After dinner tonight we wanted to get outside since the kids have all been sick and are starting to feel better. We needed the fresh air, it was still daylight (finally), so we opted to head for a walk. We bundled the kids up and put Evan in the sleigh and Connor walked with us. It was so nice to breathe in some fresh air. We rounded the sidewalk at the walkway, and were greeted by a white lab cross. It had to have been crossed with another large dog, because for a pup he was big. The dog comes up and sniffs us and Matt and I take a look around for the owners. We walked about halfway down the walkway and the dog is still with us playing and bounding around us through the snow. Then the dog started jumping up on us. Matt scooped up Connor and as I bent down to pick Evan up out of the sleigh the dog nipped and ripped off Evan's mitt that was dangling as I was lifting him. The mitt was not on Evan's hand, thank God. It was one of those useless ones that come attached to the snowsuit but don't actually ever stay on. I had put on an extra pair in addition to those and in addition to his other pair of knit mittens on idiot strings. They were not going to be warm enough tonight, so I put on an old pair of Connor's warmer ones. So now, the stupid dog has Evan's mitt and is running around taunting us with it and chewing on it. We started walking back towards the walkway entrance to see if the owners were around. They were not. The dog is now jumping up on us, nipping at my fingers and Connors boots. Matt is swearing a blue streak at the dog. Finally, we hear, "Shaaadow". This lady comes out and trie to wrangle her dog who clearly was not trained and kept running away from her and at us. So he drops the first mitten and jumps up on me and snaps Evan's knit mitten off...Matt is losing it. "You can't have your fucking dog off leash for fuck sakes!" "Get your fucking dog under control now!" "I swear to fucking God!" The owner says, "I am really sorry." Now under normal circumstances, I say, "it is ok...shit happens." I couldn't say anything to her cause I was so pissed. Matt is kicking at the dog as it is jumping up and nipping at Connor. I didn't care about the mitts, I just wanted the hell out of there. We got back into the walk way and the dog got on the other side of the fence. About half way down we stopped as the dog was still following us but on the other side of the fence. We grabbed our sled and by then the owners had gone back to get dog treats in an attempt to lure the dog back home. Somehow Matt had got the other mitten back in all of the chaos...nice and chewed up. As we are walking home, Connor says, "fucking dog, fucking dog!!" Great, not only do we almost get bit by a fucking dog, now Connor is saying it over and over.
We were able to find the humour in the situation after the fact, but in all seriousness, something terrible could have happened. I feel the dog knew who to "pick on." The youngest, the weakest and that is what he did. It was in his nature and although he was just playing it was in no way safe. Matt and I were definitely feeling threatened by the dog and went into protection mode. It brings up some questions. Why was the dog loose in the first place? They didn't have a fenced yard so why was the dog out without a leash? As a dog owner, you have responsibilities and she is lucky that this ended the way it did. All I can hope now is that Connor doesn't continue saying, "FUCKING DOG!"
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
I want my daddy...
It seems that even after a good night these days (which is only waking once to feed the babe) that six a.m. is still painful. I am nursing Evan who seems to be eating faster and faster with each passing day and I desparately try to figure out how to get just one more hour of sleep. On one hand, I could try and put him back down and he might sleep for another hour. This is turn will completely mess up his nap schedule which has been phenomenal this past week. On the other hand, Matt could get up with him after I finish feeding him. It appears that I will be getting up with Evan and going downstairs for some breakie and playtime! Tyson is waiting outside Evan's door and greets us with a meow. The three of us head downstairs. As usual, the dishes from the previous nights dinner is still on the counter. Tomato sauce is now crusted to the sides of the pans and the floor is littered with last nights festivities!
I lay Evan down in the toy area and put some food into Tyson's bowl. The cat could live on his fat alone for the next year. He has become so lazy since the children were born. He and Connor are never in the same room at the same time. Connor would have no idea the cat existed if he didn't meow for food at bedtime every night causing Connor to run to his door yelling, "kitty cat, kitty cat!" Evan and Tyson seem to have a relationship forming though. Tyson will tolerate Evan's advances which include fistfulls of fur, tail pulling, whisker tickling and the occasional wrestling move. When Tyson has had enough, he rolls away or lays down somewhere else. Evan just follows him around all morning while I get breakfast going and put on a pot of coffee. Decaf of course! I do need to be vigilant with Tyson and Evan, as Evan has got hind feet in the face on two occasions now. Not in an attacking way, in a playful way, but the need for supervision is required just in case. This makes the task of making food slow. "Tyson, just go on the couch so he can't reach you buddy."
