From Bad to Worse

Well this morning soon after I woke up late and rushed to get everyone ready to catch the ferry and just to add salt to injury it was Marleys first sports day and she needed to wear a yellow shirt and sneakers. This plus rushing caused one of the worst tantrums I have ever seen out of Marley. Mark literally hed her down while I put her sneakers and she screamed her head off. Later on in the day one of Marks co-workers asked him if Marley survived the morning as he had heard the tantrum from his boat! I also had a peanut gallery to face as we boarded the ferry with Marley still wailing. Once on the ferry I explained to Tom (who lives on our dock and is one of Marleys biggest fans and no doubt would habe loved to play with her on the ferry) that we were not in the best of shape and first needed to settle breakfast on the ride to Rockaway. I calmly explained to Marley (all the while fearing another meltdown) that she needed to get out of the pram so I could sit Jacob down to feed him. She did so without hesitation which was a relief but then began to whine again for her breakfast. I quietly pulled her to me and said in a stern voice how unexceptable it would be for her to act up on the ferry and that she needed to sit down and behave so that she could have her breakfast. I also explained to her that I was really upset and disappointed with the way she behaved on the boat this morning and that no one on the ferry wanted to hear any of that. She responded with an "I'm sorry mommy" and ate her breakfast perfectly while I fed Jacob. From the front of the ferry I heard "you should write a book", not thinking about what just happened I replied, I sort of am; I have a blog! Tom then explained; no a parenting book- you handled that so well. LOL if only he had seen me 5 mins before on the boat! The rest of the morning commute continued fine without incident and when we got to school I turned in her yellow shirt and wished her teacher good luck. Sports Day was great and a good laugh. Marley was in the spirit of it all in her yellow shirt with all her classmates. Pa and daddy even got into it by doing the wheel barrow race at the end of the day!
Mark brought the Scout (boat) into town so I left my car and we planned dinner and a boat ride in celebration of Marley's sports. We took advantage of a winter special at one of the restaurants and walked down playing as we went. Jacob took a little snooze in the pram as Mark flipped and twirled Marley down the street. It wasn't until we were almost at the resturant that we realized that both Marleys pink ribbon and Jacobs pacci had disapeared. Marley screamed and cried but luckily Jacob didn't notice the missing plug. Mark ran back along the last leg of our route to see if he could find either but instead all he brought back was someones discarded easter basket. That was no subatitute for Marleys pink ribbon but truth be told I was feeling more anxious about the pacci sisuation. Jacob isn't really fussy about the pacci as much as Marley was but if he has one there is only one kind that will do. And that was our last one of its kind! Once settled in the returant we managed to distract Marley with pictures from sports day and of her with her ribbon. "Even though we lost the ribbon we will always have this picture of you wearing it". We also found a back up pacci (although not the right kind, but a pacci at least).
Dinner was nice and we even decided on a walk down Front Street for the first Harbour Nights in town before heading to the boat. At home we docked the Scout at the end of the marina and headed to Blew Horizon by foot. Marley was super over tired and Jacob hungry to the tantrums and screaming started again as soon as the hatch was opened. When I couldn't find where the reserve pacci had gotten to I more or less lost it! I looked at Mark on the verge of tears and he calmly came up with a backup plan for the missing pacci. That was definitely a make it or break it moment and without his calmess we wouldn't have gotten both kids to bed and asleep within the hour. Thank goodness for opposites attracting!

