I'm in a bit of a pickle, and quite frankly very upset. We have two dogs who are basically Baby 1 and Baby 2 and then there's our child, Baby 3. Baby 1 and Baby 2 where pretty great until Baby 3 came along...now they have something to hate. Buddy and Jessie were really good with Connor when he was little, but now that he is growing and is twice their size, I think they are intimidated. I should also mention that Connor likes to hit, slap, pull hair, steal dog bones and play with their dog food, so they are intimidated for good reason. Therefor, when he does the nice things like kiss them, hug them and pet them, the dogs are defensive. They have recently started growling and gnarling, showing teeth and sometimes go so far as to snap at Connor. They've never actually bit him, but my gut tells me that isn't far off. They don't seem to have any tolerance for him anymore and this scares me. It's actually gotten to the point where I never feel at ease anymore. It's exhausting. Every time Connor goes near them, I cringe. I could never forgive myself if it they bit him.

I was so upset about a gnarl today, that I spent some time Internet researching to see what other conclusions other people in my same situation have come up with. It nearly brought me tears. I came across a chat site about aggressive dogs. A lady was having basically the exact same problem as us...toddler, two dogs, aggression, fear of something worse happening. These answers given by other readers basically sums up all of the other comments on the page;

-"Keep the dog away from your child! You owe it to your child and your dog to keep your child safe. If you want to follow your heart, you should consider how you will feel if/when your child is bitten. Anyone who has ever seen a child bitten (often in the face or neck) will advise you to take no chances."

-"what's more important, the dog or the baby? find the dog a nice new home before something awful happens. "

-"I have to urge you to think of your children. I know what you're going through, as we also had a dog that growled and snapped, and was aggressive with other dogs. In many ways, he was a marvelous dog, and at first, he was OK with the kids, but as he got older, and crankier, and they got more rambunctious, it was an accident waiting to happen. And it did. My five year old crawled past him in a narrow hallway, with my 20 month old behind, and I don't know if he was sleeping, or guarding a ball or what, but he snapped at him and nicked him below the eye. I knew in that instant I would have to put him down, and that it was overdue. Every time I see that tiny scar on my child's face, I think of what I risked. "

The thing is, all of our options suck!!!

1) Get a dog trainer in here to fix the situation...would cost us a fortune

2) Never leave the dogs alone in a room with Connor...pretty tough and not to mention alot of extra work on my part. I don't have time to bring the dogs (or Connor for that matter) into every room I go into through the run of a day.

3) Keep the dogs and Connor separated at all times...that would mean keeping them separated from Mike and I too. What a great life that would be for the dogs.

4) Find a new home for the dogs...heart breaking.

I don't know what to do. Just the realization that our situation is not working... something has to change. I love those dogs so much, but since I've had Connor they've dropped pretty low on the totem pole. Their not my babies anymore. They may be my beloved pets, but Connor is my son and it is my job to protect him and keep him safe. Mike doesn't worry about it like I do. If they growl at Connor while Mike is around, he'll punish them, but he doesn't seem to think past the moment. I think he just hopes that it will eventually fix itself. What if it doesn't? Does Connor have to get hurt before we take action?

Happy as a pig in poo :)

Connor got a new toy today.

He hates it...see for yourself...

Thank god for play groups in the winter time

I took a few pictures today at the play group we have been frequenting on Wednesdays. It's my favorite play group so far. It's in the gym of one of the churches in downtown Fredericton. They have one half of the gym set up for car driving and ball playing and the other half has every toy you can imagine. It's a great place for Connor to play and for me to chat with some other Mom's (when I'm not playing with Connor of course!). Connor seems to like it. He's getting more and more used to it and therefor more and more comfortable. He used to just go grab other kids snacks and run them back to me with a "lets get the hell out of here" look on his face. Now he actually plays and grabs a random kids snack here and there. Good times...

Rib-it

Today, when Connor and I were playing, I pulled out his piggie bank and said "rib-it, rib-it". The words just flowed out of mouth, with no thought behind them. Then, I realized what I had said. I didn't even correct myself. I couldn't. I was so disappointed in my stupidity, I was lost for words. Why? Why must I be soooooo bad with animal trivia? Connor is pretty much screwed for pre-school. I mean, that's all they do in pre-school, right? Learn the alphabet and learn about animals. I will have to remember to talk to his pre-school teacher about our "situation" with animal trivia. Give her a little heads-up. Maybe I could go through pre-school again with Connor. Seeing as how I quit the first time around. That's right, I quit pre-school! I can't remember why. Maybe it was because all the other kids were making fun of me for not knowing anything about animals (just a guess!). I can't have Connor quit pre-school like his mother did. Maybe I could get my GED in pre-school. I'll go back when Connor goes. You know, to teach him that it's never too late to go back.

I'll have to start researching pre-schools...

Dear Summer

Where is the sunshine and warm weather? I have never wanted summer to arrive more then I do this year. I want to take Connor for walks without coming home with soaking wet pants and freezing cold hands. I want to take him to the park to play on a dry slide instead of a snow covered one (yes, we've actually gone to the park this winter). I want to swim in our pool instead of commenting on how snow covered it is. I want to play in our back yard, not just chase the dogs in it when they won't come inside. I want to eat lunch on a patio...I want! I want! I want!

Winter time sucks for a stay at home Mom. There's nothing to do. Actually, there are things to do - but nothing is as easy and stepping outside (without having to worry about jackets, pants, boots, mittens, hats, etc) and going for a walk to the park. Heck, we could kill hours by doing just that. You are bound to get out and do things in the summer where as in the winter...not so much. Connor and I can go for days in the winter time without so much as leaving the house. That's rare, mind you - but not unheard of.


