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July 8, 2004
Hey everyone,
Well, we are all back safe and sound from a marvelous vacation. There’s nothing like three weeks away to recharge your batteries and just plain unwind. I was terribly nervous about this foolish trip. Sam had been SO whiny for the weeks leading up to the trip. And let’s face it, nobody wants people to think their kid can whine enough to make people want to vacate the premises. But I got a tip from a book on how to stop it and I swear it has worked so well. More on that later. So basically, we were gone for three weeks and Sam was an absolute angel the entire time. I mean, I think my relatives think I have this superbly mannered, well behaved, excellent sleeper of a child. That’s OK – I’ll let them think that. I will be the first to admit that Sam is a pretty easy kid, but the whining was driving me around the bend.
We flew to Newfoundland first – and that’s over seven hours on a plane. I swear I read most of the time. We bought a bunch of new things to play with, plus that marvelous mini-DVD player which really is an amazing thing. I bought a couple of new Blues Clues DVDs before we left, and he was enthralled. Some of his other favorite plane things were a large wooden bead set, a magnetic Mr. Potato Head and a Crayola wipe off book. We didn’t arrive until 2:30 am and I thought he’d freak when, half asleep, I put him in a strange bed. He just asked where he was, I told him he was at Nana and Baba’s house (my grandparents) and then he said OK and that was that. At my grandfather’s 80th party he played quietly through the speechifying and clapped and laughed when the folk band played. He hiked along cliffs, we went sailing on my grandparent’s sailing boat and he took to it like an old deck hand.
Next was off to Ottawa where, as far as Sam was concerned, his fan club was there purely to amuse him. We went on my parents’ boat, went to petting zoos and for walks, and off to the science center (a HUGE hit). He adores my parents like you wouldn’t believe. The one glitch here is that my parents have those doors with the lever handles. I will warn anyone with kids not to get them. Anyone can open them and there are no knob guards for them!! So this started a get out of bed when he woke up routine that we are still dealing with. But anyway, DH had to go back to work but I stayed for a week with Sam. I left him with the folks for three days while I drove down to Boston with a girlfriend. Can I tell you how much I LOVE Boston. I swear it’s one of my most favorite cities. I would move there in a heartbeat if DH got a job there. I love the look, the feel, the size. It’s all a Maritimer with a city girl urge could ask for. We shopped like total fools. I’m a tad embarrassed to admit that I had to bring not one, but TWO extra suitcases home. But I mostly was picking up odds and sods for the new place. It was a blast. Then it was time to fly home. I was a bit nervous about flying home alone with Sam, but I needn’t be. He was an angel again, what a boy!
But Then We Got Home.
I think Sam misses his fan club. In all fairness, he’s been fine the past week, temperament-wise, but the first few days were hell on earth. He refused to sleep. I mean, refused. Between nap and bed, he normally does 12-13 hours. We were lucky to get 5-6. He would get out of his bed the second we put him there. He would beg us to lay on the floor of his room. When, out of sheer exhaustion we would capitulate, he would wake up screaming when he realized we left. A few days ago we decided enough was enough and we talk about his bedtime routine for about a half hour leading up to bed, and then we put him in his bed and let him fuss at the door for 15 minutes, then put him back in bed, give him a kiss etc. etc. Well, he’s fallen asleep at the door 20 minutes into this exercise every time so far, and slept through to 6:30 – his normal. I have everything crossed that a) he will soon stay in his bed to fall asleep and b) this will keep up!!
A Button Nose
So the amazing whine-stopper we came up with was a cue. I had read that kids don’t necessarily understand what you’re saying when you stay to stop whining. They know something’s up, but they’re not sure what. So anytime he whined, squealed or cried unnecessarily, we would push our nose and ask him what that meant. Within two days he had figured it out and now, a month later, any time we push our nose and ask him what it means he says, “no whining,” or whatever the offense and stops instantly. I highly, highly recommend it. I swear he’s a different child. A girlfriend of mine also recommended the Parent’s Toolshop which I bought, and although it’s more textbook than reader friendly do-it-yourself, it’s really, really helpful. I am not a parenting book type – I have Dr. Sears Baby Book and nothing else. But this is good and not too, “this is how you MUST do it,” which is what drives me nuts about parenting books.
Tanning Disaster
OK, I am white as a ghost. But I am a little creeped out by tanning beds and who has the time to fry in the sun all day. But I will admit, I like tanned skin. Not shoe-leather tan, just a nice golden glow. Plus, a tan makes you look thinner, and if I have to wear shorts, I need all the help I can get. So in the past I have used self tanner only on my legs – that I could handle. But a month or so ago I tried the Mystic Tan and it ROCKED. Once I figured out the requisite pose, I got a smooth, even, natural looking tan that made me feel like summer. So while I was in Ottawa I decided it was time for a tan. I found a “spray tan” place in the phone book and headed over. I knew once I walked in the booth I was in trouble. It was horrid. Basically instead of an even misting, 7 jets squirted a large amount of self tanner in 7 large squirts and you had about 30 seconds to essentially smooth all the self tanner all over yourself. OK first, who can do this is 30 seconds, second, who can reach their back or rear and finally – well, finally I knew I was in trouble. The next day was a nightmare. I looked like I had Michael Jackson disease. My entire back looked like I had been sprayed with brown paint. It was uneven, splotchy, and DARK! At the Mystic Tan you can choose your level based on how pale you are naturally. This was just dark. It was a good think it was cool for the next week as there was NO WAY I was exposing any skin, let me tell you. Ah, vanity. I just wish I had a picture – that or video of my father on the floor laughing to kill himself when he saw me!!
TTC
OK, the only thing to report here is that I am a moron. Well, perhaps that’s a tad harsh, but you judge. So last cycle AF actually came on CD 28 which is too weird for me. But whatever, I started my first cycle of Clomid, gung ho to get this party started. Well, after I had finished taking it I started counting on my fingers and almost groaned out loud. I would ovulate in that week while DH was in Calgary and I was in Ottawa/Boston. I think based on side pain that I actually ovulated in Boston, although I didn’t temp or use and OPK – I mean, what’s the point? Grrrr. What a waste of a good cycle – what a waste of Clomid!! So AF should start in the next few days and I will then go onto my first realistic cycle on Clomid. I must apologize for my pity party last entry. I was going though a major blue period for two weeks. I mean, I am not a moody person, but I would cry at the drop of a hat – I would cry alone, at bedtime, whenever DH walked in the door, whenever there was Kleenex available. I needed my vacation. Between TTC, the job crap and all the ego nonsense that goes with losing your job, the craziness around building a house, Sam’s whine fest and various other personal disappointments, I was stressed to the max. I am pleased to say I am feeling much better now. I just needed a bit of time to get over myself.
Well, this is long enough for now!! I’ll try and write again soon – much sooner this time.
Oh – and I updated Sam’s website – here you go!
http://babiesonline.com/babies/s/sirsam/
By for now,
Jenn and Sam
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