I think this time it will be harder on Abi when Robin leaves. She knows it is coming. And she knows, from last time, what it is like to have daddy away. When he returns home from work, she says she missed him. (She never says this to me when I pick her up from daycare! hrumph) She runs to him for a hug and kiss (I don't get those.) When he leaves in the morning for work she has to give him a hug and a kiss and say goodbye. (More recently she does this for me when I drop her at daycare. It's become a little goodbye ritual of hers - and not one we started.)
Abi and I will have a lot of fun while daddy's away! Yes we will! Let's see, we're going to visit Emily the day he departs and I'm hoping we can ride the carousel together. This time on horses! I'll be quite disappointed if she refuses again (last time she wanted to sit on the side with great-grandma while I demonstrated how fun it is. Then she rode with me on the bench-chariot) because she recently rode on a carousel horse with the kids at daycare (in Guelph). In addition to being motivated to ride with her friends (with J holding her), I think she was motivated by an earlier promise this summer to ride a real pony only after she's ridden a carousel horse. Hey, I'm not going to pay $10 (or some other ridiculous price) for a pony ride if she's going to complain she wants down! :P
What else will we do? Hmmm.... besides the usual crafts and park stuff... Well, there's the KW Knitter's Fair on the 11th! Okay, *I* will have fun! There is a supervised area for children at the event (brilliant planners!) that I will take advantage of if she doesn't want to fondle yarn with me (or if she wants to fondle it too much - can that happen? Too much yarn-fondling??! nah)
I'll be going with a specific list for Yule gifts. And then there's the "other" list... the generic "you can never have too much sock yarn" list and the "incredible deals on beautiful lace yarn should never be passed up" list. Last year I scored big at a 50% off bin with fantastic finds. Have I knit any of it yet?... good question... YES. Some went into Sophie the doll. Some became a pair of socks for my sister. The 200g (1608m) of sapphire blue lace (for only $24) needs knitting... but that's a big project! Anyhow, it doesn't matter that I already have a large bin full of beautiful yarn. That's really not the point. Why are we even discussing this? Are you trying to induce yarn-stash-guilt? It won't work...
As I was saying, Abi and I will have a lot of fun while daddy is away. Yes we will. I think we will even get to stand in line at Future Shop to pick up his new video game. Won't that be fun?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Funny Nose
Abi endured, with a smile, another adventure at the dentist's office. Today we introduced her to laughing gas in preparation for future fillings (involving needles, freezing, and drill work). She and I had talked a lot about this visit after the last one. We learned what "dizzy" feels like so she'd be prepared for the strange feeling of the nitrous oxide. We also practiced having a thing held over her nose by using an oxygen mask filter.
She didn't seem to mind not eating for 3h prior (I made sure to fill her up best I could with a very early breakfast of cereal and an egg just before the cut off time) and no drink for 2 h. That is, up until we were to have her sit in the dentist's chair. Then the fact that it was almost her nap time seemed to take effect. With a little coaxing and some generous promises and reminders of treats to follow, we got her to sit leaning back on me in the chair while they started with the gas. She fought it at first - not the mask/gas, but the being there - until the gas kicked in. Then everything was hunky-dory. She was quite delighted about the whole thing - laughing gas will do that. I was able to transfer her into the chair by herself, the dentist was able to apply some "bandaid" to her teeth (as the tech called it), and Abi smiled on. She really is very compliant in the dentist's chair. I'm amazed every time and I think the dentist and techs are too. She's probably better behaved than many adults. Certainly better than most of the kids I've walked past in that office, and they're all older.
I'll try to scan in the photos they took for her today with the mask on. They provide them as a tool to help talk with the kids and prepare them for the next time. I don't think the photos are necessary for Abi. I'm sure all I will need to remind her of is squeezing the "nose" (mask), which she did a lot. Squeezing it is one of the fun techniques used by the techs to convince the kids it's fun - and it works.
The plan for now is to do the same thing in 2 months. Another "introduction" to the procedure to get her really used to it before we try freezing her mouth for fillings. All of this is to keep the caries/cavities from worsening and spreading (although they are; just not as rapidly as without treatment). My poor baby :(
I am glad it is going well because the alternative is to do the procedure under general anesthesia at the hospital. I am also glad we have good dental coverage through Robin's work!
