The C Word

Bed head from this morning.

Phew! The last few weeks have been pretty crazy around here. Colds, sicknesses and who knows what else bouncing back and forth between the two of us. I've been under the weather for a few weeks now and just when I thought I was getting over it, everything came back with a vengeance. Then about 2 weeks ago, Orion got an eye infection. Then both eyes became infected. That was a messy week. Oh the joys of daycare and what they pick up there! Then last weekend we took Orion to the emergency room at the children's hospital at 4:30am because of his laboured breathing and fever. He was diagnosed with... croup. After steroid treatment and 2 rounds of epinephrine (4 hours later), Orion's breathing returned to almost normal and the doctor said we could leave. It was a long holiday weekend and I couldn't believe the amount of people and kids that were in the emergency room at 4:30 Sunday morning. I thought we would have to wait hours on end to be seen but because of the laboured breathing, he was seen right away. Now we're battling the last remnants of the croup with some congestion and I'm still battling my neverending cold. This is my last weekend before I go back to work on Monday so I'm hoping someone else will be able to catch this cold from me (teehee!) Next week will be a new beginning, a new chapter for Orion and I, as I go back to work but I really feel great about things. He'll be at his grandparents' for 2 days during the week and at daycare, with his friends for 3 days during the week. He'll also be picked up early in the afternoon by his grandfather so I don't have to worry about rushing home (even though I will, still, to spend some precious time with him before he goes to bed). Here's hoping to a smooth and seamless week!

9 Months

Nine months... as Orion turned 9 months at the end of last month, it seems as though he's been celebrating it by making every night, "sleep in daddy's bed" night.  I have no idea what happened, it's like a switch went off and now he wants to sleep in my bed every night.

For instance, last night he started in his own bed (as he does every night) and then around 9pm, he woke up. When I went to get him, he was so happy, he was dry humping/jumping up and down on my shoulder like a little monkey on the way to my room.

This was followed by many successful attempts throughout the night to: 1) snuggle with dad, 2) keep dad hanging on the side of the bed with a tiny piece of bed sheet as Orion claimed the whole bed to himself and 3) treat dad to Orion's head digging into his back.

Of course, neither of us would have it any other way.

Sweet dreams!

The Toof Chart

Here is a great chart I came across that colour codes when the little ones get their first toofs. Orion's central incisors on the bottom have poked through and so has one on the top so it seems as though he's right on track!

Landslide

This week we've been having great weather, almost every day has been sunny with great big, crystal clear blue skies. So, I take Orion on daily walks to the river which is about 5 min from our house. It's also been windy this week and particularly more when you get to the water. Sometimes the wind takes Orion's breath away but he loves seeing the waves crash up against the shore. You should see the look on his face, he gets so excited and lights up with that big smile on his face.

At the end of next month, I go back to work. I feel comforted and reassured that everything is in place for Orion when I go back. He's been going to in home daycare 2 days a week and now has friends there LOL. He really enjoys it, he gets spoiled with all the toys, the other children (he's the youngest there) and the treats he gets in terms of food. On Tuesday when I went to pick him up, I had a moment. The children were in the backyard playing on the play structures and I saw Orion in his stroller being pushed around by the caregiver. He was happy moving and also watching all of the other kids play. For me, standing there behind the fence watching, I just got emotional. Of course, I kept it together but I realized my little guy is growing up and I could have stayed there longer just watching him. Time escapes us and I've been so lucky and thankful to have had the past year to be with him and cherish the milestones as well as the little things. It's been the best year of my life. Ideally I'd like to go back to India next February or March for the 3 embryos I still have and try for a brother or sister for Orion. If successful, I'll have completed my family, (it's already complete with Orion) but he'd have a sibling and I'll be able to take another year off to spend with Orion and his new brother or sister.

He recently got his first 'toof' at 8 months... it's on the bottom and you can see it poking out. He likes to chew on your finger and smile if you pop it in and feel around lol. With my feelings towards time, I'm in absolutely no rush... just want to take life nice and slow.




♪  Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you  ♫
♫  But time makes you bolder
Even children get older   ♪

♫  And I'm getting older too

The Many Faces of the Easter Bunny

Upon picking Orion up at daycare yesterday, I noticed the kids had all been transformed into Easter bunnies!



Sticking tongue out bunny.



Crazed rabid bunny.



Bug eyed zombie bunny.



Drooling bunny.



Pirate bunny.

Happy Easter all!

We Have Liftoff!

Smiling in the car, on our way home after first day of daycare.

Today was Orion's first morning at the in-home daycare. I was truly dreading this day for the last few days and feeling anxiety and stress, despite this morning's daycare session only being for 4 hours. I didn't want him to go and have other young ones potentially be rough and hurt him. This morning I got up early (before the crack of dawn) to pack his things, make his bottle and get him ready. He woke up in a great mood so it made things a bit easier. Then we were off and when we got there, I begrudgingly handed him over and said I'd call in an hour to check-up on him. He was smiling but did give me that puzzled look of, "Dad, where are you going? What is happening?" When I called an hour later, he was just fine. He napped, drank his bottle and was interacting with the other kids. Then she dropped his binky/soother and he started to cry on the phone lol. When I went to pick him up, he was happy to see me but I did get a few smacks and scratches to the face out of revenge, I'm sure. I feel a bit better now about going back for our second time on Thursday morning. I'm so proud of him.



Thumbs up, dad!

Forever Young

Blinded by the light... not posing, I swear!

The days are getting longer, Spring and Summer are just around the corner and that means... that I'll soon be going back to work. Nooooo! If it was up to me, it would be just me and Orion spending every day together as life passes us by. Me going back to work is also a milestone for Orion... it means he'll be going to an in-home daycare 1-2 days a week while his Grannie and Opa look after him 1-2 days and his Grandfather 1-2 days. I found an in-home daycare for Orion to go to and coincidentally, the caregiver is someone I went to school with when we were younger. We never connected back then but I did know who she was. While I've been feeling anxiety and stress the last couple of weeks in coming to terms of having Orion go to daycare, I'm a bit more comforted that I know this individual and my parent intuition tells me to be at ease. It will also be healthy for Orion in terms of his social skills and development to be with other young children (which he loves) in an in-home bilingual setting on a consistent basis. He is definitely a social baby as I've seen already at playgroups, play dates with friends, etc. Tomorrow we'll be going to visit the in-home daycare and see if it's a right fit for us.

I still have about 3 months before I go back to work and I'll be milking every day to the last second... just the two of us.