For the first time in months, maybe even years, I can breathe a sigh of relief and take a huge gulping breath of fresh air in regards to the future of my family.
Things are looking up for my hubby and his career, as he finally made the professional leap and is quite content at his job, which holds so much promise. He loves the atmosphere, the professional feel and the laid back attitude. Not to mention he has the option of working from home two to three days a week.
The kids are doing splendidly well at school, with report cards showing all three passing their classes with ace grades. Just yesterday, my princess competed in her first ever 'real' competition on a sub-national level at the second annual English Festival. She did an amazing job and is already looking forward to next years competition.
As for me, well, things are going well. I have finally made peace with my inner cheapskate and have made a promise to stop being so afraid of spending money where it actually counts. I'm tired of getting the cheaper option because I have to, because I need to stretch a dollar into $3. I can finally get the nicer face cream (even though it is still a battle for me), and the nicer cuts of meat. Not to say we were desolate before and couldn't afford such things but I was just too cheap and always thought why spend $6 when I could a similar, less expensive option. And well, sometimes the less expensive option is that way for a reason. Not that I am out there blowing big bucks of crap just because... we still have to be frugal and wise with our money and spending. After all, we need to save to buy our car.
Which brings me to my last refresher. We are finally serious about getting that bigger family car we've been after for so long. We need a car that fits our entire family and a nicer car that runs well enough to get us around where we need to go. Hubby's car has been very reliable over the years but it is time to retire his 20 year old 5 seater Honda sedan and trade up to something bigger, newer and more modern. And with the looks of this this year so far, fingers crossed, we are closer to that dream than ever before. Like aIsaid, I can finally take a nice big breath of fresh air. And breathe in the positive changes coming our way.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Thursday, June 16, 2016
A Bittersweet Moment
As a parent, we love watching our kids grow up and reach every milestone we could have only dreamed of them reaching. We relish in their first words, their first smile, their first steps. We take a million photos, record the event so we can watch it over and over again, and share the news with family and friends. But the other side of being so happy for those milestone moments, is the fact that they also make us just a tad bit sad because hitting a milestone means our babies are growing up and fast.
For months now, I dreamt of the day when my toddler would give up breastfeeding. Yes! I know. I was still breastfeeding my almost 3 year old.... shocking! But I was. I was adamant about breastfeeding all my kids. At least in the beginning. And I was more than willing to do baby led weaning, which meant that I would listen to their cues as to when they were ready to wean. Well, my first three children all weaned on their own so I never had to force stop them from the boob. But this fourth child of mine just seemed unwilling to quit.
After his first birthday, I started counting down the days when he would let me know when he was ready to quit. I saw no signs of that, so I continued. As his 2nd birthday fast approached I wonder if this would be it... the time when he would just refuse to breastfeed. No such luck. And having him breastfeed at 2 years old meant I was a permanent and constant pacifier, not getting much rest at night even, when he would wake up just to suck.
I needed to wean, forget about baby led, he was no longer a baby but a full fledged toddler. I had no experience dealing with a breastfeeding toddler as all my other kids quit long before the age of two. But this kid of mine needed to stop breastfeeding, yet he still showed no signs of giving it up. I eventually weaned him off the boob during the day as I was tired of being his soother as soon as I sat down. Only breastfeeding at night seemed to be a small compromise but I was still not getting much sleep as some nights he would want to suck non-stop.
I knew I had to wean (and I wanted to) but another part of me wasn't ready to. He was my baby. My last child. I felt that bond we had when he was being breastfed. I kept picturing his little face as he nuzzled up against my chest. I wanted to hold on to that. So how do I wean when I really was not willing to wean after all?
The day finally came and it has been almost 2 weeks now since my toddler has held my boob in his mouth. There are days he still asks for it, especially at night. But I stand firm and he just drops off to sleep without it. The first few nights were rough, especially the first night. That night I was unwilling to breastfeed because I was sick. Since he went that first night without breastfeeding, I decided to try another night and see how that panned out. I just kept going night after night after that. I have to say the best part about not breastfeeding anymore is I get a full nights sleep... he no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to suck. I can finally sleep uninterrupted. But I still feel a little bit sad that I will never breastfeed again. No more cute faces nuzzled up against my chest staring into my eyes with such love. I will miss that!