She didn't seem to mind not eating for 3h prior (I made sure to fill her up best I could with a very early breakfast of cereal and an egg just before the cut off time) and no drink for 2 h. That is, up until we were to have her sit in the dentist's chair. Then the fact that it was almost her nap time seemed to take effect. With a little coaxing and some generous promises and reminders of treats to follow, we got her to sit leaning back on me in the chair while they started with the gas. She fought it at first - not the mask/gas, but the being there - until the gas kicked in. Then everything was hunky-dory. She was quite delighted about the whole thing - laughing gas will do that. I was able to transfer her into the chair by herself, the dentist was able to apply some "bandaid" to her teeth (as the tech called it), and Abi smiled on. She really is very compliant in the dentist's chair. I'm amazed every time and I think the dentist and techs are too. She's probably better behaved than many adults. Certainly better than most of the kids I've walked past in that office, and they're all older.
I'll try to scan in the photos they took for her today with the mask on. They provide them as a tool to help talk with the kids and prepare them for the next time. I don't think the photos are necessary for Abi. I'm sure all I will need to remind her of is squeezing the "nose" (mask), which she did a lot. Squeezing it is one of the fun techniques used by the techs to convince the kids it's fun - and it works.
The plan for now is to do the same thing in 2 months. Another "introduction" to the procedure to get her really used to it before we try freezing her mouth for fillings. All of this is to keep the caries/cavities from worsening and spreading (although they are; just not as rapidly as without treatment). My poor baby :(
I am glad it is going well because the alternative is to do the procedure under general anesthesia at the hospital. I am also glad we have good dental coverage through Robin's work!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Mexico. Again.
Official word has finally reached Robin. (After everyone in Mexico already knew.) He'll be heading out to Mexico at the end of the month for another 3 weeks.
While I don't particularly want to go to Mexico myself, I'm not looking forward to another 3 weeks of single parenting.
First of all, I despise having to cook.
Actually, that's probably the worst part of it. The rest is pretty much the normal routine - Abi wakes, Abi wants to play with mommy, Abi may or may not be driven to daycare by Mommy and then picked up by Mommy, [Abi and mommy play and wait for daddy to come home to make dinner], Abi plays more with mommy, mommy puts Abi to bed (except when mommy says "I'm outta here! There are ladies who are waiting to knit with me and eat Gelato" once a week or less). So, really, only the part in square parentheses will change to: Mommy makes dinner with hungry child fussing. Oh, and the "I'm outta here" part will not be possible either. Last time Robin was away I tried bringing Abi to knit night, but as soon as she finished her gelato - right when I could start knitting - she really wanted to leave. She was cranky/tired.
OTOH, Robin is very excited to return to Mexico for another semi-holiday. Oh, sure, he works during the days, but he parties most evenings and most importantly he doesn't have to clean house, cook for family, do family stuff. He can relax by the pool with a drink or a book.
Yay for him.
Can you hear my enthusiasm? :P
Okay, so he deserves time away. And it may be his only opportunity (again) for a long time. But that doesn't mean I have to be happy about getting stuck with all the household family stuff for another 3 weeks. I need my little one-evening breaks to stay sane and thus take care of everything.
Clearly I will be deserving of an extended weekend away! HELLABITCH me please!
Whining done. For now/this moment.
While I don't particularly want to go to Mexico myself, I'm not looking forward to another 3 weeks of single parenting.
First of all, I despise having to cook.
Actually, that's probably the worst part of it. The rest is pretty much the normal routine - Abi wakes, Abi wants to play with mommy, Abi may or may not be driven to daycare by Mommy and then picked up by Mommy, [Abi and mommy play and wait for daddy to come home to make dinner], Abi plays more with mommy, mommy puts Abi to bed (except when mommy says "I'm outta here! There are ladies who are waiting to knit with me and eat Gelato" once a week or less). So, really, only the part in square parentheses will change to: Mommy makes dinner with hungry child fussing. Oh, and the "I'm outta here" part will not be possible either. Last time Robin was away I tried bringing Abi to knit night, but as soon as she finished her gelato - right when I could start knitting - she really wanted to leave. She was cranky/tired.
