Montreal 2013

When we were invited to a 'no-kids' wedding in Montreal, we had a decision to make. The Bride was a good friend of Warren's who came to our wedding, so the choice was simple. He goes alone, or we both go. Because we have the most amazing parents you can ask for, we were able to chose the later.

Kyle stayed home with my mom, Rhys spent three nights at my Dad and Pamela's, and River went with Warren's parents. The grandparents had to pick the kids up from their daycares at the end of the day Friday, while we were in transit to Montreal. This freaked us out, but everything went well. This also meant there was a mass transfer of carseats on Thursday night. It was an art form, really, because we still needed to take both kids to school in the morning. If I explained how we pulled it off, your head would explode. Okay, maybe it wasn't quite that complicated...

It was VERY STRANGE getting on a plane without children. And by strange, I mean GLORIOUS. Okay, if I'm honest, the flight there was a bit unnerving, but the flight back I was totally relaxed (I watched Argo and Lincoln!).

A welcome gift from the Bride was delivered to our hotel room, minutes after we got there. Ice Cider and Maple Butter...neither one lasted very long.

That night we had dinner with two other couples.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono had their infamous 'Bed-in for Peace' at our hotel. So we totally creeped around outside the room to take photos. Thank goodness no one came walking out while we were there.





Ready for the ceremony at the Lion D'Or restaurant...




The newly weds tie the knot at the Lion D'or...my first Bilingual wedding.




Drinks and mingling before dinner is served...



Tania and Guy LOVE music. The venue had a stage, where Guy and his groomsmen, along with his son and daughter played Beatles songs, as well as some others. They were incredible.



Tania joined Guy on stage and sang a few songs with him.



After a couple drinks...



And a few more...




After a lot of drinks...when air guitaring to 'whiskey in the jar-o' seems like a good idea...



Sleeping in Molly's chamber...




The next day we went to Old Montreal, bought Maple syrup candies, went to Notre Dame Cathedral, and had poutine for lunch. That night we went to an Oscar party at the Bride's house.

Notre Dame...



I will post more later...

A Conversation With Warren

Scene: Cronin family is in the car, about to enter the touchless carwash. We are listening to classical music on CBC Radio 2. We start moving forward to enter the carwash, and at the exact moment that a dramatic symphonic crescendo fills the airwaves, the jets of water begin to spray in beautiful synchronicity across the windshield.

Amanda: WOW! It's like we're watching the fountains at the BELAGIO!

Warren: Yes. Except, we're at Shell, in the carwash, at Chinook Mall, on McLeod Trail.

Amanda: ...

Warren: I guess when life gives us lemons...we gotta make lemonade.

Both burst out laughing. And after a minute couldn't tell if it was laughing, or crying.

Kyle's Birthday Video

I will do a full Birthday Post another day.

In the meantime, here is the link to the video I made for Kyle:

Kyle's Birthday Video (YouTube)

In My Element

Dare I Say...

...things are getting back to normal? (amanda knocks on wood...)

Both kids are currently (still) having an EPIC SLEEP. Kyle went down at 6:40pm last night, and is still sleeping at 8:05am.

Which is great. A miracle, in fact, after the last 5 nights.

However, this is also a crumby reminder that we will, somedays, need to wake up our kids to take them to school/daycare. Waking up a sleeping kid goes against ever fibre of my being...

And the weather outside is frightful. Another reminder that, come February 1st, I will need to drive on the Deerfoot all the way to the North East on days like this.

But, I can't dwell.

Today, might skip the gym and go straight to working on Kyle's video. I have lost time to make up for!

Sick Day #2

It's my blog and I will pout if I want to...

(you would too if your baby was awake from 12:00am to...now.)

