Boxing Day: Kids Version

Pre-kids, we spent Boxing Day in a very different manner. For starters, we actually went shopping. However, post kids, the day has become all about the kids!

In recent years, we often travelled to Ontario on Boxing Day to visit with our friends and relatives. This year, with three young ones, we decided to stay put.

We thought that the Biodome might be closed, but when we discovered it opened at 9, we headed over there very close to opening time. And for the first two hours, we almost had the whole place (and animals) to ourselves. 

We did meet another family with three young boys. The mom and I had a good laugh and she suggested exchanging "recipes".

Upon exiting the Biodome, we discovered an indoor play area for kids and headed over. It was set up as an "animal rescue centre" and the kids had the opportunity to dress up as veterinarians, feed alligators, and watch eggs hatch. And there was a play structure as well. #3 was very calm, and perhaps the best behaved of the three.

We had an excellent morning, and congratulated ourselves on thinking of the outing in question while many were out shopping in packed malls. The afternoon went by quickly and the older girls even got in a swim before bedtime.

It was almost a perfect day until our #1 child woke up every half hour with what we could only assume were nightmares. At one point she clearly said "I am finished looking at the animals!" Perhaps the Biodome wasn't the perfect idea we thought it was...

The Thumb Sucker

I have no doubt that #2 was a thumb sucker in-utero. For the moment she made her appearance, she started sucking her fingers. She was a very calm baby, rarely complaining. She often sucked her thumb, and I never saw a reason to stop this self-soothing practice...

Until recently. She will be two in two months, and the thumb sucking hasn't decreased in frequency nor duration (apparently most thumb-suckers do slow down around 12 months). And we have noticed that her upper central incisors, especially the left one (as she exclusively sucks her left thumb) were starting to angle upwards.

At a recent dental appointment, I asked my dentist for suggestions, and whether or not there would be any permanent damage...He suggested a bad-tasting nail polish, and said that to avoid permanent damage, she would have to stop by age four.

So I researched bad-tasting nail-polish geared at thumb-suckers, and found one that was highly rated. However, it wasn't recommended under age 3. Not because it was toxic , but because "taste buds are not yet fully developed under age two, and toddlers may actually enjoy the taste".

In the end, I decided to order the product, but wait until I tried some behavioral modifications...

First, I ran my daughter's index finger along her teeth so that she could feel her incisors. I explained the her teeth would be "crooked" if she sucked her thumb. Much help that did! #2 is in an "opposite" phase at the moment. So not only does she continue to suck her thumb, she goes so more vigorously, and sometimes sucks both simultaneously, with a sly smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye.

Next, I tried to keep her hands busy...and even taught to use her right hand play with her thumb instead is sucking it. That lasted less than a minute!

I tried to observe her thumb sucking... perhaps if I discovered the trigger, I could avoid the need for thumb sucking. While she often sucks herself to sleep for a few minutes, she quickly removes her thumb and she sleeps well without additional thumb sucking. However, during the day, she often resorts to thumb sucking when she is upset. Unfortunately this happens very often. For instance, last week we were out for a walk in sub-zero weather. While in the stroller, she decided to remove her hat, mittens, and her boots. When I tried to explain the need for those items, she says "NOOO", cried, and sucked her thumb. She is very contrary at the moment, and this type of incident occurs at least a dozen times a day...

After a few weeks of unsuccessful behavioral modification, I decided to try the nail polish. At first I painted just a small portion of her left nail. It made absolutely no difference! Next, I painted her entire nail. I explained to her that it would be "yucky" and that she should not suck her thumb. So, of course, she sucked her thumb. She made a funny face, and her eyes watered. She sucked her thumb a little less for a few minutes. But within a few hours, she was back at it, and in fact sucking more than ever.

After a few re-applications, I gave up in the nail-polish. The directions said to re-apply every 2 days, but how could I when the polish seemed to wear off after only a few hours...

Finally, my daughter found a solution: she asked me for a bandage, and applied it to her mouth:

A few minutes later, she had removed it. 

Then, we tried some fun-coloured gloves:

Also short-lived.

I offered her a pacifier with Oscar the Grouch on it. She seemed interested for about half a day, then she wanted nothing to do with it!

In the end, perhaps she will eventually give up this habit if I simply continue to insist on her stopping???

4 months old!

Already 4 months old!