For months now, I dreamt of the day when my toddler would give up breastfeeding. Yes! I know. I was still breastfeeding my almost 3 year old.... shocking! But I was. I was adamant about breastfeeding all my kids. At least in the beginning. And I was more than willing to do baby led weaning, which meant that I would listen to their cues as to when they were ready to wean. Well, my first three children all weaned on their own so I never had to force stop them from the boob. But this fourth child of mine just seemed unwilling to quit.
After his first birthday, I started counting down the days when he would let me know when he was ready to quit. I saw no signs of that, so I continued. As his 2nd birthday fast approached I wonder if this would be it... the time when he would just refuse to breastfeed. No such luck. And having him breastfeed at 2 years old meant I was a permanent and constant pacifier, not getting much rest at night even, when he would wake up just to suck.
I needed to wean, forget about baby led, he was no longer a baby but a full fledged toddler. I had no experience dealing with a breastfeeding toddler as all my other kids quit long before the age of two. But this kid of mine needed to stop breastfeeding, yet he still showed no signs of giving it up. I eventually weaned him off the boob during the day as I was tired of being his soother as soon as I sat down. Only breastfeeding at night seemed to be a small compromise but I was still not getting much sleep as some nights he would want to suck non-stop.
I knew I had to wean (and I wanted to) but another part of me wasn't ready to. He was my baby. My last child. I felt that bond we had when he was being breastfed. I kept picturing his little face as he nuzzled up against my chest. I wanted to hold on to that. So how do I wean when I really was not willing to wean after all?
The day finally came and it has been almost 2 weeks now since my toddler has held my boob in his mouth. There are days he still asks for it, especially at night. But I stand firm and he just drops off to sleep without it. The first few nights were rough, especially the first night. That night I was unwilling to breastfeed because I was sick. Since he went that first night without breastfeeding, I decided to try another night and see how that panned out. I just kept going night after night after that. I have to say the best part about not breastfeeding anymore is I get a full nights sleep... he no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to suck. I can finally sleep uninterrupted. But I still feel a little bit sad that I will never breastfeed again. No more cute faces nuzzled up against my chest staring into my eyes with such love. I will miss that!
A Bittersweet Moment
As a parent, we love watching our kids grow up and reach every milestone we could have only dreamed of them reaching. We relish in their first words, their first smile, their first steps. We take a million photos, record the event so we can watch it over and over again, and share the news with family and friends. But the other side of being so happy for those milestone moments, is the fact that they also make us just a tad bit sad because hitting a milestone means our babies are growing up and fast.
For months now, I dreamt of the day when my toddler would give up breastfeeding. Yes! I know. I was still breastfeeding my almost 3 year old.... shocking! But I was. I was adamant about breastfeeding all my kids. At least in the beginning. And I was more than willing to do baby led weaning, which meant that I would listen to their cues as to when they were ready to wean. Well, my first three children all weaned on their own so I never had to force stop them from the boob. But this fourth child of mine just seemed unwilling to quit.
After his first birthday, I started counting down the days when he would let me know when he was ready to quit. I saw no signs of that, so I continued. As his 2nd birthday fast approached I wonder if this would be it... the time when he would just refuse to breastfeed. No such luck. And having him breastfeed at 2 years old meant I was a permanent and constant pacifier, not getting much rest at night even, when he would wake up just to suck.
I needed to wean, forget about baby led, he was no longer a baby but a full fledged toddler. I had no experience dealing with a breastfeeding toddler as all my other kids quit long before the age of two. But this kid of mine needed to stop breastfeeding, yet he still showed no signs of giving it up. I eventually weaned him off the boob during the day as I was tired of being his soother as soon as I sat down. Only breastfeeding at night seemed to be a small compromise but I was still not getting much sleep as some nights he would want to suck non-stop.