:(

Sick Day **Updated

Well, once I get over the fact that today wasn't a free day to 'get stuff done', all in all in was okay. Both kids home with mild Croup symptoms. Kyle napped for a total of four hours and still had an appetite. Rhys was wired and hyper, and after being tossed in his room for a Time Out at 3pm, he passed right out and is still sleeping at 7pm. I really hope he's out for the night, because if he wakes up now we're hooped.
And this is exactly why we thought starting them is Daycare a bit early was a good idea. So that we could easily deal with the inevitable sick days. I am thankful I didn't have go to work today after the terrible night we all had. Or the stress that comes with deciding which one of stays home...what meetings do we have today? What project deadlines? All that stuff. It's never fun calling in sick after you've been off for a year.
Now...the waiting game. What will tonight bring? I am optimistic, but the kids meds will be at the ready, with blankets and pillows set up on the couch for potential nighttime snuggles.


**Aaaaaand....he's awake. Bright eyed and bushy tailed at 8:15pm. Lawd help us all.

And this is why...

Two kids with Whooping Cough (diagnosed by Dr. Mom and Dad) means our first sick day from school today is very likely. Let's see if we can squeeze in ANY sleep tonight...

Day 2

Yowza, last night SUCKED. Kyle woke up at 9:15pm and 5:00am screaming bloody-murder and would not stop. None of our tricks were working. It was like the olden days when he had gas. It was BRUTAL. Thank-goodness for my posts about Rhys' transition, because they reassured me that Rhys' night went to hell after he started daycare too.

Rhys also woke up at 2:30am, crying, saying he was scared of the pictures on his wall.

Fingers crossed tonight will be better.

Kyle's second day was fantastic. He napped for over 2 hours. He was happy all day. He was adorable and pleasant all evening, and didn't show any signs of being 'worn-down'. In bed and asleep by 7:00pm.

Rhys' second day was wonderful as well. This Montessori pre-school is adorable. Everything is Rhys' size. When he arrives in the morning all the kids are fixing their own breakfast (choosing cereal, pouring their own milk, spreading their own toast, etc). At the end of day, when each child leaves they ring a bell, and all the other kids stop and say good-bye. He was still VERY wired tonight, but didn't get up once after going to bed at 8:10pm (he napped for an hour at school).

Both kids ate tons of dinner.

My day was very productive. Having this time to get things done is an incredible blessing. Not taking it for granted.

Tomorrow's 'Plan': Gym, Costco (didn't make it today), carwash, finish putting away Christmas decor (turning out to be a multi-day job), Mom coming over to see the boys, evening flu shots for the family and then Dairy Queen for dinner as a treat, so Rhys can have an ice cream after getting a needle put in his arm.

Now...tidy up and Homeland*

*if both boys stay asleep this time.

Day One: A Timeline, Part #2

11:00am: Amanda glances longingly into Kyle's empty crib, only to see his Taggie Blanket and Cuski are still in it (!!!). She hops in the car and mad-dashes back to the daycare to make sure Kyle has his 'sleep aids' for nap time.

11:20am: Runs errand at the bank.

11:45am: Back home for lunch.

12:30pm: Housework begins! Empty dishwasher, clean kitchen, put laundry away, get sidetracked and de-clutter Rhys' top drawer, vaccuum, clean washroom, start to clean out car.

2:00pm: Start to 'hit a wall', take an Advil Cold and Sinus and lie down for 25 minutes.

2:30pm: figure out what's for dinner, then head to daycare to pick up Kyle.

3:00pm: Walk in just as the baby class is being fed their snack. Kyle is sitting quiet and attentive. When he sees me he barely bats an eye (hardly the emotional meltdown I was expecting from him!). I sit and hold his hand while he eats his snack and the caregivers tell me about his day.

He slept for 1hr 15mins. He ate soup, bread, crackers and applesauce and had two bottles. And he was in a GREAT mood.