OTOH, Robin is very excited to return to Mexico for another semi-holiday. Oh, sure, he works during the days, but he parties most evenings and most importantly he doesn't have to clean house, cook for family, do family stuff. He can relax by the pool with a drink or a book.
Yay for him.
Can you hear my enthusiasm? :P
Okay, so he deserves time away. And it may be his only opportunity (again) for a long time. But that doesn't mean I have to be happy about getting stuck with all the household family stuff for another 3 weeks. I need my little one-evening breaks to stay sane and thus take care of everything.
Clearly I will be deserving of an extended weekend away! HELLABITCH me please!
Whining done. For now/this moment.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
"I want to go to Winnipeg"
As I anticipated, Abi eagerly asks to go visit Pa-Pere and Grandpa (she's saying these names now rather than calling both PaPa), Nana, DoDo (the last person to still have a shortened name), Veronica, Corey, and everyone else we visited with in Winnipeg. I'm amazed that she still likes car rides too.
Today she went back to daycare and was very excited to see her friends and J. She had a new toy monster I was required (by Abi) to whip up yesterday while we played Tea Party. She glued the mouth on herself and of course had to show it to everyone.
There was something sweet she said yesterday...
oh yes, she started listing people who love her. Apparently our friend H loves her - maybe because she lent us the portable DVD player. When pressed with "who else loves you?", Abi started listing others such as Corey, Veronica, Pa-Pere, Grandpa, Nana (see above), etc who love her. Oh, and of course daddy and I. Yes, she is well loved.
This morning she was also talking about people at the grocery store. "That's a person." Yep. "I'm a person" she adds. Yes you are. "You are a person, mommy." Yes. "I'm a person. You're a person. Both the same!" she exclaimed. It's true. :) I like that we are all people and the same.
Today she went back to daycare and was very excited to see her friends and J. She had a new toy monster I was required (by Abi) to whip up yesterday while we played Tea Party. She glued the mouth on herself and of course had to show it to everyone.
There was something sweet she said yesterday...
oh yes, she started listing people who love her. Apparently our friend H loves her - maybe because she lent us the portable DVD player. When pressed with "who else loves you?", Abi started listing others such as Corey, Veronica, Pa-Pere, Grandpa, Nana (see above), etc who love her. Oh, and of course daddy and I. Yes, she is well loved.
This morning she was also talking about people at the grocery store. "That's a person." Yep. "I'm a person" she adds. Yes you are. "You are a person, mommy." Yes. "I'm a person. You're a person. Both the same!" she exclaimed. It's true. :) I like that we are all people and the same.
Monday, August 02, 2010
The visitings
The long drive aside, we had a wonderful time visiting with friends and family.
It all started en route when we got to visit with friends in TBay. Abi showed off her technicolour self at their lakeside home.
At Aunty Corey's she enjoyed playing the piano.
As always, she had a blast playing with her cousin.
We also took them on a train ride before a photoshoot at Assiniboine Park
We had a fun day at the beach later in the week
I knit while the kids attacked Grandpa.
AUnty Diane bought Abi a fudgicle.
After the beach, we briefly stopped at the stables to see the horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits.
Of course, the reason we went was to attend my sister's wedding reception/social
The beautiful couple having their first (well, not really) dance.
We had a wonderful time. Abi was kept very busy!
It all started en route when we got to visit with friends in TBay. Abi showed off her technicolour self at their lakeside home.
At Aunty Corey's she enjoyed playing the piano.
As always, she had a blast playing with her cousin.
We also took them on a train ride before a photoshoot at Assiniboine Park
We had a fun day at the beach later in the week
I knit while the kids attacked Grandpa.
AUnty Diane bought Abi a fudgicle.
After the beach, we briefly stopped at the stables to see the horses, sheep, goats, chickens, and rabbits.
Of course, the reason we went was to attend my sister's wedding reception/social
The beautiful couple having their first (well, not really) dance.
We had a wonderful time. Abi was kept very busy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)