The runt of the litter at only 6.2kg
Measures a respectable 62cm long
Enjoys watching her sisters run around the house
Loves to be held, especially in the middle of the night!
Sleeps poorly
Teething and hyper-salivating!
Enjoys her activity mat
Doesn't mind tummy time
According to Papa can roll from front to back (but mama has yet to witness this feat)


Can't wait until she is 1 year old and more independent!!!

3-Month Count-Down

After many hours of online browsing, several open houses, and many home visits, we finally found our dream house. And we take possession in a little less than three months!

While the house is not in a dream location (that would be Australia, or some other warm climate), it fulfills everything else on my check-list:

-2 car garage
-4 + 1 bedrooms
-office
-family room separate from living-room
-mudroom with separate side entrance
-a large playroom for the girls

My husband was hoping for a water-front house, or one adjacent to a forrest. While the nearest body of water is a few kilometers away, we will be adjacent to one of the largest remaining green spaces in Montreal called Angell Woods.

The biggest challenge will be furnishing the 19 rooms, as we are currently living in a 6-room condo!

The girls are particularly excited about their playroom, and our eldest keeps asking when we will be moving. I think I may be just as excited as she is!

My Dream house; as drawn by my 3 year-old

The Tale of the Toddler and her Cooped-up Dress

The beautiful dress had been gifted to her as an infant. But as the dress was far too big, her Mama hung it in a closet. There, the dress remained for many long months. 

Then one day, the infant grew up. She could walk, and talk, and open door handles. While her mother was attending to her baby sister, the toddler opened the closet door, pulled the dress off the hanger, and put it on, all by herself.

Despite her mother's objections, the toddler refused to remove the dress. Her mother was worried that the dress was impractical, that the toddler might trip and fall, that it was too cold to wear outdoors, and the list went on and on...

But the toddler stood her ground! And so it was that the dress finally left her hanger! The dress was so happy, she could not wait to see what adventures awaited her. 

That glorious day, the dress went to the library. She read some books, played with a train set, and used a magnetic table for the first time. She also walked up and down the stairs, and did not trip nor fall a single time!

Many people commented on her beauty. "Are you going to a party?" one lady queried. To which the toddler's mother replied "no, my toddler refused to take the dress off." The dress shone brighter with pride for the toddler.

Back at home the dress and her toddler had lunch together with nary a stain. Then they baked cupcakes that they later decorated and devoured! The dress swelled with satisfaction.

After the sweet meal it was time for an afternoon nap. While most toddlers would have removed their fancy dresses for a nap, not this one! The dress and her toddler slept soundly for almost two hours.

After their nap, the afternoon flew by: arts and crafts, reading books, singing songs, turning somersaults and joyful dancing. After dinner it was a little more play, then to bed. When the time came to put on her pajamas, the toddler once again refused to part with her dress. And so the task fell upon her Papa to change her into pajamas once she was sound asleep.

That night, the toddler dreamed of more adventures with her puffy new dress. And as for the dress, she hoped not to be cooped up for another year or two before someone discovered her.

Mama breathed a sigh of relief. The day had gone much better than expected. Each time her toddler misbehaved that day, all she had to say was "I think it's time to put that dress away". Her toddler immediately listened to her mother lest she part ways with her new dress.

the sick week

Sucking her thumb

In their new Hello Kitty clothes

All five of us had just barely gotten over our cold of the month when our oldest started tossing her cookies. It began Wednesday at 2am and continued for 10 hours. My husband attended to her while I stayed with the baby.

On Wednesday, my husband worked from home. I try to limit screen time to 1 to 2 hours per week for our toddler, but we made an exception, and allowed our toddler to play with her iPad for a few hours on Wednesday. She hung out with her Papa, and I headed out with the younger two. After a 4 hour nap on Wednesday afternoon, our toddler was almost like new. But I found myself very anxious. Would the rest if the family get sick? I actually felt nauseous at the thought...

My husband felt nauseous as well. In the early hours of Wednesday, he was by our daughter's side while she vomited over a dozen times. When he did manage to sleep, he dreamed of her vomiting!

As I write these words, the rest of the family has somehow managed to stay relatively healthy. I found out while at work on Saturday that #2 had vomited once the evening before, but had since shown little signs of illness other than a decreased appetite...

Where our toddler picked up the bug remains a mystery. Was it the money she put in her mouth before depositing it in her piggy bank? Possibly. Was it something she ate? Unlikely as her middle sister ate the same food. Was it a book she touched at the public library on Tuesday? Maybe.

