#62- A bedtime story

For the past week we've been having some very difficult nights with Isaac, who is now 2 1/2 years old.
At first we thought he was over-excited by hearing nightly visitors and was thrown out of routine, so we made sure we had people over either before supper or after he had gone to bed. this didn't solve his long, drawn out bedtimes (continuously coming out of his room, us continuously putting him back to bed)
As this continued, we thought maybe he was scared of the dark, having bad dreams, or needed a toy to sleep with (something he has never been into, even though we tried when he was younger)
We turned the bathroom light on, left the door open wider, but nothing helped. His bedtime struggle turned into a through-out the night battle, our compassion waned significantly as he would wake up 2 or 3 times during the night, and would NOT be put back to bed. In the beginning we would stay with him and rub his back till he fell asleep, but as soon as we got up to leave, however deep his sleep was, he would jump up wide awake and the 'routine' would begin all over again. We buckled down and started sticking to the 'super-nanny' routine, making sure we had a good night ritual, lots of snuggles, then bed. After that, short snuggle, goodnight, leave, if he got up again, nothing but a put-back-to-bed and goodnight. No conversation.

There was nothing else to say after this step. Unfortunately for us, it was not 3 times but about 30 times that we were going in and out, literally putting him back in his bed, turning around, barely able to leave before he booked it out screaming like a banshee and we had to put him back in again.

We've gone to about every desparate measure, while still sticking to our guns that we won't buckle in and let him just sleep in our bed or us sleeping in his. Which we realize will ultimately make things worse.
Where we are at now is warning him that we will close his door if he gets out of bed again so he can't come out, and moving Rosie to the toyroom playpen to sleep so she is not bothered by 'the Hulk' impression that emerges after the inevitable closing of the door. (Seriously. It is unbelievable how much energy he puts into these episodes, it sounds like a 300 lb gorilla given an energy drink is locked in there.)

All the experts say just stick to the routine, don't participate in conversation, and be consistent.
This is all easy enough the first 10 times, but when it is the second time of the night at 3am and the clock starts ticking closer and closer to 6am, this kind of rationality is next to impossible. The reason we are resorting to locking the door is not so much as a kind of punishment, but really for his safety as WE are starting to lose our minds and our self-control.

We love Isaac completely and unconditionally, but I am shocked at myself for some of the ideas my brain comes up with to solve this problem in my sleep-deprived, third-trimester brain, some of them downright childish! (maybe if I pinch him really hard...)

I think one of the main contributing factors to this behaviour has been extreme fatigue on his part, he simply is not getting enough sleep and there's nothing we can do about it, the battle that ensues trying to 'force' him to sleep simply seems to give him more adrenaline to keep going. Nap-time has been unheard of for awhile now, although mid-week Eric put him down and SOMEHOW he fell asleep about half an hour later, AND stayed in his room (with warning of the door being closed if he didn't stay in his bed) That following night he was only up once for an hour, it was amazing. So I am convinced that he still does need his afternoon nap. Currently I haven't checked but it is awfully quiet in his room (door open! After having a fit for closing it the first time) so I think he just might be napping, then we will see how the night goes!

Thank HEAVENS for Eric who has the calmest attitude towards the whole thing, somehow he is able to almost completely disconnect during the nightly episodes and Isaac gives in in a lot shorter time than when I am on the job.
If anyone reading this has other ideas, stories, or tips on how to handle this 'stage' as I've heard it's been called, (though nothing I have read or heard about even compares to this) Please do share!! 
I also read that this 'waking' stage at about 2-3 years generally works itself out in 1-3(?!) weeks, so we may have a bit more work ahead of us. I will update when we reach the end! Isaac is a good kid, it's really hard to see him going through this and how strict we have to be with him...
They say strong-willed kids make amazing leaders and strong characters, At this rate and if handled correctly, it's lookin' like Isaac could successfully run a country or two in about 25 years!

