Yes, I am THAT mom

You know, the one who hides in the parking lot like the paparazzi trying to take pictures of her kid out trick or treating? Actually, I was kind of surprised that there were no other moms there.

Remember, I'm hiding between cars here so Carson doesn't see me, so they aren't the clearest or best pictures I've ever taken. And, he's the purple dragon if you couldn't figure it out.

Coming out of their school and walking to the first stop:

Holding the hand of his favourite teacher. This is seconds before I thought he caught me.

Looking pretty well behaved holding tight to her hand.

I thought this is when he caught me, but now looking at the picture I realize he's looking at the policeman getting onto his motorcycle!

In the drycleaners asking for candy!

Heading back to class...

Finally!

I got a laugh out of Mr Serious!

For some reason, Beckett loves to get changed. When I change him from his sleeper to his clothes or vice versa, he loves it. And it's how I got his first laugh. I never claimed any children we have are going to be normal.

I ran downstairs and hoped that he was in the laughing mood. And sure enough, he was.

Blah blah blah

Mr Beckett has been talking alot lately. Of course anytime I get the camera anywhere near him, he shuts up. But I just thought I should put up a video of our cute little baby!

Yikes

He's flipping now. Beckett that is. Like flipping from front to back. Today his nap (which should have lasted 3 hours), was cut short and when I went in his room, there he was on his back (yes, remember, I'm a babysleepsontheirstomach type of mom) looking up at me smiling. Then tonight, he went to sleep (he's always awake when I put him to sleep) and then about 30 minutes later he started to cry, went in his room and again - there he was on his back. But exhausted, poor little guy just couldn't put himself to sleep. I picked him up, he fell asleep in my arms in seconds.

I think Beckett, like Carson, is awake for long spurts of time in his bed. i hope this whole flipping thing doesn't interfere with his marathon sleeping!

For the love of reading

Anyone who's seen the boys together knows just how much Carson loves Beckett. He never wants him to sleep, always wants to be right beside him, he doesn't even like it when Beckett is eating. He just always wants to be with his little brother.

It's (obviously) too young for them to start playing together, but I've somewhat captured on film them having some reading time together.

Whenever I go to get Beckett after his morning nap, Carson always wants to get in bed with him. And once he's in bed with him, he always wants to read him a book. It's adorable and totally melts my heart.

Weekends are the best

However they are never long enough, nor can you accomplish all that you want to before it's Sunday night and the kids are in bed.

Weekends are also best when they are spent in the fresh air with friends and family. This morning the boys had a great time this morning at Auntie Carrie's. Mr B-ray just took it all in while Carson was right in there with all the other kids. Or at least, trailing a little behind.

Check it out.

This afternoon we made our way to the park, and I of course took my camera. Carson is used to me taking so many pictures and now even suggests good places to take pictures. God love his little heart.


I had to take this picture. There's a little second hand store that is somewhat on our way to the park. Carson always asks to go in for "two minutes" and I normally give in. But it closes early on Sundays .... Carson wasn't happy about that.

I know we're not supposed to compare children, but...

So what do you think? I think it's just the shape of the face that's different.

Guess who's birthday it is today?

Beckett is 3 months today!

My baby is adorable. He's gorgeus. He's happy (his aunt just mentioned to me today that she doesn't think she's ever heard him cry), he's loved by his bigger brother, he's curious about the world around him, he's juicy and pudgy and roly-poly. I just love him to bits.

He's also quite serious. It takes alot to get a smile out of him and we have yet to have him laugh! Look at the pictures below, one out of 3 isn't bad... but do you see his super serious face? Yikes - looks like he is seriously unhappy with mommy taking his picture all the time. Seriously I bet these kids think that my camera has to be attached to my face for 5 hours a day.


I think he's learning his seriousness from his older brother:

But some days, like today, on his birthday, he's all smiles!

Cool days

Brrr it's getting cold out there. But don't worry Grandma, I sure dress them up warmly. For example, Beckett (whom we lovingly call B-ray these days).

Don't worry, it's just not the baby we make sure is warm.

We had a fantastic long weekend. The weather was beautiful, we spent it with family and friends in the wonderful outdoors. Here's proof. Sorry for the lack of text, I've just been camera crazy lately and I feel a picture is worth a thousand words.

If you click on the picture it brings it up bigger!

Thankful

I'm so thankful... for so much.

But especially these two:


Some more pictures from Thanksgiving...

Perfect Saturday Morning

After B's morning nap, we made our way to the O-train. Carson was so excited we were actually going to get on a train. We got on and he just stared out the window and pointed out all the things we were passing. We got off the train, went for lunch and then home again on the train.

It was the perfect morning!

Beautiful fall day

I love this picture of him.


Carson and his rediscovered friend Kailey and Kade along for the ride too. Beckett was there, but he was on me so I couldn't take pictures.