I knew I had to wean (and I wanted to) but another part of me wasn't ready to. He was my baby. My last child. I felt that bond we had when he was being breastfed. I kept picturing his little face as he nuzzled up against my chest. I wanted to hold on to that. So how do I wean when I really was not willing to wean after all?
The day finally came and it has been almost 2 weeks now since my toddler has held my boob in his mouth. There are days he still asks for it, especially at night. But I stand firm and he just drops off to sleep without it. The first few nights were rough, especially the first night. That night I was unwilling to breastfeed because I was sick. Since he went that first night without breastfeeding, I decided to try another night and see how that panned out. I just kept going night after night after that. I have to say the best part about not breastfeeding anymore is I get a full nights sleep... he no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to suck. I can finally sleep uninterrupted. But I still feel a little bit sad that I will never breastfeed again. No more cute faces nuzzled up against my chest staring into my eyes with such love. I will miss that!
For months now, I dreamt of the day when my toddler would give up breastfeeding. Yes! I know. I was still breastfeeding my almost 3 year old.... shocking! But I was. I was adamant about breastfeeding all my kids. At least in the beginning. And I was more than willing to do baby led weaning, which meant that I would listen to their cues as to when they were ready to wean. Well, my first three children all weaned on their own so I never had to force stop them from the boob. But this fourth child of mine just seemed unwilling to quit.
After his first birthday, I started counting down the days when he would let me know when he was ready to quit. I saw no signs of that, so I continued. As his 2nd birthday fast approached I wonder if this would be it... the time when he would just refuse to breastfeed. No such luck. And having him breastfeed at 2 years old meant I was a permanent and constant pacifier, not getting much rest at night even, when he would wake up just to suck.
I needed to wean, forget about baby led, he was no longer a baby but a full fledged toddler. I had no experience dealing with a breastfeeding toddler as all my other kids quit long before the age of two. But this kid of mine needed to stop breastfeeding, yet he still showed no signs of giving it up. I eventually weaned him off the boob during the day as I was tired of being his soother as soon as I sat down. Only breastfeeding at night seemed to be a small compromise but I was still not getting much sleep as some nights he would want to suck non-stop.
I knew I had to wean (and I wanted to) but another part of me wasn't ready to. He was my baby. My last child. I felt that bond we had when he was being breastfed. I kept picturing his little face as he nuzzled up against my chest. I wanted to hold on to that. So how do I wean when I really was not willing to wean after all?
The day finally came and it has been almost 2 weeks now since my toddler has held my boob in his mouth. There are days he still asks for it, especially at night. But I stand firm and he just drops off to sleep without it. The first few nights were rough, especially the first night. That night I was unwilling to breastfeed because I was sick. Since he went that first night without breastfeeding, I decided to try another night and see how that panned out. I just kept going night after night after that. I have to say the best part about not breastfeeding anymore is I get a full nights sleep... he no longer wakes up in the middle of the night to suck. I can finally sleep uninterrupted. But I still feel a little bit sad that I will never breastfeed again. No more cute faces nuzzled up against my chest staring into my eyes with such love. I will miss that!
Friday, June 10, 2016
Me Time vs Date Night
As a parent, more specifically as a mom, me time is extremely important. All your free time usually goes to your kids, your house and everything else in between: running errands, chores, school related things. So after a long and trying week that left me feeling sick, literally, I decided that this weekend I will be taking a much deserved and well needed break from my family and having some me time. Time for myself. I will no be running errands. I will be going to a salon and most likely getting a pedicure, something I have been wanting to do for a long time. A little bit of pampering for the feet and the soul.
I remember before I had baby #4, I was able to squeeze in me time a lot more often, as the kids were a little older and I had more time away from them to just be me. I know that time will come again as my toddler gets older, but I have to steal away a few moments here and there on occasion, for my health and sanity.
As important as me time is, as a part of a married couple I can't forget that I have a husband and I have to try and make time for him as well. We parents are stretched so thin these days. We have to have time for everything and everyone: the hubs, the kids, the house, friends, you name it. There really is not enough time in a week, literally. But again, we must carve out that precious time. So again, hubby and I will be going on a much deserved date night, NO KIDS, this weekend as well, after I have had some me time of course.
