My favourite two

I have this picture of Shaune age 7 or so on our fridge. It reminds me so much of Deaglan.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Love Deaglan, Crash, Mom (and Betty Crocker:)

Back in the game

A little thinner, a wee bit snotty but back to his old self again.

Sick puppy

Deaglan's entry into daycare has officially begun. We've been to the walk-in clinic, emergency and the doctor's office all within the span of one week. He has a bug and after having to steam clean the carpets on Friday, we smartened up. This is not new carpeting on our living room floor...this is vomit and poop proofing.

D Day

Fridays are now Daddy and Deaglan days. Because Shaune's in sales he has a day off during the week and Sundays off. Today was the second full day that he has taken care of Deaglan. I got over my panic of last week after coming home on Friday night and Shaune exclaiming excitedly "Deaglan loves timbits!" All of my worst nightmares ran through my frightened mind...visions of Deaglan walking around in a dirty diaper shivering (because he was only wearing a diaper) with a bag of potato chips in his hands. Once I regained my sanity I remembered how fun the two of them are together and realized that Deaglan would never see the inside of Home Depot or Canadian Tire on my watch or get as much rough and tumble loving that Shaune gives him from me. Today at work I didn't let my imagination run wild wondering what they were doing. I just wished them special daddy and Deaglan time.

About a boy...and a cat

Crash has always been the "second" child. We already had Judge for about 10 years when Crash came to live with us. Then when I was about five months pregnant we lost Judge and Crash was the centre of our attention. It was short-lived. After Deaglan was born, unfortunately Crash went back to his "second" child status. Here he is seen trying to claim something for himself.

Sigh

Well, the first week of our new routine is over. We got through it but not without incident. By Thursday, I was feeling okay enough. I let the entire morning go without calling the Daycare to see how Deaglan was doing. When I came back to my desk after lunch I had a voicemail from April (one of Deaglan's educators in the infant room). I called her back and she let me know that I would need to pick him up immediately because the Daycare's furnace was broken and there was a concern about CO2 immissions.

Other than that we had mostly sleepless nights. I think he needed to know that I was still around for him because he woke up every two hours or so and many times I felt compelled to go into his room and comfort him. The reward at the end of this very loooooong week is that I get to spend the next three days hugging and kissing him.

Mum's picks

About two weeks ago I was trying to get some shots of Deaglan for the daycare. They asked that we bring in some pictures of him with his soother in his mouth. They post the pictures where the babies can see them and be comforted by them. I just love some of these shots. To me they just capture him so well.

B2W

Well...we survived our first day. Me back to work, Deaglan at daycare. It felt like the longest day ever to me. I felt crazy and emotional and irritated with the happy people. Some people had real empathy, especially the newer mums. The veterans just smiled sympathetically and assured me he was fine and I was going to be fine. Here are a few things I missed and some I begrudgingly have to admit I didn't mind so much:

I missed:

• Kissing his sweet, sweet wonderful face whenever I wanted to
• Making him laugh
• Holding him close
• Okay I just missed everything about him
• Oprah, Y&R and General Hospital (I never claimed our time together was totally educational)
• Bare feet
• Staying in my pyjamas
• Not worrying about appearances

I didn't mind so much:

• Freedom to go to the washroom without coming up with some grande elaborate scheme that would keep him safe and contained
• Having lunch (I mean really eating my own lunch - not scarfing down a piece of bread with peanut butter while the baby ate)
• People thinking I was so thin (the last time they saw me I was 185lbs with an enormous belly - anyone would look thin compared to that)
  

A Treasured Gift

Aunt Katie, Shaune's sister took this picture which we took of Deaglan back in June and sketched it and surprised us with it for Deaglan's first birthday. It was the first time I ever received a gift which made me openly weep.

Happy New Year!!