The smell of brewing coffee in the morning is intoxicating. I can feel my eyes opening and my blood start flowing just a litle quicker. I pull out my steel cut oats and add a dash of cinnamin, pop it in the microwave and pour my coffee. I grab a glass and fill it with water and take my vitamin D. Just as I sit down to eat I can hear Connor in his crib whining for his daddy. Ever since Evan was born, Connor has become a real daddy's boy. Daddy had to put him to bed every night, down for naps, change his bum, make his lunch, go for walks etc...for 6 weeks until I was healed after the section. That was just long enough to seal the deal. It still stings a little when he calls for daddy first. Evan is a mommy's boy through and through, so I really shouldn't complain. He is getting louder and louder and Matt isn't moving, so I run up and grab Connor who needed to bring his blankie, stuffed kitty cat and zaza. I managed to talk him out of the soother (zaza) and toyed again with the idea of making it permanently disappear. He really shouldn't have it anymore, but is so attached to it. I couldn't bare to deal with that until Evan was sleeping better, so the idea was shelfed for nine months. Might be time to dust the idea off and bring it back to life!
I get both boys downstairs and Connor wants to snuggle. Who am I to say no? I love snuggles!! Of course he keeps saying, "I want my daddy, I want my daddy." I say, "Will mommy do today?" "OK." Darn right that is ok, after all, I gave birth to you!! It wasn't long and Evan was grabbing my leg and pulling himself up because he wanted snuggles too! Lots of love to go around! I get him on my knee and Connor starts whining because the baby is sharing my lap! For pete's sake! We agree on oatmeal for breakfast and put them both down to start the oatmeal. The next thing I know, Evan is climbing all over Connor and Connor is freaking out. Evan starts to cry too and before I know it, they are crying in a chorus together! I suppose this is a premonition of the next eigteen years. I console them and get back to the oatmeal.
Daddy makes it downstairs. By now I have been up two and a bit hours (where does the time go?)and sits down on the floor to play blocks with Evan. Connor wanders over (still no oatmeal eaten)and wants his daddy whose attention is with Evan. In a familiar scene, Connor is on one knee and Evan on the other, with Connor whining that he wants the baby down. I tell Matt that I think he should put Evan down his nap, which is about 10 minutes away. I tell him this because it is important for Evan to feel comfortable with different people putting him down for his naps and we can do this now that he isn't nursed before the morning nap! I proceed to tell him Evan's nap routine and he tells me he stopped listening hours ago! By now, I am already disgruntled that I was up at 6 to feed the baby and bring him down to get breakfast after being up in the night to feed him. Disgruntled that I had to get Connor when he was whining (for daddy) to get up, while watching the baby and getting breakfast. Then he is snippy with me?! I am trying to decide if I should get up and grab Evan and just do it myself or ride it out and bite my tongue. I choose to bite my tongue and make the smart decision that won't upset the kids. About ten minutes later, Matt takes Evan upstairs and gets him down for his nap no problem. I wonder if Matt goes back to work, if my daddy's boy will become a mama's boy again? I secretly hope so because I love to be the nurturer, the consoler and the healer of all things that hurt!! Until then, at least I have one mama's boy still!!
I lay Evan down in the toy area and put some food into Tyson's bowl. The cat could live on his fat alone for the next year. He has become so lazy since the children were born. He and Connor are never in the same room at the same time. Connor would have no idea the cat existed if he didn't meow for food at bedtime every night causing Connor to run to his door yelling, "kitty cat, kitty cat!" Evan and Tyson seem to have a relationship forming though. Tyson will tolerate Evan's advances which include fistfulls of fur, tail pulling, whisker tickling and the occasional wrestling move. When Tyson has had enough, he rolls away or lays down somewhere else. Evan just follows him around all morning while I get breakfast going and put on a pot of coffee. Decaf of course! I do need to be vigilant with Tyson and Evan, as Evan has got hind feet in the face on two occasions now. Not in an attacking way, in a playful way, but the need for supervision is required just in case. This makes the task of making food slow. "Tyson, just go on the couch so he can't reach you buddy."
The smell of brewing coffee in the morning is intoxicating. I can feel my eyes opening and my blood start flowing just a litle quicker. I pull out my steel cut oats and add a dash of cinnamin, pop it in the microwave and pour my coffee. I grab a glass and fill it with water and take my vitamin D. Just as I sit down to eat I can hear Connor in his crib whining for his daddy. Ever since Evan was born, Connor has become a real daddy's boy. Daddy had to put him to bed every night, down for naps, change his bum, make his lunch, go for walks etc...for 6 weeks until I was healed after the section. That was just long enough to seal the deal. It still stings a little when he calls for daddy first. Evan is a mommy's boy through and through, so I really shouldn't complain. He is getting louder and louder and Matt isn't moving, so I run up and grab Connor who needed to bring his blankie, stuffed kitty cat and zaza. I managed to talk him out of the soother (zaza) and toyed again with the idea of making it permanently disappear. He really shouldn't have it anymore, but is so attached to it. I couldn't bare to deal with that until Evan was sleeping better, so the idea was shelfed for nine months. Might be time to dust the idea off and bring it back to life!