We have to remember that as much as we take care of everyone else, we have to also take care of ourselves and I can forget that sometimes. Me time and date nights, with your partner, are fun but also crucial to a healthy and happy home life. When you are happy, everyone around you is happy. When you're not stressed about dinner or laundry, your kids and partner feel at ease and comfortable. And your home environment seems a happier place. I need to get there. I need time away, as much as I love my family. Me time is something I'll be implementing at least once a month from now on. As for date night, I think we can manage that once a month as well, to come together, bond and rekindle that old high school romance.... never letting that flame die. Because once our kids get older and leave the nest, all that is is left is me and hubby: we need to keep that spark and connection alive.
I remember before I had baby #4, I was able to squeeze in me time a lot more often, as the kids were a little older and I had more time away from them to just be me. I know that time will come again as my toddler gets older, but I have to steal away a few moments here and there on occasion, for my health and sanity.
As important as me time is, as a part of a married couple I can't forget that I have a husband and I have to try and make time for him as well. We parents are stretched so thin these days. We have to have time for everything and everyone: the hubs, the kids, the house, friends, you name it. There really is not enough time in a week, literally. But again, we must carve out that precious time. So again, hubby and I will be going on a much deserved date night, NO KIDS, this weekend as well, after I have had some me time of course.
We have to remember that as much as we take care of everyone else, we have to also take care of ourselves and I can forget that sometimes. Me time and date nights, with your partner, are fun but also crucial to a healthy and happy home life. When you are happy, everyone around you is happy. When you're not stressed about dinner or laundry, your kids and partner feel at ease and comfortable. And your home environment seems a happier place. I need to get there. I need time away, as much as I love my family. Me time is something I'll be implementing at least once a month from now on. As for date night, I think we can manage that once a month as well, to come together, bond and rekindle that old high school romance.... never letting that flame die. Because once our kids get older and leave the nest, all that is is left is me and hubby: we need to keep that spark and connection alive.
Friday, June 3, 2016
What A WEEK :0
It has a been a looooooooong week, let me tell you. First, let me recap our vacation, since that was the last blog I did: vacation was OK. Just OK. Not great, not good, just OK. Let's just say, we have definitely taken better vacations than that.
First off, it was a true hassle to find a hotel room I know my grandmother would like that could accommodate all of us (about 8 people) and not cost an arm and two legs. Finally, at my hubby's urging, we booked a hotel we know and have been to many times before: Casa Verde Lodge in Puerto Viejo (did I mention Puerto Viejo is one of our all time favorite vacation destinations).
So we book the hotel and I had to reluctantly and embarrassingly cancel the other hotel I had reserved, which in hindsight probably was a better option although just a bit further out from the beach. After all that, we had to figure out HOW to get to the beach. We all would not fit in hubby's car, so I searched for options. There was a 'bus' company that could take us to the beach, leave us (without any transport) and then pick us up for around $500. The gentleman that took us to Baldi was also offering his services for about $400. But I felt it would be better if we rented a car, so we searched for affordable rentals as well.
When we found a car rental company with a vehicle big enough for all of us and within budget, we reserved it but the problem was the deposit. A $1500 credit card deposit was needed. That was steep! We had to jump through a lot of hurdles to acquire that deposit but we managed and "viola", a 7 passenger SUV was booked and with a few rearranging was turned into an 8 passenger vehicle.
All we had to do now was go on our mini weekend getaway. We were booked up for 2 nights: Saturday and Sunday, returning home on Monday (I had to write a note to the kid's teachers.) So we show up in Puerto Viejo and immediately I regretted the entire trip. The hotel that we knew and loved is under new management and a lot had changed and not for the better. The rooms we reserved had no air conditioning and it was hot as Hades at the beach. The fans we had were not working so I had to request new, working fans.
Now, if I had gone to the beach with just my hubby and kids, it would have been a much better trip but trying to cater to my almost 90 year old grandma made the trip almost unbearable. There were good parts but hearing people complain about the hotel I booked just put me in a sour mood. Not to mention the dining situation, which was not really as fun as I thought it would be.