Just a few pictures

Carson always wants Beckett to be where he is. I normally indulge him, sometimes much to Beckett's dismay (3 seconds after this picture was taken Beckett started wailing)

Beckett is quite happy that he's being included in family dinners, he loves sitting in his high chair. No more sitting in the chair and swing on the ground!

I think I forgot something....

Looking quite pleased with himself.

Mom makes me go out walking in the cold, but at least she dresses me up nice and warm.

Carson is SO lucky

He's having a sleepover with the twins tonight.

I just called Uncle Rob and the kids have been asleep (like deep asleep) for almost an hour. They all started off on a mattress on the floor in Ethan's room. After about 3 minutes Isabelle decided she'd had enough. Then the two boys fell asleep on the floor.

I was told how Carson just followed them around the whole night, and how Carson was right in there with the both of them keeping up with them every step of the way. They went to a neighbour's house and Carson was right in there, smiling for pictures, singing, the whole kit and caboodle.

Rob said that he overheard the kids teaching Carson little things. Ethan was explaining how they always had to sit on the potty before they leave the house. Because then you may have an accident and it's not fun having accidents.

Carson is lucky to have lots of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who love him as much as they do.

Nap time?

I put both boys down to nap at 12:30.

Around 1 I hear Carson banging on the wall with his feet, I go in to tell him not to wake up his brother. He tells me he has a poopy bum (poops aren't going as well as pees in the whole potty training thing - although it's important to note the past 4 days he's going diaper free except for sleep times, no matter where we go, and you know us, we are always out). So I change his bum. Put him back to bed, snuggle, leave.

About 2:30 I STILL hear him talking. I go in - he tells me he isn't tired, doesn't want to nap and wants to be with me *sigh* how can I say no to that? So I bring him into my room. I turn on Mighty Machines for him to watch while I take a 5 minute shower.

(by the way, during all this B is still sleeping)

I get out of the shower. And this is what I find.

So now I'm downstairs, at the computer, in a TOWEL because I didn't want to wake him up. (Ive since snuck in and changed)

(Both boys are STILL sleeping and it's 3pm). I wish B's naps were more regular so I would know how much time I had and organize naptime chores around that.

And my favourite "aunt" sent me this beautiful email.

Christy, we have had the roots of empathy program at our school for a few years. I haven't sat in on any classes but I have heard it is a wonderful program and I am sure you will enjoy sharing your darling little boy with the children. Beckett might just change a few people lives by making them more caring, compassionate and better human beings. Enjoy the experience.
Korkie

And honestly, it made me cry. I guess I didn't realize exactly what I was getting into, and normally people say that when it's not what they wanted, but I've slowly come to realize over the past few days that it's exactly what I want!

My boys

Ssshhhh I don't want to jinx it. My boys decided to treat their mommy today and both take a nap at the same time

This morning morning my brother in law's mother came over. Linda asked Beckett and I to be the Roots of Empathy mom and infant for one of the schools here in Ottawa.

It sounds like a really wonderful program and Mr B and I are honoured to have been asked. I hope that there is such a program when Carson and Beckett are in school.

It sounds like a really wonderful program and Mr B and I are honoured to have been asked!

Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program that has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression among schoolchildren by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

At the heart of the program are a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom every three weeks over the school year. A trained ROE Instructor coaches students to observe the baby's development and to label the baby's feelings. In this experiential learning, the baby is the "Teacher" and a lever, which the instructor uses to help children identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others. This "emotional literacy" taught in the program lays the foundation for more safe and caring classrooms, where children are the "Changers". They are more competent in understanding their own feelings and the feelings of others (empathy) and are therefore less likely to physically, psychologically and emotionally hurt each other through bullying and other cruelties. In the ROE program children learn how to challenge cruelty and injustice. Messages of social inclusion and activities that are consensus building contribute to a culture of caring that changes the tone of the classroom. The ROE Instructor also visits before and after each family visit to prepare and reinforce teachings using a specialized lesson plan for each visit. Research results from national and international evaluations of ROE indicate significant reductions in aggression and increases in pro-social behaviour.

Life is BUSY

If I had more time I would write about....

- how Carson went the whole morning for a 2 hour trip to the park plus lunch at a restaurant in his underwear, normally on longer trips we would always put pull-ups on, way to go Carson!

- how Beckett is STILL sleeping 12 hours through the night

- how Beckett STILL isn't a great sleeper during the day

- how Carson is all done at daycare

- how Carson loves nursery school and randomly talks about kids in his class

- how Carson ate with chopsticks tonight!

- how happy Carson was that Uncle Mark stayed with us for a few days

- how Carson got his first movie from his caregiver on his last day, and he watched his first movie today and thought he was in heaven

I would probably write a little more about each of those, but one of my children is still up (watching hockey with Dad) and I want to go spend a little more time with him before he goes to bed.