Rhys and Warren came home at 4pm and Rhys was WIRED. He went on and on about how much he loved his new school. He immediately asked for a bowl of 'Flakecorns' (Apparently one day at preschool and Cornflakes are his new favourite food). He listed the games they played and the songs they sang and the kids he played with...he was a chatterbox. He ate a huge dinner. He was bouncing off the walls all evening. I was expecting him to be super tired. I guess we need to look into evening Sportball or swimming or skating or karate or wall climbing...this kid has energy to burn.

Kyle was asleep by 6:25pm. Rhys was in bed by 7:20pm, but got up about 8 times asking to go potty, to drink water, to put cream on his chapped lips, to get a toy, etc. I think he finally fell asleep by 8:30pm. I thought he would crash at 7pm, but I guess the hour nap he had at the centre was enough to keep him going...

Some pics from tonight:

I thought Kyle was extra cute after his bath tonight (he looks huge in my arms...I love his little feet...)

I appologize for any gifts I have given your kids...because I should have given them THESE:







And Rhys' new favourite thing to play before bedtime...JENGA:




Rhys the photographer takes a picture of his tired ole' mum:




Now that I'm done blogging, tidy up for the night and watch *only one* episode of 'Homeland'

Tomorrow: Gym*, Costco, Make a couple phone calls I've been procrastinating, and take down the Christmas Tree.

*I know...the Gym in January...so cliche. But it's across the street from the daycare. I have no excuses.

Day One: A Timeline, Part #1

5:30am: Kyle wakes up crying. WAAAY to early. Falls back asleep suddenly for no apparent reason.

7:00am: Amanda & Warren wake up to the radio alarm.

7:15am: Kyle wakes up for real.

7:30am: Rhys runs out of his room with a HUGE grin on his face "Mommy, I go to my new school today! I get to see Miya!! I sleep on the floor!"

8:00am: Warren takes Rhys to school, Amanda takes Kyle to daycare. Both drop-offs go really well.

8:45am: Amanda goes to the gym for the first time in at least 1.5 years, feels completely rejuvenated.

9:45am: Home for breakfast, coffee and internet surfing in PEACE.

10:15am: Warren comes home, him and Amanda do a Happy Dance in the Kitchen, then Amanda calls the daycares to check on the kids...both are doing great. Rhys keeps asking his teacher 'Is it bedtime yet?" He is very excited about having a nap on the floor (strange kid).

10:20am: Write this update.

Now...the world is my oyster! Up and ATOM!

Skates From Santa

On Christmas morning Rhys proclaimed several times 'They are just what I wanted!'. Santa had brought him the ice skates he asked for. It was SO SWEET.

Today, since the weather, family health and Warren's work schedule all jived, my mom and I were able to take Rhys to the neighbourhood ice rink for the first time.

Gotta say, not a lot of 'skating' occurred, and my back is KILLING me from holding Rhys' weight for 20 minutes, but hearing him say 'Look mom, I skating! Just like Caillou, and just like Dragon!' nearly brought a tear to my eye.

"It's Most Wonderful Tiiiiime....of the Yeeeeaaaar!"

Today, I am TOTALLY the guy in this commercial:

Staples Commercial

I start back to work exactly a month from today, and we are transitioning Rhys and Kyle into their pre-school/daycare(s) this month. Their first day is TOMORROW.

I'm not sure if it was the minor road bumps, the Holidays, or the myriad of colds that blew through our home, but December WIPED ME OUT. Mama needs to get life back on track. Christmas decorations need to be taken down and put away. Toys need to be sorted, purged, and organized. A birthday video needs to be made. Some regular meal planning needs to start taking place. Some things need to be sold on Kijiji. I could go one forever, because the TO-DO list never ends, but I have made priorities and I am committed to making January a productive month full of schedules, routine, productivity and above all, some true QUALITY time with my little boys as they start this next phase. I want this transition to go off without a hitch. And let's be honest. This is just as much a transition for me as it is for them. I haven't woken up to an alarm in nearly a year.