I get both boys downstairs and Connor wants to snuggle. Who am I to say no? I love snuggles!! Of course he keeps saying, "I want my daddy, I want my daddy." I say, "Will mommy do today?" "OK." Darn right that is ok, after all, I gave birth to you!! It wasn't long and Evan was grabbing my leg and pulling himself up because he wanted snuggles too! Lots of love to go around! I get him on my knee and Connor starts whining because the baby is sharing my lap! For pete's sake! We agree on oatmeal for breakfast and put them both down to start the oatmeal. The next thing I know, Evan is climbing all over Connor and Connor is freaking out. Evan starts to cry too and before I know it, they are crying in a chorus together! I suppose this is a premonition of the next eigteen years. I console them and get back to the oatmeal.
Daddy makes it downstairs. By now I have been up two and a bit hours (where does the time go?)and sits down on the floor to play blocks with Evan. Connor wanders over (still no oatmeal eaten)and wants his daddy whose attention is with Evan. In a familiar scene, Connor is on one knee and Evan on the other, with Connor whining that he wants the baby down. I tell Matt that I think he should put Evan down his nap, which is about 10 minutes away. I tell him this because it is important for Evan to feel comfortable with different people putting him down for his naps and we can do this now that he isn't nursed before the morning nap! I proceed to tell him Evan's nap routine and he tells me he stopped listening hours ago! By now, I am already disgruntled that I was up at 6 to feed the baby and bring him down to get breakfast after being up in the night to feed him. Disgruntled that I had to get Connor when he was whining (for daddy) to get up, while watching the baby and getting breakfast. Then he is snippy with me?! I am trying to decide if I should get up and grab Evan and just do it myself or ride it out and bite my tongue. I choose to bite my tongue and make the smart decision that won't upset the kids. About ten minutes later, Matt takes Evan upstairs and gets him down for his nap no problem. I wonder if Matt goes back to work, if my daddy's boy will become a mama's boy again? I secretly hope so because I love to be the nurturer, the consoler and the healer of all things that hurt!! Until then, at least I have one mama's boy still!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
9 months
Last night I took some time to go through Connor's pictures from when he was 9 months old. The same age that Evan turns this very day. At times I will be looking at Evan thinking it is Connor and then realize it is Evan. My mind wanders in and out of the past frequently these days. Evan is the age Connor was when I found out I was pregnant with Evan. There are definitely differences that I see but they are uncannily similar in so many ways. Connor has always been a ham and it is very evident in his pictures. He is always making funny faces and even back then he loved to make people laugh. Every picture he is making fish lips or scrunching up his nose. Evan is definitely a mommy's boy. He loves to cuddle and snuggle and give hugs! He is not into making funny faces but has this infectious giggle especially when his brother gets him going! Evan is Connor's biggest fan despite the fact that Connor is rough with him much of the time (mostly in fun though) and is always telling him, "no baby!" When Connor was 9 months, I thought he was such a big boy. With Evan, he is a big boy now, but I still think of him as my little baby and that he shouldn't be doing big boy things yet! Connor was doing all the same things at his age and I spent lots of time with him practicing. Evan is doing most of this on his own cause there is not enough time in the day to practice (well, I still do but the dishes won't be done or certainly the laundry)!
Perhaps they are the perfect set of siblings? Connor, the entertainer and Evan, his biggest fan! They are close in age so everyone assumes they will be best friends. It could also turn out the other way and they will be worst enemies. For me, that is the nuturing aspect of parenting. We can teach them to respect and love one another and be each other's biggest fans. Sometimes it is scary to think how much we influence how our children behave and ultimately grow up emotionally. It has been a long 9 months, yet it has gone by so fast. Before I know it Evan will be one, I will be back to work and life will go on. Time to start living in the moment again!!
Perhaps they are the perfect set of siblings? Connor, the entertainer and Evan, his biggest fan! They are close in age so everyone assumes they will be best friends. It could also turn out the other way and they will be worst enemies. For me, that is the nuturing aspect of parenting. We can teach them to respect and love one another and be each other's biggest fans. Sometimes it is scary to think how much we influence how our children behave and ultimately grow up emotionally. It has been a long 9 months, yet it has gone by so fast. Before I know it Evan will be one, I will be back to work and life will go on. Time to start living in the moment again!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