And to top it all off; it being TOO hot, the beach not being close enough, the hotel being a piece of crap, nothing to eat; my hubby and I got into a HUGE fight. One of my least favorite vacations ever. I was so glad to be heading home 3 hours before we were scheduled to leave.
Now, that was just last weekend. Move to Wednesday, the last day my uncle's wife and grandma would be staying in Costa Rica. I decided to book a rainforest tour for me and my "aunt", something fun for her to do on her last day in "paradise". Well, the morning of, my grandma pleaded with us not to go as she had a bad feeling and a nightmare which was most likely a premonition of bad things to come on the trip, so we canceled.
To make it up, I decided to take my "aunt" to a bio-diversity park here in Costa Rica that I thought she would love. Ok, so we head out in my mother in laws car only to find, as we get there, that the park has closed down indefinitely. WHAT!!!!!!! I just felt terrible. My uncle's wife wanted to come on a vacation and do fun, vacation-like things and all she did was go on a day trip to the hot springs and spend a few not so fun days at the beach. I was so sad for her; this was not how I pictured she should have spent her vacation (and I am sure she thought her vacation should have been more fun.)
So vacation done and family on their way back home, Thursday I had to take the kids to their dental appointments. I get on the bus (as per usual) with child and my new Coach handbag on my person. As a mom of of a toddler (and 4 kids total), it can be a little distracting to travel with all four kids at once. The trip is worse if you have a crying toddler. As a man standing next to me started talking to my toddler, I try to settle him down as best I could, my hands full. As I get to the clinic, I notice my phone missing but I hoped I left it at home. But I didn't. If you can guess where this story is going, then you guessed right. My cell phone was stolen out of the front pocket of my bag by the man talking to my toddler , I figure as a distraction so I would not notice him going into my bag to rob me.
I'm not going to lie, once I realized my phone had actually been stolen, I cried. I know it is a material object, but it was MY material object and I had never had that happen to me before. To top it all off, the day could not have been any shittier, literally! I woke up that very morning with stomach pains and TMI.... diarrhea! So it was a bad day for me from the start. To have it end like that just made it even worse.
Of course, I went to the police, the bus central station and the court house to report my stolen cell phone. Today, I made a report with the OIJ, which is sort of like Costa Rica's version of the FBI (they have a section that deals with stolen objects).
I am pretty sure they can't do much nor will they be able to find my phone. But I have hope. I was lucky that the night before I transferred all my photos to my hubby's work computer, so I didn't lose any impossible to replace memories, which always depresses me when that happens. I also went online after the theft and changed all my passwords and set my phone to factory settings. Finally, I got on Facebook to let everyone who had my phone number know that for now, I am off the grid. No cell, no cell phone number for the foreseeable future.
I know a cell phone can easily be replaced but I loved my phone. It was practically brand new, less than a year old. I used it for everything; to take pictures, to check email, to post to Facebook, to check the time, to record info, to film and post youtube videos; basically to record and manage my entire life. And now, I am lost (not really) without it.
I hope whoever stole it (that guy, I am sure) gets caught and thrown into jail, even for a few hours to teach him not to steal other people's property.
First off, it was a true hassle to find a hotel room I know my grandmother would like that could accommodate all of us (about 8 people) and not cost an arm and two legs. Finally, at my hubby's urging, we booked a hotel we know and have been to many times before: Casa Verde Lodge in Puerto Viejo (did I mention Puerto Viejo is one of our all time favorite vacation destinations).
So we book the hotel and I had to reluctantly and embarrassingly cancel the other hotel I had reserved, which in hindsight probably was a better option although just a bit further out from the beach. After all that, we had to figure out HOW to get to the beach. We all would not fit in hubby's car, so I searched for options. There was a 'bus' company that could take us to the beach, leave us (without any transport) and then pick us up for around $500. The gentleman that took us to Baldi was also offering his services for about $400. But I felt it would be better if we rented a car, so we searched for affordable rentals as well.
