Happy Four Months, Mungry

Dear Julia:

This last month has been amazing. In the last four plus weeks you went from that baby that sleeps all the time to that baby that is desperate to move, chew, and experience everything. I don't know how you do it, but when I leave you on your blanket on the floor and turn my back for even a minute you are never in the same spot I left you in (and usually you're not even on the blanket anymore).

Hunter is starting to actually believe me when I tell him that he is going to have to start picking up his toys more because if he doesn't you'll eat them. I think it may have something to do with the number you did on his Ninja Turtle when we took you for your immunizations, but it could also be because lately you've been putting anything and everything you can reach into your mouth. Though you do seem to have a special affection for things that are soft like blankets, stuffies, and dresses.

I never used to understand why people used bibs on their babies before they started eating but I'm starting to get it now... you've kind of been like a faucet these past few weeks but then again, who needs bibs when you wear a dress, right? That has got to be my favourite thing that you do right now, chewing on the bottom of your dresses. It's like you're saying "oh that is what all this extra frill is for." It's especially funny when Daddy picks you up, feels the dampness, worries there has been some sort of diaper explosion, sniffs you and determines all is well (I guess the bubbling around your mouth doesn't always immediately give it away).

You are now sleeping like one of those babies that you hear about but never really think exist. You go to bed at around 8pm and don't wake up until Dad gets up for work! Admittedly, he gets up for work at 5am but still, I think it's pretty amazing. And the best part is that you wake up in the most wonderful way with beautiful smiles and bright eyes. You rock your cradle to let us know you're up and if that doesn't work you may those kkr kkr sounds. And only when that doesn't work do you let out the smallest of cries. I'm afraid it's looking like we have two morning people in our family but it's really hard not to be okay with it when we get to wake up to your smiles and Hunter's cheerful good mornings.

Words can't really capture how much we love you or how much you've added to our lives. Our hearts felt full before you came but they have grown (kind of like how the grinches heart grows three sizes that day) because sometimes when I look at you I feel so much joy I could burst (especially when I look at you and your little legs and arms start kicking in excitement and your face explodes into smiles). Hunter has also started saying he would like to be a Dad when he grows up (a jet flying, ninja Dad with 16 kids) and I'm pretty sure that's his way of saying his life is much, much, much better with you in it. Love you my little Mungry.

I Will Never Again Post about Facebook

I dont' need to. This says it all. And to think I discovered this coworker's blog through facebook. Ironic, no?

Immunize Me

Yesterday the kids both had their immunizations. I thought I was being brilliant getting it all over with in one appointment - Hunter would go first so that he wouldn't make himself nervous while Julia had her needles, Julia wouldn't know the difference, and if they had fevers they'd both be sick at the same time so that I wouldn't get nagged about going to the park with a screaming, feverish child. I still don't think it was a terrible idea...

The immunization for a four year old is definitely a lot more interesting than the immunization for the almost four month old. When Julia is four years old, I am going to try to remember that the health nurses ask her the questions not me. Given this nugget, immunization day is probably not the best day to allow eggos for breakfast (especially when the question about what you had for breakfast follows a conversation about how little sweets the child is allowed). I'm going to have to remember to teach her to stop drop and roll when her clothes are on imaginary fire so that she doesn't suggest blowing them out like candles or using them to light candles as an appropriate reaction. And I'm definitely going to remember to have her immunization in the winter so that she doesn't arrive banged up from falling numerous times at the park, or covered in mosquito bites. On the up side, Hunter's honesty about how often he brushes his teeth, has a bath, how high he can count, his alphabet, what he drinks, and how he would most definitely hand a lighter over to his Dad was good. He weighs 39 pounds, is 42 inches tall (which is apparently good) and he took both needles like a trooper, ignoring the distraction attempts and instead watching the stuff enter his arm with great fascination.

Julia aced all of her tests (admittedly, they were a lot easier since she didn't have to think on the spot about how she might react if her clothes were on fire since her bad parents never taught her). She weighs 12lbs 4oz and is just over 23 inches tall so is growing just as she should. She did not take her needle like a trooper - she cried in disbelief that I would hold her down while those people hurt her, what kind of mother am I? She did calm relatively quickly, though.

Last night the kids were both doing great but around 5am this morning we awoke to screams of "I can't move my arms, I can't move my arms!" I used to think babies being sick was the worst because they can't verbalize how they feel or understand what is happening but now I'm not so sure - there was real terror in Hunter's voice this morning and he definitely couldn't see the logic in doing the chicken dance (exercising his arms) when he was in excruciating pain. Next, he turned white, got sick, and insisted on sleeping in the bathroom (to this I can relate). We gave him some motrin and by 10am he seemed to be back to normal. So much so that I was feeling guilty for not suggesting I bring him to Lisa's after lunch.

