Damian & Katerina = How To [vil-helm] #105

Alyce is 14 months old, running and trying new foods, celebrating her 1st real Valentine's Day with love and joy. Damian's chaotic Valentine's Day, juggling work and family, with a romantic lunch and funny gift for Kat, amidst a busy schedule. Boujee and Dapper's snowy adventures, cozy moments, and Valentine's Day surprises, spreading love and joy throughout the year, not just on Valentine's Day.

Tiny Tales from Alyce's Weekly Wonders

Hi everyone! It’s me, Alyce! I am 14 months old now, and I feel so much better than last week! I’ve been having so much fun, running around the kitchen island (so fast, you wouldn’t believe it!), and trying new foods! My dad made homemade biscuits with strawberry jam—yum! I love trying new foods.

And you know what? My G-tube site is feeling so much better! Thanks to my amazing mom and nanny TayTay, who help me with saline soaks twice a day and warm baths every other day, everything is healing nicely. I’m super proud of how well it’s all going!

Now, let me tell you about this Valentine’s Day! I don’t really remember my first Valentine’s Day because I was just a tiny 2-month-old baby last year, and I was just fresh out of the hospital. But mom and dad reminded me by looking at pictures. Wow! I’ve grown so much since then! I can breathe on my own, swallow better, and I’m running all over the house now! What an adventure it’s been!

This year, I’m calling it my first real Valentine’s Day, because I’m big enough to celebrate with everyone! My dad brought chocolates, a teddy bear, a plush toy for Boujee (so cute!), and big flowers for mom! Mom gave little surprises to everyone, even Dapper and dad! We spent the day together in the living room, opening our little red bags filled with love and joy. I just love my mom and dad, and Boujee and Dapper, every single day, but it’s nice to celebrate the day of love once a year.

And speaking of love, guess what? For Valentine’s Day, dad gave mom beautiful flowers, and in the middle of the flowers... a chicken!!! Hahaha, we had a good laugh! It’s now Mom 1 - Dad 1! I can’t wait to see where the chicken hides next time!

Love you all, and happy Valentine’s Day from me!

Alyce 💕

Valentine's Day Chaos with The Chickens, Lunch, and Flowers

Hello Vilhelmians!

Valentine's Day. Four years with Kat, and let me tell you, things have changed. Remember those carefree, pre-parent days? Yeah, me neither. Now it's a juggling act of work, family, two furry terrors, and trying to remember what romance even is. Seriously, who has time for it all? I’m pretty sure my love language is now “survival.”

This year, Valentine's Day ambushed me. It was February 1st, then poof! Two days before the 14th, I realized I’d done precisely jack squat. These "Hallmark holidays" are a bit of a cash grab, aren't they? Though, I admit, seeing Kat smile is worth the… extortion.

Two days to go. Panic mode engaged. What to do? Lunch! Alyce was with the nanny, so Kat and I could, you know, gaze into each other’s eyes. Do couples still do that? I'm not the romantic type. My love language is Acts of Service (like, doing the dishes so that I don't have to or water my plants or some good old mise-en-place), while Kat's is Quality Time. It's a constant negotiation.

Since she's all about QT, I sent her a "meeting invite" (yes, really) and blocked off her calendar for lunch. You'd think working from home would mean constant lunch dates, right? Nope. We're workaholics and serial hobbyists. We make "busy" an art form.

Calendar cleared, restaurant time. "I'll do it later," I said, like an idiot. Twenty-four hours pre-lunch, and nada. Then Kat, bless her soul, asks, "Do you want me to find a place?" "Sure!" I chirped, because Acts of Service, remember? Kat's a restaurant guru; I just roll the dice. I love a fancy place, but I also live for a good dive.

Lunch was sorted (thanks, Kat!), but the gift? Oh, Cupid, you fiend. Since Valentine's Day isn't huge in the Czech Republic (Kat's homeland), I usually use that as my "get out of jail free" card. They have May Day with kissing under cherry trees – way more romantic, right? Plus, Kat has me. What more could a girl want? (I’m kidding! Mostly.)

Valentine's Day dawned, and my day was a meeting marathon. Lunch was blocked, but then, BAM! A last-minute meeting with my boss. Cue internal screaming. I usually pad my schedule by an hour because I’m chronically late, so I figured I could make it work. Spoiler alert: I couldn't. It was like a football game, and everyone was trying to tackle me. But I was determined to win this Valentine's Day game.

Somehow, I escaped the meeting gauntlet. It was touch and go there for a while. Let's just say some quick thinking got me out of there just in the nick of time. I hurried to my car, weaving through the snowy downtown streets.

And then, Hess Village. I've lived in Hamilton for two years and barely knew it existed! It's kind of embarrassing, really. It's like this whole other world tucked away right in the middle of the city. Talk about a flashback! Suddenly, I was transported back to my college days, though the memories are a bit… fuzzy. Let's just say Hess Village was a very different place for me back then (and involved significantly less gourmet food and significantly more questionable late-night decisions).