When we found a car rental company with a vehicle big enough for all of us and within budget, we reserved it but the problem was the deposit. A $1500 credit card deposit was needed. That was steep! We had to jump through a lot of hurdles to acquire that deposit but we managed and "viola", a 7 passenger SUV was booked and with a few rearranging was turned into an 8 passenger vehicle.
All we had to do now was go on our mini weekend getaway. We were booked up for 2 nights: Saturday and Sunday, returning home on Monday (I had to write a note to the kid's teachers.) So we show up in Puerto Viejo and immediately I regretted the entire trip. The hotel that we knew and loved is under new management and a lot had changed and not for the better. The rooms we reserved had no air conditioning and it was hot as Hades at the beach. The fans we had were not working so I had to request new, working fans.
Now, if I had gone to the beach with just my hubby and kids, it would have been a much better trip but trying to cater to my almost 90 year old grandma made the trip almost unbearable. There were good parts but hearing people complain about the hotel I booked just put me in a sour mood. Not to mention the dining situation, which was not really as fun as I thought it would be.
And to top it all off; it being TOO hot, the beach not being close enough, the hotel being a piece of crap, nothing to eat; my hubby and I got into a HUGE fight. One of my least favorite vacations ever. I was so glad to be heading home 3 hours before we were scheduled to leave.
Now, that was just last weekend. Move to Wednesday, the last day my uncle's wife and grandma would be staying in Costa Rica. I decided to book a rainforest tour for me and my "aunt", something fun for her to do on her last day in "paradise". Well, the morning of, my grandma pleaded with us not to go as she had a bad feeling and a nightmare which was most likely a premonition of bad things to come on the trip, so we canceled.
To make it up, I decided to take my "aunt" to a bio-diversity park here in Costa Rica that I thought she would love. Ok, so we head out in my mother in laws car only to find, as we get there, that the park has closed down indefinitely. WHAT!!!!!!! I just felt terrible. My uncle's wife wanted to come on a vacation and do fun, vacation-like things and all she did was go on a day trip to the hot springs and spend a few not so fun days at the beach. I was so sad for her; this was not how I pictured she should have spent her vacation (and I am sure she thought her vacation should have been more fun.)
So vacation done and family on their way back home, Thursday I had to take the kids to their dental appointments. I get on the bus (as per usual) with child and my new Coach handbag on my person. As a mom of of a toddler (and 4 kids total), it can be a little distracting to travel with all four kids at once. The trip is worse if you have a crying toddler. As a man standing next to me started talking to my toddler, I try to settle him down as best I could, my hands full. As I get to the clinic, I notice my phone missing but I hoped I left it at home. But I didn't. If you can guess where this story is going, then you guessed right. My cell phone was stolen out of the front pocket of my bag by the man talking to my toddler , I figure as a distraction so I would not notice him going into my bag to rob me.
I'm not going to lie, once I realized my phone had actually been stolen, I cried. I know it is a material object, but it was MY material object and I had never had that happen to me before. To top it all off, the day could not have been any shittier, literally! I woke up that very morning with stomach pains and TMI.... diarrhea! So it was a bad day for me from the start. To have it end like that just made it even worse.
Of course, I went to the police, the bus central station and the court house to report my stolen cell phone. Today, I made a report with the OIJ, which is sort of like Costa Rica's version of the FBI (they have a section that deals with stolen objects).
I am pretty sure they can't do much nor will they be able to find my phone. But I have hope. I was lucky that the night before I transferred all my photos to my hubby's work computer, so I didn't lose any impossible to replace memories, which always depresses me when that happens. I also went online after the theft and changed all my passwords and set my phone to factory settings. Finally, I got on Facebook to let everyone who had my phone number know that for now, I am off the grid. No cell, no cell phone number for the foreseeable future.
I know a cell phone can easily be replaced but I loved my phone. It was practically brand new, less than a year old. I used it for everything; to take pictures, to check email, to post to Facebook, to check the time, to record info, to film and post youtube videos; basically to record and manage my entire life. And now, I am lost (not really) without it.
I hope whoever stole it (that guy, I am sure) gets caught and thrown into jail, even for a few hours to teach him not to steal other people's property.
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