Friday, August 31, 2007
Bye, bye child care
I felt a twinge of sadness this morning as I dropped off my three kids at day care for what will be the final time. My soon-to-be 6-year-old is celebrating his last day there before he starts kindergarten next week.
It's hard to believe that his five years in day care already have passed and it seems like just yesterday when I was dropping him off for the first time. Today the teachers are like friends to me and I feel so comfortable having my kids there.
This morning I reminisced in the van about our first outings to day care and the songs I used to sing to him when he was just an infant.
I certainly am happy about saving some day care costs, but I will miss having my three kids at one place and having our special time in the morning together.
It's hard to believe that his five years in day care already have passed and it seems like just yesterday when I was dropping him off for the first time. Today the teachers are like friends to me and I feel so comfortable having my kids there.
This morning I reminisced in the van about our first outings to day care and the songs I used to sing to him when he was just an infant.
I certainly am happy about saving some day care costs, but I will miss having my three kids at one place and having our special time in the morning together.
posted by Julie at
9:08 AM
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Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Down in the dumps
Potty-training is a wonderful thing, but it can be extremely painful getting from diapers to toilet some times, like this morning.
My 2-year-old son has been in "training" for nearly a month now and he has pretty much mastered the pee part of things, even staying dry during naps and overnight. We couldn't have been more excited or surprised by that.
But the whole pooping thing has really been trouble. While he has gone successfully in the toilet six or so times, we have to catch him in the act and whisk him off to the bathroom to do his duty before he goes in his underwear. We've been really good in keeping a careful eye on him after meals and usually get him early enough, but we didn't today. The little stinker did his business downstairs as the rest of us were still getting ready for day care and work upstairs.
My husband got the mess cleaned up and we eventually headed out the door late, of course, and disappointed in our potty-training setback.
My 2-year-old son has been in "training" for nearly a month now and he has pretty much mastered the pee part of things, even staying dry during naps and overnight. We couldn't have been more excited or surprised by that.
But the whole pooping thing has really been trouble. While he has gone successfully in the toilet six or so times, we have to catch him in the act and whisk him off to the bathroom to do his duty before he goes in his underwear. We've been really good in keeping a careful eye on him after meals and usually get him early enough, but we didn't today. The little stinker did his business downstairs as the rest of us were still getting ready for day care and work upstairs.
My husband got the mess cleaned up and we eventually headed out the door late, of course, and disappointed in our potty-training setback.
posted by Julie at
10:58 AM
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Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Make mine a double
For more than five years now my work schedule and morning routine has been set by my children. (Thank God for a flexible employer.) Before kids, I used to be at work between 6 and 7 a.m. so I could run an errand or two, catch Oprah and still have time to get dinner together before my husband got home. That all changed when kids came along. No one can expect a child to get up by 6 so I can run them to day care before heading off to work. Instead, I have been starting work at about 7:30 for the past five years, taking the kids to day care and picking them up.
That's all about to change next week when my work schedule alters once again. Instead of having to run all the kids to day care before going to work, my husband is taking over those duties so I can go into work early and leave in time to pick up the kids from day care and get over to school before the bell rings to pick up my soon-to-be kindergartener.
Things will change again in three years when all my kids are at elementary school and we will have to re-evaluate pick-up/drop-off once again, but until then, I'm going to enjoy my new freedom. I might even stop for a coffee on my way into work.
That's all about to change next week when my work schedule alters once again. Instead of having to run all the kids to day care before going to work, my husband is taking over those duties so I can go into work early and leave in time to pick up the kids from day care and get over to school before the bell rings to pick up my soon-to-be kindergartener.
Things will change again in three years when all my kids are at elementary school and we will have to re-evaluate pick-up/drop-off once again, but until then, I'm going to enjoy my new freedom. I might even stop for a coffee on my way into work.
posted by Julie at
10:20 AM
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Monday, August 27, 2007
Time for sleep
One of the things my husband and I love best about vacation is not having to get up at 5:45 on the weekdays to shower and get ready before our three kids wake up. Instead of rising when we are still sleepy, we can wait until the sunshine wakes us up, or the kids. They are usually pretty good about recognizing that, hey, we're on vacation and can sleep a little longer. Not this time though. Our 2-year-old was up most days by 6 and on one of the two days he slept in, his 3-year-old sister decided she would get up early for him.
Today, on our first day back to work and day care, guess who decided to sleep in? You got it. All three of them. Go figure!