#61- thirty-one weeks

3rd trimester...we meet again!
I must say, as much as I've been trying to enjoy this (likely last) pregnancy for me, I am quite content to be done being pregnant, there is much about it that I love (when else can you just 'let it all hang out' and have people say 'oh you are just GLOWING!' 'Aren't you just BEAUTIFUL'?) The incredible feeling of little babe moving around, the excuse to snacking, the attention, those peaceful feelings and moments, but overall; I'm growing less and less partial to things such as the huge chore of getting dressed each day to accommodate my glowing, growing self, the back pain from doing the most basic activities, trying to read my elder child a story and they practically falling off my lap, just feeling overall tired and sluggish...really I just want to be done and have this precious child in my arms not my belly! (Ahh I'm guessing it won't take long for me to wish I was pregnant again!:)
However, again I remind myself that these days are really very short; Because we have had our children so close together in age, it really will feel like only a fleeting moment with all 3 pregnancies combined, a blink of time in my life altogether, so I'm really doing my best  to remind myself of these things and truly enjoy!

I've never been keen on photographing myself and my booming belly, especially this time around, but I know I will be glad I did.
I was looking over my old pictures from my pregnancies with Isaac and Rosalie, it was interesting to compare shapes, sizes and progress, so this motivated me (along with how fun it is to see pictures of friends and sisters too-cute bellies) to be sure to get a couple snapshots in there. Also wouldn't want this babe to feel left out...(does that happen??)
Anyway, please ignore our messy room and fingerprint-smeared mirror. How DID those little hand prints get up that high? Only 2 months left!! I can't believe how fast the time has been flying!

#60- Out while we can!

Before the snow flies and temperatures bid us more oft inside...we have been making the most out of every lovely day!
I know this is a lot of photos, but I can't help it, outdoor pictures are my favourite:) And they are just such gorgeous children 

#59- First pigtails

Those cute little tendrils puffing out at her ears are long enough to twist into pigtails, although I don't have small enough elastics, so the first attempt was to use the smallest version of my own, which still ended up making her pigtails look more elastic than hair!


Nonetheless, how adorable. They make her look older though...Rosalie is almost 13 months already!

#58- Tomatoes

My tomato plants did their very best this year, and finally managed to pump out a cute little crop of tomatoes, the ones that made it out of the garden without getting eaten by squirrels (who would mockingly leave whole red ones with one bite sitting on the fence), my children, or disease (I actually found a recommended cure of putting crunched up egg shells in the soil, worked wonders!) Were promptly rushed indoors where they have been used for all things tomato-y! Friends of ours who are on vacation and have very flourishing tomato plants, of different varieties, asked us to harvest them while they were gone, so that has kept our house and the fruit flies buzzing! I am tomatoed out, but have found lots of uses, and tried making pasta sauce which turned out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G (not to toot my own horn) The kids love them when they are able to pick them off the plant itself and eat them like an apple, not so much for some reason when they are cut up on a plate, but they do looove the sauce!:) Here's to tomatoes! this years apples for us!

Isaac saying 'Thank you JESUS!'

#57- Conditional welcoming to Students

Recently our mayor was criticized for his comments to students regarding partying-hard instead of studying hard at their welcome party. (http://www.am980.ca/news/local/story.aspx?ID=1767323)  
Everyone knows that London is notorious for it's so called 'party schools' (I need not name names) and while some are worse than others, just as not all students are partiers, I am particularly annoyed at the acceptance and encouragement of this behaviour by the public, much less London's own mayor!

In light of last years riot at Fleming drive, and while police and residents are still cleaning up the mess that that incident left, ol' Mayor was particularly out of line even to be 'just light hearted in the moment'.

