The Bite

It's never a good thing when the daycare calls.

Just before the end of my work day on Monday, my cell phone lit up with the name of Hannah's daycare. She had been bitten. She was OK, but she cried. It happened during snack time. The Biter was sitting next to Hannah. Now, the Biter will never sit near Hannah again.

Mama I'm a Big Girl Now

OK. So Hannah can't actually say, "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now," but as I continually stress to Chris actions speak louder than words.

Last week Hannah turned 1. I have been fighting a nasty cough/cold since I returned to work and on her actual birthday I was so sick I had to stay home from work and only saw her for like an hour. I know she didn't realize it was her birthday, but I still felt a lot of Mom guilt. Especially when she wanted to cuddle and I kept leaving her to cough loud enough our neighbours could probably hear.

One of the things I really wanted to do is write a list of all the awesome things she can do at 12 months. She's mastered 7 words. She can eat bigger pieces of food, and bites things herself without us having to break it up for her (as proven when she devoured one of her customized Elmo birthday sugar cookies). She crawls to whatever she wants and is becoming a very independent little lady (although, the grunting and pointing thing is becoming a little old...).

My personal favourite skill that has been perfected over the last couple of months is the removal of her socks. As soon as we get home from daycare and I remove her outerwear, she pulls off her socks almost right away. It's my favourite, because shortly thereafter I do the same. (I hate socks...but I also hate feet. Go figure?)

I hope at some point, when I'm feeling better, and have work and this blog under control, that I can sit down and recall all the things she can do at age 1, and all the amazing things that came before that. Thankfully my Mom keeps very detailed photo albums (yes, plural, I think she's on number four) and our daycare gives us weekly report cards of all the things that fill her days. My goal is to finish her baby book that follows her first year before Chris' birthday in May...when Hannah will be 15 months old. Maybe I should change that to her 2nd birthday. Time is flying way faster than I could have ever imagined...

© 2013 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

Baby's First Prescription

Today is the official last day of my maternity leave. I have no idea where a year went, and sometimes am amazed by how much this little person who I am so proud to call my daughter has grown.

I've spent the last three days tending to my sick Hannah, who has been home from daycare. We called Telehealth Ontario and finally gave in and braved the waiting room to see the doctor.

She has an ear and throat infection and she's now on antibiotics. It was weird seeing her name on medicine (not as weird as when my turtle got prescribed cream or my cat got prescribed pills, but weird nonetheless).

In a way, I feel some serious mom guilt. Because I wanted to spend more time with her before I went back to work. Obviously not under these circumstances, but still.

Maybe it's just the constant flows of "Mama" leaving her lips, usually when she is pain. A part of me knows I should feel honoured she seeks me out when she needs to be soothed and she trusts I am the one who will protect her while making things right. Another, bigger part of me just feels even more guilty because I know there is not much I can do but provide cuddles, kisses and plenty of water.

I really hope she is feeling better by Sunday. Going to work is going to be hard enough - it will be that much harder if I know she's still sick and I won't be the one taking care of her.

How do you deal with having to leave your kids when they are sick?

© 2013 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.

More Tricks than Treats

Happy Halloween!

Today Hannah and I were supposed to go to our weekly music class with Sonshine & Broccoli. I was so excited Halloween fell on a Wednesday this year, so that Hannah could be around other kids who were dressed up and show off her super cute Banana costume that her Auntie made for her.

Booyah is actually holding a tomato toy,
but let's pretend it is a pumpkin for Halloween.

Instead, Grandma is at the mall with Hannah (not dressed as a fruit) and I am at home in my PJs on the couch eating many freeze pops because my lymph nodes decided to get all swollen.

After waiting an hour to see the doctor, I got told to drink lots of liquids and not kiss baby. I am contagious. :(

I'm obviously more disappointed by today's events than Hannah because she has no idea. In some respects I guess I should be happy she's not old enough to realize she might be missing out on anything. When Daddy gets home Hannah will parade her costume around for us, we will take lots of photos and then maybe watch "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." (We live in a building, so will have no Trick-or-Treaters coming to our door.)

I will spend the rest of the night cuddling my black cat Booyah. Not because he deserves extra love today (being a black cat on Halloween can be tough), but because I can't pass the on virus to him.

I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween and stays safe, and hopefully dry.

What are your kids dressing up as for Halloween?

© 2012 YYZ Bambina. All Rights Reserved.