so tired... so a nice late nap at 4pm. Needless to say, bed time didn't happen at the usual time for Max, and I imagine it is going to be earlier than usual for me. I hope!

I do love the snow, I just wish the roads would be clear and the drivers wouldn't be so bad! I'm off to work before all the drivers hit the road, so I'm thankful for that. But I will have to drive in it later on... I'm hoping for the best of both (lots of snow and clear, dry, safe roads).

Hoping for another fun and snowy day with the boys again soon!

Finally!

1. I finished the final exam for my year-long online medical transcription course. Now, I just have to wait 2 weeks for the results.

2. It snowed. YAY!

It was a tough weekend for Ross. I started the exam on Friday morning and I had 48 hours to complete and submit it. Max spent Friday at Grandma and Grandpa's and then Ross spent the weekend looking after Max. Ross is fairly involved in most of the things that happen with Max on the weekends, but he wanted to make sure I was rested, so if Max was calling or crying throughout the night, Ross went in. It meant that Ross really did not get much sleep at night.

I should probably mention that we do not go into Max's room every time he calls or cries a little, because then he definitely wants to get up and it is a long process to get him back to sleep. MOST of the time, he just cries for a couple of minutes and then goes back to sleep.

I'm a little worried that this may be a new habit and the crying may go on a little longer than usual tonight.

Once I hit the submit button for the final, this morning at 930am... Ross and Max attempted a nap. Surprise, Ross was asleep until mid afternoon! He was so exhausted from the lack of sleep. I am so grateful that he is so supportive.

On to the 2nd "finally"! It snowed and I am so excited! Unfortunately we live close to the water, so it doesn't snow as much or stay as long as it does up the hill a little ways. But Max and I dressed up and went out to play it in anyhow. Max wasn't quite sure what to think of it or what to do with it and was so cute in his big puffy snow suit.





My feelings are a little bit mixed though, I love the snow: how it looks, snow-shoeing, snow angels, snow balls and just the general winter-y feel. But I still wish it wasn't so cold. I've been sleeping with wool socks and a fleecy sweatshirt on because I've been so cold at night.

I'm going to bed feeling so warm and grateful for everything today, what a fabulous day!

Lack of Sleep

I have never been one to sleep much, so I really should understand where Max is coming from, I think. But, since being pregnant, I have never needed so much sleep.

I could sleep for 12 hours a night and still need a nap during the day, when I was pregnant. Thank goodness I'm not as tired now as I was then. It was nice when Max started sleeping for more than 2 hours at a time, so I could get some decent sleep. Even better when he started sleeping through the night.

But, for some strange reason, now, at 14 and half months, Max is waking up through the night. He wakes up around the time I go to bed, but the nice thing is it's a 5 minute cry (and it's what I call the "fake" cry, the one that turns into "hi" with a big cheery smile when I walk in the room) and then he's back asleep. Provided I don't go in and give him motivation to keep crying. Then he starts again with crys at 4 or 5am. These ones have started getting longer and longer and he does not always go back to sleep. Last night was particularly unwelcome for all of us, as Max was crying from 3-4am. Eventually he went back to sleep, but not for long, I'm sure. I had to get up for work at 5am. Uggh!

Now I am left to wonder if Max does not need as much sleep as is typical. Apparently I was not much of a sleeper when I was an infant (payback?), so maybe he doesn't need as much sleep? I find that hard to believe that would warrant getting up at 3 or 4am though. Especially when he is only napping for 1, maybe 1 and a half hours during the day.

So, as I prepare to write an exam Friday and Saturday, I am going to try to be patient and calm.

I love Max and the time I get to spend with him, (even in what feels like the middle of the night). I am so thankful that we are all healthy and happy (for the most part, although I'm not sure that happy is a word I - or anyone else - would use to describe my demeanor at 3am).

I am reflecting on all this, and am now starting to think of how unimportant it really is in the grand scheme of things. Max is only going to be this little and needing me so much for such a short period of time, I would like to enjoy every moment,e ven if it isn't what I've planned.

On the flip side, we had a great time yesterday playing at the pool, visiting the dentist (he didn't even do anything with Max, just talked to me, at least he had some neat toys in the waiting room), and playing in London Drugs (almost getting run over by the employees and the customers was a fun game, Max laughed and laughed and laughed, every time there was an "oops!").

Patience

Finally, I am starting to become more patient!

Anyone that knows me may be used to my 100 mile a minute pace. Always an appointment to get to, a class to teach, a client to meet, a program to do, a mess to clean up, a hike, snowshoe, walk, run or workout to do. Typical type A.

Having Max was like going from 100 kilometers an hour to a crawl in 5 seconds. I knew it had to happen and tried so hard to "go with it" and be felxible and patient, but it has definitely taken some getting used to. I am learning and getting better and I hope that never changes!

So, my "aha" moment came yesterday. I was on my way home with Max, he had been at daycare while I had been getting some work done. In my head I was thinking of the tidying, cleaning and preparation that needed to be done when we got home... but as we got in the door, Max raced over, with his coat and boots still on and grabbed a book and held it up to me.

I think Max may have learned too. There is not a lot that will keep me from sitting down wherever I am when he does that, let him curl up in my lap and read the story again and again and again and again (you get the idea). So of course, nothing got done, until Max's dad came home and we worked on dinner while entertaining Max in between books. The kitchen can be cleaned later on (after bed), and house can be tidy-ed later on too. It is so much fun to sit with Max and let him turn pages as we read through the stories. Way more fun than cleaning up and cooking! Heehee, so have I learned patience or to procrastinate?

Dancing

I love to dance... so it should not surprise me that Max seems to love to dance.

It took me a while to figure out what was going on. I did not know why he had brought his toy workbench over to me, until he motioned for me to pull the tab that makes the music play. Every time I did that he ran around in circles, bounced and waved his arms.

It only took me a couple of times to figure out that this was Max dancing!

The most beautiful thing in the world for me to see, is Max smiling, laughing and having fun, dancing in the living room. So I did what every parent would do and continued to pull the little tab, again and again and again, to keep Max happy, smiling and dancing.

So, Max took a bath and went to bed a little later than usual tonight, but I have the memory of him smiling, laughing and dancing forever and so far, I cannot imagine anything better!