Dear Summer,

Please come as soon as you can. Spring, you can just skip your visit this year. No one will miss you. Not that people don't like you. You're more liked then Winter, that's for sure. And it's a toss up between you and fall. Fall is prettier then you though. And summer? Summer kicks your &%$! Winter, we have had enough of you to last us a life time. I really hate you. I've never had a reason to like you. You make me cranky and moody...and not to mention, REALLY COLD! You bring out the worst in me. Please go away.

...see, this is what happens to me in the winter time. I start writing weird letters to 'seasons' ??!?! I really need to get out...

Connor's current vocabulary:

Incase you're wondering what the heck my kid is saying...

"ink-uls''...(sprinkles)

''eeeease''...(please)

"nan-nan-nan"...(banana)

"ick-ul, ick-ul, ick-ul"...(tickle)

"isss"...(this)

"dat"...(that)

"ssssseee"...(Jessie)

sticking out tongue and wagging it from side to side while saying ''ahhhh''...(ball) - weird, I know! If this sort of vocabulary continues I may never understand him...don't Pakistanians talk with a lot of tongue? I may have to import one for translation purposes...

"puh"...(up)

"MAAAAAAAAAAAM"...(mom)

"dada"...(dad)

"yup"...(yes)

pointing while yelling "MAAAAAAAAAAAAM"...(every other word in the dictionary that he doesn't already have a word for)

Happy Birthday Grammie B
Love Connor
xoxo

Healthy Cookies

I made these last night and between the three of us, we've done some serious damage. They are delicious and quite healthy...I left out the macadamia nuts ('cause I didn't have any) and they were still delish.

Ingredients:

1 large banana

1/2 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup of oatmeal

1/2 cup white flour

3/4 cup wholewheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup macadamia nuts

1 apple


Directions:Mash banana and mix with butter and brown sugar. In separate bowl mix dry ingredients and then mix them together. Add the nuts and apples last. Spoon onto greased cookie sheet and bake in oven at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Prep time: 30 to 45 minutes Makes about 20 to 30 cookies

It's a good day...

I've been terrible at blogging lately, but for good reason. We made our 1st trip to emergency this weekend. Starting Friday afternoon, Connor caught some sort of bug that sent him crying, hugging and squeezing his Mommy right through to last night at 2am (...at this time, I knew he was feeling better and that it was time to put him back in bed. He had been sleeping on my chest as he had done the two nights before, only this time it was different. All of a sudden, around 1:30am, he sat up, crawled off the nest he had on me, and went right to the cheese doodles that Mike and I had folded up and left on the floor. I figured he had it rough for a few days and deserved a break, so I plopped him up on the couch and we sat together and watched T.V and ate cheese doodles. After a handful of them, I folded them up and put them on the ledge out of his reach. He then proceeded to have a tantrum...pointing to the cheesies and saying 'eeeease' (please), tears flowing as well as no shortage in the snot department. It's one thing to have a tantrum at 2am when you are as hot as coals and feeling like crap...but for cheese doodles? I don't think so! In bed you go...he slept like a baby (imagine that!) right through to 9:30 this morning). I have felt like a conjoined twin for the last 2.5 days, attached at the chest. He's really not a mama's boy at all but boy was he ever one this weekend. I must admit, the snuggles were wonderful - but I probably got enough of them in the last few days to tide me over for...oh...ten years or so.

I'm not quite sure what the problem was, whether he had some sort of flu or if it was just teething...all I know is that he had a permanent fever that only went down with Tylenol.

Oh, and he also recently dropped a pot on his big toe, not once - not twice - but three times!! The first time was at my parents. His toe nail popped right up from the pressure of all the dark blood accumulating under it. The second time was at our place a day later. Dropped a pot on it again. The third time was today, which caused the blood blister to finally pop, so I guess third times a charm. What's weird is that he managed to go 8 months of pot playing without dropping any on his toe, then BAM, 3 times in one week.

So, between high fevers, black and blue toes (and not to mention the time change!) - sleep was non existent. Notice I said 'was'. Things seem to be getting back to normal today (Thank you dear, dear god!). He was all smiles this morning and lacking a fever and he's been napping this afternoon going on three hours now.

So, Connor is happy again, my arms are free, spring is in the air, snow is starting to melt...it's a good day...

Do humans have tails?

A few days ago, Connor discovered that Buddy and Jessie have tails. First, it was Buddy's tail that he noticed. Buddy was standing in front of me - and Connor behind him. I was eating something so of course Buddy's tail was wagging in excitement for hopes of a crumb falling to his territory, the floor. I saw Connor's face light up when he noticed his newest game, Buddy's tail. He bent over and zoomed in to inspect this silly body part. He tried his best to grasp the 3 inch piece of fur. Giggling and squealing with delight. He couldn't catch it. At that point, I could see the wheels turning in his head, "If Buddy has a tail, then Jessie must have a tail too". He quickly ran over to Jessie, bent over and zoomed in on her tail. A smile and squeal quickly followed. He shrieked with the enthusiasm of someone who had just discovered the moon. Pointing with pride at Jessie's tail.

Could it be that all living things have tails? He would soon find out...

He ran over to my Mom, lifted her from off the floor where she was sitting, bent over, and zoomed in on her bum. He pointed to it with a curious look on his face.

"Humans don't have tails honey. Just animals."

...but don't ask me which animals.We all know I struggle with my animal trivia.