Spirit of Bermuda Voyage Day 1

Last night before the voyage I was super anxious; snapping at Mark, stressing about getting the kids to bed early so I could get all the chores done and shower AND pack.  Mark had to make me take a 5 min break I was so wired.  So it ended up that this morning I was rushing around printing education stuff for the voyage, packing and showering.  I said goodbye to Mark and the kids as they headed off to the ferry and got ready.  As I walked around to the Spirit I gave myself a little pep talk about what to get out of this voyage.  I looked around but there was no crew yet and my anxiety set back in as the first crew member I saw was an unfamiliar face and then another.  Could I do this alone? Soon the regular faces showed up and we began simple introductory chat of who we were and why we were here.  I got a bit choked up explaining how hard this voyage was going to be for me without Adam as my watch leader, boson, first officer... whatever. The fact was he was not doing to be there, and not because he was off at school.
Once the students arrived and we got through all the introductory stuff and headed underway I felt more relaxed and I had plenty to keep my mind busy.  All in all, a great first day with an exceptional group of girls (although I may be a little biased because I taught them when they were in M1 2 years ago!)

Spoke to Mark and the kids (well Marley anyway) before I finished up work as the educator for the night and his play by play of the day sounded about as normal as my days at home are.  He is not off completely but he is being Super Dad of the Year for the week. It started with a BBM pic from one of the mommas in my BBM mommas group who bumped into him and the kids on the ferry this morning.  Her caption was Dad of the Year! He dropped the kids to Nana who met him at the ferry in town and then they all headed off on their own ways; Marley to school with Jacob and Nana and then Mark back on the ferry back to work.  Tonight he caught the ferry from Dockyard and picked the kids up in town again from Nana and then headed back to Watford Bridge.  Since he left from Dockyard he had to walk back from Watford Bridge (about a 25 min walk)  He had planned it that way and way excited for the wind down time with the kids (much like my morning walks are with them).  However Mark is the kind of person who never wants help from anyone but EVERYONE wants to help him.  So as he was walking to of our friends from Dockyard who were traveling in the opposite direction turned their cars around to take him, the kids, and the jogger stroller back home to Dockyard.  I can just imagine him there at the side of the road with not one but two cars lined up behind him begging him to get it.  His play by play of the encounter is much funnier but he was thankful for our generous neighbours as the sun was getting low and Marley was refusing the skateboard ride which makes a walk like that twice as long.  They sound good and don't seem like they miss me such yet.  Although one sweet thing that Mark told me about when they were coming in on the ferry (they passed Spirit that is anchored just off Watford Bridge) Marley told a lady without any prompting as they approached "My mommies there on the Spirit ship!" The lady conversed with her some more and asked Mark how old our shining daughter was... he replied with a proud "3" and she said how she felt like she was talking to an adult!  Bless them, love them. Will post pictures when I get home on Friday.

Meet A Mum/Dad Activities

In one corner of the boat we have Marlena Rose weighing in at 30lbs 3ft tall and in the other Jacob Adam at 18lbs, 2ft 2" short!!! We had a dual doc visit on Tues for their check ups and both kids are great.  We had a glowing report from the Doctor and all the adoring nurses and both Mark and I couldn't help but walk out with very puffy chests and big heads.... favourite comment of the visit; "She is exceptional.... this is a perfect example of you get out what you put in!".... AHH PRIDE! :)

