Day 1864

Aside from getting to eat candy, I think Lizard’s favourite thing about Halloween was getting to say Happy Halloween to all the trick or treaters. Every time we heard them coming, she’s drop everything and sprint to the door. And then sometimes get so excited that she’d say trick or treat right back at them.

Strange to think that next year we’ll have two littles walking door to door...

Day 1863

Lizard helped with the serious business of carving our jack o’lantern. She helped scoop out the insides, and she looked at some pictures with me to decide on a design. She was a little bit scared by the mouth (with vampire fangs) she chose, and needed to get a hug while Husband was carving it.

I also needed to teach her a chant to ward off scary pumpkins.

Day 1862

Pulled out the activity table and both kids are very excited about it. While we were cooking dinner, Lizard pulled the table and a stool right up to the exersaucer and started “playing piano” and singing to her brother.

It feels a little like bragging might end our string of good luck, but our little picky eater ate a spicy curry for dinner. It seems like we might have officially turned a corner. Now we just have to work on the speed at which she eats new foods...

Charlie might be starting to get better. He could actually breathe through his nose enough to actually nurse properly. Still got snotty boob.

Day 1861

Mark your calendar: today is the first day Lizard has corrected my grammar. It was probably unintentional.

She’s also started (sometimes) calling us Mom and Dad instead of Mommy and Daddy.

Who said these little people are allowed to grow up so fast?!

Day 1860

I am very proud of Lizard’s language skills. Her vocabulary is quite substantial, and includes a number of pretty complicated words. She is generally very good at speaking in grammatical sentences. She astonishes and delights me on a regular basis.

But there’s something about hearing her say her first sentence in French...

Day 1859

That feeling when your kid is “making you dinner” and tells you that you have to stay back because the pan is very hot...

Day 1858

There are ways to explain or rationalize the problem of evil. The problem of insomnia in a parent with a baby and a toddler is a whole different can of worms.

Side note: it sucks extra hard when you’re a bookworm. All the time you spend trying to fall asleep when you could be reading...

Day 1857

Husband heads off to Saskatoon for work; Lizard immediately starts packing her bags to head to Saskatoon Jam (also sometimes called Saskatoon Berry). She packed her bags (wine bottle gift bags) into her car and was off, despite admitting to not knowing where Saskatoon Jam is (I suggested she ask Siri). Despite promising to drive safe, and announcing that she wouldn’t drive fast, she still got there in about a minute. Once she got there, she seemed to decide that her brother could come too, and started packing a bag for him. When his activity cube wouldn’t fit in her bag, she decided she’d just carry it for him instead.

I really really hope this game continues tomorrow. It’s a delight to witness.

Day 1856

Some days you reach a level of tired where the adorable grins from the baby become much less effective.

Day 1855

It seems like Lizard believes that your birthday is the day you eat your birthday cake. I got *waaaay* more birthday wishes from her today.

Also, IKEA is a really excellent shopping adventure if one of your favourite activities is climbing up onto chairs and beds.

Day 1854

We’ve grown accustomed to the dog hiding under the crib when his doggy senses start tingling to tell him we’re about to leave the house without him. Apparently he’s now decided it’s a good place to sleep; presumably because he knows we won’t let him actually sleep in the crib with the baby.

Day 1853

I’m sure the nurse was cursing her ill-luck when she saw us queued up to get flu shots with our tiny people.

So I was super proud of my kids being so nonchalant.

And the look on the nurse’s face when I got Lizard to say thank you was priceless.

All that said, Lizard is still kind of a weirdo for telling us she appreciates it that we got her a flu shot, and for saying the flu shot makes her arm feel better.

Day 1852

Apparently you can’t get your kid to be a good little trained monkey in front of a guest, even on your birthday.

Day 1851

Some days it is more challenging than others to parent the bucket of feelings formerly known as our daughter.

Day 1850

Introduced my daughter to tea. The reception seemed favourable; she’s already scheduled her next cup.

Day 1849

I’m using the excuse of walking the dog and getting fresh air for the baby to override my reluctance to walk without a particular destination. Maybe it will even continue once the snow starts. Hopefully the power of Fitbit continues to compel me...

Day 1848

We had to change the meal plan at the last minute and I assumed that that meant the end of our winning streak of the Lizard eating what we’re eating... but she insisted on eating it when I told her what we were making: coconut curried broccoli and fish. And she did.

I don’t think I would have eaten that when I was a kid.

She also peed in the potty several times. She (genuinely) helped get the baby’s dinner ready. She put cardboard in the recycling without prompting. She was quiet when I got her up from her nap because I told her that her brother was still sleeping.

I had giant swells of pride happening all day. She is such a wonderful kid, such a sweet little helper. I feel indescribably lucky that she is our daughter, and that I get to be her mommy.

Day 1847

A picture drawn by a toddler is not fixed; apparently it can become whatever they want, and can change from moment to moment. No wonder childhood can feel like magic.

Day 1846

Tried to get the baby a flu shot and failed. Definitely did all the steps required for today’s goal.

Discovered the people behind the accounting designation I am trying to get think 2 = 4, at least if you’re counting business days.

Day 1845

You can lead a toddler to the potty, but you can’t make them pee.

Until today! Slash until the conditioning has started to sink in, and assuming the kid isn’t in the throes of toddler psychosis...

Day 1844

The baby has discovered blowing bubbles, and it’s possible that that is so exciting that he will never sleep again.

Day 1843

Parenting: You never know what bodily fluid will be on your shirt next.

Day 1842

Lizard: so tired by the end of Thanksgiving Party that she’s prone to tears and wants to hang out with a parent; still does not want to leave Thanksgiving Party.

Day 1841

It’s pretty delightful having the chance to have a nice quiet super delicious thanksgiving dinner on our own. Turns out Lizard is totally willing to eat roast beef... at least when there are Yorkshire puddings to bribe her with.

Day 1840

We are once again in trouble for keeping the dog up past his bedtime. Disapproval is coming off of him in waves.

Day 1839

Apparently we need to work some more on “don’t hit your brother in the head with toys”.

Day 1838

"Most blowouts in one day EVAR!!!" is not the kind of aspirational goal we were hoping to see from you, MISTER Chinchilla.

Day 1837

Our picky eater are curry today, so once again we're done parenting her! YAY!

Day 1836

We are very lucky to have a little boy who remains fairly cheerful, even when he's having trouble sleeping because his nose is so stuffed up*.






*is a never ending fountain of snot.

Day 1835

The start of my course is nigh. Now I just have to watch what I say for the next two months...

Day 1834

If you value sleep, don't let anyone with "just a runny nose" anywhere near your baby.