Gastump saves the day and where did our babies go?

For the first time since we moved in March, Brian and I visited our old stomping grounds this weekend and had a fantastic time catching up with some family, as well as some old friends. While we really miss everyone in the Ajax/Whitby area (well, not everyone, just the people we know there), we were quickly reminded of one of the major reasons we left the area -- the traffic!

Our first stop was to Kaylin's old daycare, where we were expecting a joyful surprise reunion with her favourite former teachers Debbie and Jen. Well, Jen just happened to be sick that day and Debbie...well, Debbie no longer works there! (Debbie, were you sick of the traffic too?!) So sorry we missed you.

Next we visited our friends and former neighbours, Jay and Jill, at their beautiful new house. Brian received some helpful tips on electrical wiring while Kaylin showed Jill and I how to decorate a coffee table with rocks and candles. Then the three of us hightailed it out of there before we could help clean up the dinner dishes. Thanks for a great visit guys! Please visit us soon.

We spent the weekend at Uncle Dennis and Auntie Tina's house in Brooklin where Kaylin was reunited with her favourite fluffy cousin, Gaston the kitten (or, "Gastump" as K calls him). All I have to say is thank goodness for Gastump. Kaylin had so much fun playing with him and all his toys that she slept really, really well...and I got my first nine solid hours of sleep in months, maybe years! Yayyyy Gastump!! If I weren't allergic to you I'd kiss you all over. Thanks for being such wonderful hosts D&T. We have an opened, partially-eaten bag of "hot cereal" for you as a thank-you gift!!

Before we headed back to London we spent some time with Kaylin's "first friends," Tasha and Nika. The three girls were all born within six weeks of each other (Kaylin and Tasha were actually due on the same day) and their moms and I spent many an afternoon chatting about motherhood, celebrating baby milestones, and marvelling at how quickly our little girls were growing. It's only been eight months since we last saw Tasha and Nika, but I can't get over how grown up our little ladies have become! Let's just say each toddler has developed a mind of her own. It's was wonderful seeing all of you again and we hope we can set up another playdate in the very near future!

Here are pictures of our girls then...and now. (They're a little squirmier now)

What about me?

Just before our weekly yoga class was about to begin, my friend asked me when was the last time I went away without Brian and Kaylin. When was the last time I got away by myself? I couldn't give her an answer off the top of my head.

I spent the first half of that yoga class trying to remember a time I went away for a night and left Brian alone with Kaylin. There must be at least one time! This was really breaking my concentration; my downward dog was getting sloppy. Think, think, think. Aha! I remember, there was that weekend in Montreal with my three girlfriends...oh wait, I was 6 months pregnant at the time. Hmmmm, nothing else is really coming to mind.

OK, so I guess I haven't been away by myself in some time. That's not good, is it?

I spent the last half of that yoga class dreaming of where I could go for a little "me time." Would I hop a plane to some warm climate and sip fruity daiquiris on the beach? Well, that's a little out of my time- and price-range. Maybe a night visiting friends in another city? That could be fun, but they're all so busy with their own lives. Perhaps a weekend at my parents' house, cleaning out my childhood bedroom and eating (a lot of) my mom's delicious cooking? That might work.

Wherever I decide to go, I just know that it's time. It's time for me. I need to be able to hear myself think. I need to not plan my day around nap schedules and snack time. I need to sit down for a meal before the meal starts, not after everyone else has what they need and are already eating. I need to be selfish. I need to feel like me again.

Whatever I decide to do, just know that there will be NO diapers in my purse, there will be NO Raffi playing on my car's CD player, and there will be LOTS of sleeping on my part. It's going to be good.

Being thankful

After being in London for just over seven months now, I can say without hesitation that moving here was probably THE best decision Brian and I have ever made in our lives. Just this past week, the stars seemed to be aligning. Everything is going so well for us right now, knock on wood, that I’m actually a bit giddy about our future. Giddy!

Brian’s really found his niche at work; he is inspired and confident. And he gets good bonuses. Yayy for bonuses. We can afford to pay our property taxes!

As for me, well, where do I start? Staying at home with Kaylin is such a treat. She’s really into having living room picnics right now. Twice a day we sit together at a 16 square inch doll blanket (sometimes with a stuffed monkey named Ralph, sometimes not), eat raisins and pretend to drink from plastic cups. Need I say more?

And, with Kaylin as my excuse, I’ve developed some wonderful friendships with some amazing women. They are moms who, like me, are just trying to “keep their shit together”. No supermoms here. We get together at least once a week and vent about life. And we drink a lot of coffee while our children yank toys out of each other’s hands. Play dates really are excellent therapy.

To top it all off, I just got my first gig doing some volunteer writing and editing for a local parenting magazine. My plan to become a freelance copy editor is taking shape quite nicely. (I’ll let you know more about this after I get a few assignments under my belt.)

Add to this some great neighbours, wonderful family - most of whom are even closer, and the fact that it’s autumn, my favourite time of year. Well, as I said to Brian tonight, I’m very happy.