Today was a very interesting day in that I feel like I met up with the entire MAMA group of Bermuda (Meet A Mum Association).  The people I met aren't actually in the group but that seemed the theme of the day.  It started of with happy comments and plans for book babies from my BBM Mommas group.  These are a bunch of girls around my age with kids of varying ages in Bermuda.  We share highs, lows and help each other out with questions and concerns.  It is a great support network and I love being a part of it.  Then we did our usual morning routine of the 7:30am ferry, this morning one of Mark's work partners was on with his daughter.  She was sweet and read Marley her Curious George books on the ride (a good distraction since Dillan didn't show).  The walk to school had its usual entertainment with Marley in sneakers, black leggings, a big pink tu-tu, stripped shirt, sweater, and winter hat.  Lately she refuses to skateboard the whole way so a lot of the walk is spent beckoning her along as she looks at all the wonderful things we pass.  On the way back, I stopped in at Tribe Road Cafe to thank them for taking care of my keys and met up with a mum who's husband knows Mark.  We had gotten together a few times before Jacob was born as her daughter is only a month younger than Marley, she also had a son a month after I had Jacob.  The girls really connected when we did get them together and its great that both set of kids are so close in age; also they are really cool people.  It was good to link back up with her so hopefully we will connect more in the future.  The ferry ride back was awesome... there were so many mommies (and daddies (2)) that the poor ferry crew had to orchestrate the 10 or so prams that were blocking all the isles.  Clearly not in their job description poor guys ha!  Of the bunch was a former colleague from my substitute teaching days.  A dynamic teacher who was truly a mentor as I subbed at the school where he ran the learning support department.  Teacher turned Mr. Mom.... he is awesome.  Told me about after having his adorable son (14 months) how he realised how much more important raising him was and up and quit, cut down on costs and became a full time dad.  I told him Mark would be screaming with jealousy; and sure enough when I told him he was! He was surrounded by a group of moms and their babies in buggies and fit right into the group.  There was also another smaller mommy group who had decided that today was the perfect day for a ferry ride to Dockyard.... SAHM... taking over the world... or at least the ferries!
Once settled at home and Jacob calmed down from all the mornings excitement, he took a little nap which allowed me to clean and tidy for our playdate with another mum I went to school with who had a little boy a month or so after I had Jacob (really 2011 was the year of the boys!).  We had a great little romp on the boat and then headed to the new cafe in Dockyard.  It was great to catch up and just talk mom for a bit but time got away from us and we both ended up late.  Well worth it though :)
The rest of the afternoon consisted of pick up and a quick house visit to a friend who had ordered me a new blade for my Magic Bullet... more fresh baby food coming right up!  We played outside on the dock and then the grass with Marley's strider bike and watched the sun set waiting for dad to come home.  Dinner on the bbq and now everyone is in bed for the night (well except Jacob who will be up in a few hours).  All in all and excellent day for this Play at Home Mom!!!

The Sun Always Rises

Adam's sunrise; taken the morning after he was buried at sea 

Well last night was a rough night! But never fear, the sun always rises.
The thing about it is, my girl even knows that.  One morning when Mark went to wake Marley for the day she said, "Daddy its not time to get up yet".  He explained that it was and that we had to get ready for school.  So my smarty pants 2 and a half year old tells her daddy, "No, open the hatch".  He does, and she says, "look Daddy out there there is no sun, its not wake up time yet".  Mark told her thats because she was looking the wrong way.  Promptly she took him to the galley and pointed out to the east and said "no Daddy, this is where the sun comes up, behind that boat and see, its not up yet!"  And that is the affect of raising you kids on a boat my followers! Not only does she know what a 'hatch' and 'galley' is but she also knows that the sun rises in the east! :) Beautiful moments!
Today the sun rose again and it didn't start out for me much better than the day before.  On the way racing to catch the ferry I lost one of Jacob's really nice baby blankets overboard and watched it sink, then on the way back on the ferry after the morning commute I lost the loose wheel on the skateboard to the ocean as well! Will spend tomorrow googling the company in Australia to see if I can get a replacement!
Marley had a much better day and we even made a successful second attempt of trick or treating. Bless my wonderful boating neighbours who went out and bought candy for the only trick or treater in the marina and then had the patience to entertain her a day later!  Another thing that boat life will teach my children; the kindness of people.

Adam sailing off into the sunset one evening over cupmatch. 