Cheers Me Up

Rhys: (for the 40th time in the last 15 minutes) Mommy! Mommy! Mooommmmmyyyyy!

Me: Rhys! What do you want? I am trying to empty the dishwasher!

Rhys: Mommy, don't get grumpy.

Me: (exasperated, sighs). Rhys, you are bothering me. I am trying to get ready so we can go get groceries.

Rhys: Mommy, guess what?

Me: (sighs again) What, Rhys?

Rhys: I love you, and I want you, because you are sooooo pretty.

Me: (smiles)

Rhys: Does that make you not grumpy? You happy now?

Gaaaaah... These kids :)

End of an Era

I have blogged before about the love affair Rhys has with his soother (or as we call it, his DeeDee).

I used to tell myself he could keep it until he started chewing through them. That day came and went, and he didn't seem ready to give it up, so we caved and bought new ones for him. We had him down to only needing it at night to sleep, he didn't have it for car rides anymore and he didn't nap during the day anymore.

Then, shortly after Christmas, the day came again. BOTH his DeeDees had holes and were chewed to hell and back. They were starting to look very unsafe. He would put it in his mouth to suck, grimace and proclaim 'My DeeDee is broken!'.

So, I decided it was time to take the plunge. Time to rip this bandaid RIGHT OFF.

Me: Well, Rhysie, the stores don't have anymore DeeDees, so if they are broken it might be time to be a big boy and say good-bye.

Rhys: But Mommy...I need my DeeDee to sleep!

Me: Then you can have your broken ones. They are the only ones left. But I bet you could sleep without if you tried. Want to try for one night?

Rhys: No....

Me: If you sleep without your DeeDee tonight, you can have a remote control car in the morning...

Rhys: Okay! Good night, mom. See you in the morning.

And that was that.

We are on day four without it. He still asks for it and I remind him 'remember, you are a big boy now and you gave it up'.

A Conversation With Warren

Warren (hollering down the hallway): Why is there a Bag of Dicks on the dinning room table?

Amanda (hollering from the bathroom): WHAAAAAT?!

Warren: I said, Why is there a a Bag of Dicks on the dinning room table?!

Amanda: Oh, those are yams.

-------------

Merry Christmas Everyone!

*sniff*

Warren was going through old pics on his phone, and found this one from over a year ago, when I was pregnant with Kyle and Rhys was sick and fell asleep snuggling me.

He looks so small and chubby and my heart breaks at how fast he growing.

My baby. LOVE.

Today Kind of Sucked

Today was a lousy day (wish I was back at the pub with my girlfriends like I was last night!), but instead of recounting the details I am going to post pictures from a trip to Calaway Park this summer, that I should have posted but never did.

Happy Friday!

Rhys getting his face painted ( can't remember if he was a dragon or a dinosaur):

Kyle, waiting patiently:




The Big Reveal:







Rhys and Gramma in front of some spooky Halloween decor:




Rhys and his Ladies:

Santa Pic and A Comparison

Today we went to Chinook Mall for the much anticipated Santa visit and photo. When Santa asked Rhys what he wanted for Christmas, Rhys replied "Skates, please". And what else would you like for Christmas? "A candy cane!" We'll, we can take care of that one right now! Rhys loved the cherry flavoured candy cane. He said it tasted like 'medicine' (which confirms my complaint that children's meds/vitamins taste too much like candy).He usually complains that the peppermint ones I buy are 'too spicy'.

I debated with myself on whether or not to have the boys photographed separately or together. When I saw the price of the photos, the decision was made for me.

And now, a close-up comparison: First Santa Photo

Rhys, approximately 4.5 months old:




Kyle, 10 months old:




Is it just me, or do my children look NOTHING like each other?

Either way, they are both extremely underwhelmed by their first encounter with Jolly Old St. Nick.

A Comparison: Black and White Brothers On the Couch

Kyle, approximately 1.5 months old:

Kyle, approximately 9 months old: