Captain Underpants

Bodhi is officially out of diapers. Well, at least while he's awake, we're still diapering for naps and bedtime. He has been going "commando" at home for a while and has had only one accident so we moved on to underwear at home - again, only one accident. But today was the big day when I finally sent him off to school in underwear. I lay in bed this morning having anxiety about every little thing - would he be nervous to ask his teacher? would he ask really quietly and then it would be too late before they heard him? would he be too busy playing to remember he wasn't wearing a diaper? I almost changed my mind and sent him to school in a diaper, but for fear of regression, I sent him in underwear (with a big truck on the bum no less). I stocked his backpack with two extra sets of clothes "just in case". When I got to school, I told his teachers he was diaper-free - which to them is no big deal, of course - and then left him. I wondered all morning if I would get back to school and see the tell-tale plastic bag on his hook signaling that wet clothes were inside.

So how did it go? Well, it was a good thing I sent TWO sets of clothes! In his defense, he had one accident and then later his pants got wet from the toilet seat the second time he went (in the toilet! Yay!). His teachers were completely unfazed, saying he did well for his first day (once in his pants, once in the toilet). I'm just glad that the first day is done.

Now back to the laundry!

...and baby makes 4!

It's high time that our newest little star got the spotlight for a moment! Bodhi is going to be a big brother! We're now about 21 weeks pregnant and excited for the newest Walmstopher to join us in early February. Bodhi is excited (and a little mystified) by the whole thing - giving my belly kisses good morning, pretending he has a baby in his belly too, and listening to the baby's heartbeat at the midwife's office (which he thinks is an airplane).

This pregnancy is EXTREMELY different from the last one. Last time I could nap when I needed to, sleep past 6am and didn't have to do everything with a 30 pound toddler on my back, but it's been fun nonetheless. The biggest different that I've found is that last time I was completely focused on the pregnancy and not at all on what would come next, whereas this time I'm not at all focused on the pregnancy and only thinking about what is coming next. What will it be like when our new little boy joins us? Where will he sleep? How will we fit all his stuff in the house? Where will be sit while we have dinner? Where will he nap? Will he be a good sleeper like Bodhi was when he as a baby? Will Bodhi adjust quickly or will it take time? A multitude of new questions pop up in my head every day (and every night at 2am).

How will our second little boy shape our lives? I guess we'll just have to wait and find out! Can't wait!

School Daze

Bodhi had his first day of nursery school this morning! Unbelievable. He was able to get himself to stop for half a second to hang up his coat and backpack before tearing off into the classroom. The teacher looked a little confused as I came in 10 feet behind him, wondering who this little rascal belonged to! He, of course, went straight to his cuz and then proceeded to jump from activity to activity, toy to toy as fast as I've ever seen him move. I was able to squeeze a quick hug and kiss from him before I snuck out of the class and left him in the capable hands of his new teachers. I spent a few minutes in the hall outside studying all of the calendars, lists and spreadsheets that they have put up for the parents (this is my kind of school!). Apparently they are used to control freak parents like me because they have a calendar of each days craft activity, another of the book they are reading that day, and another with what they're having for snack. I left the school a complete mess and when straight to Dan's office to talk myself down off the ledge - what if he gets hungry? what if he has a temper tantrum? what if they can't understand what he's saying?

I, of course, was 20 minutes early to pick him up and as I heard the gym door open to let the kids out, all I could hear was the teacher saying "Bodhi, Bodhi, Bodhi, Bodhi". I had to laugh, knowing full well that her morning was probably spent (as mine have been for the past 2 and a half years) trying to get Bodhi to stop bouncing and to follow her - no easy feat! He came out of the gym glowing, came up the stairs saying "Mommy, you came home!" - which I'm assuming meant that he was glad I came back for him - and gave me a big hug. I asked Audrey (his teacher) how the morning was, she said that he did great, needs to learn the routine of the day (he was jumping up and down and running up and down the hall as she was telling me this) and that he DEFINITELY didn't have a problem with separation anxiety! I kind of felt like asking "not even a little bit?". So off we went to go home for lunch and have a chat about school, where I learned that for snack he had "Nemos" (goldfish crackers?), and apparently all he did all day was go down a slide and bounce.

All in all, a successful morning.

The Rooms in Our House

This will be a quick one, I just didn't want to forget....

According to Bodhi, these are the rooms in our house:

Kitchen = Kitchen

Living Room = Different Kitchen

Dining Room = Big Chair Room

Bathroom = Bathroom

Bodhi's Room = Bodhi's Bathroom

Mom and Dad's Room = Mommy's Bed

Office = That Room

Front Hall = Front Door

Backyard = Back Park

Some of these actually kind of make sense! Maybe he's on to something!

September Looms

It is almost the middle of August and every day we get closer and closer to the end of summer and the beginning of many, many new things. My boy and I have enjoyed this beautiful summer together (and still are!) full of day trips, giggles, big slobbery kisses, and visits with family and friends. I am dreading it being over. On the one hand. On the other hand, I am really excited for what September is about to bring us. The biggest change in our lives is that Bodhi is starting nursery school! I have way more excitement about it than I do anxiety, but still the anxiety is there. I am so excited for him. He is going to the best possible place he can be going, he is going with Clara(!) and he is going to love it. I know he is. He'll be going three mornings a week from 9 - 11:30am and will get to play with other kids, sing songs, read stories and run around burning off all of his little firecracker energy. I have absolutely no anxiety about him enjoying being there. But I am nervous nonetheless.

For the past 2+ years, I have been Bodhi's full-time caregiver. What he knows, Dan and I taught him (good and bad!). His entire world has been shaped by us and the decisions that we have made. For the first time, his world is also going to be shaped by other adults, other children, other experiences that I am not a part of, and although I know this is fantastic for him, it saddens me. It's very difficult to think about letting go, even for just 7.5 hours a week (and I'm counting the minutes!). You want so badly for people to love your children, and who wouldn't love Bodhi, right? Spoken like a true mother. What if he hits another child, or what if he is cranky because he didn't sleep well, what if he asks incessantly for more snack because he didn't eat his breakfast that morning. I have to remember that he is 2. And that his caregivers are professionals who work with 2 year olds day in and day out. And that his curls and smiles are so cute that he is completely delicious and of course they will love him.

On top of this I will be continuing to work from home full-time and launch my pediatric nutrition business which will bring all sorts of new challenges. I am definitely looking more forward to September than I am dreading it, but I am still going to relish every single moment of August that I can while the summer is still upon us. Time to go wake Bodhi from his nap and get some more snuggles in!

Park, Splash Pad, Beach, Repeat.

It has been TOO long since I last wrote in this blog. I can't believe it's been almost 2 months! We're half way through a wonderful summer and are having the time of our lives. Bodhi and I spend our mornings exploring new parks, beaches and splash pads every day then home for lunch and a nap (for both of us!). When Daddy gets home it's playtime until dinner and then after dinner a trip to the park across the street or a tricycle lesson in front of the house. I LOVE SUMMER. Bodhi has settled in nicely to his twos. He's talking up a storm - the other day Dan asked him if he wanted a bite of something and Bodhi said "of course!". He's becoming more agile by the day, running, jumping, climbing and learning to ride a trike. He's a great little helper around the house - and trust me, I need it! We are having a wonderful time together - exploring the city, camping at Charleston Lake and week long trips to the cottage - this is what life it all about! Have I mentioned that I love summer?

A lot to catch up on!

Well, a lot has happened since May 8th! Since I last wrote, I decided to start my own business, received a grant from the government to do so and have started taking a fast-track business class (while finishing up my nutrition courses). All this, of course, has left our little man with a bit of a hodge podge of guardians - but, can I just say, the boy has never been happier! Bodhi has spent the last few weeks (as well as next week) like this: Monday he goes to Sophie and Clara's and spends the day with them and their babysitter Christine (who Bodhi LOVES); Tuesday and Wednesday he spends at Grandma and Liz's house where he is inevitably spoiled, taken to the beach, the playground, and for walks in the woods - and best of all, today they went to the construction equipment sale lot and climbed all over excavators, forklifts and skid steers; finally, Thursday and Friday he spends the mornings with Christine and the girls and the afternoons at home with Daddy. We went into this little venture a little worried about how Bodhi would do, being away from me for the first time in 2 years, being trucked from house to house, and napping in different houses each day. Well, the first day we dropped Bodhi off at Grandma and Liz's, he gave me a hug and a kiss goodbye, told me he loved me and never looked back! He jumps out of the car when we get to Sophie and Clara's in the morning and skips happily into their kitchen to see "Kis-teen". And he cries when Dan comes to pick him up - don't make me leave!!!!!

I guess what we really need to worry about is how he reacts when he has to STOP doing all of this! Hopefully it goes just as smoothly and doesn't give me an even bigger complex!