Today, on our first day back to work and day care, guess who decided to sleep in? You got it. All three of them. Go figure!
posted by Julie at
10:28 AM
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Friday, August 17, 2007
Ready for vacation
My family and I are going to have our last fling of summer with a week of vacation coming up right before school starts and all of fall's activities like soccer, birthdays and tumbling class begin.
While I'm certainly looking forward to being on vacation, I have a twinge of sadness knowing that the summer season is coming to a close.
I'll talk to you in a week, rested and relaxed. Until then ...
While I'm certainly looking forward to being on vacation, I have a twinge of sadness knowing that the summer season is coming to a close.
I'll talk to you in a week, rested and relaxed. Until then ...
posted by Julie at
11:03 AM
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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Pass the veggies, please
I came to the realization during our July vacation to Minocqua that my 3-year-old daughter has different tastes in food than many kids. Faced with endless possibilities at the breakfast buffet at the hotel, she passed on the donuts, waffles and muffins and decided to go with milk, a banana and yogurt.
For a nighttime snack, she often will choose yogurt over ice cream and would rather have white milk than chocolate when given a choice.
Instead of asking for a cookie at the farmers market, she would prefer a cucumber to snack on. At dinner, she often wants seconds of beans, cucumbers or even just plain lettuce.
She still has a love of candy and sweets now and then, but for now she's my little healthy eater.
For a nighttime snack, she often will choose yogurt over ice cream and would rather have white milk than chocolate when given a choice.
Instead of asking for a cookie at the farmers market, she would prefer a cucumber to snack on. At dinner, she often wants seconds of beans, cucumbers or even just plain lettuce.
She still has a love of candy and sweets now and then, but for now she's my little healthy eater.
posted by Julie at
10:39 AM
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Shopping with a friend
Monday nights are usually reserved for family things -- playing outside after dinner, going for a bike ride, running around the yard or going to a swimming lesson or tumble class. But last night I actually went out with a girlfriend. Feeling overwhelmed with the amount of clothes we need to buy for fall for our three kids each, we decided to head out to the outlet mall in Oshkosh for a few hours. We had a great time talking and catching up while we searched the racks. Unfortunately, we didn't buy too much. I guess that means we will have to do it again!
posted by Julie at
10:03 AM
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Monday, August 13, 2007
Date nights finally making a return
One of the downsides of being a parent is that going out as a couple isn't as simple as it used to be.
Date nights, once the ritual of nearly every Friday, are now relegated to occasional outings here or there.
Baby sitters aren't cheap or necessarily easy to line up, we're now tied to the cell phone just in case and after working all week I want to spend some time with the kids and don't feel right leaving them again.
When my first-born son was past the newborn stage and I was no longer breastfeeding, I made a point of lining up a baby sitter once a month so my husband and I could go out. After our second child was born, that priority fell a notch and we went out every other month or so. Now, two years after having our third, getting out like that has become a rare treat.
But because our kids have left infancy behind, it is getting easier — on them and for us.
On a recent night out with friends, our kids couldn't wait until the sitter arrived. Once she did, we left without so much as a wave goodbye or a tearful plea to stay. The next day, they were asking where the sitter was and when she could come back.
As for us, we were able to enjoy a relaxing dinner and adult conversations. And it sure was nice not having to cut up somebody else's food.
Date nights, once the ritual of nearly every Friday, are now relegated to occasional outings here or there.
Baby sitters aren't cheap or necessarily easy to line up, we're now tied to the cell phone just in case and after working all week I want to spend some time with the kids and don't feel right leaving them again.
When my first-born son was past the newborn stage and I was no longer breastfeeding, I made a point of lining up a baby sitter once a month so my husband and I could go out. After our second child was born, that priority fell a notch and we went out every other month or so. Now, two years after having our third, getting out like that has become a rare treat.
But because our kids have left infancy behind, it is getting easier — on them and for us.
On a recent night out with friends, our kids couldn't wait until the sitter arrived. Once she did, we left without so much as a wave goodbye or a tearful plea to stay. The next day, they were asking where the sitter was and when she could come back.
As for us, we were able to enjoy a relaxing dinner and adult conversations. And it sure was nice not having to cut up somebody else's food.
posted by Julie at
12:55 PM
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Friday, August 10, 2007
Baby on the run(s)
Every parent has a poop story.
The time a newborn's stinky mess exploded outside of his diaper just as he was about to have professional pictures taken, a potty-training disaster ...
For me, I nearly had a breakdown when my then 9-month-old son had a case of rotovirus that just wouldn't end. He suffered from loose poops for just about two months before it went away for good.
At the time it was tempting to think about giving him anti-diarrheal medicine, but I know enough that the medicine isn't intended for little ones.
