The latest

So once again I feel terrible for not writing in so long. Bad mommy. I will try to capture a bunch of the things that have transpired over the last year or so.

First of all Julian is the most delicious baby a mommy could ask for. Edible as aunt Kate says. He has grown into an amazing toddler. Almost walking now. The last year has flown by. I went back to work in February after 6 months off. The time at home was amazing. I was ready to go back. Jules has adapted to Ranka's of course with little transition time. He loves it there and loves all of his girlfriends. (Ranka, Tanya and Biljena)

He's never met a food he does not like and has 6 teeth now. Too funny.

Mira started in the pre-k class this year. She is being challenged and doing "real" school work that she brings home daily. She loves her baby brother and continues to be kind, nurturing, compassionate and sensitive. We can't believe how big she has gotten over the last year. 40 inches now. Still mall but big to us! I swear some days she looks 7.

Working full time and raising 2 kids is HARD. Thank goodness for an amazing husband. Who by the way is also doing great. Who could ask for more?

Oh BTW, Jules is now saying uh oh. He spent a bunch of time the other day perfecting it in the back of the car. Uh...uuuu...uh...uuuu...hee hee.

Over the summer we hung out with friends and visited family in Philadelphia in July. We got to go to Sesame Place which was a hoot for all. We also got to spend time with a very old friend of mine from elementary school. That was terrific. A number of people have also come to CA to visit us! Cousins Adina, Miles and Rivka Sara; Aunt Janice and Uncle Paul, Aunt Jeannie and the Applebaums. That was so fun.

So, here are some pics. If you are reading this and are not yet on Face Book, please get on it. It's wonderful to stay connected to everyone.

Cheers! Speak to you in a year or so. LOL.

The Sleep Story

So as all parents do, I am still struggling with Julian not sleeping through the night. Not only NOT sleeping through the night but not even more than 3 hours in a row most nights. After nearly 6 months of this sleep deprivation I am ready for a rubber room as my mom would say. As my return to work date quickly approaches, I am starting to panic. How can I function in the professional world with only sleeping in 2-3 hour increments? Will I fall asleep at my desk? Ugh.

Since we are not at all fans of letting our children "cry it out" I continue to go into Julian's room up to 6 times a night, nurse for 10 minutes and then head back to bed. Night after night after night. Month after month after month. The very thought of allowing him to cry alone in his bed for who knows how long is too painful.

So what is a mom to do? Something's gotta give as they say. We are out of energy, patience and stamina.

One thing that I did the other night when he was up every hour on the hour was this. I held his tiny warm hand in mine and thought about how quickly this time will be over in the grand scheme of my life. How one day I will struggle to remember how tired I was. How I will miss that tiny hand and the phase that went with it. How I am so very grateful to even have a second healthy, beautiful child. How if my baby needs me, I will go to him unconditionally until he is able to reason and understand explanations for things. How amazingly compassionate, nurturing and sensitive Peanut is and how our parenting style and choices made her that way.

These are the things I think about in the middle of the night, while it's just the two of us in the dark room. A dear friend of mine says that you have to listen to your "mommy gut". As hard as it is and will be, I am truly listening to mine. I know that our beautiful son will be a better person for it. I know I already am.