I  suppose we will never know. The important thing is that they are feeling better, and the baby has shown no signs of illness...

My toddler, the hoarder

I can't pinpoint the exact moment it started, but at some point over the last few months, my 31/2 year old toddler became a hoarder.

There are two areas where she hoards things, both in the room she shares with her sister. 

One is a little nook behind a doll stroller. She hides a variety of items behind the stroller including a play phone, a doll carrier, and books. Her other "special area" is a cubby in a large storage module. She wisely chose one out of her sister's reach. There, she stores a colouring pad, her new slippers, a plastic pumpkin-shaped bucket, among a number of other items.

Mostly I found this behavior endearing. I assumed she was hiding things from her sister. A few of her objects are new acquisitions, while others are well-used objects. 

She doesn't seem to mind when Papa and Mama remove things from her stash, but doesn't allow her sister anywhere near her hidden treasures.

I decided to read up a little on hoarding in toddlers. Is it indicative of future obsessive-compulsive behavior? I found a list of 10 questions. If the answers to the first 4 are yes, then your kid is in trouble:

1. Is your child in physical danger from the hoarding?

2. Does your child hoard food?

3. Does your child steal things and hoard them?

4. Does the hoarding interfere with your child's participation in normal activities?

Thankfully the answer to all four was No. Perhaps she is simply keeping her possessions away from her formidable foe, her middle sister?

Her formidable foe 

Spot # 1

Spot # 2

Back to Work

I was very happy to return to work the first week-end of November. I had missed the simple pleasures:

-of going to the loo without my kids running in

-of eating a meal in peace

-of talking on the phone without being interrupted (albeit work-related calls)

By the end of my first shift on Saturday, although exhausted, I felt as though I had never left. The time change early Sunday morning allowed for an extra hour of sleep, and my second shift was not as tiring.

Working week-ends only for the time being allows me to quickly return to the wonderful chaos of home life!

Ready for the cool weather!

Donning her new hand-knit hat

The Wet Hallowe'en

We set off in the rain towards our friend's house for Hallowe'en. The baby stayed at our house with Grandma, while the two older girls donned their Hallowe'en costumes, and eagerly got into the car. Would the rain let up, or would their trick-or-treating experience be dampened by the poor weather?

In the end, the rain did let up, and when we set out door-to-door at 18h, there was only a slight drizzle. #1 wore a costume given to her by her aunt. She was dressed as a fairy. Her younger sister wore #1's costume from last year, and was Hello Kitty. But when our oldest daughter saw her sister's hat, she too decided to wear her Hello Kitty hat, leading to a bit of confusion. A few people even mistook them for twins! The girls eagerly followed around their friend, who was dressed as a Rock Star. In fact our middle daughter refused to hold Mama and Papa's hand, preferring the company of her friend.

We lasted about an hour, when a down-pour ended our trick-or-treating. The girls were very excited about their goodies. Once we removed the peanut-containing candy bars, they dug in. #2 has since forgotten about her candy, but our oldest regularly asks to see "her Hallowe'en bag".

With their Rock Star friend 

Their Stash

Trying on her friend's pink wig

Pumpkin Picking: a first

Last Sunday, my husband's cousin invited us to join his family for an afternoon of pumpkin picking. The only pumpkin picking I had done previously was at the local farmer's market. We accepted the invitation, and headed west to a farm that offered apple and pumpkin picking, in addition to a playground for the kids.

We dropped our littlest one at Grandma's for the third time in three weeks, and headed to the farm with our two older girls. #2 fell asleep in transit, and was in a great mood upon arrival at the farm.

The playground was at the entrance, and the girls spent some time there with their cousins before heading to the pumpkin patch. Adjacent to the playground was a small barn with a number of animals including goats, sheep, and a variety of fowl.

The girls enjoyed the bumpy hayride to the field. Next, the girls ran through the "maze" in the corn fields adjacent to the pumpkin patch. They then chose one small pumpkin each. I was initially surprised that the pumpkins seemed laid out in a very orderly fashion, but none of the stems were attached. Had all the pumpkins in the patch already been picked, and they simply laid out some pumpkins for the kids to choose? We were told that the pumpkins actually detach themselves from their stems, and that no, they hadn't been placed there by the personnel. In the end, we did find a few pumpkins that were still attached, thus corroborating their explanation.

Back at the entrance after picking the pumpkins, the girls played once again in the playground with their cousins, and munched on some fresh apple muffins.