I recently received a press release at work about an article in Pediatric News that says pretty much the same thing. That the complications of giving a child under 3 years of age loperamide (the ingredient in anti-diarrheals) outweigh any potential benefits.
If you are interested in more information about it, visit ww.pediatricnews.com/article/PIIS0031398X07702965/fulltext.
Here's hoping you never have to worry about that.
posted by Julie at
10:09 AM
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Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Old photos offer look at family history
A scrapbooking project has taken me on a trip back in time.
As part of my new year's goals, I decided I was going to put a priority on making pages for my children's scrapbooks that took a look at their family history and heritage so they would have that to hold onto after the generations are gone and the opportunity to remember their ancestry had long since passed.
After wading through boxes of old photos my parents have inherited, I found images to copy and hold onto and I also discovered that today's glossy, thin pictures lack the coolness of the aged black and white gems of yesteryear.
They tell the stories of my family's past, but they also provide a snapshot into a different era:
A picnic shot from the early 1940s shows the women in dresses and the men in suits. My grandmother wrote on the back of the photo that after the picnic my dad went for a dip in the water with his sister to cool off.
My maternal grandfather stands outside the butcher shop he opened in Waukegan, the first one in the Illinois city. When times were tough during the Depression, he traded meat for other goods and services with customers who didn't have money.
My paternal grandfather is surrounded by fellow soldiers in front of a barracks in World War I.
Who says you shouldn't look back?
As part of my new year's goals, I decided I was going to put a priority on making pages for my children's scrapbooks that took a look at their family history and heritage so they would have that to hold onto after the generations are gone and the opportunity to remember their ancestry had long since passed.
After wading through boxes of old photos my parents have inherited, I found images to copy and hold onto and I also discovered that today's glossy, thin pictures lack the coolness of the aged black and white gems of yesteryear.
They tell the stories of my family's past, but they also provide a snapshot into a different era:
A picnic shot from the early 1940s shows the women in dresses and the men in suits. My grandmother wrote on the back of the photo that after the picnic my dad went for a dip in the water with his sister to cool off.
My maternal grandfather stands outside the butcher shop he opened in Waukegan, the first one in the Illinois city. When times were tough during the Depression, he traded meat for other goods and services with customers who didn't have money.
My paternal grandfather is surrounded by fellow soldiers in front of a barracks in World War I.
Who says you shouldn't look back?
posted by Julie at
9:56 AM
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1 Comments
Monday, August 6, 2007
Back-to-school shopping for the first time
My 5-year-old son and I did some school shopping for the first time over the weekend. He is my oldest so it's the first time I'm going through the annual back-to-school shopping rush. Actually, I wanted to beat the rush by getting started early, but I think other parents must have the same thought because so many people were doing the same thing. It was exciting to see the list of items he needs for kindergarten -- fun stuff to have like markers, water color paints, scissors and a new backpack (red for the Wisconsin Badgers, he said). I told him what he needed, and he picked out the colors and designs he wanted. Green scissors (for the Packers), blue folder (for the Brewers), soccer folder (do you see a sports theme here) and other goodies. It got him excited about what's ahead and me feeling good about that.
posted by Julie at
9:39 AM
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Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Out for a ride
For the first time in five years my husband and I went for a bike ride last night. Ever since having our first child five years ago, we haven't had many chances to bike. With having three kids in less than four years, I've either been pregnant, had an infant too young to ride or haven't had a child old enough to bike on his own. That changed this year. Our 5-year-old is now able to bike without training wheels and can keep a good pace, our 3-year-old daughter is fast enough on her bike with training wheels and our 2-year-old has a seat on the back of Daddy's bike. We're good to go. Although it was 90 degrees, we set off for a 30-minute bike ride, enjoying the night out as a family and the freedom of the open road.
posted by Julie at
9:22 AM
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Julie Gilkay Age: 36
Husband's name: Gary
Kids names and ages: Benjamin, 5; Grace, 3; Lucas, 2.
Town of residence: Appleton
Occupation: Full-time editor and writer at The Post-Crescent
Hobbies and interests: Scrapbooking, beading, reading, baking, walking and traveling
Brief comment to readers/what you hope to accomplish with this blog: I'm hoping to reach out to other moms with this blog because we all deal with the same joys, frustrations and time management issues. Motherhood is a wonderful job, and I think we can all learn from each other.
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"I'm so fancy"Lessons for new year start with basics
Down one
Thank you, Santa
Merry Christmas to all
A sledding we will go
Ornaments get tree-trimmer in the spirit
The Christmas program is here
The race is on
Hunt for tree ends merrily but hours later
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