As fall has started to move along, it's now time for Jen to go back to work full time. Our time off of work together is now over, and it's time to get back to real life. At least it ended with a bang, as we went to Dave and Janice's wedding in Calgary October 15th, and we all had a blast. Especially Robin. "I danced with the bride" was a phrase she used about fifty times the day after the wedding. However, her version of dancing with the bride was running circles around the dance floor.
Olivia is no longer a little bundle of baby (well, never really that little). At five months, she's sitting on her own, has two teeth, is interested in everything, can put her soother back in her mouth, is a giggle maniac when you make her laugh, and grabs at any and everything within her reach. I remember Robin at this stage, and it was great. She could sit and entertain herself, and it was so fun to watch her explore and learn about her world.
Now that Olivia is getting busier and needs more attention, life has gotten more... well, busy. Sometimes REALLY busy. This morning, Robin went to daycare, and Olivia and I took Griffin to the off-leash. Here's how a typical morning getting the kids ready goes:
Olivia wakes up. Time to get Robin up too. Bring Olivia upstairs to Robin's bedroom door, cause Robin to quickly dive under the covers. After much giggling about hiding under the covers, Olivia joins her in the crib. Olivia grabs a toy.
Robin: "No! Mine!!!"
Daddy: "Robin, if you want her to give you her toy back, you have to share another toy with her."
Robin looks around, finds the toy to trade.
Robin "Here you go Olivia." She gives her the most boring toy. Her covers. It's always her covers. Luckily, Olivia doesn't mind much. She would play with a wad of kleenex.
Pick clothes for Robin for the day (be darned if I can understand which ones match), get both kids out of the crib. Go to top of the stairs to the second floor.
Robin: "Upee upee!" she often wants to be carried downstairs. Go downstairs, one kid in each arm.
Change Olivia's bum. Robin pulls stool close and watches. Put Olivia in swing. Change Robin's bum.
Robin: "I don't want to get my bum changed!" usual response.
Daddy: "If you do a good bum change, you'll get a star!" it's a sticker.
Robin: "Yeah!" finish bum change, take a looong look at sticker sheet to decide on the star she wants. There is only one left. She picks one that is gone. The last one is not the right color. Negotiation ensues. She takes the last sticker.
Put Robin down, get Olivia from swing. Go to top of stairs for main floor.
Robin: "Upee upee!" Go downstairs, one kid in each arm.
Put Olivia in car seat. Griffin gets his harness and goes nuts knowing it is time to go for a walk. Let him run outside for a poop. Griffin is now a ticking time bomb, and any delay will lead to a hyperactive barking explosion.
Turn on the kettle to bring trio of boiling water, cold water and a powder formula for a trip with Olivia.
Robin: "I want cheerios and raisins!" her normal breakfast "and cranberries!"
Daddy: "Were going to Flora's, you can eat there..." rethink possibility of Robin's upset-ness. "Here, I'll put some in the excersaucer." Food now wins.
Robin: "And milk!"
Daddy: "And milk."
Daddy is taking too long. Olivia gets upset in the car seat. Think fast: diaper, food or sleep? She just woke up. Just changed her bum. That leaves food. Crud. Good thing I'm boiling the kettle. Burping sound. Olivia has barfed on herself. Think briefly about the paradox of being hungry yet barfing up milk on oneself. Out of the car seat, upstairs, new outfit, back downstairs into car seat.
It's cold out, they need warmer clothes. Wait, where are Robin's shoes? Searching bewildered. Think. When she came in last night, she was brought straight upstairs and... aha! Her room! Run upstairs to grab the shoes and something warm, tear back downstairs.
Olivia crying, Griffin barking outside. Let Griffin in.
Robin: "I want to give him a treat!!!" in a crying voice. I always let her, yet she seems terrified that I will forget.
Daddy: "Of course. Here you go." She promptly hands the treat to Griffin, and giggles excitedly when he nibbles it out of her hand.
Olivia still crying. No time to warm expressed breast milk. Measure hot and cold water to get temperature just right. Add enough formula powder. Out of car seat (again). Ah... sweet relief.
Robin: "I want some!" she often wants Olivia's bottle.
Daddy: "Olivia's drinking it right now." Obvious, but necessary rebuttal.
Olivia's done. Griffin looks like he's going to blow a fuse. Olivia back in car seat, Robin shoes on.
Robin: "I don't want to go to Flora's!!!" standard response to going to daycare.
Daddy: "But you have fun at Flora's. Is Ella there? And Boomie?"
Robin: "And Drew!"
Daddy: "Is it fun at Flora's?"
Robin: "Yeah!!!"
Shoes are now on. Diaper bag packed. Wait... this bag needs to go with Robin to Flora's. I'm also taking Olivia. I need two diaper bags now. Rethinking. Run and find new bag. Quickly shuttle Olivia's things to a new bag. Good to go.
Too many things. Have to do two trips to the van.
Daddy: "Can you wait at the door for Daddy to get Griffin and Olivia into the New Van?" Robin nods. The van is six months old, but New Van has become it's name.
Grab Olivia and let Griffin hurdle outside the door. Open garage door quickly to avoid the piercing Griffin yelp of impatience. Robin has come to the top of the porch stairs.
Robin: "Is there any dog poop?"
Daddy: "What was that?" I only half heard her I was busy putting Griffin in the car. I buckle Griffin into his seat belt (seriously, we have a doggy seat belt).
Robin: "I found some dog poop!" walk back towards the house.
Daddy: "ROBIN!!! ACKKK!" see little footprints of dog poop trailing her. Say silent curse inside head. Observe that Griffin did poop before getting into the car. Go inside, holding Robin's shoes far away. Find location of mess. Wash with warm soap and water.
Daddy: "Ready to go Robin?"
Robin: "Yeah!"
Get Robin inside car seat and buckle in. Give Olivia soother. Drive away.
Our day begins.