Mom= professional althlete

The last two days we have made the ferry! For those of you who don't know, in taking a full year from work to be at home with Jacob it means big cost cuts in our household.  Things like only one "expensive social outing" each month (i.e. brunch with the girls, spa days!) and no gym membership.  Before each of my pregnancies I would get into a good gym routine and then BAM i'd get pregnant and the whole thing would go out the window.  Before Jacob I was really into spinning and went to some great classes at Magnum Force Gym with really enthusiastic spin instructors.  I REALLY got into it but getting towards 200lbs and having a kicking human inside of you is not conducive to spin classes.  Anyway my solution now is taking the ferry ride each morning from Dockyard into Hamilton and walking Marley to nursery school, although I do try and sneak in the occasional spin class here and there.  So each morning I have Jacob in the Baby Bijorn carrier and then Marley either skateboarding on the back of the pram or riding in the pram (all depending on her mood that morning!) in tow with us her lunch box, entertainment bag for the ferry and the diaper bag.  Its amazing what you must carry with you at all times with kids- however it is also inevitable you will forget the one thing you need (yesterday I forgot diapers and sure enough Jacob decided that he was comfortable enough to have a nice big bowel movement on the ferry ride TO town).
Anyway, daily from the ferry on our walk up Reid Street and then along First Ave. we get comments from various onlookers of our endeavor.  Today one guy actually stopped us in the street to tell me what a great workout I was getting and how it was extra beneficial because I was getting quality time with both my kids.  I smiled politely and tried to continue on with my 'workout' but he was like 'no lady seriously, you are really working hard!'  LOL yeah buddy I know, i'm the one carrying a 13lb baby on my front and pushing a stroller with a 30lb kid plus gear!  Soon after another admirer stopped me to give me a phamplet on good parenting.  I felt like telling her 'Go talk to that guy, he thinks i'm already doing amazing!' All the positive feedback did motivate me to break into a run on my way back into town with just Jacob in the pram.

Spent the rest of the day with Grammy and Pop Pop- getting some QT in before they go away for a month to their cabin in Virginia.  A little retail therapy is always good for the soul.
Back in Dockyard for the evening i'm starting to figure out that I need to really exhaust my toddler out before dinner and sleep time as between 6pm and 8pm on the boat have been getting too stressful to deal with and i've had one too many 'mommy moments'.  So my genius solution is make helping mommy get chores done fun!  Unfortunately my toddler is smarter than me and somehow always sees through my genius schemes to try and get things done!  It goes like this; mommy- "Hey Marley, why don't we go see  if Auntie Jacqui is at the mini mart and we can put some laundry in?!" Marley- "Uhhh No!".... Mommy-"Ok well how about we take the pram for a walk and you can help mommy with a special job?" Marley- "No thanks, pass me that pumpkin."  Finally I got her by telling her she could put all the quarters for the machine into her pumpkin.  If you know my story about my quarter collection you might guess with my luck where this is heading.  She bought into that one and we were on our merry way to do the laundry by 5:00pm.  Jacob in the baby sling, laundry in the pram and Marley in her 'running sneakers' swinging a plastic trick or treating pumpkin with the quarters in it.  I offered we take her bike for a little exercise and perhaps a diversion from the pumpkin but there was no interest.  Sure enough we start the laundry process and the quarters end up first on the ground next to the pram because she "had to take them out to put them in order" and then once in the laundry room on the floor there because she took them all out again! One or two or more fell out in the process and i'm pretty sure some ended up UNDER the machines!! GGRRRR I am not supposed to be able to do this cost effectively apparently.
Since the washing only takes 1/2 an hour I decided to keep her entertained by going back to get her bike and rallying around a little on the grass outside the gate.  Daddy came home and met us on the lawn; together we managed to get the laundry into the dryer (I had JUST the right amount of coins!) and on our way back to the dock Chris came by on a pony cart ride with his two kids.  Marley and Daddy joined them for a spin around the block pulled by Harry while I went back to the boat to feed Jacob.  THIS is marina and community living! :) Where else can you provide an impromptu pony ride for your toddler?! EXCELLENT!
The end of the race of the day finishes with Daddy managing bed time with Marley no problem- although I feel he got an easy job as she didn't nap at school today and crashed before her head even hit the pillow.  After a quick trip with Jacob to the market for 5% saving day we are sitting down to dinner and i'm icing my knee.  Yeah after a day like today I feel like a professional athlete with my worn out knees! Advice for today- Let the marathon of life continue just don't be so busy finishing the race you forget to enjoy it :)