Hello!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving long weekend. I always find that the “short” weeks after a holiday feel so much longer.

I am struggling this week with my true self. I am a procrastinator to my very core. Being this and also a teacher makes me feel like an imposter. I always leave my marking to the last minute, and dread it the whole time. All the while, I tell my students that they need to plan their work ahead, and make good use of their time. Today, I gritted my teeth and marked some assignments that I was dreading. It felt so much better to just do it.

Jack is learning all sorts of new tricks- but his old tricks are our favourite. Jack has epic dance parties. He learns dance moves every day. When we watch the wiggles- it is a full experience. He knows the moves, the songs and his timing is excellent.

I am amazed at how quickly he learns the new moves- it feels like he only just started paying attention to them!

I have been trying my best to capture these moments every chance I get- these are the stories that we will tell his future wife about 😂

Hi all! Another super busy week in the Murray household.

Because Jack is a 2019 baby- the last 8 months of his life have been very isolated. He has spent very little time with kids his own age- because we have been trying to physically distance. BUT because of this- when he does spend time with kids (family events and the like) he ALWAYS gets germs.

Because he hasn’t spent the last 8 months building up immunity to the world (like all babies do- by licking every surface he can reach) the minute that he is exposed to people outside of our immediate family- he is overcome with the sniffles.

So this week he had the sniffles- and gave me the sniffles. I had to take a day off work. I have never felt more ridiculous in my life! A whole day off work because of a runny nose.

But the strangest thing happened: I felt better the next day. Usually the sniffles last for days and days- while I suffer through work days and grocery days etc. Instead- I immediately rested and took the day off- I felt so much better.

New cases are emerging in New Brunswick- and I really needed the reminder. Staying home when you’re sick is so important. Not only does it help you feel better, faster- but it also protects the people around you from getting sick.

Hi all- I’ve been taking some time off from blogging. I would like to tell you that it was a conscious effort that I made so I could enjoy more time with my family- but it would be a lie. Sometimes I’m just lazy and have nothing to write about.

Recently I’ve been struggling a bit with writing the blog- because I don’t have Jack with me all day everyday. Now that I’m back at work I only see him for a short time in the morning and then a few hours at night.

I miss him. Working is very rewarding and fulfilling and I’m proud to be a mom who works- but I was really unprepared for the guilt I feel when I’m not Jack’s number 1.

So now that I spend so little time with my man during the week days- I feel phoney writing daily blog posts. I definitely plan on keeping the blog running- you will just notice that I cut down on the number of posts.

I don’t want the blog to become a source of anxiety or stress for me, so I’m not going to feel bad about cutting down on the posts in the future.

🖤

Hi! On Monday, Chris, Jack and I had our photos taken at the Irving Nature Park. It was the perfect time of day for beautiful lighting and the photographer was fantastic.

Even though I felt overwhelmed and upset that Jack was tired and only wanted Chris- the pictures turned out really well.

This got me to thinking about the nature of Motherhood- and that appearance vs reality idea.

Sometimes I feel like I must look like I’m losing it. I feel so out of control, or overwhelmed or upset or frustrated. But when I express those feelings, people are often surprised. So I suppose that even though I’m feeling all of this turmoil internally- I must look fairy calm on the outside.

This is your daily reminder to look at social media with a grain of salt. Things might looks perfect- but what they are is a snapshot of someone’s life. Things on the outside don’t always reflect things on the inside. 🧡🤎❤️

Yesterday Chris,Jack and I went to get family photos taken. The appointment was at 5 in town- so I didn’t have time to go home first. Chris picked Jack up from Chey’s, and brought him in to meet me there.

For that reason- Chris was the favourite of the night. Jack wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. When the photographer suggested that I hold him for a few photos- he screamed and pushed me away.

Cue my heart breaking

I know that I said the other day that I enjoy days when I’m not the favourite- but when I’m working and away from Jack all day- it really hurts my feelings when he doesn’t want me. I know I’m being dramatic and that of course I’m still his mom and babies are silly and all that. I know-

I just miss my bubs.

Also: I will be so very impressed if the photographer was able to get some shots of my very difficult- picture-hating family.

Hi all! Another busy week/weekend in the Murray household. Our boy always gets fevers with new teeth and this week has been a doozy.

Usually my boy is all about Mumma when he isn’t feeling well- but this weekend has been very different. Dad’s boy all the way. He wants nothing to do with me! And while that stings (I’m used to being the favourite at home okay?) I sort of like the lack of responsibility.

Jack has not let Chris out of his sight this whole weekend. He follows him everywhere and “helps” whenever he can.

Jack woke up today feeling much better- and he’s still focused on Dad- so I got to drink my whole coffee-Hot!- and eat my breakfast without sharing. Is that a dream or what?!

Sadly-not being the fave means that I missed out on the snuggles…so that was sad.

BUT HOT COFFEE!

Jack played at nanny’s all day today. I only have one thing left to buy on my “back to school” list- can you guess what it is?

When I went to pick him up from his Nanny’s today, he didn’t want to come home. I can tell that Chey feels bad for me when he does that- but i know that it’s just the nature of kids. He spends his whole day in a place, with all sorts of toys that he loves and with people he loves. By the time I come to get him he is tired and cranky, and doesn’t want to leave. I try not to take it personally (but sometimes I just wish he missed me a little bit 🤪)

When we got home he decided that the dinner (that he gobbled up last night ) was no longer on his list of likes. So he had some cheese, some fruit, a few veggies and a pouch for dinner tonight. Sometimes we just eat whatever works. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hello!

Back again with that busy baby! He’s always up to something, or into something. His latest obsession is drawers. He loves putting things in them and taking them out again. Or even better- hiding things in there and immediately forgetting. His Nanny has been losing stuff all week.

Yesterday, Jack spent the day with my mom. She absolutely adores having him, and they have a lot of fun together. She (like me every single day) is always shocked at how exhausted she is at the end of the day. He is non-stop.

Let’s hope I find my remote soon friends- the Wiggles are wearing on my nerves.

Hi!

Yesterday was a “no nap day” which translates to “my literal hell”

Sometimes I am a dummy and I bring misery down upon myself. Sometimes it is not my fault- but usually it is.

I left the house too late- and spaced my activities too far apart, and brought Jack home too late for naps. He dozed in the car for about 20 minutes the whole day, while I ran errands and shopped for sneakers for him. He was less than impressed by the shopping adventures.

When I got him home I put him straight to bed, where he proceeded to play and kick and sing and then yell. No naps were had.

Needless to say, I barely made it past his bedtime. I was drained by the errands, a long weekend of activities, and after a quick shower- I went straight to bed.