Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Christmas 2012

We're a little behind with blogs... lots of advent adventures, though we had to skip a few days because a horrible bug has ripped through the house and all of us have been sick. Last night I started to come down with the virus going around and I have been a pretty miserable person because of it. Thankfully Charlie is at least showing signs of getting better. Nevertheless, we did have a really lovely Christmas.

Christmas Eve: Rafi leaves a snack for Santa. We didn't have time to make a mince pie so we left him cherry pie, a glass of soya milk, carrots for the reindeer, and, per Raf's request, a juice box for them, too. 

Before bedtime we enjoyed a pot of carrot and coriander soup with a delicious salad and garlic bread and then it was off to bed.. well, after a goodnight christmas eve kiss between the boys.  


Charlie has been really poorly and the night before Christmas eve he had a terrible night's sleep. He slept really well on Christmas eve, as did Rafi, but of course I was wide awake very early on and I could hardly wait for the boys to wake up! Alas, Charlie basically slept through the entire morning. 


I think that Raf had sort of forgotten that it was Christmas, and when I reminded him he shot up in bed and found his stocking! He was so excited and ripped through his stocking in record speed.






And then he moved on to Charlie's stocking... while poor old Charlie slept through the entire thing. 


Eventually Charlie woke up and he joined us downstairs for some breakfast: a stack of banana pancakes and festive muffins. 




Getting ready to open some pressies. 


So many generous gifts. Trains figured highly, of course, but so did puzzles and legos, which he was super happy about. Mum was much too generous and Raf was properly spoilt with a host of gifts and another stocking. Fantastic pressies from his aunts in England, too, and some nice pyjamas from his Granddad Steve and Grandma June. 






Making a train out of clay. 




Pre lunch walk with the pups.. and a nap for a super excited 3 year old.

 

My silly boys.


Very late Christmas lunch: tofurky, potatoes, and so many vegetables. Raf is a real fun of tofurky. 








Post-lunch toy playing.


One final present... a big digger.


We had dinner so late that all we had for Christmas tea was a cup of tea and some cake. Raf and I made a Christmas tree cake and it was pretty good. 


As we had our tea we watched 'The Snowman'. Raf was absolutely mesmerized.





Once Raf was in bed Charlie and I opened some of Charlie's remaining presents without the help of his brother. He's so sweet!


Again, lots of generous gifts!


A really wonderful day with my boys and my mum. Always some sadness that my dad isn't here, especially since he'll never meet Charlie, but in spite of the sickness the day was pretty great. Charlie's first Christmas... and it snowed, too!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

2 months old and some firsts

Charlie turned 2 months old on the 17th. Time is flying by and we're really enjoying him. My official maternity leave also came to an end. Usually you have 12 weeks of protected time but because I was on bed rest I burned up my FMLA time and was out postpartum on short term disability. Charlie is so little and it seems so crazy to me that you're expected to leave them at such a young age. Breastfeeding is especially difficult when you're away as they eat so often and so much comfort is gotten through the closeness of nursing. Needless to say I feel very low about it and I'm wondering how Charlie and I will cope. Of course we WILL cope, but I don't necessarily buy into the notion that it's harder on me and that he will be fine. Plenty of research shows the elevated stress levels of young children left in day care, especially when they are this young, and given he so far refuses a bottle... well, it's not going to be easy. 

This time goes by so quickly and I don't want to miss it. I'm already counting down the days of the upcoming semester. My poor students is all I have to say.. and also my poor colleagues as I'm already feeling resentful about plenty of things work-related. 

I don't want to miss Charlie's first laugh or his first roll or the first time he clutches his rattle - and I especially don't want to miss these things because I'm at work. Darn the US and its incredibly awful maternity policies.

But who can be cross when Charlie smiles like this?


This is his first time in a stroller. It was pouring with rain and I couldn't face schlepping him out into his moby when we hit the shops.


First time sleeping together... well, with me in the middle.


Helping me with the ironing.. this wasn't a first.


First time cuddling with Sammy.


Aw, brothers.


First time in his big brother's old Beco carrier.


Daily tummy time.