After lunch, we took a guilt-fueled trip to the park. It was packed. Apparently there was some kind of field trip, so when Hunter sat down and watched instead of jumping right in I figured he was just overwhelmed. A few minutes later, I noticed that it had nothing to do with being overwhelmed or shy because he was once again as white as a ghost. We quickly headed home where he fell asleep shortly after and when he awoke he seemed to be fine again. Within an hour of waking up, though, he was feverish and lethargic again so I gave him more motrin and phoned the health nurse to make sure there wasn't anything else I should be doing (I knew there wasn't but I was feeling helpless and wanted to feel like I was doing everything possible). By supper time he was fine again and still is (crossing my fingers because the worst part of today may have been that it kept seeming like he was better). Luckily, Julia has just had a mild fever all day (exactly what I expected them both to have). I cannot imagine today if they both had the reactions Hunter had. I definitely would not have thought the double immunization was brilliant because there is really nothing worse than a sick child except for two sick children.

Country Roads Take Me Home

As I sit down to contemplate something to write, I hear John Denver* singing. Something Jason is watching is playing that John Denver song "Take Me Home, Country Roads". A John Denver documentary maybe? Nope, now I hear Johnny Cash, an odd combination. What they do have in common, though, is that in my lifetime both have gone from cool to lame (or fodder for late night talk show hosts - John Denver in the early 90s) and back to cool again (Johnny Cash, in particular, John Denver not so much). Something to do with nostalgia (and mortality), I guess. I never really listened to Johnny Cash until I met Jason - he was a fan (or at least familiar) because his Dad was, kind of like CCR for me. John Denver, though, I've always had a soft spot for him because of his appearances with the Muppets. John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Album is still a part of my annual seasonal play list. I'm going to take this admission as a sign that I'm pretty comfortable in my skin because I can be guaranteed that some readers think John Denver is distinctly uncool and I'm okay with that.

"Take Me Home" is resonating with me right now, in particular. Probably because I just returned from one of those visits that is just the perfect amount of time - short enough that you are sad to leave but long enough for a serious glimpse into the possibilities of place. I am content with the life we have here but I am drawn by both nostalgia and possibility to Alberta. I long for the smell of northern Alberta in the fall when the leaves decay. I long for nights that don't see darkness for more than a couple hours in summer. I long for crisp clear nights when the northern lights dance. I long for friends that I've known since kindergarten. I long to be nearer to my Mum and Dad. It's also hard not to feel excited by the pulse and pace of a place where the labour shortage is palpable here and now. I know there are downsides to most of the things I just wrote: those extended hours of light in the summer come with extended hours of darkness in the winter; the labour shortage comes with increased costs of living, congestion, and long lines as virtually every service industry is understaffed; and, in reality, I probably don't have a lot in common with those friends that I've known since kindergarten beyond age and history. History is important, though, and so is family and that's why I am always going to be drawn to northern Alberta no matter how happy I am here. Next time I will just need to visit longer (you know, long enough so that I can leave feeling confident that the grass is greener on this side).

* I know, I totally got carried away with the links but I felt like I couldn't just link John Denver and not the rest that I mentioned. Kind of like how Hunter can't choose which stuffy to take to bed so takes ten or none. No happy medium here.

Heading Home

I'm heading back to Regina tomorrow so am reflecting on what I had planned to get out of this visit and how it actually went down. Here's the list:

Things I planned to do:

• Read book club books
• Walk/jog every evening or use stair master during the day
• Keep up with yoga before I forget how to do everything
• Visit with friends in Edmonton
• Visit aunts and cousin
• Relax and enjoy time with family

Things I did:

• Relaxed and enjoyed time with family (read laid around gluttonously eating too much and exercising too little)
• Visited the Schmoos and the Bilyks (success on the friends bullet particularly since the Bilyks live quite north of Edmonton and just happened to be in the city for some appointments)
• Read half of Agatha Christie book for book club and ascertained that the Tolstoy one is available at Book and Brier though I haven't yet picked it up. Since the latest was announced last week I am now three (or 2.5) books behind.
• Determined I need to come for another visit soon because I only made it into Edmonton a couple times and still need to connect with Aunt and Cousin that live close.
• Determined that a trip to Fort McMurray is warranted to visit other Aunt and some friends with whom I've recently reconnected.
• Perused the classifieds and job ads and actually saw a few jobs that fit my skill set and some aren't even with the government so apparently my skills are transferrable (not that I didn't already think that but now it's validated)

Despite obvious failures on a couple of the bullets, it has been a good visit.