lots of hard work, lots of love

Parenting is hard work!  Sometimes you feel like such a great parent and other times ...well...you simply don't.  

I've had a lot of long days lately.  Ever since the time change Adrien does not want to fall asleep and we have a little drama each night.  It's hard to create a new sleeping routine and some nights I have both kids crying at the same time :(  Not a good feeling.  Christophe has a lot of work this year and we don't see him that much anymore.  Poor him, when he is finally home on the weekends, he has a long list of house chores, yardwork, and we all want to spend time with him :)  so what happens when both mommy and daddy are tired, stressed and sleep deprived ?   We're all a little bit on the edge these days. . . 

The thing that makes parenting so rewarding is that in the midst of the stress, there are also great joys and tender moments every day:

 When Adrien smiles at me in the morning, when he tells me he loves me or that I'm the best :)

when Stella squeezes my neck and puts her sweet little head on my shoulder (a little baby hug)

Adrien singing to his little sister, or feeding her.  

Stella squealing of delight when she sees Duff running or Adrien approaching.  

I love my two munchkins SO MUCH !  and the truth is even at the end of an exhausting day when I put my head down on my pillow I feel grateful for my family!  I am definitely one lucky mommy and wife.  I know soon I will get to sleep again,  I will get to fit in my normal clothes, we will have a good sleeping routine that allows Chris and I to reconnect and even maybe go on a date once or twice a year :) ... It will happen one day at a time!

I gave Adrien his fist tennis lesson on Thursday.  We had so much fun ! 

 
He loved hitting the ball and was eager to learn.

 He was able to hit quite a few balls :) Good job Adrien !

 Stella is sitting up now.  She loves this new way to play and enjoys playing with her little piano :)

 Adrien loves feeding his little sister and likes to give her the first spoon at each lunch.  It's so cute ! Stella loves when her big brother is with her.

 

 both Stella and Adrien love to swing, so we've been spending time each day on the swing

 I love them so much !

 Stella tried sweet patatoes this week and pear tonight and she loved them both !

 love my little girl!

Today was April fool's day :) poisson d'avril !  I cut out a little fish and Adrien had fun sticking it on Chris's back and then we all passed it around , trying to put it on each othr's back when the other one was not looking and saying "poisson d'avril".  (even Duff got it on his back, alhough he did not get the joke ;) )  Adrien was very much into the April fool's day jokes this year.  It was super cute !  He was excited and made Christophe believe we had a baby duck in our pool and then once they were both outside looking at the pool , he laughed and screamed 'poisson d'avril" It was super cute !  His first time doing it by himself !  That's such a sweet memory !!  I love my sweet boy !