Enjoying the playground

#1 choosing a pumpkin with her cousin

Heading into a "maze" with her cousin

#1 & #2 with their cousin

A Reprieve From Chaos-Mondays

Since my husband headed back to work after his paternity leave, Mondays have been my most difficult days. He is home on the week-end, and my mother helps me all week except for Mondays.

Just before my husband returned to work, I considered hiring help on Mondays. How could I possibly handle three kids under age four on my own? But on the other hand, how would I find reliable help for one day a week... most professional nannies want full-time work. I thought of university students who are sometimes off one day a week, but would they have sufficient experience with young children?

In the end I decided to try it on my own to see how I fared. Somehow, I survived. I start off every Monday by reminding Baby #1 that I am all alone with three kids, and that I need her to be a "super good girl". Not only is she usually well-behaved, but I often hear her repeating my words while speaking to Baby #2: "I am all alone with you two, so you have to be a good girl." Between feeds, I place the baby in a front carrier, where she readily falls asleep. After breakfast, we head out to the park, returning just before lunch. At around 13h, I put Baby #2 down for a two hour nap... and it is smooth sailing after that. I suspect that things will get a little tougher as the outdoor temperature drops...

Thanksgiving Monday provided a reprieve as my husband was off work! We didn't do anything out of the ordinary, but the extra help was certainly appreciated. We took turns sleeping in, and after feeding the baby, I took the older girls to a nearby park. We enjoyed 20C weather, in mid October! The rest of the day was a blur, but it was certainly a nice break. I look forward to more holiday Mondays!

enjoying her activity mat

Selling House

Already laughing at 2 months

Well, we finally did it! After 5 months on the market, 2 open houses, and multiple visits, we sold our condo!

I had some unrealistic expectations going into the whole thing...I thought that we would have sold our condo and bought a new house before Baby #3 came along. Unfortunately by the time we put our condo on the market, the condo market was not very productive (at least not for the sellers).

Then finally, a few weeks after baby #3's arrival, we got our one and only offer. And after a little negotiation, we agreed in a price. 

The hardest part of the process was keeping our condo spotless despite two little girls running around. But we somehow managed that, and we were even able to accommodate all the visits (and have the house kid-free during those visits).

Now all we have to do is find our dream house...

The Airplane-Pull

The corporate sponsorship of the Special Olympics led to a second family outing in as many weeks...last Sunday after gymnastics, we dropped our infant off at grandma's and headed to the airport.

My husband's company had sponsored the annual "airplane pull", and my husband was part of the team. In the first part of this two-part competition, the team tries to pull an airplane as fast as possible over three metres. In the second part, a smaller team has up to two minutes to pull the airplane over the same distance. The goal is to do so using as little weight as possible. The team members are then weighed.

Although the competition lasts just a few minutes per team, there were plenty of fun actives organized for the kids. There was a bouncy castle, peddle-cars, and the opportunity to meet a police dog. Here are a few photos of from the airplane-pull:

The airplane to be pulled

My husband's team pulling an airplane

In a Police car!

Bouncy Castle

On a Police motorcycle!

On a peddle car with Papa

On a peddle car with Mama

Playing with a Police dog!

Family Photos

After the birth of each of our daughters, we had family photos taken at a professional photo studio. For the first two girls, we headed to a studio when they were around 3 weeks old. With our latest addition, we waited a little longer. 

A few weeks ago, I spotted an ad for a photo studio in a neighbour's home, and we decided to give it a try. So it was that last week, we (all 5 of us) headed to our neighbour's house. The photographer lives just a few doors down, so we didn't even need to take our shoes!

How could anything go wrong with our plan? The morning of the session, our infant scratched her face for the first time, leaving an impressive scratch to the left side of her face. Our oldest fell down at the park the same morning, resulting in a large abrasion over her right knee. Then just hours before the session, our eldest decided to scratch #2's face! 

The two older girls really enjoyed the photo session, and even our infant, who usually cries for a few hours every evening, behaved herself!

Here are a few of my favourite photos:

Apple-Picking: a family event

Last Sunday we left the littlest one with Auntie and Grandma, and went apple-picking. My husband's work had organized an apple-picking event for employees and their families. One of his colleague's parents own an apple orchard. 

So it was that we had the whole orchard almost to ourselves! 

In photos:

Path to the orchard

Looking for the perfect apple

She found it!

Apple-picking!

Playing in apple crates

Tractor ride

Enjoying  a heathy lunch