I've been meaning to post an update for a while, but as seems to be the case lately, I can't seem to gather my thoughts in the rare free moments I find to write...
But really, there are no free moments, are there? Blogging is something I need to start carving some time out for again. I really enjoy having this space, recording my thoughts and memories, but it seems the longer I stay away, the harder it is to get back to.
Last week ended up being quite busy. I was called in to teach a few days, which was great. This is the last week before a two week spring break, so it's doubtful anyone will be calling off. I have, however, taken a three day contract from a childcare company I used to work for quite a bit, so this weekend and early next week will be busy too. I went to a job fair last weekend and am hoping to get on a few more independent school's sub lists. It's hard to know how many places to reach out to --I want to be getting work most days, but I don't want to be turning work away (the kiss of death for subs). Hopefully I can get on with one or two more schools and find a good balance. A foot in the door a few new places wouldn't hurt either.
This week I also found a little bit of free time to finally go through some of our TTC paperwork. Please tell me we're not the only ones with SO much paper from the whole process. Cycle monitoring protocols and charts. Donor information. Shipping receipts. I threw out a lot, but then there was some stuff I wasn't sure about --The donor info we kept. Obviously. But I also kept the pro/con list we made when we were deciding on a donor. It seemed like something to hold on to. I also kept the cycle monitoring info. We'll probably get rid of it eventually, but for some reason it just didn't feel right to throw out those papers with all our hormone levels and lining measurements. Maybe because it was such a process and it seems like there should be a record of it? I don't know. Maybe it's just that I'm a bit of a pack rat and nostalgic to boot. Not a good combination when it comes to getting rid of stuff. At least the shipping receipts got trashed.
Going through all our paperwork reminded me that I STILL have to put together baby books for the kids. We have store-bought books that are sort of half filled in, but I also want to do baby photo books online for each of them. I've always sort of held it against my mother that she never did fill in our baby books beyond our birth stats and first visitors, but now that I'm on this side of things, I can totally understand how it happened. Never mind that she already had a four year old and that there were two of us and that we were premature.
Organizing seems to be an ongoing process around here. I've always prided myself on being hyper-organized and I hate that things have been piling up so much. It's so hard to find the time to get to thing these days though. A little bit at a time seems to be the way to go. Tomorrow I'll drop off a bag of clothes at Goodwill. Hopefully before the end of the week I'll find some time to get to my overflowing crochet basket and finish a new hat for Sprout. (Poor thing has outgrown all her winter hats, and winter doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.)
I don't think I've mentioned yet that I am going to have both kids home with me for a while in the not-too-distant future. Our child care provider has to go through some medical procedures and gave us the option of having him place somewhere else temporarily or keeping him home. We chose to keep him home. I'm happy, because I think The Bean will be excited about it and I am excited to have more time with him, plus we'll save some money by not having to pay for daycare; but I'm also terrified because how do I feed and give naps and play and take out two little children on my own?! I've started compiling a big list of things to do, but I know that keeping busy won't be the (only) issue. I'm sure we'll be fine, but I'm a worrier, so it's hard for me not to panic just a little bit.
Even though I'm tired (always) and overwhelmed (often) things are going well. Like everyone else I'm looking forward to spring, but I feel like change is coming, and that's a welcome thing right now.
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Although I'm not a parent, I am a nanny to 3 gorgeous children (7 months, 2 years and 4 years). Taking multiple kids out in public can be daunting to start with but it does get easier! The best advice I can give you is to make sure older children know their and your first and last name and phone number if possible, if not write it on a bracelet for them or even on some paper and tuck it into a pocket or sock and tell them to give it to someone if they can't find you :) also regarding nap times or having to give more time to a younger child, try and make the older child/ren feel like an assistant to mummy and a helper and they'll actually enjoy you giving their sibling that much attention if they feel they have a special role in it as well :) with nap time this can be something as easy as fetching a toy or blanket for the younger one or even keeping any pets "quiet" (they'll just play with them while you settle the baby but feel very important doing so!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Lara! I know I'm psyching myself out a bit --I've got a lot of experience with kids and never worried about these things when I was babysitting or nannying. Funny how that is. I guess we're just so set in our routines that I worry. Our son does know his name, but not his phone number, but the bracelet suggestion is a great one. Naptimes will probably be harder, since Sprout doesn't go down easily, but I think Stacey's suggestion of some "tablet time" will do the trick. :)
DeleteIf you go out, given their ages, I'd pick a small place. Like I wouldn't do the Science Centre, for instance. Small play places are pretty easy with two little ones.
ReplyDeleteUse your phone or the tv to sidetrack the Bean while you put Sprout down. Do whatever it takes. Use her nap time to give him some special one-on-one time.
It won't be bad, I promise. :)
I hope the job situation gets better!
Having kids means no one is organized any more. LOL
Thanks, Stacey. Our kids are super-familiar with the Science Centre, so I'd actually be okay with braving that one solo, but I don't think I'll be going any other "big" places on my own. It'd be nice if it were warm enough to take them to the park by then. :/ And I think The Bean will end up with more screen time than usual when he's home with me, but at least that's something he's usually quite happy about.
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ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, we also haven't done baby books for the kids. In fact, we never even finished Ian's pregnancy journal. I figure the blog is a good substitute. :) My mom finished my baby book when I was like 20. LOL.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that the Bean is staying home for a while. It will take some getting used to, but I know you'll be fine. Whenever I have both of them home by myself, I always plan for one outing to break up the day, even if it's just to run some errands. It's stressful getting out the door when they're really little but it changes the scenery for the kids for a while and is sort of like a reset button. :) And if they fall asleep in the car and you get to enjoy a tea or coffee in parking lot somewhere... well, that's just a little slice of heaven. :)
I can understand the blog vacancy issue and how it is hard to get back into writing, I'm at that point myself.
ReplyDeleteThe baby book issue is also something I didn't like the fact that my sister (first child) had one, but she didn't make the time to make me one. But now I can understand the time issue, especially , I can only imagine, with two kids.
I'm sure you will have a blast having the two kids home for a while. It will be a challenge, but I'm sure you'll love it.
I'm so glad to hear you're getting some teaching days in! Sarah and I were just talking about you today and she mentioned to me that she might send you a message so you could get together with the babies. You might not have time now with working, etc...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I used to be SO organized. My home was immaculate. And now? Now I'm lucky if I have the energy to clean up the toy messes at the end of the day.