It's been ages!

Don't say I didn't warn you about the long spaces of time between blog entries! I made sure to do so in the first post!

So obviously a lot has happened since my last blog. Life has become so hectic. A good kind of hectic as well as a bad kind of hectic. It's also lead to a lot of self discovery which might have some pretty drastic consequences. Either way, this blog is more about the kids than myself, so onward march!

Jane is now 7 months old and Alice is almost done maternelle. Next stop will be la première année. She is so excited for it. And, according to her carte de rapport she is ready to take on the challenges next year will bring.

Having said that, I sometimes worry about her lack of French usage at home. I will ask her basic questions that I know she has done in school and she seems to have no idea what I am saying. Other days she responds right away - often in French but I don't mind a response in English.

Her ballet is going quite well, too. Her show is coming up next month. It will be her last with her dance company as they will be closing their doors. I am hoping to send her to my ballet school. I think she will enjoy it there. It is also a bit more serious, so I think she will thrive. Alice does very well in structured settings.

Jane is continuing to be a joy. She is the happiest baby I have ever met. Even when she is cranky, she is happy. She cries only when she needs something - but is a very high energy baby. She loves to jump and bounce, so if you are stuck without a jolly jumper or a jumparoo, your arms are in for a workout.

It's also hard to get her to do a belly laugh. She will sometimes laugh at one thing several times, and then hours later she's over it. She loves to chuckle and smile, though. And her toothless grin will not be very toothless soon. She is teething like a madwoman. I am almost certain I felt some tooth under her gums tonight when she decided to gnaw on my knuckle.

Even her sitter (as I am back in college) says she is a joy and seconds the possibility that she is teething. Another thing her sitter and I have learned is how much she hates baths. I thought maybe it was just me. Jane will buck like a bronco to get out of her baby tub. I've tried warms baths, cool baths, baths with lots of water, and baths with minimal water. As soon as she gets in the tub she starts screaming. It doesn't last long, though. As soon as you take her out, she's as happy as a pig in poo.

Speaking of poo, she has learned to take off disposable diapers. We really only use them when she goes to the sitter's, but she was wearing one the other day and decided to take it off. Unlike her Gdiaper, disposable diapers undo in the front - and Jane seems to think it is funny to take off her diaper. Especially after she makes a mess. Lesson learned.

I sometimes feel like I'm overwhelmed with the kids. I find there are more days where my patience is tested, but I am getting better. I have been exhausted thanks to school, the weather, and my social life. School is three days a week for 5 hours. That's not including travel time. I am out of the house for a 7 hour stretch for school.

And the weather doesn't help much. We will get one sunny day followed by days of rain - often heavy. Nothing like what Manitoba is facing or anything, but it's so depressing. The trees are only just starting to turn green now.

Then there is my social life. It is something I am not willing to give up. It is my lifeline. But school is definitely helping me get a social life in during humane hours. It makes it easier to call it a night before midnight - even if that still rarely happens.

Either way, life is good. The kids are amazing. They are smart and happy and adorable.