Another thing that riled up students and critics alike was the comment made by a local bar owner that they would 'rather eat glass' than serve the return of the students to London.
I do not like to be critical or judgemental of a group simply by the actions of a few or a stereotype, but having lived here now almost five years, I can't say I'm out with banners and balloons welcoming the students back. With the turning of the leaves, so I dread the return of the students in many ways. London is really quite a nice place during the summer, and now with being home-owners, I have found that students bring distruptiveness to the neighbourhood, more garbage, (increasingly showing up on our yard and in nearby parks since school started) more accidents, less respect for the citizens of London, (there seems to be a 'suck-up' attitude to the students I've found, we don't want to scare any of them away (Direct quote "Western University and its students generate $1.5 billion a year in economic activity, according to the university. Add Fanshawe College and its students into the mix, and that’s an awful lot of money." from http://www.lfpress.com/2012/08/31/students-a-vital-player-in-what-makes-us-london
And overall just a grumpier city who is told to quiet down and try to be nice to the little students who are our future.
The way London caters to students however and the blind eye turned when it comes to their behaviour is really not acceptable. Particularly because they are our future!
Once upon a time, the privilege of attending, much less affording, college and university was something that most young people took very seriously. If you were so lucky to go, (unless you were a spoiled brat with rich parents in which case you were generally sent to some private hippity-bippity school) You studied hard, saved your pennies, and were actually interested in what you were learning. We take the privilege of education far too frivilously, how many times have I heard students groaning that it's 'crunch time' right before or during exams and that now they have to actually pay attention and study and how haaaard school is (but going to class with a hangover 4 times a week is kind of your fault isn't it...?)

On a separate note, did you know that annually students throw away 275 tons of garbage each year??
(http://www.londoncommunitynews.com/2012/05/students-throw-away-about-275-tonnes-of-trash/) Not to mention what this costs the city!

Before I go off on a rant I shall conclude what I really wanted to conclude with: Students; please be respectful. This city has citizens who were here first and will be here when you leave, you're not the king, you're a visitor. Clean up after yourself, enjoy gratefully the services our taxes are paying for for you, please attend a local coffee shop over pushing for Starbucks on every corner, drive better on the road, there are not just students but families with children on them; learn how to use cross walks and be a good pedestrian; plan ahead with what you're going to do with furniture you don't intend to take with you when you leave, don't just chuck brand new furniture to the curb! We understand you want to take some time to relax and have fun, but don't leave a mess at someone else's expense and remember, you're a visitor! Don't throw your beer bottles on peoples yards or parks. If you want to get really crazy, be a part of our communities while you are here instead of just taking from them, give something back! 
Do us all a favour and try to learn something other than how to party, I don't need to be hit by the car of a driver who is studying to be a police officer or have my picture a joke on facebook from being in an accident instead of helped by someone studying their PSW or nursing.
If you wanted to spend 80 grand on partying instead of getting a diploma, perhaps you should have looked into touring the Most Popular Party Places of the World.

Seriously.
On a final note, I personally know that there are many students who are working hard, being respectful, and overall make London a better place with their presence during the school year, I recognize that London thrives financially because of their presence, and I appreciate the different positive aspects, but this overall attitude of both students and the public needs to end before they run us to the ground; or at least out of the city!!

#56- Rosalie is 1!

Not only did we celebrate my cousin Brandon and old friend Fiona's wedding on Sept 2, (which was beautiful by the way, I'm so happy for the two of them! They are just lovely) but also Rosie turned ONE! Which is really nuts! I remember posting not but a few months ago how one day soon I'd wake up and she'd be one, and here it is. 

Rosalie is turning into quite the little lady, she is still quite good natured and easy-going, although at times a little clingy, she is usually content to just be around her family or observing what else is going on. She has really hammed it up lately with visitors and friends, and even strangers to get a reaction which is pretty cute, that ever-endearing 'goofy' smile that Isaac still has is her main strategy in achieving this (and with such clear effort, has yet to fail her!)
She can say 'mama', 'dada', 'Isaac', 'that', 'Nala' (our neighbours dog) and 'hot' (which she also calls her head; close enough:)
Her hair is still blonde and growing long and a little curly at the ears, soon enough there will be PIGTAILS! And her eyes have turned a lovely hazel. She has 8 teeth and a hearty appetite!
Also she started walking a week and a half before her birthday! So it is exciting to see her learning so fast and almost able to keep up with Isaac.

Rosalie, you are such a snuggly-bug and I just love you! Your sweet personality is so warming to everyone who meets you and you continue to charm even the toughest:)- Proven!
I pray you will keep growing strong and healthy and into a beautiful woman whose love for God and others is infectious! You are a blessing my dear. We love you!