We finally made it to Radius. Kat, of course, had chosen a perfect spot. We snagged a window seat – prime real estate for people-watching and pretending we were on a romantic getaway instead of just two sleep-deprived parents escaping for an hour. We sank into our chairs and finally decompressed. It was like the pressure valve on my brain had released. For a few glorious moments, I wasn't a Technology Director, a dad, a dog owner, or a husband juggling a million things. I was just Damian, having lunch with Kat.

The restaurant was great, but they forgot our appetizers. We took them to go because, you know, work.

Lunch done, and I had a vague plan for the rest of the day. Work, however, had other ideas. Before I knew it, it was 5:00 pm. Time to execute Operation Valentine's Day, Part Two: Flowers! My usual spot was closed, but I found another one. The prices were… let's just say I could have bought a small car for the cost of a bouquet. Hard pass.

Fortinos to the rescue! Their floral department is surprisingly awesome. I grabbed some white roses, filler, foliage, and some birds of paradise. At checkout, I snagged chocolates and a stuffed animal for Alyce. Boujee's turn! Global Pet Foods was next door. I found a squeaky toy she'd love. And then I saw it… The Chicken! It was like a sign. Kat and I have this ridiculous thing with a squeaky chicken toy. It started with me, oh-so-romantically, putting the chicken under her pillow one night. Around 3 in the morning, she rolled over, and the squeak was so loud! All you could hear was Kat saying, "Oh no you didn't!" The next chapter in the Chicken saga involved Christmas. Kat, in a stroke of comedic genius, wrapped the chicken as a present and made me open it! I've honestly never laughed so hard in my life. Tragically, after Christmas, Dapper and Boujee got ahold of the poor chicken, and, well… let's just say it didn't survive. You can't really blame them, though, it was technically their toy.

So, there I was in the pet store, surrounded by a bouquet of flowers, and there it was: The Chicken reborn! Naturally, I bought it and hid it amongst the flowers. I could just picture the look on Kat's face.

Gifts? Check. Food? Check. A quick stop for fish and chips, and I was homeward bound.

Kat was putting Alyce to bed when I got home. I woke them both up (oops, sorry ladies!), apologized for the work-induced chaos, and Boujee went bonkers for her new toy. Then, the moment of truth: Kat opened the flowers… and The Chicken! There it was, nestled amongst the roses and birds of paradise, a beacon of squeaky, feathered absurdity. Her face was priceless. It was a mix of confusion, amusement, and that "oh no you didn't" look I've come to know so well. She burst out laughing, and honestly, that made my whole day. All the stress, the rushed lunch, the crazy flower dash – it all melted away in that moment. My Valentine's Day was complete.

Valentine's Day is overhyped, sure, but seeing Kat smile? Priceless. Her love language is Quality Time, which is my biggest challenge. Life is crazy busy, but I'll try my best to make our time together count. Oh, and what did Kat get me? Let's just say it's not suitable for family viewing. 😉

Damian and Katerina

Woof Woof! 🐾

Ahhh, les amis! What a cozy week it’s been, but also... What in the Frenchie is all this snow? Seriously, it’s like the whole world decided to dump a giant snow globe on our heads! Now, let me tell you, I, Boujee, have my own thoughts on snow: if it’s cold, it’s not for me. I’m much more of a "sunbathe under the sofa" kinda gal. But Dapper? Oh là là, that little guy is living his best life out there.

Dapper has this special spot by the big French window in the kitchen. He watches the snowflakes like they’re some sort of gourmet snack just waiting to be devoured. Then, when Kat opens the door? Bam! He’s out there skipping around in the snow like a rabbit on espresso. It’s absolutely hilarious. He disappears behind the shed—voilà!—and pops back up through the little path we made together, like some kind of snow ninja. Sometimes I wonder if he’s secretly plotting to take over the yard. But who could blame him? It’s so snowed in, and he’s got those little legs moving like a champion!

As for me, Boujee, I’ve been living the high life. This week, I’ve perfected the art of lounging on the new bed we told you about last time. It’s not just for me, though! Alyce loves it too, and she’s usually sitting on the floor next to me, giving me those adoring eyes like, "Oh, Boujee, you’re the queen of comfort." Then, she lays on the edge, and it’s like we’re both having a luxury spa day together. C’est magnifique!

Now, let's talk about Valentine’s Day. Dapper, being the romantic little Frenchie he is, surprised me with a plush and a rubber toy. How sweet, right? Of course, he didn’t share the rubber toy, but it’s the thought that counts! Then, our dear dad decided to join in on the lovefest and brought flowers for Kat and plush toys for Alyce and me! Can you say chic? What a wonderful way to celebrate the Day of Love with the family. But honestly? Love should be spread all year long. Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day to show you care, les amis!

So, while the cold may be a little much for my liking, the snuggles, toys, and love make up for it. We adore you all! Let’s keep this cozy feeling going all year long, shall we?

Boujee & Dapper ❤️